Peter Marshall - The Russian Lieutenant

Tom ended the meeting by instructing the team to continue their preparatory work for the trial of Aldanov as already planned, as well as an in-depth investigation of both the Peters brothers and their associates. But he emphasised that they should advise him immediately if they heard any developments which might become a factor in the new matters he had just introduced.

At Camp Orchard, “Mary” soon settled into an easy-going routine. Her room was comfortably furnished and equipped – not quite the Ritz Carlton but better than she expected in a government facility. There was an adjoining study room with books and computers, and in the main building, the restaurant was modern and attractive, and the food choices were excellent. The swimming pool was adjacent to the accommodation block, together with a sauna and a games room. So there were no complaints.

The company proved good, too. The group of seven were soon on warm and friendly terms, and the two women classmates soon arranged to take “Mary” on visits to some of the tourist attractions at the weekend – including Disney World, Seaworld and Epcot. Late on her first evening there, feeling a little homesick, she thought she should call her father, but her new phone did not appear to have a signal. After breakfast the next morning, she went in search of Sally-Ann in the administrative offices and told her about the problem.

“Sorry about that,” explained Sally-Ann. “But we do not have any open communications here for security reasons. Everything is screened through our comms centre, and your London folk told me that you should not make a call from here to your home. Your father’s lines are probably being monitored by now, and the Russians could easily trace where any call is coming from; you are not supposed to be in Florida, or any place connected with the CIA.

“Can I suggest that you use one of our protected circuits in the office to call another friend in England who is not involved in this business and then ask them to contact your father with a reassuring message – and to say you are in Canada, of course. Would that work for you?”

“I don’t see why not. I have a good friend in Portsmouth called Betty McGuire, who could do this, and I will work out my cover story about being in Canada.”

“Fine – unless your friend also works for the Navy. That could be a bit difficult.”

“No, she’s a hospital nurse,” Marina said.

“That should be okay then. I’ll fix a time when you can come back here later to make a call. There’s a five-hour time difference, of course, so maybe early afternoon would be a good time here to reach your friend in the morning, perhaps?”

“Mary” agreed and went to join the group for their first classroom session of the day. After the lunch break, she was called to go to the office, and she gave the comms officer the number of her friend Betty. She was taken to a private phone booth and given instructions on what to do next. A few minutes later, she was told to pick up the phone and could hear the number ringing.

“Hello, this is Betty – who’s calling?”

“It’s Marina – how are you and what’s going on there?”

“Well, hi Marina. Lovely to hear your voice. You sound good – how’s the holiday?”

“Oh, it’s a really nice break – and I needed it. I’m with a friend in Canada, and I’ll tell you all about it when I get back. I also wanted to call Dad, but I couldn’t get through, and I don’t want to make too many long-distance calls from here. So I wonder if you could ring him in Putney for me – do you have his number?”

“Gosh – you are in Canada – and so quickly! And yes, of course, what shall I tell him?”

“Just say I wanted to let him know that I have arrived safely here in Quebec and that all is well. My friend is looking after me, and there’s lots to see and do. The flight over was good, and there’s nothing to worry about. I will probably stay a couple of weeks. That’s about all…”

“Can I give him a number to call you back.”

“No, that’s not really necessary. I will probably be out and about quite a lot, and then there’s the time difference. Just say I’ll try to call again next week.”

“OK, I will do that… but what are you up to there? The papers are still running stories about your meeting with a Russian spy, and there has been an interesting piece about your father and his business. Sounds like he has done well. With the press nosing around, it is probably a good idea that you are away for a couple of weeks.”

“That was the plan, Betty. The authorities there did not want me to be bothered by the press until I had given evidence against the Russian at his trial. Apparently, he is really a spy and not just the naval officer I thought he was. He really led me on, and I am quite embarrassed by all the discussions we had on the website.”

“I’m not surprised. He really looks quite nice in the pictures they have in the paper. Anyway, how’s Canada?”

“A bit cold, but nice sunny days and there’s lots to see. I’ll tell you all about it another time.”

“OK Marina, I’ll look forward to that, and I’ll give your dad a call this evening. Take care of yourself.”

“And you too, Betty. See you soon – bye.”

With that job done, Marina relaxed and felt she could now focus on enjoying Florida and hopefully learning some Russian conversation phrases.

The next two weeks went quite quickly. The classroom sessions were intensive but effective, and at the weekend, the three girls were ready to escape to see the wonderful performing dolphins at Seaworld, followed by a day at Epcot, where Marina was disappointed to find that among all the amazing national displays, there was still no Russian pavilion. During her third week at Camp Orchard, just as she was becoming familiar with the conversation sessions, Marina was called to the office to see Director Rooney.

“Hi Mary”, he began. “I’ve just had an interesting talk with Tom Spencer in London – you know him, of course? Well, he now wants you back there next week – how does that sound?”

“That’s sooner than I expected, but I guess there’s a good reason. Just when I was starting to enjoy myself here,” laughed Marina.

“We’ll be sorry to see you go,” he said. “We like having a Brit with us for a change. Anyway, could you give Sally-Ann your travel documents, and we will try to fix you a flight on Friday so that you can rest up for the weekend at home before getting back with Tom and his chums next week.”

“Do you know what this is about?” asked Marina. “And where do I go when I arrive in London. Can you ask them for me?”

“I can do better than that. Let’s get Tom on the line, and you can have a chat with him.”

An assistant scuttled away and after a couple of minutes came back with the news that Mr. Spencer was on line one. The Director opened up the speaker phone and began. “It’s Chuck here again, Tom, and I have your nice lady with us to have a word. Is that okay?”

“Hello, that’s fine,” came a familiar British voice. “Hi Marina, how are they treating you there?”

“Very well, thanks – but now I’m told it’s time to come back.”

“Yes, we are making good progress here, and now we would like to spend some time with you again. When can you make it?”

“They’re hoping to get me on a Friday flight so that I can recover at the weekend and then be with you on Monday. How does that sound?”

“That’ll work out okay. Let me know what flight you are on, and we’ll arrange to meet you at Heathrow. Is that okay?”

“Where do I go, and what happens next? And by the way, I think I left the keys to my flat with Patricia, just in case you needed to check on anything while I was away.”