When they had ordered the food and a bottle of wine, Jane asked how the meetings had gone today. “You probably know already, the meetings with the PM and the Home Secretary were both the same. Strange, they didn’t ask me anything, just went over some of the events. Sir Rupert asked me how I had coped, I said it had been OK, but I would have the office organised in a different way. No doubt he spoke to you about that when he called. The Chief of the Defence Staff gave me a bollocking, I said if he didn’t like the way I worked then don’t give me any work in the future. And then there is the meeting with you, I may have wrong footed you earlier, but we are back in business mode now, why are you here?
Jane said nothing as they ate, she waited until her main course was finished. “You have until 21:30 to explain why you are here, that gives you around thirty minutes.” He ordered a dessert and coffee for three. “There will be another person joining us, can you tell the person on the desk to show her to the table when she arrives.”
“David, in some ways, I wish Sally had been here but you will tell her later. I was in Sir Rupert’s office this afternoon, I spoke to him once you had gone, he is the only other person who knows what happened the other morning. We have spoken previously about my desire to retire within the next five to ten years, that has now changed, I will be gone within five years. Sir Rupert has authorised me to make you a one time offer, If you turn it down, it won’t be available in the future, an answer isn’t required now. There will be a follow up meeting in early January with you and Sally. There is a position being created as my assistant to take some of the pressure off me, its not Howards job, he will stay as my deputy. You will look after the operations side, only coming to me for advice or to tell me what you are doing.”
“I’ve said many times, I don’t want to move back to London.”
“You wouldn’t have to, your time would be split between home and here, three days a week in London, two working from home. There would have a permanent booking here, details of the offer will be sent over to you tomorrow.”
“What about Sally?”
“She will remain at the university, helping you out one day a week.”
“Will there be any field work?”
“Maybe, I would like to offer your friend George Evans the field work you are currently carrying out, or to have him help in the training of new recruits. I still need your expertise in getting to the bottom of cases, no one in any of the services is as good as you. I know you will say it’s down to the software you use, but we all know that isn’t true. You have a knack of looking in the right places. Sally is one of the best researchers, we want to retain her as well. Details of pay and conditions will be sent over with the offer.”
“I’m flattered you think so highly of me.”
“It wasn’t just me, Sir Rupert was impressed, the PM and Home Secretary, didn’t like how you operated in the last investigation, but understood when they realised who was behind it. Think about it over Christmas.”
Jane saw Ruth walking to the table. “We have to stop now, Ruth is here.”
Dave stood up. “Thank you for coming,” he kissed her on the cheek. When she was sitting, he poured her a coffee. “We can go to a private meeting room or talk here, I don’t think the other diners will be much longer. I will have a word with the head waiter to see if we can stay.” He left the table and returned a few minutes later. “We can stay as long as we want, more coffee will be brought, then we will be left alone.”
The three sat in silence until the restaurant was empty. “Ruth, I asked you to come here tonight as I think there is something between the two of you which you cannot resolve, I guess it is causing a problem in your relationship. Perhaps talking about it with a third party present might help get to the bottom of it and you can find a way to put your relationship back on track. Which of you wants to go first?” Neither of them said anything. “OK, let’s start with the basics, do you both love each other?”
There were two nods. “David, we shouldn’t be discussing our personal issues with you.”
“Jane, I’m trying to help you, take your work hat off. Do you both want the relationship to last?” Again, there were two nods, “Jane, you must need to go to the toilet,” he looked at her, she took the hint and left. “Ruth, will you tell me what the problem is?”
“She is doing too much, you saw how she was the other morning, she brings home her problems, it makes her irritable and short, she becomes less loving, I want the Jane I know and love.” There were tears in Ruth’s eyes, she picked up a napkin from the table and dabbed her eyes.
“When Jane comes back, it’s your turn for the toilets.” Jane’s eyes were red when she returned, she had been crying. Ruth left as Jane sat down. “From what Ruth says, you aren’t being very loving, if I remember, you said the same about Alison. She wants to love you, but she says you are not the person you used to be. Your work drove you apart before, don’t let it happen again. I want you to be happy, Ruth is ideal for you, she only wants to love you, let her help you destress.”
Ruth rejoined the table, she rubbed Jane’s back with her hand. “I’m going to say something now, I don’t want either of you to interrupt me, listen to what I have to say. Jane you are coming home stressed and taking it out on Ruth, she doesn’t like to see you like that. The problem is, you clam up, the nature of your job is such that you can’t discuss what is affecting you. I’m sure you know what makes each of you relaxed, spend time letting the other do things which will relax you. Do it as soon as you are home, you might not feel like it when you walk in the door, but try it. It might take some time to get used to it. There are no rules in a relationship, you do what you want, when you want, if you feel like being in bed together at 14:00 on a Sunday afternoon, just close the curtains so the neighbours can’t see. Be spontaneous, I could go on, but I’m sure you know what to do.” Jane mouthed a ‘thank you’ at him, Ruth was more physical, she leant over to hug him. “When I’ve seen you together, you look a natural couple, you look happy in each other’s company. Relationships sometimes need to be worked at. Sally and I have just spent a week together working, we shared a bed, but loving was the last thing on our minds, as soon as the operation was over, we made special time for each other. We do that quite often when we feel we are neglecting each other. I’m not going to tell you what we do, or what you should be doing, you know what the other one likes, just spend plenty time doing it.”
It was well after 23:00, Jane said they should be going, she asked what he would be doing tomorrow. “I’m not sure, I might do a bit of Christmas shopping before I travel back, I will be gone from the hotel by midday.” He waited by the door until her car arrived, he kissed them both as they went into the car. In the room, he sent Sally a message, if she replied he would call her, if not, they would speak in the morning.
She replied as he was eating breakfast, he phoned her while sitting in the lounge with a coffee. “I have two things to talk to you about, you will have to wait until I’m home, it would take too much time, plus I want to see your face when I tell you.” He said he missed her and how much he loved her, “I will be home by 18:00 hopefully.”
Outside it was dry but cold, the doorman asked if he wanted a taxi, he thought for a moment before saying no, he would be walking.
He took the lift up to the top floor in the MI5 building, it hadn’t been his plan to be there, but he had decided to see Jane, he wanted to know how she was. Howard said she had asked not to be disturbed until she said. Dave knocked on the door, from inside he heard her ask who it was, “David Stretton.” The door was unlocked and opened slightly, he pushed it open and went in, locking it again once he was in.
“I’m shattered this morning, it’s all your fault.”
He poured out two coffees from the machine. “What happened when you got home?”
“We sat talking for ages, you said many things which made us both think, I won’t tell you what happened afterwards, but we both now are trying… I can’t think how to put it.”
“As long as you are both happy and can see a way forward, then it’s good news. I was worried I might have said too much.”
“I think you made us realise we had to consider the other person more. Since you are here, I will print off the offer, it came through from Sir Rupert this morning.” She sealed it in an A4 envelope before handing it to him. “Talk to Sally about it, take your time, we will arrange a meeting in the New Year.”
He hailed a taxi when he was out in the street, he went back to the hotel, the envelope was put in his case. He left it to go Christmas shopping, he had a few ideas for gifts for Sally. It was manic in Oxford Street, even the side streets were busy, he was back in the hotel by 14:00, he had a bar snack before heading to the station. He was home an hour earlier than he had said, Sally hugged him when he came into the kitchen. He took his suitcase upstairs saying for Sally not to open it, she had followed him, in the bedroom she was undressing.
Dave said he needed a shower, “you can have one afterwards.” Lying in bed later, she asked about the meeting the previous evening.
“It will take some time, we will go over everything after dinner.” Sally dressed and went downstairs to cook their meal, Dave showered then took out the envelope from the suitcase, the presents and the Glock were put in the spare bedroom. Dave had a lager, Sally poured herself a gin and tonic, she was eager for the meal to be over. Dave handed her the envelope. “Read this, I had a quick look on the train, but it needs to be read a couple of times, I will clear up and make coffee while you look at it.”
When he returned she was looking at it for the second time. “Will you accept?”
“Jane said if I didn’t, then it wouldn’t be offered to me again, she wants to be gone within five years, it’s as a result of the other morning. I know all about that as well, that was the second part of what I have to tell you. We have until the New Year to think about it, the only down side is one extra night in London. We have to consider how that would work, if we can find a solution then I will accept. Maybe it will stop people firing guns at us. What do you think?”
“We should be able to make it work, it would mean giving up the Ubering, but maybe you could still do it as a form of stress relief.”
“It was only meant to be a stopgap while I found something else, perhaps this is it. We don’t need to think about it anymore tonight.”
He spent the next hour telling Sally about the problem with Jane and Ruth’s relationship, he tried to remember exactly what he had said. “So, a straight man is advising a lesbian couple about their relationship.”
“Yes, love is love, I said when we feel we are too involved with something, we make a special time for each other. I think they did last night, she was tired this morning.”
“Is there no end to your talents, last week you were saving the country, this week you are giving out relationship advice. I think it is time we had some more special time.”
The following morning as they were having breakfast, she said there would be five for lunch on Christmas Day. “Richard next door is on his own, I said he would be very welcome, he will only come for lunch, he won’t stay for the whole day. Tomorrow we will both go to Tesco’s to pick up most of what we will need, on Christmas Eve, you can pick up the fresh cream and milk.”
“Do you mind if I go for a run, I have a lot to think about?”
“No, you haven’t run for ages.” He was gone for almost two hours, Sally was glad to see him when he came through the door, she was beginning to worry. “You look knackered.”
“I think I did about ten to twelve miles, I’m going for a shower to wash the dirt off, then a bath.” Sally waited until she heard him in the bath, she took him up a mug of coffee, she put it on the side of the bath then sat on the lid of the toilet seat.
“I’ve been looking through the paperwork you brought home, the money is less than we currently receive at the moment. However, if you don’t have anything from the MOD in the future, then it is a bit less, all your expenses are covered, including travel and hotel bills. You would have a salary again. You need to ask what you will be paid if you have to go out armed.”
Dave interrupted, “Jane wants Taff to take over doing the field work, reporting to me, if I accept, then I will have to speak to him. I also want to find out where you fit in. If there isn’t a place for you, then it is no deal, but perhaps you don’t want to do anything other than the university work.”
“I want to work with you, only one day a week, no more than that unless it is something important. If you worked Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in London, I could work some Tuesday’s with you and travel down on Thursday evenings and work on Friday.” He asked for his phone, he said it was on the bed, Sally passed it to him as she sat back down.
He phoned Jane Goodley on her direct line, he asked if she was free to talk. “Sally and I have been discussing the offer, I have a few points I want to talk about. The first one is the salary, it isn’t enough.” Jane said it was on a par with her Deputy Director. “Who would you call in a crisis, Howard or me, I don’t want to tell you how to run MI5, but if I accept, there needs to be a change. Secondly, I want clarification on where Sally fits in if I accept, she needs a formal position so she has full access to documents, no Sally, no Dave. Thirdly, I want to know what package you are prepared to offer George Evans to take over from me. Speak to Sir Rupert and come back to me. Lastly, how are you, is everything OK at home?”
There was a terse ‘yes’. “This isn’t the time or place, I will speak to Sir Rupert.” The conversation ended. “Will you phone Ruth, say I’m concerned, she will probably speak to you.” Sally went off to get her phone, she stayed downstairs to make the call, Dave pulled the plug out the bath.
Sally had finished the call by the time he was dressed and standing in the kitchen. “Everything is OK, Ruth says it’s much better, she says you made them think about how they treated each other. Jane is annoyed you were able to see what was wrong and help them to find a way forward. She doesn’t want you to know about her private life, but somehow you have a knack of finding out. She says it’s disconcerting. Ruth wants to thank you.”
His phone rang at 17:00, he was sitting with a lager, Sally was reading. “It’s Jane Goodley,” Sally put down her magazine, “David, you have a meeting at midday on Wednesday, not here, it is in Whitehall with Sir Rupert and myself.”
“What about Sally?”
“Yes, it’s both of you.” With that the call was ended.
Sally said it was a very businesslike call. “Do you think she is pissed off with you?”
“No, she doesn’t know what to say to me, she’s embarrassed about the other night and the morning we saw her in tears. Like everyone else, she is vulnerable, she doesn’t want anyone to see her like that. Looks like it is going to be hectic right up until Christmas.”
Tesco was like a madhouse the following day, they were both glad to get home, it took almost an hour to put everything away, the beer and lager was put in the garage, it would keep cold in there, the fridge and freezer were full of food. For dinner that evening, they went to the carvery, it was full of Christmas parties, they had to wait for a table before they could eat. It was too loud to talk, they ate quickly then walked home. Sally wanted to know what Dave was thinking about the meeting the next day, she was going to ask him, but decided against it. They had a coffee then headed to bed.
Dave said he wanted to drive to Luton and take the train in from there, Sally asked why. “I don’t want to spend the time on the train thinking about the meeting, by driving down, I will have to concentrate on the road.” They were in Whitehall, by 11:45, both were smartly dressed. Dave was wearing a tie with his suit, he carried his briefcase. Sitting in the reception area, they waited to be escorted to the meeting, it was a smart young woman who came for them. Coffee was already in the room. Jane Goodley knew what was about to happen, Dave would pour himself and Sally a coffee, ask if anyone else wanted one, slowly sit down, his chair not pulled fully in, it was his way of showing defiance.
She was amazed when once Sally was sitting down, he sat on the chair next to her, no asserting himself this time. Sir Rupert started the meeting by thanking them both for coming. “Miss Goodley passed on your requests for clarification, hopefully we can move forward today.” Jane had moved from the table and was pouring out the coffees. Sir Rupert continued, the Civil Service pay rates are banded, your proposed salary is at the top end and similar to a Deputy Director, it cannot be increased just because you think you are worth more. However, Miss Goodley has funds available which she be able to attribute to any extra duties you carry out. Miss Fellowes, it is proposed to employ you as a senior internal auditor, on a pro rata salary of £50k. I understand you will be working one day a week. Currently, both of you are retained on a somewhat dubious contract, any work carried out by yourselves was paid to a company owned by you Mr. Stretton. This will cease if you accept the offer, if you are required to perform, shall we call them additional duties, there would be additional payments in line with previous work you have carried out. I understand Miss Goodley will authorise the carrying of weapons for you both. You will also both have top levels of security clearance subject to the formal process being carried out.” He stopped to drink his coffee. “Miss Goodley informs me you would like to change how her office operates, I would like you to explain your ideas, there may need to be a formal discussion with the Home Secretary. I will decide on that, please proceed.”
Sally was eager to hear his proposals as well as the other two. “In the short time I spent in charge I saw two distinct sides to the tasks Miss Goodley has to carry out. There is the day to day running of the service and there is the overall control of operations, I would suggest the two sides of the job were split in two. The current Deputy Director is very good on the admin side, but lacks many of the skills required for the investigative and field work side. Make his position a solely administrative post, the position as Miss Goodley’s assistant would be to oversee the other side of the service. Of course there would be overlaps, but the Director would have a buffer with two people under her who were both proficient at their jobs. The Director could then spend more of their time overseeing the service rather than running it. The way I have explained it might not be in Civil Service speak, but I’m sure you get the idea.”
This time he did stand up to pour another coffee, no one else wanted one. “You make some very interesting points, Miss Goodley and I will discuss them once you have gone. Miss Fellowes, you haven’t said anything, do you have any input into the meeting?”
“Yes, we will talk over your revised offer when we see it. David will only work in London three days a week, any pressure on him to increase that will be met by fierce resistance, this excludes emergencies. We do not want to live in London or the surrounding area, we may feel differently in the future. David is also part of a liaison group with the CIA, there are meetings every month, either here in London or in Langley, will they continue? Speak to the PM if you need more information. Lastly, David is successful because he doesn’t always play by the rules, this was accepted as we were outside the service, how will that be affected if we are employees?”
Sir Rupert looked at Jane, “I will explain later.” Neither David nor Sally had any further questions, the meeting was over, before they left Jane asked them if they were staying overnight, Dave said they weren’t. “I would like to see you before you return home, I’m not sure what time I will finish here.”
“We will be at the hotel, probably in the lounge, meet us there.” There were handshakes all round as they left.
© 10210ken 2026
