‘What is it?’
‘Can we talk inside?’
‘What is it?’
Charlie sighed, controlling his frustration. ‘Jack’s dead.’
‘Jack Henderson?’
Charlie nodded.
‘How?’
‘He shot himself.’
Gunnymede considered the news. ‘I can understand that. Is that it?’
‘I need to ask you something,’ Charlie said. ‘But not out here.’
Gunnymede sighed heavily and stood back to let him in. ‘Wait a minute. How did you know where I live?’
Charlie shrugged.
Gunnymede shook his head, made his way unsteadily into the kitchen and set about making himself a cup of coffee. ‘I’d offer you a tea or coffee but as you’re not staying long, I won’t.’
‘You know about Jack.’
‘Not until you just told me.’
‘I didn’t mean that.’
‘For fuck’s sake. I can’t handle anything cryptic right now. If you want to communicate with me you’re going to have to keep it very simple.’
‘The Becket Approval,’ Charlie said, studying Gunnymede.
Gunnymede poured boiling water into a mug and stirred it. ‘That is a statement?’
‘You know Jack was the operations officer for the Becket Approval.’
‘Not exactly.’
‘The position needs to be filled.’
Gunnymede sipped the drink which was too hot. ‘Why are you talking to me about that organisation?’
‘Like I said. The position needs to be filled.’
‘You’re asking me?’ Gunnymede said.
Charlie stared at him by way of an answer.
‘First of all,’ Gunnymede said. ‘Forgetting how utterly bizarre that concept is. Why are you asking? I mean, who the fuck are you?’
‘It’s not my idea.’
‘It’s not your idea to come here and ask me to take over Jack’s, what is that, a murder squad. Is that a hobby? Who’s idea was it?’
‘I can’t say.’
‘You can’t say.’
‘I don’t know exactly.’
‘Exactly?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I’m still asleep and dreaming, aren’t I? There’s a technique I read about that you can use to test if you’re in a dream or not ... what was it? Oh yes. Bite the end of your fingers.’ Gunnymede bit the end of a finger. It hurt. ‘You need to leave,’ he said to Charlie. ‘Please. Now.’
‘This wasn’t a good time.’
‘It will never be a good time.’
‘I was told you’d be interested.’
‘By a hidden voice? Please go.’
Charlie rolled his eyes and went to the front door. Gunnymede opened it, Charlie left the flat and Gunnymede closed it behind him.
Gunnymede went into his lounge and to the balcony windows where he sipped his coffee and looked at the Thames, shaking his head in disbelief as he looked back towards the front door.
He put a hand in his pocket, felt something and retrieved it. It was his ornate SIS badge.
He opened the balcony doors and held it as if he was going to toss it. And he might’ve done had something deep inside not stopped him.
He dropped the badge onto the coffee table and went back to watching the Thames.
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