Be Careful What You Wish For (The Clifton Chronicles 4)

She remained in the slipstream of the lorry, and kept on driving until she could no longer see the phone box in her rear-view mirror. She then swung around and headed slowly back, until the phone box came into sight. She pulled over to the side of the road, but left the engine running. It wasn’t long before the major stepped out of the phone box, got back into his car and drove away. She didn’t pursue him until he was out of sight. After all, she knew exactly where he was going.

As Emma drove back through the gates of the shipyard a few minutes later, she wasn’t surprised to see the major’s car parked in its usual place. She took the lift up to the fourth floor and went straight to the dining room. Several of the directors, including Fisher, were standing at a long side table, serving themselves from the buffet. Emma grabbed a plate and joined them, before sitting down next to the chairman. “You wanted a word, Ross?”

“Yes. There’s something we need to discuss rather urgently.”

“Not now,” said Emma, as Fisher took his place opposite her.

* * *

“This had better be important, colonel, because I’ve just come out of a meeting with the Leader of the House.”

“Martinez has a new chauffeur.”

“And?” said the cabinet secretary.

“He used to be Liam Doherty’s bag man.”

“The IRA commander in Belfast?”

“No less.”

“What’s his name?” said Sir Alan, picking up a pencil.

“In Northern Ireland, Kevin Rafferty.”

“And in England?”

“Jim Croft.”

“You’ll be needing another man on your team.”

* * *

“I’ve never had tea in the Palm Court room before,” said Buchanan.

“My mother-in-law, Maisie Holcombe, used to work at the Royal Hotel,” explained Emma. “But in those days, she wouldn’t let Harry or me on the premises. ‘Most unprofessional,’ she used to say.”

“Another woman clearly years ahead of her time,” said Ross.

“And you only know the half of it,” said Emma, “but I’ll save Maisie for another time. First, I must apologize for having been unwilling to talk to you during lunch, or at least not while Fisher could eavesdrop.”

“Surely you don’t suspect him of having an

ything to do with our present problems?”

“Not directly. In fact I was even beginning to think he might have turned over a new leaf, until this morning.”

“But he couldn’t be more supportive at board meetings.”

“I agree. It wasn’t until this morning that I found out where his true loyalties lie.”

“I’m lost,” said Ross.

“Do you remember at the end of the meeting you asked to speak to me, but I had to slip away?”

“Yes, but what’s that got to do with Fisher?”

“I followed him, and discovered he’d left to make a phone call.”