The Half Truth(30)

‘About fifty-fifty,’ said John. ‘I was basing it on my cousin, who does happen to be an accountant. As for your friend …’

‘Boss’ sister,’ interrupted Tina. ‘Let’s get that bit straight, Jessica is by no means my friend.’

‘Okay, Jessica – she could work for the intelligence service with the sort of grilling she was giving me. It’s a wonder MI5 haven’t signed her up by now.’

‘Oooh, I like this sort of conspiracy story. We could invent a whole new life for Jessica. She could actually be part of the secret service,’ said Tina, enjoying the banter between them. ‘Her job as manager’s secretary at the bank may just be one big cover-up. She could be working deep undercover to penetrate a money-laundering ring that she suspects certain members of staff to be involved in.’

‘Now who has the overactive imagination?’ John laughed and shook his head.

As her own words, flippantly spoken, sunk in, Tina’s mood dropped. ‘Sorry, that joke was in bad taste in light of the whole Pavel thing.’

‘Hey, don’t worry about it,’ said John. He put his arm around her shoulders and gave a quick squeeze. ‘Come on, you’re supposed to be enjoying yourself.’

‘Enjoying might be pushing it.’ Tina looked around at the groups of guests mingling and chatting. ‘Hopefully it won’t be too long before they do the birthday cake and then we can go.’

‘It’s entirely up to you,’ said John. ‘You don’t have to leave on my account.’

‘Believe me, I’m leaving as much for my own benefit as for yours,’ said Tina. ‘And that’s very good what you did there!’

‘Sorry?’

‘Leave on my account. You being the accountant.’

John groaned.

She gave him a playful tap on the arm. ‘Come on, let’s sneak out now. No one will notice we’re not here. Not even Miss Money-Penny.’

Tina suppressed her giggles as they made their way as casually as possible around the room and in the general direction of the exit.

‘I’ll go first,’ said John. ‘You follow in a couple of minutes. I’ll wait outside.’

‘Copy that, Alpha One,’ said Tina, pressing an imaginary hearing device into her ear and then lifting her other arm to speak into her watch.

‘Now who’s the MI5 agent?’ said John, amusement clear in his voice. He rested his hands on her shoulders as he moved behind her, pausing to whisper in her ear. ‘Rendezvous T minus ninety seconds.’

Tina brought her wine glass up to her mouth to hide her grin. Looking over its rim she watched John casually leave the room, one hand in his trouser pocket the other cupping his mobile phone to his ear, as if in deep conversation. He glanced back her way as he reached the door and winked, before disappearing out of the room.

Tina looked around the room and could see through the crowd that Jessica was heading her way. Tina avoided eye contact and, forcing herself not to break into a run, wove her way to the exit.

She bowled out of the main doors and, hooking John through the arm, didn’t break stride as she took him along with her. ‘Walk. Quickly.’

John didn’t hesitate as he fell into step with her. ‘I take it our cover is blown,’ he said.

‘I think the enemy had me in their sights but, if we’re lucky, we can avoid engaging further with them.’

They turned the corner of the building and then, breaking into a gentle run, John took her hand and they trotted across the road towards the car park. John blipped the car open and Tina jumped into the passenger seat as John climbed into the driver’s side.

‘I think we made it,’ said John.

Tina looked over at him and once again found herself laughing. John’s own laughter was spontaneous and almost instant. The sounds reverberated around the confined space of the vehicle. It was a moment or two before Tina realised that John was silent and she was laughing alone. Still chuckling she met his gaze, his eyes held hers firm. The intensity of his look silenced her, the jovial atmosphere disappeared.

As far as Tina was concerned the world around her ceased to exist. She moved her head towards him and, in turn, John closed the gap between them. His lips met hers and she kissed him. He moved slightly away, but only for a second before returning her kiss.

Tina could barely keep her breathing under control as their kiss became deeper. It felt strange kissing someone after so long. Yet kissing John didn’t give her the same sense of awkwardness as it had the last time a man had kissed her.

It felt strange and new, but it didn’t fill her with fear. A hint of guilt tried to make its presence known, but she made a conscious effort to ignore it and concentrate on the here and now. Sasha was her past. A stranger in her world of the present. John, on the other hand, was very much of the now and certainly her immediate future.