Page 85 of End Game
Faulkner tried to remain detached.
‘Don’t spare us the details,’ said Wei Ming, enjoying every moment.
‘Once the liquid has vaporized, it will quickly spread, either killing or debilitating almost everyone in its path. Those close to me will die within moments, while anyone nearby will suffer seizures and paralysis, which may not surface for weeks, but I can assure you will get them in the end. And for those who panic and flee from the stadium imagining they’re safe, some will be carrying the gas on their clothes so we must hope they get onto a tube, an enclosed space, where they will unwittingly spread the gas. I’m only sorry I won’t be around to witness it. However, given the circumstances, I recommend that none of you attend the closing ceremony, because nerve agents don’t discriminate. If all goes to plan – and it will,’ said Sun Anqi, ‘Prince Harry, who will be representing the Queen, and the British Prime Minister, along with several other heads of state, leading politicians and so-called dignitaries, will be attending their last public function. And there will only be one country to blame, and one person in particular,’ continued Sun Anqi, ‘namely Commander Warwick, which should at least make you a happy man,’ she added, staring directly at Faulkner.
‘But if that were to happen,’ came back Faulkner, ‘many of your own countrymen will die.’
‘A sacrifice we are willing to make,’ said the Chinese Ambassador, ‘as it will convince the rest of the world we couldn’t possibly have been involved.’
Faulkner couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He now knew just how right Booth Watson had been when he’d advised:Walk away while you still can.
‘But won’t you still have a problem getting into the stadium?’ asked Mikailov.
‘Not while there are three hundred other athletes toaccompany me,’ said Sun Anqi. ‘You see, I will be wearing two tracksuits – one in the Chinese team colours, to get me into the stadium with the rest of the team, and another one underneath to make sure I can join the British team unnoticed.’
‘But what if you are searched on your way in?’ asked Petrov.
‘I will be wearing the official Chinese team kit, so there’s no reason for anyone to be suspicious.’
Faulkner leant slightly forward in his seat. ‘But what if someone recognizes you? We don’t think your cover has been blown, but, if Roycroft managed to send any images to Warwick …’
‘I have the photographs and, just in case you’ve forgotten, I removed the only witness who could have identified me.’
‘But the place will be swarming with security guards …’
‘I’m well aware of that, Mr Faulkner,’ said Sun Anqi, contemptuously. ‘But I have identified a weakness that you British suffer from – something they are taught in their public schools from an early age.’
‘And what might that be?’ asked Faulkner.
‘That women are the weaker sex,’ said Sun Anqi, ‘and that weakness is something I intend to take advantage of.’
Faulkner didn’t press her for details, not least because he had learnt over the past few weeks that Sun Anqi wouldn’t share them with her own countrymen, let alone an Englishman she didn’t trust.
‘I am confident that not only will I succeed,’ said Sun Anqi, ‘but also that the London Games will only be remembered for its closing ceremony.’
‘And not as a glorious triumph to be compared with Beijing,’ said Wei Ming.
‘Over my dead body,’ said Sun Anqi.
•••
The first appointment Mr Booth Watson had the following morning was with an out-of-work actor who’d played Faulkner at the Savoy the night before – an uncanny resemblance.
After he’d been paid a thousand pounds in cash for his night’s work, he only had one question for his paymaster before he left, ‘Can I keep the coat?’
Booth Watson agreed to his request, but only after he’d signed a non-disclosure agreement.
The Chinese extra was the next to appear and receive his equity fee. He told Booth Watson the meal had been excellent, and he’d enjoyed the company of the Chinese Ambassador’s wife, who had clearly known the part she was expected to play in her husband’s absence. ‘Should you wish a repeat performance,’ said the understudy, ‘I’d be only too happy to oblige.’
‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ said Booth Watson, who had no intention of ever seeing the man again.
The two Russian actors were paid in full, even though their services hadn’t been required, and they left Booth Watson’s chambers none the wiser.
After paying off the last of the thespians, Booth Watson took a taxi to the Savoy to have lunch with the real Miles Faulkner, where he reported on the successful outcome of his role in the deception. But then he listened intently to his client while he revealed what was going to happen at the closing ceremony.
Booth Watson didn’t remind Miles that he had advised him on more than one occasion to walk away while he still could, because it was now too late.
THE CLOSING CEREMONY
