Page 101 of She Saw What He Did

The packet arrives at midday. I’ve chewed my fingernails down to the bone waiting. The delivery man is young and fresh-faced. He tries to make pleasantries with me, but I struggle. He eventually gives up trying to chat. I sign where he indicates and take the packet from him.

I can barely open the envelope for the trembling of my hands. I’m terrified it will be a task I can’t perform. Jared finally takes it from me, carefully opens it and places the contents on the table in front of us. I swallow and pull the instructions nearer. The words blur in front of my eyes. I push them towards Jared.

‘Read them to me,’ I say.

‘On the 24th July …’

‘That’s the day after tomorrow,’ I say, feeling my stomach churn.

Jared nods and continues reading.

‘Go to Asquith Hall …’

‘Asquith Hall?’ I repeat. ‘That’s where …’

‘The summit is being held,’ Jared finishes for me.

‘Your name is Olga Lewinsky. That name will be on the staff list for the evening. A security pass is enclosed. You’ll go to the kitchen entrance. There’s a map enclosed. Don’t get lost. Outside staff is expected and that’s who they’ll think you are. You have one hour after the box is activated. The box must be delivered at 7 p.m.’

Jared stops and looks at me.

‘I don’t think he planned this. It’s too smart and he doesn’t seem that smart.’

‘Who are we dealing with Jared?’ I whisper.

‘I don’t know.’

He looks back at the instructions, coughs, and continues.

‘At 6.56 p.m. exactly, the Prime Minister …’

He stops and looks up at me. There’s a sharp intake of breath from Joe.

‘Carry on,’ I say calmly.

‘The Prime Minister will enter the drawing room. You are to meet him there. You tell him you have something important for him.’

We stare at the box sitting on the table. I stroke it delicately.

‘How do I activate it?’ I ask.

‘It doesn’t say.’

‘What’s in it?’ asks Joe nervously.

Jared looks at me.

‘At a guess,’ he says softly, ‘I’d say it could be nerve gas, but I’ve no idea.’

He turns back to the instructions.

‘At 7 p.m. you hand the box over. Your assignment is then finished.’

Jared looks up at me. There’s silence. If it wasn’t so terrifying I could laugh at the madness of it. Finally Jared uncorks a bottle of wine and fills three glasses. I drink half the contents of mine before saying,

‘I’m going to assassinate the Prime Minister.’

I don’t say, ‘I’m going to die.’ I don’t need to.

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