Before Another War

Chapter Eleven

Clive relaxed in his warm, air-conditioned car, his phone balanced on his lap, and chuckled to himself. Best idea I've ever had. He'd laughed as he'd watched Alex open the door and gasp. And he'd laughed even harder when the dog nearly met her end. However, Clive found it odd for the Cat to be so vicious. The little thing had seemed perfectly amicable when he'd found him.

Watching the screen out of the corner of his eye, Clive pulled the pasty out of the drinks holder. He couldn't really make head or tail of what was going on right now. The cat was sniffing around a bookcase while the others looked on. Unfortunately, the camera around Cornelius's neck didn't come with audio. 

All Clive needed to do was check that Sapphire was alright. He was still unsure about Morgan's methods, they all seemed a little untested and highly dangerous. But he had to admit, she got results. Yet Clive knew that one day, like all high-flying detectives, Morgan would take it a step too far. 

Gazing back to the apartment block, Clive spotted an odd-looking man heading into the building. If it wasn't for his outlandish appearance, he likely wouldn't have noticed him. The man wore a black and white pinstripe suit and had a handlebar moustache smoothed greasily over his top lip. 

As Clive watched on, Cyrille stopped by the main entrance and waited as an unmarked black van drove up to him. From where he was sat, Clive could just make out Cyrille's mouth moving as he muttered something to the driver. Both men nodded and the van drove on. Then, he straightened out his suit and stepped inside. 

Deciding this was now too bizarre to let slide, Clive climbed out of his car, sadly putting the pasty back into the drinks holder. If there was one thing you could say about Clive, it was that he did his job properly. Unfortunately, he wasn't in plain clothes, which made following Cyrille difficult. He made sure to leave his hat behind, but he couldn't do much about the rest of his uniform. He'd just have to stay unseen. 

As Cyrille disappeared up the first flight of stairs, Clive hurried into the lobby. Cyrille didn't appear to notice him as they climbed. However, Clive was all too aware of the sound of his heavy footsteps on the creaky wood of the carpeted staircase. He began to resent the fact that he hadn't stayed in shape after his training as he reached the third floor, red-faced and breathless. 

Yet, finally, after the fifth flight of stairs, they reached the dizzying heights of the top floor. Alex's floor. Clive hoped it was a coincidence. 

Cyrille passed through the small set of doors after the stairs and into the hallway. Blissfully unaware, he sauntered down the hall. Debating calling for backup, Clive hid behind the doors, watching through the top window. There was still a chance that Cyrille would simply walk past her apartment. If he called it in, and it turned out to be a false alarm, Clive would be a laughing stock back at the station — not that he already wasn't. He continued to stare adamantly through the square glass window, determined not to make any mistakes. 

Cyrille's shoes clicked against the hard floor as he approached flat number forty-two. He was only here because of a rather rude text his associate had sent him — something about the girl being a danger to their whole operation. He wasn't looking forward to hurting Sapphire, but it needed to be done. 

Before getting to the door, he double-checked he had suitable insurance in case anything went wrong. Cyrille patted his pocket, making sure the wallet stuffed with twenties was still there. Then, he pulled out the tiny knife he kept concealed in the lining of his blazer and rolled it in his palm. Cyrille always thought that it was a thug's weapon, he'd much prefer a nifty little revolver. But this job needed to be quiet. Technically, he shouldn't even be the one to carry out the job, but, occasionally, it was good to take things into his own hands. He had to show his men they weren't working for a coward. 

Back behind the doors, Clive's stomach dropped as he saw the glint of the knife. I've got to call this in. He couldn't let anyone get hurt, especially Sapphire, but he needed to keep his cover. For a painful few seconds, Clive didn't know what to do next. Even if he called for help, they wouldn't get here in time. For once in his life, he made a snap decision. 

Cyrille hid the knife back in his blazer and knocked five times exactly, listening for movement inside. As he waited, checking his watch, Clive burst through the stairway doors. He charged forward, holding his badge in the air.

'Freeze!' he cried, forgetting the proper words. 

Cyrille turned to look just as Clive jumped on top of him — or tried to. The man was surprisingly light on his feet. He disappeared with an elegant twirl as Clive belly-flopped painfully onto the floor. Clive gasped, winded, and watched Cyrille leave, his spats clicking smugly on the floor. 

Just as Cyrille turned the corner, Alex opened the door to the flat.

'Oh,' she said, taken by surprise to see Clive with his face planted firmly on the floor. 'Are you alright?'

He rolled over, groaning. 'The man, where is he?'

'What man?' She looked up and down the corridor, now completely empty. Clive checked it himself, sitting up onto his knees. How on Earth did he get away so quickly?

'He was here, just a second ago, I swear!' he urged.

'Come on, I'll help you up,' she said, grabbing hold of his arm and trying not to smile. Once Clive was back on his feet, he spotted Matt's mischievous face appearing over Alex's shoulder.

'You sure you're okay? There wasn't anyone else here.' Matt smothered a laugh and Alex elbowed him gently. 

'Anyway, are you here to take us back to the station?' she asked. 

Clive tore his attention away from the doors at the end of the hall. 'Um... yes, that's it. I just wanted to make sure you were safe, that's all, that's why I came in-'

'Right, let's get going then,' Raf interrupted, also appearing at the door. 

Clive waited outside as the group got what they needed.

'What do we do with the cat?' Matt asked.

'We can leave him here, he'll be fine.' Alex picked up her bag, taking Sapphire's hand in hers.

'Don't you think he has a home to go to?'

'Oh God, I never even thought of that. We'd better letter let him go.' 

She held the door open and glanced at Cornelius, who understood her meaning. He strolled through the doorway, swishing his tail. Raf followed behind him.

Once they were all out, Cornelius, suddenly picking up a scent, ran down the hall, pushing the entrance to the stairwell open with all his weight, and quickly disappearing from view. Clive watched on helplessly as the Cat left with a hundred pounds worth of equipment around his neck. That's definitely coming out of my wages.

'So what did this man look like then?' Raf questioned, thinking Clive must have had a nasty knock on the head. 

Clive thought for a moment. 'Well, for starters, he was wearing a pinstripe suit, and he had this funny moustache, like...' he struggled for the words. 

'Like Poirot?' Matt mocked and Alex couldn't help but giggle. 

Giving up, Clive sighed and walked ahead. The rest of them laughed guiltily at his ridiculous story, not aware of how close to danger they had just come.