Over My Dead Body (Detective William Warwick #4)(56)

‘A pleasant one, I hope, Mrs Hogan,’ said The Hawk. ‘You can be very proud of your son, and I’m sorry we’re losing him.’

‘Praise indeed, commander. But as a good Roman Catholic, you can’t have failed to notice that they’ve got married just in time,’ said Mrs Hogan, glancing in the direction of her daughter-in-law.

‘I fear I’m a lapsed Catholic,’ the commander replied.

‘Lapsed enough not to be concerned about her previous profession?’

The commander couldn’t think of a suitable reply.

‘Who’s that chatting to William?’ asked Jackie, as she joined Paul in the queue for a second helping.

‘Major Cormac Kinsella. Ross’s new boss. He’s completely bonkers, so Ross should feel at home,’ added Paul, as he grabbed the last chicken leg.

‘When does Ross join you?’ asked William.

‘First of the month,’ said Major Kinsella. ‘So you’ll only have him for a couple more weeks after he gets back from his honeymoon.’

‘Couldn’t be better timing,’ said William. ‘We have one last assignment that can’t go ahead without him.’

‘Dare I ask?’ said Kinsella. ‘Ross refuses to tell me anything about what he gets up to at the Yard.’

‘Neither will I,’ said William. ‘If I did, I’d lose my job.’

‘Should that happen,’ said Kinsella, taking a card from an inside pocket and presenting it to William, ‘please get in touch.’

‘Why would he want to do that?’ asked Beth, as she appeared by William’s side.

‘We’re most fortunate to have Ross joining us as the senior ground operative, Mrs Warwick,’ said Kinsella, ‘but it won’t be long before I’ll be looking for a new managing director to take my place. Frankly, I think your husband would be the ideal person to take the company on to its next stage.’

‘What can there possibly be beyond “Unbearable”?’

‘A salary of eighty thousand pounds a year, shares in the company and a percentage of the profits.’

‘And what makes you think I’d be the right man for the job?’ asked William. ‘After all, you’ve only known me for ten minutes.’

‘I know that you’re the youngest DCI in the Met’s history, and in Ross’s opinion you’re the finest officer he’s ever served under. Frankly, I’d made the decision even before I met you.’

‘Better not tell the commander,’ said Beth.

‘Better not tell me what?’ demanded The Hawk, as he walked across to join them.

‘Major Kinsella has just offered William a job,’ Beth answered with relish.

‘Over my dead body,’ said Hawksby.

‘Whatever it takes,’ said Kinsella, grinning.

‘And I’ll do whatever it takes to stop you,’ said The Hawk. ‘I have higher things planned for DCI Warwick, and they don’t include running a holiday camp. What’s more, I’ll happily murder anyone who gets in my way.’

‘Don’t the Gospels tell us that the thought of murder is every bit as bad as the deed,’ said Beth, trying to lighten the mood.

‘If that’s the case,’ said the commander, ‘I’ll have to ask our Lord to take about fifty other cases into consideration. And, frankly, you’re not even top of my current list,’ he said, glowering at the major.

William smiled, but then he knew exactly who was top of the commander’s current list.

‘And in any case,’ continued The Hawk, ‘I will also be retiring in the not-too-distant future, and someone’s going to have to take my place.’

This silenced even Beth, while William was distracted by a voice whispering in his ear, ‘Can I have a word with you before we leave for the airport?’

‘Of course,’ said William, leaving the commander to continue jousting with Major Kinsella.

‘Will I be back in time for the big one?’ asked Ross, once he was confident no one could overhear them.

‘I’ve delayed everything by a week to make sure you are. I don’t want to start this particular operation without you.’

‘How did the specialised movers feel about the Yard joining them for the trip?’

‘Not overjoyed, but they kept their counsel after The Hawk reminded them that most of their contracts have to be sanctioned by the government. They were still a bit bolshie for a few days, until the Home Secretary called their chairman. Not a long conversation, I’m told.’

‘I can’t wait,’ said Ross.

‘Don’t let Jo hear you saying that,’ said William, ‘because I know she has other plans for you during the next ten days. So be sure to relax and enjoy your honeymoon. I’m going to need you at your sharpest when you return if we’re going to pull off the biggest operation I’ve ever been involved in.’

‘Bigger than Trojan Horse?’ said Ross.

‘That was the commander’s operation. Masterpiece is mine.’

? ? ?

Ross spent the next week roaming around the Loire valley, sipping the finest wines, while not being allowed to empty his glass, then devouring several courses of nouvelle cuisine before going to bed feeling hungry. He spent the last three days of the honeymoon enjoying the sights of Paris, unaware that it wouldn’t be long before he returned. He still managed a five-mile run every morning before joining Jo for a breakfast of croissant and coffee. Breakfast, he reflected, was clearly a meal the French hadn’t come to terms with. In his absence, DCI Warwick and the commander spent the time fine-tuning every last detail of an operation that would require split-second timing.