He dropped off his case at Flemings Hotel and walked to the Home Office, he sat in one of the staff restaurants with a coffee, he was reluctant to go upstairs. He made a call to say he was in the building, Jane Goodley said she knew and wondered why he hadn’t come up to her office. “I was getting my head together, the train journey down and just now are the only times I’ve been on my own for two weeks, I’m not used to it, I will come up now.” There was a coffee for him when he sat down, “have you recovered?” “Mostly, physically I’m OK, my head needs a bit of time, you must remember when you were a case officer, you become immersed, to the exclusion of everything else.” “Are you staying at Flemings and is Sally with you? “Yes and no, she is back at work today, I have to call her later to see how she is.” “You are seeing the Prime Minister at midday, we then meet the Home Secretary at 14:00, you have a meeting at the US Embassy at 17:00, I will book dinner for us at 19:30. I hope you have nothing else booked.” “No, tomorrow I want to see Fraser MacIntire, I don’t know where he is being held, can you arrange it, I don’t think he will say anything, I want to have a chat.” “Are you sure it’s him, he has only spoken Russian since he was picked up?” “Yes, without a doubt.” “I’ll set the meeting up, he’s on remand in Belmarsh.” “Don’t bother with a car, I’ll walk.” “David, are you OK, is there anything wrong?” “No, I was drained when I came back from the US, it was straight onto this case, as I said, I’m mentally worn out,” he sat back down. “In America, I couldn’t have cared what the outcome of my speech was, If I had been kicked out, it wouldn’t have bothered me, the double standards and deceitfulness by politicians got me down, I didn’t know what it was until I said what I did, I felt a huge weight lift off me. Going into this job, I was run down, speak to Sally she can explain it better.” “We will talk tonight, after your meetings, I think the Home Secretary wants to see us in his Parliamentary office, I’ll let you know later.” Dave went back down to where he had been earlier, he messaged Sally, ten minutes later she called him, “Nobody asked me anything this morning, I think they know or have been told not to talk to me about the last two weeks. How’s your day?” “Jane might call you, she asked how I was, I told her how I felt in the run up to the USA trip, I said I was still mentally exhausted. She is having dinner with me tonight, I am going to see the PM, then the Home Secretary and finally Cyrus, I will be knackered by the end of the day.” “Do you want me to come down, I could be there by 18:00?” “No, I think Jane might be more open with just the two of us, I don’t know what she wants to talk about. I’ll phone you when you are home, before I see her.” Dave strolled to the back entrance to Downing Street, showing his ID, he was handed a pass and led to a waiting room, he was collected and taken along corridors until he was shown into the Prime Minister’s office, he recognised one of his aides, sitting behind a desk. Richard Carlton shook his hand, “I understand you have been busy, he pointed to Dave’s report on his desk. Would you like a coffee?” “And biscuits please.” “I want to thank you for what you achieved in Washington, from what I have read, we would have come away with nothing without your intervention, I’m told you spoke without notes.” “May I speak freely?” “Nothing has stopped you before,” “you know what happened before we went to the US, it affected me, nothing to do with him having sex with kids, it’s the double standards and lying by politicians, it wears me down, you never get a straight answer, they think how the answer will affect them politically before giving a reply, I’m at the point where I don’t believe anything they say. It’s all about themselves, some of them don’t give a toss about the country, only about themselves and what will give them the greatest financial benefit. I’m sorry if it sounds cynical but it’s how I feel. I’m putting my life on the line and they couldn’t care. Last week, people were firing machine guns at me, shout at a politician and they go running.” Dave drunk the coffee which had been placed in front of him. “That’s what I like about you, you say it how it is. No sugar coating, just the facts, no matter how awkward they are. There is a job for you here, one which will use your bluntness, I want you to poke around, see what you can stir up, keep people on their toes.” Dave listened as the Prime Minister explained what he wanted Dave to do. “Think about it, discuss it with your partner, I’m not looking for a decision right now.” “I can tell you now, I appreciate the offer and how highly you rate my abilities, but I won’t accept your offer, I can give you the reasons if you want.” There was a nod from Richard Carlton. “First, I won’t move back to London, two, I would become frustrated when there was no change, thirdly, I think after a while, I would become like the people I’m trying to clean up and lastly, governments come and go, the next Prime Minister might not want me.” “The offer is on the table, think about it, there would be a good package for you.” With that and a shake of hands, the meeting was over. There was an hour before the next meeting, the sun was shining, he walked down Whitehall and turned left, he sat on a bench on Victoria Embankment watching the tourists hopping on and off the river cruisers. He thought about the offer he had just been made, it wouldn’t work, he would make too many enemies, and become very fed up, it wasn’t the way he saw his and Sally’s future. His phone pinged with a message, ’13:45, my office’, he set off, walking at a slow pace, past Parliament and into Millbank, standing outside, he tried to shake off the malaise he felt. Jane Goodley saw he wasn’t any different to how he had been earlier. “David, I can postpone the meeting if that would help.” “No, let’s get it over and done with. I might feel better then.” In the back of the car on the short drive, he realised what it was, he wasn’t in control, others were calling the shots, he didn’t like it, he had to be in charge. Getting out the car, he said to Jane he was alright, he would talk to her later about it. Peter Stockdale was waiting for them, after the handshakes, he asked them to sit down. The office wasn’t huge, there were two chairs on the other side of his desk, Dave instinctively sat further back. “I’ve read your report,” Dave could see it on his desk. “it’s very comprehensive, what do you think made him do it?” “That’s for others to find out, why not ask his wife, from the clothes she was buying, she was planning a life somewhere warmer than here.” Jane said she was being interviewed by the local police and she would pass on the report as soon as she had it. “What about the two Russians being held, from what I’ve heard, I’m not sure your story of an ex SAS soldier is true.” “And what have you heard?” “The interpreter says he speaks perfect Russian, he can’t find any trace of English.” “Well, the interpreter is wrong, I’m right and will be proved right tomorrow when I see him.” “He is a Home Office interpreter,” “with all due respect sir, I don’t care if he was Vladimir Putin, he is wrong.” “Coming back to the incident on the river, could you have done it differently, in a way where there was no loss of life?” “No.” “Would you elaborate on your answer.” “A lot takes place in the heat of the moment, what would you prefer, dead Russian agents or dead British soldiers. The captain wasn’t going to be allowed to sail off into the sunset, so to speak. However much money he was promised, he wasn’t going to get it, the bag was full of newspaper to pad it out. If someone shoots at me, I’m not going to ask them to stop, it doesn’t work that way. You don’t spend a fortune training men to kill, and then say ‘don’t pull the trigger’.” Miss Goodley says you are an asset to her department, I understand you also work for the Defence Department, why don’t you take up the offer of the position she has open for you?” “Miss Goodley knows why, no doubt she has told you, it’s not going to happen. I think the setup we have works to both our advantages.” “But you’re outside the system, unregulated, it’s not how we operate, who are you accountable to.” “Sir, how I operate is not up for discussion, the MOD has no problem with how I work, speak to the Defence Secretary. If you don’t like how I work, that’s OK, but currently you have no one better in your organisation, if you did, this conversation wouldn’t be taking place.” Dave was asked to leave the room while a discussion about him was held. Fifteen minutes later, he was called back in. “I have decided to retain your services and those of your assistant Miss Fellowes, however there will be no firearms, you will not be permitted to carry any weapons.” Dave took out his MI5 ID and tossed it on the desk, “I’d be dead in a week, sorry but there is no way I will work like that, I have a meeting with a representative from the CIA later, I will see what they have to offer.” Jane put out her hand to stop him from leaving, “David, wait, leave us again, while I talk to the Home Secretary.” He sat on a chair in the corridor like a naughty schoolboy. It was over half an hour later when he was called back in, his pass was gone from the desk, it was Jane who spoke, “forget the last conversation, the issues have been resolved, you can carry on as before, I will explain later.” She handed him back his pass, in the car on the way back, she said he was to come back up to her office. “David, why do you do it, get on the wrong side of politicians the way you do?” “I don’t go out of my way to do it, I say what I think, they need to be told the truth, I’m an ex-sergeant, I don’t have a degree in politics or corporate bullshit, I deal in facts, I find bad people, that’s what I’m good at, I’m not very good at being polite and friendly. I like sincere, honest people, they see a different side to me, you know that.” She handed him a coffee and sat down on the other side of the desk, “what does Cyrus Grantly want?” “I don’t know, but I can guess, I will tell you what was said this evening.” “I’ve never known anyone to cause trouble the way you do, I’m not talking about in the field, it’s through the corridors of power. You have the ability to upset everyone you come into contact with, you don’t do yourself any favours.” “I’m not really bothered, they are surrounded by ‘yes’ men, sometimes they need to be told the truth,” Jane shook her head. “I’m walking everywhere today, it will take me half an hour to get to the US Embassy, I will see you for dinner.”
He showed his passport as he entered, through the metal detector arch and up to the next window, Dave repeated who he had come to see. Cyrus hugged him when they met, “good to see you, I hear you have been a little busy.” It wasn’t far to his office, he could smell the coffee when the door opened. Cyrus poured two mugs, Dave asked how long he was there for, “hopefully I’m flying back in the next couple of days, it depends on how this meeting goes.” “You’re not going to offer me a job are you, I’ve been offered two already today.” “It’s not on my agenda, but I could check if you were serious.” “Not today, maybe in the future, I could be a British spy inside the CIA. Why am I here?” “My bosses want the software you demonstrated and a full list of what is available, they will pay your asking price.” “Cyrus, it’s not that easy, I’m sure you know, I am on a watch list, I cannot make contact, your bosses are hoping I make a mistake and expose who my contacts are. That isn’t going to happen, they don’t understand how these people work and what the consequences would be if they are taken. All hell would break loose, the US would come off worst. I didn’t tell you about one piece of software being developed, it short circuits the battery on an electric car, setting it on fire, you can lock the doors as well, so there is no escape. It only works on a few manufacturers, but more are being added.” Cyrus shook his head, “Dave, we are pawns in a much bigger game, we can be sacrificed for the greater good, you’re lucky, you have said from the start what will happen if they come after you. Me, I’m American so should be OK. Be very careful,” Dave asked if the conversation was being recorded, Cyrus nodded. “The issue is how to transfer payment so it’s untraceable, I am working on that and may have a solution, but I have to speak to many people to make it work.” “When you work something out, let me know, I will be back in the US next week.” They shook hands, Cyrus escorted Dave to the door, he waited until he had gone before returning to his office.
Dave walked quickly, it would take him an hour to get to the hotel, having showered he lay on the bed, he called Sally, the first thing he did was to tell her how much he loved her and how he was missing her. “How did it go?” “Two job offers, both of which I turned down, an argument with the Home Secretary and a good chat with Cyrus, tonight I’m having dinner with Jane in the hotel. I’m seeing Fraser MacIntire tomorrow then coming home. They talked until it was time for him to get ready, “I hope you don’t end up in bed with her afterwards,” they both laughed at the thought.
Dave was in the bar waiting, Jane Goodley came in wearing a business suit, a different one from earlier. He ordered her a gin and tonic and sat in the bar looking at the menu, as they were shown to their table, he asked if it was business or personal, “mostly business, I shall see how the evening goes. She talked as they ate, something she didn’t normally do. “This afternoon, I read the reports from the police and the Lieutenant from 45 Commando, the one from the police, as usual, said you gave out orders, never asked or said thank you.” “I’m sure I did thank him, but maybe not.” The one from the Army was very different, it said you were efficient, gave clear instructions and were well organised,” Dave smiled, “but, your execution of the mission was foolhardy and reckless, endangering yours and Sally’s life.” “I protest, Sally was driving the boat, it was her who was weaving about, it was her who crashed into the powerboat, I was standing up shooting.” “I have seen the bodycam video from the other boat, it bounces about a lot, but parts of it clearly show you firing as Sally is throwing the boat about.” “We got the job done with no civilians involved and the main players are in custody. Any word from the newly widowed Mrs. Grassington?” “He was to sail down to Portsmouth, pick her up from a bay and make their way to Northern Cyprus, the plan was to buy a larger yacht and spend their time chartering it out to the rich Russians living there. She won’t be charged with anything.” “What did you say to the Home Secretary when I went out?” “I pulled up your file, I let him read it before asking him to reconsider.” “Thank you for that.” Eating dessert, Dave asked the real reason she was here, “do I need a reason?” “No, but there usually is one,” Dave ordered a large pot of coffee, “your time is limited out in the field, there will be a day when you don’t want to carry on, only you know when it will be, my problem is, as you have pointed out many times, there is no one to replace you. I want you to find your replacement, the next David, there won’t be anyone who can mix the way you work clinically but at the same time have a very gentle side.” “No extra time in London?” “I would love it, but no, nothing extra.” He refilled the coffee cups, “what did the Americans want?” “The software I showed them, the problem I have, is they are monitoring me, trying to find out who I deal with and where my cloud storage is. The price of the software is $1m, to be paid in Bitcoins, I worked out how the transfer might be done, but I need your help, I have to receive my share of the deal and at the same time have it transferred to my supplier.” He spent the next fifteen minutes explaining his proposal to Jane. “There is no way I could authorise that, it’s way above me. I need to take this to the top.” “When you are explaining it to the PM, remind him he will have the same software for free, the Americans are paying $1m. If this works out, I will do the same on every deal, it’s a win for everyone.” Jane called for her car, “I want to talk to you about another matter, not connected to work,” her voice had changed to be more friendly. “David, this is still very much in the planning stage, but I wanted to ask you first, your answer will help me to move our plans forward.” “Jane, you talked a lot, but said nothing.” “David,” her voice was almost inaudible, “will you walk me down the aisle when Ruth and I marry?” She wiped away a tear with her finger. “Congratulations, and of course I will, it would be an honour.” Standing up he leant over and kissed her, “Say the date and we will be there.” “We don’t have any plans yet, both my parents are dead, it was Ruth’s suggestion.” “I hope you will both be very happy together, you deserve it.” A waiter came to say the car was here, Jane slipped her arm through Dave’s as they walked to the door. He said it would be Miss Goodley in the morning. “My car will pick you up at 10:30, be ready. He kissed her on the cheek as she got into the car. In the bar, he ordered a brandy before heading up the stairs. The light was on as he opened the door, he was sure he had switched it off. Cautiously opening the door, he entered the room, “I thought you would never come to bed, I’ve been waiting for hours.” Sally was sitting up in bed naked. Dave was speechless, “You sounded down, I thought I would surprise you.” He was across the room kissing her, “thank you, I’ve missed you, it’s not been a good day, do you want any food,” “I want you in this bed now.” Sally spent her time loving Dave, his eyes were closing, she heard his breathing change, snuggling up beside him, she went to sleep with a smile on her face.
He woke to Sally kissing him again, “I’ve been doing this all night,” Dave laughed and pulled her on top, she didn’t stop kissing him. Looking at the clock, he said he had to get up, “there is loads to tell you, but first I need to know if you want to come to the prison with me, if you do, I have to make arrangements now.” “I haven’t been in a prison before, yes please if you can arrange it.” He phoned Jane to see if Sally could be added to the list, he shouted to her in the bathroom to see if she had her ID, he confirmed she had, Jane said she would try. Over breakfast he said what had happened yesterday, she listened intently, “What about last night, what did she want to talk about?” “Not much, she wants me to find the next ‘Dave’, but no extra time in London, I put a deal to her about the software, if it comes off, our share will be $250k.” Sally stopped eating and looked at him, “you are joking aren’t you?” He shook his head and smiled, “it will be paid into our bank account by the government, so the money will be legal, we won’t have to explain where it came from, that’s the problem we have with the money hidden round the house.” “Do you know how much there is in the house with the $80k from the last job, probably £150k, I think we might be able to find a new house with the money.” There was one other thing from last night, I wonder if it was the main reason we had dinner, can I ask you a question, do you have a hat?” Sally looked confused, “a hat, something to go on your head,” “you know, I have plenty of caps, what are you on about?” “I was asked if I would be the ‘father of the bride’,” “don’t talk in riddles,” “Jane wanted to know if I would walk her down the aisle when she marries Ruth.” Sally smiled, “I hope you said yes,” “of course I did.” She sent a message to both of them saying how pleased she was.
© 10210ken 2025
