He had a similar small apartment in Nice under yet another name .sx As soon as he was unpacked he rang Dickie Ashton's number .sx A maid answered and he put down the receiver straight away .sx He took the replacement Steyr from behind a refrigerator , left the apartment , and took a bus to the West End and meandered around Piccadilly finding the town heat unbearable after the openness of Ireland .sx It was so sticky and oppressive and filled with petrol fumes and noise that he caught a cab back to the apartment .sx Jacko picked up Gorley's trail in a situation that could so easily have been reversed .sx Jacko had mastered the rules of observation on the Belfast streets - no better place to learn about survival .sx Following someone could mean that someone else was following you .sx And Gorley was more out of practice than Jacko .sx Ashton climbed out of his Rolls , the chauffeur holding the door open for him .sx Jacko was at the end of the street which was quite busy , and as he watched Ashton mount the steps to his town house , on his peripheral vision he noticed a big man , leaning over a parked car as if to open a door , swing his head round to watch Ashton disappear into the house .sx From then on Jacko was interested in the big man who he could see now was fairly old , but sharp and fit .sx Jacko took two careful shots with a pocket camera then sank further back , but the old man seemed to be fully occupied with Ashton's house as if he did not care if he was seen .sx There was a moment when Jacko thought he would walk down towards the house but he obviously thought better of it .sx Yet even when the chauffeur drove past him in the Rolls to the mews garages at the back , he made no attempt to hide his interest in the house .sx It was one of those times when Jacko , because of parking problems , had used a cab to get to Ashton's town house and now he wished he had a car readily available .sx Jacko swung round the corner , crossed the road , and walked towards Gorley who was some fifty yards away .sx There were plenty of people about and he weaved in and out increasing his pace , hopping round people until he bumped into Gorley .sx Jacko struck Gorley quite hard , grabbed him , and in a stronger cockney twang than usual , said , " I'm sorry , mate .sx My fault ; in too much of a bloody hurry .sx " He held on to Gorley's arm and added , " You all right ?sx " .sx Gorley straightened himself ; Jacko had winded him but not enough to prevent him saying , " You young sods are always in a hurry .sx I'm all right .sx Now piss off and watch where you're going .sx " .sx " Sorry , " said Jacko again , and continued on to search for a cab .sx So the old boy was armed .sx Well , well .sx It was the only lead he had right then .sx It took time to find a cab and he thought he had lost his man but when the cab rounded the corner Gorley was still there , hailing a passing taxi .sx Jacko told his cabbie to wait - and bugger the traffic - and promised a bonus .sx When Gorley finally found a cab , Jacko followed .sx As Jacko sat back he considered it a strange episode ; it was as if the old man had not cared whether he was seen by Ashton or not .sx Perhaps Ashton did not know him but anyone as open as the old boy had been must arouse suspicion .sx Just who the hell was he ?sx The journey back to Highbury was not easy and Jacko's cabbie complained all the way .sx When Gorley's taxi eventually pulled up Jacko shouted to his cabbie to drive on and take the first corner .sx When his cab pulled up Jacko shoved some notes into the driver's hand and hurried back .sx Gorley was not in sight but the cab was just pulling away .sx Jacko marked the spot and walked slowly towards the house where the cab had stopped .sx There was a display panel of tenants .sx He chose a name at random and there was no reply .sx He tried the next and a woman's voice answered .sx He apologised and told her he had pressed the wrong buzzer .sx Two more tries and a voice he recognised answered irritably .sx In spite of the voice distortion through the poor quality speaker he knew that it was his man .sx " Mr West ?sx This is the police .sx Can I come up ?sx " .sx Jacko expected an argument but instead the man called West released the door catch and Jacko pushed his way in .sx There was a small elevator in the hall but Jacko took the stairs ; elevators were bad places to be trapped in .sx The apartment was on the top floor , the sixth , and he stood for a while to regain his breath before ringing the bell .sx While he waited he recalled that the man had been quite well dressed , while this small block was verging on the run-down middle-class .sx A voice called out , " It's open .sx " That was trusting .sx Jacko pushed the door so that it was flat against the wall .sx There was no sign of anybody .sx Jacko stood just inside the hall and in front of him was a partially open door through which he could see part of a settee .sx " Come in .sx And close the door behind you .sx " .sx It was the old man's voice all right , but he was still out of sight .sx Jacko touched the Browning in his pocket , slipped off the safety catch and moved further down the tiny hall .sx He pushed the living-room door open with the back of his hand and kept the other near his hip pocket .sx " What's the matter with you ?sx Afraid of an old man ?sx Come right in .sx " .sx Gorley was against the door wall and had the Steyr in his hand .sx " You got a licence for that thing ?sx " Jacko asked knowing it was too late to draw his own gun .sx He went in and sat down to face Gorley .sx " I'm not sure .sx I might have one somewhere .sx But that won't matter to you .sx Have you got one for yours ?sx " Jacko had to admire the man ; he had checked on Jacko as Jacko had checked on him .sx He could see that the man was completely familiar with the gun and hard to the core ; not a man to compromise or hesitate .sx " Are you going to top me in your own pad ?sx You haven't even got a silencer on the damned thing .sx If you put it away I'll introduce myself .sx " .sx " You already have , sonny , so what's your game ?sx " .sx " My identity card is in my inside pocket .sx May I take it out ?sx " As Gorley hesitated Jacko added sharply , " You know damn fine that my gun is in my hip pocket .sx I can't get at it without standing up .sx " .sx " You might have moved it .sx Okay , go ahead .sx You know the rules .sx " Jacko took out his police card and handed it over .sx The man he knew as West kept his distance and his gun hand steady while he studied the identity card .sx He crossed to the telephone , put the open card beside the instrument and lifted the receiver .sx He dialled without the Steyr moving and said , " Put me through to Detective Sergeant Willis of Special Branch .sx " He did it as if he had done it many times before .sx After quite a long wait he said , " Out ?sx No message , I'll ring back later .sx " .sx Gorley tossed the warrant card over to Jacko who hid his relief ; if Willis had been in it would have been more difficult .sx " I've seen better forgeries than that .sx You're no cop .sx Who sent you after me ?sx " .sx " Nobody .sx I've seen or heard of you before though in view of you having a gun I very much doubt that your real name is West .sx Don't you think it's time you put that thing away .sx I mean , look at it , it's antique ; you could hurt yourself with it .sx " .sx Gorley smiled , but from affection for the gun .sx " Put your hands on the arms of the chair and keep them there .sx " When Jacko had complied Gorley sat opposite him at the same time facing the door .sx He put the Steyr down on the phone table beside him within instant reach .sx " You're in serious trouble , " said Jacko .sx " Holding a police officer at gun point could get you life .sx " .sx " Balls , " Gorley responded .sx " Let's get down to it ; I know who sent you to kill me but I want to hear it from you .sx I just want to be sure .sx " .sx " No one has sent me to kill you .sx I say again , I don't even know who you are .sx " .sx Gorley glanced at the Steyr ; his thin lips tightened .sx " I'm not going to give too much time to this .sx And don't kid yourself I won't hit you here .sx This place is unoccupied for most of the year .sx I hardly ever use it .sx Nobody comes but me .sx I could leave you here until a safe time to move you .sx Just bear it in mind when you give the answers .sx " .sx Jacko was quite sure he was not dealing with a nutter ; but who was this man who was confident he could get away with murder ?sx It appeared to be no new game to him .sx " I still haven't been sent to kill you or anyone else for that matter .sx " .sx " You mean it was a coincidence you bumped into me ?sx " Gorley's attitude had hardened , his tone dangerous .sx " No .sx Not bumping into you ; I did that deliberately .sx But we were both watching the same man .sx I noticed you .sx Had you been doing a better job I might not have seen you .sx I decided to find out if you are armed and followed you here to ask your interest in Richard Ashton .sx I was on surveillance .sx " .sx " So you are sticking to the cop story .sx Okay ; why were you watching him ?sx " .sx " That was my question .sx I asked first .sx " .sx " But I have the gun .sx And this is my apartment , and you are my unwelcome guest .sx " .sx " He's had threats on his life .sx I was keeping an eye on him .sx When I discover someone else doing the same , and is armed , I am apt to draw conclusions .sx It is not me who is out to kill you but you who are out to kill him .sx " .sx " That's a dangerous thing to say in your present situation .sx " And far too near the truth .sx For once Gorley was not quite so comfortable .sx " My situation hasn't changed since I came through the door .sx " .sx " Hands on your head and down on your knees .sx " Gorley picked up the Steyr .sx Jacko knew what would happen next .sx He was dealing with a pro and could see no way out .sx He placed his hands on his head and slipped to the floor on to his knees .sx " Lie flat and keep your hands where they are .sx " .sx " There's not enough room .sx " .sx Gorley removed a small table and stood well clear .sx Jacko lay prone , his hands still on his head .sx Gorley stepped round him and then straddled him , still standing .sx Jacko could not actually see Gorley but he knew what was going on and he frantically sought a way out .sx He knew the worst when he felt the barrel of the Steyr press against the nape of his neck and a hand groping for his gun .sx 9 Piero Cirillo motored along the Irish country roads hating every minute of it .sx He rarely saw another car which would normally have pleased him , but with his bad sense of direction and few road signs he was not really sure if he was going the right way .sx He stopped from time to time to study the map on the seat beside him , but the distances were surprising and the high hedgerows , and often narrow lanes , were another kind of prison .sx When cars came from the opposite direction and , as often as not , the driver raised a finger in token greeting , Cirillo was left with the unreasonable sensation of being recognised .sx It all came back to his uncertainty on country roads and his reluctance to ask other motorists for directions .sx