Читать книгу Coffin’s Game - Gwendoline Butler - Страница 8

‘The Chemin des Dames, that’s the name,’ said Charles. ‘Do you know that in 1917 the whole French Army was in revolt because of the terrible deaths on the Chemin des Dames. That wonderful army that Napoleon built, reduced to chaos and despair … that’s the mood I want to create with our bombs. Then we can rebuild society.’

Not me, thought Jerry. I’m a soldier, I get instructions from above, I do the job, and walk away. Also, I get paid.

There were three of them in the rented room above an empty shop in Mordecai Street; the neighbours, such as took any interest, thought they were charity workers helping Africa or Tibet.

Present were Jerry, the supreme professional, the leader and the technician on the bomb, Andrew, an old colleague on the bomb run, and Charles, the college graduate, the sort to go out on a crusade. Jerry found him useful, but did not trust him.

Nor did he trust the fourth member of the team, known as the Secret Card, brought in by Pip for local knowledge and inside information on the Second City Police.

None of them used their own names, not even Jerry and Andrew. Only Jerry knew and had contact with the man next in the chain of command, and he knew him only as Pip. Jerry knew that they were only the second team, not entrusted with the bigger bomb, but they were operators.

The local knowledge of the Card had told them which street was strategically placed for a bomb, near a big supermarket for maximum damage, yet neutral; a thorough-fare where people took not much notice of each other and where cars and vans could park unnoticed. Arch Road, with Percy Street, in which many houses were empty, just round the corner. Arch Road – put the bomb there.

‘Cameras, videos?’ Jerry had queried, having observed the police cameras going up on street corners in the Second City.

‘None in Arch Road, nor Percy Street yet. The city has to persuade local businesses to come up with the cash.’

That was where the Card’s knowledge of the police had come in useful.

The Card was not present at this last meeting before the bomb. Might be due for a quick exit. Jerry would decide.

In any case, the group (and there were others of whom this little coterie knew nothing) would soon split up and disappear.

Job done.

But Jerry had not quite taken in the tricky character Pip had enlisted in the Card.

Pip could have enlightened him, but saw no reason to do so.