He flung his arms wide and stood to greet her, removing his reading glasses. My dearest girl, how wonderful to see you.
They hugged for a few moments. I love you so damn much, Granddad, she said fiercely.
Such language, he told her. You re bringing tears to my eyes. He took out a hanky to dab at them. What will your friend think?
That you re a lucky man to have such a beautiful granddaughter, Rabbi. Holley held out his hand. Daniel Holley. Sara and I are colleagues.
Is that so? Nathan Gideon led the way across to the fireplace, where two sofas faced each other across a glass coffee table. He sat down with Sara in one, Daniel facing them. The door opened and Sadie Cohen pushed in a trolley.
Do you also work at the Ministry of Defence, like that nice Major Roper who came to hear my sermon? the rabbi inquired.
Now and then, if I m needed, Holley said.
I m also in the shipping business.
But somehow a colleague of my granddaughter who s a captain in the Intelligence Corps. This I don t understand.
He accepted the cup of tea Sadie handed him, and Sara said,
The thing is, I won t be wearing the uniform much anymore.
Except if you have to go to the Palace to get your Military Cross, Holley said.
The news was received with astonishment, Sadie missing a cup entirely while pouring more tea.
The Military Cross? Nathan Gideon was amazed.
Sara, you never said a word.
I only just heard, she said. And it was totally unexpected. Frank, my sergeant, deserved it more.
I don t think he d agree, Holley told her. It was his account of your actions that night that led to you being put up for the award in the first place. He stood up. Look, sir, you re a sensible man and I get the impression that Mrs. Cohen is pretty smart, too, so please listen. Major Roper, Sara, myself, and a few other people work for a top secret intelligence unit, responsible only to the Prime Minister.
He turned to Sara inquiringly and she nodded in agreement.
What Daniel says is true, Granddad. But you know you can t say anything about this, right? Neither of you. It s under the Official Secrets Act.
Her grandfather gaped at her in astonishment as Sadie said,
So no more wars, no more Afghanistan?
Sara smiled and then said, Sadie, I d be perfectly happy if I never have to clap eyes on the place again.
So you will be living at home? That s good. Now, you get that tea down you, and I ll see to the trolley when you re finished.
She went out, and Nathan said, I d like to thank you for clearing the air about all this, Daniel. We all know where we stand now, and you can rely on me and Sadie to play our parts. He smiled mischievously. Such as they are.
Holley said, I ll get out of your way, because I know you must have a lot to talk about, and I know you re going out later.
That s true. A big fund-raiser with a speech, unfortunately. But I suspect we ll be seeing each other again.
They shook hands, and Holley followed Sara out to the hall.
He s a rather wonderful man, isn t he?
You could say that. And very special to me after what happened to my parents. His tie had loosened, and she reached up and adjusted it. Thanks for what you told him. It needed doing, and I didn t know how.
The rush of tenderness he felt at that moment was a totally new experience. He said to her, Doing things for you comes easy.
She went back along the corridor to the study. The door of the cloakroom opened and Sadie came out with towels. Still here?
Just leaving.
She nodded and moved closer. She s a lovely girl. Do anything to hurt her
Holley cut her off. I know, you ll kill me, he said cheerfully.
Just remember that.
Seeing Sara returning, she retreated into the cloakroom. Sara opened the front door, turned, and smiled at him. Seven-thirty okay with you?
Do you mean it?
Not too dressy. Somewhere interesting. Don t be late I m hungry.
She pushed him outside, shut the door and leaned against it, smiling as Sadie emerged from the cloakroom. So you re going out on a date with him?
I know what you re going to say. He isn t Jewish.
Why would I say that, and what does it matter as long as it s you having the kids? Sadie told her. As it happens, I like him, so there. She turned and went back to her kitchen.
The moment he was out of the shower, and sober, Jack Kelly lost no time in contacting Owen Rashid, who was delighted with the turn of events.
Legrande is obviously the right man for this, no question. Don t tell him you ve told me about his cancer. I don t think he d like that.
I ll keep that from him, then, Kelly said. But it will make that bastard Abu sit up and take notice. It should keep him off our backs for a while.
Let s make sure of that by getting things moving right away. I ll expect you at my apartment in half an hour. I d like to meet him.
He was immediately impressed with the Frenchman, who was everything he could have wished for. Rashid had been putting on his tie when they arrived, told them to help themselves to a drink, and found them enjoying a whiskey at the table by the open terrace window.
I ve been looking at your record, Henri, and I think you re the man for this job. Do you?
But certainly, Monsieur Rashid, or I wouldn t be here.
Owen reached for the red file and put it on the table. Every scrap of information Al Qaeda has on Ferguson and his people is in there.
The facts in here are all guaranteed, then? Legrande asked.
Yes. Unfortunately, we don t have an internal source in his organization, so we can t tell you what his intentions are.
It would be a miracle if you could with an old fox like Ferguson, Henri said.
Money is no problem, Owen said. Anything you need, you get. My people want him finished once and for all.
It will be my pleasure. Henri shook hands and led the way out.
Jean rang a couple of minutes later. I don t really feel like anything exotic tonight. Would you mind if we just go to that little Italian place at the end of Curzon Street?
Not at all, he said. We might as well walk. Not worth taking the car.
Fifteen minutes later, he was pressing the bell at her front door. She was out in a moment, wearing a French beret and a short navy blue bridge coat. He kissed her on the cheek, and she took his arm.
You look very Parisian tonight, he told her.
Most becoming. How are you?
I had students to see, end-of-term papers to discuss with other staff. Dammit, Owen, I m a painter, an artist, that s what it s all about.
I know that, he said.
This title I have, visiting professor in fine arts, sounds very prestigious, and I suppose it is for some people, but I couldn t care less. The only difference between me and my colleagues is that I m filthy rich. I feel guilty about that.
Don t be silly. I m in the same position when it comes to money. I haven t the slightest intention of feeling guilty about it. What else is new?
Just that Kelly s in town, she said.
You didn t mention he was coming.
I didn t know. It s happening in a hurry. He s needed to see my finance director at the firm about the estate accounts for some time, then he discovered that a man he was involved with in his wild youth, and thought was dead, is running an antiques shop in Shepherd Market.
By his wild youth do we mean his IRA days? Owen asked. You did tell me all about that, remember.
Yes, the friend is French, as I understand it. Anyway, I ve told Jack that under the circumstances he might as well make a bit of a holiday out of it. He s staying at this chap s place for a few days.