Private London (Private 4)

‘The man had your brother’s wallet and was driving his car.’

Penelope shook her head again. ‘Maybe they were stolen.’

The registrar didn’t respond and Penelope tilted her chin defiantly. ‘Well, if it is him, then I don’t want the transplant to go ahead. He wouldn’t have wanted it – I know that for a fact.’

‘It’s too late, Miss Harris.’

‘I refuse. Let us be very clear about this: I am not giving you permission.’

‘The girl’s heart has already been removed. They are in the process of replacing it with your brother’s now.’

‘Well, I want it stopped!’

Chapter 49

SAM TURNED THE steering wheel and glanced across at me.

‘Friends in high places, Dan?’

‘Seems that way. Jack Morgan has, at least.’

‘The Foreign Office?’

‘Homeland Security stateside contacted their opposite numbers here. They arranged the passport for Hannah Shapiro in the first place. All above board.’

‘The ex not too pleased, I take it?’

‘Actually, Kirsty was fine with it. Her boss wasn’t quite so.’

‘Shame.’

‘Shame indeed.’

My phone rang and I looked at the caller ID. It said withheld. ‘This better not be a bloody marketing company,’ I said and clicked the green telephone on. ‘Dan Carter.’

A mechanical voice spoke. ‘Be at your office in two hours. We’ll give you instructions then. If you have just been speaking to the police you’ve signed her death warrant.’

The line went dead.

Sam looked across. ‘That them?’

I nodded.

‘What’s the plan?’

‘They’re calling back in a couple of hours with details.’

‘What did he sound like?’

I shrugged. ‘They used a voice distorter.’

‘How did they get your number?’

‘I would imagine Hannah gave it to them. She knows who we are, after all.’

‘They say anything else?’

‘They said if I’d been speaking to the police about it all bets were off.’