Page 40 of She Saw What He Did

Sparrow had stared motionless at the memory stick, an icy chill running through his body. He’d lifted his head and met the other man’s eyes.

‘There was a drone following your every move,’ the man had explained. ‘These are professionals you’re dealing with, not low-life drug traffickers.’

Sparrow had looked down at the envelope. The thought that someone had been watching him turned his blood cold.

‘You’re blackmailing me,’ he’d said flatly. It was a statement, to which the man shrugged.

‘Like I said it’s insurance. We need someone to deliver the box to its destination. You’ve messed up our plans. You help us and deliver the box, on time, of course and we’ll give you the original recording along with our generous payment. You betray us, and this goes straight to the police. We can’t be fairer than that.’

Sparrow had swallowed nervously. They were blackmailing him, and he could do nothing about it.

‘I can get it,’ he’d said, ‘but it may take a while. How long have I got?’

He’d knocked back the whisky. The liquid had warmed his insides and calmed him slightly.

‘Ten days,’ the man had said flatly.

‘Ten days?’ exclaimed Sparrow. ‘But that’s nowhere near enough time. I’ll have to go to the mainland and I can’t be sure …’

The man had held up a hand and silenced Sparrow.

‘I’m not interested in the logistics. You messed it up and now you’ve got to put it right.’

Sparrow had felt the sweat running down his face.

‘I’ll get it to you,’ he’d said nervously.

‘We don’t want you to give it to us. We’re paying you extra to deliver it.’

Sparrow shook his head.

‘I never agreed to do that. I was just to hand it over.’

‘But you didn’t hand it over did you? You were clumsy and you lost it. Unfortunately a man lost his life too. Is it our fault you’re unreliable?’

Sparrow threw back the last of his whisky.

‘Where do I deliver it?’ he’d asked.

The man had glanced around the pub warily and then lowered his voice to barely a whisper.

‘It’ll be Asquith Hall. We’ll let you know when,’ he’d said bluntly.

Sparrow had almost choked on the whisky. Asquith Hall was all over the news. The Prime Minister was having his summit there.

‘I don’t understand,’ he’d said nervously.

‘You don’t need to understand. You’ll be given instructions nearer the time. Meanwhile, we’ll be in touch for your decision.’

He stood to leave.

‘Of course, how you make that delivery is entirely up to you. But it will have to be delivered on the day and time we specify.’

‘I …’

‘Of course, you have a choice. Seventy thousand to deliver a box or … Well … a life sentence isn’t really an alternative is it? Like I said, it’s your choice.’

Sparrow rubbed his eyes at the memory. What the fuck was in that box? And how the hell was he supposed to get it? One thing he knew for sure. He wasn’t going to deliver the damn thing. He wasn’t stupid. He’d been clumsy, admittedly. He should have kept the box with him instead of hiding it on the island. Why had he agreed to this? It was clearly something huge. He ought to report it, but how could he? They’d send him down for life. He could never prove he’d killed the man in self-defence. Why hadn’t the man’s wife reported him missing? They’d no doubt paid her off. He dropped his head into his hands and sighed heavily. What a mess. He had no choice. He knew that. They had him by the balls. He needed that money and most of all he needed to get off the island and to South America. He’d be safe there. Maybe he’d send Artem Taris’s wife some money too. It wouldn’t bring her husband back, but it would ease his conscience.

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