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Gallagher called the office. “Anything of interest to tell me, Clive? You can speak freely, I’m using a contact’s phone and he’s very meticulous about its cleanliness.”
“Ok, that’s good. The Old Man’s decided we had to disclose to the DG, today. Agent and asset deaths weren’t in the plan and we had to come clean. He reckons they’ll have to tell the DG at Century House, as well. The idea he’s pitching is they leave us to continue and if we pull this off they get all the credit. The thing is though, if you don’t succeed,” he paused, “well, then we’re all looking for new jobs at the very least. With regards to your admirer, he’s a bloke called Rupert Wilkinson. He got himself a last-minute mission before taking up a post as section or department head. He was sent to secure our defector. They still don’t know who that’s going to be but they are aware their informant is dead and that they’ve lost an agent. No surprise, you’re getting the blame. They’ve sent out another who’s using the name Molly Foster. The good news is she’s our asset in Century House. You’ve to meet her tomorrow at Berlin Zoo, the lion house, eleven am. She’ll be wearing a red coat. Tell her what you feel you need to.”
“What should I wear?”
“Anything you like, I’m not your personal dresser. Just start the conversation with, “Lions are fine but I prefer Giraffes.”
“Who thinks these things up, Clive?”
“Well, I did. I had to think on my feet! Do you have a problem?”
“No, Clive. It’s fine. I was just hoping to use something like ‘the geese are flying south for the winter’, that’s all. What’s her response going to be?”
“I prefer the penguins.”
“Have you heard from Clare?”
“Yes, she’s fine. Sandy too. They’re just waiting for our friends from the yard across the street to carry out some final ‘repairs’ and then they should be back in a couple of days.”
“Tell her, I err, well tell her I ...”
Clive chuckled.”I will. Take care out there."
Gally thanked Alois Sparfeld and nodded farewell to Franz who simply stared back at him. The journey to the hotel was uneventful and the menu there looked enticing. He never noticed the couple in the bar across the street watching the hotel.