Страница 93 из 117
Big Al stationed himself by the back of the car as the boss set off. When Da
Big Al desperately wanted a smoke, but he knew it was a risk he couldn't take. Once in Bosnia a squaddie had lit up during a night op, and three seconds later he got a bullet through his head. Big Al knew the boss would be out there for at least three hours, so he couldn't afford to let his concentration slip, even for a moment.
Pebble number twenty-three was at the far corner of Da
Big Al stretched and began to walk slowly around the car. He knew they pla
Da
Big Al froze as a car drove onto the site and parked about fifty yards away. He couldn't be sure if whoever was in the car had seen him. He fell onto his stomach and began to crawl toward the enemy. A cloud moved to reveal the moon, just a sliver of light-even the moon was on their side. The car's headlights had been turned off, but an inside light remained on.
Da
Big Al was now only a few yards from the parked car, and although the windows were steamed up, he could see that the inside light was still on. He pushed himself up onto his knees and peered through the rear window. It took all his discipline not to burst out laughing when he saw a woman stretched out on the back seat, her legs wide apart, moaning. Big Al couldn't see the face of the man who was on top of her, but felt a throbbing in his pants. He fell back down on his stomach and began the long crawl back to base.
When Da
Once Big Al was back at base, he still kept a wary eye on the car. He wondered if the boss had even been aware of its presence. Suddenly he heard the sound of an engine revving up, and the headlights were turned full on before the car swung around, back onto the gravel path and disappeared into the night.
When Big Al saw Da
Big Al closed the boot and climbed into the front of the car as the boss fastened his seatbelt. He turned on the ignition, swung the car around and drove slowly back toward the gravel track. Neither of them spoke, even when they reached the main road. The job wasn't finished yet.
During the week, Big Al had identified various skips and building sites where they could dispose of any evidence of their nocturnal enterprise. Big Al stopped seven times during a journey that took just over an hour instead of the usual forty minutes. By the time they drove into The Boltons, it was half past seven. Da
Once he had read the letter, he wasn't quite sure how he should reply. Think like Da
CHAPTER SIXTY-FOUR
"NICK, HOW LOVELY to see you," said Sarah. She leaned across and whispered, "Now tell me you've been a good boy."
"Depends what you mean by good," said Da
"You haven't missed a meeting with your favorite lady?"
Da
"And you haven't even thought about going abroad?"
"Not unless you count traveling up to Scotland to visit Mr. Munro."
"Good. So what else have you been up to that's safe to tell your other solicitor?"
"Not a lot," said Da
"Never better. He's doing a screen test for Holby City next Thursday-a new part that's been written especially for him."
"So what's it called? Witness to murder?" asked Da
"No, no," said Sarah, laughing. "You're thinking of the part he played in Witness for the Prosecution, but that was years ago."
"It certainly was," said Da
"I didn't realize you'd known Larry that long."
"Only from a distance," said Da
"Good to see you, Nick," said Duncan. "You two know each other, of course."
"Of course," said Sarah.
Duncan whispered, "Be careful what you say, you're sitting behind a critic. Enjoy the show," he added in a loud voice.
Da
No one laughed for the first fifteen minutes of the performance, which surprised Da
"What do you think?" he asked Sarah, wondering if he had missed something.