Mamur Zapt 01 The Mamur Zapt and the Return of the Carpet by Michael Pearce

Author:Michael Pearce [Pearce, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: det_history
Published: 2014-06-15T20:46:23.116685+00:00

CHAPTER 8

“I think we ought to go in,” said McPhee.

“There’s no real evidence,” Garvin objected. “Nothing to link him with the grenades.”

“There’s plenty to link him with other stuff.”

“Plenty?”

“That sergeant said it was a recognized route. They’ve been using that chap for years.”

“If what the sergeant says is true,” said Garvin, “and we know him to be a liar.”

“He wasn’t lying this time,” said Owen.

“It’s the lead we wanted,” said McPhee. “What are we waiting for?”

“We’re waiting for something real,” said Garvin.

“Isn’t the box something real?”

“There are boxes going in and out of that place all the time.”

“Ali says he knows those and it wasn’t one of them,” said Owen. “How can he know all the boxes? What about a new supplier?” “He was sure.”

“Might be anything,” said Garvin dismissively. “A new hat for his wife, goods for the shop. We can’t go in just on the word of a street beggar.”

“And of a sergeant,” said McPhee.

“A convicted criminal. Lying to save his skin.”

“Not to save his skin,” Owen pointed out.

“All right, then,” said Garvin. “Lying because he’s been terrified out of his wits. And that’s something else I want to speak to you about.”

“We wouldn’t have found out any other way,” said McPhee loyally, and bore without flinching the look Garvin gave him.

“The question is,” said Garvin, “now that we’ve got some real information-”

Owen did not like the way Garvin kept emphasizing the word “real” today.

“-how do we use it? Wouldn’t it be best simply to put a man on the shop and keep it under surveillance?”

“We don’t have the time,” said Owen. “The Carpet’s next week.” “Suppose the grenades are still on their way?” asked Garvin. “Suppose they haven’t got there yet? Don’t we just scare whoever-it-is off?”

“Suppose they’ve already passed through?” said Owen.

“Well,” said Garvin, “in that case we’ve lost them already. Going in wouldn’t help.”

“We might pick up something,” said McPhee.

“And at least we’d know,” said Owen.

“Suppose they’re there all the time,” said McPhee, “ while we’re mucking around.”

“And suppose they’ll soon be not there,” added Owen, “ if we go on mucking around. Boxes come out as well as go in.”

“Yes,” said Garvin. “I’ll admit that’s a worry.”

He rested his chin on his hand and thought.

“All the same,” he said, “it’s not much to go on. If it wasn’t grenades I wouldn’t look at it.”

“But it is grenades,” said McPhee, “and the Carpet is next week.” “We don’t know-” Garvin began, and then stopped. He thought for a little longer and then he looked at Owen.

“OK,” he said, “you can go in. But on your head be it.”

It was a typical Garvin ending and Owen wanted to ask what he meant, though he had an uneasy feeling that he knew what was meant. McPhee, however, was pleased.

“Good, sir,” he said. “When?”

“This afternoon,” said Owen, “ when everybody’s asleep.”

“Not tonight?” asked Garvin.

“You can see better in the day,” said Owen.

Garvin shrugged.

“All right, then,” he said. “Only yoti’ll have to move fast. He’s a Syrian and he’ll have someone round from the consulate in a flash of lightning.

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