Terror Illusion
Page 27
The radio alarm on Karen’s bedside table went off at six o’clock next morning. Jonathan saw that Karen was already up. He pulled on his jeans and shirt and walked out to the kitchen where Karen was cooking a breakfast of sausages and eggs. A pot of fresh brewed coffee stood on the kitchen counter.
“Good morning, Karen.”
“Good morning. Why don’t you jump into the shower while I finish cooking breakfast? There are some spare towels in the airing cupboard.”
“I’ll do that,” said Jonathan and he found the towels and went into the bathroom. Freshened up but dressed in yesterday’s clothes he went back to the kitchen, just as Karen was placing the breakfast plates on the kitchen table.
“Would you like any orange juice?” said Karen.
“No thanks,” said Jonathan. “Coffee will be just fine for me.” He poured himself a cup of coffee then sat down at the kitchen table. Karen sat down and they both started to eat their breakfast.
“Thank you for a great weekend, Karen,”
“It was a lovely day yesterday, wasn’t it? I hope we can spend a few more weekends together when we have the time.”
They finished breakfast and cleared away the dishes. “I’ll wash the dishes while you get ready for work if you like,” said Jonathan.
“What are your plans today,” said Karen.
“I’m going back to the flat to get some fresh clothes then I’ll probably go and see a movie. I don’t have to be at Roger’s office until tomorrow afternoon.”
“I’ll travel down with you on the tube as far as King’s Cross, if you like. That’s where I change trains to get to my office.”
“I would enjoy your company on the journey.”
Jonathan washed the dishes and put them away while Karen got ready.
They locked up the house and walked together to West Finchley tube station. They travelled together on the train until it reached King’s Cross where Karen had to change trains.
“I may see you tomorrow evening at Roger’s office,” said Karen as she stood up to leave.
“See you then,” said Jonathan and he waved goodbye. He continued on until Moorgate where he changed trains for Tower Hill, then took the pleasant walk back to the St. Katharines flat. He decided to shave and clean his teeth and take another quick shower after discarding his old clothes in his bedroom. After he got dressed again, he poured himself a glass of grapefruit juice and walked over to the table in the window to enjoy it and to plan out his day. He was actually rather at a loose end for the next twenty four hours or so. There were a couple of movies that had just been released which he hadn’t seen so he decided to go and see those. He would not go to the centre of London where the cinema prices would be outrageous so he decided to take the tube to Richmond in south west London. It was just far enough out of London to be quieter and less crowded but easy to get to.
He thoroughly enjoyed his train ride out to Richmond and he found both of the films he saw very interesting as well as entertaining. By the time the second film finished it was late afternoon. Jonathan did not particularly fancy struggling through the London rush hour so he popped into a bookshop and bought a paperback book about spying, then he found a very pleasant pub where he spent a couple of hours enjoying a rather drinkable best bitter and reading his book. He left the pub and found an Indian restaurant a few doors along from the pub where he enjoyed a hot chicken curry. Finally, he went back to the tube station and headed home. Mac was at the flat when Jonathan got back. He was relaxing and watching television. He muted the sound.
“Hello Jonathan. How was your weekend?”
“Very enjoyable. I’ve had a pretty lazy day today.”
“That’s good. In this business you never know when you are going to get called out so you need to take your R and R when you can get it.”
“What’s the plan for tomorrow?”
“Roger has planned to get you into Mendellson’s office as a cleaner. He will pick you up here at the flat at four thirty tomorrow afternoon. You are a free bird until then. We’ll all have a meeting at Roger’s office after you get back from Mendellson’s office.”
Jonathan slumped down in one of the armchairs and Mac turned the television sound back on. They sat there together watching the news then Jonathan hauled himself out of his chair and stood up.
“I’m off to bed, if you don’t mind, Mac.”
“Sleep well, Jonathan.”
Chapter 26