Faithless (40 page)

             
"But there probably are beacons on Czech intelligence officers cars. I'm not sure K8 will be happy about you sabotaging their operations," said Toby.

             
"Priorities old man," said C/SOV. "Don't tell K8."

             
"So who do we focus on first?" asked Sue.

             
"Let's start with K3. It's a smaller section than K4, and less likely if you don't mind me saying," said Philip. "Then if we get a bite from K3 we can set up some surveillance and some intercepts to narrow it down. If this wheeze doesn't get a bite from K3 we move on to K4.  for K4."

             
"It's hardly a wheeze Philip," said C/SOV.

             
"Sorry boss," said Philip. "Who's feeding the fish then?"

             
"If you mean, who will pass the information to the K3 officers," said Sue, "then I will."

The Saturday night after that, Joe and Angie arranged a dinner party at their house. It was part of Joe's attempt to spend his entertainment budget. John and Karen arranged a babysitter - an Australian girl who was travelling the world and staying in London, financing herself by doing bar work and odd jobs. They had used her once before when they went to the cinema to see Harrison Ford in
Witness.
Karen hadn't been out socially since she came back from hospital. She wore a strapless blue velvet gown that she had picked with Angie from Selfridges the previous week. She had lost weight and looked good in the dress. She wore her dark hair long and her eyes had regained some of their light. Nevertheless she was nervous as they drove over.  The sky promised thunder.

             
"How formal will it be? I feel overdressed," she said.

             
"You look great. Really."

             
"Who's going to be there?"

             
"Just people from work and their partners. You've met most of them."

             
"I never know what to say. I hope you don't talk shop all night."

When
they arrived Angie opened the door and greeted them. She made Karen laugh with something John didn't overhear. Joe came and led them through. In the lounge of the large and comfortable but still soul-less High Commission house John saw a group of his colleagues standing or sitting with glasses in their hands. With a jolt he saw Ailsa. Duncan wasn't with her.  Ailsa smiled at him. He thought she looked nervous. He walked over while Karen was being introduced to Philip Neilson's wife.

             
"What are you doing here? I didn't think you were Joe's friend."

             
"I was invited," she said.

             
"But you knew Karen was going to be here."

             
"I was curious about her. You loved her for a long time. I wanted to see what that took."

             
"Where's Duncan?"

             
"Don't know. Don't care." She took a gulp of her wine.

             
"I've got to get back to Karen," he said.

             
"Go."

             
He went back to Karen and Philip. He patted Philip's arm in manly fashion. "Hello stranger. You look well. And this must be your wife?"

             
Philip nodded. "Elisabeth. I'm lucky to have her and she knows it." He smiled affectionately at his wife. Who very charmingly kissed John's cheek. "I've heard a lot about you."

             
"American?" said John.

             
Philip nodded. "It is allowed. Elizabeth is pure Long Island so no import license was required."

             
"My mother is called Elizabeth," said John.

             
"So's the Queen," said Philip.

             
"Never mind Philip," said Elizabeth. "He's always sarcastic."

             
"I know," said John.

             
"And here," said Angie, steering John and Karen away towards another couple "are Sue and Norman. "

             
Sue glowered at John. Her husband was a sandy haired man with a moustache. He looked sad. He reached out a hand and smiled wanly as John took it. He gave a half bow to Karen. Karen smiled and shook hands with Sue. "Do you work with John?" she asked Norman.

             
He shook his head quickly. Sue interjected, "No, I do. I used to be his boss."

             
John saw a look on Karen's face that indicated the penny had dropped. She smiled broadly. "Ah, yes I do think he's spoken of you."

             
"We haven't met though ," said John, indicating Norman.

             
"No," said Norman. "None of your exciting brand of work for me. I work in Chingford Tax Office for my sins. It doesn't make me popular." He giggled in an awkward but strangely endearing way.  Sue was looking at John with an inscrutable smile on her face. "John," she said. "I need to talk to you later."

             
"Oh?"

             
"In private."

             
Angie led them away again. "So that's Sue!!" laughed Karen. John smiled thinly. "Yes."

             
"I wonder what she wants to tell you in private?"

             
"I don't know. She's a fucking muppet. It'll be something about nothing."

             
Angie had led them up to Ailsa who was chatting to Joe.

             
"I know you know each other John, but I am just introducing Karen to Ailsa."

             
Karen reached out a hand to shake Ailsa's. They smiled at each other.

             
"You work with John?" asked Karen.

             
Ailsa nodded. "Closely. Don't we John?" she winked.

             
"Ailsa has a sense of humour," said John.

             
"That's good," said Karen.

             
"Most of the time," said John.  Ailsa pushed him playfully. "You know you like my jokes."

             
"Nice to meet you Ailsa," said Karen.

             
They walked away. John could feel Ailsa looking at him but didn't turn round to check. He got Karen a drink.

             
"She's pretty," said Karen.

             
"I suppose. She's probably thinking the same about you."

             
Karen nodded. "She seemed to like you."

             
"We get on ok."

             
"I don't mean that."

             
"What? We just work together."

             
"Lots of late nights. Business trips abroad."

             
"Don't be ridiculous."

             
"But then again, she's too posh. Not your type. I bet she lives in  a mansion in Chelsea. You'd never tolerate that with your socialist principles."

             
"Exactly. Come on let's talk to Joe."

At dinner, John was seated with Karen on his left and Sue on his right. Opposite was Ailsa. She was knocking back the wine and laughing loudly with Philip who was sitting next to her. Karen reached down to hold his hand. "I'm nervous. I don't feel I fit i
n."

             
He squeezed her hand back. "Don't be silly. They're just people. You're as good as them. Just imagine them on the toilet."

             
"Ewww," said Karen and laughed. 

Angie had done the cooking but she had two Filipino waiters to serve. "First, French Onion sou
p with soured cream. I know it's boring but at least I know how to make it."

             
Karen began chatting to Sue's husband Norman who was to her left. He seemed a nice, unpretentious man. He was telling her about his hobby of digging in disused Victorian  waste pits for glass bottles. Apparently the rare ones could go for a good price. Karen had an interest in antiques and as they talked she seemed less on edge. Then Sue leaned in and said, "How are you enjoying K3 John?"

             
"I love it," he said.

             
"More than K4?" she said with a twisted smile.

             
"I liked K4. It wasn't me who wanted to leave."

             
She patted him on the shoulder. "I'm sure we'll work together in the future, so let's mend fences."

             
"That's fine by me," he said coldly.

Just then he felt Ailsa's shoeless fo
ot reaching out and playfully feeling its way up his trouser leg. He flushed.

             
"So," said Sue. "I did want to tell you something."

             
"Oh?" At the same time, he shot a glance at Ailsa. She was apparently listening to some story Philip was telling her.

             
"Yes, John," said Sue. "A1 have developed a new car tracking beacon. We're having great success with it on the Czechs. All their intelligence officers' cars now have a beacon installed."

             
John was puzzled. "Why are you telling me this? I don't work on Czechs. Neither do you."

             
Sue laughed lightly. "No, but wouldn't it be helpful on some of your targets?"

             
He shook his head. "It's more a K4 operation isn't it? If you're thinking of extending it to the Sovs."

             
She nodded. "Yes, but this is a real breakthrough. Apparently even the Americans don't have this technology."

             
"So what's special about it?"

             
She shook her head. "I'm not technical. I'm not sure. I've just been told it's a great advance."

             
He was trying to concentrate but Ailsa's stockinged foot was distracting him. He pulled his leg back but she just stretched out further. He looked at her and she smiled teasingly. He felt angry at her. Sue was still trying to get his attention but he turned his head away. Karen said, "Norman's so sweet. He doesn't deserve to be married to an old battleaxe like Sue."

             
"No. Listen, I'm just nipping to the loo."

             
"Ok."

             
He got up and went out of the dining room door. He found the bathroom upstairs. He relieved himself then washed his hands, looking at himself in the mirror. He looked red and stressed. Then there was a knock at the door.

             
"Just a sec," he shouted.

             
"It's me," he heard Ailsa say. "Open up."

             
"I'll just be a second."

             
"I'll scream and scream until I'm sick, if you don't," she said.

             
He opened the door and she came in and closed the door behind her. Standing with her back to it. "Hello sexy. You look very handsome tonight."

             
"You're drunk."

             
She shook her head. "I'm not drunk. I'm just wild with love for you."

             
She moved to block him in.

             
"Let me out."

             
She shook her head. "Fuck me. "

             
He sighed. "Don't be stupid."

             
"Don't call me stupid. Fuck me. Look." She lifted her dress up at the front, pulling it aside so he could see her black silk underwear. "You like? I think you do," she giggled.

             
"My wife's downstairs."

             
She shrugged. "Makes it more exciting."

             
"For fuck's sake Ailsa, let me past before someone comes."

             
"I don't like seeing you with her. It makes me jealous."

             
"You can't have me when you want and drop me when you don't."

             
"I'm with a man I don't love and I want to be with you."

             
"But you won't do anything about it." He didn't try to get past her. She knew he wanted her. She reached out and stroked his  face tenderly. "I love you. You know that."