It had been a quiet journey in drizzling rain. Neither one of them had talked about anything else but the meeting, and about people they would meet there, and even that in only few words.

"Would I be allowed to carry a gun?" As if Anna couldn't care less, the way her gaze lazily followed the landscapes.

"Of course not. Delegates are not supposed to be armed." Anna merely shrugged at that. "I called Ralston in the evening and signed you up as an agent and my assistant. So I would appreciate if you didn't use the language I heard yesterday. Or the tone."

The Controller's own dry tone earned him a quick but calm glance. "Understood, Sir." No sign of the frenzy of the previous day.

"Are you still pouting at me?" There was edge enough in his voice to earn him another glance.

"No, Sir." Her tone was completely cool and calm. And for some reason, that made the Scot worried. Ach, but he would have time to talk things through afterwards. So he left the trainer to her quietness.


The security was quite impressive. They were for the first time stopped already at the drive-way, and the second time at the gate, where they were asked to step out of the car for a body-search and quick search in the car. At least there were agents holding umbrellas over them. Mr Cowley couldn't help smiling when the grinning MI6 agent frisking around the already somewhat curvy body of Anna, who held her jacket in her hand, received an icy cold You really wanna push your luck, don't you? when the agent held out his hand to probe her front. Woman's arctic eyes made the young man blush, and a sideglance to Controller's well-known face, with a raised eyebrow, made the guard pull his hand back.

There were more armed guards also in the park of the big stately mansion where the meeting was to take place. It was a three-story building, and the Controller told Anna it had been recently completely renovated and refurbished for luxury hotel use, although during the meeting there would be no other guests and the official opening of the hotel was to be in a few days. Anna merely grunted, and her eyes were sweeping the park and the house, as if scanning and memorizing every detail.


MI6-officer Patrick Ralston was watching the two when they arrived. He was intrigued by the sudden presence of the woman, who had been a target of many speculations also at the Century House. Some claimed the old fox had taken himself a young mistress, but the whole thing was confusing as the woman had been spending most time with the two agents, Bodie and Doyle, before her getting shot during the murder attempt of Cowley. Still, there was no evidence that she was, or had ever been having sex with any one of the three, especially as the two agents were still collecting skirts at their usual rate, even Bodie who had seemed to be most friendly with the woman. The old man had taken her to his house for over a week after the woman had left the hospital, but as she had reportedly been in bad condition, it wasn't likely anything had happened during that time.

But maybe the old bastard had brainwashed her, as she had started to work with that Macklin, and no woman in her right mind would have anything to do with that half mad piece of garbage. Or maybe she was a lesbian with a taste to violence. Or maybe it was true what the Home Office had at some point been whispering, that there could be a very simple reason explaining her blond hair and sharp tongue, and supposedly close relationship with the Controller. Hmph. Hard to tell. Also, it would be very interesting to know where she had learned her skills, as rumour told that she was hell of a combatant, yet she worked simply as a physical trainer and shooting instructor. It had proved extremely difficult to find out any relevant information on that woman. And that pissed Ralston off.

But right now she only looked like a cold hard-ass bitch, quite good-looking though with her hair collected into a thick double braid on the back of her head, clad in dark grey from her pullover to her light boots. And at the moment there was no inclination whatsoever that she had any other relationship with the old man than her job only. The old man handed her a thin briefcase, and both looked very cool while entering the house.


After a brief greeting Ralston guided them inside to the conference-room. The Soviets arrived a few minutes later, two in uniforms and one in civilian clothing, and they still had time before the planned coffee. The Controller noticed that Anna paid attention to the young captain. Good-looking tall man, looked very hardy. No wonder if he caught the eye of a woman. "Sir? As we seem to be ahead of time still, do you mind if I visit the ladies'? Need to work on my make-up."

Ach... Bodie wouldn't like this, Bodie wouldn't like this at all. "By all means." To Controller's eye there was nothing wrong with her light make-up, but women were women...

It took a few minutes before Anna returned, looking somehow more good-humoured. Her hair was now collected on a wavy pony-tail, and she had added a little lipstick. She had a slight smile on her lips still when she was on the treshold, but it was wiped away in a fragment of a second. Mr Cowley registered the glances that were cast after the instructor, and couldn't decide whether he should be amused or annoyed. Anna was pretty, bordering to beautiful, especially now as she had started to gain muscles and finally also a little curves again with returning weight, and she looked generally much healthier than before. It had taken some months after the shooting, before her organs had started to work as they should, and it had been already April before the Controller had finally dared to make any official contract of full-time service with her.

Those men who only saw that pretty surface, would be astounded if they knew what was to be found underneath. George Cowley readily admitted that for a man of his generation it hadn't been very easy to acknowledge that women were generally a lot more able and capable, than the men had been brought up to believe; although his natural ability to adapt had made that easier to accept for him, than for some men of younger generations. That, and witnessing with his own eyes. He wished that Anna would finally agree to start teaching combat, that would also prove some of his male agents that they shouldn't be taking their superiority for granted. But the only one at the HQ Anna had ever agreed to have a real match with was Macklin, and the only ones in the squad who had seen her fight outside the HQ were he and the lads. If she really was not able to fight any more, that would be a grave disappointment, but the Scot had a feeling that the greatest problem was somewhere deeper.

If only she would stop this silliness. She hadn't lost her good judgement like this ever before, and she rarely showed any major concern about the lads even if she knew they were being sent to a risky situation. But maybe she would see now that there was no need to worry, and the slight humiliation would make her realise how childish she had been. He wouldn't tell the lads about their row, ach, there was no need to cause any greater embarrassment. Everyone was prone to act a bit foolish sometime. And the Controller had to admit that he hadn't handled the situation too stylishly himself either. But, all is well that ends well, and in time things would be all right again.


Coffee, tea and pastries came, and the participants sat down to enjoy. Captain Georgi Nikolayevitsh Komarov had been a bit surprised when his superior, Major Smirnov quietly whispered he wanted the Captain to talk with the female agent. I noticed she watched you, Captain. We know nothing of her. Make aquaintance, and keep talking with her today. Well, he didn't mind. He had been forced to leave Sveta to Moscow, and that had ended their relationship. It would be nice to at least talk with a woman. Might be his only chance for quite a while, to talk with someone from outside the office. So he calmly sat down beside the American as the CI5 Controller was talking with the MI6 officer Ralston on the other side of the room.

"What grants me this unexpected pleasure, captain Komarov?" She was clearly amused! Intriguing woman.

"Pleasure, mrs Ashton? Isn't it usually the worst nightmare of an American, to be in a same place with a Soviet?"

She took a swallow of coffee. "I have been exposed to very bad influence for a very long time, Captain, sad but true. I can't even judge people anymore by their nationality. Isn't that awful?"

He shook his head sadly. "Absolutely terrible. My condolences." The lady smiled. Ah, this should prove fun. And both two majors in the room kept a sharp but discreet eye on their subordinates.

"Agent Ashton?" That sounded so strange it took a second before Anna realised it was meant for her.

"Yes, Sir?" She stood up and went to the Controller.

"A word with you." He took her a bit farther and spoke very quietly. "That young captain is fishing information."

Anna frowned, annoyed by the unnecessary warning. "Of course he is. He wouldn't have approached me otherwise, not without the consent of his superior. Even if I may be silly, I'm not an idiot. Was there anything else, Sir?" Her eyes were still cool and calm and the Controller swore in his mind.

"Just concentrate on the talks when they begin. And keep an eye on the people around the table. How they react, what they react to."

She nodded. "Yes Sir."

Talks started soon, and Anna was mildly surprised to learn that there were things the different agencies, even adversaries, tried to agree or negotiate on or informed each other about. It made sense, of course. It was good to have some rules, some agreements. And it was good to know your opponents. Especially if they were also ones you were supposed to work or co-operate with. Like that annoying Ralston. He was just as unpleasant as the Soviet KGB-man, Belkin. Major Smirnov was less aggressive and less political, so to speak, but maybe because he clearly was more of a military man and concentrating on the practical and the strategic. And that captain was all right, he didn't participate in discussions but Anna had learned he was new, had been to Britain only a couple of weeks so probably he was being trained. He also was an observer, his alert eyes had been the first thing Anna had paid attention to already when he entered the venue. That, and his clear physical... prowess. Anna had a hunch that even Macklin might meet his match in this young man.

Despite her best efforts and lurking worry, Anna started to get tired and bored, and to have a hard time trying to concentrate on all the talking around her. She did make notes through the first hours, not so much on the talks, but on the people around the round table in the smaller, completely modern conference-room, smartly located in the peace of the basement. There were 8 of them in all, as also Ralston had two more MI6-men with him. But as fatigue was proving overwhelming, Anna was happy to hear that there would be a lunch-break, and a chance to be on her feet for a while. She had already been using far too much time inside and on her butt the past couple of days, making the damned reports and summaries.


She was hungry already but only ate lightly, as she wanted to try and stay a little perkier, thinking grimly amused that it wouldn't probably give a too good impression if she fell asleep there in the conference-room. The hotel management should really pay more attention to the ventilation and air-conditioning as clearly they were not functioning properly.

Thank goodness she didn't need the snacks every two hours nowadays, it had been painful to stick to that schedule at first. Especially Macklin had been a real pain in the neck, watching like a hawk what and when and how she ate when he only had the opportunity, and lecturing about vitamins, carbohydrates and so on and so forth, until Anna had been up to her eyeballs about nutrition. Of course she had appreciated, and still did, Mac's care, but finally she had told him to shut up and keep his sermons to himself. Funny enough, that had made the man grin.

"Sir? Is it all right if I go out to the yard for a while? I'd like to get some fresh air and you're not supposed to continue for another half an hour I believe."

The Controller let his glass down. "Aye, go ahead. Looks like it's not raining at the moment." He had noticed how lightly Anna had eaten, and how quiet she had been when the others had tried to converse with her. Maybe she finally was starting to feel a little embarrassed about her futile suspicions. Anna politely excused herself and left the table, and only a couple of minutes later the Controller noticed the young captain push aside his plate and leave the table he too. Hm. An industrious young man.

There was a fresh scent in the air after the rain. Anna walked farther away from the building to have a better look at it as it was so large. Good grief, there must be dozens of chimneys too. She couldn't help wondering how tedious it must have been to try and keep a colossus like that warm – or cool – in the olden times, and what an enormous work it must have been to renovate the place. Must have taken a fortune. The house had probably been built in several stages, maybe each generation had added its bit, as at some places even the roofs were different. It looked like they had as the latest built something that maybe was the air-conditioning system on a level section of the roof in the other end of the building, as well as something else, but the paint camouflaging the additions to the rest made it hard to see what that was.

"Ah, here you are, comrade Ashton." The agents patrolling the yard had turned to watch the Soviet although they hadn't much paid attention to Anna.

"Well yes, Captain, thought to get some fresh air. And to have a better look on this building, I guess it is something like 200 years old, the older parts, I mean. Quite impressive."

The captain agreed. "We were told they had built a landing for a helicopter on that roof. For very rich customers", the captain informed Anna who raised her eyebrows. "Didn't you know that, comrade Ashton?"

Anna shrugged. "I wasn't aware of that, I got the... eh, order, to participate only yesterday evening."

The captain nodded. "Yes, we expected to meet other agents. I suppose something came up?"

Anna smiled, it was fun to dodge the questions of this young officer. "Well that is quite obvious, isn't it, Captain? Anyway, I was told the security would be taken care of by our hosts here, and even otherwise I didn't have a chance to study this place beforehand."

The captain pointed towards the roof. "They do have guards also by the elevator-shaft up there. I tried to go and... admire the view."

"But of course you did."Anna gave an approving smile and looked up. "Well, I suppose the roof and the type of fence they have used, give full view and firing range here to the park and most of this front yard. They can probably cover from the roof also most of the garden back there. And there seem to be no open entrances at the other end of the building anyway." The captain raised an eyebrow. "Well, I went to admire the architecture."

Now the captain smiled. "But of course you did."

Smart man, this one. And with a sense of humour. They were soon chatting merrily and Anna was happy for the light fun she had been offered.


It would soon be time to start the talks again, and the two were heading towards the main building. The Controller watched through a window as the captain and the trainer were coming up the stairs to the main entrance, chatting leisurely. Ach, Anna seemed to be relaxing with that good-looking Russian. Whether it was something to be happy or worried about, that was hard to say. Anna usually was reserved towards strange men, and absolutely never flirtatious, the only exception to that rule being old Malcolm, and even then it was only foolery and play between two comedians. But the Scot was wondering whether Anna's behaviour now could be interpreted as flirt or not, and if it was that, whether it should be considered welcomed or not. Of course, it was nice to see her finally come out a little, but considering the circumstances... She wouldn't be infatuated... would she? Nay... Yet, her superior stayed watching. Then the captain turned and pointed at some bird flying, and Anna turned too to watch, simultaneously pulling her blazer tighter around her. And the man who was very familiar with her figure, blinked a couple of times and then gasped and cursed.

"Forgive me, Captain, I have to deprive you from the pleasant company of my assistant for a moment." Controller's tone was perfectly polite. "I'd like to have a private word with her." He gestured towards a corridor and led Anna inside a small room, shutting the door behind them.

"Yes, Sir?"

He walked slowly right in front of her, and Anna started to turn pale. "Give me one good reason to not let you be kicked out of this building and arrested."

Anna swallowed. "I... I don't know what you are talking about, Sir."

He moved even closer until he was only inches away. "Och, you don't know..." the soft rolling Scottish accent suddenly started to sound frightening and Anna licked her dry lips. "You really have the nerve, mrs Ashton. I could have let this stupidity of yours be un-mentioned to anyone else, but now you have gone too far." Controller's hand made a quick move under his subordinate's jacket. "Do you now know what I am talking about?" A pistol was hanging in front of Anna's nose.

"SIG Sauer P230, I presume. Where the hell is this from?"

A swallow.

"I bought it yesterday, Sir. Didn't want to sign one out from our armory. And I bought the ammo at the same time." It felt like all the air had run out from that room.

"From where?"

Another swallow. "I went to ask around in Soho, Sir. Bodie sometimes mentioned... but I don't know the name of the seller. Didn't ask. Took it from the first one I found." Her throat was dry.

"And since when have you even had a license to carry a handgun in the UK, outside the range at the headquarters?"

She felt she was swaying. "I haven't applied for a license. Sir." Good God how cold those eyes were.

"Where is that holster from?" The Scot used the pistol to push open Anna's jacket.

"Bought that myself too. That is legal. I previously found a new light fabric model and took it for testing some days ago. Just opened the side seam of the pullover enough to get the holster itself outside it. Sir." Anna felt sick and wanted to close her eyes. That silent voice was even worse than bellowing, it harrowed into her like a saw or a laser.

"And pray, tell me, how did this pretty little killer and the holster come through the gate?"

Anna's heart tried to break out from her chest. "I stripped the Sig, to smaller parts."

Controller let out a deep breath. "Let me guess... you brought it inside your braid and your bra."

She nodded. "Neighbour's girl knew how to make that kind of braid. Magazines were inside my shoes, against the sole. And the holster was in my hand inside the jacket when the agent frisked me. I assembled the gun in the ladies-room. My nail-clipper has a file which I used as a screwdriver."

The Scot gave the woman an incredulous and infuriated look. "So I have brought here a woman who irrationally fretted like a little maniac about my security, and she had the bloody nerve, without a license for a gun, to smuggle in an illegal pistol with ammunition, and without dammit blinking an eye!" He got a hold of his temper enough to subdue his voice again, and practically growled: "Such fantastic PR for the CI5 if this ever comes to someone's knowledge!"

Anna had never seen her superior as angry as he paced in front of her, as if trying to decide whether to hit her or not. "You, woman, you can be arrested for threatening national security. For carrying an illegal gun. For carrying ANY gun without a license. And deported. One good reason, Anna. Yet I doubt if you can provide me any." The flaming eyes stopped right in front of her and she took a deep breath to try and say something.

But before she got anything out of her mouth, there was a knock on the door and one of their waiters peeked in. "Mr Cowley? Mr Ralston asked me to tell you they are ready to continue."

The Controller had had time move the gun out of sight. "Thank you, we come right away." And once the waiter had disappeared, he pushed the pistol back inside the holster. "After we leave from here, mrs Ashton, if you manage to conceal the gun that far, I do not want to see you at the HQ before I can decide what I am to do with you. If you are lucky." His back had vanished through the door, before shaking and sick Anna managed to make her legs function again.

END OF CHAPTER 2