Page 28 of End Game

‘What are you looking at,’ asked Alice, ‘because it’s certainly not the pictures?’

Jack had been left at home with a babysitter, while Alice, Ross and Jojo had come to support Beth. Jojo had just graduated from the Slade and was moving slowly from paintingto painting, wondering if one day she could earn her living as …

Meanwhile, Ross was taking an interest in the two Russians standing at the back of the crowd. They didn’t chat, but then they had nothing in common. The woman was clearly an art expert, one of the Hermitage’s team. As for her colleague – Ross immediately recognized him as the man who’d gone to his first cricket match at the Oval and was now probably attending his first art exhibition. The GRU didn’t bother with mood music.

‘I was admiring the Van Gogh,’ claimed Ross, turning his attention back to theself-portrait, while giving his wife a warm smile.

‘Then you were facing in the wrong direction, Sergeant Hogan,’ said Alice, ‘so I won’t bother asking you a second time.’

Ross smiled as he continued to keep an eye on first Faulkner and then the Russian. They never once spoke to each other.

•••

‘I have to leave you, I’m afraid,’ said William, as he bent down to kiss his wife. ‘Only eight days to go to my opening, though I could do with another month. But congratulations, my darling. It couldn’t have gone better.’

‘Just as your opening will,’ said Beth. ‘In fact, it’s certain to be even more of a triumph.’

But William barely heard her words, as he’d already turned to leave.

‘I can’t wait for the closing ceremony,’ Beth admitted to Christina and Julian, ‘after which I’m hoping to finally be reunited with my husband. This year has been interminable. But once the Olympics are over, William’s handing over theresponsibility for the Paralympics to Detective Inspector Adaja, when we’ll be going on holiday.’

‘To some far-off exotic land, I hope?’ said Christina.

‘Amsterdam to Budapest, via Vienna,’ replied Beth.

‘How lovely,’ said Sir Julian, before adding, ‘Have you noticed that Faulkner’s showing a great deal of interest in one particular painting?’

‘Oh, we’ve all noticed,’ replied Beth. ‘The Van Gogh self-portrait that was surprisingly added to our list of exhibits at the last moment.’

‘Was it indeed?’ mused Sir Julian. ‘I’ve seen the picture somewhere before, but I can’t remember where.’

‘Above the fireplace in the Russian Embassy, perhaps?’

‘Of course,’ said Sir Julian, staring at his old adversary, ‘So, I’m bound to ask, why did Booth Watson take a photograph of that particular painting?’

‘You’re as bad as William,’ said Beth.

‘No, my dear,’ said Sir Julian, ‘I think you’ll find William is as bad as me.’

‘Faulkner and Booth Watson are leaving,’ whispered Christina, not taking her eyes off them.

Just after they had left the room, a voice behind them said, ‘Congratulations. A true triumph.’

Beth swung round to see the former chairman of the Fitzmolean, who bowed respectfully.

‘Praise indeed,’ said Beth, smiling at her old boss.

‘No more than you deserve,’ said Sir Nicholas. ‘And to think we tried to host the Hermitage’s collection years ago, and it’s only your persistence and hard work that has brought it to reality.’

‘With some help from the Olympic Games,’ remarked Beth. She only hoped there was no other reason she didn’t know about.

CHAPTER 10

Friday 20 July 2012 – 7 days to go

WHEN THE TEAM GATHEREDfor their morning briefing, no one seemed surprised to see Ross sitting in his old place at the far end of the table. They were all well aware that it could only be a matter of time before he officially returned to the fold.

‘I’ll let Sergeant Hogan address the first item on the agenda,’ said William.