Page 81 of End Game
Once the podium had been placed in the middle of the home straight, and the three medallists had taken their placesbehind it, the crowd finally fell silent as they waited for the official result to be announced.
‘The five thousand metres final,’ declared the announcer, ‘the winner of the gold medal in a time of thirteen minutes, forty-one point six …’
The roar that erupted from the crowd was so loud that no one heard the name of the winner, but it was Mo Farah who jumped up onto the podium to be presented with the gold medal.
The three young women who were carrying the medals on plush cushions stepped forward for the presentation.
Mrs Dagmawit Girmay Berhane, General Secretary of the Ethiopian National Olympic Committee, bent down and gave Jojo a warm smile, before she picked up the gold medal from its cushion, walked across to the podium and placed it around the neck of the victor. She then presented his two closest rivals, and her fellow countrymen, with their silver and bronze medals.
Just as the crowd thought the moment had passed, a jester appeared on the track in the form of Usain Bolt. He leapt up onto the podium and joined Mo, striking the familiar ‘Mo Bot’ pose, to which Mo responded with Usain’s ‘To di World’ stance, and for a brief moment in time, the world was united.
William quickly returned to the Gold Suite to keep his eye on the departing crowd, while Ross remained behind on the terrace and watched his daughter as she left her field of dreams.
The judge poured himself another whisky, while the jury hugged each other like old friends.
When the television was finally turned off, Sir Julian turned around and gave his junior a respectful bow.
•••
When the track and field events ended later that evening, with the Americans once again winning the four-by-four-hundred metres relay, William and his team didn’t even stop to catch their breath as they began to prepare for the closing ceremony.
The Hawk was on the phone moments later to congratulate William on the professional role he and his team had played during the Games.
‘I’m aware that, in Kipling’s words, you have in the past month had to face both triumph and disaster, but I can assure you these Olympics will be remembered as a triumph.’
William thanked his boss, but didn’t tell the Assistant Commissioner that he wouldn’t be treating those two imposters just the same until after the closing ceremony.
Tonight, he was taking Beth out for dinner, in an attempt to make sure his marriage remained ‘Happily ever after’, to quote Artemisia. Meanwhile, all the team had their special assignments. Ross was to tail Faulkner and never let him out of his sight. Paul was allocated to the Russian Ambassador, while Rebecca was to keep an eye on the Chinese Ambassador. If any two of them were to meet up at the same time, William was to be informed immediately.
He didn’t intend to relax until the Olympic flag had been passed on to the Mayor of Rio, the spectators had gone home, and the stadium was finally empty.
CHAPTER 27
Saturday, 11th August – day 16 of the Games
THE REST OF THE DAYran smoothly enough, with no unscheduled meetings taking place. In fact, William began to wonder if he was becoming paranoid and the closing ceremony would be an anticlimax. He only hoped it wouldbe.But he still didn’t relax.
When he left the stadium, William hailed a taxi – a necessary expense if he wasn’t going to be late for Beth. In fact, the first thing he said to the maître d’ as he entered Le Caprice was, ‘Tell me I got here before my wife.’
‘You are the first to arrive,’ the maitre d’ confirmed, as he took William to his table, but only just, because William had just sat down when Beth appeared.
‘Can I show you to your table, madam?’ asked the maître d’.
‘Thank you,’ said Beth, who had never dined at Le Caprice before, and was amused to see how many familiar faces littered the room.
The maître d’ guided her to a table in the corner, where her host was waiting. He stood up the moment he saw her.
‘Good evening,’ she said, offering her hand. ‘My name is Beth Warwick and I have a feeling we’ve met before, but I can’t remember where.’
‘I deserved that,’ said William, as he took his wife in his arms. ‘But I promise to make it up to you. It’s the closing ceremony tomorrow and after that I’ll be handing over to DI Adaja for the Paralympics.’
‘When perhaps we can share a few treasured memories together,’ suggested Beth, ‘like how we first met, somehow became engaged, married, and ended up with two wonderful children.’
‘I do adore you,’ said William, as he held back her seat.
‘And I love you too,’ admitted Beth, as she sat down. ‘But I’m trying to remember why.’
William took her hand, and a concerned smile appeared, replacing the gentle rebuke.
