The Spy Who Swapped Shoes by Geoffrey Davison

Author:Geoffrey Davison [Davison, Geoffrey]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781913028947
Publisher: Sapere Books
Published: 2019-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

The invitation to the cocktail party was of immense value to Fletcher and Tonya. It presented them as friends of the Mannings and gave them an opportunity to make further political contacts. But Fletcher also had another reason for wanting to be present. If Sir Joseph wasn’t giving the Soviets details of his movements himself, someone close to the man was, and unless Fletcher was mistaken that someone would be at the cocktail party.

When they arrived at the Mannings the following Sunday a large number of guests were already present. Sir Joseph and Lady Manning greeted them warmly and handed them over to Susan. As she attended to their drinks Fletcher glanced around the room.

Buckley was there, his tall figure bent over a cocktail glass in the typical pose of a social habituate. He was talking to two men and Fletcher immediately recognised them as the men he had been introduced to in the House of Commons — Langford and Prentice. They were accompanied by their wives and it wasn’t difficult for Fletcher to pair them off. One of the women was attractive and smartly dressed, whilst the other was a rather drab looking person. Not only did Langford have the personal attributes to succeed, he also had the right type of wife to help him!

Fletcher wondered about the two men. They both worked very closely with Sir Joseph — Prentice on the administration side and Langford on the political — they would both be well informed of Sir Joseph’s movements — especially Langford.

He decided they were both worthy of further attention.

The other guests were a mixed selection of men and women of varying ages, but Fletcher noted with satisfaction that the white haired Davies was present — the man Timovitch had told him to meet.

As Susan returned with their drinks Buckley came over to them. He acknowledged Fletcher with a nod of his head and addressed himself to Tonya.

‘Hullo, Mrs Adams, how nice to see you again,’ he said. ‘Let me introduce you to some of the guests.’

He exchanged glances with Fletcher and there was something in his look which both irritated and puzzled Fletcher. His expression had been faintly mocking, rather like a child who knew a secret, but wasn’t going to tell. He ushered Tonya over to the group he had just left and Fletcher followed behind. Unfortunately the Langfords had moved on, leaving only the stern-faced civil servant and his wife.

Buckley made the necessary introductions and like a man well accustomed to such functions kept the conversation alive.

Prentice, with his poker-like features, was crisp and unforthcoming with his conversation. He spoke only when Buckley or Fletcher addressed him direct and his replies gave the impression that he studied his words carefully before he spoke. He was devoid of any apparent pleasing personality and Fletcher could only assume that his administrative ability more than made up for his other shortcomings.

His wife was equally unattractive and even more difficult to converse with. She was like a woman

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