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Authors: Jim Eldridge
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Lavall and Smitt can lead us to Deacon, the better.’
15
Mitch and Benny were in the lobby of the Manxman Hotel. They had been assured by the MI6 agents watching Pierre Lavall that he was still in his room on the fifth floor.
‘Unless he got out the window,’ suggested Mitch.
Benny grinned. ‘His room overlooks the Strand,’ he said. ‘If he tried climbing six floors down the face of the building to the street he’d already be on YouTube.’ Benny gave a short sigh. ‘I know it was a pretty horrendous experience for you, Deacon nearly killing you with that bomb, Mitch, but in a way, it’s a good thing it happened. The rest of the unit never really believed me about Deacon. Now, after that, they have to.’
‘I’m glad to be of service,’ said Mitch with a wry smile.
Just then Tug’s voice came over in their earpieces. ‘Target Two’s on the move,’ he said. ‘Heading for Victoria station.’
‘Copy that,’ said Benny. ‘No-show from our target so far.’
‘Scrap that,’ said Mitch sharply. He’d just seen Lavall step out of the lift and head for the reception desk.
Mitch walked across the lobby and out of the door on to the Strand, ready to pick up Lavall as he left the hotel. Benny stayed behind, in case Lavall left by another exit. But the Frenchman handed in his key at reception, and walked out into the busy street.
Mitch let Lavall head off for a few yards before starting to trail him. He was heading west towards Trafalgar Square. Would he stay on foot or take transport? If so, which would he choose: bus, underground or taxi?
Lavall didn’t seem to be in any hurry, nor did he appear at all worried that he might be followed. He just kept walking casually along the Strand. Mitch followed at a distance. He was wearing his headset clipped over his ear, just like any other hands-free mobile phone.
He knew that Benny was somewhere close by; possibly on the other side of the road, or in one of the taxis MI6 had provided, staying back and keeping watch, ready to change over.
In his earpiece he received an update from Tug: ‘Target Two entering Victoria station. Heading for the underground.’
Mitch was glad the communication system they were using worked underground. Modern coms technology meant you could be in touch with anyone almost anywhere: from outer space to deep below ground level.
Lavall kept walking until he reached Charing Cross station. There, he stopped to buy a newspaper from a stall.
Gives him the chance to take a look around and see if there’s anything suspicious or anyone on his tail, thought Mitch.
But he had kept enough distance to avoid being spotted.
Which way now, wondered Mitch? Overground train? Or will he keep walking?
Lavall headed towards the entrance to the underground.
‘Here we go,’ murmured Mitch into his mouthpiece. ‘Target One going underground.’
‘Got you,’ came Benny’s voice.
‘Target Two is heading towards the Victoria line northbound,’ Mitch heard Tug say.
Mitch wondered if Lavall would also head north. Were the two planning to meet up? If so, the odds were that they’d be meeting Deacon. At the thought of Deacon, Mitch felt a shiver of anger run through him; directed both at Deacon and himself. He’d been careless. He’d let his guard down and allowed himself to be caught. Well that wouldn’t behappening again. Next time they came face to face, Deacon wouldn’t be walking away.
Still some way behind, Mitch followed Lavall down the stairs to the underground station. He checked the direction they were heading and radioed it back to Benny and the others: ‘Bakerloo line southbound.’
Lavall was heading in the opposite direction to Smitt. So maybe there was no meeting with Deacon after all. Maybe the two targets had a different agenda today.
Reaching the southbound platform, Mitch glanced up at the electronic display. The next train would be arriving in one minute. The one after that would come four minutes later. Would
15
Mitch and Benny were in the lobby of the Manxman Hotel. They had been assured by the MI6 agents watching Pierre Lavall that he was still in his room on the fifth floor.
‘Unless he got out the window,’ suggested Mitch.
Benny grinned. ‘His room overlooks the Strand,’ he said. ‘If he tried climbing six floors down the face of the building to the street he’d already be on YouTube.’ Benny gave a short sigh. ‘I know it was a pretty horrendous experience for you, Deacon nearly killing you with that bomb, Mitch, but in a way, it’s a good thing it happened. The rest of the unit never really believed me about Deacon. Now, after that, they have to.’
‘I’m glad to be of service,’ said Mitch with a wry smile.
Just then Tug’s voice came over in their earpieces. ‘Target Two’s on the move,’ he said. ‘Heading for Victoria station.’
‘Copy that,’ said Benny. ‘No-show from our target so far.’
‘Scrap that,’ said Mitch sharply. He’d just seen Lavall step out of the lift and head for the reception desk.
Mitch walked across the lobby and out of the door on to the Strand, ready to pick up Lavall as he left the hotel. Benny stayed behind, in case Lavall left by another exit. But the Frenchman handed in his key at reception, and walked out into the busy street.
Mitch let Lavall head off for a few yards before starting to trail him. He was heading west towards Trafalgar Square. Would he stay on foot or take transport? If so, which would he choose: bus, underground or taxi?
Lavall didn’t seem to be in any hurry, nor did he appear at all worried that he might be followed. He just kept walking casually along the Strand. Mitch followed at a distance. He was wearing his headset clipped over his ear, just like any other hands-free mobile phone.
He knew that Benny was somewhere close by; possibly on the other side of the road, or in one of the taxis MI6 had provided, staying back and keeping watch, ready to change over.
In his earpiece he received an update from Tug: ‘Target Two entering Victoria station. Heading for the underground.’
Mitch was glad the communication system they were using worked underground. Modern coms technology meant you could be in touch with anyone almost anywhere: from outer space to deep below ground level.
Lavall kept walking until he reached Charing Cross station. There, he stopped to buy a newspaper from a stall.
Gives him the chance to take a look around and see if there’s anything suspicious or anyone on his tail, thought Mitch.
But he had kept enough distance to avoid being spotted.
Which way now, wondered Mitch? Overground train? Or will he keep walking?
Lavall headed towards the entrance to the underground.
‘Here we go,’ murmured Mitch into his mouthpiece. ‘Target One going underground.’
‘Got you,’ came Benny’s voice.
‘Target Two is heading towards the Victoria line northbound,’ Mitch heard Tug say.
Mitch wondered if Lavall would also head north. Were the two planning to meet up? If so, the odds were that they’d be meeting Deacon. At the thought of Deacon, Mitch felt a shiver of anger run through him; directed both at Deacon and himself. He’d been careless. He’d let his guard down and allowed himself to be caught. Well that wouldn’t behappening again. Next time they came face to face, Deacon wouldn’t be walking away.
Still some way behind, Mitch followed Lavall down the stairs to the underground station. He checked the direction they were heading and radioed it back to Benny and the others: ‘Bakerloo line southbound.’
Lavall was heading in the opposite direction to Smitt. So maybe there was no meeting with Deacon after all. Maybe the two targets had a different agenda today.
Reaching the southbound platform, Mitch glanced up at the electronic display. The next train would be arriving in one minute. The one after that would come four minutes later. Would
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