Read Online Lone Wolf by David Archer - Free Book Online

could. The soldiers liked me, and would give me big tips, so that we got through the war all right. The name, though, it just stuck with me, and I reckoned there's no sense to get fretted about it now, oy?”
    The old man kept up his running monologue, talking about anything he could think of as he drove them into the city. The Cavendish Hotel was in St. James, Central London, near Piccadilly Circus, so it wasn't a terribly long drive. Each of them contributed a word or two now and then, just to let Rum Charlie know they were listening, but they all felt a sense of relief when they finally got out of the car.
    Rum Charlie opened the trunk and let them all get their luggage, then bid them farewell and drove off into the night. Noah led the way inside the hotel.
    The desk clerk, despite the early hour of the morning, looked up at him with a smile. “A good morning to you, sir, and welcome to the Cavendish Hotel. Would you have a reservation?”
    Noah smiled. “Yes, indeed,” he said. “The name is Alexander Colson, and there should be five rooms reserved.”
    The clerk entered the name into a computer, and smiled back. “Yes, sir, five rooms on the twelfth floor. I also have a message waiting for you.” He passed over a card for Noah to sign, then handed him an envelope and the keys for all five rooms.
    Noah waited until he had gotten away from the desk to open the envelope, then read the message inside.
    Mister Colson,
    As requested, I have been watching the real estate listing you inquired about, and have not observed any activity at this point. As it is getting rather late, I shall be back on this project in the morning. Feel free to call me eight-ish or thereabouts, and I will happily give you an update.
    I am at your service,
    Catherine Potts
    A telephone number was written under her name. Noah refolded the note and stuck it into his pocket. Key cards were passed around, they all rode up together on the elevator, and then each of them disappeared into a room.
    They were to meet for breakfast in the hotel's dining room at eight AM, so Noah set an alarm on his phone for seven. Plenty of time to shower, shave, etc., and still make it down to join the others on schedule. He got into bed and was back to sleep only seconds later.
    Noah's alarm went off right on time, but he was already up and in the shower by the time it did. He canceled it once he got out, then got dressed for the day. The weather report predicted sunshine and fair skies, so he opted for casual slacks and a polo shirt. He was in the dining room by twenty to eight, surprised to find Sarah and Neil waiting for him.
    “I have had all the sleep that I can stand,” Neil said, “at least for the next few days. Give me something to do, boss, keep me busy, please?”
    “No problem,” Noah said. “Get on Craigslist or whatever they use here and find me an extremely secluded place in the country within, oh, say eighty kilometers of London. Something off the beaten path and with no neighbors, something we can get without having to sign a long lease.”
    Neil rolled his eyes. “That'll take me ten minutes,” he said. “Got any other suggestions?”
    A waitress interrupted, and Noah ordered coffee and a muffin before turning back to Neil. “How much can you find out about the area around Pendergrast's apartment building? I'd like to have some idea of the layout of his apartment, the design of the building, traffic in the area...Can you give me that kind of stuff?”
    Neil squinted for a moment. “I can probably get blueprints of the building,” he said. “As long as he hasn't changed any of the physical design of his apartment, that should give you what you want internally. As far as traffic goes, I can look for traffic cameras in the area and scan news reports. Someone is always complaining about traffic everywhere, so there's bound to be some general information.”
    Noah nodded. “That's a good start.” He turned to Sarah. “I'm sending Moose with