Tuesday 9th February
CHAPTER 7
Paul awoke at eight the following morning and he was still shocked by the violence of the previous night. He got showered and changed and he ordered two bowls of Cornflakes and a coffee. He had decided to treat himself.
Paul ate his cereal as he looked down from his hotel window onto the bustling street below. He reflected on the offer given to him by Isabella. Apart of him wanted to walk away and go home, but he knew he had achieved a lot and had covered a major story that had helped start his new job. Yet parts of him were in conflict, his heart said to stay and check out what Isabella had to say, his head however said to run.
His notepad lay close to where he sat and reached over to it. He began to jot down notes on the things he wanted to ask but his mind was blank. His heart stung from his breakup from Kathleen. Apart of him blamed himself that he hadn't seen it earlier and should have seen that they were moving to fast or something. Yet their was nothing that he could put his finger on. As Paul returned to his notes their was a knock on the door. He got up and answered the door and was surprised to see Isabella.
Paul invited her in "I am surprised to see you. I thought I was meeting you later."
Isabella looked to Paul in sympathy "I heard about what happened last night at the Dolphin Hotel."
Paul looked to her surprised that she knew what had happened.
Isabella walked into his room and saw Paul's second bowl of cornflakes. The sight amused her.
She turned to Paul and said with concern "I have friends in the police force who tell me things. Are you alright?"
Paul nodded "We are a bit shaken but we are both alright."
Isabella sat on a chair next to Paul. She glanced back to the second bowl of cornflakes "Do you mind I haven't had time for breakfast?"
Paul was surprised "Go ahead."
Isabella helped herself to the second bowl of cornflakes and she noticed Paul's surprise "Don't worry I have a bowl of these once in a while. Have you thought about my offer?"
Paul nodded "I am willing to interview you and I am willing to help you out. But I do not know were to start."
Isabella smiled and she said "I have a friend in Greenwich who can help you out. But first the interview."
Paul nodded and questioned her asking about Giovannis life, what he was like and what he did at the French embassy. Isabella answered by saying that Giovanni had served in the French Diplomatic Core in Egypt and Italy for more than fifteen years. Before this he was a translator for the French government working out of French Guyana.
In Paul's notes he wrote of Giovannis love for the UK and it was his third posting and had been here for two years. He enjoyed playing golf and the piano. The interview lasted for fifteen minutes and was short and to the point. When Isabella was asked about the reason for Giovannis murder she paused for a moment.
"Can we stop the interview?"
Paul looked to her and he said "Sure. Is everything alright?"
Isabella said and looked to Paul seriously "You asked me about why Giovanni was killed. This has to be off the record."
Paul put his pen down as Isabella continued to looked at him "You ask me why he was killed. Giovanni was a good brother and he was involved in things that put fear into other people. I knew some of the things that went on but I chose not to say anything in order to protect myself and other people that I care for."
Isabella got out a piece of paper with an address on it. "This is the contact I promised you and he will help you out."
Paul took the piece of paper and looked at it curiously "Thank you."
Isabella smiled and she said "No thank you. It feels good to talk to someone even it is a journalist. Go now he is expecting you."
Paul left the Arlington Suite of the Ritz and he was soon in the midst of bustling commuters on bike, foot and car making there way to work on a cloudy winters day . It was bitterly cold in London as Paul arrived at Greenwich.
He found the Ashburnum Triangle area of the town and it was the location of Isabella's contact and he found the house. It was a bricked three storey town house set back from the road with a small front garden.
He pressed a buzzer and Paul could hear a man walking quickly down the stairs. As the door opened Paul spotted a man short in height with intense brown eyes which studied him for a second before the strangers face lit up.
The owner smiled at Paul and shook his hand. "It is so good to see you. I have been expecting you."
They walked into the lounge which was small and compact with an L shaped brown leather sofa spread across two walls. The back of the lounge was illuminated by a large expansive window that looked onto a conservatory and onto a view of the terraced garden to the rear.
The owner stood for a moment "My friends call me Timothy Elmerson, you can call me Tim if you like."
Timothy left the room for a moment in the distance he shouted "Tea, coffee?"
Paul responded "Coffee please one sugar."
A black Labrador entered the lounge and began to sniff Paul checking out something new and different. Paul had an affection for dogs and cats and like the simplicity in expressing what they felt and needed.
Paul opened his right hand and the dog licked it. Their was a glint on the dogs collar. Paul bent over and he saw that it was a dog tag, in large etched letters was the name Samson.
Timothy came back into the room ladened with coffee and biscuits and he places the tray on a table next to Paul.
In his mind Paul had a thousand questions but only one that he was eager to ask "What is going on?" he said looking to Timothy.
Timothy sat down as the cold winters light lit up his face "What is going on is that you are waist deep into something dangerous."
Paul nodded "They came for someone close to me. I was investigating the death of Giovanni Rosinni in Southampton and then the events of the past few days happen."
Timothy sat in his seat and rested his coffee on the arm of the sofa "It is regrettable that you are caught up in all this. Their are things I cannot tell you in order to protect you from further harm. What I can tell you is that the man who tried to kill your girlfriend is a hired gun who goes by the name of Byron. He has the nickname of the Hammer and he has a reputation for getting the job done. Your lucky to be still alive. A warning is not his usual style.”
Paul was intrigued and got out his pen and began to write what had been said to him "This Hammer you mentioned, why is he after me I am just a journalist pursuing a story?"
Timothy knew that Paul was pressing for further information "I know Isabella sent you to me. She reckons I can help you to uncover the motive. The guy who came after you most certainly killed Giovanni Rosinni. The Hammer was probably hired by someone who doesn't want anything revealed. My advice is to back off and go home as you have been told. Pursue this and you may not see tomorrow."
Timothy got up shrugging his shoulders and he said "I can't help you and I am sorry that you have come all this way. My advice is to go home back to your girlfriend and your job in Southampton. You've had an exciting few days and that should be it. You must not continue to pursue this story as next time you may not be so fortunate. I regret I cannot be of further help."
Paul left Timothy's house five minutes later and he left angry and annoyed. He felt used but he had a story and knew he needed to get back to the Southampton Tribune . He looked to his watch and it had gone twelve thirty and knew that he had to get back and explain what had happened to his editor.
Timothy watched Paul as he headed down the street. Their was hardly a breeze in the air but still the sharpness of the winters air had not disappeared. As Paul walked out of view Timothy walked to his telephone on a brown table close to where he stood at the window looking out onto his small garden of potted plants and short shrubs that lined the boundary line between him and his neighbours.
Timothy looked out of the window and narrowed his eyes as he picked up the telephone "You can leave Paul alone. He has gone home."
Tyson knew who the caller was "Timothy, why the secrecy? I know it is you."
Timothy continued as he stared out of the window "We have both an interest to keep the status quo."
Tyson smiled coldly "It is good to hear that your working for our side."
Timothy said calmly "I am not on your side I am doing us both a favour."
Tyson replied mockingly "If you insist. But thank you anyway. Give our love to Isabella when you see her next."
Timothy ended the phone call and Tyson's last comment stung him. He knew of his own history and involvement with the Brethren and Isabella. His past had come back to haunt him, a past he had tried to put behind him. He hoped that Paul would stay well away.
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