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Date Posted: 14:26:12 06/21/02 Fri
Author: Repost Fairy
Author Host/IP: 64.193.19.25
Subject: Chapter 77
In reply to: Repost Fairy 's message, "Burden of Proof - 68 and up" on 11:17:24 06/21/02 Fri

“Madeline, can you come to my office?”

“Certainly. I’ll be there in a few moments.”

While he waited for her to arrive, Paul brought up the Vachek database on his screen. He skimmed through the encrypted files until he’d found what he was looking for – the documents detailing Michael’s deep cover profile.

MI5’s Head of Profiling appeared in his doorway. “What’s up?”

He glanced up from the computer screen. “Close the door, would you?”

Madeline looked at him curiously, but did as he asked, then walked gracefully toward his desk. Paul took a moment’s respite from his bleak thoughts to appreciate the picture she made. As always, her makeup was immaculate, her dark, shoulder-length hair perfectly arranged. As always, she took his breath away. She was wearing that suit again, the tight-fitting maroon one with the knockout neckline. The one that always managed to make him lose track of what he was thinking.

Dismissing the rather enticing scenario of peeling off that suit to reveal the sleek curves his lips and hands knew by heart, Paul gestured toward his visitor’s chair. A time and a place for everything, he thought with faint impatience, shifting slightly in his chair. He waited until she was seated before he got straight to the point. “I just had a rather interesting call.” He heard the sarcasm in his own voice. “One I thought you might be interested in hearing about.”

Madeline’s dark eyes gleamed with speculation. “Anyone I know?”

“Oh, yes.” Paul gave her a bitter smile. “Adrian Wendham-Smythe.”

Her eyes widened slightly. “Adrian rang you here?”

“Yes.”

Her delicate features were tight with disapproval. “For what reason?”

“Quite a valid one, unfortunately.” Paul looked at her, already anticipating her reaction to his news. “Lucy Dian is pregnant.”

Madeline nodded slowly, and he could almost see her mind race ahead in leaps and bounds. “I see.” She sighed softly. “It was bound to happen, sooner or later.”

Paul fought against the urge to roll his eyes. “That may well be, but the timing couldn’t be worse, and you know it.” He drew cigarettes out of his inside coat pocket, then tossed them onto his desk with a muttered oath, remembering an earlier conversation on the subject of smoking.

“What, exactly, did Adrian say?” Amusement danced in her dark brown eyes, and he had the uncomfortable feeling she was laughing at him.

“Bottom line? She suggested I have Michael contact Rene Dian on a secure channel, before Rene Dian has the chance to contact Michael on an unsecured one.”

“I see.” Madeline looked thoughtful, but not unduly concerned. “What’s your opinion?”

“I think it’s a very bad idea.”

She regarded him for a moment in silence, then gave him a small smile. “Paul, as much as I hate to admit it, Adrian does have a point. It would be better to take preventative action now, rather than be forced to administer damage control later.”

Paul rubbed his chin with his fingers, mulling over her words. She was right, of course. She usually was. But it was still a potential nightmare. “Even with preventative measures in place, what guarantee do we have Michael will remain focused on the end game?”

“I think you’re underestimating him, Paul.” It was a gentle rebuke. “His performance over the last five years has been extraordinary.”

He scowled at her. “You sound like Adrian.”

Madeline smiled, but her eyes glittered with an emotion he couldn’t quite place. “God forbid.”

Paul felt a smile touch his own lips, remembering his conversation with the widow of his former superior. “She was certainly in fine form. When she’d finished lecturing me about Rene, she accused me of luring her grandson into the organisation under false pretences.”

Madeline studied him carefully. “Did you?”

Slightly taken aback by her bluntness, Paul stared at her, his mind racing. This woman knew him better than any other living soul. They’d known each other for ten years, and had been sporadically sleeping together for eight, ever since he’d managed to entice her away from that old bore, Charles.

Before the advent of Madeline into his bed, he’d never mixed work with pleasure. Old habits died hard. Returning her gaze unwaveringly, Paul offered only a guarded reply. “I told him what he needed to know.”

Madeline arched an elegant eyebrow. “Which was?”

They looked at each other for a moment in silence, but Paul saw the determined gleam in her eye. She was going to know the answer to her question, whether he liked it or not. He shook his head in weary admiration. “That Vachek was the main arms supplier to the terrorist faction responsible for the deaths of his parents.”

Her serene expression didn’t change. “So he doesn’t know Vachek personally orchestrated the hit on the Sudanese Ambassador - that the hotel was bombed on Vachek’s direct orders?”

“No.”

“I see.” She nodded, comprehension swiftly dawning in her eyes. “Was that intentional on your part?”

“Quite.” As he spoke, he was relieved to see no sign of disapproval in Madeline’s expression. “The less he knew, the higher the success rate.”

“Of course.” Madeline gave him a knowing smile. “The craving for retribution can be a wonderful motivator, but it needs to be controlled very carefully.”

He shot her an admiring glance. As usual, she had grasped the heart of the matter immediately. “Yes, we needed Michael to be dedicated to the cause of bringing Vachek down. What we didn’t need was for him to be dedicated to the extent that would make him a liability.”

Madeline lifted one eyebrow. “Quite a juggling act.”

Paul smiled modestly. “It’s worked so far.”

“What do you need me to do?”

He thought for a moment. “Has Michael already left?”

“I believe so.”

“Good.” Paul gave Madeline a sharp look. “Tell him about the call to Rene, but not until Monday. Vachek’s meet is this weekend. We can’t afford any mistakes, and I don’t want Michael’s train of thought derailed by the news that he’s going to be an uncle.”

Her full lips twitched. “I understand. Will that be all?”

“Yes, thank you.“ He watched her walk toward the door, admiring the supple sway of her hips. “Madeline?” She turned back to face him. “What did you find out about Vachek’s latest legal problem?”

“We’re still working on it. I should have something for you by this afternoon.”

“Good.”

She appeared to hesitate, rare for Madeline. “I may be overstepping the mark here…”

Paul looked at her curiously. “No, go ahead.”

“The full story behind Vachek’s involvement will eventually come out. Michael won’t be happy when he finds you’ve kept him out of the loop.”

He waved a careless hand. “Michael had to get Vachek to trust him. Had to get close to the man. He couldn’t have done that if he knew what sort of person Vachek really was.”

Madeline looked at him, her dark eyes suddenly cool and unreadable. “Michael’s no fool, Paul. He’s been working with Vachek for five years. I would imagine by now, he’s worked it out for himself.”

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  • Chapter 78 -- Repost Fairy, 14:28:39 06/21/02 Fri
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