Skinner had just refilled the coffee mugs when his scrambled direct line rang. He stepped across to the desk and picked it up. `Yes?'
DCI Donaldson, sir. I'm calling from Captain Arrow's office in Whitehall.'
`Hello, Dave. I've been expecting your report. Look, I've got company here, Mr Doherty and Ms Gower, so I'm going to switch to hands free.' He pushed a button on the receiver and replaced the handset. 'Right, how's it going down there?'
Donaldson's voice boomed tinnily around the room. Interesting, sir. We've satisfied ourselves that the Red Box was clean when Maurice Noble took it home with him.'
`That doesn't really surprise me. Go on to the interesting bits.'
`Right, for a start, Maurice Noble's colleagues say that he was showing signs of depression. This was related to the excessive hours that Mr Davey made his staff work, and to his belief that his wife was having an affair.'
`Have you spoken to the wife?'
`Just left her, sir.'
`What did she have to say? You did put it to her, didn't you?'
Of course, boss. We asked her directly. She didn't admit anything.'
`But you have room for doubt?'
`Substantial.
Okay. Is Adam there?'
`Yes, sir. I'll put him on.'
Skinner picked up the receiver, cutting out the loudspeak. Adam, I think maybe we should put a tail on Mrs Noble. Do y agree?'
Too right. I've put a tap on her phone already.'
Is that authorised?'
I've fookin' authorised it.'
`Fine, if you can do that. Now I want you to use Donaldson and McIlhenney for the tail.
They're both good guys, and I trust them. While they're keeping the lady in their sights, I'd like you to do something else for me. It sounds as if we have to consider suicide by Noble as a possibility here. I want you to go back into his past and find out whether he had the skill to make an explosive device.'
Okay,' said Arrow. 'From memory, there was nothing to indicate that, but I'll take a look.
Maybe he 'ad a Boys' Own Chemistry set when he was a lad. Anything else?'
`Yeah. Let's cover all the angles. If the Red Box spent the night at Chez Noble, I'd like to have the place checked for any sign of an illicit entry while they were asleep. Ask Dave Donaldson to arrange to borrow a Scene of Crime Squad from the Met.'
`Right, I'll do that.'
`Good,' said Skinner. 'Now, Joe Doherty has with him the American file on Agent Robin.
I've got Brian Mackie flying down there tomorrow. I'll ask him to give it to you.'
`You can if you like,' said Arrow, 'but it ain't news to me. M16 found out about Robin before the Yanks did. The CIA obviously didn't tell the NSC, but it were our lot that tipped them off! Don't worry about Agent Robin, Bob. We've got an operation in place in that respect, and I'm pretty certain that Robin isn’t the person we're after! The best thing we can do is follow the leads we ‘ave, and keep an eye out for traces of General Yahic.'
Skinner said cautiously. 'I'll go with your judgement on that. Good luck.'
‘cheers mate. I'll keep in touch.' Arrow hesitated. 'One thing though, Bob. Are you all right?'
`Me! Of course. Why?'
"Cos from where I'm listening, you sound absolutely knackered!'