‘Oh, nothing, I was just wondering where it had all gone. It’s a touch of that three o’clock in the morning feeling when you feel past everything there ever was.’
‘Not you, surely? You’ve got years ahead of you.’
‘Mary, my love. You are nineteen and I am an old thirty-five who’s seen it all and doesn’t believe in much any more. In a few days I’ll be on my way and a good thing.’ He gave her one small hug. ‘So let’s get inside before I lose what few wits I have entirely.’
Ryan, sitting on the other side of the table, said, ‘Jack Carver’s bad news, Liam, always was. How can you be certain he’ll play straight?’
‘He couldn’t if he wanted to,’ Devlin said, ‘but there’s more to this. Much more. The radio I need, the twenty-eight set. It’s an unusual piece of equipment and the more Carver realizes that, the more he’s going to want to know what’s going on.’
‘So what are you going to do?’
‘I’ll think of something, but that can wait. What can’t is an inspection of that drainage tunnel under the Priory.’
Til come with you,’ Ryan said. ‘We’ll go in the motor boat. Only take fifteen minutes to get there.’
‘Would that be likely to cause attention?’
‘No problem.’ Ryan shook his head. ‘The Thames is the busiest highway in London these days. Lots of craft work the river at night. Barges. Freighters.’
Mary turned from the sink. ‘Can I come?’
Before Devlin could protest, Ryan said, ‘A good idea. You can mind the boat.’
‘But you stay on board,’ Devlin told her. ‘No funny business.’
‘Right, I’ll go and change.’ She rushed out.
‘Oh, to be young,’ Devlin said.
Ryan nodded. ‘She likes you, Liam.’
‘And I like her, Michael old friend, and that’s where it will end. Now, what do we need?’
‘The tide is low, but it’s still going to be wet. I’ll dig out some overalls and boots,’ Ryan told him and went out
The small motor boat moved in towards the strand, it’s engine a muted throbbing. The prow carved its way into mud and sand and Ryan cut the engine. ‘Right, Mary. Keep an eye on things. We shouldn’t be long.’
He and Devlin in their dark overalls and boots went over the side and faded into the darkness. Ryan carried a bag of tools and Devlin a large torch of the type used by workmen. There was three feet of water in the tunnel.
Ryan said, ‘So we’ll have to wade.’
As they moved into the water the smell was pungent. Devlin said, ‘Christ, you can tell it’s a sewer.’
‘So try not to fall down and if you do, keep your mouth closed,’ Ryan said. ‘The terrible place for diseases, sewers.’
Devlin led the way, the tunnel stretching ahead of them in the rays of the lamp. The brickwork was obviously very old, corroded and rotting. There was a sudden splash and two rats leapt from a ledge and swam away.
‘Filthy creatures,’ Ryan said in disgust.
‘It can’t be far,’ Devlin said. ‘A hundred yards. Not much more surely.’
Suddenly, there it was, an iron grill perhaps four feet by three, just above the surface of the water. They looked through into the crypt and Devlin played the light across the interior. There were a couple of tombs almost completely covered with water and stone steps in the far corner going up to a door.
‘One thing’s for sure,’ Ryan said. ‘The grill’s done nothing to help their drainage system.’
‘It was put in nearly forty years ago,’ Devlin said. ‘Maybe it worked then.’
Ryan got a crowbar from his bag of tools. Devlin held the bag for him while the other man pushed into the mortar in the brickwork beside the grill. He jumped back in alarm as the wall buckled and five or six bricks tumbled into the water. The whole place is ready to come down. We can have this grill out in a fast ten minutes, Liam.’
‘No, not now. I need to know what the situation is upstairs. We’ve found out all we need for the moment, which is that the grill can be pulled out any time we want. Now let’s get out of here.’