“So how do we get to the twenty-third floor in under forty-two seconds?” demanded Lamont.
“I think William may have come up with the answer to that question,” said the Hawk.
25
“My sincere condolences, Miles, on the loss of your unique collection. I know how much those pictures meant to you, and for them to be destroyed in such a cruel way must be devastating.”
“Thank you, BW. I appreciate your concern,” said Faulkner, trying to sound devastated.
“I know of course that you had planned to buy back Limpton Hall, and in time—”
“The paintings were far more important to me than the house, but I still expect you to get my five-hundred-thousand-pound deposit back as quickly as possible.”
“The paperwork’s already underway. At least the Vermeer is safe in its new home at the Fitzmolean.”
“Not for much longer.”
“I don’t understand,” said Booth Watson.
“No reason you should, BW. Let’s just say I have plans for it to be reunited with the rest of my collection.”
* * *
“It was kind of you to agree to see me, colonel,” said William when the two men met in the reception area. “I know the commander is looking forward to catching up with you.”
“Hawksby was one of my better junior subalterns. He would have made a damn fine soldier,” said the colonel, as he followed William into the lift. “It will be good to see the young man again after all these years.”
William stifled a smile as he stepped out of the lift and led the colonel down the corridor to the commander’s office. He knocked on the door, and as they entered, the Hawk sprang to attention. “It’s an honor to see you again, sir,” he said.
“At my age, I’m always surprised anyone still remembers me,” said the colonel, as they shook hands.
“How could anyone forget,” said Hawksby. “My generation was raised on Colditz, Dunkirk, and Navarone.”
“So, it wasn’t David Niven who led that raid?” said William, playing along.
“No,” said the colonel, “but I can’t complain. When Niven landed the part it did my reputation with the ladies no harm. So how can I help?”
“May I ask, colonel, if you think DS Warwick’s idea has any merit?”
“It most certainly does, and what’s more I know the ideal man for the job. He’s actually already one of your chaps. When Captain Scott Cairns left the regiment, the Met recruited him to set up its counter-terrorist division, which is more or less the SAS in different-colored uniforms. I think you’ll find it’s fully operational by now, although it’s being kept under wraps.”
“Then we’ll have to unwrap it,” said William. “How do I get in touch with Captain Cairns?”
“I don’t know,” said the colonel. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if he was holed up somewhere in this building.”
“Scotland Yard employs over two thousand people in over three hundred offices on nineteen floors, but if he’s here I’ll have tracked him down before the end of the day,” said the Hawk. “Now all we have to hope is our boys are as good as your lot were.”
“They’re a damn sight better,” said the colonel. “We were a bunch of amateurs by comparison. This new lot are highly trained professionals, who’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done.”
“But are they just as mad?” asked the Hawk.
“Certifiable! It’s still the only essential qualification for the job. But now that I’ve solved your problem, can I ask a favor?”
“Anything,” said the Hawk.
“Since I’ve finally made it to Scotland Yard without being arrested, would it be possible to have a guided tour of the Black Museum?”
* * *