Page 64 of Never

‘Don’t say I told you.’ Karim winked at Tamara and walked away.

She looked around for Dexter or any of the senior CIA people she could report this to, but they had left.

Tab came up. ‘Thank you for a lovely party,’ he said loudly, then in a quieter voice: ‘Do you remember what you said to me an hour ago?’

‘What?’

‘You said: “I adore you, but fuck off now.”’

She was embarrassed. ‘I’m really sorry. I was tense about the party.’ And about you.

‘Don’t apologize. Can we have dinner?’

‘I’d love to, but we can’t leave together.’

‘Where shall I meet you?’

‘Could you pick me up at the Bar Bisous? I’ve been invited there by Drew and Annette.’

‘Of course.’

‘Don’t come in. Phone me from outside and I’ll leave right away.’

‘Good plan. That way we’re less likely to be seen.’

‘Right.’ She smiled and left.

Tamara needed to pass on the news she had learned from Karim. She could go in search of Dexter, but Nick appeared so downhearted that she felt she should tell him right away.

When she approached him he said: ‘Thank you for your help this afternoon. The party was a huge success.’ He was sincere, but Tamara could tell he had a weight on his mind.

‘I’m glad,’ she said briskly, and went on: ‘I’ve just been told something you may want to hear.’

‘Do tell.’

‘I’ve been wondering what made the General change his mind about our UN resolution.’

‘So have I.’ Nick passed his hand through his hair, ruffling it untidily.

‘The Chinese have been dangling the possibility of a multi-billion-dollar canal from the River Congo to Lake Chad.’

‘I know,’ said Nick. ‘Oh, I get it – they’ll pull out if Chad votes for the resolution.’

‘That’s what I heard.’

‘It sounds right to me. Well, I’m glad we know, at least. I’m not sure if we can do anything about it. They’ve got us up against the wall.’ He drifted away.

The room was emptying and the waiters were clearing up. Tamara left Nick to brood. She felt she had done well to provide intelligence on the General’s U-turn so quickly; the problem of what to do about it belonged to Nick and President Green, not her.

She left the ballroom and crossed the compound. It was evening: the sun had gone down and the air was cooling. In her apartment the phone rang while she was in the shower. Dexter left a message asking her to call back. He was probably going to congratulate her. That could wait until morning: she was impatient to see Tab. She did not return the call.

She put on fresh underwear and dressed again in a purple shirt and black jeans. She put on a short leather jacket for warmth. Then she called for a car.

There were a handful of people waiting for cars: Drew and Annette, Dexter and Daisy, Dexter’s deputy Michael Olson, and two juniors from the CIA station, Dean and Leila. Drew and Annette suggested sharing a car with Tamara, and she agreed readily.

Dexter was a bit red in the face from champagne. ‘I called you,’ he said accusingly.

‘I was just about to call you back,’ she lied. It did not sound as if he was planning to congratulate her.