The King's Deception

She told Malone everything that happened, since yesterday, at Windsor and Oxford, adding her suspicions about Eva Pazan and what Mathews had told her in the car. Malone recounted his past twenty-four hours, which seemed about as chaotic as hers. Ian Dunne filled in what occurred a month ago at Oxford Circus.

She omitted only three things.

Her current state of SOCA suspension, her past connection to Blake Antrim, and the fact that she’d been led to the Inns of Court specifically to see Antrim. None of that seemed necessary to reveal.

At least not yet.

“How did you find us at the bookstore?” Malone asked.

“Mathews sent me. He knew you’d be there.”

“He say how he knew that?”

She shook her head. “He’s not the most forthcoming individual.”

Malone smiled “What’s a SOCA agent doing working with MI6?”

“I was specially assigned.”

Which was true.

To a point.

* * *

Malone wasn’t entirely satisfied with Kathleen Richards’ explanations. But they were strangers, so he couldn’t expect her to provide everything at once. Still, she’d said enough for him to make a few decisions. The first involved Ian. He needed him out of the line of fire, back with Antrim and Gary, but he realized that maneuvering the boy to leave would be tough.

“I’m concerned about Miss Mary.”

He explained to Richards that she was the older woman in the bookstore, then said, “Those men could come back, and we left her there.”

“The Met are no help,” Richards said. “They’re working with Mathews.”

He stared at Ian. “I need you to look after her.”

“You said you would do that.”

“I will, by getting both you and her to where Gary is.”

“I want to go with you.”

“Who says I’m going somewhere?”

“You are.”

This kid was bright, but that didn’t mean he would get his way. “Miss Mary looks after you when you need it. Now it’s your turn for her.”

Ian nodded. “I can do that.”

“I’m going to contact Antrim and have him come get both you and her.”

“And where are you going?” Richards asked.

“To get some answers.”

The slip of paper Miss Mary had given him with the phone number was still in his pocket. My sister. I spoke to her a little while ago. She’ll take your call in the morning.

“You going to let me tag along?” Richards asked.

“I’m assuming that you wouldn’t take no for an answer.”

“Hardly. But my SOCA badge could prove helpful.”

That it could. Especially for toting weapons.

He handed her one of the guns he’d snatched.

“I have to make a call to Antrim and check on my son,” he said. “Then I’m going to get a few hours’ sleep.”

“I’d offer my flat,” Richards said. “But I’m afraid that’s the first place they’re going to look for me.”

He agreed. “A hotel is better.”

Thirty-five

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 22

8:00 AM

Malone finished off some cereal and fruit for breakfast. He and Kathleen Richards had spent a few hours at the Churchill, he on the pullout sofa bed, she in the bedroom. They’d arrived after midnight and a suite was all the hotel had to offer. Jet lag from the flight over had finally caught up to him and he’d fallen asleep almost immediately after lying down. But not before calling Antrim and making sure Ian and Miss Mary had arrived and that Gary was okay. Richards had told him that they still needed to have a chat, and asked him to keep her identity between themselves until after they talked. So he’d honored that request and not mentioned her to Antrim.

“I was sent by Mathews because of Blake Antrim,” Richards said to him from across the table.

The Churchill’s restaurant opened off the main lobby with a wall of windows that overlooked busy Portman Square.

“He and I were once involved. Ten years ago,” she said. “Mathews wanted me to use that relationship and make contact.”

“Is Antrim a problem?”

He needed to know, since Gary was in his custody.

She shook her head. “Not that way. Not at all. Your son is fine with him. Now, if he were a girlfriend breaking up with Antrim.” She paused. “Different story.”

He thought he understood. “Doesn’t let go gracefully?”

“Something like that. Let’s just say our parting was memorable.”

“And you agreed to reconnect with him?”

“Antrim is apparently into something that threatens our national security.”

That grabbed his attention.

“Unfortunately, Mathews did not say how.”

“So he sent you to the bookstore last night to connect with me and Ian. Let me guess. He wants the flash drive?”

She nodded. “Exactly. I don’t suppose you would share what’s on it?”

Why not? What did he care? This wasn’t his fight. Besides, it wasn’t all that much. “As amazing as it sounds, Antrim is trying to prove that Elizabeth I was actually a man.”

He caught the surprise on her face.

“You must be daft. Mathews was willing to kill me over that?”

He shrugged. “It gets worse. Mathews was there when Farrow Curry was pushed into an Underground train. One of his men did the pushing. Ian saw that, firsthand.”

“Which explains why he wants Ian Dunne.”