Sarah Jane Smith was sitting looking at the woman in the Cafė at Debenhams in Chichester. She was about forty, had neatly cut blond hair, and of Sarah's build. She also looked preoccupied. Sarah had followed her through the school uniform part of the shop as she bought gym kit for an eight year old. So this was Mrs Lethbridge-Stewart or Ms Campbell as she was going by her maiden name since her divorce. Wow, did this woman hold a grudge, Sarah thought. The pity was the man she held it for didn't deserve it one little bit.
Sarah took a deep breath and walked up to her table, "Ms Campbell?" Sarah enquired, "I'm Sarah Jane Smith, I work for the Morning Globe. I was wondering if I could talk to you about your husband?"
There was a flash of anger in the woman's eyes.
"I'm not married, Ms Smith!" the woman said.
"Well your ex husband then!" Sarah said widening her smile.
"So what's this about, is Alistair in trouble, has he been indiscreet with some General's wife? If you've found out he has you are better then my solicitor's people! So do tell, it would be nice to know I was right! I mean how can a man working for payroll think his job is more important then his family."
Sarah looked at the woman confused. Not Mrs.. "Ms Campbell there is no indication what so ever, that the Brigadier is involved in any scandal. And I know that he isn't in command of an administration section, so you don't need to keep up the pretence with me."
Fiona looked shocked.
"I know the Brigadier is in charge of a top secret special operations group. We think he is one of the country's leading experts on anti-terrorist operations. The thing is, we can't pin down exactly what he does. There are more D notices, issued regarding your husbands work then any other officer in the army."
"Err Ms Smith "
"Sarah please," Sarah said smiling.
"I think you have got the wrong person, Alistair deals with army payroll!"
Sarah sighed deeply, "Look I know that's what he will have told you to say, but well you are divorced and you don't owe him anything, so you don't have to keep up the pretence!"
Fiona just blinked and shook her head.
Sarah pulled out some sheets of paper on which she had some facts about UNIT typed out.
"Your ex-husband's command has the highest casualty figures in the whole of the UK army. They have suffered 33 fatalities and forty nine serious injuries in the last twelve months. Far more then any division sent to Northern Ireland. You can't tell me that is a pay roll section's casualty figures they have to be doing something much more dangerous. Most of these incidents are classified as training accidents. If they were that, then your husband must be the most incompetent officer, ever in the British Army. Is he an incompetent officer?" Sarah asked the woman.
Fiona shook her head "Alistair was always well respected by his men. He was, is a dedicated soldier. Very good at his job. Just not very good as a husband."
"Well, the thing is, Ms Campbell, sources said the Brigadier was going on Holiday last Saturday," Sarah told the woman, "Then, well he obviously cancelled that at short notice."
Sarah saw the other woman smile slightly, she had to fight the urge to slap the smile off her face.
"Well, I know you must be upset he let your daughter down. Next we then find out that the Brigadier has gone off radar again. He's obviously gone on another covert mission. The next we hear is from one of our informants at St. Thomas's Hospital. A high ranking army officer has been admitted with a bullet wound! No guessing required who that was!"
Sarah had to hide a slight smile as she saw the woman spill her tea.
"I was just wondering if you could shed any light on the incident, or on the rumours about a VC being in the offing?" Sarah continued as though she hadn't noticed the woman's distress.
"Do you know how he is?" Fiona asked quietly.
"No sorry! There is another news blackout about the incident. All I can find out is it has been classified as a 'training accident,' again!" Sarah said making sarcastic air quotes.
She saw the woman getting to her feet and hurriedly collecting her bags.
It's a pity that, the Brigadier, didn't get to go on his holiday before this job turned up," Sarah said sadly, "it would have prevented him getting injured if he had!"
Sarah had to smile to herself as she saw the woman flinch.
"I really would like to write an article about your ex-husband. He is a very brave man, dedicated to defending Britain! I know, from sources, that the Brigadier is quoted as saying 'He does the job, primarily to keep his family safe."
The woman looked at Sarah with worry and confusion evident in her face. She hurried towards the pay phone next to the store's lifts.
Maybe now, Ms Campbell, would realise the Brigadier's job was important to Britain's Security, if not the world's security and think twice about treating the Brigadier so cruelly.