Hurst caught Stanton at the top of the stairwell before he boarded the chopper in the morning mist, the smell of the sea air bit into their nasal passages as they crested the stairs into the soft breeze. Brannigan manhandled Kelly towards the waiting helicopter some hundred metres away and Hurst had a couple of private questions, he touched Stanton’s shoulder and he turned towards him. “What do you want me to do with Rose?”
Stanton grinned. “I thought you’d already worked that out.”
Hurst looked away then back again. “Seriously John what an earth are we going to do with her, every man that catches sight of her looses his faculties turning into an idiot.”
Stanton lifted one finger up in front of Hurst. “Ah, and there we have a strength, she’ll come in very handy if you’ll pardon the expression.”
“Bella tells me she cost’s two thousand pounds for half an hour and works three times a day.”
“I don’t know Bruce why don’t you ask her, Bella’s having problems coming to grips with a few things, one of theme’s Rose. She’s just an innocent party because she likes to party.”
“I’m a married man.”
“Don’t worry her I think she’d call it double Dutch. Have you ever bonked Bella?”
Hurst opened his eyes wide. “John please you have to be joking.”
Stanton shrugged his shoulders and began to walk to the chopper calling back to him. “What are you worried about then, that’s the biggest test any man could pass.” Hurst returned underground shaking his head and muttering in the dark.
Stanton caused a major stir setting a chopper down on Horse Guard Parade for thirty seconds as he and Brannigan alighted. They casually strolled down Horse Guard Road past St James Park enjoying the morning air. They passed Downing Street, the foreign office, Churchill war rooms and left onto Great George Street. Men in bowlers with attaché cases and umbrellas ogled in surprise some turning for a second look to make sure they weren’t seeing things.
They crossed the Whitehall intersection to Westminster Palace and into the ancient corridors of power, Brannigan had never seen the place and found the initial aroma of Brandy, ancient oak and pipe smoke intoxicating. Hollis informed Stanton was on his way with Brannigan in tow, he thought deeply waiting at his desk for a difficult confrontation. Hollis had been unable to find any clear lead as to the tangled web surrounding Polaris. He was deeply disappointed on this very morning receiving orders to relocate to an office in Downing Street after flatly refusing to take the reins at Vauxhall Cross complex.
The bookcase opened and Stanton walked in Brannigan behind him, he pulled up another chair for Brannigan sitting him down in front of Hollis before throwing a folder on Hollis’s desk then taking a seat himself. There was silence as Hollis studied the contents with absolute focus, he noticed the lack of military discipline displayed by Stanton and casual attire. He sat like a stone statue his gaze fixed on Hollis. Some minutes passed, Hollis placed the folder open in front of him, sniffed, clasped his fingers together holding the palm of his hands against his crisp white shirt and black tie with his elbows on the ancient red silk cover of the chair arms. He pushed himself back into the rear of his seat then sat up straight, he sighed heavily. “You tell me John, I’ve failed you.”
“Why Bella?”
“John I have no answers.”
“Brannigan here, hiding from everybody. MI5 watching his family.”
Hollis looked at Brannigan. “I’m sincerely sorry, I don’t wish to know how Stanton found you or why he did but in doing so he may have saved my life as well. I think you both understand we have a problem bigger than I can pursue alone. What do we do John?”
“Brannigan stay’s here sir, he must be given a fee hand at Vauxhall Cross and the foreign office.”
“That’s impossible.”
“Then I’ll do it myself.”
Hollis swallowed. “Dear god, I can go you half way for a limited time. Do you intend to pursue the Middle Eastern lead, if you have one?”
“Yes sir.”
“I fear for my life John.” Hollis stood up and walked backward and forward behind his chair, the carpet worn by years of thought reflected the anguish the room had held as centuries past. “Someone is in a lot of trouble and the less evidence that can be found the better.”
“That’s a silly move, if they show themselves we won’t have to find them,” said Stanton.
“Exactly,” added Brannigan. “I have suspicions but need confirmation, a silly move would suffice.”
Hollis sat back down clasping his finger together and resting his elbows on the desk, he twiddled his fingers. “Your dramatic entrance has raised eyebrows at the top, I’m sure you had your reasons, should you seek my presence again perhaps a less spectacular technique will be as effective.”
“I did it on purpose, the fact that we can do such a thing then casually walk up the street is a distinct demonstration of defiance. Further resistance restricting our ability to operate within our own creed will have drastic ramifications. Bella was the last straw, if not for Hurst she would be stuck in Moscow and I killed attempting to retrieve her.”
Hollis nodded. “I heard only recently in a foreign office meeting from those at the top it had been expected you would have been dead years ago. Things have progressed to a point something must give. Your stunt this morning is bold move, a helicopter in the heart of the queens own guard, you have no fear John Stanton. I see it as a move to protect, others may not see it my way.”
“Pay attention to those whom jump up and down most, look deep into their motives. I agree with Brannigan, if they show themselves we don’t have to find them.” Stanton stood up and moved to the bookcase. “I have arranged to leave without trace, studying the plans to Westminster whilst designing the security system turned up some most interesting facts. You could be right sir, the onslaught of satellite’s and computer’s may be a lot of peoples downfall, one of them could be ours. Stick with mouth to mouth and stealth for health.” Stanton shook Brannigan’s hand and opened the bookcase. Hollis spoke to him as he was about to close the panel.
“John! For god sake be careful man.”
Stanton looked at him and nodded. “Yes sir.” The bookcase closed, Stanton vanished, and of all the operatives scattered around Westminster Palace not one could be found who had witnessed any trace of him.