The Invisible Code(108)

A waiter dropped a tray, making everybody jump.

‘What children?’ said Ana Lang, confused.

For once, the women were dumbfounded. They looked even more shocked when a pair of constables from Savile Row nick appeared at the end of the table ready to take them into custody, but Bryant suspected it was more to do with the embarrassment of being arrested in Claridge’s than any real resentment at discovery.

‘To save time and energy,’ said Bryant, ‘I’d rather we didn’t have to go through the tedium of denials. You covered your tracks, but of course the Russians like to know who they’re dealing with and did some checking up on you. They recorded your calls. Guess whose mobile just got handed in?’

The wives rose with the little dignity they could muster. ‘John, put this on my bill, would you?’ Mrs Lang told the maître d’ with an impressive level of imperiousness.

‘Do you need a taxi, madam?’ asked the maître d’.

‘No, we’ll probably walk if the rain has stopped.’ Ana Lang leaned into Bryant as she passed. ‘I’ll tell you what will happen now, you nasty little old man. First, the lawyer. Then, your head.’ She brought her hand up swiftly and would have slapped his face had not one of the constables been quick enough to stop her.

‘On second thoughts,’ said Bryant, ‘you’d better handcuff the three of them together. They’re clearly dangerous.’

So it was that the county wives of the Home Office were removed from the dining room of Claridge’s locked to one another like common criminals, as the clientele watched in open-mouthed amazement.





50



THE OUTSIDERS



THE DETECTIVES TOOK everyone, including Crippen, to the Nun and Broken Compass that night. Oskar Kasavian was in Paris representing the views of the British government, and Raymond Land had agreed to stick the Home Office with the drinks bill.

Jack Renfield unloaded the beer tray and squeezed in beside Longbright as they raised their glasses. It was the British version of a midsummer’s evening: rain fell against the windows and there was a fire in the grate. Through the window they could see umbrellas turning inside out.

‘What do you think will happen now?’ he asked Bryant, tearing open a packet of crisps.

‘Oskar will get the new position, the wives will be indicted and the department will be swept clean,’ said Bryant, sipping his porter. ‘It’s a perfect opportunity for HMG and GCHQ to be seen to be putting their houses in order while burying the past. Nothing will actually change.’

‘Except that Kasavian will have to follow through on his promise to grant us full status under the City of London,’ said May.

‘In that case I’d like to propose a toast,’ said Maggie Armitage, who had wedged herself next to Raymond Land. ‘May the purple candle of friendship neutralize the effects of karmic retribution.’

As toasts went it didn’t strike a very upbeat note, but everyone raised their glasses, and much beer was spilled. Did they realize, as they sat huddled together in the corner of the snug, that they were all outsiders in one way or another? Marked apart by the fierceness of their curiosity, they moved among the docile majority unacknowledged, mistrusted and unloved to the point where they only found solace in one another’s company.

‘Where did you suddenly disappear to this afternoon?’ asked May.

Bryant glanced across at Maggie. ‘I went to see someone who confirmed my theory. He told me to re-examine everything through the eyes of the children. They were hunting witches. And so were we. As soon as I changed perspectives, everything made sense.’

May’s mobile suddenly rang. He checked the text and frowned. ‘Arthur, it seems that somebody wants you,’ he said, holding up the screen. The message read: ‘Send Bryant outside’.

Just at that moment, something crackled and glowed beyond the pub window. Everyone rose and headed for the door.

On the rain-spattered pavement before them was a trail of fire. As it began to die down, they could read the words it had formed:


TIME TO PAY MY FEE – MR MERRY

‘Do you have any idea what that means?’ asked May.

Bryant caught Maggie’s eye and silenced her. He turned to his partner, his wide blue eyes swimming with the innocence of one whom London has made truly devious. ‘No idea at all,’ he said. ‘My round, I think.’

Back inside the pub, Crippen gave birth to nine kittens.