A Covert War Read Online Free PDF

much credence he would put in a story like that. He picked up the phone, hit the speed dial and waited. A minute later his father came on the line.
    ‘Sir Henry Blake.’
    Marcus chuckled. His father always answered the phone so that he sounded as though he was looking down his nose at the caller.
    ‘Hallo Dad, its Marcus.’
    He sensed, rather than heard his father pull away from the phone.
    ‘Emily, do we know anybody called Marcus?’
    Marcus rolled his eyes and waited. Then he heard his mother’s shout of joy in the background and the click of the phone extension as she picked it up.
    ‘Marcus, how lovely to hear from you. It’s been ages since you last called.’
    ‘A month, mother.’
    ‘Four months, Marcus.’
    Marcus contested that. ‘Well, maybe three.’
    ‘How are you Marcus? Are you keeping well? When are you going to visit us? Your father and I would love to see you.’ Marcus just kept nodding. ‘And are you still working?’
    ‘Yes to all that, mother,’ Marcus butted in. He loved his mother dearly but she wouldn’t stop if he didn’t say anything. ‘Now, can I speak to Dad, please?’
    ‘I’m still here Marcus, as always.’
    ‘I know, Dad. Now look, I need a favour.’
    His father made some kind of grunting sound down the phone. ‘Trouble with that escort agency of yours, is that it? Not enough Z list clients?’
    Marcus banged his eyes. ‘Dad, I do not run an escort agency. I provide minders for important people.’
    ‘And how many minders do you have on your books?’ his father asked.
    ‘Well, it’s mainly me,’ he admitted. ‘But I do have men I can call on.’
    ‘As I thought; you’re sitting on your backside all day pretending you’re a big operator in the City. Why don’t you come home and get a proper job?’
    ‘I don’t need one, Dad; I’m happy and have enough money to keep my head above water.’
    ‘Your grandmother’s inheritance? Thought you would have blown that by now.’
    Marcus had been left a generous annuity by his grandmother, part of which he had carefully reinvested and was now more than just comfortable.
    ‘So what do you need me for?’ his father asked.
    ‘Do you know anybody by the name of Cavendish?’ Marcus asked him. ‘A guy probably your age, may have gone to public school, University. Might have been in the military. Member of one of your clubs, perhaps?’
    ‘Hmmm. The sound rolled down the phone line. ‘I knew a Cavendish at Westminster. Went into the City, I think.’
    There was silence for a while and Marcus knew his father was thinking. It was a positive sign because his father would never dwell on something that he knew he couldn’t possibly recall, so this was promising.
    ‘Of course,’ he father said suddenly. ‘I met a Cavendish a few years ago in Hong Kong, Something to do with military intelligence. It wasn’t the Cavendish I knew at school, but I do remember when I met this chap I asked him if we were at school together. He must have thought I’d lost my marbles.’
    Marcus clenched a fist and gently punched the air. His father went on.
    ‘So yes, I do know a Cavendish, but if he’s your man, he doesn’t know me. Well, maybe he does. If he’s in Intelligence he’ll know every bloody diplomat going. Does that answer your question dear boy?’
    Marcus nodded. ‘You’re a diamond dad, thanks a million.’
    ‘Wait, wait!’ his father called down the phone. ‘Don’t think I’m letting you off the hook that easy. Now, your mother and I want you to come up for a day or two. Can you pull yourself away from your not so busy schedule to see us?’
    ‘Tell you what, Dad,’ Marcus began, trying to come up with all kinds of imaginative reasons for delaying the inevitable. ‘Let me run this Cavendish bloke down and I’ll get back to you.’
    ‘Marcus.’ This was his mother. ‘Your father is talking about Sir Giles Cavendish. We met him at the handing over ceremony in Hong Kong. I think he was rather taken with me,