The Nursery

by Asia Mackay

  ‘This is meant to be a secure location.’ Mrs Moulage glowered at the security violation.

  ‘The Snake must have sent them straight to us.’

  I tried to think of the last time I’d fought alongside an armed pensioner.

  I was drawing a blank.

  ‘We need to make sure no one gets inside this room.’ It was down to us to protect the lives of the Sheep inside. The ‘We are Family’ initiative was meant to help us identify the Snake; we never considered that we could be putting innocent lives at risk. Whatever these women knew, it was clearly enough to rattle the Snake.

  Mrs Moulage looked over my shoulder and her hands flew to her mouth. ‘Please don’t hurt us!’

  I turned to see a short bald-headed man in a dark jacket walking towards us, gun raised.

  ‘Oh my God, what do you want?’ I put a quiver in my voice I was particularly proud of.

  ‘Keep quiet and I don’t hurt you.’

  Mrs Moulage started going through the motions of hyperventilating. I rubbed her back and looked up at the Ghost with the gun. ‘Just please, please don’t point that thing at my mother. She has a heart condition.’

  Mrs Moulage now started to make strange high-pitched sounds as she continued with the heavy, exaggerated breathing noises.

  ‘Just hold on, it’s going to be fine.’ I kept my left arm round her, my right hand clasped firmly at the gun inside my handbag. Ideally we needed to disarm him without firing a shot. Gunfire would cause panic among the hundred people on the other side of the double doors.

  ‘Fuck’s sake.’ The Ghost spoke into his earpiece. ‘I’ve got two women here. One of them’s about ninety. She looks like she’s about to cark it.’

  He turned his head slightly as he listened to what his colleague was saying. That was all we needed. The briefest of seconds to transform from terrified women to women in charge.

  He looked back to see two guns raised at him.

  ‘What the—’

  ‘Drop it.’ I motioned towards his gun.

  ‘Now, fuckwit,’ said Mrs Moulage. She took a step towards him.

  He did as instructed and his gun clattered to the floor.

  ‘We’ve got one,’ I announced to Jake.

  ‘We’re pulling up outside now.’

  ‘What’s your mission?’ asked Mrs Moulage. ‘What are you here to do?’

  The Ghost kept his mouth closed in a firm line.

  Mrs Moulage cocked the safety off her gun and raised it to his face. ‘You do realise I’m looking for any reason at all to justify shooting dead the man who dared to call me ninety.’

  The Ghost muttered a series of expletives. ‘I’ll tell you. But not here. Let’s get outside this building and I’ll sing like a bird.’

  ‘Sing here and sing now,’ Mrs Moulage told him, pressing her gun firmly into his forehead.

  ‘Listen lady, get the hint – we need to get outside.’ He was pleading now. ‘We were given a black box and our orders were to install it in the first-floor office with the glass window overlooking the big room. My associate is doing it now.’

  That did not sound good.

  He was describing the factory manager’s office. An incendiary device placed in there would cause maximum damage to the factory floor below. The Snake surely can’t have been so threatened by today’s gathering that the solution was to blow the whole place up?

  ‘I was just meant to make sure no one went upstairs.’ The Ghost glanced back over his shoulder. ‘He’s probably about to finish, so come on, we have to get out of here.’ He was fidgeting now. Sweat was beginning to drip down his bald head. A glistening cue ball.

  ‘Why the rush? It’s not like you two idiots are going to activate the device while you’re still here?’ asked Mrs Moulage.

  The Ghost shook his head. ‘We were told not to touch it. To install it and get out. They said someone inside the big room was going to activate it. So please. Let’s just go, OK?’

  ‘Entering the Warehouse now.’

  I took a step back from Mrs Moulage and the Ghost to talk to Jake. ‘Go straight to the manager’s office. A Ghost is installing an unidentified electrical device in there. We have the second Ghost.’

  ‘Copy that.’

  Mrs Moulage looked across at me. ‘I’ll take him outside. You’d better get back in there.’

  She was right. Until the device was found I needed to be in there keeping watch in case whoever they had inside the room triggered it. Rigging the Warehouse to blow up a room full of MI6 operatives’ husbands and wives seemed a little extreme. What were they trying to achieve?

  The Ghosts were irrelevant, they’d never lead us to anyone, but whoever was inside that room, and about to activate a questionable device, was on the inside. And we needed to unmask them. They couldn’t know that we’d intercepted the Ghosts, that Jake and Robin would be working fast to deactivate the device. We needed them to think everything was still in place so that when they tried to trigger it we would know who they were.

  I needed to return to that room, keep cover, drink tea, continue to talk about what school options there were for intellectually advanced but socially immature eight-year-olds. And ignore the fact the room could blow up.

  *

  I took several deep breaths as I opened the double doors to the conference room. I took in the people still happily talking and pouring tea and munching biscuits. No one stood out. No one had the look of someone itching to activate a countdown switch.

  I arrived back at my table. ‘Sorry about that, everyone. Mrs Moulage just needed a little help with something.’ I sat down and dropped my handbag on the floor between my feet. ‘What have you been discussing?’

  ‘Husbands hiding things from us,’ said Camilla as she put her teacup down. It was hard to read her face but considering what Frederick had been through in the last week she was clearly going to have noticed something serious was happening.

  ‘That sounds an understandable problem.’

  ‘In pursuit of the Ghost,’ an out-of-breath Jake crackled into my earpiece. I kept my face impassive as I took a sip of lukewarm tea.

  ‘I think they all take advantage of it.’ Naomi looked round at everyone. ‘I mean, using work as a cover for when they just can’t be bothered to actually get home in time to do some parenting?’

  ‘Argh . . . For fuck’s sake . . . You little . . .’

  I tried not to wince at the sound of what sounded like a head hitting a wall.

  Naomi sighed. ‘I want to believe him when he says he has to be away for certain dates. But how come it seems the Security Services can’t do without him every time a school social is planned? Or when my mother is staying with us?’

  ‘Robin! Get to the device!’

  ‘It sounds like you’ve been getting right to the heart of exactly what the “We are Family” initiative is all about.’

  ‘I’m at the device now.’ Robin spoke fast. ‘It’s a black square box about thirty centimetres wide and plugged into the phone socket below the large window. There are five small lights on the top right corner, all green. Three switches on the side. I have no idea what the hell it is.’

  ‘It’s so good to be able to share how tough it can be being married to people who hold back such a big part of their lives,’ said Naomi. ‘How sometimes it’s too much and you just think—’

  ‘Should we evacuate?’

  ‘We won’t make it,’ I said. If I started an evacuation, whoever the Snake had inside this room could still activate the device as everyone was leaving.

  ‘That’s it exactly.’ Naomi touched my hand across the table. ‘Sometimes I feel like that. But—’

  ‘We must carry on,’ I cut her off.

  Naomi nodded. ‘Yes, exactly, we carry on despite everything. Despite the never knowing exactly what they’re doing or where they are.’

  ‘And what really helps is talking to someone else,’ I said slowly. ‘Someone who knows a lot about these issues.’
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br />   ‘Copy that, Lex. I’ll video chat G.’

  Kate nodded. ‘I wish my husband understood that, although he’s on some top-secret mission, he can still share things with me.’

  ‘The Ghost is secure.’ Now it was Jake’s turn.

  ‘What’s he saying?’

  Kate sighed. ‘Not much. Normally he comes home late and, if I’m still awake, he just wants, well . . .’ she giggled, ‘you know.’

  ‘Not much. He’s unconscious. Our interaction was . . . heated.’

  I gritted my teeth. ‘Why do men always feel the need to bypass conversation for action?’

  ‘I know, it’s just ridiculous, isn’t it?’ said Kate. ‘Don’t they understand, like a beautiful flower, we need to be nurtured in order to grow?’

  ‘All right, Lex, give me a break, I hit the sod a little harder than I meant to.’

  ‘Any sign of anyone else?’

  Kate laughed. ‘Oh no, I doubt that. I mean, he just wouldn’t find the time, let alone the energy. Do you know how exhausting three young children are? I can’t remember the last time we slept past 5.45 a.m.’

  ‘No one. The first floor is secure.’

  I laughed along with the other women.

  ‘I think what’s important is to make sure everything is OK. That nothing else troubling is hidden.’

  ‘Copy that. Searching the top floor now.’ Up there were several soundproofed rooms used for low-level interrogations.

  ‘You’re totally right. Communication is everything,’ said Naomi.

  I looked up as the double doors opened and in walked Mrs Moulage. Head held high.

  She came up to me and said softly, ‘That friend of ours is safely in the car.’

  ‘Thank you, Mrs Moulage. I’m just waiting to hear if things will end on time as planned today.’

  She nodded and patted me on the shoulder as she headed back towards her table.

  ‘Top floor is clear. Robin, what did G say? Come in, Robin?’

  I chewed my lip and nodded encouragingly at Dionne sharing her frustrations at Peppa never wanting to eat the healthy vegan meals she made for them, citing trauma at work dictating the need for cheese, carbs and wine.

  Why was Robin taking so long to reply?

  ‘I’m here.’

  I braced myself.

  ‘We’re all clear. It is not a bomb. Repeat, it is not a bomb.’

  ‘Wonderful, that’s just brilliant, totally brilliant.’

  The women looked a little taken aback at my enthusiasm for the John Lewis sale that was currently on.

  ‘We’re taking the device and the two Ghosts back to the Platform,’ said Jake.

  I turned round to catch Mrs Moulage’s eye. I gave her a small nod. Her shoulders slumped.

  I tried to concentrate on the original mission. Bonding with the three Pigs’ significant others.

  I clocked back in to what they were now discussing. The women had moved on to their frustrations of living with people who often read the newspapers with guffaws and a refusal to explain what they found so amusing. All three of the Pigs had high enough security clearance to know about Wolves.

  Rats were not the only under-the-radar branch of the Security Services. A division named Demon Communications would run agents we regarded as Wolves in Sheep’s clothing to unduly influence public opinion.

  Wolves could grab the headlines we wanted and bring down those we considered enemies without the bloodshed us Rats specialised in: the business mogul who was getting too much power crushed by a four-page interview with a prostitute he gave insider stock market tips to. The Conservative who was undone by the drug dealer he had been buying cocaine from. Little people bringing down the big ones. With just a little guidance. A little manipulation. All for the good of the country. As the Committee deemed fit.

  I checked my watch. The WAF session was due to finish in a few minutes. Was there really someone working with the Snake inside this room now?

  ‘Don’t you think, Alexis?’ I looked up to see the four women staring at me.

  ‘Sorry?’

  ‘I was just saying it seems very unfair they try and make us feel guilty for wanting to be normal. It doesn’t matter how important their job is; why don’t they understand keeping us happy is important too?’ asked Kate.

  ‘Yes, the way Ronald made me feel for complaining when he got called away to Birmingham on Tuesday, it was as if he’d forgotten all about the times I’ve just accepted the last-minute nights away without comment,’ added Naomi.

  They really were taking this initiative to heart. And I was meant to provide the answers.

  ‘Well . . . You all make good points. I think, speaking from the inside, our work is so all-consuming it can be difficult to remember to give home life the respect it deserves.’

  It was advice I could myself follow.

  ‘Right, well, we’re actually out of time now. And this has been just great. I’m looking forward to us all catching up again the day after tomorrow,’ I looked down at my notes, ‘at Kate’s house. Thank you for offering, Kate.’

  ‘My pleasure. It’s so refreshing being around normal people who aren’t intimidated by my fame. It’s hard to find other women who don’t resent me for looking like this. Especially after three children.’ She paused. We all remained silent. ‘Especially as two of them are twins and still so young.’

  ‘Oh, right. Yes, of course you do look amazing.’ Naomi loyally trotted out what she needed to hear.

  I looked over at Camilla. She was running a finger around the rim of her teacup. She had been the quietest. Did this mean they were blissfully happy? Maybe. Or was it that she just didn’t share personal information with strangers? Perhaps. Were these musings mission-relevant? Definitely not.

  We all got up and after a flurry of goodbyes I was left at Table Eight alone.

  If the device was not a bomb, what was it? Who in this room was the one tasked with activating it – and why hadn’t they?

  Mrs Moulage came up beside me.

  ‘Do we know anything yet?’

  I shook my head. ‘Our tech support will run tests on the device back at the Platform.’

  A blonde woman in a fur gilet passed us and gave a start as she saw me.

  ‘Lex. I didn’t realise you’d be here. How nice.’ She said this unsmiling.

  Annabel. Duggers’ wife. We had known each other at university. Known each other, but not been friends.

  ‘Yes, well, I’m here doing my bit. I’m a Liaison for one of the groups.’

  ‘That’s great. I thought you were too high up to be dealing with initiatives like this, but I guess not.’

  ‘It’s something Duggers really believes in, so happy to help.’

  ‘No one calls him that anymore. Well, no one serious.’ Annabel gave a little giggle and walked off.

  ‘What have you ever done to her?’ asked Mrs Moulage as we watched Annabel’s furry back departing.

  ‘I slept with her husband.’

  Mrs Moulage nodded. ‘That’ll do it.’

  ‘Back at university, before they got together,’ I added.

  Mrs Moulage smiled. ‘It probably meant more to him than to you.’ She opened up her clutch and took out a long, thin cigar and a silver lighter. ‘What a morning. Nothing like worrying you’re going to get blown up while some balding recruitment consultant from Kent tries to explain what something called BitCoin is.’ She lit her cigar. ‘This was not what I signed up for.’ She let out a long drag of smoke. ‘Goodbye, Lex. It was good to meet you.’

  ‘Goodbye, Mrs Moulage. And thank you.’

  ‘What for?’ She cocked her head.

  ‘I wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t paved the way first.’

  ‘Oh sweetie, you would’ve found a way.’ She gave a throaty laugh. ‘This isn’t a job, it’s a calling.’ She stalked out the double doors, a shimmer of green silk and cigar smoke.

  Chapter Five

  ‘WE KNOW WHAT THE GHOSTS’ device was for.�
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  I walked into the meeting room to find Hattie in front of the whiteboard; a black screen with an ‘Error’ message was projected onto it. Pixie and Geraint were at the table, fingers flying across their laptops. Next to them was a large plastic box of what looked like toys. Robin was in front of it holding a Thomas the Tank Engine.

  ‘All the files that the WhatsApp worm downloaded off the women’s phones have been corrupted.’

  The Ghosts, despite their ineptitude, had succeeded in their mission after all.

  Geraint handed me an iPad with a report on the device loaded onto it. I scanned it.

  It turned out I was the one inside the room who activated the device.

  By sending the women the WhatsApp invite.

  As soon as the device was plugged in it wirelessly logged onto the network and corrupted all file transfers occurring in a thirty-foot radius.

  ‘The Snake must have known that one of the women had something on their phone that would incriminate them. But how did they know we were even going for their phones?’ I asked.

  Pixie looked up at me. ‘The Snake would know our protocols. Initial contact with targets usually involves some kinda worm or bug to get to grips with their hardware. It wouldn’t be a stretch to work out we would start with downloading their phone records and that the WAF meeting was the likeliest time.’

  ‘Jake and Cameron are interrogating the two Ghosts now. Doesn’t look like they know anything but they seemed keen to try,’ said Hattie.

  There was a clunk as Thomas the Tank Engine fell out of Robin’s hands and back into the box of toys. We all turned to look at him.

  ‘Sorry,’ Robin offered. He picked up a fluffy bunny rabbit and started squeezing its stomach.

  ‘How quickly can we get another go at their phones?’ I asked.

  Pixie frowned. ‘The worm needs around twenty minutes to download everything off the phone. Our best chance is to install an update to their home wireless network.’

  ‘Get the tech ready,’ said Hattie. ‘Robin can install it while he’s at their houses.’