‘Hello. Is that Cyril Kercheval?'
`Who's calling?' There was a slight distortion on the line, but it could not disguise the suspicious tone in the voice.
`This is Detective Chief Inspector Brian Mackie. I'm calling from Edinburgh.'
`Who gave you my mobile number?'
`So that is Mr Kercheval?'
`Yes, yes. But I repeat, who gave you this number?'
`My boss, Bob Skinner.'
Ah! Our resident in the North. In that case I'd better speak to you; his star burns brightly in our heavens these days. What can I do for you?' The distortion had cleared, and Kercheval's tone with it. Now he sounded bright and breezy.
`My colleague and I would like to meet with you. Mr Skinner has asked us to undertake an investigation, and he's given us your name as someone who might help.'
`How urgent is this?'
Extremely.'
D'you mean over the weekend? I've got a winter foursomes tie tomorrow morning at Sandwich, but I could come up to Town after that, at around three. I have to say, though, I'd prefer Monday.'
Mackie thought back to Skinner's orders, to the stress he had laid on discretion and to his comment about the porosity of MI5.
He guessed that if a senior man was summoned for an emergency meeting with two policemen from the North, that might attract the sort of attention that the DCC was keen to avoid.
Okay, sir,' he said. 'Monday it is, unless Mr Skinner feels particularly strongly that it should be earlier. If he does, I'll call you back on this number.'
`Fine.' Kercheval paused. 'You'll be flying down, so let's meet at eleven a.m. My office — or would you prefer neutral territory?'
In the circumstances, I think we would.'
`Right, in that case let's make it a working lunch. You like Chinese? There's a place called Mr Kong in one of the streets up behind Leicester Square. Lisle Street, or Gerrard Street, I can never remember which. I'll see you there at twelve-thirty.'
`Very good, sir, we'll be there on time.'
The MI5 man grunted. I'm sure you will. Between now and Monday I'll try to imagine what you want to talk about. Mind you, even now I have a suspicion!'