He nodded. ‘The note you left in your office said you wanted to find the real traitor - so far all you’ve done is got our only lead killed. I’m not yet sure if that was cock-up or conspiracy, but here’s your chance to prove your innocence. We now know Chief is not Radnya - I think it’s time you earn your spurs and find out who is. If not,’ he paused, ‘well, I might be able to help the police in their investigation into the deaths of two Russian diplomats.’

XIII

XIII

In the harsh light of day, and without the wail of saxophones and trumpets emanating from it, the Afrospot was revealed as just another nondescript Lagos townhouse on just another nondescript Lagos street. The patch of lawn in front of the entrance was strewn with empty beer bottles and tin cans, and a gang of stray dogs barked at the young boys who were half- heartedly kicking around a punctured football.

‘You’re in Marjorie’s bad books,’ Manning was saying, as we surveyed the scene from a car across the street. When I didn’t respond he turned to Pritchard, who was in the passenger seat next to him. ‘He’s in Marjorie’s bad books.’

‘Why’s that?’ said Pritchard, not moving his eyes from the entrance to the club.

‘Because I’ve had to hide the car. This is one of the firm’s spares. So you can imagine - she’s not best pleased.’

It was a white Peugeot estate, and, if anything, it was in better condition than Manning’s had been. But I didn’t argue - there were other things to think about. I’d seriously miscalculated the way Pritchard would react to the idea that the PM might be the target of an assassination attempt. I had tried to convince him of it, partly because I didn’t like the idea of sitting on information that someone might be about to get his head blown off, whoever he was, but also because it suited my own aims. I’d thought Pritchard would immediately arrange for the trip to be cancelled, which would tie him up in red tape and give me the space and time to get to Anna. I hadn’t imagined he would be mad enough to use Wilson as bait. Still, I couldn’t deny his logic - it was essentially the same strategy I’d used with myself: move close enough to the flame to be able to blow it out.

According to the schedule Manning had brought with him, the PM was due to arrive in just under fifty-one hours’ time. I glanced again at the sheet of paper.

Visit of the Prime Minister to Nigeria
27-31 March 1969

Programme

Thursday 27 March

16.00 Prime Minister and British Delegation arrive.

20.00 Working dinner on board HMS Fearless.

Friday 28 March

09.00 Formal talks with General Gowon.

13.15 Depart Lagos by air.