Page 33 of End Game

‘Not a spare ticket available,’ Beth replied. ‘In fact, the demand has been so high we’ve had to add some extra evening sessions, which won’t harm our bank balance. However, I do have something to report that might just be of interest to an astute detective.’

William put down his knife and fork.

Peter grabbed the chicken leg.

‘Christina spotted her ex-husband having tea in the museum’s café with a member of the Hermitage team.’

‘A man or a woman?’ asked William, although he was fairly certain he knew the answer.

‘A man,’ replied Beth.

William nodded, but didn’t comment, while his daughter’s ears pricked up.

‘After Faulkner’s continued interest in the Van Gogh self-portrait, I find that rather interesting,’ said Beth. ‘I don’t suppose you’re in a position to tell me what this is all about?’

‘Not yet,’ William replied.

Artemisia had been listening carefully to every word of the exchange and was about to ask her father another question, when he stood up and said, ‘Sorry to leave you, but I can’t afford to be late for the opening number.’

Artemisia would have liked to know what the opening number was, but didn’t bother to ask.

Beth checked her watch. ‘But it’s still another three hours before the curtain goes up.’

‘And no prizes for guessing who has to be standing in the wings long before the stagehands wheel on the props,’ said William.

‘And what props would those be?’ asked Artemisia, still not giving up.

William didn’t bother to respond.

‘What time can we expect you home tonight?’ asked Beth.

‘I won’t be coming home tonight,’ replied William, ‘or any night for the next fortnight. I’ve already set up a camp bed in the Gold Suite, but don’t worry, there’s a coffee machine in the next room.’

‘If you were to come home,’ said Beth, ‘you could at least have one decent meal a day.’

‘Not a chance,’ said William. ‘I just can’t risk being away from the stadium for more than a couple of hours at a time. If there was a major emergency, you could be sure I’d be stuck in a traffic jam halfway between Fulham and the Olympic Park.’

‘In that case, Commander,’ said Beth, ‘don’t forget to introduce yourself when we next meet.’

William took his wife in his arms and kissed her gently.

‘You two are just soppy,’ said Artemisia, turning away.

‘If you and Robert are as soppy as your mother and me after twenty-five years,’ said William, as he hugged his daughter, ‘you can count yourself lucky.’

THE OPENING CEREMONY

Let there be Light

CHAPTER 12

Friday, 27 July 2012

ON THE EVENING OF THEOPENING CEREMONY, William had ten thousand trained police and the same number of military personnel to assist with security at all the Olympic venues around the country. With the help of seventy thousand enthusiastic volunteers, he felt he was well prepared and ready for the arrival of ten thousand athletes from around the world, until the Hawk reminded him, ‘You can’t prepare for the unexpected.’

Nor could he push the thought of Miles Faulkner from his mind. Whatever he and the Russians were up to, it could only mean trouble. If the cyclists were a distraction, the obvious question was: from what? He would have to be on his guard until midnight – and then every waking moment of the next two weeks.

The Gold Suite, his home for the next fortnight, was a large, windowless dungeon directly beneath the stadium. One wall held a bank of CCTV screens. Below them was William’sdesk with three phones, a computer, two radios, and several in-trays – everything he needed to coordinate his small empire.