Page 95 of The New Girl

“Will kill their own asset, Crown Prince Abdullah, the future king of Saudi Arabia. And with a bit of luck,” added Seymour, “they might kill Rebecca, too.”

Lancaster looked at Gabriel. “Surely, this is your idea.”

“Which answer would you prefer?”

Lancaster frowned. “What happens if Abdullah is...”

“Removed from the line of succession?”

“Yes.”

“Khalid’s father will likely see that his son is reinstalled as crown prince, especially when he finds out that Abdullah conspired with the Russians to kidnap and murder Khalid’s daughter.”

“Is that what we want? A precocious man-child with impulse-control problems running Saudi Arabia?”

“He’ll be different this time. He’ll be the KBM we all hoped he would be.”

Lancaster’s smile was condescending. “You never struck me as the naive type.” He looked at Seymour. “I don’t suppose you’ve spoken to Amanda.”

Amanda Wallace was Seymour’s counterpart at MI5. With his expression, Seymour indicated she was in pitch darkness.

“There’s no way she’ll agree to this,” said Lancaster.

“All the more reason why she must never know.”

“Who does?”

“A small number of Israeli and MI6 officers working in a safe house in Harrow.”

“Are any of them spying for the Russians?” Lancaster turned to Gabriel. “Do you know what will happen if a de facto head of state is assassinated on British soil? Our reputation will be destroyed.”

“Not if the Russians are to blame.”

“The Russians,” replied Lancaster pointedly, “will deny it or blame us.”

“They won’t be able to.”

Lancaster was clearly dubious. “How do they plan to kill him?”

“We don’t know.”

“Where will it happen?”

“We don’t—”

“Have a clue,” said Lancaster.

Gabriel waited for the heat of the exchange to dissipate. “We have one of the Russian operatives under surveillance. Once he contacts another member of the team—”

“What if he doesn’t?”

Gabriel allowed a moment to pass. “Today is Tuesday.”

“I don’t need a spy to tell me what day it is. That’s what I have Geoffrey for.”

“Your meeting with Abdullah isn’t until Thursday. Let us watch and listen for thirty-six hours.”

“Thirty-six hours is out of the question.” Lancaster pondered his wristwatch. “But I can give you twenty-four. We’ll reconvene tomorrow evening.” He rose abruptly. “Now if you don’t mind, gentlemen, I’d like to finish my dinner.”