Sacred Stone (Oregon Files 2)

“Get on it then,” Hanley said.

“You got it, boss.”

Leaving the Magic Shop, Hanley walked back to the elevator and took it up. He walked along the passageway and entered the control room. Stone pointed to a screen with a map of downtown London being displayed.

“We can put them right there,” he said, “Battersea Park.”

“How far is it from Belgravia and the Strand?” Hanley asked.

“The heliport is built on pilings on the Thames,” Stone said, “between the Chelsea Bridge to the east and the Albert Bridge to the west. If they cross over the Albert Bridge on the Queenstown Road, they’re in Belgravia. From there it’s only a short drive to the Strand.”

“Beautiful,” Hanley said.

MEADOWS REACHED FOR the telephone on the first ring.

“Go to Battersea Park,” Hanley said without preamble, “there’s a heliport there out in the Thames. Cabrillo will be arriving shortly in the Robinson.”

“Have you made arrangements for a hotel?”

“Not yet,” Hanley said, “but I’ll book several rooms at the Savoy.”

“So you located our man?” Meadows asked.

“We think so,” Hanley said. “He should be right across the street.”

“Perfect,” Meadows said, disconnecting.

NEXT HANLEY CALLED Cabrillo to report. After giving him the locator numbers for the heliport, he explained that Meadows and Seng would meet him there.

“George will need to hangar the helicopter at Heathrow,” Cabrillo said. “I’m sure they won’t let us leave it on the helipad.”

“I’ll make the arrangements,” Hanley said.

“Be sure to book him a hotel as well,” Cabrillo said, “he’s exhausted.”

“I’ll put him up right near Heathrow, close to the Robinson.”

“What else?” Cabrillo asked.

“Nixon got Al-Khalifa’s satellite telephone working.”

“Can he match the voice so we can call his contacts?” Cabrillo asked excitedly.

“We’ll know soon.”

36

ROGER LASSITER SAT on a bench outside the restroom in the train station at Newcastle upon Tyne. He had been watching the door and the areas nearby for the last twenty minutes. Nothing seemed amiss. He wa

ited until the man who had just entered had finished and left. Now the facility should be empty. Glancing around one last time, he stood up and walked inside.

Then he made his way down to the far stall and took the lid off the tank.

The locker key was inside, and he quickly removed it and slid it in his pocket. Then he walked from the facility and located the locker. After watching the area for another half hour and finding nothing out of place, he waited until a luggage porter walked past and hailed him.

“I have a rental car in the parking structure,” Lassiter said, smiling, with a twenty-pound note in his hand. “If I pull it up to the doors, will you bring out a package I have?”

“Where is it, sir?” the porter asked.