The Killing Moon
Page 22
Rob took a seat in the corner and pulled out a mobile phone. Rob then rang Charlotte Beaumont.
"Charlotte, it's Rob, I'm gonna hand myself in."
Charlotte almost took a deep breath as she heard Rob's voice for the first time since their last meet at the hospital. "Where are you, Rob?"
"I'm having a pint in the pub."
"Is it the Admiral?" Charlotte questioned.
"Yeah"
"Wait there, I'm on my way."
Within half an hour, Charlotte had walked into the Admiral. She looked at Harry, but he pretended not to see her and went round the back. Charlotte saw Rob for the first time in eleven months. He looked well, considering. However, keeping her composure, she looked at Rob and said, "Give me two minutes." She then returned to the bar and ordered a pint of Guinness. Sitting down next to Rob, she said, "I think I owe you this."
"How's Amelia doing?" Rob asked.
"Remarkably well, from a psychiatrist's point of view. From a mother's point of view, I'm never gonna let her out of my sight ever again."
"I think you better give her this," and then Rob pulled out the lion teddy bear from his pocket. "I've washed it, but I think it's best she has it."
Charlotte smiled as she placed it in her handbag. "I'll make sure she gets it, Rob." Charlotte then said, "Rob, I want you to know, I was with your father when he died. His last words were of you, and he went peacefully."
Rob took another sip of his Guinness. "It was probably best that way. He wouldn't have wanted to see me, on his death bed, handcuffed, with two guards." Rob put his pint back on the table, and asked, "Is the husband okay?"
"We're both doing fine. I don't wanna talk about that anyway."
"So what happens now, do I go to Rampton? Will they ever let me out?" replied Rob.
"Rob, I want you to know I can never repay you for what you did and I know full well you put yourself in the firing line by going after Amelia, but also, there's something I need to show you."
Rob drained the rest of his glass and picked up his fresh pint, at the same time, Charlotte removed a large envelope from her handbag. Rob could not help but notice that the envelope said 'Operation Turngate' with the words 'Top Secret' in red. "The Home Secretary has asked me to give you this, but there's certain conditions. You're to be badged as an unofficial member of the SAS, E Squadron I think she said, Deniable Operations. Also, I'm to be your handler. As your psychiatrist, I know if things are going wrong or not, and I'm to make sure you get your medication."
Rob replied, "Does that mean you're my new boss?"
"Yeah, basically, it does. I had to sign an official secrets act and I'm to tell you, you've got two choices. You either join the SAS or you go back to hospital. So what you gonna do, Rob? What do you want to do?"
Rob smiled, "I'm gonna finish that pint."
Joss and Gary had finished their game of pool, not noticing Charlotte or Rob and certainly not knowing why they were there. Joss approached the jukebox just as Gary shouted to his mate "Put track 23-a on. It's Iron Maiden." With his long right arm covered in a vampiress tattoo, Joss pushed in the buttons. Soon, the quiet in the pub was broken by the scream of, "Can I play with madness?"