Drink with the Devil (Sean Dillon Series, Book 5) by Jack Higgins

Author:Jack Higgins
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Chapter 9

The following day was Thursday and when Dillon went into Hannah Bernstein’s office on the third floor at the Ministry of Defence it was just before noon.

‘My God, Dillon, what time do you call this? He’s been asking for you.’

‘The hard night I had, girl dear. In fact I only came in to ask you to have a delicious light luncheon with me.’

‘You’re quite mad.’ She pressed her intercom. ‘He’s here, Brigadier.’

‘Send him in.’ There was a pause. ‘And you, Chief Inspector.’

She led the way, opening the door for Dillon who advanced to the desk where Ferguson was working at a pile of papers. He didn’t look up.

‘God save the good work,’ Dillon said and waited. Ferguson ignored him and the Irishman laughed. ‘God save you kindly is the correct answer to that, Brigadier.’

Ferguson sat back. ‘I am well aware that as a boy you went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Dillon. I am well aware that you actually acted with the National Theatre.’

‘Lyngstrand in The Lady from the Sea. Ibsen that was,’ Dillon reminded him.

‘Until you decided to take up the theatre of the street for the IRA. As my mother, God rest her, was Irish, I do my best to understand you, but your constant role of the stage Irishman proves wearisome.’

‘God save us, your honour, but I’ll try to mend my ways.’

‘For God’s sake, be serious. You’re leaving me with egg on my face because of this ridiculous bet with Carter. You know how much the Intelligence Service hates our very existence. They’d like nothing better than to make me look a fool in front of the Prime Minister.’

‘Don’t I know that?’ Dillon said. ‘That’s why I thought I’d make Carter look the fool.’

Ferguson frowned. ‘Are you seriously telling me you think you can?’

‘Of course.’

The Brigadier frowned. ‘Where have you been? It’s almost noon.’

‘I had a hard night preparing the way, so to speak.’

‘Tell me.’

‘You wouldn’t want to know,’ Dillon said. ‘But one thing I’ll promise you. The next time you’ll see me will be at ten-thirty tomorrow morning on the Terrace together with the President of the United States and the Prime Minister.’

Ferguson sat back staring at him. ‘My God, Sean, you actually think you can do it.’

‘I know I can, Brigadier and watch yourself. You just called me Sean.’

‘Are you going to tell me how?’

‘Aspects of it are so illegal that it’s better you shouldn’t know. I’ll discuss it with this good-looking woman here if I can take her to lunch.’

Ferguson laughed in spite of himself. ‘Oh, go on, you rogue. Get out of here; but if it costs me five hundred pounds it comes out of your salary.’

They returned to Hannah’s office. She said, ‘You really think you can pull it off?’

‘Nothing is impossible to the great Dillon. A magician, that’s what British Intelligence called me in the great days in Ulster. They never laid hands on me once, Hannah, your lot. The master of disguise. Did I tell you about

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