“No.”
Eyes narrow and then her smile alters. “Seriously, Ben. I just need to know. And I know you’re close to her. Very close.” She licks her lips.
It’s a threat. But it’s a shit one. I know she has no evidence of my relationship – or whatever it is – with Blair.
“She’s revoked her brother’s agreement.”
“Really? That was gutsy.”
“Why?”
“Lennox had pressure on him to get it done.”
“Where from?”
She shrugs. “Never quite got to the bottom of it. Anyway, how is castle life?”
“What else do you want, Majken? You don’t meet me unless it’s something you can’t talk about on the phone.” I’m still not sure when I stopped trusting my sister.
“Information. And to check on how you are. You’re still my little brother. One of only a few people I’m actually related to.” Her eyes flit to the bar. “Would you grab me a pinot noir? Large glass?”
I could tell her to get it herself. I could just refuse. But my sister never asks me to wait on her. I stand and leave one of my phones on the table, then head to the bar which is round the corner from where she’s chosen to sit.
Majken played chess well. But once I’d learned she never beat me. Not even once.
When I return with her wine, she makes small talk until she’s finished it, keeping away from the topic of Blair. I hear about Norway and what she’s been doing in Denmark.
“What do you think of Isaac? You know, Goldsmith’s advisor. That whole set up has become a little bit incestuous, don’t you think?” She admires her nails.
“I wouldn’t have thought you’d have much to do with Isaac Everleigh. He isn’t a big player in your scene.”
“You don’t know exactly what my scene involves. There’s a lot more to it that just a little lost cause, Benjamin.” She sits back, the glass empty.
I’m giving her no more than five minutes before she’s out of the door. She’s done exactly what she came for.
“I’m sure there is.”
“So what do you think of Isaac?”
“He’s Goldsmith’s advisor. What more is there to think?”
“That he’s after Goldsmith’s job. It’s in his blood too, remember.” She stands up. “See you in a few. Take care. Keep yourself safe.”
A kiss is dropped on my head. I don’t watch her leave.
I count to thirty and then pick up the phone she’s left purposely on the table, and I take the back off it. It looks clean at first glance, but when I pull out the some of its innards I see a tiny, two millimetre device that isn’t part of this model.
A tracking device.
I laugh, putting the dismantled phone in my pocket and keeping the tracker between two fingers. Once I’ve left the pub, I drop it with some change in a homeless man’s hat.
I just make sure he’s well compensated.
Chapter Eleven
My morning mood isn’t anywhere near calm. I’ve slept badly in a strange bed, something that didn’t used to bother me because when you had to be someone different each day, you learned to sleep anywhere, in anybody’s room.
I’ve become spoilt. Blair’s bed now has an imprint of my body in the mattress and the soft sheets that smell of softener have ruined me. I’m furious at myself and nobody in particular and London lost its appeal years ago.
