‘Who is it?’ Logan asked, opening his door and stepping from the car.
‘I don’t know,’ Grainger said. ‘Not Evans. Or any of the other guys he was with before.’
‘Is he following you or Winter?’
‘Winter, I think. He’s in front of me. I didn’t see where he came from. I have to hang back. I might lose sight of Winter, but I don’t want to spook whoever this other guy is.’
‘That’s fine. You know where Winter is heading so just keep going that way.’
‘Yeah, will do.’
The place they had chosen for the Winter meet was in Beihai Park, a former imperial garden deep in the centre of Beijing. Now a public park, it was popular with tourists and locals alike, and at this time of day, Logan knew the main parts of it would be bustling. The piece of paper the boy had handed to Winter in the bar gave directions to the Nine-Dragon Wall – a six-hundred-year-old screen at the northern end of the park within easy reach of the nearby streets. It was out in the open, giving Logan and Grainger the lay of the land, but also somewhere they could easily run from, losing themselves in the crowds in the park or in the streets if they needed.
But that was all assuming Winter was actually heading there. Right now, Logan’s simple focus was on catching up with Grainger.
‘What does the tracker look like?’ Logan asked. ‘I’m heading up behind you.’
‘He’s tall, about your height. Cropped jet-black hair. Blue jeans, dark-grey coat. I think he’s a local. Chinese, I mean.’
Logan wondered whether he was with a surveillance unit from the Chinese Ministry of State Security. But then, why would the MSS have had Winter or Grainger on their radar? It was possible that he and Grainger had been followed since coming off the freight train at Beijing West station the previous day. But it was more likely that the man was affiliated to Evans or Winter.
Was he with Winter or surveilling him?
Either way, Grainger was very possibly heading straight into an ambush.
‘I’ll be with you in a minute,’ Logan said, his quick speech matching his breathing.
Logan could feel his tension slowly starting to rise. He hated being blind to what was going on, unable to control the situation.
‘Can you still see Winter?’ he said.
‘Only just. The streets are getting really busy here.’
‘Yeah, I can see that,’ Logan said as he bumped shoulders with another pedestrian who cut across him. The crowded streets would make his own presence less visible but it also meant progress was slow.
‘Winter’s quite far ahead now,’ Grainger said. ‘I’m not going to be able to keep sight of him for much longer. Wait … no, that’s not him. Shit, I think I’ve lost him.’
‘Damn it.’
‘But I can still see the tracker easily enough.’
‘Okay, keep on him. I can’t be far off you now.’
Lost in the conversation and busily scanning the crammed street for any sight of Grainger or the mystery man, Logan was almost caught out when the pedestrian crossing lights ahead changed to red. He took a step into the busy road and a car slammed on the brakes and skidded to a halt, only narrowly avoiding him. Logan cursed to himself, then gave a meek wave to the angry driver before carrying on across the road, darting between the moving cars.
‘Are you still on the main road?’
‘No,’ Grainger said, causing Logan to shake his head. ‘We turned onto a side street. Take a right when you pass the electrical shop on the corner – red sign. It’s quieter now. Easier to follow.’
‘Easier to be seen too,’ Logan said. ‘But still no sign of Winter?’
‘No.’
‘What’s the street name?’
‘I didn’t catch it. Wait a second. He’s turned right again. Second right.’
‘The tracker?’
‘Yeah, I still can’t see Winter.’
‘That’s not the way.’
‘I’m going to follow him. Winter must have turned too.’
‘No, Angela, leave him. Keep on top of Winter.’
‘But I can’t see him.’
‘I don’t like this. Just go to where we planned. Winter will be there.’
‘Unless he’s done a bunk on us. You head to the rendezvous. I’m following this guy. We need to know who he is.’
‘Angela, don’t do it. It’s not safe.’
But she wasn’t listening. This really was the old Grainger. Dogged, determined. It was the woman he had fallen for. Yet he wished just this once she would stop and listen. Logan didn’t like this. She must too have realised the situation wasn’t right?
‘I’ve turned up the street behind him. It’s just an alley. Pretty much deserted. I see the tracker up ahead, about thirty yards from me.’
Logan swore again. He wasn’t getting a good feeling about the situation at all. He tried to pick up his pace. Tried his best to dodge between the many pedestrians. But it was near-impossible to force a clear path.
‘What’s happening, Angela?’ Logan said, his impatience clear. ‘Where are you?’
‘Damn it. I think he might have spotted me.’ Her breaths were heavy and fast, her voice filled with tension. ‘I’m hiding behind some bins.’
‘Get out of there, Angela!’ Logan shouted. ‘Turn around and just get the hell out of there. I’ll find you back on the main street.’
‘And now he’s gone. I’ve just looked up and he’s not there anymore.’
‘Angela, get the hell out of there!’
Logan knew what was happening but was entirely powerless to stop it. And already it was too late. Because the next thing he heard was Grainger’s shrill scream.
‘Angela!’
The phone line went dead.