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“No, sir,” said William. “The last time I saw DC Adaja he was still on the bus.”
“Which is where he should have stayed,” said Lamont.
“How about you, Jackie?”
“The whole tragic incident unfolded right in front of me, sir. DC Adaja jumped off the bus before it had even come to a halt. He hit the ground running, but unfortunately he tripped and fell. Luckily, I was able to drag him to one side so he wasn’t trampled on in the stampede that followed. I shouted ‘Officer down!’ and an ambulance appeared within minutes and immediately whisked him off to A and E at St. Thomas’s.”
“And once they’d examined the patient, what was the diagnosis?” asked the commander, barely able to keep a straight face.
They all turned to face Paul.
“A sprained ankle,” he eventually managed. “Truth is, I played absolutely no part in the success of the operation.”
“You most certainly did,” said the Hawk. “Don’t forget the hours you spent tracking Rashidi. And, frankly, without your input the whole operation might never have got off the ground.”
The rest of the team began to bang the table with the palms of their hands in recognition of the role Paul had played, and within moments the familiar grin reappeared on his face.
The Hawk turned to William. “DS Warwick, I’m puzzled as to how you got that black eye.”
“One of Rashidi’s thugs punched me in the heat of battle,” said William proudly. “But it was worth it, because I arrested and charged the little bastard.”
“It certainly was,” said the Hawk. “In fact, that particular little bastard was Marlboro Man.”
William was momentarily stunned, but quickly recovered. “Are you telling me your UCO was in the slaughter the entire time?”
“The entire time. In fact, when you arrested him, he was trying to let you know which one was Rashidi.”
“Then I’m blind, as well as stupid,” said William. “So where is he now?”
“Pentonville, where he’ll stay put for the next few weeks while he awaits trial.”
“That’s a bit rough, isn’t it?”
“Not when he’s still got work to do, which is why he’s on the same block as Rashidi.”
“But if Rashidi were to suss him out…”
“Why should he? He only knows MM as a loyal lieutenant who tried to help him escape. We’re rather hoping that while he’s on the inside he’ll be able to gather enough evidence for us to nail the rest of the bastards.”
“But won’t it look suspicious when he’s found not guilty?”
“He won’t be. He’ll be found guilty of the possession of a couple of reefers, sentenced to six months, and sent back to Pentonville.”
“What about actual bodily harm?” said William, pointing to his black eye.
“He’ll probably get a couple of months knocked off for that,” said the Hawk. DC Adaja laughed. “No. MM will be transferred to an open prison after a few weeks, and released soon afterward so he can get back to work. But not before he’s taken a holiday somewhere warm.”
Jackie smiled. She even knew where.
“Quite right too,” said Lamont. “No more than he deserves.”
“Agreed,” said the Hawk. “Now, let me bring you up to date following my meeting with the commissioner.”
* * *
“Ashes to ashes,” intoned the priest.
Miles Faulkner showed little interest as the body of his mother was lowered into the grave. After all, he hadn’t spoken to the damn woman in years, and he had more important things on his mind. Christina had made no attempt to contact him once she’d signed the postnuptial, as Booth Watson described the contract. She would receive a thousand pounds a week as long as she made no attempt to contact him, and was well aware that the payments would cease if she so much as crossed his path.
