by Paul Blake
‘You’re Rogers’s age, aren’t you? He used to moan about the winters too, usually when I had chores for him to do.’
‘Yeah, when you get to our age the cold seeps into the joints, it’s not fun. Do you think Roger would be ok with you two? Together again, I mean.’
‘I think he’d be fine with it. He’d rather I was happy than mope away my life, he said as much in the hospital. It’s been eight years, and I’ve decided not to mope anymore. Besides Alec and I have unfinished business.’
Alec looked at her and smiled. Was she just having a dig at Arthur pining after Julia then? I wonder if Arthur realised. ‘Yes, it feels like we have a new chance and I’m going to take full advantage of that, this time.’ He reached over for her hand.
‘It’s good to see you both happy, I suppose,’ Newbury said. ‘It’s been long enough.’ He picked up the papers on his desk. He looked at Alec, ‘What’s with the hair colour, you’re not turning vain on us, now are you?’
Alec laughed, ‘I’m incognito.’
‘It’s taken about ten years off you. Anyway, you two lovebirds wait here; I’ll go and put things in motion regarding Harper.’
Newbury stood up and walked to the door; half opened it and turned back, ‘No canoodling on my desk.’ He winked, ‘there’s a ton of cameras in here.’
Claudia and Alec laughed. ‘We promise we’ll keep it PG rated for you.’ Alec replied.
Newbury held up his finger as though to make a point, then thought better of it and left. Alec left out a huge sigh of relief. ‘I’m glad that’s over. Hopefully, he’ll forget about firing us, he didn’t mention it.’
‘I suppose it depends on what he can find out about Harper.’
‘I thought I was a goner when the Russian grabbed my arm.’
‘He grabbed your arm? I thought you just fell over due to your age. Are you ok?’
‘My back hurts where I fell on it.’
‘I’ll kiss it better later.’
‘I’ll hold you to that.’
Claudia blew him a kiss, ‘I nearly pissed myself when those guards pointed their guns at us.’
‘It seems that all I’ve been getting over the past few days is people pointing guns at me. It’s not getting any easier.’
‘Well, that should be the end of it now. Arthur will inform the Berlin Police and the Russians of your innocence, Harper will be arrested and hopefully give up those two “goons”, as you put it. What will you do then?’
‘Well I want to stay in bed for the next month or so—’
‘—interesting, need company?’
‘Oh, without a doubt I will.’ Alec paused and thought for a moment, his eyes opened wide, and he said, ‘Shit.’ He looked at his watch.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I’ve just remembered Sara is coming in today. It’s already midday; I don’t know how long we’ll be stuck here. We won’t be able to meet her at the station.’
‘Wouldn’t she just go on to your apartment?’
‘Yes, but the Russians are watching that, and if they don’t get the word about Harper out quickly enough, they could pick her up. Shit!’
‘They wouldn’t harm her.’
‘I don’t know, they seemed pretty angry at me the other night. Jaromir was one of their most decorated officers; he had his own cult of personality over there, I’m sure more people wear that hideous moustache of his in his office than they do in the whole of Russia.’
‘So, what can we do? I can ask Arthur to go.’
‘After our entrance this morning I don’t think he’ll let you go anywhere. Also Harper could have seen you with me and put two and two together. It’s not a risk I’m willing to take. There must be someone.’
Who else do I know? Brigette? Makary? I don’t really want Sara to be that exposed to Stefan’s world. Also, they’d figure out pretty quick that I wasn’t who I’ve said I was all these years. Sara knew about Alec’s alter-ego, Stefan, because when she turned eighteen she came over to stay with Alec and they went out to celebrate her birthday. During the night one of Stefan’s contacts attached themselves to them, and Alec had to quickly explain his double-life to Sara. He hadn’t gone into too much detail that night, enough to keep her from blurting something out which would have backfired. However, over the next six years, he found himself telling her more and more about what he did and for whom. It was cathartic to finally tell someone, there had been no one else that had been close enough to him since he and Claudia split up to tell. He thought Sara got a kick about having a spy for an uncle. Who can I ask? Wait, what day is it? How about Peter from the stag party. He seems pretty switched on and his story about Sangin certainly revealed him to be a caring fellow, and I’m supposed to be meeting them later anyway to show them the city. I’ll give him a call.
Claudia had remained silent watching him work it out in his mind. She finally asked, ‘You have someone you can contact?’
‘Yes, there’s this guy Peter I met the other night, he’s ex-military and a pretty sound guy. He’s over here on a stag do, and I’m supposed to show him and the guys the best bars in the city tonight. I completely forgot until now, it must have been the excitement. I’ll give him a call see if he can meet her.’
‘You were making friends? That’s very unusual for you nowadays.’
‘I know, when I was walking the city, I had plenty of time to think how I’ve been acting since Roger, Mark, and Sophie, and I decided I needed to change. I’ve shut people out for so long, to protect myself, that there were very few people I could turn to for help, and even then, there was a chance I’d be told to get lost.’
‘I’d never say that to you.’
‘Thank you, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you had. I’ve been a dick to you. But, that is going to stop now. I’m going to try to be better.’
‘So, a dinosaur can change its spots, I see.’
‘I hope so, and that’s enough of the dinosaur talk, missy.’
‘Missy?’ Claudia’s voice raised a touch.
Alec blew her a kiss. ‘I’d better call Peter.’ He stood up and reached into his jacket pocket and took out the phone, battery and SIM. He reassembled the device and turned it on. He caught Claudia giving him an amused look.
‘What?’
‘I didn’t expect you to have a top of the range smartphone. You always used to carry that brick around.’
‘I got it the other night after I dumped my “brick”. It’s why I was in the strip club, remember?’
The phone started up with its now familiar welcome screen and accompanying jingle.
‘I’m going to have to figure out how to turn that off, it’s so annoying.’ He said.
20
Alec opened his wallet and took out Peter’s business card. With aching slowness, he tapped the number into his phone and pressed the connect button. The phone rang, and Peter answered.
‘Hi, “Stefan, Not An Old Pervert" how’s it going?’
Alec laughed, remembering the entry on Peter’s contact list, he put on his German accent and said, ‘I’m doing well, you guys enjoying the touristy parts of Berlin?’ He could hear a lot of voices in the background.
‘Yeah, we’re in the DDR Museum at the moment. Have you been?’
‘Ja, sorry, I mean yes.’ Alec ignored the look from Claudia. ‘I took my niece Sara there a couple of years ago. It was very interesting.’
‘The nude centrefold in the locker was a surprise, as was the nude beach panorama.’
‘We Germans have a different attitude to nudity than you British. If you really want to open your eyes go to a spa or even to the Tiergarten Park in summer.’
‘Sounds like the voice of experience; maybe I should change the contact on my phone.’ Peter laughed.
‘Well,’ Alec coughed, avoiding Claudia’s eyes. ‘I may have gone when I was younger. It doesn’t hold the appeal anymore now I’m older.’
‘I can believe that. So why are you calling?’
‘I wa
s checking to see if you and your friends still wanted to do the pub crawl and kebab tonight.’
‘Yeah, definitely, we even took it easy last night in anticipation. A few sedate drinks in the hotel bar was all. John has finally recovered. Yesterday he was a mess.’
‘I can imagine, he’s not wearing a dress tonight, is he?’ Claudia’s eyebrows raised quizzically as she listened to Alec’s side of the conversation.
‘No, we had to throw that rag out, after the cab journey from hell. I’ll tell you all about it tonight, you’ll laugh.’
‘I look forward to it… There was another reason for my calling. My niece, Sara is coming into Berlin this afternoon, I think I told you about her, and I’m going to be caught up in work so I won’t be able to collect her. Would you be able to get her, and I’ll get to you as soon as I can?’
There was a pause, and then Peter said, ‘Sure, mate, that shouldn’t be a problem. She isn’t a little girl, though is she?’
‘No, of course not. She’s twenty-four. She’ll be getting in at Alexanderplatz station at half-past two. That’s just down the road from you at the museum.’
‘Oh, I know that one, that’s where we came in from the airport. Are we that close? I’ve completely lost my bearings.’
‘Yes, it’s about a ten-minute walk, well, ten for me, five for you, it's on the same road as the museum you're at. You go up the steps next to the museum, and you’re at the road, turn left, and it’s down there. You can’t get lost.’
‘Ok cool, I’ll head over there when we’re done. How will I recognise her?’
‘Of course, she’ll be on Platform two; you don’t need a ticket to get onto the platform, unlike the UK. She will be alone, quite young looking for her age and will have a large blue rucksack with her. She’s dark-haired – brown rather than black - usually has it in a pony-tail when she’s travelling and has blue eyes.’
‘So, I’m to approach dark haired young-looking females travelling alone? Are you trying to get me arrested?’ Peter asked with a laugh.
‘No, no, of course not, she’ll be looking out for you too. What colour clothes are you wearing?’
‘Um, I’m wearing dark blue jeans, a red or burgundy Superdry sweatshirt and a heavy, long black overcoat.’
‘Excellent, I’ll let her know. I’ll let you get back to the museum now, don’t let John try on the virtual dresses in the bedroom, or you’ll never get him out.’
‘I’ll keep an eye on him. Two-thirty, Platform Two. I’ll be there.’
‘Thanks, Peter, I really appreciate it. I’ll get the first round in later.’
‘No worries, I owe you from the other night anyway, see you later.’
Alec hung up the phone and looked over at Claudia.
‘What?’ He asked when he saw the smirk on her face.
‘This new social you is quite the eye-opener. Consorting with men in drag, going to the Tiergarten to let it all hang out.’
‘It’s not as bad as it sounds. They were on a stag do, and the groom-to-be was wearing a dress, they needed directions and then later I met up with them by accident.’
‘And the Tiergarten?’
‘That was with a contact, years ago. They wanted to check I wasn’t wearing a wire, but subtly.’ Well, that’s not exactly lying. It was what Brigette said, although I think she had an ulterior motive. He tried not to picture her laid out on the blanket in the park in all her glory. It was an interesting afternoon for sure.
‘Don’t think I don’t notice your gender-neutral pronoun use. Or that little smile on your face.’
‘Claudia! What are you suggesting?’
‘Don’t act all innocent. Mr Foster. We both know what I’m talking about.’
‘Have you ever been?’ Alec said changing the focus of the conversation.
‘No, are you offering?’
‘God no, I wouldn’t want to subject anyone to the sight of this in the cold light of day,’ Alec indicated with both hands his body.
‘That’s a shame. I liked what I saw last night and this morning. How about a spa instead? That will help sort out all your aches and pains from the past few days, including your combat fall, sorry, roll, this morning.’
‘We’ll see.’
‘Have you heard of Liquidrom? It’s a spa which has a salt pool that plays music and lights underwater as you float.’
‘No, but it sounds interesting. Have you been?’
‘I’ve haven’t had anyone to go with, until now. Don’t worry you have to wear a bathing suit in the pool.’
‘Ok, you’ve sold it to me. I’ll go with you. I’d better give Sara a call to tell her about Peter.’
He woke his phone from its sleep mode and dialled Sara’s number. ‘Voicemail.’
‘She’s probably in the air about now,’ Claudia said.
‘Hi Sara, something’s come up at work so I won’t be able to meet you at Alex. You can’t go to the flat at the moment. I’ll tell you why when I see you. I’ve arranged for a mate of mine, Peter, to meet you at the station. It’s their last night in Berlin, so we’re going out with him and his mates tonight to show them the cool bars in town, I hope it’s okay…’
‘Tell her what he looks like,’ Claudia said. ‘You don’t want her going off with just anyone.’
‘Oh, Peter’s pretty tall, six-two or three, in his late twenties or early thirties. He’ll be wearing dark blue jeans, a red Superdry sweatshirt and a long black coat, his hair is cropped quite short. You can get started on showing him, and his mates, a decent bar and Claudia and I will meet up with you guys. Text me when you meet up with him, so I know you’re ok. Oh, by the way, he knows me as Stefan, so make sure you use that instead of Alec.’ He hung the phone up and put it away in his jacket.
‘Were you planning on inviting me?’
‘You’re coming aren’t you? Sara would love to see you and…’
‘And you can’t bear to be away from me for a second. God, you’re so clingy.’
‘Well, in that case…’
‘Of course, I’ll come, stupid. I haven’t seen Sara in years, and I’m just as clingy as you.’
Alec walked over to her and leant down and kissed her deeply. At that point, Newbury came back into the room.
‘I thought I said no canoodling.’ He smiled.
‘I don’t think we agreed to that. Aren’t you happy for us Arthur?’ Claudia said.
‘Yes, I’m very happy for you both. However, there is another thing going on, which although it is not as important as your blossoming relationship, it does need thinking about.’
Alec sat down, with a lingering brush of his hand along Claudia’s arm.
‘I’ve got the Tech guys looking into what you gave me. Harper’s actually been in the contact log a couple of times this morning too.’ He told them about the other actions the Technology department were doing to narrow down Harper’s movements and actions.
‘Hopefully, Harper has made a mistake, and we can take him in bang to rights rather than with circumstantial evidence. I have requested a team from the Warsaw office to keep tabs on him; he may recognise anyone from here trailing him. They should be here in a few hours.’ He concluded.
While Newbury was talking Alec’s nagging internal voice was speaking to him. ‘Arthur, it’s just come to my mind something possibly even more serious has happened, not just about the PM.’
‘Go on.’
‘Well at the strip club I took money out of an ATM, and within twenty minutes the Russians were waiting outside for me. Luckily I had already left and was on the other side of the road thinking about what to do next.’
‘So, you should have been aware they may be watching your accounts.’
‘That’s the thing Arthur, it wasn’t my account. It was my company account.’
‘Your company account?’ He paused for a minute and then exclaimed, ‘Bloody hell. I see what you mean. That could be far more serious.’
‘Wait what’s going on?’ Claudia asked. ‘�
��Oh shit, I get it.’
‘Yeah, if the Russians tracked that account it may mean they have the details of all our company accounts and can see where any of us take out money from an ATM or use the card in shops or restaurants. It’ll make surveilling us around the city a piece of cake, they’ll also be able to monitor our spending and identify patterns.’
‘It may not just be ours here in Berlin; they could have compromised the whole company. They could track any of our officers around the world. They’d have the cover names too as they would be on the card.’ Claudia added having taken the thought further than Alec had.
‘How the hell could they have got that information?’ Newbury asked.
‘Probably from a source at the card issuing bank or within the company giving them details of every card issued. Tracking the leak down will be a nightmare,’ Alec said.
‘I better go and make a couple of calls,’ Newbury said. He stood up and left the room. Alec and Claudia sat in silence for a few minutes.
‘He didn’t say we couldn’t canoodle this time,’ Alec said to Claudia to break the tension.
She smiled at him, ‘Sorry Darling, I’m not in the mood at the moment.’
‘No, me neither I guess.’
‘There was something I wanted to ask you.’
‘What’s that?’
‘Rumours are going around the office that you are going to retire when Arthur does. Is that true?’
‘I was thinking about it. I don’t know, Arthur’s always had my back, practically carried me for the past five years. I just didn’t enjoy being stuffed up in the office. With all that’s happened in the past few days, I must admit I quite like the adrenaline. I missed it.’
‘But you’re not a young man anymore.’
‘I know, and that has made itself extremely clear over the past few days as well. There have been times when I have really felt my age, and that will only get worse. There is also you and us for me to consider. Before we were together, the first time, I let someone down who loved me, because of that I couldn’t commit fully to you. I felt I didn’t deserve happiness and especially didn’t deserve someone else to love me. So, I let you go.’