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‘No,’ said Robin, ‘I feel… wired.’
‘Getting shot at has that effect on me, too,’ said Strike. ‘What would you say to going and getting that McDonald’s?’
‘Sounds fantastic,’ said Robin, slipping her mobile back into her pocket.
120
If we are not on guard, evil will succeed in escaping by means of concealment, and when it has eluded us new misfortunes will develop from the remaining seeds, for evil does not die easily.
The I Ching or Book of Changes
Forty minutes later, Strike and Robin got out of their Uber outside a twenty-four-hour McDonald’s on the Strand.
‘I’m having everything,’ said Strike, as they headed to the counter. ‘You?’
‘Um – Big Mac and—’
‘Oh, shit, what now?’ growled Strike, as his mobile rang. Answering, he heard Midge’s voice and a car engine.
‘I think they’re moving Lin. Tasha saw two men going into the office this afternoon. They were shown into the annexe, came out, left again. She didn’t realise at the time they were police, because they were plainclothes – they drove in right past me, I should’ve realised they were cops, but honestly, they were both that well groomed, I thought they might be a gay couple having a getaway. I’ve been living in this car for the last three days and I’m knackered,’ she added defensively.
‘I know the feeling,’ said Strike, watching Robin order.
‘Next thing, Tasha’s called in to see Zhou. “You appear to have lost this, I hope it’s not important.” They’d found the note in the pocket of her robes. She acted innocent, obviously—’
‘Fuck’s sake, what’s happening now?’
‘I’m trying to tell you! Tasha thought she’d better clear out before she gets locked in an annexe too—’
‘I’m not interested in Tasha!’
‘Charming,’ said the actress’s voice in the background.
‘Oh, for—’ said Strike, closing his eyes and running a hand over his face.
‘A plain van came out the front gates of the clinic ten minutes ago. We’re sure Lin’s in there. Three a.m.’s a bloody funny time to be driving vans around. Did I wake you up, by the way?’
‘No,’ said Strike, ‘listen—’
‘So we’re tailing—’
‘BLOODY LISTEN!’
Robin, the McDonald’s servers and the other customers all turned to stare. Strike marched out of the restaurant. Once on the pavement he said,
‘I’m awake because my car just got shot up, with Robin and me in it—’
‘Wh—?’
‘—and my information is the church has got guns, plural. This hour of the morning, it’ll be obvious you’re following that van. Give it up.’
‘But—’
‘You don’t know Lin’s in there. It’s too big a risk. You’ve got a civilian with you – a civilian they know knows too much. Get the number plate, then go home.’
‘But—’
‘Do – not – fucking – argue – with – me,’ said Strike in a dangerous voice. ‘I’ve told you what I want. Fucking do it.’
