‘That’s why we kept it secret.’
‘Then who found out?’
‘I’ve no idea,’ Isaac admitted.
‘DI Ahmed, Constable Gladstone, any ideas?’
‘No one that I’m aware of,’ Farhan said.
‘Not from me,’ Wendy added.
‘Isaac, let’s go through this in detail. Who visited her in Canary Wharf?’
‘Only Richard Williams.’
‘And what’s he got to say?’
‘I’ve not spoken to him yet.’
‘Don’t you think you should?’
‘After we leave here.’
‘Do it officially. He’s got a lot of answering to do.’
‘I will, sir.’
‘DC Gladstone, DI Ahmed, you can both leave. Thanks for your time. And DI Ahmed, get to the hospital and make sure the woman is safe and still breathing. Constable Gladstone, submit your remaining claims today while I’m in a generous mood.’
‘Thank you, sir.’ They spoke in unison.
With the door closed and Isaac alone with his boss, the detective superintendent talked more openly.
‘Isaac, I expected better from you. Why are you letting your hormones get in the way of your policing?’
‘It’s not that, sir.’
‘Then what are you doing sleeping with Linda Harris?’
‘How do you know, sir?’
‘MacTavish told me.’
‘How did he know?’
‘What does it matter. He’s somehow involved, but Linda Harris?’
‘She admitted she was MI5.’
‘Licensed to sleep with whoever?’ Isaac thought his superior’s remark inappropriate.
‘With Williams, yes.’
‘Did you not stop to think? She may have checked the messages on your phone while you were asleep.’
‘If she found out, then she’s not as innocent as she looks.’
‘Isaac, why are you assuming that because she’s beautiful, seductive, and available, she’s not a highly-skilled operative. If she had been plain and ugly, you would have suspected her.’
‘If she had been plain and ugly, she wouldn’t have ended up in my bed.’
‘That may be, but you can see where I’m coming from. It could have been you who gave her the lead she was trying to get from Richard Williams. Can you imagine the trouble that would cause?’
‘End of my career, I would assume.’
‘And mine. I’m not ready to retire yet, neither are you, but you’ve got to control the overriding need to bed every attractive woman that comes along. No doubt it’s great fun, and obviously finding these women comes easy to you, but they’re impacting on your ability.’
‘There’s one I would not mind making a longer-term commitment with.’
‘I hope you haven’t slept with her as well.’
‘No, sir.’
‘And what’s she going to say when she finds out about Linda Harris?’
‘I don’t know, sir. She’s been trying to contact me. Urgent, supposedly. I assume she knows by now.’
‘Wrap this case up. It’s been going on for too long.’
‘I will, sir.’
‘And don’t go sleeping with Linda Harris. Or Jess O’Neill.’
‘I won’t, sir.’
***
Isaac, suitably chastised, returned to his office. Wendy was there filling out her expense form. Farhan was almost back at the hospital.
Isaac idly surfed the internet for a few minutes, noting that all the news websites in England were headlining the reappearance of Marjorie Frobisher and her narrow brush with death. Isaac felt he needed to act, and decisively, if he had any hope of reclaiming some credibility. Isaac knew his boss was correct, and that he shouldn’t have bedded Linda Harris, but she had been available. He pondered Jess for a while, almost certain that the romance was over before it had started. He was saddened at the prospect. Maybe she would understand that it was in the line of duty, but he knew she wouldn’t. She was a woman who would regard fidelity in a relationship as paramount.
He wasn’t sure what he was going to say to her. He needed a few days before he contacted her. Jess O’Neill was personal; Richard Williams was not.
He phoned the man, informed him that his presence was required in the building the next morning, 9 a.m. prompt. Williams acquiesced and told Isaac that his legal representative would be present as well.
Wendy, meanwhile, had obtained a signature from Isaac and had rushed off to Richard Goddard for his counter-signature. The man had been polite to her, so she felt comfortable this one time to knock. Some medical bills were coming up for her husband, and she needed the money back as soon as possible.
Isaac mulled over the situation, realised that he wanted to speak with Jess O’Neill, clear the air if that was indeed possible. He knew it was the right action at the wrong time. He expected the worst.
‘Jess, how are you?’
‘Fine. What’s going on?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘You don’t phone for a few days, and then you’re out with Richard Williams’ latest bit of skirt.’
‘Jess, that sounds like jealousy.’
‘Of course it is. Do you mind explaining?’
‘I needed someone to bring a new perspective to the case.’
‘What a load of hogwash and you know it. You fancy her, admit it.’
Isaac, momentarily stunned, did not know how to respond. Should he tell her the truth? That the woman was MI5 and potentially very dangerous.
No, he decided. His boss had summed up the situation succinctly.
‘She’s a beautiful woman, Jess. I’ll agree to that. This case is going nowhere, and until it does, we cannot be together.’
‘You’re just spinning me a line.’
‘It’s the truth. I had to see if she had overheard something. I’ll explain later, but Williams is central to all this.’
‘Because of his friendship with Marjorie Frobisher?’
‘Exactly!’
‘But you have her now. You can ask her.’
‘Whether she will tell us anything is hard to say.’
‘If I find out that you slept with Linda Harris, this romance is over before it started.’ She hung up the phone. Isaac realised that he would need to address the deception another
