Chapter 32

A private jet left Paris Orly at 04.20 with four passengers, two pilots and one not-quite-flight attendant.

If the four businessmen had been less focused on planning their negotiation strategy, they might have observed a certain clumsiness to the in-flight service, a worrying amateurism to the security announcement and an ill-fitting uniform on the young stewardess.

Yet the weather conditions were perfect, no coffee was spilt, the flight landed on time and a car was waiting to take the negotiating team to Matosinhos. Everyone was happy. Especially Ana Herrero.

She changed in the tiny toilet, yanked her bag from the rear cupboard and came down the aisle to hug the pilot.

“Antoine de Puits, you are the best. I know this was a mighty favour. Call me next time you’re in Lisbon, OK?”

Antoine shook his head. “You are one crazy female. And I’m even crazier to take such risks for you. I will call you, don’t think I’ll forget. At the very least, you owe me a decent dinner.”

“Deal! I have to run!” Ana clattered down the steps and raced across to the terminal. If she got out of Porto before rush hour, she could make Viana do Castelo by eight.

Sometimes, Fate is on your side. The car starts, the lights are green, the traffic is going in the other direction and music is your positive affirmation. Today, the stars are aligned. Christina tells me I’m beautiful, Annie says sisters are doing it for ourselves, George insists I gotta have faith and everything Bryan does, he does it for me.

Ana slugged her second shot of caffeinated fizz and switched off the radio. Awake, nervous and in no danger of napping, she needed to focus. The next few hours could be life-changing.

When she parked at the police station, it was a quarter to eight. She allowed herself a fist pump before announcing herself at the desk. Within minutes, she was shown to a waiting room containing Xavier, André and most importantly, a coffee machine.

“Ana!” Xavier leapt to his feet and kissed her on both cheeks. “Here so early?”

“I hitched a ride with an ex-boyfriend.” She held out a hand. “Hi, you must be André.”

André shook her hand. “Yes and I already know who you are. I watch you every evening on the news. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise.” She yawned involuntarily. “Sorry, that wasn’t meant for you. I need a shot of the black stuff to perk me up. What’s the latest?”

André pulled some coins from his pocket for the machine while Xavier summarised the morning’s events.

“Team meeting in the hotel at six, where we aligned our plan of attack. André and I arrived here at seven. It seems buying coffees, beers and sharing confidential chats with the local force paid off. They know me already. Although André is a new face, he commands respect through his own status, his father’s reputation and of course, his Portuguese, which is so much better than mine. Detective de Sousa came in half an hour ago and listened to what we had to say.”

André handed her a cup. “Um cafezinho. Then we had to repeat it all over again for his senior officer, Inspector Gaia. They have gone to make some calls but once protocol is satisfied, they’ll order Gilchrist’s arrest or apprehension.”

“Obrigada.” Ana slugged the little coffee back in two gulps. “And what are the others doing now?

Xavier checked his phone. “Last thing I heard, Roman had filed a report with Interpol and was heading south to Porto to complete the formalities. Cher is going to speak to Gilchrist’s superiors at eight. She’ll have to do that alone as that’s exactly the same time as the police will be questioning Beatrice, in the presence of Gilchrist himself.”

“Where...” Ana was interrupted by the door opening. A crumpled-looking man in an open-necked shirt started to speak, spotted her and frowned.

André explained Ana’s role in the investigation and introduced her to Detective de Sousa. He nodded, unsmiling, but shook her hand and asked them all to come to the interview room. Inspector Gaia awaited.

To Ana’s surprise, Inspector Gaia was a tall, silver-haired woman with a firm handshake and impressive dark eyebrows. She welcomed Ana with good grace and invited them to sit. She spoke Portuguese in a slow, formal style, which may have been for the benefit of Xavier or all part of her dignified persona.

“We have contacted Interpol, Europol, the PGR or attorney general for Portugal, and informed the British Home Office. An arrest warrant is seen as unnecessary at this stage but all agencies agree the commander should be invited to answer some questions and that the investigation be reopened. In the light of this new information, the case will be handled by a senior detective from Lisbon, assisted by Detective de Sousa.”

André cocked his head, rather like a puppy who heard the word ‘walkies’.

Inspector Gaia gave a faint smile. “Your father would have been the ideal choice, Senhor Monteiro, but as I am sure you appreciate, personal involvement disqualifies him in these circumstances. Detective de Sousa will take two officers to Gêres and request the commander’s assistance with our enquiries.”

The crumpled-looking man gave a brief, weary nod and glanced at his watch.

Ana looked at the clock. Two minutes past eight. She caught Xavier’s puzzled expression and she spoke without thinking. “Why not use the officers on site? It will take Detective de Sousa at least an hour to get there, but your officers are all in the same room as Gilchrist and DCI Stubbs as we speak.”

Inspector Gaia frowned. “I’m sorry? De Sousa, you already have officers at the hotel?”

De Sousa shook his head, his frown more pronounced. “No. The case is closed. Why would I send men...”

“Officers,” Gaia corrected.

“... officers when we filed the paperwork yesterday? All my officers have been reassigned new caseloads.” He glared at Ana. “Who told you there were police at the scene?”

Ana stared at Xavier.

His face paled as his eyes grew large. “Commander Gilchrist asked DCI Beatrice Stubbs to be present for an interview with the local police at eight o’clock this morning. If there are no police at GCH, Gilchrist is acting alone.”

Ana swallowed. “And he has Beatrice.” She got to her feet.

“Hold on, you guys!” André called. “She’s not alone. First off, the conference is full of police detectives. Second, Cher is on site. Someone can intercept him and get Beatrice out of there. Where is the interview taking place?”

All four faces focused on Ana.

“She didn’t say. I’m not even sure she knew.”

Inspector Gaia slapped a hand onto her desk. “De Sousa, call the hotel and see if the commander reserved a meeting venue for eight this morning. Authorise Housekeeping to open it, his office suite and even his own room if requested by nominated officers. They must also be given access to any security camera footage of relevant areas. Mr Racine, please alert your colleague and give her name to Detective de Sousa. I will arrange transport to GCH for all of you.”

“I have a car!” Ana yelled. “Sorry.” She dropped her voice. “I have a car right outside.”

Inspector Gaia picked up the phone. “In that case, go ahead. Senhor Racine and Senhor Monteiro, go with her and take a police radio with you. De Sousa and his team will follow and I must insist you take no action without their permission. I will do all I can to ensure the safety of DCI Stubbs.”

Ana jumped up so quickly that she bashed her knee on Gaia’s table. She bit back a violent imprecation, rubbed her kneecap and limped to the door. She turned to say goodbye but de Sousa and his boss were already on their phones.

Rush hour, such as it was, drove Ana to the point of apoplexy. She swore and cursed and gesticulated at every single obstacle in their way, using the horn with abandon and wishing she had a flashing blue light. In contrast, Xavier and André spoke on their mobiles with a sense of calm urgency. Police training, Ana assumed, releasing a stream of expletives at a driver who halted traffic while he took three attempts to park.

André looked up, his hand over the mouthpiece. “Roman and Mr Fisher managed to get a meeting arranged with local government officials and senior police officers this morning in Porto. He asks if they should come back.”

Ana watched Xavier in the rear view mirror.

“Can you hold one second, Cher?” He muted his call and replied to André. “How long will it take them to get back if they turn around now?”

André relayed the question and listened. “He’s guessing an hour. They’re on the outskirts of the city.”

“In that case, they should continue and deliver the report in person. This must be done through official channels. We can get to the hotel sooner, so there’s no point in them turning around.”

Ana exhaled. “Xavier, we’re a good thirty minutes from the hotel. Looks like we need Cher to step up.” She scrunched her eyes in apology as she realised what she’d said, but opened them again to accuse the driver in front of bestiality.

Xavier returned to his conversation with Cher. His voice carried a quiet authority. “Use the hotel security cameras. Ask for assistance from the staff but do not put them in danger. Find out where she is and...” He broke off and listened in silence. “Whose office?”

Ana flicked her eyes to the mirror and saw Xavier’s brow crease. She overtook a bus, with her eyes on the road but her ears straining to hear one half of this crucial conversation.

“You’re sure that’s where they are?”

“...”

“In that case, get your friend to show you the CCTV, just to be sure. And Cher, please wait for back-up. We’ll get local police to...”

“...”

“Half an hour, I think. Maybe less. We’ll try to mobilise local forces to support you but you cannot go up there alone.”

André’s thumbs began twitching over his phone.

“...”

“I understand that, but no officer should approach a hostage situation without back-up. You know that.”

“...”

“Cher, I agree, but as a colleague I am asking you, please, not to try this alone. You will put yourself and Beatrice at risk. Wait for us. We’ll be there in...?”

Ana slammed on the brakes as a tractor pulled out of a field. “Twenty-five minutes if we’re lucky, and it’s not looking good.”

“Listen to me, Cher, this is no time for individual heroism. You must wait! We’ll be there in half an hour.”

“...”

Ana watched Xavier in the mirror. He took the phone from his ear and shook his head. She waited till André had ended his call.

“Xavier?”

“She says half an hour is thirty minutes too long for Beatrice.”

André twisted in his seat. “She won’t try to tackle Gilchrist alone?”

The tractor indicated left and drove off down an overgrown track. Ana floored the accelerator and raced along the road, dangerously over the speed limit. She knew without a doubt Cher would tackle Gilchrist alone. Because that’s exactly what she would have done.