Here Be Monsters

And chance, and Paul (who had been trained by David Audley, and who was cleared for this particular secure classification), had rescued this fragment from oblivion.

'I'd like it back, please.' After the half-minute he generously allowed, he reached for the evidence of his indiscretion. 'Have you ever heard of the Pointe du Hoc, Miss Loftus?'

He had remembered the Sun and the Moon. Perhaps the indiscretion had sharpened up his memory.

'No,' she lied, with false innocence. 'It's in Normandy, somewhere - ?'

'Or Thaddeus Parker?'

'Who?' She had maybe been a shade too innocent with that 'Normandy, somewhere?', when it was obvious from the text where the Pointe du Hoc was. But she didn't have to pretend this reaction: that wasn't the name in the text. 'Who?'

dummy2

'They got it wrong - 'Edward Parker'.' He held up the cutting for an instant, before slotting it back among his credit cards. 'He ought to have been 'Tad', but for some reason he was always 'Ed'. So they made him 'Edward' somewhere along the line.' As he replaced the plastic folder in his pocket, 'You've never heard of Thaddeus Parker - Major 'Ed' Parker?'

'No.'

D-DAY VETERAN

IN DEATH FALL

A 70-year-old American veteran of the D-Day landings, Edward Parker, fell to his death from the 100-foot cliffs of Pointe du Hoc yesterday -

' - never.'

The door clicked again behind her, and then swished, as they stared at each other.

'Miss Loftus,' said Mrs Harlin.

'Well, if I'm right, you will in about two minutes, Miss Loftus,' said Paul.

Elizabeth hardly had time to think, as Mrs Harlin swept her on, tripod masts erect and guns trained, doors clicking and swishing at her touch.

'I don't think he's very pleased with you - ' Click-swish ' - Miss Loftus, Deputy- Director.'

'Ah!' At least he didn't look too displeased. 'Thank you, Mrs Harlin.'

Swish-click.

'Please do sit down, Miss Loftus - Elizabeth.' At the moment he wasn't looking at her at all

- he was studying the display on his screen, which she couldn't see. But that was her first time as 'Elizabeth' with him. So did that make him 'Oliver' with her?

On balance no, she decided. Because… he might be 'Fatso' to Paul, and something more polite, but even ruder, to David Audley… But he was God's viceroy to her at this moment, and if he ordered her to jump over the cliff at Pointe du Hoc she would at least think about doing so.

Also, if Paul was right, she was about ten seconds away from Thaddeus Parker, alias Major dummy2

Ed. And close to a secure classification thereafter.

'You've been rather elusive this morning. Have a chocolate?'

The only object on the desk itself was a large box of Thornton's chocolates, which had already been extensively plundered. What they said about Oliver St John Latimer was that when he was unhappy he went on a diet to make himself even more miserable. So he must be very happy now.

'Thank you, Mr Latimer.' The truth or a lie?

'Yes?' He looked at her, and waited.

Mrs Harlin had been angry, so Mrs Harlin might have sneaked, Elizabeth decided. 'I was delayed by Dr Mitchell. I'm sorry.'

'Oh yes?' He still didn't look displeased - and he certainly didn't seem surprised. In fact, he looked almost sympathetic. 'Is Dr Mitchell being difficult, Elizabeth?'

So he knew about Dr Mitchell and Miss Loftus, and their little difficulty. But then, it was his business to know about such things, because he was the Deputy-Director - indeed, at this moment, the Acting Director, wearing Colonel Butler's metaphorical red coat, even if it was a size too large for him.

'No, Mr Latimer.' It occurred to Elizabeth almost simultaneously that he might actually be trying to be sympathetic, but also - and for sure - that he was enjoying the feel of that metaphorical coat across his shoulders. So now a lie with icing on it was indicated. 'I appreciate your - concern.' Look grateful but embarrassed, Elizabeth! 'But that problem is…

contained now.' It wasn't difficult to look embarrassed, particularly with a chocolate in her mouth.

He nodded, and reached across to the box himself. 'So what did he want, then?' He gave the box a little push. 'Have another one?'

Did a weakness for chocolates suggest truthfulness in other matters? She wondered. 'I shouldn't - but I will.' But she also had to remember that he was an extremely clever man.

'It seems that he sent me an SG after I was detached from the daily movements analysis.