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“What about the lift?”
“Takes forty-two seconds to reach the twenty-third floor, and is permanently manned by a thug called Pete Donoghue, who’d be on his way up to the slaughter the moment any of the four lookouts spotted anything suspicious. Long before the firearms team had run up twenty-three flights of stairs, broken down the reinforced steel door, and forced their way into the slaughter in Block A, Rashidi would be watching television in his flat in Block B, and wouldn’t come out again until the coast was clear.”
“What about hi
s workers?”
“Most of them are illegal immigrants and petty criminals, who Rashidi accommodates in squalid little flats in Block A. If there was any trouble, they’d have to leave by the front door, so you might catch a few of his minions on the way down, but not Rashidi or his right hand.”
“How often does Rashidi visit the slaughter?”
“He goes there to collect the cash between eight and midnight every evening from Monday to Thursday. He’s always accompanied by two armed ex-cons, who make sure no one gets introduced to their boss unless they have an appointment.”
“I need to know who owns the two blocks,” said the commander.
“I have no way of finding that out, sir, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s Rashidi himself. He’s resourceful and well organized enough, and like all sociopaths, wouldn’t care if you killed his best friend. Come to think of it, I’m not sure he has any friends.” He paused for a moment before saying, “I have nothing more to confess, Father.”
“Thank you, Ross,” said the commander. “You’ve given me and the team more than enough ammunition to move on to the next phase of our plan.”
“And there’ll be more where that came from, sir, because I’m determined to be there on the night of the raid. Let me know when you’ve settled on a date.”
“Will do. But don’t take any unnecessary risks. You’ve done more than enough. The moment you want out, just say the word. An inspector’s position has come vacant in Hackney, and I’d be happy to recommend you.”
“I’m not sure I could handle being back in uniform, after all this time.”
“That’s understandable. But if you change your mind, let me know via the usual channels.”
“Will do, sir,” said Ross. “But I’m hoping you’ll personally arrest me when the boys raid the slaughter.”
“Nice idea, but I’ll leave Choirboy to do that.”
“Will I recognize him?”
“You won’t be able to miss him,” said the Hawk, with a grin Ross couldn’t see from the other side of the screen. “You’d better leave now, and I’ll hang around for a couple of minutes. And Ross, I know it’s inadequate, but once again, thank you.”
The Hawk heard the door swing open and close. He was thinking about how he could get his men all the way up to the twenty-third floor before Rashidi had time to escape, when a voice said, “Father, I have sinned, and seek the Lord’s forgiveness.”
Help, the Hawk wanted to say, you’re not my type of sinner. But he satisfied himself with, “How have you transgressed, my son?”
“I covet my neighbor’s wife.”
“And have you had carnal relations with her?”
“No, Father, but the Bible tells us the thought is as wicked as the deed.”
Then I’m guilty of several murders, thought the Hawk, including Faulkner and Rashidi among my hypothetical victims. “Indeed, my son. You have committed a grievous sin, and you must reject the temptations of the devil and dismiss these unworthy thoughts from your mind.”
“And if I can’t, Father? Will I be cast into eternal darkness and everlasting damnation?”
“No, my son. Not if you repent your sins and return to the path of righteousness. Hail Mary, Mother of God…”
“Thank you, Father,” said a relieved voice, before the door opened and closed again.
The Hawk didn’t waste another moment, as he had no desire to deal with any more unscheduled sinners. He scurried out of the confessional box and almost ran through the outer sacristy on his way back to the vestry, but he had to slow down when he saw the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster heading toward him. He fell to one knee and kissed his ring. The cardinal made the sign of the cross and said, “Tell me, commander, have you been about God’s work?”
“I believe I’ve saved one sinner today, Your Grace,” he replied.
“Then let us hope your reward will be on earth, my child, as well as in heaven.”
