Philippa smiled and walked over to the table, sat down and pulled her laptop towards her.
David pulled out a seat and indicated for Dan to join them. ‘Before you drink all that, we’re going to need to have a bit of a debrief,’ he said. ‘We’ll do a full one in the morning but I want to know exactly what the hell you were thinking.’
Sarah sat down next to Philippa, putting her glass on the table. ‘I agree Dan – how on earth did you know that driving the car into the river would stop the bomb?’
Dan smiled. ‘It was something Harry said to me about fuel cells. I don’t know why I suddenly remembered but he told me that if the membrane around the fuel cell is over-hydrated, the fuel cell gets flooded, which prevents the hydrogen reaching the catalyst.’ He paused and shrugged. ‘I just figured if I drove the car into the Thames, it would work.’
Sarah looked over to David. ‘Have they caught Delaney?’
He nodded. ‘Mitch apprehended him just before we boarded the World’s End. Apparently Delaney started a fire in his office, then tried to leave without being noticed, amongst all the commotion. They’re flying him down to Canberra for questioning. I think our colleagues in the Australian intelligence service have a room ready for him.’
Sarah began to pack her bag and Dan stood up, draining the last of his champagne in one gulp. ‘What time do you want us here tomorrow?’
David shrugged. ‘I think we all deserve a lie-in,’ he said. ‘Make it about ten.’ He followed Dan out to the elevators and they travelled down to the reception area. Dan smiled as he saw Sarah and Philippa deep in conversation at the doors with a man Dan guessed was Sarah’s editor.
He turned and noticed David looking at him, appraising him. ‘What are you thinking?’ he asked.
‘You know, we’re always interested in recruiting good people.’
Dan shrugged. ‘I don’t know if I’m ready for that.’
David smiled. ‘Well, you’ve earned a break. Here’s my card. Contact me if you change your mind.’
Dan turned to find Sarah looking at him. He walked slowly over to her. ‘Hi.’
She smiled. ‘Hello. Come here often?’
He grinned. ‘How’re you doing?’
Sarah shrugged. ‘I’m sure in a few days it’s all going to hit me.’ She inclined her head towards the door, where her editor, Gus, paced the floor. ‘I think he’s going to have me locked up until this story’s finished though.’
Dan looked over her shoulder and smiled. ‘He doesn’t seem too bad, as far as bosses go. Although I’d hate to see his face when he sees your expenses claim for this month.’
Sarah laughed. ‘Yeah – although I think I forgot to keep
some of my receipts.’
Dan smiled and looked down at his feet. ‘Are you going to be OK – seriously?’ He glanced up at her, nervous and not sure why.
She shrugged. ‘I really don’t know. It’s been a mad couple of months, y’know? All I want to do is get this story finished and Gus happy with it. After that – who knows?’
Dan nodded. ‘Yeah. I know what you mean.’
Sarah glanced over at David, standing with his team and packing up communications equipment, forensic specialists getting ready to meet the recovery team at the laboratory to pore over the defused bomb and take it apart piece by piece.
‘Did he offer you a job?’
Dan glanced at David and then looked back at Sarah.
‘Yeah.’ He smiled. ‘I don’t know if I could take this sort of excitement on a regular basis though.’
She laughed. ‘Oh come on – lots of action, international travel, driving cars at mad speeds, shooting at bad guys, getting your mojo back defusing a bomb – what on earth’s stopping you?’
Dan smiled, shrugged, then looked at his watch. ‘Hey – are you doing anything for the next hour or so?’
Sarah shook her head. ‘No – why?’
Dan grabbed her hand and pulled her across the reception area. ‘Come on.’
‘Hey, where are we going?’ Sarah dragged her feet, unsure what was happening.
‘Don’t worry – trust me.’ Dan pulled her out of the door, past the small crowd which had assembled there. Gus turned as they approached.
‘Sarah – where are you going?’ he asked, making a misjudged attempt to grab her sleeve as she and Dan hurried past.
Sarah shrugged her shoulders. ‘I don’t know – I’m just following him.’ She grinned. ‘It seems to have worked so far.’
Gus frowned. ‘Don’t be long – I want you at the office so we can run through the story together. The newspaper wants this in the morning edition so we can syndicate it by the evening.’
Dan stopped and turned to Gus. ‘Stop panicking. She’ll be there.’ He glared at the other man, who nodded, realising Dan wasn’t in the mood to negotiate.
Dan began to walk again, pulling Sarah along after him into the crisp night. Their breath froze in the air.
‘Dan? Where are we going?’
‘Hurry – I don’t want to miss it. Come on!’ He headed out the doors and up Belvedere Road. He hurried along the street until they reached a high fence. Opening a wrought-iron gate, he entered a small park. He glanced around and then stopped.
‘Give me your mobile phone.’
Sarah reached into her bag and pulled out the phone. She handed it to Dan. ‘Why do you need it?’
He grinned, switched it off, and then put it in his jacket pocket. ‘That’s why.’ He looked around the park. ‘Perfect.’
‘Thank god for that,’ said Sarah sarcastically. ‘I wondered where the hell we were going.’
Dan ignored her, pulled her through the narrow entrance to the park and pointed to a low wooden bench which overlooked the city stretching out below. Sitting down, he patted the bench next to him and looked up at Sarah.
‘Here – quickly. Otherwise you’ll miss it.’
Sarah sat down, confused. ‘Miss what?’
‘Shh.’ Dan looked at his watch. ‘Look.’
As the clock swung round to eight o’clock, Sarah raised her eyes to the skyline and gasped.