Page 79 of Licence To Howl
He blinked innocently. ‘Not a clue.’
‘Hmmm.’ Greensmith gave him a pointed frown but didn’t pursue it further. ‘Well, in any case, you’re being lauded across MI5 for your actions. I do believe that going forward, you will have your pick of assignments. I could be persuaded to continue working with you now that I’m no longer being thrown under the bus.’ She shrugged awkwardly and looked away. ‘It’s up to you.’
He didn’t hesitate. ‘I’d be delighted.’
Greensmith only just managed to mask her smile. ‘As you wish,’ she said blandly. ‘But don’t think that being a maverick hero will give you carte blanche from here on. You still need to work on being a team player.’
‘I’ll do my best,’ Devereau promised her. ‘Scout’s honour.’
‘I do not believe for one second, Mr Webb, that you were ever a Boy Scout.’
He raised three fingers to his eyebrow. ‘Dib dib dib.’
Greensmith gave him a disbelieving sniff. ‘If you say so.’ She held out her hand. ‘Now,’ she said briskly. ‘Hand it over.’
‘Hand what over?’
‘The Ring of All Seasons. We know it fell to the floor when Ms Bonnet attempted to escape. We’ve searched for it but we can’t find it. It’s potentially a powerful object that could do a great deal of good.’
‘It doesn’t belong to MI5,’ he said gently.
‘It doesn’t belong to you either, Mr Webb.’
He held up his hands. ‘I don’t have it.’
‘Hmmm.’ She gave him a hard look. ‘Hmmm. If I’m not mistaken, it was the Winter Solstice last night. If someone were to put on a magical ring that told the future and they saw something that related to their job perhaps or the safety of their country, then I would expect that someone to pass that sort of information on.’
‘I am sure,’ Devereau agreed, ‘that someone would indeed do that.’ He paused. ‘If that were the case.’
Greensmith gave him a long look. ‘Very well, Mr Webb.’ She stood up and slid her hands into her pockets. ‘I’m sure I’ll be seeing you again very soon.’
Devereau grinned. ‘I’ll look forward to it.’
* * *
The fanged bouncersoutside Heart did not look very pleased to see him. ‘You,’ the nearest one growled. ‘We have told you before. You need to stop coming here.’
‘I only need to speak to Scarlett. Once I’ve done that, I will indeed stop coming here.’
‘She doesn’t want to see you. So fuck off.’
There was a brief whine and both bouncers tilted their heads, their expressions darkening. Devereau felt himself relax. Someone was talking to them through their tiny earpieces. He reckoned he knew who. It was about time.
‘She’ll meet you at the bar,’ the bouncer told him with heavy reluctance. ‘But don’t try any funny business, wolf.’
‘We all know that Scarlett could take us all down if she wanted to. I don’t think you’ve got anything to worry about.’ He patted the vampire on the shoulder and wandered into the club, pretending that he didn’t feel relieved she was agreeing to meet him.
There was already a glass of whiskey waiting for him on the bar top. The bartender gave him a nod and moved away to a discreet distance. A moment later, Scarlett glided into view. She didn’t smile. She didn’t say hello.
‘You took Alina Bonnet down and you didn’t contact me, Devereau. I should have been there too. I deserved to be there too.’
‘You walked out on me.’
Her expression was stony. ‘So you were punishing me by keeping me out of the way?’
‘No. If she’d glimpsed you, she’d have run a mile. She threatened London and you’d already made it clear how you feel about this city. I had to make her believe I was on her side for as long as I possibly could. I wasn’t trying to shut you out. I was trying to catch a terrorist.’ He hesitated. ‘But I am sorry you weren’t there to see it. Truly.’
Scarlett glared at him. ‘Don’t fucking do it again.’
