‘That’s okay, babe. You can do that. I don’t mind.’
She was silent again. Then: ‘Something’s come up at work.’
‘Like what?’
‘I’ve been asked to do a covert operation. I’ve said I will.’
‘You didn’t talk to me first?’
‘It’s an important operation. I couldn’t walk away. Clive wants to talk to you about it first thing tomorrow morning. With me there. I’m sorry about that. I hate having him involved in our lives like this but I have to.’
‘What’s the operation about?’
‘That’s what we have to talk about tomorrow.’
‘How much danger is there?’
‘I’ve been promised full backup and I have an opt-out clause if I decide I can’t handle it.’
‘What exactly do they want you to do?’
‘Nothing I couldn’t tell you about if it wasn’t for the secrecy involved.’
‘That’s nice to know,’ he said, beginning to feel angry. ‘That’s three questions I’ve asked you and not one straight answer.’
‘I can’t give you one, not until tomorrow’s meeting. That’s the condition Clive has laid down. If I break it, he’ll take me off the job. You can trust me too, you know.’
‘I do. But I don’t trust Clive.’
‘He’s got his own agenda. But this is a job I want to do as well.’
‘Don’t forget us.’
‘I never stop thinking about you or Ellie,’ she said. ‘You mean too much to me.’
That night, when he asked her if she wanted to make love, she said she was too tired, even though he judged she was less tired tonight than she had been last night. He felt her tense in his arms and let it go. In a matter of a few days the world had changed. They could be happy if people would leave them alone. That wasn’t going to happen. But he was ready for anyone out there, and if they meant business, so did he. Tomorrow, after he’d spoken to Clive, he was going searching for a few answers. He went to sleep with some sense of security, if only because he knew his gun was in reach if he needed it.
The next day was a very early start for them both. It wasn’t much after seven when Harrigan dropped Ellie off at the childcare centre. She was cranky and unhappy at having her routine upset.
‘I’ll come and get you this afternoon, princess. Don’t you worry,’ he said. ‘If we can, we’ll go and see your brother.’
Grace was ahead of him. She must have been at work for half an hour when he pulled up at Orion’s entrance. The guard was expecting him and let him through. Harrigan had been here twice before: once for a security clearance when he and Grace had set up house together; and a second time when Clive, new to his job, had insisted on going through the process all over again. While Harrigan had dealt easily enough with the questions, he’d left wishing that Grace worked for someone else. The man was a cold-blooded manipulator, someone who played games for the kick he got out of it.
He was waiting for Harrigan in one of the rooms Orion used when they interviewed members of the public, all of which were on the perimeter of the building. Given what the meeting was about, Harrigan wondered why Clive hadn’t asked him into his office. He did have a top-secret security clearance, given to him by Clive himself.
‘Where’s Grace?’ he asked, after he’d sat down.
‘She’ll be here,’ Clive said. ‘What has she told you about this?’
‘She’s been asked to undertake a covert operation. That’s it.’
Clive was pleased with this. ‘You’re aware that this organisation can’t give you any more information than that.’
‘Is that what this meeting’s about? For you to tell me I can’t be told anything?’
‘It’s a dangerous operation and secrecy is paramount. I want your cooperation in every way.’
‘First tell me what that actually means,’ Harrigan said.
‘Your partner has advised me you’re being stalked. I had an email from her this morning saying the Ponticellis may be behind it.’
‘I can’t be absolutely certain of that but it’s a possibility we shouldn’t discount.’
‘And you’re investigating these incidents.’
‘What are you getting at?’
‘I want you to stop as of now. I understand you can call on the services of the New South Wales police to protect you and your daughter if you need to. I want you to do that. My people will handle the phone call and the other matters.’
Harrigan was silent for a few moments.
‘What right have you got to tell me I can’t protect my wife and daughter?’ he asked in his neutral voice. It was the first time he’d ever called Grace his wife. He didn’t know where the word had come from, but, sitting opposite Clive, he knew he meant it.
‘Anything that affects your partner’s identity as an operative could endanger the success of this operation and her physical safety.’ Clive emphasised the word partner. ‘Our legislation allows me to direct you not to interfere. There are penalties for ignoring that directive, up to a maximum of seven years’ gaol. I’ve sent out a protocol to the New South Wales police. If you contact them as a result of any personal inquiries you may make, they have to notify me.’
Harrigan wanted to laugh when he heard this but suppressed it. Clive might react vengefully. He sat quietly, looking him in the eye. Eventually Clive could no longer meet his gaze and looked away.
‘Why should my investigating these incidents interfere with your operation?’ Harrigan asked. ‘How can they possibly be connected?’
‘Under the circumstances you qualify as a wild card. I’m not going to allow any possibility, however remote or unlikely, to disrupt this operation.’
‘Grace still isn’t here,’ Harrigan said.
‘She will be,’ Clive replied.
‘Why do you really not want me to track down whoever’s stalking my wife and daughter?’
‘I’ve told you,’ Clive said.
‘No, you haven’t. What you’ve just given me is your justification, but it’s not the reason. You said this mission is dangerous. Where does that leave Grace?’
‘With every possible resource available to protect her. I’m also going to request that on no account are you to ask her any questions about this operation. I don’t want any more pressure put on her.’
For an answer, Harrigan took out his mobile and rang her.
‘Where are you?’ she asked. ‘I’ve been waiting for you.’
‘I’m here in public meeting room two waiting for you, babe. Where are you?’
‘What are you doing there? I thought this was going to be in Clive’s office.’
Harrigan looked at Clive. ‘No. Clive didn’t want to see me in his office. We’ve been here for quite a while.’
‘No one told me. Give me five, max.’
Harrigan put his mobile away, still watching Clive closely. The Orion man was angry.
‘Don’t take this out on Grace,’ Harrigan said.
‘I don’t do that.’
Not much you don’t.
‘You don’t intimidate me,’ Harrigan said in a matter-of-fact voice.
Clive ignored this. ‘You’d be very well advised not to discuss this meeting with your partner. If you do, she’ll only worry. I’ve already told you. Don’t put any more pressure on her.’
Harrigan’s eyes said that if he could, he would have punched Clive out twice, for the two times he’d said this. The door opened and Grace walked in. Harrigan was already on his feet.
‘I thought I was involved in this,’ she said.
‘We’ve already discussed everything I need to know,’ Harrigan said.
‘Where do I fit in?’
‘We’ve gone over everything,’ Clive said.
‘See me out, babe. I’ll say goodbye to you in the car park.’ Harrigan turned to Clive. ‘You don’t mind, do you?’
‘We don’t have much time.’
Harrigan didn’t trust himself to reply. With Grace still puzzled, and glancing behind her at Clive, they left the room together.
‘What was that all about?’ she asked.
‘Can we go to your office?’
‘Not if you haven’t been given clearance to that part of the building. Why?’
‘Then just listen while we walk.’ He spoke softly. ‘Babe, your boss told me your operation is secret and I have to accept that. It’s already weighing on your mind, right? There’s just one thing you have to know. You can rely on me. I’m not going to ask you any questions and we’ll take it day by day. Okay?’