Distant Annihilation. (Tarquin Collingwood Adventures Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

warning.
    “Well I shan’t detain you any further Captain Collingwood. Should you be having second thoughts we can have you on the lunchtime flight to London , otherwise I wish you good luck!”
     
    He got up and walked to the door, as he opened it I heard a female voice. Olivia had entered the room and Hurd had left. Her hair flowed down her back. She was wearing a roll neck sweater over which she wore a jacket and trousers. She walked towards me and as she did so she looked directly at me stretching out her right hand, whilst holding a dossier in her left.
    “Captain Collingwood, how nice to meet you at last,” she said with a smile in a cut glass accent, “I’m Olivia Cecil, but please call me Ollie, everyone does.”
    I half rose out of my chair and shook her hand feeling a little overawed, “Oh please call me Tarquin,” I said cheerfully.
    Guy and Ollie acknowledged one another with a nod. She went around the desk and sat in the chair and opened the dossier which had been sealed with red ribbon and glanced down for a moment and then looked up.
    “I’ve been studying this case since Edward notified me you’d be coming. I think his suspicions that Andrew Sinclair was killed by some criminal gang with whom he fell out is probably correct. However the good news is that one of his business partners from CB Holdings will be right here in Moscow this evening - David Solomon. One of our agents in London informed me yesterday that he is due to fly to Moscow today on a morning departure from Heathrow. Unless you can think of any reason not to, I suggest we question him ASAP,” she turned from me and looked to Guy who nodded approvingly. I concurred.
    She continued, “I believe the key to finding the killers lies in discovering exactly what CB Holdings were selling. That will give us new leads. We also need to visit the scene where he died. And all of this should be done without alerting the authorities here of our investigation. I suggest that we start by visiting Sinclair’s hotel and retracing his footsteps in Moscow.”
    She closed the dossier looking rather pleased and asked if there were any questions. There was a murmur of approval from Guy, but apart from that silence.
    “You’ve clearly gone to some trouble.....Ollie,” I ventured, feeling something ought to be said, “I’m very grateful. I’ll willingly confess that I’ve never done this sort of thing before - the army’s my thing.”
    She smiled in gratitude, “Tarquin, as Edward may have already mentioned to you, CB Holdings were already under surveillance. This is regarded as a potential National Security issue in the defence of the realm. Let’s just hope that Sinclair and his friends were trading in something innocuous and that our worst fears are unfounded,” she said more in hope than expectation.
    My brow furrowed, “What are these fears?” I asked tentatively.
    Guy who up until now had been largely silent moved uncomfortably in his seat. He coughed to clear his throat and turned to me.
    “Mr Collingwood....” he began solemnly so I sat up straighter and gave him my full attention, “We are aware from our spies, contacts and informants in the east that there are other leads and concerns that Her Majesty’s Government has. Do not ask what they are. These may be completely unrelated to Sinclair’s death...........” he paused tantalisingly and continued, “but then again they may somehow be connected. We do not wish to jump to any premature conclusions. It was the wish of the Foreign Office not to lift a finger in uncovering the circumstances of Sinclair’s death, lest it cause difficulties with the Russians. Your coming here has enabled us to.......” he paused, choosing his words carefully, “honour their wish in letter.........ostensibly, if not in spirit. After all you’re just a decent chap making some enquiries into his friend’s death.........nothing more. And as a British citizen we’re merely offering you some