Stone Barrington 27 - Doing Hard Time

“Palmer left MI-6 and went into politics, and both he and Prior were elected to seats in parliament. When the Conservatives came to power some years later, they both became cabinet members—Prior, foreign secretary, Palmer, home secretary. As such, Prior held sway over MI-6, and Palmer over the police. Not long after that, an attempt was made on my life, unsuccessfully, and it became clear that other attempts would follow.
    “My employer introduced me to an Englishman, now an American citizen, who ran a large security company in New York called Strategic Services.”
    “I’ve certainly heard of that,” Teddy said.
    “I used the skills I had learned in MI-6 to create a new identity for myself and came to this country to work for Jim. I learned through friends in England that Prior and Palmer were still pursuing me, and Jim Hackett came under suspicion of being me—Stanley Whitehouse. As a result of that, he was murdered. Shortly afterward, the current head of MI-6, a friend of Stone Barrington, managed to expose Prior and Palmer as being behind Jim’s murder. As a result, they were expelled from the government and tried for his murder. They are both now in prison.”
    “I’ve read bits and pieces of your story,” Teddy said, “but I didn’t know the whole thing.” He looked a little uncomfortable. “Why are you telling me all this?”
    “Because I want you to know that, having been on the run and in constant danger for years myself, I understand what you must have gone through the past few years.”
    Teddy stared at him. “I don’t know what you mean,” he said.
    “I know that you are Teddy Fay, and I have every sympathy for your position. Stone Barrington, by the way, suspected you of being who you are, but after meeting you, decided that he was entirely wrong. I helped convince him.”
    “So you are the only person who thinks I’m this Teddy person?”
    “Quite so. And I am no threat to you. In fact, I want to offer you employment at Strategic Services. I think someone with your skills could be very valuable to us. For your part, you could establish a permanent new identity and live in the open as a free man. Since you have obviously changed your appearance to the extent that no one who knew you in your earlier existence would ever recognize you, you would finally be safe. I will offer you a handsome salary and a full package of benefits, and your future would be assured.”
    Teddy took a deep breath and let it out. “And why do you think I have all the skills you mention?”
    “Because I read your CIA file, when such a file still existed. Don’t worry, I don’t have a copy, and, I suppose, neither does anyone else.”
    “Well, Mike,” Teddy said, “this has been a very interesting lunch.”
    “We will not meet or speak again, unless that’s what you want,” Mike said. He gave Teddy his business card. “This is how you can get in touch with me, should you ever wish to. My offer will remain open indefinitely.” He stood up. “Now, if you will excuse me, I will exit your life until such time as you may wish to rekindle our acquaintance.” He offered his hand, and Teddy shook it.
    Mike left the commissary, and Teddy was left staring into his lunch plate. He felt exposed and, unusually for him, panicky. Gradually, as he thought it over, he became calm. What Freeman had said to him had obviously been sincerely offered. By the time he had left the table to return to work in the armory, he felt some comfort, knowing that he had a way out of his life as a fugitive, if he wanted a way out. Right now, though, he had things to do.

Charmaine was leaving the New Desert Inn to retrieve her car from the parking lot when her assailant fell into step with her.
    “My car is in the employee lot,” she said, pointing.
    “We’ll take my rental car,” Todd said. “It’ll be a nice surprise for Mr. Burnett.”
    “As you wish,” Charmaine said.
    “Here we are,” Todd said, as they approached a black Camaro. He handed her the keys. “You drive.”
    He put her bag in the trunk, and they started their journey to Los Angeles.
    •   •   •
    Teddy worked until three at the Centurion armory, then went home to his new apartment, showered, then, at five o’clock, he called Charmaine on her cell phone.
    •   •   •
    A ringing came from her handbag. “It’s my phone,” Charmaine said to Todd.
    “I’ll get it for you,” he said. He found the phone in her purse, opened it,