The Meal of Fortune by Philip Brady

Author:Philip Brady
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 5W Press
Published: 2021-09-10T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

Landed safely.

The text had arrived soon after Dermot was scheduled to touch down in Russia. That alone should have meant there was nothing for Anna to worry about. But it had been four hours since the message and they’d heard nothing more.

‘Any news?’

Anna jumped as Kate Barnes perched her bony arse on the edge of the desk. To anyone passing by, it would have looked like she was just another friendly colleague stopping for a natter.

As if.

Anna shook her head.

‘Shouldn’t we have heard something by now?’ The question sounded more like a playground taunt on Kate’s lips.

‘It’s only been a few hours.’ Anna heard the edge in her own voice.

‘I suppose...’ Kate left it hanging.

Anna tried not to think about it. But her boss did have a point. The drive to Bukin’s house shouldn’t have taken more than an hour. And if Svetlana was right about her powers of persuasion, the answer would have come pretty swiftly. Perhaps they were just celebrating with a few shots of Bukin’s best vodka. Anna tried to ignore the sick feeling rising in her stomach as she looked back at her computer screen, wishing Kate would just go away.

Once again, Anna’s boss had been against continuing with the operation after the news that Dermot was expected to travel to Moscow. But Lawson had figured that if the man was prepared to get on a plane to Russia to meet with his client, there was precious little they could do to stop him.

And precious little to lose if things did go wrong.

Because who was ever going to believe that MI5 was running an op like this?

‘You know, I had my doubts about you. I didn’t think you were ruthless enough.’ Kate shifted position on the desk and stared down over the top of her chunky glasses.

Anna tried to look her in the eye but could only focus on the glasses. Kate had taken to wearing them recently, probably in the mistaken belief that they lent her the right combination of gravitas and style. In truth, they just made her gaunt face look even thinner.

‘But I was wrong, wasn’t I?’

Was that a compliment? Anna felt a twinge of guilt over her bitchy take on her boss’s eyewear.

‘You have got what it takes. Sending a man off to almost certain death. Now that does take guts. And they say that I’m the bitch.’

She was right about the last part. Anna fought back the impulse to grab the stupid glasses and grind them into the floor with her foot. Kate slipped off the desk with another little smile.

‘It’s all about making the tough decisions. I’m sure your father would have been proud of you. But I do think we should have heard something by now, don’t you?’ Kate held Anna’s gaze for a second or so more, then turned and walked away.

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