by Brian Cain
CHAPTER TWO
Jodi recalled sitting at her desk one morning and an unmistakably commanding fragrance engrossed her senses, it quickly swept to her brain switching on a vision of magnificence, she looked up and there before her stood Bella Elizabeth, her long black hair and piercing blue eyes enhanced her mesmerising smile. “Bella,” whispered Jodi, years of life as friends opened the door of Jodi’s heart and she leapt to her feet embracing the willing long lost apparition.
With a few broken tears the pair ventured into Fleet Street for coffee and a chat, Jodi frequented the same café every day smiling and nodding to a hoard of admiring men and inquisitive women. Today the pair stopped traffic, men stood with their back’s to the wall along the pavement under the guise of lighting a cigarette just to study the pair. Jodi noted the stark difference in atmosphere as they sat at her favourite table by the window of the busy establishment. Bella had changed, she commanded attention, she dominated appeal, she made men melt with just a smile, there was something about her confidence that was overpowering, as if she may strike like a viper if provoked, Jodi found her terrifying. They stowed their handbags beneath the table and sat down, the tables around them fell silent. “So what have you been doing all this time,” asked Jodi.
“I came to ask you the same question, other than your stories and columns I have no idea what you have been doing.”
Jodi sported an air of relief, she felt Bella drop her guard on purpose, the offer of a white rose. “We have four children now, the younger twins are just starting school, we live not far from here, John has been away a lot lately.”
Bella raised her eyebrows, having only just spoken to him the vixen in her blood surfaced to cover her tracks, she raised her perfectly manicured eyebrows. “Really, how sad, has he thought of doing something else, what does he do?”
Jodi was puzzled and hesitated. “I thought you would know, he’s working out of Vauxhall Cross.” She awaited Bella’s reply but Bella failed to yield any facial expression keeping her cards close to her chest in a poker faced ploy.
“Oh, then why is he away so much?”
“I have no idea, he can’t tell me anything and I don’t ask. You have a man in your life.”
“Yes, Gerard, we have a son.”
“Oh really, what’s his name.”
“John,” Jodi froze, even the long locks of her blonde hair sat still.
Jodi hesitated. “John, how old is he?”
“He’s been in school two years.”
Jodi thought deep, her eldest had been in school the same time. “When did you meet Gerard, what’s he like?”
“After your wedding, we met in a visit to Paris with mum and dad while you were on your honeymoon, things happened quickly.”
Jodi was interrupted by the waiter, they ordered coffee. “Oh I see, he was born in France.”
“No he was born on British soil.”
Jodi dropped the line of questions and changed the subject. “You’re working.”
“Yes, Whitehall mainly.”
“With MI.”
“Information gathering for the secretary of state, bit boring really, bloody paperwork.”
Jodi smiled. “So were both stuck with it, I can’t complain I love what I do, I even work at home.”
“Jodi I’m worried about you.”
Jodi looked perplexed and shook her head. “Why?’
“Things aren’t always as they seem.”
Jodi’s face turned to stone. “God you sound like John,” she hesitated. “Why are you here?”
“Some of your father's employees and your work accomplices are conducting themselves in a manner requiring investigation and I know you have nothing to do with it. You need to distance yourself from some of them.”
“I see,” Jodi had only that morning received anonymous information that she should listen to a long lost friend that may bring solid advice. “Have you been talking to John, have you seen him, your not telling me the truth.”
“I’m telling you what you need to know.”
“My god that’s what John would say.”
“You know what I do, why act nonchalant in an effort not to offend. I have no idea where John is or what he’s doing no one does, that’s all I’m going to say, now you need to know this.”
“Is it you that sends the leads.”
“No, well, yes I have done when I’m worried about you.”
Jodi looked out the window with a scorn then back at Bella. “I can look after myself.”
“Don’t be so stupid, if it wasn’t for John you and I would be dead and a host of other’s we love.”
They sipped their coffee in silence a while avoiding each others gaze. “You have a name for me.”
“Hedley Pike.”
Jodi exhaled, then slowly nodded in approval. “Oh dear.”
“He’s hacking phones and throwing money around, he’s crossed the line.”
“I’ll talk to him.”
“You’ll keep away from him.” Jodi looked Bella in the eyes, she could see the serious derision vested in Bella’s look.
“He’s protected by some.”
“That’ll change.”
“You came here to gloat.”
Bella gathered her bag and stood. “No I came because I love you,” she walked toward the door.
Jodi shouted to her. “Bella.” She looked around about to leave the entrance. “Sorry.” Bella smiled, waved and vanished.
Jodi didn’t see which way she went, she thought it odd she could just disappear, she studied the lipstick marks on Bella’s unfinished coffee cup touching the only remaining reminisce of her dear friend. She sat for a while studying the bustling street while she finished her coffee when a young man, dark hair and shiny patent shoes, dark suit, stood over her. He brandished ID.
“James Felton MI5 Mrs Stanton, you know Bella Elizabeth Fonteyn.”
A booming voice came from behind him. “You beat off in the shower.” Felton looked around and gazed straight into the face of John Stanton. “You’re dead right, it’s none of my business, now on your bike.”
Felton pocketed his ID and shuffled away in silence. Stanton starred at two men of similar dress seated a table away from Jodi, they rose and hastily left. He sat down with his wife. “John, what an earth is going on, Bella was here, who are those men.” Jodi whispered, the café patrons looking over their shoulders.
“If Bella was here then it speaks for itself, those men are from our side MI5, seems we are making a splash and they don’t like the wake. You can’t come here any more Jodi, you will have to be taken to and from work, things have changed.”
“I like coming here, I don’t want to hide, what’s happening John.”
“You’re a smart lady Jod....”
“You know I don’t like that shortened assertion of my name.”
“Sorry love. Jodi you understand the separation of powers.”
Jodi pouted and nodded. “Yes of course I do.”
“Could come down to just a few people the way things are going, you’re organisations have some nasty powerful people lobbying the government to allow them to do whatever they please.”
Jodi stretched out and held her husbands hand. “Why us John?”
“Because we’re here love,” he squeezed her hand in reassurance. “Come on I’ll take you back to your office, you’ll be picked up this afternoon, I’ll call you and tell you what time.”
“You know I leave at five thirty.”
“And so does everyone else.”
Jodi put her hand over her mouth. “Oh my god the boys.”
“Are being picked up as well, will just have to be like that from now on.”
“You never tell me everything do you, I’d like the truth.”
“Handling the truth can be difficult, some things you need not know, they are on a need to know basis.”
Jodi noticed the handle of a gun holstered to the body of her husband beneath his jacket. “John you have a weapon.”
“Yes love, I always have one or we’d be dead, or at least I would.”
“What’s happening to us?”
“Nothing any different happening to me, it’s for you things change.” He took his wife’s hand and led her from the café, the chatted along Fleet Street and Stanton delivered his wife to her office. He then accessed the office of a one Hedley Pike just across the hall from Jodi’s and closed the door, Stanton left and a few minutes later Pike cleared his desk. He glanced at Jodi briefly who looked at him with scorn; he gazed at the floor and left the building with his belongings. From then on Jodi’s life changed.
