Page 85 of Traitors Gate
‘Number one,’ said Lamont, who returned to the Land Rover to see two men heading towards him. Neither ofthem even glanced in his direction. One went to the back of the 4x4 while the other knelt down by the front mudguard. He checked both ways to make sure no one was watching them. No one was. Lamont’s eyes continued to dart in every direction looking out for someone, anyone, who wasn’t a blot on the landscape. No blot appeared. Two minutes later the mechanics had completed their assignment. The back window of the Land Rover slid down and Lamont handed over two cellophane packets. Bonus earned.
Once the two men had disappeared, Collins switched on the ignition and palmed the gear lever into first.
‘Not yet,’ said Lamont firmly. ‘Too soon will be just as fatal as too late.’
Collins switched off the engine as another phone began to ring.
‘They’ve taken a left at the underpass, so it has to be route one.’
‘Get those hanging around at the far end of the underpass to move across to Walbrook sharpish. I need to know the moment they reach Mansion House, because that’s when we’ll have to move.’
• • •
William watched as a young policeman stepped out into the middle of the road, raised an arm and stopped an articulated lorry. He walked slowly across to the driver’s side and indicated that he should pull over, holding up the traffic once again.
Something worried Paul about the young constable, but he didn’t realize what it was until later. Much later. It began to rain.
• • •
Lamont’s third phone began vibrating with a message to warn him the Lord Chamberlain’s party was approaching the Mansion House and were no more than ten minutes away.
‘I need a couple more minutes,’ said Lamont.
‘I’m on it,’ came back the reply as three police motorcycles appeared out of nowhere, took up their place at the front of the little motorcade and waited. Harris responded the moment Lamont raised his hand, knowing the journey to the East Gate of the Tower would take two minutes and eighteen seconds. Lamont next called Faulkner, who was just walking past Charing Cross station.
‘We’re on our way,’ was all he said.
‘Good hunting,’ replied Miles, slowing his pace. He didn’t want to reach Westminster tube station before the package was due to arrive.
Miles pressed his stopwatch. From now on, everything would be about timing.
Harris switched on the engine and headed for the nearest exit of the car park to find the barrier was already raised so there wouldn’t be any hold-ups. Another member of the team who’d done their job for the day.
When they drove out onto St Katharine’s Way, the little motorcade swung right under Tower Bridge and quickly covered the short distance to the rear entrance of the Tower, where they came to a halt in front of two enormous wooden gates that reminded them it had once been a prison.
Two Yeomen emerged from the sentry box, clearly expecting them. One checked the number plates of both vehicles while the other one went to the front of the Jaguar and asked the driver for the password.
‘Colonel Blood,’ Harris said.
‘Hope you’re keeping well, Phil,’ said the guard before he swung round and gave the order, ‘Open the gates.’
As the gates swung open, adrenaline took over. From that moment, Lamont knew there was no turning back and not for the first time he wondered if he’d made the right decision. Even though his financial reward was astronomical compared to a police officer’s pension, the alternative was several years in jail. But he accepted he was past the point of no return. He checked his stopwatch, aware he had at most another eight minutes before the real Lord Chamberlain would drive up to the same gates.
• • •
Another zebra crossing caused the two official cars to be held up once again. Some of those crossing the road didn’t appear to be in any hurry, including another woman pushing a stroller who looked strangely incongruous among the thrusting young City whiz-kids who were dashing in every direction. William picked up the phone in his armrest, but when the crossing cleared, put it back in place.
• • •
Once they’d passed through the East Gate, Harris drove slowly beside the Thames before turning right and crossing the middle drawbridge. He continued on up the slope, coming to a halt outside the Jewel House to find six Yeomen standing in line waiting for them. He leapt out and opened the back door, counting on the fact that the recently appointed Governor hadn’t met the Lord Chamberlain before.
Dressed in a bowler hat and long black overcoat with ascarf covering his lower face, The Understudy stepped out of the car and out onto the stage. He put up his umbrella to protect himself from the rain and any prying eyes.
‘Good morning, Governor,’ he said as the two men shook hands. ‘Shocking weather for this time of year.’
‘It is indeed, my Lord,’ responded the Governor as six Yeoman Warders sprang to attention and presented arms. The Understudy doffed his hat in acknowledgement – another little detail supplied by Harris.
‘Let’s go inside before we get soaked,’ suggested the Governor, and The Understudy didn’t need any encouragement to speed up the whole process.