The man who escaped (Episode 16)

synopsis: Kate has made Coke up to look like an old blind man. They have just gone to a pub in Soho Coke thinks he might find Masters there.

Kate led Coke to a table and then went to the bar to get their drinks.

"I've been here before I was here last week," she said when she came back. Coke was not listening.

"Masters isn't here," he said.

"Surely you didn't expect to walk in and find him, just like that?"

"No, I suppose not."

Time dragged. They sat there for over an hour. More people came in, but Masters was not among them. It was getting towards closing time when the barman came to their table.

"May I have your empty glasses?" he asked politely.

Coke touched him on his sleeve "Does a man named Eric Masters ever come in here?" he asked. He did not notice the man standing at the bar who stared at him in the mirror when he mentioned Masters' name.

The barman thought for a second. "There's a man named Eric who comes in here a lot. He's a military type. Is that who you mean?" he asked. Coke tried to sound casual when he asked his next question. "Has he been in here today?" The barman nodded "Yes," he answered. "He was in this afternoon." "I don't suppose you know where I can find him now?" Coke asked. "I'm afraid not. All I know about him is that he has an antique shop somewhere near Red Lion Square," he answered.

"Wasn't that a bit dangerous?" Kate asked after the barman left. "Yes, it was. But I haven't got much time. I've got to find Masters before the police find me," he answered.

"I still don't understand why you can't simply find his address in the telephone book!"

"I've already looked I went through the phone book in your flat. Masters might have a phone but his number isn't there."

The barman was shouting "Last orders, please" when Coke and Kate left. Kate led him through the crowded, bright streets. Most of the pubs were closing. It was 11.00, but the clubs and restaurants were still busy. When they got to Shaftesbury Avenue, Kate called a taxi. Neither she nor Coke noticed the man who was so close behind them in the crowd that he heard Kate say "Red Lion Square, please" to the driver. They did not see him get into a cab and follow them, either.

The man who escaped (Episode 17)

synopsis: Coke has just found out that Masters owns an antique shop somewhere near Red Lion Square. He and Kate have gone there in a taxi. They do not know they are being followed.

"Would you mind driving round the Square once?" Kate asked the driver. Red Lion Square was deserted. There were a number of dark side streets around it.

"It's obviously not on the Square itself," Coke said. They got out of the taxi, paid the driver and started exploring.

There were antique shops on several of the side streets but they all either had names like "Connoisseur's Corner" which told them nothing about who owned the shop, or other names like "Richards", and "Harvey Keen". Masters' name was not among them.

Half an hour later they were still looking. Kate kept glancing over her shoulder. She had the uncomfortable feeling that someone was following them but she could not see anybody. "I don't like wandering round the dark streets at this hour," she said. "Someone's bound to notice us!" she went on. "I don't like doing it, either, but what else can we do? We can't stop looking now. It might be our last chance," Coke answered.

Suddenly something in the window of a shop across the road caught his eye. The street was very dark but the thing gleamed. It reflected the light of a passing car. They crossed the street. The thing was an old military sabre and it was in a window marked "Antique Weapons and Military Antiques." There were old pistols, helmets and other swords in the window. Coke became excited. "This must be it!" he said. Kate lit a match so that they could see a bit better. There was no name on the window but there was a phone number on the door. Coke copied it down.

It was around midnight when the phone rang in Eric Masters' flat. The voice on the other end was hard and cold. "This is Hugo," it said. "Why didn't you come to the Green Rider?" "I'm sorry, Hugo. I... I don't enjoy going there any more. Not since Coke escaped. I... I thought it might be dangerous." Masters was nervous. He became even more so when he heard what Hugo had to say. "There was an old blind man in the pub. He had a young woman with him. He asked about you and then went to your shop." Masters blinked in surprise. His voice cracked slightly. "But I don't know anybody like that. What did they want?"

"How do I know, you fool? Just watch out for them, that's all!" Hugo said furiously and hung up. Masters slept very badly that night.