The Party...
Siobhan lifted her head, disoriented, confused for the moment as to where she was. Her last memory was of sitting in the passenger seat of her car, heading along dark and deserted roads, en-route to London. Alongside her, strong hands placed confidently on the steering wheel, was the enigmatic Italian conman she knew as Actor. She'd closed her eyes, just for a moment...
The Irish woman brought her thoughts back to the present. What information did she have? The bed was comfortable, the sheets were smooth and expensive but there was a hint of musty dampness. Presumably the room wasn't slept in regularly. Noise? It was quiet. No passing traffic or noisy neighbours. What had she been wearing when she left Beauchamp Place? A grey suit and white blouse... she ran her hands down her flanks and encountered the silk of her slip and underwear. So, she had been partially undressed, but not indecently so.
She was also aware that she was sharing the bed with another human. She could feel the warmth and hear the quiet breathing. She could also smell the faint hint of the cologne that identified that person, beyond all doubt, as Actor. This must be his apartment. Left to his own devices, the conman had done as she had hoped. Satisfied that she was safe, she slipped back into sleep.
It was a full bladder that woke Siobhan some hours later. The need could not be denied, forcing her to endure cold floorboards and colder air to find the 'facilities'. Carefully, she felt her way towards where she thought the door must be and, having found the doorknob, out into the hallway where a small table lamp provided enough illumination to find her way. By a process of elimination, she found the bathroom on her 2nd attempt.
Comfortable at last, she headed back to bed before she lost contact entirely with her toes.
"Did you have everything you needed?" It was impossible to see the owner of the voice in the darkness of the room, but it sounded as though he was sitting up.
"A dressing gown and fluffy slippers would have been nice, but otherwise yes, thank you."
G G G
Siobhan left the apartment just after 8, heading for a series of meetings, she said, but would not elucidate. Her only request had been that he keep a low profile. She would prefer it if people were unaware that 'Actor' was back in the country, she'd said.
Left to his own devices, Actor struggled to find ways to occupy himself. The Irish woman had said it would be mid-afternoon before she returned, so he had several hours to fill. Restocking the larder occupied part of it, but since he had no idea how long he might be staying it seemed pointless to purchase much more than what he would need for lunch and maybe the next day's breakfast.
Lunch today was a bacon sandwich, washed down with weak tea. Unable to secure any lemon, he had settled for sweetening the bitter drink with a spoonful of honey from an old jar at the back of his cupboards. Try as he might, he could not come to terms with adding milk – if he'd had any. Hunger satisfied he worked his way through a copy of The Times, noting with interest the pro-communist slant of the editorials. He looked at his watch. It would still be some time before his guest returned and he found himself gravitating towards his small library of books.
"Lothario." Actor spoke the code name that TAR had allocated him, with disgust.
Siobhan had said that the man had a particular sense of humour when it came to allocating code names to his operatives. "ZigZag? That was because he had so many aliases," Siobhan had supplied, when asked. "More even than you, I think, dear heart."
Dear heart? Where had that come from, thought Actor. She had, of necessity, stopped calling him Actor and clearly was unwilling to use either Roland or Lothario.
"Lothario," he repeated, "the seducer of virtuous women." He assumed that the name had been taken from Rowe's play 'The Fair Penitent', where the character seemed to have little to recommend him. At least Cervantes' character had some good points. He plucked Don Quixote from the shelf and began to read. Slowly his eyelids began to droop, and well before the Italian had reached the point where Camilla lets herself be seduced by her husband's friend, Actor was fast asleep.
Siobhan let herself quietly into the flat. It had been a difficult afternoon, but finally she had achieved all that she meant to. She placed the string-wrapped paper parcel she was carrying on the floor and made her way to the sitting room. It didn't surprise her to find Actor asleep in the armchair, an open book spread on his lap. Curiously, she examined the title. Don Quixote. She should have known that TAR's code name would have rankled. The Italian looked curiously young and vulnerable as he slept and she was tempted to leave him to his dreams, except that time was passing.
She placed her hand gently on his shoulder and gave a slight squeeze.
Actor came to his senses instantly, his expression changing in a moment from repose to one of alertness and concern. Quickly he scanned the room for danger then relaxed slightly as he recognised he was alone, apart from Siobhan.
"We need to get changed. We have a party to go to." The words were flung over the Irish woman's shoulder as she backtracked to the hallway to retrieve the parcel. Returning, she placed the bundle on the conman's lap. "Your costume."
Actor raised a quizzical eyebrow. "Fancy dress?"
"In a manner of speaking. We leave in an hour."
Actor did a quick mental calculation. Even in wartime, it seemed an early time for a party to start – unless it was a children's party and, somehow, that seemed unlikely. "I take it the party isn't local?"
"A country house in Bedfordshire," he was informed, wryly. "It's time you were introduced to the cast of players."
G G G
The SS Jaguar, with Actor at the wheel, drove slowly up the driveway towards a red-brick Georgian building. It was after eight in the evening, but both the house and its gardens were ablaze with lights, defying the blackout with impunity.
"The Reich wouldn't dare to bomb this house, or at least that's what they think," supplied Siobhan, knowing instinctively what the man beside her was thinking. "And money goes a long way to buying silence for a few misdemeanours."
"Who are 'they'?" Siobhan still hadn't told him anything, either about the people who would be at the party or their purposes for being there.
"The O'Hare's. They own this pile. New money, social climbers. He made his money in coal and steel. She's the daughter of some minor Earl. Right-wing sympathisers and friends of Oswald Moseley."
So, British Fascists, thought Actor. Moseley had been released from prison in 1943 and was now under house arrest, but clearly others had stayed under the radar. "Are you going to enlighten me as to what I'm meant to be doing tonight?" He liked to have plans, backup plans and backup plans for backup plans. Clearly Siobhan didn't work that way. Or maybe she did but didn't trust him not to run - once he found out what was about to happen.
"Everyone who is everyone and has Fascist sympathies will be here tonight. You are the sacrificial goat."
Actor began to get a very bad feeling, and it hadn't been good before Siobhan started speaking.
"Tonight, if things go as expected, you'll to be recruited as a German agent, supplying information on the invasion plans to your new masters."
"There is still much you aren't telling me, Siobhan. You can't expect me to walk into the lion's den without knowing what is likely to happen." Actor's words were icy.
Siobhan sighed deeply. "It's as I told you yesterday, MI5 need to make sure the Abwehr are given proof that General Patton will be coming to Kent to lead FUSAG."
"Half-truths," snapped Actor. "Now tell me the rest of the story, or I will turn around and drive back to London." He placed his hand on the ignition key.
The Irish woman sighed again. "I was told to recruit someone. Someone who was part of the invasion planning team. Someone new, someone who wasn't already a German or British agent. Roland Ashcroft was the perfect choice."
"What would have happened if Ashcroft hadn't died. Would he have been sat here tonight?" Actor was tapping one finger on the steering wheel as he pondered what he was being told.
"Probably, although he was a bit of a loose cannon. There was always the possibility he might need to be substituted. Either way, that was genuine information you were party to. It had to be – the Germans will have other agents reporting to them. They might not know the details, but they will know bits and pieces and your presence, yesterday, will have been noted."
So that was the reason for the subterfuge at the station, thought Actor. "Is the taxi driver a known informant?" He took a cigarette from the case in his breast pocket and lit it with his gold lighter. He inhaled deeply whilst he waited for Siobhan's response.
"Of course," acknowledged Siobhan, somewhat amused. "I'm told that Bletchley have already confirmed that SD-Ausland have approved the recruitment of Mr Ashcroft to the Nazi cause."
"And why would a career diplomat like Ashcroft agree to spy for the enemy?"
"Reputation, money... he was vulnerable on several counts but as to which approach they'll take, I'm as much in the dark as you are." Siobhan was starting to fidget. They had been sat in the car for too long and the ushers by the front door were starting to look curiously at the large silver car parked just down the drive.
Actor had one final question for her to field. "And who was it that asked you to recruit someone?" The conman was almost certain he knew the answer, but it would be nice to be sure.
The Irish woman's expression was one of amusement and it reflected in her voice. "Try guessing."
"So, you're working for the Germans?"
Siobhan laughed. "Triple-cross, you might say. TAR plays a dangerous game. He made sure I was recruited and sacrificed a few pawns to secure my position."
"And am I a goat or another pawn?" Actor's voice was light but lethal.
Siobhan stroked a finger lightly down the conman's smooth cheek. "Neither, my heart, you're the King. Now drive up to the house and let's start the game."
G G G
Arriving at the red carpet, in front of the main entrance, Actor stepped out and strode to the passenger side of the car to help Siobhan out of the vehicle. He had to say, even to himself, that she looked spectacular tonight, dressed in a silver-grey silk evening dress that clung to every curve of her body. He already knew that, apart from the high court shoes that adorned her feet and the diamond pendant earrings, it was all she was wearing.
For his part, he was wearing the suit Siobhan had delivered to his apartment. It was a cross between evening dress and a military uniform. The sort of thing that men who wanted to play at being military might wear. He'd objected when asked to wear it but now, he had to admit, on seeing how the other men were dressed, the Irish woman had been right.
Despite the relatively early time, the party was already in full flow. Actor was instantly reminded of similar events he had attended on the continent in his time with Garrison, but there were differences if you looked for them. The language for a start. The clipped, brittle version of English adopted by the upper classes. The women too. They were generally a little older – and conspicuously thin, as if emulating the style of Wallis Simpson.
The same could not be said for the men. Well-fed, frequently balding, they were the epitome of economic success. In general, their accents reflected more humble beginnings. These were self-made men who had climbed the ladder of success the hard way, trampling rivals as they went.
"Darling, so pleased you could join us." A tall woman, in her early forties Actor estimated, wearing a russet-coloured full-length dress, swept towards them. She placed her hands firmly on Siobhan's upper arms to anchor her, planted two obligatory air kisses, one to each side, before breaking contact to appraise Actor. "You do find the most delightful companions, my dear. Where did you find this one?"
"You don't expect me to reveal my sources do you, Diana?" Siobhan laughed lightly as she let herself be led away to join another group of young women. She looked back over her shoulder as she went. "You'd better circulate, dear heart, I may be some time."
The tone might have been frivolous, but Actor had detected a brief expression of panic on the Irish woman's face as she was so adroitly redirected. Actor absorbed the message. He'd expected Siobhan to make a few introductions but, clearly, she hadn't been given the chance. He had to assume Diana O'Hare had known exactly what she was doing. Sprite had been neatly separated from the 'mark'.
"There goes Diana again, gathering her hand-maidens around her."
Actor looked around in surprise to look at the young woman who had spoken. There had been an element of petulance in her voice as she'd watched the pair walking away, arm-in-arm. The look was gone in an instant and she smiled brightly. "Since you seem to have been abandoned and so have I, how about I show you around, Mister..." She paused, waiting for the tall, dark-haired man to introduce himself.
"Ashcroft, Roland Ashcroft," supplied Actor. He let the hint of an American accent flavour his very British speech. Ashcroft had been abroad for the best part of two years. It was likely he would have picked up a few nuances. He took the woman's hand lightly in his and pressed his lips to her knuckles. The skin was smooth and smelt faintly of lavender. He released her and looked into a pair of sparkling blue eyes.
He wouldn't normally have had to introduce himself at a party like this. Either his host, hostess or a close friend would have circulated with him, introducing him to the people he needed to know. With one stroke, lady Diana had put paid to that. "And whom do I have the pleasure of meeting?"
"Lady Aurora Stanley, daughter of Viscount Hunston. I came here with my brother, but he's been seduced by the lure of the tables." She shrugged. "I'm pleased to make your acquaintance Mr Ashcroft. Here, let me introduce you to a few people."
She slipped a thin hand into the crook of his elbow and guided the Italian towards a mixed group of men and women who were debating the pros and cons of the wartime economy. By the time Actor got the chance to look back, Lady Diana, Siobhan and the rest of the group had vanished.
For the next few hours, the young woman did not leave Actor's side. Faultlessly she moved him around the party. They played a few hands of blackjack and a little roulette, enjoyed a light supper in the dining hall and danced a waltz and a foxtrot in the large ballroom. It was all very sedate and proper, and Actor wondered when matters would come to a head.
What approach would they use? he wondered. Reputation or money, Siobhan had said. As things stood he was banking on reputation.
It seemed unlikely to be a gambling debt and a dalliance with drugs wouldn't be a major blot on his copybook. He had clearly been kept away from some of the activities. He could smell the distinctive perfume of opium coming from one of the side rooms and he was sure that more high-stake card games were taking place in another.
The mysterious William O'Hare had finally surfaced and briefly toured the room. He seemed distracted, thought the conman. His eyes kept slipping away to scan the room and, when they failed to find what they were searching for, there was the briefest of expressions of disappointment. A few minutes later and the procedure was repeated.
A posse of waiters came out of the kitchens, carrying trays of full glasses. Actor declined wine for himself but collected a fresh flute of champagne for Aurora. She was drinking steadily, but so far seemed unaffected by the alcohol she had consumed.
A slim young man, dark-haired and lithe emerged, his tray holding a decanter of amber liquid and a few crystal tumblers. He approached his host and for a moment stared insolently into the man's eyes before dropping his gaze, a slight smile gracing his perfect face. Actor spotted the desire on William O'Hare's face. So, that was how the land lay, thought the conman. Now he knew for sure, William O'Hare would not be featuring in whatever would happen tonight.
Although externally Actor was still playing Roland Ashcroft perfectly, inside his brain was working hard. Time was passing, whatever was to happen, it had to happen soon. Many of the public rooms were less crowded than they had been earlier as people either adjourned upstairs with their paramours or went home.
Aurora returned from the powder room, and he could tell immediately the change in her. Her eyes were glistening, her pupils dilated, her veneer of the bored young aristocrat had gone. "So, Mister Ashcroft, are you ready for a little more excitement?"
She moved in close, pressing her body hard against his and, taking his head in both hands, pulled it down so that his mouth met hers.
'Refuse nothing', had been Siobhan's final instructions as she'd exited the car. Actor knew exactly what he was being offered now. No further words were spoken as he let himself be led upstairs.
G G G
It was four in the morning when a weary Actor, his jacket thrown over his arm, the top buttons of his shirt undone and his tie loose around his neck, made his way to the front door and waved to the footman to have the car brought around.
Like a wraith, Siobhan appeared at his side. Her skin was paler than ever and there were dark circles under her eyes. Actor looked at her critically but said nothing. This was neither the time nor the place. He helped her into the car then began the long drive back to the capital.
They had completed no more than half an hour of the trip when Siobhan signalled frantically for the Italian to pull over. He did as he was asked, then held back her hair whilst she wretched uncontrollably at the roadside. There was little in her stomach to lose.
When the spasms eventually ceased, he helped her back to the car. "You'll kill yourself if you go on like this. What was it tonight? Opium or cocaine?" Actor had spotted the dilated pupils, a clear sign that narcotics had been ingested.
"Cocaine. Diana insists that we take it before… attending to her." Siobhan had hesitated, trying to find a polite way of inferring what took place in her ladyship's rooms. "And I won't deny it, it makes it easier to cope for me too."
"Are you reliant on it, when you're not at the parties?"
"Not yet, I don't think. I'm finding it hard to eat though." Siobhan wiped her mouth carefully with the proffered handkerchief then changed the subject. "I assume your part of the operation went to plan?"
"Do you mean did I bed the Lady Aurora? Yes. I assume that that was what was intended."
"I knew you had. I could smell her perfume on you. I hope it wasn't an unpleasant experience?"
"I've had better. She was too young for my tastes and high as a kite. I assume that was her way of coping too." Actor paused, trying to decide how much more to reveal. He was, by nature, a private man when it came to discussing matters like this. He had done his best to ensure that the experience was as pleasant as he could make it for the young woman but had not been convinced it was one of his more successful encounters. "I think she was jealous of you. She wanted to be part of your party. I think it suited her tastes a little more."
Siobhan nodded. She had suspected as much. Poor Aurora. Yet another sacrificial pawn. She yawned, wanting nothing more now than to take a long soak in the bath, don her pyjamas and sleep the day away.
Actor restarted the car and thoughtfully resumed the journey. He had much to consider. For himself, he felt dirty and abused. It wasn't the first time he'd been obliged to take a woman to his bed, but rarely had it bothered him this much. Perhaps it had been her age. He couldn't be sure, but he suspected her to be no more than eighteen.
"What next?"
"I've given them your address. Told them you'd borrowed an apartment from an old friend, someone who was abroad for 'the duration'. I expect a courier will have a delivery for you in the morning."
"You did what...?" Once again, the Irish woman roused him to more anger than he had felt in years. As quickly as it had come, the anger subsided. He'd realised Siobhan was as much a pawn in this game of chess as he was, more probably. She did what she had to do. At least she'd protected Vincenzo Borelli. He'd become attached to his small apartment and would have been loath to dispose of it. At least he now understood why she had insisted 'Vincenzo' wasn't seen 'about town'.
G G G
Actor left Siobhan to bathe in peace then retreat to sleep. Once he was sure she had settled he took his own shower then settled in one of the sitting room armchairs for a recuperative nap.
Idly he toyed with the pieces on an ornate ivory chess set, pushing the white kings-side pawn and the opposing black pawn to face each other. He advanced a second white queens-side pawn to sit alongside the other. Kings Gambit, a classic chess opening. What would the black king do? He had already accepted the sacrifice of the white pawn, giving white the advantage. This was a move he had taught Chief and left to his own devices the conman would never have captured the pawn, but this was life not a game.
He removed the white pawn from the board and replaced it with the black before closing his eyes and leaning back.
He was sure it wouldn't be long before the opposition made their next move, and he would need his wits about him.
The sound of a package dropping through the letterbox brought him to his senses. Stretching his neck to ease the stiffness he went to retrieve the item. It was a large envelope, stiffened with cardboard to protect the contents. He took it with him through to the kitchen and put the kettle on the hob to boil.
Placing slices of yesterday's loaf under the grill to toast, he took a knife to the envelope. He could see the contents mostly consisted of photographs. He had no great desire to look at them. He already knew what they would show. He turned the toast and extracted the accompanying letter.
The smell of food must have roused Siobhan as she padded her way into the kitchen. She had a blanket draped across her shoulders, but her feet were bare. "That was quick," she observed, looking at the packet.
She looked at the Italian for permission before extracting the photographs and flipping through them. He saw her smile, but she didn't comment, for which he was grateful. "What do they want?"
"Details of the invasion plans. How many troops will be deployed, where and when. Exactly as was predicted." Actor turned his attention back to the toast, spreading it with a layer of raspberry preserve. "Can I persuade you to sample some breakfast?"
With a smile, Siobhan accepted the proffered slice and took a bite. Actor was right. She needed to keep her strength up if she was to do the job she'd been tasked with. Maybe raspberry toast was a good way to start.
