Spy Shadow by Tim Sebastian

Author:Tim Sebastian
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
Published: 2021-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Tristram had wandered into a supermarket, hoping to kill time, but the bare shelves and shoddy products repelled him, just as they always had. Piles of brown paper bags had been stacked in a corner. There was no attempt to package or attract. No bright colours. Instead the state was offering its people rationed fatty meat, mineral water, pickled vegetables, and canned tomatoes. It angered him. People weren’t just sinking into poverty, they were having it thrust upon them.

A woman shop assistant shouted at him because he hadn’t taken a wire basket. He said nothing. There was no shortage of rules, no shortage of people to enforce them. Like living in a zoo.

Finally, tired and unhappy, he made his way to the Victoria Hotel, knowing there was a coffee bar on the first floor.

If it hadn’t been for the coat, he would never have raised his eyes. But the grey fox reminded him so much of his mother, the rich flamboyant lady who had in the end accumulated a string of husbands and an entire library of their cheque books.

Dear Mum, what a flirt you were. And as he looked up into the cool brown eyes and the black hair that encircled them – she smiled at him. Just a little too quickly, so that he knew she wasn’t there for the coffee. He watched her go through the act, crossing the legs, the tongue tracing a line across the dark lipstick, a toss of the head to say she would take it or leave it, whatever happened.

He picked up his cup, and her movement was so rapid, so well executed that she was sitting opposite him at the table almost before he realized it. The smile had broadened, but she wasn’t going to speak first. Let the client do the introductions. He knew how the professionals played it.

“I… I’m sorry. Good afternoon.”

“Good afternoon.” She sat back pleased with her English. The first potential customer all day and they’d told her to keep up appearances. The legs crossed again.

“Perhaps you’ll join me in a cup of coffee?” Damn her.

“That would be nice.”

A waitress brought another cup, and he poured from the silver pot.

“Are you staying here?” he asked.

“No, not really.”

“Just come for tea?”

“Yes, that is correct. And you, Mr…?”

“James.”

“And I am Ania. What are you doing in Warsaw?” Her hands locked slowly together.

Tristram examined her carefully. Eastern Bloc whores rarely worked for mere money alone. Was she asking questions or holding an interrogation?

He groped for his watch. “Look, I’m really sorry. I have to be going.”

“You seem to be sorry all the time. Anyway, you haven’t finished your coffee.”

“No, but I’m meeting someone…”

“Not a girl, I hope. If it’s a girl, you’re wasting your time or your money…”

They both laughed together. “No, it’s not a girl.”

“Perhaps we shall see each other again.” She passed him a little card. On it was a handwritten number. “You see, Mr James, I have so little conversation, you understand?”

Tristram thought he saw the eyes darken.

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