The Invisible Code by Christopher Fowler

Author:Christopher Fowler [Fowler, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781446465059
Publisher: Random House UK
Published: 2012-08-01T17:00:00+00:00

23

THE FOURTH SOLUTION

AS BRYANT WATCHED his neighbour go, his attention was caught by a man standing below the balcony in the street, looking up in puzzlement. ‘Raymondo, is that you? What are you doing here?’

It being a Saturday, Raymond Land was attired in civvy clothes, which consisted of the kind of trousers one saw advertised in the backs of local newspapers, and a Marks & Spencer’s shirt that would have looked unfashionable on Denis Thatcher. It was as if, after his brief flirtation with youthful fashion, he had thrown up his hands in defeat and fallen into a sartorial black hole.

‘I couldn’t remember your door number,’ he called up. ‘I needed to see you.’

That was Alma’s cue to head for the kitchen, leaving Bryant to welcome the acting chief of the Peculiar Crimes Unit. ‘If any more of your little pals are going to drop in,’ she called, ‘could you let me know?’

‘Is it all right to leave my car down there?’ said Land, arriving up the staircase. ‘It won’t get broken into, will it?’

‘Certainly not,’ said Bryant, ushering him in. ‘This is a semi-respectable neighbourhood. Don’t tell me you were passing by and thought you’d drop in.’

‘No, I had an appointment with Edgar Lang.’ He looked around. ‘This is very nice, better than your last place. Very homely. Lang asked to see me. Not about Kasavian’s wife – there’s nothing much that can be done on that score until after the psychiatric assessment. About his boss’s appearance before the European Commission.’

Bryant was amazed. ‘Since when did important people start asking your advice?’

‘My opinion is valued in some circles,’ sniffed Land. ‘He wanted to know how Oskar was bearing up.’

‘Why would he want to know that?’

‘I suppose he’s protecting his assets.’

‘What happens if Kasavian messes up and the Deputy PM fails to award him a new senior position?’

Land thought for a moment. ‘He won’t be able to remain as chief security supervisor. He’ll have nailed his colours to the mast, trying for a new department outside of the Home Office. I imagine he’ll be reshuffled.’

‘And who’s next in line for the position if he goes?’

‘Well, I imagine it’s Edgar, as he’s technically Kasavian’s number two. After that, it would be Charles Hereward.’

‘So you could say it’s in Lang’s interests to see that Oskar’s initiative fails. And if the wife is sectioned and Kasavian is forced to take time off to look after her, there’ll be a no-confidence vote and Lang can step in again. In fact, every way you play it, first Lang and then Hereward and the others win, because even if the doctor decides that Kasavian’s wife is fit enough to go home, she’ll still require special attention.’

‘Not everyone’s as Machiavellian as you,’ said Land, exasperated. ‘Lang just wanted to know how the investigation was progressing.’

‘I hope you didn’t tell him,’ said Bryant. ‘I’d love to bottle your innocence and sell it to old streetwalkers. You do realize this initiative has been in various planning stages since the 7/7 bombings? It was pushed on to the last Labour agenda by the US, then redesigned by the Tories.

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