“He’s fine, I suppose. I just had a strange feeling when I saw him.”
Simon opened the door. Rain fell in sheets ricocheting off the pavement. He had no desire to leave his office to speak with a spook named Neill. He looked at Lucy and remembered something. “Stay here.” He doubled back to his desk and returned with a sealed envelope. “Your fee for last night.”
Lucy opened the envelope. “A thousand quid,” she said, a hand rising to catch her falling jaw.
“You did a good job. Kept your cool. It was a big help.”
“It’s too much.”
Simon took her by the arms. “Put it in the bank. No spending it on anything you shouldn’t. Promise?”
Lucy met his eyes. “Promise.”
“And remember…not a word.”
Lucy rose onto her toes and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Simon.”
“Get to work on the Dino. I got it started for you last night.” Simon opened the umbrella and ventured into the rain. He looked to his right and left, but his visitor was nowhere to be seen. “Mr. Neill!” he called.
The sidewalk was empty.
Simon started up the road toward Singh’s Café. Ten steps and rain was sluicing onto his shoulder and dribbling down the back of his neck. “Mr. Neill?”
And then, out of nowhere, Neill was at his side.
Simon tried not to appear startled. “Happy?” he asked, bunching his shoulders to fit under the umbrella.
“Necessary precautions.”
The two walked west along Kimber Road. The few pedestrians foolish enough to be out in the rain hurried past them without a glance. Simon kept close to the storefronts as much for the protection any awning might offer as to avoid being inundated by passing vehicles.
“How did you get into the car business?” asked Neill pleasantly. “I understand you were in finance. Royal Bank of Albion, was it?”
“Something like that.” Simon wasn’t about to go into his history. “You mentioned Ambassador Shea.”
“We served in the marines together. Afterward, he went to State. I took a job in a more interesting field.”
“My work for the embassy is strictly of a commercial nature,” said Simon. “Helping out U.S. multinationals, handling contract disputes, gathering evidence to assist in background checks.”
“The word is that you’re resourceful.”
“I’m sure your colleagues have me beat hands down.”
“Sometimes a certain distance is required.”
Simon drew up. He didn’t like the direction in which the conversation was headed. He was a man who dealt in realities, not suppositions. “I’m sorry you had to come all this way, but I think you’ve got the wrong man.”
“I haven’t mentioned the job yet.”
“Let me be clear. I apologize in advance if I’m rude. I don’t work for people like you.”
“Like me? In what way?”
“I prefer clients whose names match what’s on their birth certificates.”
“You might want to restate that.”
“Excuse me?”
