Shaw instantly sized up the situation. They would kill him long before he could reach Frank. But if the last six years had taught him anything, it was patience.
He turned to the short, thick-necked, curly-headed man about Shaw’s age seated at the table. “Who’s this, Frank? Your boss or another flunky?”
If Frank was disappointed that Shaw had not tried to attack him he didn’t show it. Hs just continued to smile and motioned with his hand at the other man.
The man said, “I’m actually neither. The name’s Edward Royce, MI5.” He handed Shaw his card.
“And what’s so important that you had to pull me away from a comfortable chair and a bottle of Guinness, Mr. MI5?”
Royce glanced at Frank, his eyebrows slightly upraised. “Sorry to inconvenience you.”
“No you’re not and hurry up. I have a plane to catch.” Shaw stared directly at Frank as he said this.
That comment got another eyebrow hike from Royce. “Well, frankly, if it were up to me, Mr. Shaw, I wouldn’t even be here. MI5 is working with
Interpol in investigating this Red Menace phenomenon. I think we’re perfectly capable of handling the situation, but it’s not my call. And my superiors have asked Mr. Wells’s people for assistance. And he, in turn, recommended that I meet with you.”
“What do you want me to do about it?” Shaw said bluntly.
“I’ve been told that you have very good contacts in Moscow, speak fluent Russian, and can handle yourself in dangerous situations. That makes you pretty unique.”
“The time I spent in Russia was against my will. So you might want to find another unique person to carry your bags.”
“Don’t you want to find out who’s behind the Red Menace?”
“Why?” Shaw asked pointedly. “Is what they’re saying about Russia not true?”
“Who the bloody hell knows?” Royce exclaimed. “Well, some of it undoubtedly is. But the truth is quite beside the point. In fact, it’s really the last thing we need. As you probably know, MI5 protects the UK against terrorists, spies, extremists, and the like. Well, the Red Menace business has opened quite the Pandora’s box. The world is in a delicate state right now. Many countries are powder kegs ready to blow.”
“Really? I must’ve missed the warning signs,” Shaw said.
This response drew a snort of laughter from Frank.
Royce hurried on. “Anyway, this campaign is driving the Russians in a direction neither we nor the rest of the EU want them to go. A brooding, hunted Russian Bear is dangerous to everyone, Mr. Shaw. We have to defuse the situation. To do that we have to find out who’s really behind this whole campaign.”
“Why not team up with the Americans? They can pull the bear’s claws if it comes to that.”
“The Americans are, as usual, going their own way on this matter. But Wells here has agreed to allow you to work with us. He said you even knew Sergei Petrov, who was just murdered.”
Shaw shot a glance at Frank, who stared back at him imperturbably.
“That was very generous of Frank to offer my services. But I respectfully decline.”
Royce said angrily, “Fine. No bloody skin off my nose.”
Frank stood. “Look, Shaw, you get this done, then maybe we talk about those other things.”
“Is that right?” It was all Shaw could do not to leap over the table and rip out the man’s throat.
Frank hitched up his pants. “That’s right. I’m giving it to you straight, Shaw. I always do.”
“I’ll have to get back with you.”
“What? Why?” Frank exclaimed.
“I’ve got something more important to do right now.”
Royce said, “More important than the whole bloody world going to hell?”