Debut for a Spy Read Online Free Page B

Baird, but let me assure you that nothing like this could happen to you. No one will know about you, not even on our side.”
    “ Colonel, I'd like to think about this before I give you an answer. May I let you know in a couple of days?”
    “ Of course. I'll give you a number to call.”
    He wrote one on a piece of paper, handing it to me.
    “No matter who answers or how they answer, you must say 'sorry, wrong number – I'll dial again,' but stay on the line. The next person who answers will ask you to state your name, and then you'll be connected to me. Have you got that?”
    I said I had, and stood to leave. Hammond stood, too, and offered his hand.
    “One more thing, Captain Baird. Nothing about this afternoon should be mentioned to anyone, not even to Major Paynter.” He paused. “Opportunities like this don't come that often, you know.”
    “ I'll call you, sir,” I said, turning to make my exit.
    I walked to the door, subconsciously swinging back to face Hammond, and came briefly to attention.
    He smiled, speaking softly.
    “ Old habits die hard, don't they, David?”
    *
    East side of Whitehall , London – a few minutes later
     
    She liked watching from here. Keeping her eye on the door was boring, but the horses standing guard with the mounted troopers in their livery were a helpful distraction. That was only on fine days, of course. With today's rain both horses and troopers wore rain capes and were stuck back in the sentry boxes.
    She caught sight of him as he started across the courtyard. Definitely not British. She'd seen him go in with the other one – the guards officer – but she'd never seen this one before. Just under six feet, she guessed. His hair was dark brown, short, with a bit of a wave in it. Nice face, but no telly star. When he smiled, though, his eyes crinkled and his face came alive. He had an easy walk, looked fit and solid, but very trim. Her libido, never far from the surface, gave her a twinge of desire.
    Get behind him, she thought. Should be easy. If he gets in a crowd, lift his wallet. They wanted to know about any strange blokes who came or went. Blimey, this was easy money.
    *
    West Side of Whitehall , London – the same time
     
    Walking toward Trafalgar Square I was scarcely aware of the drizzle. My mind was totally pre-occupied with the events of the afternoon and the dilemma I faced. Entering Charing Cross underground station, I went through the motions of finding the right platform and stood, in a daze, waiting for a Bakerloo train to St. John's Wood. The crowd grew around me as I heard the rumble of the train approaching through the tunnel. Because of my preoccupation I was totally unaware when the pickpocket removed my wallet.
    “ Stop! Thief!” jarred me back to the present.
    A clergyman pointed after a female running for an exit. A quick check of my missing wallet, and reflex took over as I sprinted after her. She was fast, legging it up the escalator, across the concourse, then the stairs to the street. I knew if she made it into the crowds I'd lose her, but I was closing the gap. With the instinct of street-survival she timed her dash across the Strand, knowing I'd be stopped by the approaching double-decker.
    But she didn't see the cyclist scooting along the line of parked cars, and the collision with the bike threw her onto the street and under the wheels of the bus. Her cry ended as life was crushed from her, the terrible images of sight and sound indelibly imprinted in my mind. Amid the screams and shouts of the onlookers the bus screeched to a halt.
    I stared… numb… unable to move or think.
    I'd caused another death.
    That made two.

 
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    Charing Cross , London , England – a few minutes later
     
    Whistles were blowing as London Transport personnel and 'Bobbies' arrived, converging on me because of the pointing fingers – after all, I had been chasing her. I was only vaguely aware when a man in a clerical collar handed me my wallet,