Chapter 37
*****
She sniffs. "What is it?"
"Glögi." Her brow furrows. "Mulled wine to you and me. And…." I taste…. "I'd say they've added some vodka to this one. Go on, drink up. If that doesn't warm you up, nothing will."
She gulps, then coughs, spluttering. "Wow. You weren't joking about the vodka."
"Oh, yes. The Finns love their vodka. Russian influence I suppose."
Her eyes go 'faraway'. "Yes, Russia's quite close isn't it."
"It's very close. You can just about see Estonia from Helsinki…."
"Really?"
"Yup. It's only from the high points and with good viewing, but it's there."
She shivers. "Not a good place to be at the moment; Russia, with all the unrest."
"No…. I suppose not…."
Russia….
The whole Eastern bloc's unsteady….
Some opportunities there….
…. Plenty wanting to get to the West….
*****
She is intoxicating; like a drug to me. She smiles, and I smile back. She laughs, and I laugh with her.
All through the daylight, such as it is, we walk and talk, wandering from one small cafe to another. We eat, we drink, enjoying the winter and the lights and the music. And it all feels so natural.
Back at the hotel, we talk. Either at the bar, or at the dinner table, or in the bed, both of us still wearing those ridiculous pyjamas.
*****
James
There is a tap at my office door. "Come in."
Francis pushes it open then hovers, looking wary. "James, I have Kirstie on from the lobby. She says Ben Summerford is here and is asking to see you."
What the fuck?
"I have given clear instructions that he is not…."
Francis gives me a Don't-piss-with-me look, but her voice is calm. "I think he's giving her a hard time, James. She doesn't sound very happy."
I bite down on my temper.
Just about had enough of this….
"Tell her I'm on my way. And alert Security that I may want them on call."
"Yes, James." And she steps smartly back out of my way.
*****
Kirstie bites her lip as I exit the elevator.
Nervous?
So you should be….
Ben is there, unusually for him, wearing suit and tie.
"Is the conference room vacant, Kirstie?"
"Yes, sir."
I jerk my chin across the lobby, sending Ben to the room, then stab a finger at Kirstie. "You too." Her head ducks and she trails along.
As the door closes behind us, Ben starts to speak but I turn to Kirstie, keeping my voice sharp. "I do not care for these constant interruptions. I have a job to do. So do you." I jab a finger at her. "And I gave you clear instructions that this man was not to be permitted into the building."
Ben breaks in. "Hey, James…. Mr Alexanders…. Please don't take it out on Kirstie. She did ask me to leave, but I said that I wanted to talk to you."
Kirstie retreats to a corner….
We're not done yet….
I turn to Ben, arms folded. "And what exactly did you wish to discuss with me?"
He sucks at his cheeks….
Mouth dry?
"I came to apologise."
It's the last thing I expected to hear. "Apologise?"
Hands in pockets, he scuffs at the ground, not meeting my eyes. "Yes, apologise…."
Yeah… Right…
So, where's this going?
I don't speak. If Ben has come with something to say, I'd rather just hear it.
"I spoke with Kirstie a few days ago…." he says.
I flash a glance her way. She's pale.
"…. She didn't want to talk to me, gave me a real piece of her mind.…"
Did she now….
"…. She told me that, well, all of you are volunteers in what you're doing and that's it's really none of my business and…. that I should apologise to you."
That can't have been easy….
Unnerving for her….
How to deal with this?
"It's not me who needs the apology, Ben," I say. "I can understand why you felt the need to defend your brother. But Charlotte is a different matter."
"I know…." He meets my eyes but then looks away. "I know. Is she here? I'll talk to her while you're present if you would prefer that. I'm guessing that you don't want to leave me alone in her company…"
You think?