The Factory

Read The Factory for Free Online

Book: Read The Factory for Free Online
Authors: Brian Freemantle
apprehensive, as if she were expecting outside contact that might create difficulties for her from her own authorities. Neither was there any indication of increased watchfulness upon her by the Russians which might have hinted that her affair with Anatoli Sharov was known about and that they suspected some intermediary approach being made to her from the man.
    Sharov’s defection and request for asylum were made public, a week after he ran. The Soviet authorities at the embassy immediately approached the Foreign Office with a formal request for access.
    â€˜He is to be told,’ ordered Bell. ‘Diplomatic protocol insists upon it.’
    â€˜What about all these lists?’ queried Jane. ‘They don’t appear to be what you want.’
    â€˜â€œThe names of British-born spies we have in place throughout Britain,”’ recited Bell, reconsidering his dismissal of Sharov’s attempt to prove himself.
    â€˜Those were the words he used,’ confirmed the girl.
    â€˜We’ll try again,’ decided the Director General. ‘Put on even more pressure …’ He smiled. ‘And I think I’ll come down tomorrow. Not to take part in the interrogation, of course. But to be on the spot for immediate consultation.’ He had to find out if Sharov had the name of his traitor.
    Jane didn’t travel to Sussex the following day in her open-topped sports car but in the Director General’s limousine, so that he could rehearse how she was to handle that day’s encounter. Jane listened intently and then said critically: ‘You’re putting me at a disadvantage, not telling me fully what it is you want to know. It makes it extremely difficult.’
    â€˜I know that,’ apologized Bell. ‘I’m afraid that’s the way it’s got to be. It’s to overcome the problem that I’m coming down with you today.’
    The gate checks upon the Director General were as stringent as ever, which was fortunate because if they hadn’t been Bell would have reprimanded the guards for carelessness, even though they knew him to be the Director General. They were greeted at the door again by Hendrix, who agreed that the drawing room in which Jane was conducting the debriefing had, in addition to two sets of recording equipment, a two-way mirror through which Bell could watch the interview.
    There was no longer any arrogance about Sharov’s attitude. The burly Russian was already at the writing bureau, head bent in concentration. He looked anxiously up as she came into the room and said: ‘I’ve been working for two hours already. I’ve made four more lists.’ There was an eager-to-please entreaty in his voice.
    â€˜That’s good,’ said Jane. She was still undecided about the man’s truthfulness. The intrusion of the Director General wasn’t helping: it was, in fact, creating a distraction.
    â€˜What about Olga?’ demanded the man urgently. ‘Please tell me you’ve made contact with her!’
    Instead of answering, Jane, upon Bell’s instrucions, offered the man the surveillance photographs and said: ‘We’re keeping a close watch.’
    â€˜I don’t want her watched! I want her here, with me. She’ll be going through hell, wondering what’s happened to me. Wondering about how I’m going to contact her.’
    â€˜There’s been a request from your embassy,’ disclosed Jane. ‘They want to meet you. It’s diplomatic regulations that I tell you. If you want to see them, we’ll make you available. Not here, of course. Somewhere else. But it’ll be safe.’
    â€˜No!’ rejected the man at once, loudly. For the first time he looked truly frightened. His tongue came out over his lips and a sheen of perspiration grew on his forehead. Hurriedly he added: ‘I don’t want to see anybody. Just Olga. Just get Olga to me.’
    Jane suddenly felt

Similar Books

Footsteps on the Shore

Pauline Rowson

The Stranger

Kyra Davis

Street Fame

K. Elliott

Sixteen

Emily Rachelle

Nightshade

Jaide Fox

Burnt Paper Sky

Gilly Macmillan

Dark Debts

Karen Hall

That Furball Puppy and Me

Carol Wallace, Bill Wallance

Thirty-Three Teeth

Colin Cotterill