A Spy by Nature - Charles Cumming [156]
‘You asked who I am,’ he says. ‘I will tell you. There are people in this room who are answerable to me. That is all that I am prepared to say. What I have come here tonight to tell you is this. In view of what has happened today we are terminating our arrangement with you. I imagine that you might have expected as much.’
I nod.
‘You will be only too aware that we are under no obligation to keep you on as a support agent. Your contract is with Abnex Oil. Whether or not David decides to renew it is a matter to be settled entirely between the two of you, with the possible input of Alan Murray. The position of the Security Service is straightforward. We are letting you go.’
Only Sinclair has the guts to look at me: both Lithiby and Caccia stare down at the floor, briefly ashamed by what Elworthy has said. The room is suddenly very silent, as if even the walls are absorbing the news. Then Caccia speaks.
‘Abnex are in a similar bind, I’m afraid. After what has happened in the last few days, we feel it would be ill-advised for you to continue as an employee. There may be risks involved. I’m thinking, for example, about Harry coming back to work in due course. How will he feel if you’re still on the team?’
I am enraged by this.
‘I am not the one responsible for what happened to Harry…’
‘That’s not the point I’m making,’ says Caccia. ‘As far as he is concerned, you are a liability, an industrial spy for God’s sake. The last thing we need is for him to start digging all of this up once it’s been put to bed.’
‘Whether I’m there or not won’t stop him doing that.’
‘Oh, I think it will,’ says Lithiby, and I see that they have agreed to present a united front against me. Tonight is not about argument or debate: tonight is about eradicating Milius.
‘So I’ve outlived my usefulness. Is that it? You just wash your hands of me, after everything I’ve done?’
‘You will receive a generous pay-off from Abnex Oil,’ says Caccia, blinking rapidly.
Lithiby again interrupts.
‘We suggest that you get out of London for the time being. Take a holiday or something. Let the dust settle.’
I actually laugh at this, at the effrontery of it.
‘Take a holiday? That’s it? That’s your advice?’ Even Elworthy, for the first time, looks uneasy. ‘And where do you think I should go? Where’s nice this time of year? Do I check the brakes on my car? Spend the next thirty years looking over my shoulder?’
‘That is an over-reaction,’ he says, though with the knowledge of what happened to Cohen, it is the least authoritative thing Lithiby has said all night.
‘I’ll tell you what I want,’ I say to them, and for a moment it is as if I have a measure of control. Having expected to be sacked, and having no great wish to remain at Abnex, the single thing I care about now is my own safety. I look Lithiby directly in the eye. ‘Before I leave here tonight I need concrete assurance that you will negotiate with the Americans on my behalf to guarantee that I go unharmed.’
It is some time before any of them respond.
‘We’ll see what we can do,’ says Elworthy.
‘That isn’t good enough,’ I tell him, pacing towards the door.
‘Well, it’s unfortunate that you should think that,’ he replies. ‘I would remind you that there are more important things at stake here than misguided concerns about your safety.’
‘Such as?’
‘We must protect the institution of secrecy, first and foremost. We told you that you had to be completely deniable. You failed in that respect.’
‘The institution of secrecy?’ I am almost shouting. ‘That is meaningless. What the fuck is that above a man’s life? I could be killed when I leave here. Had that thought even occurred to you? Or is it simply that you don’t care?’
‘You are being relieved of your responsibilities. That is our position. By speaking to Miss Allardyce you broke the very code on which this organization depends for its security and well-being.’
I look away from Elworthy at Lithiby, a flash glance of anger.
‘And did John think