Page 54 of Fire Must Burn

Gwen turned pale.

‘Do you mean to say that was a possibility when we embarked on this?’ she asked softly.

‘I didn’t think so at the time,’ said Iris. ‘But I’ve been out of the loop for a few years. Things may have escalated since then.’

‘How can we know?’

‘Only one way to find out,’ said Iris. ‘Had you any plans for the evening?’

The Brigadier was reading a report as Carruthers drove him home. He looked up as the Bentley slowed to a halt some distance from the entrance to his house.

‘What is it?’ he asked.

‘We may have a problem, sir,’ said Carruthers. ‘How would you like me to handle it?’

The Brigadier looked through the windscreen to see Sparks standing at his gate, glaring at the Bentley as if she were trying to stop it telekinetically.

‘How do you think she knew your address?’ asked Carruthers.

‘She makes a point of knowing about things she shouldn’t,’ said the Brigadier wearily. ‘Let’s find out why she’s here.’

Carruthers pulled up in front of the house, then got out.

‘What do you want?’ he asked.

‘I want to talk to him,’ said Sparks. ‘Now.’

‘You going to make a fuss, Lollipop?’ he asked.

‘Only if you get in my way, Carruthers.’

‘Tell her to get in the car,’ said the Brigadier from inside the Bentley.

‘Not a chance,’ said Sparks. ‘I’m not putting myself in any situation where there are locks on the doors. You get out of that car and talk to me. Right here, right now.’

The Brigadier hesitated, then opened the door and stepped out.

‘Do we need to frisk you for weapons, Sparks?’ he asked.

‘I’m carrying the usual in my bag,’ she said. ‘They’ll be staying there. This will be a brief conversation. Sir.’

‘Very well,’ he said, approaching her as Carruthers stepped to one side. ‘What do you want?’

‘Did you do it?’ she asked. ‘Has the office sunk to this point?’

‘Do you really think we did?’

‘I don’t think anything. I am asking you.’

‘Then the answer is no, Sparks. We didn’t make an attempt on Danforth’s life. We needed to find out if he was working for the enemy. We still do. All Miss Lowle did was make thepreliminary contact. She was not expected to do anything more than that, and you should know that is not how an operative would work in that situation.’

‘No, but she’s new to this,’ said Sparks.

‘Further reason for her to take things one step at a time,’ said the Brigadier. ‘And you should consider this: if we wanted him dead, he would be dead. We certainly wouldn’t resort to such an inefficient mechanism as a petrol bomb. There is no guarantee of success, as you’ve already seen. Danforth lives on.’

‘For the moment.’

‘Yes.’