Chapter 59
59
Icaught a taxi from Heathrow to Vauxhall and checked into my hotel at 2PM. Then I walked down the street to a local café to get a bite to eat. Once I was situated, I texted her.
Got here safe.
At St. George’s drinking some coffee.
Everything calm down?
Ten seconds later, my phone rang.
“Hey, babe,” I said.
“Hey… I SO wish I was there with you right now p>
“Me too. Everything okay p>
“Unfortunately, no.” She sighed. “I might have to work late tonight. I’m SO sorry, Lars p>
“It’s okay. Shit happens p>
“I’ll make it up to you later p>
I grinned. “In bed p>
“Of course,” she answered mischievously.
“Good – then the delay will be worth it. I love you p>
“The feeling is reciprocated p>
She only talked like that in one particular circumstance.
“What, are you there with co-workers?” I asked.
“Yes, so I’ll see you later p>
“Say it – saaaaay it – ” I teased her.
“Goodbye p>
“I looooove youuuuu – ”
She snorted and ended the call.
I grinned and pocketed the phone.
A few minutes later, I’d just finished my sandwich when I heard a vaguely familiar voice behind me.
“Excuse me… Lars, isn’t it p>
I looked up and saw a familiar man – tall, wiry, brown hair, aristocratic – carrying a cup of to-go coffee.
It was Rachel’s colleague from the Portuguese restaurant a year ago. His suit looked just as expensive as last time.
“Yes – ah – ”
“Alistair p>
“Right. Rachel’s co-worker p>
“Exactly. So, is she around?” Alistair asked, looking from side to side.
“No, she got called into work last minute p>
“That tends to happen,” he said sympathetically.
“You weren’t called in, too p>
“Different divisions,” he explained, then gestured to the empty chair across from me. “Mind if I sit p>
“Sure, go ahead p>
Rachel had been eager to get away from Alistair last time, but I had no problem with talking to the guy. If anything, I might be able to find out a few details about her work life. Rachel was notoriously close-lipped about her work at MI6.
Alistair sat down across from me and sipped his coffee. “So… I never asked, what do you do for a living p>
“SOG,” I said automatically, then realized he had no idea what I was talking about. “It’s – ”
“Särskilda operationsgruppen,” Alistair said, even pronouncing it correctly.
I stared at him in surprise. “You know Swedish p>
“I know our NATO partners and their Special Forces divisions. Part of my job p>
“And what job is that p>
“Let’s say I’m in planning and leave it at that p>
“Well, that’s more than Rachel’s ever told me p>
“She doesn’t talk about her job much p>
“Not at all p>
“Our superiors would approve. We’re in a rather… delicate sector of MI6 p>
“Is there anything more you can tell me p>
“If I did, I’d have to kill you,” he joked. “Or hire someone else to do the job, more likely p>
I chuckled politely. I’d heard a couple dozen variations of that answer from Rachel.
If I told you, Lars, I’d have to kill you… only AFTER I fucked you, though.
If I told you, I’d have to kill you… which would be a pity.
If I told you, I’d have to –
“You a career man?” Alistair asked politely. “In the military, I mean p>
“No – actually, I’m leaving at the end of my bid p>
“When’s that p>
“Twenty-four months, two weeks, and six days from now p>
Alistair laughed and raised his eyebrows. “You know it down to the day p>
“And the hour, but I figured that would be overkill p>
“And after you get out p>
“I’ll move here p>
“To be with Rachel,” he said, nodding.
“That’s the plan p>
“Doesn’t Sweden require you to be available for involuntary recall for ten years after you leave the service p>
The man knew his NATO partners; I’d give him that.
“They do, but that usually only gets enforced if they really need warm bodies p>
“Hopefully World War III doesn’t break out, then,” Alistair joked.
“Hopefully p>
“It must be hard on the two of you. I can’t imagine that you have a lot of time off. Or as much as you’d like, anyway p>
“I don’t p>
“If you could get out earlier, would you p>
“In a heartbeat p>
Alistair looked at me thoughtfully. “What if I could help you with that p>
I laughed. “Short of convincing my commanding officers I’m up to something illegal, and they boot me out instead of throwing me in jail, I don’t see how that’s possible p>
“Well, even though they’re not in NATO, Sweden is our close partner. In my job, I have a certain amount of sway. I would almost certainly be able to get you transferred p>
I frowned. “To another branch p>
“Let’s say… to an organization that lies outside the jurisdiction of the Swedish military p>
I stared at him. “Are you being serious right now p>
“Deadly serious p>
Whatever the hell he was talking about, it sounded like the answer to my prayers.
“Let’s talk a walk,” Alistair suggested. “That is, if you’re interested p>
“I am,” I said. “Very interested p>