Page 61 of End Game

‘Who are you?’ demanded the man, placing his hands on his hips as he glared at Paul.

‘Commander Paul Adaja. Head of Olympic Security.’

‘Then all I can say, Commander, is you’re not doing a very convincing job.’

‘And may I ask who you are, sir?’ said Paul.

‘Captain Sokolov, coach to the Russian volleyball team.’

‘And how can I be of assistance, Captain Sokolov?’

‘My team,’ he said, pointing at the group of people who were sitting in the coach, ‘are competing in today’s opening rounds of the competition. We were on our way to Earl’s Court when someone took a shot at us. You can clearly see where the bullet went through a side window. It’s a miracle no one was killed.’

Paul inspected the damaged window, while Jackie climbed onto the coach.

‘So what are you going to do about it?’ demanded Sokolov, as Jackie got back off the coach and handed Paul the murder weapon.

‘Not a lot, Captain,’ said Paul, as he bent down to take a closer look at the small stones and pebbles on the ground.

‘Well, I’ll tell you what I’m going to do, Commander. I’m going to call a press conference and let the world know that someone fired a shot at us and the police did nothing about it.’

‘That’s your prerogative, sir,’ said Paul calmly, ‘but you might find the first question the press will ask is: where is the spent bullet that you say entered the coach, and where was the shot fired from?

‘The gunman must have taken the bullet away with him.’

‘So you’re telling me that after your team got off the coach, the gunman climbed on board and retrieved the bullet,’ said Paul. ‘That must have taken a lot of nerve. However, if that is the case, we’ll need to take witness statements from your team which I’m sorry to say will once again hold you up.’

Jackie somehow kept a straight face while she wrote down every word.

Sokolov remained silent, his hands falling to his side as he waited for the knock-out blow.

‘And the second question the press might ask,’ continued Paul, ‘is: was anyone on the coach injured, and if they were, why didn’t you call for an ambulance?’

The captain seemed lost for words.

‘And their final question could possibly be,’ suggested Paul, as he held up a small stone so the dozen faces staring through the window could see it, ‘could this, found on the bus just now by Detective Chief Inspector Roycroft, be the cause of the unfortunate damage?’

Sokolov clenched his fist.

‘I think on balance, Captain,’ said Paul, ‘It might be wise to take your team on to Earl’s Court, that’s if you’re still hoping to be in time for the opening match.’

‘You haven’t heard the last of this,’ said Sokolov, as he climbed back on the coach.

‘I thought I was a lowly sergeant,’ said Jackie, as the bus moved off, ‘not a Detective Chief Inspector.’

‘I don’t think Captain Sokolov would have been willing to deal with a mere sergeant,’ said Paul, ‘but be assured, Jackie, your promotion was only temporary.’

When Paul reported the incident to the Gold Commander,William mused, ‘Is this another part of a bigger plan that’s simply meant to distract us?’

•••

There was a quiet tap on the door.

‘Come,’ said the Russian Ambassador, barely raising his head.

The door opened to allow Sergei Petrov to enter his private domain. The undersecretary walked across the room and came to a halt in front of him. His Excellency didn’t suggest he could be seated in the comfortable chair on the other side of his desk. He remained standing.

‘You saw our British accomplice earlier this week, I understand?’