Charlie M by Brian Freemantle Read Free Book Online Page A

Charlie. He smiled, imagining Berenkov’s reaction to the wine. It was bloody awful.
    â€˜For a man who has been demoted, you’re remarkably unconcerned,’ said Janet, sitting opposite. She wasn’t wearing a bra, he realised.
    â€˜I told you, they’ve made a balls,’ he said. Rough talk would fit the image she wanted, he decided. He refilled his glass, ignoring her: it was unfair to expect her to drink it.
    â€˜How?’
    â€˜Completely misread the interview,’ he reported. ‘They have determined to get rid of me, certainly. But it won’t work this time.’
    â€˜Cuthbertson won’t apologise,’ predicted Janet.
    The fact that she was his god-daughter was incredibly useful, reflected Charlie: no one in the department knew the man like she did.
    â€˜He’ll have to.’
    She shook her head.
    â€˜I know Sir Henry. He’s a bastard.’
    â€˜So am I,’ responded Charlie. ‘Funny thing is, nobody has realised it. It’ll be the ruin of them.’
    She smiled at the boast. It was a normal reaction, she supposed. His pride must be badly bruised: he’d once been the most important operative in the department.
    â€˜I’ve cooked a meal, so we can eat here,’ she announced, wanting to move him away from the afternoon.
    And not run the risk of being seen by any of your friends, thought Charlie. She would be very embarrassed by him, he knew. He was very happy with the proposal: there was no outing they would mutually enjoy and whatever they tried would have cost money and he didn’t have any. And she would never think of paying.
    â€˜What happened after I left?’ asked Charlie, spreading the salmon mousse on the toast.
    The girl sighed. The preoccupation was to be expected, she thought, but it made him boring.
    â€˜They went potty,’ said Janet. ‘Wilberforce was sent to retrieve the report to the Minister, but it had already gone. So Sir Henry dictated a contradicting amendment, then scrapped it because it seemed ridiculous. When I left, he was making arrangements to dine the Minister at Lockets to explain everything.’
    â€˜And who got the blame?’ queried Charlie.
    â€˜Wilberforce,’ answered Janet. ‘Poor man. Uncle treats him almost like a court jester.’
    â€˜Masochist,’ identified Charlie. ‘Gets a sexual thrill out of being tongue-lashed.’
    She believed him, realised Charlie, seeing the interested look on her face. To correct the misunderstanding seemed too much bother.
    He cut into the steak au poivre, sipping the wine she had provided.
    â€˜This is good,’ he complimented.
    â€˜Margaux,’ explained Janet, patiently. ‘Daddy takes the production of the vineyard. This is ’62.’
    Charlie nodded, as if he’d recognised the vintage.
    â€˜Where did you learn to cook like this?’
    â€˜They thought it important at school.’
    â€˜What have Snare and Harrison been told to do?’ he probed, insistently. She obviously hadn’t understood the wording of the Official Secrets Act she had promised to obey seven months earlier.
    â€˜Interrogate Berenkov again.’
    â€˜Oh Christ,’ said Charlie, putting aside his knife and fork. ‘That’s a tape I’d love to hear.’
    She pushed away her plate, fingering the stem of her wine glass.
    â€˜I’m very fond of you, Charlie,’ she announced, suddenly.
    At least she didn’t make any pretence of love, he thought. He hoped she wasn’t moving to end the affair; he wasn’t ready for it to end yet. He gazed across the table, admiring her. Certainly not yet.
    He waited, apprehensively.
    â€˜What are you going to do? They’re determined to get you out,’ she said.
    Charlie stopped eating, appetite gone.
    â€˜I know,’ he said, completely serious. ‘And it frightens me to death. They won’t let me go, because they want me under