Blood Storm

36

Paula, returned from her visit outside the capital, parked her car in a spot just vacated by a businessman wearing a dull black suit, the 'uniform' these days of men who worked in the City.

She walked into the side street, trotted behind Benton, who seemed in a great hurry. He said something into the speakphone, the great door slid upwards, she followed him on to the escalator. He was so absorbed by something on his mind he never noticed her. Clasped under her arm she had two carefully folded copies of different editions of the Daily Nation.

She walked into the Cabal's private room behind Benton. Two people were sitting at the triangular table. Nelson and Noel. Nelson jumped up when he saw her.

'You can't come in here,' he snapped.

'I've come to congratulate you,' she said merrily, waving the huge headline on the special edition.

NELSON MACOMBER MINISTER OF INTERNAL SECURITY

'And,' she continued, still walking towards the door into the next room, 'Miss Partridge has something to tell me.'

She had entered the next room, closed the door behind her, before Nelson, who had jumped up, could reach her. Inside, Coral Flenton was standing up, a wide smile on her face as she waved her hands in the air, then did a little dance.

'It's a wonderful world,' she sang, mimicking Louis Armstrong as she went on dancing.

The Parrot stood a distance away from her, strong arms folded under her chest. Her expression was murderous. She suddenly became aware of Paula and her expression became grimmer. She swung back towards Coral.

'Shut your face!' she screamed. 'Stop that awful row or I'll shut it for you!'

'There's a witness if you attack me.' Coral nodded towards Paula and picked up a heavy ruler. On her desk was the Daily Nation, folded to the headline announcing the new Cabinet appointment.

'I'll throttle you!' the Parrot screamed again at Coral.

'No, you won't,' a quiet commanding voice said.

Nelson had appeared from the next room. Obviously he had heard the Parrot screaming. The large man walked quickly across the room. The Parrot froze. Nelson gave the order as he passed her.

'You wait exactly where you are until I get back.'

He continued walking until he reached Paula, who had moved to the other side of Coral's desk. His manner was calm but determined. He gripped Paula's right arm, kept walking.

'This is no place for you, Miss Grey. I'm asking you to leave by the back entrance. Don't come here again.'

Still gripping her arm tightly he walked her towards a door in the rear wall. He used his other hand to press down a safety lever. He was opening the steel door when Paula reacted.

'Take your hand off me. You're hurting me.'

He kept hold of her as the door swung open. She used the tip of her left shoe to kick him hard on the shin. He grimaced, gave a grunt of pain, let go of her arm and she walked out on to I platform at the top of a flight of metal steps leading down into the street.

'Miss Grey,' Nelson called down, his tone now friendly.

'What is it?' she called back, glaring.

'In my anxiety to calm things down I gripped the wrong woman's arm. I apologize if I hurt you. Unintentional.'

He was smiling warmly. He even saluted her to emphasize his change of mood. Still pausing, she glared at him again, refusing to let him off the hook.

'Maybe you'd better learn to control your temper before you park your seat in your Cabinet chair.'

She continued descending the steps, did not look back again. So she missed the blaze of annoyance which appeared in his large blue eyes. She did hear the slam of the metal door shutting as she leaned against a wall to adjust her shoes. She had chosen the wrong footwear and had walked a lot when she'd reached her destination well outside London.

More comfortable now, she walked left along the alley, her sense of direction taking her to the end of the side street which led to Whitehall. She stopped for a moment when she saw who was walking towards the entrance to the HQ. Tweed.