Liz Carlyle - 05 - Present Danger Read Online Free PDF

react. She and Binding had crossed swords on more than one occasion; she imagined he would relish being in a position to tell her what to do.
    Beth said, ‘Call in on the postings team this afternoon, Liz; they’ll sort out the details.’
    Nice of Beth to take the time to build me up, Liz thought sourly as she left. Then she told herself to get a grip. There must be a reason for this posting, though for the life of her she couldn’t see what it could be. And why so fast? This was the real sting in the tail, she knew – not because she had any major unfinished business at work, but because … Oh go on and admit it, she told herself. Because Charles was due back at work any day now, and she was longing to see him. And now it would be just her luck to leave Thames House only days before he returned. It was almost as if Beth Davis were keen to get her out of the way before Charles was back.
    Don’t be so silly, Liz told herself. They couldn’t have any idea of her feelings. She’d never told anyone about them, and had made a point of always acting completely professionally with Charles. No, she was sure she had kept her secret well. Something else was going on to account for this posting.
    While she was ruminating about this, a car drew up beside her on the hard shoulder and she recognised Maureen Hayes from A4 at the wheel, with a younger man sitting next to her.
    ‘Hello, Liz. I got your message from Michael’s secretary. That looks pretty nasty. Are you OK?’
    ‘Well, I am now,’ said Liz. ‘It’s good to see you. Have you got many cars over here with ropey tyres?’
    ‘I’m amazed,’ Maureen replied. ‘This one was serviced last week and I drove it myself to the airport to leave for you. It seemed fine then. Get in and I’ll take you to the office. Let’s bring your luggage, and Tom here will wait for the pickup truck. It’s on its way.’
    ‘I thought you’d like to see your office first,’ said Michael Binding’s PA, a thin young woman with spiky ash-streaked hair. She led Liz down a corridor until she stopped at an open door. It was a good-sized room, but with its bare desk, tall steel cupboard, and two upright chairs it looked utterly cheerless.
    ‘You’re due a meeting table and chairs and a couple of armchairs. We’ve got some art as well,’ she said. ‘I’ll have a few pictures brought round, if you like. You can pick a couple to make the place look a bit more homely.’
    Liz nodded, and looked out of the window at the view of the half-empty barracks. In the distance she could see the A2, where the traffic was speeding along towards Belfast ten miles away.
    ‘Michael wanted to be here when you arrived, but he’s been called over to Stormont unexpectedly. I’ll let you know as soon as he’s back.’
    ‘Dave Armstrong around?’ Liz asked, suddenly keen for a familiar face.
    The girl shook her head. ‘I know he wants to say hello, but he’s out meeting someone. He said to tell you he’d see you tomorrow. Some of the agent runners are in – their office is just along the corridor.’
    An hour or so later Liz was feeling better. There were several familiar faces in the agent runners’ room and the welcome had been warm, as had the coffee. Then the PA stuck her head round the door.
    ‘Michael’s back.’
    Liz followed her along the corridor, past the centre lift shaft, until they came to a large office in the corner. The view here, Liz noted, was of farm fields stretching into the distance in rolling curves.
    ‘Ah, Liz,’ said the tall, wide-shouldered man as he got up from his desk, and shook her hand without a smile, ‘I was sorry to hear about your car accident. Driving here is usually so safe.’
    He looks different, thought Liz. Michael Binding had always favoured the country squire look – tweed sports jacket, checked shirt and highly polished brown brogues. But now he was wearing a long-sleeved khaki pullover, with leather patches on the sleeves, narrow corduroy