Chapter 42
He wandered along the corridor and stepped across the workman who was removing the wooden sign from the door of the Old Man's office.
"Hello, Tich. What you doing?"
"Hello, mate. New signage. Got to use the budget up or they'll reduce it next year."
Gally took in the old original gold painted door sign, the one revealed by the removal. In old fashioned script, it read, 'Room Three'.
Tich put the new brass plate on the door and began screwing it in place. It declared, 'R.W. Deakin. Director of Home Office Statistics'.
"I don't suppose there's money in the budget for me to have my own office?"
Tich glanced up. "Yeah, I've got a door plate here for it." He held up a sign that said, 'Toilets'.
He entered the main office. The Old Man was present and there was a young woman with him.
"Good morning, Gallagher. So nice of you to join us but we start at nine, not ten past." He turned to the woman. "I believe you know Miss Johnson?"
She smiled awkwardly and Gally smiled back. "Yes, we have met once or twice."
The Old Man continued. "I'm sorry Gallagher but I needed to know more about you. What sort of a person you are, whether you would be a liability, that sort of thing."
"It's nice to be trusted, Sir. Is there anything else you might want to tell me? Any other things you've set me up for?"
The Director glanced across the room. "Ah, you mean Clive? Yes, well, I wanted to know how loyal you were and whether you would allow your prejudices to get in the way. I'm glad to say you passed all the tests with flying colours." He accepted a cup of tea from Clive who, arm still in a sling and a plaster over his eye, gave Gally an apologetic smile.
"I've known all about Clive since he joined us. He was very upfront about it. He knew the importance of total honesty in a place such as this. The good news is, from what I've been told, next year will see an end to the nonsense that has blighted so many lives."
Gally had to ask, "Who was the young copper?"
The Old Man couldn't stifle a wide smile. "Your replacement at SB. Hansen loaned him to us. He came with his own uniform which was a bonus." He turned to Sandy. "Has that chap finished doing my sign?" Sandy nodded.
"Right, well, I'll be in my office if anyone needs me." He stopped at the door and turned. "Oh, I forgot to say. If you want an open-ended secondment here it's yours. Unfortunately, you've begun to grow on me, Gallagher. I hope I don't regret it."
Gally and Clare eyed each other then she beckoned him to one side where she whispered. "I suppose you can't forgive me? In my defence, I can honestly say that what began as just an assignment became something else. I like you, Gally, very much. You probably feel betrayed though."
He smiled at her and whispered back. "Oddly enough, I don't and I do forgive you, not that there's anything to forgive really. I had a feeling things were moving too easily so when I called the Ministry of Agriculture and no one had heard of you, I knew it wasn't what it seemed. Then, of course, you told me your mum was picking you up only she didn't and when I realised the room connected to the Old Man's office was the same as the one with the locked door on the corridor and the missing nameplate well, even I managed to put things together. Plus, I think you wanted to give me a clue when you told me about your dad. Working in Yugoslavia during the war? It had to be something like SOE at least and then Malaya? I didn't miss it."
"So, you just played along to see where it was leading to?"
"Yes, but not in the way you might mean. I thought it was going somewhere good. You see, I like you too, Clare. You're a gutsy girl with a good sense of humour. Most of the women I've been involved with don't have a sense of humour."
"And let's not forget my brilliant mind," she grinned.
"Yes, there is that as well."
They stood there, slightly awkwardly. He broke the moment. "Wasn't there a film you wanted to see?" She nodded coyly. "Would you mind awfully if I came with you to see it?" She shook her head.
Sandy breezed over, a gauze dressing taped to his chin covering the stitches and sunglasses hiding his blackened eyes. "Sorry to break this up but Reg has something important that only you can do."
Gally knocked on the door then opened it.
"What're you doing knocking?" Reg commented.
Gally grinned. "Who knows what you do in here when no one's about? You've got a job for me, I'm told."
"Yes, the tea kitty. Pay up, there's a good lad.”