“Viv, I believe you’re telling me that I have been had, in some sort of way.”
“It would seem so.”
“Maybe.” Stone picked up his phone, found Felicity’s number, and called her.
“Good morning, Stone,” she said, after her call had been screened.
“Good morning, Felicity,” he replied. “I wonder if you could check something for me.”
“I’ll try.”
“Can you consult your records and see if MI-6 has an employee named Rose McGill?”
“One moment,” she said. He could hear the tapping of computer keys. “Now,” she said, “security regulations prevent me from confirming the name of an employee. However, I don’t believe there is a regulation that prevents me from denying that such an employee exists. In fact, we often make such denials. I can, though, tell you honestly that we have no record of an employee by that name.”
“You recall meeting her at dinner?”
“Of course. I’m not denying her existence, just her employment. You met her at Station Two, did you not?”
“I did.”
“How?”
“She came into the ward while I was being examined by another doctor.”
“What was his name?”
“I don’t recall, but he was middle-aged and had a very handsome military mustache.”
“Yes, that would be Major St. George, who is the only physician based at Station Two.”
“Rose said she was doing a locum there.”
“That term would be used only if she were replacing another doctor who was away from the station. Clearly, Major St. George was present.”
“Clearly.”
“Was Brigadier Fife-Simpson present in the ward at that time?”
“Yes, he came in to yell at me for wrecking your car — at least, I think that’s what he was yelling about.”
“Had you seen Rose before that meeting? In the dining hall, perhaps, or on the grounds?”
“No.”
Felicity was silent for a moment. “I am inclined to think that Dr. McGill is a creature of the brigadier’s,” she said.
“Have you known the brigadier for long?”
“I had met him once or twice in passing, but I had never had a conversation with him until I drove up to Station Two in my erstwhile Aston Martin. Oh, incidentally, its replacement arrived this morning, a bit ahead of schedule, and it is indistinguishable from its predecessor. I thank you for ordering it.”
“I trust the MOD paid?”
“Astonishingly, they did. I was prepared to do combat with them over that.”
“Felicity, what am I to do about Rose McGill, if that, indeed, is her name?”
“Do you have her address and phone number?”
Stone thought about that. “No.”
“Well, there doesn’t seem to be anything you can do.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“If you hear from her again, see if you can worm that information out of her, then I can investigate further. For the present, I think all this is best kept between us. I shall not mention it to the brigadier until I am on firmer ground. Now, I must run to a meeting on the Muddle East.”
“Thank you, Felicity.” Stone hung up and turned to Viv. “Rose McGill does not exist,” he said, “at least, not for MI-6.”
“I had rather thought she might not,” Viv replied. “Shall I ask my people to track her down?”
“Maybe later. Right now, let’s let Felicity deal with the situation.” His breakfast arrived, and Viv made to go. “I’ll be going up to London tomorrow morning,” she said. “May I have a ride to the station?”
“Of course.”
15
To clear his head, Stone ordered up the gelding and went for a ride. Dino and Viv declined to join him. He walked, then trotted the horse to warm him up, then eased into a canter. As the stone wall grew nearer he spurred the animal into a gallop. Clearly, the horse knew what was expected of him and he soared over the wall and ran until he was reined in.
Back at the house, Stone found his book in the library, then read until everyone was assembled for lunch.
“You’re looking a bit more clear-eyed,” Viv said.
“Yeah,” Dino echoed. “I hear your girl slipped you a Mickey last night.”
“It would appear so,” Stone said.
“What are you going to do about that girl?” Dino asked.
“Nothing. Felicity will look into the matter when she feels the time is right.”
“Don’t you find this disturbing?”
“I find it baffling. I can’t understand why she, or whoever she works for, would go to these lengths to deceive me.”
“It’s gotta be Fife-Simpson running her,” Dino said.
“That’s what Felicity thinks, but she’s apparently in a delicate situation: Fife-Simpson has been pressed on her by her ministry, and she doesn’t know why.”
“It sounds as though they’re going to dump her soon, and they want their own man there, ready to step in.”
“My guess is that’s what Felicity thinks, too, but she won’t talk about it.”
“Wheels within wheels,” Viv said. “That’s what these intelligence people are like. You never know what they’re thinking.”
The phone rang, and Stone took the call.
“Hi, it’s Rose. I just wanted to apologize for leaving without talking to you, but they had three hysterectomies lined up and waiting at St. George’s, and the surgeon called in sick.”
“It’s all right, I understand.”
“Do you think you’ll come up to London this week?”
“Yes, my London office has asked me to. Are you free tomorrow night?”
“I can do that.”
“I’ll book a suite at the Connaught. Bring your toothbrush.”
“Sounds good. I think I can be there around five.”
“By the way, what’s your phone number?” Then she began talking to someone else in the room.
“Sorry, got to run; I’ll see you tomorrow evening.” She hung up.
So did Stone. “I didn’t get her number,” he said. He called Felicity.
“Yes, Stone?”
“I’ve heard from Rose. I’m going up to London tomorrow. I’ll book a suite at the Connaught — she’s meeting me there. Tell me, do you have some sort of concealable device I can use to record her?”
“I can do better than that,” Felicity said. “Let me book your suite at the Connaught. We have one there that is specially equipped. You won’t have to do a thing, except talk.”
“We’ll go out for dinner,” he said.
“Make an excuse to order from room service instead.”
“All right. Let me know what you learn.”
“All in good time,” she said, then hung up.
“Felicity’s service has a suite at the Connaught that’s wired,” he said to the Bacchettis.
“Be careful what you say,” Viv said to him, “because your voice will forever be in the files of MI-6.”
“Good point,” Stone said. “Do you think I should confront Rose with her lies?”
“Heavens no,” Viv said.
“Just give her all the rope she wants,” Dino said. “Let’s see what else she tells you.”
“Right,” Viv said. “If you start questioning her too closely, she’ll get suspicious and clam up. Just let her talk.”
“What else do I want to know about her?”
“Anything she tells you is likely to be a lie,” Viv said. “But I have to tell you, she doesn’t sound like a well-trained intelligence agent.”
“Why do you say that?”
“She’s already blithely told you things you could easily check out and disprove. A real pro would have a legend prepared that’s all backed up.”