A Choice of Evils Read Online Free PDF Page B

conversation was concluded, although after a brief handshake, he told me to take care of myself and added, ‘Everything has to be accounted for Jack.’
    I thought I detected a veiled note of caution in his last sentiment. But with £50,000 in my hand, I felt more need to part company rather quickly and so we did. Dr Ahmed walked away glancing at the lions enclosure as he turned a corner. I was not behind him. A wink from Flash gun Terry as I passed him, assured me his camera had not been idle. By the time I got through the exit gate Dr Ahmed was nowhere to be seen. Neither were the two old ladies I had seen earlier.
    Now it was mid-afternoon and my stomach was looking for something to eat. My mouth was already eating a mixed kebab take away before I arrived at the shop near my house. I fared better on my return journey home. Only one put down look from a female driver caught my eye. But that’s what you get for driving an old sierra and being polite.
    I was glad to get back home, park up, collect my kebab and get indoors. The kettle went on the boil for tea while I tucked into my meal. I liked to eat when hungry and not for the sake of eating. As this was the case now, I savoured each mouthful of the lamb cutlets and munched through the salad and pastry. Not a scrap was left by the time the kettle had boiled. Over a cup of tea I pondered the day’s events. Terry and the sisters would be getting in touch later this evening. In the meantime, I slid back my bath panel and deposited the briefcase under the bath. Tomorrow it would go into my bank accounts. Out of sight was out of mind.
    For a while, I gave some thought to the possible places where I could put the transmitters in Ahmed’s and Bruce’s houses. It was important I knew as much about them as possible. I could smell a rat somewhere in the account Dr Ahmed had given me for wanting the formula, yet his story was very plausible. It was not for me to be looking for other reasons why it was worth that price to him. As a professional thief, my job was to get it and not get caught doing so. It was not really any different to any other ‘steal to order’ I had done in the past.
    Later that evening I waited for the phone to ring. At 8pm Flash gun Terry was the first to phone me. He had developed and printed all the pictures he had taken at the zoo and were ready for me to collect. I arranged to meet him at Surrey Quays shopping centre car park at 9pm. He got there before I did.
    As usual, he put the squeeze on me for some extra money. He would have earned more at the wedding reception he had cancelled to help me out, he said. To spare myself the tears I gave him another £20. It was nice to hear I was one of his best mates and I could rely on him at any time day or night, he said.
    Back home, I looked at the photographs. Dr Ahmed would find it difficult to deny knowing me now, I thought. They were good pictures.
    Now I expected the pre-arranged call from Lisa and Laura. At 10 past 10 they rang. They had plenty to tell me but not over the phone. They had taken their films to a one hour developer and together with the other information were ready to hand them over to me. That suited me just fine. We arranged to meet at the Ship and Whale pub in Rotherhithe Street at 10.30pm. That gave me 20 minutes to get there. I had their money ready for them which I knew they would be expecting.
    The sisters were waiting outside when I arrived. There was just time to order a few drinks. A vacant table was in the ideal position so our conversations could not be overheard. After raising our glasses to presumed success, they handed me a sheet of paper full of notes and a pouch of photos. The sisters came straight to the point. ‘From the zoo, we tailed him to his house then onto the Iranian Embassy.’ said Lisa.
    ‘And we got his car number.’ added Laura.
    I was pleased to hear that. It was more than I had expected. The girls gave themselves a good PR saying the acting profession did