man who spotted him.
'We knew then,' said Holcroft, 'that we had centred in; the target was accurate. It remained to make positive contact, sympathetic contact. I even toyed with the idea of bringing these men and you together in short order, perhaps this morning. So much resolved so damned quickly...'
A cautious preliminary contact was made with the subjects: so harmless and promising, we damn near offered what was left of the Empire. They were concerned, of course, with a trap.
A rendezvous was arranged at The Owl of Saint George, a racially integrated club that offered a comfortable environment. It was scheduled for 2.30 in the morning, after Holcroft's meeting with McAuliff.
When Alex made his panicked - and threatening - call to Holcroft's number, insisting that they meet regardless of time, the agent left his options open. And then made his decision. Why not The Owl of Saint George? Bring the American into Soho, to the club, and if it proved the wrong decision, McAuliff could be stopped once inside. If the decision was the right one, the circumstances would be optimal - all parties present.
'What about Warfield's men?' asked Alex. 'You said he doubled his teams on me.'
'I lied. I wanted you to remain where you were. Warfield had a single man on you. We diverted him. The Dunstone people had their own anxieties: One of their men had been killed. You couldn't be held responsible for that.'
The night progressed as Holcroft had anticipated: without incident. The agent made arrangements for the table - 'we know just about everyone you've met in London, chap' - and awaited the compatible merging of elements.
And then, in rapid succession, each component fell apart. First was Alex's statement that the survey team was leaving in two days - MI5 was not ready for it in Kingston. Then the information that Warfield had spoken the name of 'Halidon'; it was to be expected, of course. Dunstone would be working furiously to find the killers of the first survey team. But, again, MI5 had not expected Dunstone to have made such progress. The next breakdown was the spaced-out agent who crashed into the table and used the word 'Edinburgh' - used it twice.
'Each twenty-four-hour period we circulate an unusual word that has but one connotation: "abort, extreme prejudice." If it's repeated, that simply compounds the meaning: Our cover is blown. Or misread. Weapons should be ready.'
At that moment, Holcroft saw clearly the massive error that had been made. His agents had diverted Warfield's men away from Alex, but not one of the blacks. McAuliff had been observed in Warfield's company at midnight for a considerable length of time. Within minutes after he had walked into The Owl, his black surveillance had followed, panicked that his colleagues had been led into a trap.
The confrontation had begun within the gyrating, psychedelic madness that was The Owl of Saint George.
Holcroft tried to stop the final collapse.
He broke the rules. It was not yet 2.30, but since Alexander McAuliff had been seen with him, he dared not wait. He tried to establish a bridge, to explain, to calm the raging outburst.
He had nearly succeeded when one of the blacks - now dead behind the wheel - saw McAuliff leap from his seat in the booth and plunge into the crowds, whipping people out of his way, looking frantically - obviously - for Holcroft.
This sight triggered the panic. Holcroft was cut, used as a shield, and propelled out the rear door into the alley by two of the subjects while the third fled through the crowds in front to alert the car for escape.
'What happened during the next few minutes was as distressing as it was comforting,' said Holcroft. 'My people would not allow my physical danger, so the instant my captors and I emerged on the pavement, they were taken. We put them in this car and drove off, still hoping to reestablish good will. But we purposely allowed the third man to disappear - an article of faith on our part.'
The MI5 had driven out to the deserted field. A doctor was summoned to patch up Holcroft. And the two subjects - relieved of weapons, car key removed unobtrusively - were left alone to talk by themselves, hopefully to resolve their doubts, while Holcroft was being bandaged.
'They made a last attempt to get away but, of course, there were no keys in the vehicle. So they took their deadly little vials or tablets and, with them, their lives. Ultimately,