The Last Raven by Craig Thomas

Author:Craig Thomas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
Published: 2023-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

It seemed a stage set through which he was being hurried, so that the columns and gilding of the Oxford and Cambridge Club in Pall Mall appeared hardly more solid and stable than the rushed geometry of the patterned carpet under his feet. It appeared, too, like an arranged gathering – but not for its declared purpose, which was to mark James Melstead’s retirement as Permanent Secretary to the Department of Trade and Industry. James, of course, was beaming youthfully, belying his age, promising attention and industry to those who already belonged to the boards of the various companies he was to join as a director. Glass slightly tilted as he saw Aubrey enter, a special, close grin on his lips…

No, there were others there who might have purposely gathered for his sake – Reid, of course, but Malan, too. Aubrey decided it was Malan’s unexpected but wholly explicable presence that imbued him with this sense of – of conspiracy.

Orrell, too, and Geoffrey Longmead, of course. They became subsumed into the mystery, and he could not dismiss it. Orrell and Longmead noticed him at once and began moving purposefully, but it was David Reid who broke off a conversation with a banker and an Arab – the latter clutching orange juice, of course – to take his hand and offer a warm and calculating smile. Aubrey noticed, as Reid turned him aside from the doorway, that Longmead and Orrell seemed content to allow the minister to precede them in gaining his attention. It again seemed conspiratorial, disconcerting. He felt overwarm, stressed, slightly dizzy.

‘Kenneth’ – after the clichés of welcome – ‘I know you’re going to want to talk to me at some length about this business at Farnborough – I realise that, and I just want to assure you that you only have to call. It’s the most damnable mess!’ Responding to Aubrey’s mild smile, Reid’s features became more relaxed, his grin more genuine. Aubrey patted his arm.

‘Just let me become au fait, David – au fait,’ he murmured.

‘Of course, you’re just back. Yes. Heavens, Kenneth, as if I needed this just at this time!’ He was still holding Aubrey’s elbow and Aubrey began to resent that younger, stronger pressure, as if he were being seen overkindly across the road.

‘Yes—’

‘A Hercules full of anti-radar and God knows what else, and one of my people arrested! I told Geoffrey and Orrell how stunned I was – the man has been with…’ He shrugged, throwing his hands in the air. ‘God, it isn’t really my problem anymore, is it? I no longer run the company.’

‘Though you are its majority shareholder, David, and the newspapers would enjoy embarrassing one of Her Majesty’s Secretaries of State…?’

‘All right, Kenneth – I may just be asking a favour of you!’ His grin remained boyish, attractive. Unkind political enemies claimed the PM was under its charming spell, Aubrey reminded himself. ‘Nobody wants – I’m saying this as a friend, relying on our friendship, Kenneth – nobody needs or wants a spy scandal now.

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