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and he was delayed for five hours. During that time he made several requests to have the handover delayed and it should be noted that it would have been possible to do exactly that but the recommended postponement was vetoed by our former Control.

  Second, Frank requested that he be allowed to stay with Jonathan in Dubai but the request was turned down, again by our former Control. He was ordered back for debrief at once, on the assumption that the operation had completed. She paused before continuing. “I think I speak for many in the department when I say that we were very much against the practice of using desk officers for the sort of work that Jonathan Grindley was asked to undertake. I feel that we gave in too easily to Treasury pressures.” Grace looked uncomfortable.

  It was the Chief who cut her off. “It’s perhaps a bit unfair to pursue this line of discussion when our former Control is not here to defend his decisions. I’m sure things will come out in the enquiry and we will no doubt learn valuable lessons.” He looked across at Margo to ensure she had got the message.

  “Well gentlemen, let us leave it there for now. We will no doubt be revisiting these topics in the coming months.” She brought proceedings to a formal close.

  The Chief leaned across the table and addressed Labied. “Could I have a word Frank? - When the others are gone.”


  The old man and Frank Labied sat across the big mahogany desk from each other. It was Labied who opened the conversation. “I am sorry Sir that it’s been a total bloody disaster. Three of our people dead, two million dollars down the shoot and the Taleban probably laughing their cocks off.”

  The Chief nodded. “Not our finest hour but none of it was in any way your fault. It seems to me that you saved the situation a couple of times. Quite what went on at the Indian police station I don’t know and probably never will.” He gave Labied a hard look. “In any event it seems as though we are off the hook. Reports are coming though of a riot in the area. Apparently the place was burned down and all the officers killed.”

  Labied nodded, “I heard something like that Sir.”

  “Look Frank I want you to reconsider your resignation. You’re the best man I’ve got. I had you down for DG in a couple of years. You don’t want to throw all of that away because of one failed operation. On which, I might add, your actions have been noted and commendations put in the pipeline. You’ve been exonerated Frank, it’s history, you’re in the clear.”

  “Mud sticks Sir. They’ll be a little nervous about letting Frank Labied loose again after this one. In a few years the faces will have changed and the facts forgotten but everyone will remember that it was Frank who cocked it up.”

  “That’s nonsense Frank and you know it. Margo will be the next Control and she thinks the sun shines out of your whatsit. You heard her at the meeting, defending you into the ground. I can assure you that all the blame has already been laid at the door of her predecessor and he’s out. Away with his ‘K’ and one of the secretaries from the typing pool.”

  Labied smiled. “Lucky him.”

  “I need you here.” The old man looked earnest. “There are a few things the enquiry is likely to pick up and I’m not sure how we should play them until I know more. I want you to do some digging before the enquiry gets there and give me breathing space.

  He had caught Labied’s interest. “What sort of things?”

  For one, did you know that old Grindley had a thing going with another woman? A Gloria something or other. By all accounts he was planning to leave his wife and take off,” the Chief noted the look of surprise on Labied’s face. “Well Frank, I never had you down as a moralist.”

  “No, it’s not that, it’s just that I got to know Jonathan quite well and he never mentioned anything about it,” he was clearly taken aback. He thought for a moment. “Do you think he shared anything about his mission with her?”

  “I wouldn’t have thought so but I am concerned. He even contacted her from India you know. We may have been compromised.”

  Labied nodded. “I understand. Why don’t I bring her in for a chat?”

  The Chief shook his head. “That’s one way but ….. well, a woman in love…. could be tricky.” He tapped his fingers on his desk. “First we had better find out if Grindley told her anything and if so, exactly what she knows. We’ll also have to find out if she has passed on anything to other parties. The ripple effect Frank, got to stop it.” The Chief was silent for a moment, his face contorted as though considering something unpleasant. “It might be best,” he said in a low voice, “if would you make sure she isn’t able to talk with anyone else …. if you know what I mean.” He looked at Labied and gave him a faint smile, “the sooner the better, I think.”

  Labied understood. “I’ll get on it right way,” he said.

  “And then there’s Roger Cross. Might not have been as kosher as we all thought. Could have been a double or just on the take. What do you think Frank?”

  “I’ll make some enquiries but I’d be surprised if he was working with an Islamic crowd. A bit of a thief I’d believe but not a double. What do we have on him?”

  “It’s just that when we searched his body we found one of the missing bonds. Fifty thousand dollars.”

  Labied whistled through his teeth. “It could be a plant,” he suggested. The Chief nodded. Labied went on, “if it was me, I’d keep a close watch on his cronies for a while but on balance I think I would bury him with honours and forget all about it. In any case, he can’t do us much harm now. It sounds like a can of worms for the department if it came out.”

“I agree but I’d be grateful if you could nose around a bit.”

  “Yes Sir, I’ll see to it.” 

  Suddenly the Chief was out of business mode. “Come on old chap we’ve known each other for years no need for formality. Now tell me, how can I make you change your mind and stay?” The old man reached into a drawer and brought out two glasses and a bottle.

  “You can’t Don.” For a just a moment the Chief look crestfallen but recovered quickly. “This operation has, for the first time, really taken it out of me. I’m getting on and the rough stuff gets harder each time. I’ll stick around for the enquiry and of course tidy up the loose ends you mentioned but then I’m off; pastures new.”

  The Chief seemed suddenly reconciled to losing him “What will you do?” He asked.

  “Australia, I’ve an old school friend in Australia who runs a car business, I’m going out to join him.”


Susan Grindley had often thought about this moment. The lights out and the candles shimmering in the courtyard. Across the bay she could still make out the white sails of the boats gliding serenely on the water, the warm air stirred by a cool breeze as she waited for her lover.

  It had been a traumatic time. The build up to leaving her husband and then the awful news that he was dead. At first she had refused to believe that Jonathan had been murdered so horribly. Even now she recoiled from the thought of it. She would never have wished anything so awful on him. Of course it had delayed her plans. She couldn’t just drive away and forget things. Anyway, if nothing else, there had been a whole raft of new concerns; the house, the animals and above all her garden. She had had to stay and look after the garden. Should she sell, should she rent out? These were all practical considerations for a woman newly widowed. Then there had been the funeral and the sorting out of wills and finances. It had been a lovely funeral; a minister of state sitting quietly at the back of the church and then afterwards, people so kind and solicitous, the children so attentive and loving. Jonathan’s employers, not noted for past concerns with employee welfare, seemed to have turned over a new leaf. Full next of kin pension rights, a posthumous honour mentioned in The Times and several visits from senior officials to make sure she was all right. It had been such a surprise.

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