you’re right,’ Hunt said, as he pulled the pole out of the water. ‘His girlfriend reported him missing early last week.’
‘So you know who he is?’ Joe asked.
‘Fairly certain,’ Hunt nodded. ‘I’ve only seen a passport photo and that body’s in a state, but it all seems to fit together.’
*
The two mission controllers and three agents had agreed to meet up in a grotty hotel suite at a motor lodge on the edge of town. James and Bruce were the last to arrive.
‘Had to wait ages for our bus,’ James explained. Then he looked at Chloe, who was propped on the end of a double bed. ‘How did it go with the ethics committee last night?’
‘Two-hour conference call,’ she groaned. ‘They’ve given us another seven days, but all the murders are making them jittery.’
Michael looked up at James. ‘Did you hear they pulled another Runt out of a swimming pool this morning?’
James shook his head. ‘Anyone we know?’
‘Aaron Reid,’ Michael said.
‘The guy who wrote the list?’ Bruce gasped.
‘The very same,’ Michael nodded. ‘He wrote seven names, plus his own on that list for Major Dee. He’s the third one to turn up dead and nobody knows where the others are.’
‘Either dead or in hiding,’ Maureen said.
‘Any news on the cars that got burned out near the Green Pepper on Saturday?’ Bruce asked.
‘Runts out for revenge most likely,’ Chloe said. ‘You and James both seemed pretty sure that it wasn’t Sasha’s men.’
‘Breaking car windows isn’t exactly his style, is it?’ Bruce said. ‘Major Dee might have tried starting a war, but the Mad Dogs aren’t biting.’
‘Sasha’s sitting back while Dee does his Runt murder spree,’ James explained. ‘He’s hoping that Dee will slip up while he concentrates on the more serious business of making money.’
Bruce nodded. ‘But he’s livid about what happened to the football club, so I’d bet my left nut that he’s got a plan.’
‘I get the impression that the ethics committee are looking for closure on this mission,’ Chloe said. ‘Some of us have been working this job for more than three months. We’ve learned a lot about the structure of the gangs and passed tons of information on to the police, but they’re worried about the violence and uncomfortable with the amount of criminal activity you three are getting involved with. If we don’t get a breakthrough soon they’re going to pull the plug.’
‘Wasn’t there some plan to have a rummage inside Sasha’s house?’ Michael asked.
‘We’re on it,’ James nodded. ‘Now that the Mad Dogs’ clubhouse is burned out, anyone who gets injured during a game is sent over the road and Sasha’s missus takes a look at it – she used to be a nurse. We haven’t sorted the details, but we’re going training tomorrow night and if one of us fakes an injury, the other one can go over with him and take a peek in Sasha’s office.’
‘It’s a big house,’ Bruce added. ‘So if we get caught, it’s easy to say that we were looking for the bathroom and went through the wrong door.’
‘That all sounds fair enough,’ Chloe said. ‘But Sasha’s a dangerous man, so I want to be close by in case something goes wrong.’
‘And how’s the surveillance on the hard front going?’ Maureen asked.
‘It’s OK,’ Bruce said. ‘It’s boring going through the tapes every day, but we’re getting good information on who’s coming and going and what makes them open the front door. Sasha seems chuffed.’
‘Good,’ Chloe said. ‘Have you got any indication about when Sasha’s going to make his move?’
James shook his head. ‘He’s obviously waiting on information from one of his informants.’
‘Well I hope he hurries up,’ Chloe said. ‘I’d say we’ve got another week; two if we’re lucky.’
33. GLASS
James didn’t realise how important Mad Dogs FC had been to Sasha Thompson until it was destroyed. The clubhouse and changing rooms could be replaced, but frightened players couldn’t. Sasha had told the media that the assault on his club was unprovoked and nothing to do with a rumoured gang war between himself and a Jamaican rival, but nobody was buying it.
Sasha had always looked after his players, especially the first-teamers who were amongst the most pampered in non-league football. Everything was laid on for them: transport, clean kit, meals after games, professional coaching and even fifty quid in their pockets if they won a match.
A few remained loyal and turned up for training after the attack, some disappeared quietly; while braver souls risked Sasha’s ire by asking to have