Page 137 of Everything That Kills Me
By the time he left work, he was pretty sure he knew where Thomas was staying. Not that he was interested in him per se, though he wondered what interest Thomas had in the Saudi, but Thomas would know where Jack was.And he’s going to tell you?Zeph sagged. He wouldn’t.
Even so, despite everything telling him not to, he was going to head for the New Cross Hotel. Zeph had been trained in countersurveillance techniques even though he had no intention of working in the field, but it was something all new recruits had to do. Now he had to do it for real.
He’d learned to vary his walking pace, to cross a road for no reason, pause to look in windows for reflections, be unpredictable, make random decisions. At least he no longer had a limp to give him away. Zeph caught the bus at his usual stop, went up to the top deck as he always did, but sat in a place that let him see everyone who got on or who didn’t get on, which was not his usual habit.
He also got off far too soon and switched onto another bus, then backtracked on the Tube. By the time he was close to the hotel, he was sure he’d not been followed. Well, as sure as he could be. He wasn’t an expert at this. It was hard to keep track of everyone around you without looking as if that was exactly what you were doing.
For the last two days, CCTV had shown Thomas had returned to the hotel in the evening, at seven the first night,seven thirty the next. Zeph had considered hacking into the hotel’s reservations but that wasn’t much use when he had no idea what name Thomas was using. His best chance was to catch him coming back, assuming he did. It was ten minutes to seven. That didn’t mean Thomas wasn’t already in his room but…
Zeph waited out of sight of the CCTV that covered the hotel entrance. At twenty to eight, he was about to give up when he saw a figure heading down the road who looked the right build. Zeph took a deep breath and hurried to intercept him before cameras could pick up either of them. If it wasn’t Thomas, he’d just keep walking. But it was. For a moment, Thomas looked as though he was going to pretend not to know him, then he came to a halt and gave a slight nod.
“Hello, Zeph.”
“Can we have a chat?”
Thomas looked at his watch as though Zeph had asked him the time. “Painter Street in fifteen minutes. By the flower shop.” Then he walked on.
Zeph went in the opposite direction and once he’d turned the corner, he googled where he needed to go. It wasn’t far. He headed in the wrong direction to start with, then looped round. He arrived in exactly fifteen minutes. There was no sign of Thomas and Zeph realised he might not even turn up. For all he knew, Thomas had checked out of the hotel and disappeared into the rabbit warren that was London.
But then he saw Thomas coming towards him and breathed a sigh of relief. Thomas didn’t stop when he reached him, but said, “Albas street on the left about two hundred metres from here. Go down it and turn first right into the alley.”
Zeph didn’t watch as Thomas walked away. Zeph kept checking his phone, as though he was waiting for someone and after a few minutes he followed.
As he turned right into the alley as instructed, an arm wrapped around his neck and yanked him into a doorway. Zeph didn’t resist though it crossed his mind he might not come out of this in one piece.
Thomas whispered, “Keep still. Be quiet.”
Zeph presumed he was checking no one was following.
After a few minutes, he released Zeph from the hold and swiftly patted him down. Zeph took a deep breath and fought the urge to rub his neck.
“How did you know I was staying in that hotel? Have you been tailing me?”
Zeph wasn’t sure what to say. He’d be in a lot of trouble if it was discovered that after he’d spotted Thomas, he’d not only traced him but approached him.
This is a mistake.
So make something up!
“I saw you in Covent Garden yesterday.” Zeph had seen him, but on CCTV, not in person. “I followed you back to the hotel. You went a roundabout route but…”
“Why did you follow me?”
“I want to speak to Jack.”
Thomas rolled his eyes. “He’s done with you!”
“I’d like to see him.”
“For Christ sakes, Zeph! Whatever you had is over, finished, not to be resurrected. Let. It. Go.”
“Is he involved in the mission you’re on?”
Zeph wasn’t sure who was more surprised by that question. Thomas gaped at him and Zeph could hardly believe he’d asked it. Thomas didn’t answer, but there was no point not continuing now. Zeph was either wrong or right. He took another risk, felt his balls contract as he broke the official secrets act, and said, “Al-Talib.”
Thomas’s blank face told him nothing, but his subsequent exhalation told Zeph he was right.Shit!
Thomas stepped so close to Zeph that he could feel his breath hitting his face. “You’re going to tell me exactly what you’re up to. If anyone comes near us, we embrace.”
