by Ted Tayler
The phone call from the main house disrupted his thoughts. Zara had arrived. He went to the stable block entrance to greet her.
“Finally, we can be together,” he said as he gathered her into his arms. “No doubts?”
“None,” Zara replied. “I’ve spent my week’s holiday wisely. I’ve walked in the hills to think things over. I talked to my parents about why I left the police, cuddled my cats and shed the guise of a police officer for good. When I started out I hoped to make a difference. By the time I left, I had realised that while the police, the courts, and the lawmakers are working against one another the criminals will always thrive. Going forward from today I believe I can truly help to change things for the better,”
“Let’s go inside and I’ll give you a quick tour of our rooms and the other facilities in the block. Then we’ll get your things from the car and get you settled in properly. From the look of the piles of stuff in the back seat that will take ages.”
“Lead on,” said Zara. “I agree, get moved in first, have a bite to eat and after that, bed.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said Rusty.
“Will I get to see the rest of the estate tomorrow?” asked Zara.
“I’ve got a meeting at nine, so no lie-in for either of us,” Rusty replied, ruffling his partner’s hair. “It wouldn’t surprise me if you don’t get a call soon from Giles Burke, your new boss. He’ll want you to get used to the systems in the ice-house as soon as possible. As I understand it, Athena will give you the guided tour after the morning meeting. There are areas I’m afraid, that you won’t have clearance to enter. It’s best you don’t just wander off exploring, but Athena will explain everything.”
“Athena? Is that Ms Fox, the lady in charge when I visited here last year? I thought her name was Annette or Annabelle?”
They were at the door to their quarters. Rusty ushered Zara inside. He was used to basic and functional. Zara suddenly realised that although this might be several steps up from the barracks she saw portrayed on film and TV, it was far from luxurious.
“All the comforts of home,” said Rusty.
“It will do,” said Zara giving Rusty a squeeze. “If this is the price I have to pay to be with the man I love then I’m happy enough.”
Rusty and Zara left their quarters and Rusty pointed out the other rooms along the corridor that housed individual agents. They were the only couple in this part of the site.
“Beyond that, we have our own medical centre. It has state-of-the-art facilities to treat injured personnel. We also carry out cosmetic surgery on agents who need it to help hide their true identity from the outside world.”
“Gosh, we didn’t get shown any of this when we visited checking that Charity Commission query. Is the medical centre busy?”
Rusty drew a long breath.
“I can’t go into many of the details, but we got involved in a mission this morning.”
“Oh, that chap Martin said you returned from duty at lunchtime when he met me outside the manor house. What can you tell me?”
“It was hairy; I can tell you that,” said Rusty. “We suffered casualties and one of the wounded got brought back here. I think they discharged him a while ago. It was only a flesh wound. He’s on his way home now.”
“I passed a van on the way in. Don’t the agents have to live in here at Larcombe?”
“We have people all over the world, Zara; with the majority being here in the UK. There are similar establishments to this one scattered around,” Rusty began, but he paused and considered for a moment how much detail he should tell her. “Maybe that can wait until you’ve been here a while and settle in properly. Little bits will be uncovered as you work with Giles, anyway. It won’t take long to build up the big picture. Let’s move in your things; then if you have more questions, we can chat over dinner.”
“I’ve got a lot to learn,” said Zara, “the first thing I must learn is to be patient.”
Rusty put an arm around her shoulder and they walked up the corridor towards the car crammed with Zara’s belongings. Dinner would be a while yet.
Meanwhile, in the main building, Phoenix and Athena had found one another at last.
He had phoned Rusty and then spent an energetic hour in the pool and the gym, followed by a late lunch. Athena finished her meeting with Alastor and was ploughing through the research he’d gathered on the Olympians for her when Phoenix wandered back into the apartment.
“Thank God you’re back safe, darling,” she said, running to him and throwing her arms around his neck, Athena kissed him and clung to him for several minutes. Phoenix didn’t have the energy or the inclination to move.
Phoenix eventually led her to the sofa and made her sit. He took her through the details of the Eton Wick mission. Athena was visibly upset that Jack Mould and the London agents had perished.
“What reaction has there been?” he asked, “I’ve been too strung-out to follow up; I needed time to clear my head.”
Athena told him that so far, no news at all had been received. Giles was keeping tabs on the media, waiting for the story to break. Since the farm at Eton Wick was fairly remote and the farmer’s family estranged, they may have a day or two’s grace before the proverbial hit the fan.
“What did you get up to while I was gone? Anything interesting?” asked Phoenix.
There was so much she could tell him. For now, Athena simply wanted to enjoy the fact that Phoenix had got back home safe.
“Oh, just Olympus admin work, that’s all, nothing but boring paperwork.”
As they relaxed together, watching the clock tick around until Artemis arrived at Larcombe, Athena reflected on her meeting with Alastor. His progress was slow, but in time, she remained convinced it would bear fruit. The pair had scheduled further meetings; meetings she needed to keep from Phoenix for the time being.
The phone rang. Phoenix answered. After he rang off, he said: -
“The security staff have informed us that Artemis has arrived; she’s with Rusty in the stable block. Do you want to go over to greet her?”
“They’ll be moving her things in and getting oriented in their quarters. Let’s leave the lovers alone tonight. There will be time tomorrow to catch up with them both.”
Athena stood up and walked to the bedroom door.
“Lovers should be alone, don’t you think? We can eat later, let’s sharpen our appetites.”
Phoenix pushed himself wearily off the sofa and traipsed towards the bedroom. What time had that alarm sounded this morning? How many lengths of the pool had he swum this afternoon? Oh well, sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
It took two hours to get everything where it needed to go.
Rusty and Zara stood back and admired their handiwork. Her clothes had been stored away and a few ornaments from her Bath home made their quarters look more dignified.
“It’s time to show you the old workers’ cottages,” said Rusty.
“What have you got hidden away in there, a ten-pin bowling alley?” asked Zara.
“Not much call for that here, but we have a staff canteen, a cinema, plus a swimming pool and fitness centre.”
“You’re kidding,” said Zara.
“Come and see,” said Rusty. “If we’re quick we might have time to eat and then watch a film.”
“After the day we’ve both had I reckon a meal and that early night might be preferable, said Zara.
“No argument from me,” said Rusty with a grin.
While they were treating themselves to being served with a three-course dinner in the staff canteen, Rusty asked if Zara had any more questions. She hesitated; then said that they could keep for now.
“There’s one thing you need to know,” said Rusty, “as from tonight you will no longer be referred to at Larcombe as Zara Wheeler. None of the staff, including Martin, who met you on arrival, know your true identity. To protect that, and Olympus, those agents who are not subject to the charity's headcount of
ex-service personnel being treated for PTSD, is given a code name. As you thought earlier, Annabelle Fox is indeed Athena. You can never divulge that information to anyone. You must take that secret to the grave. From now on you will be called Artemis. She was the goddess of the hunt. Athena thought it fitted your role in the ice-house perfectly.”
“When I drove in through those gates this evening,” said Artemis, getting used to her new name, “I knew my life was going to change. I never imagined that change would be so dramatic. Do you have any more shocks in store?”
“Not tonight,” said Rusty.
In the main house, the other pair of lovers were entwined in each other's arms. Phoenix was dropping off to sleep. Athena was battling with her thoughts.
“Phoenix,” she finally began, “we’ve never discussed the future. Missions like today’s show that nothing is certain. Jack Mould’s family will never see him again; they could never have imagined that this morning. We’re a couple, but we’ve never considered marriage or what might follow. What do you think?”
Phoenix was wide awake now.
“What might follow marriage? Divorce I guess, but in our case it’s unlikely. We are a couple Athena, and I want to be with you as long as I live. Missions such as today’s show that in my line of work, I can’t control how long that might be. I’ve been married twice before and if we did marry, I believe it would be third time lucky; but if we stay as we are then I’d be just as content with that.”
“What about what might follow if we’re a couple, whether we’re married or not?”
Phoenix thought for a while.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” he asked quietly.
Athena started to cry softly as her head rested on his chest.
“I haven’t plucked up the courage to do the test yet, but I think I’m pregnant. I’m sorry.”
“Sorry? Why be sorry? It’s twelve years since my gorgeous Sharron died; I avenged her death three summers ago. That was a different life. My life now is with Olympus, at Larcombe with you.”
Athena was still crying, but her tears turned to tears of joy.
“Perhaps I should amend that,” Phoenix whispered in her ear, “at Larcombe with you and the baby.”
CHAPTER 16
Monday, July 22nd, 2013
Athena chaired the morning meeting at nine o’clock. The Eton Wick mission was discussed at length. Giles Burke had heard nothing whatever. Nothing that suggested the so-called film crew raised any more than a disgruntled eyebrow on the occasional passer-by in the lanes surrounding the farm.
The late Dimitar Marinov and his gang were being allowed to rest in peace for a while longer. The tormented Christopher Mellish had to stay seated at his kitchen table. It was too early in the day to tell whether the patrols on the M5 had been resurrected. Or if a new initiative dreamt up by the Met would direct their search for the murderous foreign gang towards the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. For now, everything stayed calm.
As soon as the meeting ended, Phoenix and Rusty got together and discussed the impending visit to Jack Mould’s family. Rusty provided his friend with the correct words and phrases that served him well over the years when breaking dreadful news to loved ones. Phoenix set off on the twenty-five-minute drive. It wouldn’t be easy, but at least, he had the tools for the job now.
Once Phoenix and Rusty left the room, Athena asked Giles if Artemis had been shown around the intelligence section. Giles shook his head.
“I rang their quarters at about half-past nine but got no reply; I assumed they were already asleep.”
“Several of us decided on an early night, last night Giles, it was a long and busy day. I’ll call her now and we’ll talk to you later.”
Giles and Henry Case trotted back to the ice-house to keep an eye on their teams. Their team continued the incessant gathering of scraps of data that helped them be such a valuable resource to the Olympus Project.
Athena rang the stable block. Rusty walked through the door just as Zara picked up the phone. She had been expecting the call and recognised the voice. It was the well-educated, upper-class voice of the woman she interviewed last year.
“Good morning, Athena,” she said, “I’m looking forward to meeting you.”
The call ended without delay.
“She’s picking me up from here in ten minutes; we’re off on a walkabout,” said Zara.
“Have fun,” said Rusty, “I’ll catch up with you later today. No doubt Athena will drop you off with Giles Burke after the tour and you’ll be pitched straight in at the deep end.”
Athena had left the drawing-room and was striding across the lawns towards the stable block. She felt a little anxious about meeting new people, particularly ex-police officers. She and Phoenix agreed in the New Year that as Rusty’s partner then this young lady must be welcomed and assimilated into the team.
The two women met at the entrance to the stable block. Rusty had suggested it might be better than make Athena knock on the door of the quarters where she and Phoenix became lovers. Not that it was likely to be a painful memory, but it avoided any potential embarrassment.
“Artemis, welcome to Larcombe Manor,” said Athena warmly, “it’s lovely to meet you again.”
“Thank you, Athena,” replied Artemis, “we’re on the same side this time.”
“Rusty obviously got you settled in last evening. I gather he gave you the tour of the stable block and the workers’ cottages?”
“We were too tired to do much more yesterday. I want to see as much as I can today before I start working.”
“Let’s walk then; yes, there will be areas you won’t visit just yet. As we get to know you, and you get to know us, then the access codes on the electronic pass you will receive can be reprogrammed.”
The two women set off towards the manor house.
“The orangery is spectacular, in my opinion. My old boss Erebus used to visit it almost every day. Rusty has meetings there with my co-leader here at Larcombe from time to time; I’ll walk you through to appreciate the ambience of the place, but this area is off-limits after today.”
Artemis admired the elegant structure, its furniture and accessories; they oozed quality.
“It’s beautiful,” said Artemis, “but I feel out-of-place in here. This is more of a gentleman’s domain.”
Athena laughed.
“I can’t imagine what Phoenix will make of being called a ‘gentleman’ and we both know Rusty is a man’s man.”
As they left the orangery and walked across the roadway to the kitchen garden, Artemis filed away another piece of information about her new home. The co-leader was code-named Phoenix; she wondered who he had been in his pre-Olympus life?
“We grow our own vegetables and fruit as you can see,” Athena said as they skirted around the side of the walled garden.
“What a lovely selection of herbs too,” said Artemis, as the various scents reached her nose.
“Rusty has told you that the charity is a cover for our true purpose. The garden and the ex-servicemen who tend to it are vital as a smokescreen for the outside world. When the commissioners visit, they see this and the men pruning trees and plants, watering flowers and shrubs, mowing the lawns. That helps reinforce the message that they are in recovery from the horrors they have experienced in war zones around the world. The fact we have the fruits of their labour available to our chefs and housekeepers is a bonus.”
Artemis thought how naïve she had been when she had been here last time. She had taken everything at face value. Just as the Charity Commissioners had done over the years. It was so plausible and so clever. Athena led her on towards the main building.
The two women stood on the patio in front of the Georgian manor house and Athena briefly outlined its history. Artemis listened intently but knew that this was another ‘no-go’ area for her, for the present. She couldn’t help thinking that her world was shrinking fast.
“It’s a beautiful day, so let’s
enjoy the gardens. Erebus walked this way often. He and his wife planted many of the trees and shrubs. The loving couple sat on the patio and looked out over the estate and watched their only daughter Helen riding her pony around the grounds.”
“Is the daughter living locally then?” asked Artemis, “won’t she inherit this estate when this Erebus and Elizabeth die?”
“Elizabeth died only recently, but Helen was killed by a drunk driver years ago. That event proved to be one of the key motivators in the creation of the project.”
“What happened to your old boss?” asked Artemis.
“He retired at Christmas time; he’s living on the island of Ibiza now. When he goes, the manor house and his estate will pass to Olympus.”
Ahead of them now stood the old cottages.
“We’ll skip this as you’ve seen the facilities on offer there,” said Athena, “beyond the cottages you there’s a wooded section. That forest extends to the edges of the property. There’s little to see except an awful lot of trees. Erebus created a tiny pet cemetery in the woods over there at the rear of the ice-house. I believe it helped to pacify a young Helen when the family cats and dogs died. There are no headstones to read I’m afraid; it’s creepy if you ask me. I never go there.”
Artemis shivered; the pet cemetery didn’t sound like a place she wanted to visit either.
They stood at the entrance to the ice-house. Artemis had no clue how this insignificant folly of a building could be the same ‘ice-house’ Rusty described as her new place of work. She turned around, but this was their last port of call.
“I can tell you’re confused,” laughed Athena, “follow me.”
Athena led her through the doorway. Athena pressed the call button. Artemis heard the lift rise for a few seconds and then the steel doors slid open.
“Shall we?” said her tour guide.
Artemis followed her host into the lift and watched as she selected the button for the first level of three. When the doors opened, they walked into the command centre.
“This is where we track the movements of identified criminal targets, track any possible terrorist threat and anything that threatens our national security. There are recreation rooms, dental surgery, and operating theatre. Staff can take it in turns to sleep here in shifts if we’re under severe pressure, those beds are at the far end. No doubt you will prefer to walk back to the stable block. This is the floor where you will be working. The two floors below us house the armoury, a shooting range and things of that nature.”
