It was five minutes to two when the Controller's trusted secretary, Betty, told Anna to sit down and wait, and Anna did as she was told, staring at the door to Controller's room, which was slightly ajar. She could hear low murmur of voices.
"You might want to have a look at this." Betty brought her a magazine and automatically Anna stretched her hand to take it. Betty bowed down. "He only let them in a moment ago. Let him talk first and listen to him carefully", she whispered into Anna's ear.
Anna nodded, surprised, and Betty calmly returned behind her desk. The door opened only a minute later. "Good, you're already there. Come in, agent Ashton." While walking towards the door, Anna noticed the Controller exchange a look with Betty, who nodded a little. "And as I already said, we are not to be disturbed unless it's something extremely important."
The door was pushed shut, and Anna was facing her inquisitors.
The older man who must be that department head, McAllister, rose on his feet greeting the agent cordially, while Ralston merely nodded from his chair and got a nod just as cold for reply.
"You may sit down, agent, or does your back feel better if you stay standing?"
Anna was a little surprised and glanced at the Controller's face, which was totally unreadable until she met his eyes and saw the faintest wink. "Thank you, Sir, but actually I do rather stay standing."
Without even thinking of it, Anna took a relaxed military at-ease, her hands behind her back, and the Controller looked at her with secret approval as now also the men should get on their feet if they wanted to look down on her to try to intimidate. This was a new situation for Anna, so she might need a little extra reassurance. "Are your injuries getting any better?" It probably wouldn't hurt reminding the men who Ralston should thank, for remaining unscathed himself.
"Gradually, Sir. I do hope captain Komarov is also already on his way to recovery." Anna didn't want the men to forget the help from the Russian.
So, this was the woman. McAllister tried to hide his interest when he watched and observed the female, through whom he would get at old Cowley. Maybe that damned incident at Swindon would give them an unexpected stroke of good luck eventually. McAllister wouldn't mind getting to enjoy about the position of a CI5 Controller. The woman must have fought well, so it was a pity she'd need to be sacrificed, but that was an unnecessary evil. So... medium height for a woman, surprisingly slender – well yes all right, she'd been seriously wounded – yet giving an image of fitness. Pretty. Probably ruthless also. No wonder if even the old fox had set his eye on her. Or then, there was the other alternative. However, whether she was what the CI5 claimed she be, or not, that would be seen soon. McAllister's eyes were measuring her figure until her likewise measuring, cold gaze met his, and he felt redness in his ears.
"Do you know why you are here, agent?" The Controller's voice was cool.
"I think so, Sir. Due to what happened in Swindon, Sir?"
The old Scot nodded. "Exactly. Our colleagues in MI6 did not approve to your... backhanded reaction to my decision to offer you an opportunity to learn more about security measures."
The woman was visibly embarrassed. "I'm very sorry about that, Sir. My thoughts were totally focused on security issues, as you know, Sir. I apologize. Also from you, gentlemen."
The Controller met alert eyes. Good lass. Steady now. Mind your step.
Ralston couldn't keep quiet any more. "Focused on security issues? That's quite bold, coming from you. Or from anyone in CI5. I've done some background checking on you, agent Ashton. Also through our American friends. I find it very... extraordinary that CI5 took into service a woman, whose said to be excessive training in combat or arms-skills is not to be found recorded anywhere. And whose only previous link to United Kingdom is a marriage of convenience to an old wealthy expatriate officer, who chose to spend decades in Latin America and was often monitored by our American friends because of his questionable and precarious actions and opinions. That makes you wonder what skills and talents that kind of woman in reality possesses. Especially a woman with your looks, agent Ashton." Even McAllister was startled by the menace oozing out of his subordinate.
The Controller cursed under his breath, seeing Anna go pale as death. Pale, quiet, almost shaking, and her chief knew it was rage. Rage being held in check by some very thin thread. He tensed.
The woman walked slowly in front of Ralston. Her voice was almost a growl. "My husband's actions were precarious and questionable every time he refused to yield to the requests and demands of Americans. And even in his 70's he was more a man than you, Mister Ralston, will ever be." It looked like Ralston expected to be spitted on his face.
Anna's voice was cold as ice. "I don't know the ways of MI6, but in this building nobody... nobody gets a job without being qualified for it. And if you once more insult my chief, I will gladly give you a personal demonstration of every single skill and talent I have. Everything I've learned during the past 25 years, from my father and grandfather, from senseis, from the old marine trainers invited to teach me, from my brother who for years has trained special forces. And I will gladly let you choose the weapon or the fighting style." Colours changed in the face of the younger MI6 officer and McAllister was stunned mute.
"Now, that is enough." Controller rose on his feet and moved closer. "Enough." The man's voice was soothing. The woman took a deep breath and backed off to her previous spot.
"And you, Ralston, you'd better think twice before you next time try to distract anyone from your own shortcomings or failures by insulting either me or any one of my agents, no matter how hard they have hit your precious ego. I may be getting old but if you don't learn while you live, young man, you won't grow much older in your occupation." After giving the younger MI6-man a hard glare, the Controller took some papers from his desk and tossed them on the laps of both McAllister and Ralston, who almost jumped. "These are copies of agent Ashton's test results from last autumn. My other trainer, Macklin, got her a special permission to participate a military Personal Fitness and Combat Fitness test. She would have passed both stages among the men." He walked back behind his desk. "Oh and Ralston, she was in the best 10 per cent in the CFT."
Now McAllister took another look on the woman, sharper.
McAllister seemed to be going through the papers with interest, while red Ralston merely gave them a glance. The Controller kept an eye on both men, pondering what strategy he would follow. Thank heavens Anna had managed to keep some hold on her temper, despite the insults; he would still be able to claim there had been no threats from Anna's side. Or from his own. But he would have to get that Ralston in check and quickly, as he could clearly sense the hate boiling behind Anna's dark gaze and it wouldn't take much to get it out in the open.
"This is actually very refreshing, gentlemen. For several years no-one in other agencies has openly questioned the decisions I've made inside my own house, so to speak. Or have I missed reading some memorandum where CI5 has been submitted under the control of mr Ralston here, director?"
The older officer was startled. "Ah... of course not, Controller." McAllister felt quite uncomfortable, being stared at by two pairs of very cold blue eyes.
"In the beginning I thought that this was only a matter of disciplining a... maybe thoughtless, and certainly rash actions of a subordinate of mine. Which was something I agreed with, even considering the fact, that her said actions saved the lives of probably every participant of that meeting. But now I start to wonder if mr Ralston here has decided to challenge my ability to lead this organisation. Maybe even with some support from his superior." The tone of the Scot was relaxed, even jovial, and for some reason that made McAllister feel even more uncomfortable. And there was a bead of sweat on the temple of Ralston. What an idiot.
"As agent Ashton already remarked, no-one in this house gets a job without being qualified to it. I deeply regret the inconvenience and extra work I have caused to diligent and meticulous mr Ralston, and to his hardworking American friends," you could have cut that sarcasm with a knife,"by employing a person who has gained her abilities and training by other means, than by being in the service of any organisation. Of course it's absolutely understandable to ignore insignificant trivialities, like agent Ashton being born into a military family, where both her father and grandfather had participated in actual fights during both World Wars, being reportedly just as capable in combat as any men in their troops, and also being known of their intellect and their liberal opinions – all that easily found in their files, which, I can tell you, are most interesting reading otherwise also."
The old man leaned back in his chair, looking totally calm and relaxed.
"Or another insignificant triviality, her brother, colonel Jack Cranford. He's still in active duty as you certainly are aware of, having undergone the special forces training during his time in US military, and as already stated, himself training special forces in his later assignment. He lived for over 15 years only a couple of miles from his sister while she was married to the said expatriate officer. But of course it's out of the question that anybody would in such circumstances have access to some very high level combat training." Now that sarcasm felt even in the bone marrow. "Especially as also the said expatriate officer, during and in between his precarious and questionable actions, was known as one of the best pistol-shooters in the Mexican army. All that, naturally, easily found in his file. Which, by the way, is most fascinating reading. Especially the parts about information and help the said officer had, already expatriate, given to the British Foreign Office before the war, and also to "Section V". But naturally those stories belong to the time before the dawn of history for such a young man like mr Ralston here." Mr Cowley calmly poured himself a glass of water.
"And naturally it's only understandable that during the certainly exhausting and frustrating background-inspection that Mr Ralston and company have executed, nobody turned their attention to the two very much alive and active men, best aware of the real skills of agent Ashton, as it, of course, would have been too obvious and easy to ask them about it. Colonel Cranford is still easily available to talk to, as is the Mexican military attaché, colonel Velasquez de la Cardénaz here in London, a close friend to both Cranford and Ashton. The attaché has had over the years several matches against agent Ashton, who, by the way, had after the request from her brother, also tested the fighting skills of at least four of the present guards of their embassy. But naturally, to ask anything from the two colonels would have been to no avail, they being the persons who know my agent best of all. Or what do you think, mr Ralston?"
McAllister didn't even want to look at his subordinate any more. Bloody damn idiot.
"And naturally, the senile old enamoured fool that I am - right, Ralston? - I would not have paid any attention to the opinion of a professional combatant. My present chief trainer's merits and maybe less than charming personality are also well documented in his file. And just for your information, if anyone had asked Macklin, he would have merrily revealed the fact that it was his idea to invite agent Ashton into our service to begin with." The Controller chuckled. "Although, if he had got the faintest sniff why he was asked, the reply would probably have been... err... painful. So maybe it was understandable nobody dared to ask him." He took a swallow of water.
"As for the loyalty of agent Ashton, the fact that she agreed to enter the service of CI5, even after being very seriously wounded by a corrupted MI5 officer who tried to take my life, well gentlemen, I do not take any dirt from you regarding that issue." All the joviality vanished in a fragment of a second and the Controller's whole appearance was as cold as ice. "Now, gentlemen, I strongly recommend that Mr Ralston stays quiet until I give him a permission to open his mouth for anything else than breathing." The man in his chair almost cringed, and the Controller looked at him with contempt before turning his piercing gaze to the superior. "As for you, director McAllister, you are allowed to question agent Ashton about Swindon. That, and that only, is an issue where you have any say whatsoever. Did I make myself clear?"
The director swallowed but had not yet given up the fight. "Yes, Controller."
The Scot turned his eyes to his subordinate and was relieved to see the rage had given way to alertness again. "Now, be straightforward in your replies and do not lie. I certainly hope you understand your position, agent." Be very careful with McAllister. I've done all I can for now. Now it's up to you, lass.
"I understand completely, Sir." So the man has been an interrogator and wants to get at both of us. Thank you for warning... The tiny nod told the old man that his warning had been duly received. And Anna turned her attention to McAllister.
END OF CHAPTER 7