He looked around at his new colleagues, gauging how honest he should be. The room had fallen awkwardly silent. I was in a bad way, to be honest. Rudderless. Broke. You know what hacks are like. There were also a few personal issues that needed resolving. He paused again, deciding not to mention his brother. The bloke from I/OPS found me in downtown Nairobi one night, worse for wear. Told me to stop being in denial and apply. Id always wanted to make my own way in life, not rely on my parents, my father, but I guess the family calling eventually proved too strong.
Leila came back into the safe-house bedroom, a towel wrapped around her drying hair like a turban. Remember that first day at the Fort, when we all had to stand up and speak? Marchant asked, putting on a cotton dressing gown.
Yes, why?
We never did find out who was lying.
After everyone had spoken, their instructor had announced that the life story of one person in the room was entirely false. They had each been told to write down who they thought it was, and why.
I dont think it was any of us, Leila said. The only one lying that day was the arsy instructor.
It wasnt you, then? Marchant asked.
Me? Is that who you wrote down?
All that Baháí back-story. Im amazed they let you in.
It happens to be true, you cheeky sod, she said, kissing his forehead as he lay there on the bed, watching her pull on some knickers. My mothers an amazing woman. The only reason I made it to Cambridge. I actually found the vetting process very therapeutic, answering all those questions about her, learning more about the Baháí faith, her allegiance to Britain.
Were the vetters worried, then?
Not by the time theyd finished. Shed lived in Britain for twenty-five years.
You never talk about her any more.
Leila fell quiet. He remembered her tears again and reached up to her waist, gently pulling her down to sit beside him on the bed.
What is it? he asked quietly.
Nothing, she said, wiping beneath an eye with the back of her hand.
The marathon?
No. Its OK. She rested her head on his shoulder, trying not to lose control, taking comfort in his warmth.
The only time Marchant had ever seen Leila cry was when she had come off the phone to her mother in their early days of training at the Fort. She hadnt wanted to talk about it. When he tried to raise the matter later, she had resisted.
Is it your mother? he asked. Have you spoken to her recently?
Leila remained in his arms. She had once told him that her mother often talked of returning to Iran one day. She wanted to be a widow amongst her own family, her people, and to care for her own, ageing mother. But Leila had told her that it was too risky for a Baháí to return to Iran while her religion was being systematically persecuted.
Instead, she had been admitted into a nursing home in Hertfordshire, after showing early signs of Alzheimers. Leila said that she was bitterly unhappy there, and was soon complaining of being badly treated by the staff, but it was impossible to prove anything or to work out how much was a result of her confused state of mind. Marchant had offered to accompany Leila on a visit, but she didnt want him to form his only impression of her mother when she was not herself.
You did well yesterday, I hope Fielding told you that, Leila said, more together now, walking over to the dressing table. You thwarted a twisted plan.
I couldnt have done it without your help, Marchant said, then paused. Pradeep had a son. He showed me a photo.
The events of the marathon were finally catching up with him, too. Leila sensed the change in his voice. She came back over to the bed and stroked his neck. They were going to kill the boy if he didnt go through with it, Marchant continued. Do you think they did?
He died trying to carry out his mission, and the London Marathon was cancelled for the first time in its history. Probably not.
Leila had returned to her usual, unsentimental self. Marchant felt relief. Her professional manner put a distance between them, a reminder not to let her break his heart. He had been unsettled by her earlier display of emotion. It had made him want to talk more about the race, the incessant beeping of Pradeeps GPS, how such an innocent sound could have announced both their deaths, the exhilarating feeling of being on an operation again, the surprising heaviness of Pradeeps dead body in his arms. But her coolness now made him feel more detached from the events of yesterday. He knew it was the only way they had survived in their jobs.
Fielding also talked about my father, Marchant said, raising and lowering his aching limbs. My legs are killing me.
Anything new? Leila stood up and went back to the dressing table, where she started to dry her hair.
The Americans are leaning on Bancroft. Seems they might have something on him after all.
The Americans? she said, turning to face him. Whats it got to do with them?
Marchant told her what Fielding had said, the pressure MI5 was putting on Lord Bancroft to identify his father as the mole, the Americans belief that he had met Salim Dhar before last years embassy bombings in Delhi and Islamabad.
I remember the Leica, Marchant continued. It was like a museum piece, beautifully made. He showed it to me once, at Christmas, just after Id been accepted by the Service. He paused. Im not helping your case, you know that. I think you should keep your distance for a while.
She glanced at him in the mirror, her eyes flicking down his body. Im not going to stop screwing you because of MI5.
I appreciate the loyalty, but its not going to do you any favours, thats all Im saying. He got up from the bed and stood behind Leila, cupping her bare breasts in his hands as they looked at their reflection. His chin rested on her shoulder. If they can suspect my dad, they can suspect me, too.
I thought the Vicar wanted you back, Leila said, turning her face sideways to kiss him. Particularly after yesterday.
He does, but it might not be up to him if Bancroft finds against my father.
Your dad never really took to me, did he? Leila said, unpeeling herself from Marchants arms to apply some mascara.
Thats not true.
That time when we went to your home for lunch in the country, he was very ill at ease with me. Almost rude.
He was wary of all my girlfriends, suspicious of women generally. Two boys, you see, no daughters. And a distant wife.
Cant say it runs in the family.
What do you mean?
The Wariness of Women gene. Im not sure he passed it on. She smiled at him and he knew she was right, standing there in the evening light. He had never felt less wary of anyone in his life.
8
It was a long-held custom that the first half of the Joint Intelligence Committees weekly meeting in the Cabinet Room at Downing Street was attended by senior officers from the American, Australian and Canadian intelligence services. The second half was only for the British. Marcus Fielding could barely wait for the foreign contingent to be shown the door, but for the next few minutes he would have to listen to James Spiro, the CIAs London chief, who had announced, with his usual hard-man hyperbole, that he had some weapons-grade HUMINT to bring to the party. Fielding had already got the gist of it earlier that morning, thanks to one of several new listening devices installed at the recently opened American Embassy in Vauxhall (near Legoland), but he sat there, ramrod-straight, as if he was hearing it all for the first time.
8
It was a long-held custom that the first half of the Joint Intelligence Committees weekly meeting in the Cabinet Room at Downing Street was attended by senior officers from the American, Australian and Canadian intelligence services. The second half was only for the British. Marcus Fielding could barely wait for the foreign contingent to be shown the door, but for the next few minutes he would have to listen to James Spiro, the CIAs London chief, who had announced, with his usual hard-man hyperbole, that he had some weapons-grade HUMINT to bring to the party. Fielding had already got the gist of it earlier that morning, thanks to one of several new listening devices installed at the recently opened American Embassy in Vauxhall (near Legoland), but he sat there, ramrod-straight, as if he was hearing it all for the first time.
We are now certain that Stephen Marchant travelled to Kerala and met up with Salim Dhar in jail, Spiro began, as ever liking the sound of his own voice. I appreciate Dhars role in last years UK bombings is far from clear, but there is absolutely no doubt that he tried to bomb the hell out of our embassies in New Delhi and Islamabad. Ask the families of the fifteen dead US Marines.
So far, nothing new, Fielding thought, looking around the coffin-shaped oak table. The usual mix of Whitehall suspects were in attendance, including the heads of MI5 and Cheltenham, as well as mandarins from various departments, all presided over by the chairman of the JIC, Sir David Chadwick, who was sitting at the far end, in front of the double windows which had buckled when the IRA lobbed a mortar bomb into the Downing Street rosebeds. Everyone had flung themselves on the floor that day, the Cabinet Secretary lying next to the Prime Minister.
If it happened again this morning, Fielding idly thought, Harriet Armstrong, Director General of MI5, would do her best to prostrate herself next to Spiro. She glanced tersely at Fielding, as if reading his mind. They had never liked each other, their relationship chilling even further when she had enlisted Spiros support to remove Stephen Marchant.
What we do now know, however, thanks to Harriet here, is that Dhar was behind Sundays foiled bombing of the London Marathon, an attack that I dont need to remind you was targeted at our Ambassador to London.
Fielding looked up. This had not been in the transcript he had read in the car coming over from Vauxhall. He glanced across at Armstrong, who was studiously avoiding his eye. It was a stitch-up. Until now, any connection between Dhar and the London Marathon had been purely circumstantial, based on the nature of the target and Dhars historical predilection for attacking Americans. If his involvement could now be proved, as Spiro claimed, it would cast Stephen Marchant and his son in a new and far more compromising light.
Ill leave the domestic implications of this to the second half of your meeting, but clearly Dhar has just become a priority one target, and Id be grateful if, on this occasion, the Service leaves him to us.
Marcus? asked Chadwick, sounding as if Spiro had raised a mere technicality, rather than made it considerably more likely that the former Chief of MI6 had betrayed Queen and country. His clandestine meeting with Dhar had taken place two weeks before the attack on the American Embassy in Delhi.
Dhar is of great interest to the UK, too, Fielding said, buying time. Given hisapparentrole in the attempted London Marathon attack, I would expect a joint operation at the very least.
Im sorry, Marcus, but this one just got personal, Spiro said. Dhars problem is clearly with us: the embassy attacks last year, now our Ambassador to London.
An attack which was foiled by one of our agents, Fielding replied.
With a little help from Colorado Springs, I gather, Spiro continued, turning to Chadwick. Which brings me to my next point. Can we have a little chat with your suspended superhero?
Daniel Marchant? That shouldnt be a problem, Chadwick said. Harriet?
Marcus? Armstrong deflected the question.
Is he not with you? Chadwick asked.
Right now, were taking care of him, Fielding interrupted. Given hes still on our payroll.
Well, Marcus, Ill repeat my question to you, said Spiro. Can we have a talk with Marchant Junior? Preferably when hes not been on the sauce.
If were working together on Dhar, Im sure we can cooperate on Daniel Marchant, Fielding replied coolly.
Spiro turned towards Armstrong for support.
Wed clearly like to talk to Marchant again, too, in the light of Dhars role in the marathon, Armstrong obliged. Perhaps we could take care of him?
Our own debrief is still ongoing, Fielding said.
Shouldnt that read detox? Spiro said, smiling around the table. Only Armstrong smiled back.
We will, of course, circulate our findings once were finished with him, Fielding said. He had always known that there was little he could do about Stephen Marchant, whose reputation was ultimately in other peoples hands, but he had hoped he could do something for his son. MI6 had fished Daniel Marchant out of the international pool of inebriated hacks, and turned him into one of the Services best officers. Fielding wasnt going to let him go lightly, if only for his fathers sake. Marchants presence at the marathon, however, was beginning to look too much of a coincidence. He doubted whether Armstrong had any hard evidenceit was too soonbut the link with Dhar had been made, and would be duly recorded in the JICs minutes. In the light of his fathers meeting with Dhar, Daniel Marchants role looked less heroic by the minute.
After further curt exchanges and an offer from Chadwick to square Fielding and Spiros differences, the foreign contingent left the room, leaving the British to assess Spiros weapons-grade HUMINT.
Well gentlemen, Harriet, do we believe him? Chadwick began, looking around the room, still sounding unruffled.
Theres no reason for them to lie about Stephen Marchant, Armstrong said.
Unless they want to go after Dhar themselves, Fielding replied. Until we see the evidence, we have no way of knowing whether Stephen Marchant did or did not meet Dhar.
Lets be quite clear about this, Chadwick said. If they do hand over the evidence, hard proof that Marchant met Salim Dhar, we would have to pass it on to Bancroft. His report would then become an investigation into whether the former head of MI6 should be posthumously investigated for treason.
The PM wouldnt buy it, said Bruce Lockhart, the Prime Ministers foreign adviser. Fielding got on with Lockhart, liked his bullish Fife manner. I thought Bancroft was given this job to quieten things down, not stir them up.
The Americans arent trying to make trouble, Armstrong said. Quite reasonably, they want to stop Dhar attacking their assets and to establish why the Marchant family seem to be helping him.
Helping him? Fielding interjected. Lets not get carried away here. Bancroft has so far found nothing to substantiate any suspicion that my predecessor was anything other than complacent. For the record, I happen to think the Americans are right: Stephen Marchant probably did meet up with Dhar. Im just not sure why. Until we find out, it remains idle conjecture, and Bancroft shouldnt touch it.
So we leave Dhar to the Americans? asked Armstrong.