The Eyre Affair (Thursday Next 1)

“Tall?”

“At least six-six.”

“Black hair worn swept back and graying at the temples?”

Buckett and I looked at one another.

“Yes?—”

“I think he’s over there, Thursday.”

I jerked the headphone jack out.

“—Acheron!!” came Styx’s voice over the loudspeaker. “Dear brother, what a pleasant surprise!”

I looked through the binoculars and could see Acheron in the flat with Styx. He was dressed in a large gray duster jacket and was exactly how I remembered him from all those years ago. It didn’t seem as though he had aged even one day. I shivered involuntarily.

“Shit,” I muttered. Snood had already dialed the pager number to alert Tamworth.

“Mosquitoes have stung the blue goat,” he muttered down the phone. “Thank you. Can you repeat that back and send it twice?”

My heart beat faster. Acheron might not stay long and I was in a position for advancement beyond the LiteraTecs for good. Capturing Hades would be something no one could ever ignore.

“I’m going over there,” I said almost casually.

“What?!”

“You heard. Stay here and call SO-14 for armed backup, silent approach. Tell them we have gone in and to surround the building. Suspect will be armed and highly dangerous. Got it?”

Snood smiled in the manner that I had so liked in his son and reached for the telephone. I turned to Buckett.

“You with me?”

Buckett had turned a little pale.

“I’m . . . ah .

. . with you,” he replied slightly shakily.

I flew out of the door, down the stairs and into the lobby.

“Next!—”

It was Buckett. He had stopped and was visibly shaking.

“What is it?”

“I . . . I . . . can’t do this,” he announced, loosening his tie and rubbing the back of his neck. “I have the kid!—You don’t know what he can do. I’m a betting man, Next. I love long odds. But we try and take him and we’re both dead. I beg you, wait for SO-14!”

“He could be long gone by then. All we have to do is detain him.”

Buckett bit his lip, but the man was terrified. He shook his head and beat a hasty retreat without another word. It was unnerving to say the least. I thought of shouting after him but remembered the picture of the dribbling kid. I pulled out my automatic, pushed open the door to the street and walked slowly across the road to the building opposite. As I did so Tamworth drew up in his car. He didn’t look very happy.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Pursuing the suspect.”

“No you’re not. Where’s Buckett?”