Hell's Corner by David Baldacci Read Free Book Online Page B

you do. I read the briefing papers. Afraid my memory’s just not what it was. Well, Oliver, it’s just a thought.”
    “Which is?”
    Just as Stone had done earlier, McElroy held up four fingers of his right hand. “A quartet of people in the park last night.” He lowered one finger. “Our man was the one whose tooth you were briefly in possession of.”
    “Agent Chapman told me he was one of yours and that he was patrolling the park. But why, if the PM wouldn’t be there?”
    “No elaborate explanation. He’d been assigned to patrol the park when the old walk-through plan was still in place. When the PM turned his ankle, we simply left him there to provide a wider berth of security.” McElroy held the three fingers up even higher. “But the bloody thing is, John—excuse me, Oliver—the bloody thing is my counterparts over here can tell me absolutely nothing about the other three.”
    “I saw the video feed. One of them is dead.”
    “Not particularly helpful. Then there’s the man and the woman. Perhaps they were just there by coincidence. But perhaps not. In either case, I need to know for certain.”
    “Why were there any people in the park last night? “I’m there at all hours, and the security detail knows me. But late at night the park doesn’t typically have visitors.”
    “Good question. Happened to have asked it myself. Have you found an answer? Because I haven’t.”
    “No, at least not a satisfactory one. No immediate threats against the PM?”
    “Nothing particularly credible.”
    “What line will you be taking, then?”
    “Remove him from the threat.” McElroy checked his watch. “The PM should be wheels down at Heathrow in twenty minutes, in fact.”
    “And after that?”
    McElroy noticed a fleck of dandruff on his shoulder and brushed it away like he might an unappealing conclusion. “We can’t leave it, Oliver. It happened on American soil, so our reach is limited, butwe really can’t leave it. Awful sort of precedent if we do. Can’t have folks taking potshots at our PM without any consequences.”
    “If he was the target.”
    “Have to assume he was until facts prove otherwise.”
    Stone looked over at Chapman and then back at his old acquaintance. “Agent Chapman seems well capable.”
    “Yes, she is, otherwise she wouldn’t be here. But I believe she will be infinitely more capable with you at her side.”
    Stone was already shaking his head. “My plate is full.”
    “Yes, your little trip to NIC. I understand Riley Weaver is marking his territory at an extraordinary clip over there. He’ll make mistakes, of course, and let’s just hope not too many people die when he does. And the FBI also wants a piece of you, I understand.”
    “Popular gent,” added Chapman.
    McElroy and Stone exchanged a knowing gaze. McElroy said, “I’m not sure ‘popular’ would be my first choice as a description. Short leash, Oliver?”
    “Could be.”
    Stone gave the older man a lengthy gaze.
    I wonder if he knows about my meeting with the president, about me going back in?
    Stone had no reason to think that McElroy wished him any ill will, but in this business simply saving someone’s life did not ensure a permanent allegiance. And Stone was also quite certain that the PM and hence James McElroy would sacrifice him if requested to do so by the Americans.
    And then something else occurred to Stone. That’s why I’m here. McElroy was told to deliver the message directly to me from the president.
    He decided to verify this speculation. “I already have an assignment. I’m supposed to leave tomorrow, in fact.”
    “Yes. Well, plans are fluid aren’t they? One has to account for recent events.”
    “Does one?”
    “A new arrangement is possible because of what happened in the park,” McElroy said bluntly.
    “Why? Simply because I was there?”
    “Partly. Plus, in the circles in question, I’m not without influence. And I thought you could be better deployed here than in