He grew anxious. ‘Please don’t move.’
‘At least we’ll go together.’
‘What?’
She chuckled. ‘Sorry. I have a wicked sense of humour at times. Keep talking. It does take my mind off it. I saw something in your eyes when you came into the operations room and saw Neve. When’s the last time you saw her?’
‘Eight years ago.’
‘That’s right. A long time. Were you in a relationship?’
‘No. It was a very brief encounter.’
‘A one night stand sort of thing?’
‘We were on a task together. We ended up kissing.’
‘You were on a brief job together and kissed. I see.’
He rolled his eyes. ‘We were on a stake-out. In a car. It was late. We were playing the role of a couple parked up after the pubs closed. The bad guy came along and saw us and, well, we had to kiss.’
‘Nice work if you can get it.’
‘Someone’s got to do it.’
‘That does sound romantic though. Did you have sex?’
‘No,’ he said emphatically. ‘It was really nothing.’
‘I’m jealous, obviously. But I’m not going to commit suicide over it, don’t worry. You’re not that wonderful.’
‘I really am not.’
Gunnymede hit a key on his phone. ‘This is Gunnymede. Where’s ATO? What’s taking so long?!’
He listened for a moment before putting the phone down. ‘They’re a few minutes away. The bomb disposal officer said try not to move.’
It served to amuse them.
‘Have you seen your aunt yet?’ she asked.
‘Aunt Grace?’
‘Yes.’
It was an unexpected question. He shrugged. ‘Yes.’
‘Did you ask her about your father?’
‘My father?’
‘For God’s sake I’m trying to make small talk here,’ she said frustratedly.
‘Sorry – yes, I did in fact.’
‘What did she say?’
‘Nothing really.’
‘She doesn’t know anything?’
‘I don’t think so.’
‘But you’re not sure?’
He sighed, tired of the subject.
‘Sorry, but I just can’t believe you’re not interested in your own father’s mysterious death.’
‘It’s not that I’m not interested.’
She became distracted by something at her feet.
‘What is it?’ he asked.
‘It feels like it’s getting warm down there.’
‘What?’
‘My foot. It’s getting warm. Perhaps you should leave.’
‘It’s your imagination,’ he said, dropping to his knees to feel the plank beneath her foot. ‘It’s not warm,’ he said with some relief. He stood up and looked into her eyes. ‘You’re very brave.’
‘Why? I don’t have much of a choice.’
‘I know you’re brave.’
‘What do you think’s in the safe?’ she asked.
‘Probably nothing.’
‘I hope this wasn’t all for nothing.’ She stared into his eyes. ‘Devon – would you kiss me.’
‘What?’
‘Kiss me.’
‘Are you sure?’
‘Why wouldn’t you?’
‘I don’t want you getting all wobbly kneed. You know how weak you get when I kiss you.’
‘Please.’
He moved close to her. Smiled. And kissed her softly on the lips.
‘You can do better than that,’ she said.
They kissed again, a lingering, gentle kiss.
When they separated she inhaled with deep satisfaction. ‘There was something very special about that.’
‘Snogging on a bomb does lend a certain je ne sais quoi,’ he said.
They smiled, inches apart.
‘That beats ours by a mile,’ Neve said from the doorway.
She surprised them both. Gunnymede had to steady Bethan.
Footsteps on the stairs grew louder as several men hurried up them. One of them came in carrying a bag of tools.
‘Which one is it?’ he asked with urgency.
Gunnymede stepped back to allow the man access to Bethan.
‘I don’t need to tell you to keep perfectly still,’ the man said as he dropped to his knees.
‘Can we talk,’ Neve said to Gunnymede as she left the room.
Gunnymede followed her onto the landing.
‘Tell me you didn’t let Saleem escape in order to save her.’
‘I pursued Saleem until I lost him.’
‘For God’s sake. A couple thousand people versus one cute girl?’
‘Don’t even go there.’
‘How did he escape you?’
‘The bomb was a distraction. He took his chance and legged it. Where the fuck were you lot anyway? Some back up.’
‘The drone lost sight and neither of you called in your location.’
‘Once we got here we couldn’t talk. Why didn’t you track us?’
‘The house shadowed your signal. They showed you across the road. Okay, let’s not turn this into a slanging match. Do we have anything?’
‘Nothing obvious. An invoice for ten tons of quick dry cement. There might be other stuff.’
‘Jervis thinks the attack will happen in the next twenty-four hours.’
‘How does he know that?’
‘He’s looking at it from their point of view. They either call it off or do it now.’
‘Saleem won’t want to delay it or let anyone else do it another time,’ he said. ‘I agree. If he had a choice he’d push for hitting it now.’
‘We’re running out of time,’ she said.
‘Did you ever do one of those post-traumatic stress courses?’
‘Everyone does,’ she said. ‘Why?’
‘I missed mine. Take care of Beth’s repatriation, would you?’ He walked down the stairs.
Neve looked as if she’d been left holding the baby. She leaned into the room.
The bomb disposal officer was on his knees and reaching under the floorboards. ‘I’d appreciate it if you left the room please, miss,’ he said as he fiddled with something.
Bethan looked at Neve who returned her gaze for a moment and stepped back into the hallway.
Ten minutes later Bethan stepped out of the room and rested against a wall somewhat exhausted as several MI6 analysts went into the room.
‘Stressful?’ Neve asked.
Bethan smiled politely.
‘You’re going to need therapy,’ Neve said.
‘I agree. My bartender or do you have one I can use?’
Neve looked into the room as the bomb disposal expert placed the components of the device into plastic bags. One of the analysts opened the safe and searched inside it.
‘Empty?’ Neve asked him.
