Stealth

19

Felicity was, for once, speechless.

“Did I say something wrong?” Viv asked.

“What is your source for that information?” Felicity finally asked.

“A researcher at my London office found a Times obituary,” Viv said.

“You said this was last spring?”

“April, I believe.”

“Looks like somebody forgot to change the name on the Ennismore Mews deed — and the utilities,” Stone said.

Viv looked at her watch. “My office is closed,” she said. “I’ll speak to them again tomorrow.”

“My office never closes,” Felicity said. She stood, walked to where her handbag lay on the sofa, retrieved her phone, and began using it. “Call me the minute you sort this out,” she said finally, and hung up.

Stone held her chair for her.

“My people are digging further,” Felicity said.

“Have you spoken to Brigadier Fife-Simpson about Rose?” Stone asked.

“I’m not ready to bring him into this,” she replied. “And I’ve instructed my staff to that effect.”

They had dessert and were on coffee and brandy when Felicity’s handbag rang. She dug out her phone, sat before the fire, and spoke for a few minutes, then hung up. The others joined her.

“Well?” Stone asked.

“Here it is,” Felicity said. “Lady Margot Balfour is, indeed, deceased. She had a younger sister named Rose, who, while she was at Oxford, was married to a fellow medical student named John McGill. She divorced him two years ago, and has continued to use his name, but is still listed as Rose Balfour on the medical register. She was also named in her sister’s will as sole heir, so she now owns the Ennismore Mews house, or will when the estate is finally sorted out.”

“So Rose has not been lying?” Stone asked.

Viv spoke up. “There remains her contention that St. George’s Hospital is still located on Hyde Park Corner, which it has not been since 1989.”

Stone turned to Felicity. “And do you still contend that MI-6 does not employ a Rose McGill?”

“According to our records,” she replied.

“Or a Rose Balfour?”

“That is another question, which I cannot confirm or deny.”

“Ahh, I’m relieved to hear that.”

“Why are you relieved that she won’t confirm or deny it?” Viv asked.

“Because that means that there is a Rose Balfour in their employ.”

“Oh, all right,” Felicity said. “I’ll tell you this much: she became an MI-6 asset while a student at Oxford.”

“Only an asset, not an agent?”

“I can neither confirm nor deny that.”

Everyone groaned.

“I cannot, at my whim, revise the Official Secrets Act,” Felicity said primly.

“Of course not,” Stone said, “even when you’re among friends.”

“I am among friends, for this purpose, only when I am alone in my office,” she replied. “That is not to disparage any of you, but in my work, good practice demands extreme caution.”

“We entirely understand,” Stone said placatingly, while he replenished her brandy.

“And when are you seeing Rose, Stone?” Viv asked.

“This weekend.”

“When, this weekend?” Felicity asked.

“She said she’ll call me when she gets her schedule sorted out.” He leaned over and whispered, “We’re on safe ground tonight.”

“I heard that,” Dino said.

“No, you did not,” Stone replied, fixing him with his gaze.

“Right, I didn’t hear that, I just assumed it.”

“Never assume,” Felicity said.

“You know,” Dino said, “if I never told anybody anything in my office, and if I didn’t assume a lot, I’d never get anything done.”

“It’s not about what you do,” Felicity said, “it’s about what you don’t do.”

“I’ll try and remember that,” Dino said.

Felicity put the back of her hand to her lips and yawned. “If you’ll all forgive me,” she said, “I believe I will get some rest.”

“Let me show you the way,” Stone said, rising.