Mac stopped the Land Rover in front of the castle and he and Jonathan jumped out and went inside. As they entered the Great Hall, they saw Karen sitting at the dining table where she had spread out papers, photographs and letters.
“Hello boys!” said Karen, looking up from her work. “Did you have a good trip?”
“Yes, thanks,” said Jonathan. “Have you had any lunch yet?”
“Not yet,” said Karen.
“There’s some stuff in the kitchen to make lunch,” said Mac.
“Why don’t you two get changed while I make some sandwiches?” said Karen. “I’ll also clear up this mess on the table.”
“See you in a few minutes then,” said Jonathan as he and Mac left the Great Hall.
Jonathan returned to the Great Hall twenty minutes later to find that Karen had cleared all the papers off the table and had replaced them with three place settings and two large plates of sandwiches. Karen was standing at one of the tall windows looking out over the gardens.
“How was your walk?” said Karen.
“We walked along the edge of the loch,” said Jonathan as he moved over to stand beside Karen. Jonathan stood silently for a minute wondering how much to tell Karen about his conversation with Mac.
“It was an interesting conversation,” said Jonathan, eventually.
“Do you think you might be able to work together?”
“I’m thinking about it.”
Mac entered the room. “Thank you for making lunch, Karen,” he said. He picked up a plate, loaded it with a selection of sandwiches and brought it over to where Karen and Jonathan were standing.
“It’s a beautiful view, isn’t it?” said Mac, nodding towards the window. He offered the plate of sandwiches to Karen and then to Jonathan and they each took one. “Does your place in the Pennines have a view, Jonathan?”
“Yes, on a clear day I can see as far as Morecambe Bay.”
“I find the hills very inspirational,” said Mac. “One of these days I’ll have to get inspired to write a novel based on my life.”
“There’s enough excitement for a couple of novels,” said Karen as she picked another sandwich from the plate.
“I’d like to come down and see your place sometime, Jonathan,” said Mac.
“You’d be very welcome, Mac.”
Mac placed the plate of sandwiches on the window seat in front of Karen and Jonathan. “You guys finish these off. I have some paperwork to attend to this afternoon. I need to go over those printers proofs that you brought me, Karen. Can you two entertain yourselves for an hour or two? Then we could all get together for dinner this evening. You will stay another night, won’t you?”
“Is that all right with you, Karen?” said Jonathan.
“Sure,” said Karen. “I don’t need to be back in the office until after New Year.”
“I’ll see you at about six o’clock for cocktails. I’ve got my housekeeper coming in this evening to cook for us.”
Mac walked out of the Great Hall.
Jonathan and Karen sat down together in the window seat, the plate of sandwiches between them.
“So, you were thinking about it?” said Karen. “Can you tell me more?”
“Well, I’d prefer Mac to tell you if he chooses to, but he wants me to help him fight corruption and bribery and the dark side of the government.”
“Isn’t that dangerous?”
“I don’t think he wants me to be involved in the front line operations. He wants me to use my mental tricks to find information for him.”
“What do you think?”
“It sounds interesting. At least it would give me some purpose in life. You never know where it might lead, and I’m sure if it didn’t work out Mac and I could just part company.”
“Jonathan, I don’t want to think I have led you into something bad!”
“Karen, I’m a big boy! I need some excitement in my life. I’m going to give it a try.”
“Well only if I can be involved too. You need someone looking out for you!”
Jonathan laughed. “All right then!”
“Did you show him any more tricks while you were out?”
“No. I did think about bringing a nuclear submarine into the loch while we were down there, but I think we ought to take things steadily with him. We don’t want to show all our cards to him right away, just as I’m sure he is not showing us all his cards.”
“Take it step by step? Good idea,” said Karen. She stretched her arms above her head and yawned. “I’ve been working in here all morning. I’d like to go for a quick stroll around the castle gardens before it gets dark.”
“I’ll walk with you if you like,” said Jonathan.
“You’ve already had some exercise today. Why don’t you take a rest this afternoon? I won’t go far from the house. I’ll meet you down here just before six, all right?”
“Works for me if you’re sure,” said Jonathan. “I’ll take an afternoon nap.”