Vienna
The next morning Troy and Gus sat at the embassy, both unsure whether they were expecting a call or not.
But Jordan called at nine thirty.
“Troy, I’m afraid I won’t be coming.”
“I’m not handling the bugger alone!”
“Just hear me out. We’re sending someone. You won’t be on your own. It just won’t be me.”
“Then who?”
“Dunno yet. I was never the best choice. Not my area of expertise. It will mean a delay, though.”
“How long?”
“You’ll have to babysit him at least another day.”
“Troy? Troy? Are you still there?”
“Jordan. I’m not happy about this.”
“Me neither. I was all packed for couple of days away. Just keep tabs on him, and get what you can out of him.”
“I am not—no, I will not interrogate him!”
“Sorry. Bit of a lapse on my part. Far too cheeky. Just a throwaway remark. Ignore me. Troy, just whip the old fraud out to dinner and relax. I’ll call Gus when my replacement’s on his way.”
“Thank you, I’ll be sending Five the bill. Jordan, there is one more thing. Please tell Foxx what’s happening. All she knows is I had to stay on here. I don’t want her kept in the dark any longer.”
“You didn’t tell her?”
“What was to tell? That I’d received an anonymous invitation? Enough to alarm her, and no reassurance I could give.”
“If you’re sure she can be discreet, I’ll tell her everything. Let our fat friend take the blame.”
“Don’t worry, she’s already sitting on secrets.”
“And Rod?”
“Rod doesn’t need to know.”
They hung up.
Gus sat at his desk, listening on an extension, the last to put down the telephone.
“Did you get all that?”
“Oh yes, Freddie.”
“And?”
“He’s been pulled.”
“In what way is that different from being replaced?”
“Just a feeling. Jordan’s a senior field agent. My idea of just the right bloke to de-brief Burgess. The ‘not my area of expertise’ was a bit disingenuous to my ears. Still, could be wrong. You never know.”
“And now I’m stuck with Burgess for another day and another night.”
“Love to help out. I’d be intrigued to meet him, but it would be terribly bad form to have official embassy contact with him.”
“You’re missing very little. He’s the shell of the man I used to know.”
“In fact … it would be a bit of a sticky wicket if he’d come to us direct. Right now you’re invaluable to both sides.”
“Yep. That’s me. Piggy in the middle.”
“Cheer up … you might get a medal for services to Queen and Country.”
“Or six months in the Scrubs. No Gus, whatever I do now it won’t be appreciated. And I can’t face a third night with him. I’ll go round to the Imperial now and tell him it won’t be happening tonight, but that’s all.”