‘Are you ringing from Penrith?’ Though Anita was glad that Kevin had rung, because she wanted to apologize again for putting him in danger, she was too preoccupied for unnecessary chit-chat. The incident in the safe house garden had just indicated how edgy everyone was becoming. There was a clever, resourceful and ruthless killer out there who would stop at nothing to shoot their one and only witness to Jack Harmer’s murder.
‘No. Essex.’
‘Essex? Are you visiting your sister?’ Anita didn’t quite catch his reply over the noise of an aircraft taking off nearby. ‘Sorry, what did you say? Sounds as though you’re at an airport.’
‘Kind of. It’s a private aerodrome.’
‘What are you doing there?’
‘Helping the most gorgeous policewoman in Sweden.’
Anita was totally nonplussed. Then she began to get exasperated. She had specifically asked him not to do any more. He wasn’t to put himself in peril. ‘What have you been up to?’ she demanded.
‘I know how Tyrone Cassidy got in and out of Sweden.’
‘What?’ Anita gasped.
‘Our murdering wealthy benefactor owns a private plane. It’s a Cessna Citation CJ2. 2003 model. He bought it second hand in 2010 from an American. He keeps it here in Essex at the Hockley Heath Aerodrome. It used to be an RAF airfield during the last war.’
Anita couldn’t contain her amazement. ‘How did you find this out?’
‘Thanks to Kathleen Dillon, a little old Irish lady of my acquaintance.’
‘And she gave you all that detail about his plane?’ Now she was incredulous.
‘No. She put me on the trail. I posed as someone from the Civil Aviation Authority doing a survey of flights in and out of the United Kingdom to EU countries over the last two months from small or private airfields.’
‘And they believed you?’
‘I said it was a consequence of the Brexit vote. Luckily, the guy I spoke to was only too happy to provide information, as he was obviously one of those deluded souls who thinks we’re going to put the Great back into Britain. I think that boat sailed in 1914. You know, I’m quite enjoying this pretending-to-be-other-people lark.’
‘But Cassidy?’ she said impatiently.
‘Yes. He flew out of here on Sunday, the seventh of August at 14:00 hours bound for southern Sweden. Somewhere called Tommy Lilly or something.’
‘Tomelilla.’
‘That’s it. Flew back in late Monday afternoon, August eighth. There was only Cassidy and his pilot on board on both flights. It wasn’t the first time he’d flown there either. And he’s also made recent trips to Norway and Holland.’
‘You are a fantastic man.’
‘Why, thank you, madam.’
‘I think you should go to the nearest pub and reward yourself with a pint.’
‘You can read my mind.’
‘And if you can read my mind at this moment, you’ll realize that you’re going to get some X-rated action when I come over.’
Kevin nearly dropped his phone.
Moberg was pleased to receive some good news at last. Anita didn’t enlighten him as to exactly how Kevin had found out. He wanted action. Hakim was immediately dispatched to Tomelilla. A quick check had shown up an old airfield in the area which was thought to have been abandoned.
As soon as they could confirm that Cassidy’s Cessna plane had landed in Sweden on the 7th of August, they could prove he was in the country at the time of Jack Harmer’s murder. Then they could start extradition proceedings to impel him to face justice in Sweden. But it would be fruitless if McNaught got to their only witness first.
Moberg, Anita and Wallen debated whether they should move Danny to another location. The alternatives were apartments in the city. Having got to know the rural safe house, Wallen now argued that any apartment could be easier for McNaught to infiltrate, and if shooting broke out, innocent people might get caught in the crossfire. Anita was also uneasy about transporting Danny from one location to another. Whatever precautions they took, there would be some spot on the route which would be vulnerable to an attack. The trouble was that they still had no idea where McNaught was. They had no new leads. Finally, Moberg decided that Danny should stay put.
‘One other thing,’ Wallen said. ‘Jack Harmer’s father. We’ve got a DNA sample off him. I persuaded him not to view the body. Too upsetting given there isn’t anything really recognizable. But he’s asked if he can speak to Danny. I think he wants to know about his son’s last weeks. It’s understandable.’
The request left Moberg thoughtful. ‘OK. I’m not entirely happy about it. Get Brodd to take him down to the house this afternoon. He’s only got an hour, mind.’
‘I think he’ll appreciate it.’
As Anita was leaving Moberg’s office, she saw Liv Fogelström coming in the opposite direction.
‘How are you?’ Anita asked.
Liv’s face lit up as she held up her left hand. The sparkle coming from her ring finger was the reason for her happiness.
‘That must have cost Hakim.’ Anita held Liv’s hand and examined it. It wasn’t to her taste – too glitzy. But Liv clearly loved it. ‘It’s beautiful. Are you setting a date?’
‘Oh, no. Maybe next year. We’re not rushing things. We’ve got certain things to iron out first.’ Anita knew she meant Hakim’s parents.
‘Well, I’m pleased for you both. By the way, there’s something I want to ask you…’