Here Be Monsters

He really loved the man Thomas, his ex-friend, thought Elizabeth. Even after Thomas's betrayal of their friendship - or the combined and ultimate betrayal of it by Thomas and the beautiful Miss Philadelphia Marsh - even after that, he still loved the man, his once-upon-a-time friend. Because, in spite of all that, he counted his betrayal the greater one.

She looked at Audley, and guessed that he had known all this too.

'I don't know what you're up to now.' Sir Peter pulled her back to him, but then stopped suddenly. 'No - I know you can't tell me that - can't or won't - I know that. But I still have dummy2

two things to tell you, neither of which you may find very much to your taste, perhaps. But there it is.'

Audley surely knew all this. But whether he had or not, his instinct had been right, to drop everything in order to make sure of catching Sir Peter Barrie to start her off on Dr Caradog Thomas.

'Yes, Sir Peter?' she stepped meekly into his silence.

The silence continued for several long seconds. 'He forgave me, you know, Miss Loftus.

Naturally.'

Tff - ' It was the last thing she'd expected until she heard it. Then it was… natural, of course. ' He forgave you?'

'I still have this letter - his second letter, which he wrote after Delphi's death… Quite a long time after, because I was away, and I didn't hear about it at the time.' Another silence. 'I have both his letters still. But I will not show them to you. But… he very carefully explained why he left the service - that it really had nothing at all to do with the Intelligence badgering. Nothing to do with me, in fact: 'Like you, I am mine own executioner, mine own liberator' - I'll give you that much.'

Another silence set in. But this time she must let it live out its natural life.

'And the other thing is - ' Once again he turned to Audley ' - that you're wrong, David Audley. Because if it's Haddock you're after now, then you're just as wrong now as you were back in - back in whenever it was, when you persecuted us both. Check me again, if you like - you can have a free run. But leave Haddock alone - it's simply not in him to be a traitor. I'd stake my life - or Xenophon's profits for the year, whichever you reckon the more valuable - on that. Because he worships different gods.'

It wasn't until they were in the lift that Audley spoke again, beyond the minimal grunts and required pleasantries of farewell.

'A remarkable man, Elizabeth. And not a second-class man, either. But he was quite right to leave the Civil Service. He was a man of action - a born money-maker, not a spender.

The Greek understood that. Whereas… whereas Haddock Thomas was something else again.'

'What else, David?'

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Audley stared at the red button. 'A man of different action. A better man, too.'

'Better?' She had to remember that Audley had cleared both of them. 'Even though he seduced his friend's girl?'

The lift stopped.

'Seduced… and married, Elizabeth. And I rather think she was his one true love.' He looked at her as the lift- doors opened. 'Or is that too sentimental for you to swallow?'

Audley had married a much younger woman too: that was something else she had to remember. 'So you still think he's innocent?' She met his gaze. 'In spite of Major Parker?'

'I think… I think you are supposed to make your own mind up about that, my dear.' He gestured for her to leave the lift. 'So what do you want to do next? Or can I return to my more important work at Cheltenham? You can always use Major Turnbull for your leg-work - his legs are younger than mine.'

She stepped out of the lift, and the decisive click of her high heels on the Xenophon mosaic floor mocked her irresolution.

'Well, Elizabeth?'

If he had wanted to go back to his Cheltenham investigation nothing either she nor the Deputy-Director could have done would have stopped him, decided Elizabeth: Cheltenham was important enough for him to have appealed over both their heads.

Therefore he did not want to go back. And that meant he was more concerned with Haddock Thomas than he pretended to be.

Paul, she thought suddenly. If Paul meant business, then this must be the business he meant -

'Well, Elizabeth?' The question was repeated just a little too casually, confirming her suspicion.

'I need to know more about Thomas before I go to see him, David.' She needed to talk to Paul. 'I'd like to have a look at the Debrecen records.'

'I can tell you all about that.' He relaxed slightly. 'Most of it is what I put into it myself.'

'Who else can tell me about Thomas?' She didn't want him around when she met Paul.

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'Who would you recommend? That we can rely on?'

He stared at her for a moment, as though in doubt. There is someone I can perhaps lay on for you. But it'll need a phone-call or two. And we'll have to go to him.'

She smiled. 'Okay - will you do that, David?' But she must give him more than that to do.

'And will you brief Major Turnbull for me, while you're about it?'