We thanked him again and set off to tab back over the bridge to the hotel.

‘I give you lift,’ said Sasha, pointing to his car.

‘Thanks,’ I told him, ‘but I’d rather walk.’

‘Then I say goodbye.’

‘We’ll see you on Sunday morning. And thanks for all you’ve done for us.’

‘It is nothing.’

With smiles all round, he got into his car and drove off.

As soon as we were clear of the Embassy gates I said to Whinger, ‘Anna. Former KGB, for sure. She must have been spying in London. Most of the Russians in England were on the KGB payroll. Certainly most of the diplomats were spies.’

Whinger didn’t argue. ‘Nice try, Geordie,’ he said.

‘What d’you mean?’

‘Your eyes were all over her like a rash.’

‘Piss off, mate,’ I told him. But secretly I was annoyed with myself for having let my interest show.

Having scored a point, Whinger was relentless. ‘On yer bike,’ he said with a sneer.

‘Come again?’

‘She’s a dyke.’

‘Could be,’ I agreed. ‘But I don’t care what she is. I’m keeping this on a professional basis.’

Chapter Five

FIVE

Two days later we were on the training range at LATA, the Langwern Army Training Area just inside Wales, when my bleeper went off.

Beep, beep, beep. I immediately recognised the number that came up in the little window. It was Bill, the adjutant.

Mal might as well carry on,’ I told Whinger. ‘I’ll be back in a minute.’

As I walked away to the range hut, short bursts rattled out behind me, so I closed the door and dialled camp.

‘Hi, Geordie,’ Bill said. ‘Where are you at?’

‘Down at LATA.’

‘OK. The boss wants an immediate meeting. How soon can you be back up here?’

‘Half an hour. Just me, is it?’

‘No – the whole team.’

‘Bill – is something wrong?’

‘No, no,’ he went. ‘Everything’s fine.’

‘Has the job been pulled?’

‘Not at all. It’s definitely on. We’ll talk when you get here.’

‘Where’s the meeting, then?’

‘In your briefing room.’

‘OK. I’ll see you in half an hour.’

The lads grumbled a bit at being dragged off the range, especially Pete Pascoe, whose feelings were always near the surface. I kept thinking there was something strange about the way Bill had said, ‘It’s definitely on.’ I got the impression that the job was on, but that it had changed.