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“You’re late,” she said, as she stood looking into the lions’ pen.
She was an attractive girl, auburn hair cut in a chin-length bob, brown eyes. Although Gally was interested he wasn’t going to pursue it.
He explained everything apart from his thoughts on where Radler would eventually surface, that was his ‘ace’ and his alone.
She listened attentively then said, “I had a little cry when I was told about Greta. She was a lovely lady, my first asset and definitely my favourite.” She flashed a weak smile then continued, “So, Wilkinson’s gone rogue. No one had a clue. Chamberlain sent me here to help Rupert find you so you could be removed from play. If I wasn’t working for the Old Man I might just have done it.” She gave him a little smile, Gally thought with a hint of flirtation, and then she checked her watch. “By now, Chamberlain will know the truth.”
She delved in her handbag producing a little mirror and some lipstick then pretended to apply it as she spoke. “A colleague will be arriving soon, Felix Barber, a good man. He and Rupert are not very keen on each other so he’ll probably be pleased with the turn of events and eager to resolve it by whatever means.” She hesitated. “Look, I know you’ll have some thoughts on where Radler’s going to turn up ...”
He tried to interrupt but she halted him. “I also know you’re never going to tell me unless you have no other choices. How about you just tell me where you’re pretty certain he won’t surface so I can use that to misdirect the opposition. I’m quite sure Wilkinson will have told the East Germans they have a potential Stasi defector and it won’t take them long to figure out which direction Radler’s heading in when he doesn’t turn up in Bucharest. We have to give them the impression we’re waiting for him somewhere else.”
He turned his back to the wall, gazing around as he spoke, “Do you think they’ll buy it?”
“The misdirections? It’s worth a try and at the moment Rupert won’t know Chamberlain’s aware of his allegiances so Hugh could feed him a false location or two.”
He gave in. “Ok, Szentgotthard in the southwest of Hungary is a good place. There’s a river running through it and the part of the border that runs along that is right next to the railway bridge. In theory, someone could enter the water there and swim upstream a short distance, two hundred yards, and for a strong swimmer it wouldn’t be a problem at all.”
“Is Radler a strong swimmer?”
“I haven’t a clue. Maybe they don’t know either.”
She offered, “There’s also the border crossing point itself. We could generate some odd activity to focus their attention.”
He smiled at her. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll leave you and your mate to sort out the details.”
She returned the smile. “Austria, hey!”
He tilted his head as he looked at her. “I never said that.”
She laughed. “I’ve looked at the maps too, you know. It’s the obvious choice, so now all I have to do is look again and head north.”
He countered with, “And the borders three times as long. Good luck with that one. Besides, I know when he’s coming.”
“You’re bluffing.”
“We’ll see. By the way, I seem to have been followed; the woman on the right over there, short green dress and the bloke on the bench in the blue checked shirt. I think I saw them earlier. She was outside my hotel and he might have been on the U-Bahn. Anyway, I’ll let you know later, when I’m certain.”
She gave him a mocking half-smile, “Him you’re not sure of but her ... I can believe it, she’s very attractive isn’t she?”
“Really? I hadn’t noticed,” he replied affecting a scornful expression. They exchanged hotel phone numbers and parted ways.
By the time he got back to his hotel, he’d confirmed his suspicions. The bloke followed him but it wasn’t until he did the double about turns that he confirmed he’d attracted another woman. Little thing, very petite, the momentary confusion on her face made him smile but also made him feel a little sorry for her.
He called ‘Molly’. “Hello, Miss Foster. I found another one. What did you have?”
“Mister Baker, so kind of you to call. The female and a heavy set bloke, all the way to the hotel. They’re still out there and the bloke’s just used the phone box outside.”
“I think we should get them all in the one place. I’m coming over, if you don’t mind.”
“I don’t but you may have to wait in the bar as I have some things to do. Felix has arrived. You’ll probably find him there as well.”
Trailing his newfound ‘friends’ Gally made his way across town. At reception, he enquired about Molly. The girl at the desk made a quick call to the room then directed him to the bar telling him his other friend was already in there.
Walking in, he found the place empty apart from a lone black male sitting on a stool, elbows on the counter, glass of beer in hand. The receptionist followed him in and stood behind the pumps. He ordered three beers and waited until the girl returned to her desk before he passed one of them to his companion.
“Your name wouldn’t happen to be Felix, would it?”
Short cut, well-trimmed hair and a physique suggesting a fitness regime that countered beer consumption, the man let a little smile dash over his lips and said, “It would and thank you very much for the beer, John.” He took a mouthful from the new glass. “You’re surprised, I know, I saw it in your face though you hid it well. Listen, I may stand out here but you should try clocking me in Africa. Here, people notice me but inevitably go ‘Nah!’ Cheers by the way.”
Gallagher raised his glass and took a mouthful. “You’re right, of course. I was expecting the standard toff. How did you get in under the radar?”
Felix chuckled. “Ahh, perceptions! Actually, the same way most of them do, boarding school, university that sort of thing but I had something a little bit extra; the ability to blend in.”
Gally nearly spat his beer out. Felix laughed. “I’m not only a linguist; I’m very good with accents. Somebody appreciated that. What about you? You don’t seem the university type?”
Gally raised a finger. “Perceptions again, I think.” He played with his glass. “No, you’re right. I was too thick for that sort of thing. I suppose you could say I’m on a punishment posting.”
Felix nodded as if he understood, but didn’t.
They’d almost finished their beers when the receptionist came in. Fräulein Foster would see them in her room.
On entering, Felix looked at her questioningly. She replied, “I’ve swept the room for bugs. We can talk freely.”
Gally checked out the decor. Unusually tasteful in plain colours, he concluded you got a better class of hotel on the SIS bigger budget.
After 30 minutes or so, he left with ‘girl from the Zoo’ and her petite friend in tow.