Lily sat with Lesh in the cafe at the side of the hotel foyer, which gave them a great view of the bar and the door through to the banqueting suite, from where the politicians were emerging. They also had a good view of the entrance to the hotel with its two revolving doors.
The other three Squad members were in the games room on the far side of the bar, pretending to play pool, but in reality watching, listening, gathering evidence.
They’d all been in position for nearly half an hour and had seen several important people standing in groups. Norwegians. Russians. Americans. People they’d researched since arriving in Norway. Also several small groups of young footballers in their national tracksuits, a stark contrast to the adults in dinner jackets and long dresses.
‘I do think we need to spend more time with the rest of the team,’ Lesh said. ‘If we don’t, they’ll get suspicious. Hatty is already worried about Georgia asking questions.’
‘I know,’ Lily said. ‘She told me. You’re right, we should … what is it?’
Lesh had tapped his lips twice, a signal to Lily.
Something behind her. That she was not to look.
She switched instantly to normal conversation. ‘So, what should we go and see tomorrow? That museum in Tromsø? It’s called Polaria, isn’t it?’
‘Yes,’ Lesh answered. ‘That sounds interesting.’
‘Excuse me?’ The voice came from behind Lily. An American voice. Lesh was smiling up at whoever it was, so Lily turned to look at him.
And there he was.
Frank Hawk.
The American they had been tasked to monitor.
‘Hi,’ said Lily.
‘Hi,’ Hawk replied. ‘Listen. Do you kids mind if I join you for a minute?’
‘Sure.’ Lily smiled and pulled a seat out for the American. But she could feel her heart fluttering nervously.
‘I’m Frank,’ the man said. ‘I just saw you and … well, you reminded me of my grandkids back in the US. How old are you? Thirteen? Fourteen?’
‘Thirteen,’ Lesh answered.
The man leaned in conspiratorially and Lily and Lesh could see his greying hair and sprouting eyebrows close up. He looked a very fit and strong man for his age.
‘All this adult talk gets a bit boring,’ Frank Hawk said. ‘It makes you miss your family back home, so when I saw you I thought I’d come and say hi.’
‘What are your grandchildren called?’ Lily asked.
‘Mitch and Lena,’ Hawk replied, smiling like he really did miss them. ‘Listen, can I get you kids a drink? Two Cokes?’
‘Thanks,’ Lily and Lesh said together.
The American stood and took his jacket off, putting it over the chair, then placed his hat on the table in front of them before heading over to the cafe.
‘Funny – he seems quite nice,’ Lesh said.
‘True,’ Lily agreed, slipping a tiny bugging device the size of a pin into the lip of the American’s hat. ‘Even though he’s a global warming denier.’
Lesh supressed a laugh. Lily grinned and glanced over at the other three. She was pleased to see that they were talking to the other England players. It made them seem like they were more part of the team. They didn’t need suspicious questions like Georgia’s on top of trying to concentrate on the mission and playing football. Hatty was with Rio. The rest had their backs to her. Apart from Kester, who glanced back at Lily without changing his expression.
Suddenly the American was coming back with two cans of Coke.
‘So tell me,’ he said, ‘what brings you to Norway? You’re English, right?’
‘Yes, we’re English,’ Lesh said. ‘We’re with the England youth team in a football tournament. We’re playing Canada, the USA and Norway.’
‘Yes, I know about that,’ the American said. ‘I’m looking forward to those soccer games. Hoping to see the USA win. But,’ he went on with a smile, ‘you don’t like it being called soccer, do you?’
Lily laughed. ‘If that’s what you call it, it’s fine.’
‘Good,’ the American said, turning to Lesh. ‘Can I ask about you, son? You’re in the wheelchair. How do you have a role in the team? If you don’t mind me asking.’
‘I don’t mind,’ Lesh said, feeling good that the American was comfortable talking about his wheelchair: so many English people were too embarrassed to mention it. ‘I was in the team, but I had an accident earlier this year. Now I help with the coaching. Stuff like that.’
‘Good man,’ the American said. ‘You sound like the kind of guy I’d like to have on my team. Never give up.’
Lesh grinned. Hawk seemed OK. So much so that it felt strange fishing for information, treating him like a possible enemy.
‘Are you here for the conference?’ Lily asked Hawk, testing to see how much information he might give away.
‘I am. I’m with the US party. Do you know all about the conference?’ Hawk asked, looking surprised.
‘A little bit,’ Lily improvised, trying to stay in character. ‘Someone explained to us who all the men in suits were. We knew you weren’t here for the tournament!’
Hawk laughed. ‘True. Well, I’m here campaigning for my country. It’s not easy. So many countries arguing about who owns what under the ice. Especially the Russians. But better to talk like this than have a war about it, eh?’
‘I understand,’ Lily said. ‘Do you think you’ll all agree on the best thing?’
‘I do,’ the American said, glancing round the room. ‘There are difficulties, but we’ll work it out. For your generation. For you and my grandkids, eh?’ He paused again and looked at his watch. ‘You know, talking to you kids makes me want to call them. They’ll be home from school now.’
The American lifted his jacket off the back of his chair and took his hat from the table. ‘I’m gonna take a walk by the water. Call home. Listen, it’s been lovely talking to you kids.’
When the American had gone, Adnan, Kester and Hatty came over to the cafe, leaving Rio and Johnny standing near the lifts.
‘What was that all about?’ Hatty asked.
Lily answered because Lesh was tuning in to the tracking device she’d slipped into Frank Hawk’s hat. She explained what had been said.
‘He was nice,’ she finished.
‘Hmmmm,’ Hatty said.
‘No, he really did seem …’
Lesh held his hand up for silence so that he could hear the American well. ‘He’s talking to his grandkids,’ he said. ‘Asking them about their schoolwork, stuff like that.’
‘Seems like a normal man,’ Adnan suggested.
‘What did you make of him?’ Kester asked Lesh in a low voice.
‘Friendly. Generous. Family man. Proud to be American. Like I said, a nice person. But he could still be the most evil man on the planet, I suppose.’
Two hours later, back in Lesh’s room, the Squad were planning the next day, when Lesh, listening in, reported that the American was talking on his phone again. This time from his room. Everyone went quiet to allow him to listen. They watched Lesh’s expression drop from an interested smile to a deep frown. No one spoke when he put the headphones down.
‘He’s just called the White House,’ Lesh explained.
‘And?’ Hatty asked.
‘And he was talking to the President about a warhead, I think. A missing warhead. That there’s a threat … a possible threat to this conference. But that he doesn’t know how it will be delivered or by who. But that he thinks it’s the Russians.’