Thanks to all those who read and reviewed. I'm very grateful to you all.
In defence of the content of this chapter all I can say is Harry is a bloke and these are his private thoughts not ones he'd be likely to share in company, mixed or otherwise.
2 May 2002 (05.54am) Red Flash sent to team by a Grid operative. Follow up text message bombs imported from Ireland. Possible action by a dissident group. Further confirmation to follow. Operatives called to Grid for emergency briefing.
Thank God I turned down the last night's shag opportunity. If I'd broken my own rules and taken her to my house - and I was tempted - I'd have had to make an excuse to throw her out without even offering her breakfast. Wham, Bang, Thank you Mam, and you haven't even earned a cornflake! Not the conduct of a gentleman towards any woman, even if I had no intention of ever seeing her again. If I'd gone to hers, or to a hotel, turning up in evening dress this morning would have sent the gossips into overdrive while going home to change would have made me unacceptably late for a red flash. Better to have suffered with another wasted erection and the inevitable cold shower. Being prudent doesn't stop me from feeling thoroughly fed up with the obligation to set an example to the troops. I'd never admit it to anyone publicly but self control, self denial equals utter frustration. Not much alternative though, I'm not in the market for a regular relationship - with my track record that's even more risky than a series of one night stands. I suppose being able to fuck freely without worrying about form filling might be one upside to retiring, although by then I'll be so ancient my life choices will be reduced to either stuffing myself silly with Viagra to get it up or using it just to piss through. Ever assuming that in the interim it hasn't shrivelled up and dropped off due to frostbite. At least I haven't descended to wanking over a copy of Playboy.
When I finally hit the Grid Tom or someone else is about to be grilled over the background to this red flash. It sounds as though it could be serious so I really hope that it's some over cautious junior hitting the panic button. I'll try not to shout at them - well not too loudly - since in matters of terrorism alerts it's better being safe than sorry. A statement that just about fits my non existent sex life as well.
Thanks for reading and please review if you have a moment.