Stephen Leather: True Colours

‘This is what Spider does for you, is it?’

She shook her head firmly. ‘Spider sees himself very much as the wearer of a white hat, and unless his opponent has a black hat he’s very uneasy about crossing that line. But you, Lex, you’re very much in the grey area, aren’t you? One of your competitors who is no longer with us, he was a friend for a long time. A childhood friend, in fact. But that didn’t stop you, did it? You’ve got a talent, Lex, and it’s a talent I would like to make use of.’

‘And what do I get out of this? If I agree?’

‘Money, of course. Though looking at your financial situation, that’s not much of a carrot, is it? You’re a very rich man, Lex. Well done, you.’

Harper nodded and couldn’t help grinning. The conversation was making him very uneasy but there was no getting away from the fact that Charlie Button was charming and attractive. ‘I get by,’ he said.

‘What I can offer you is an assurance,’ she said. ‘A sort of “Get out of Jail Free” card, if you like. If you do accept my offer, you will never be bothered by any of the agencies that I’ve mentioned. You’ll never be stopped at an airport or pulled over by the police or have the taxman trawling through your records. You enjoy being the grey man, Lex, and you’ve very good at it, but I could help you become the invisible man, pretty much.’

‘And all I would have to do is the occasional job for you?’

Button smiled but didn’t say anything. She sipped her tea again.

‘I’ll need some time to think it over,’ said Harper.

‘That’s OK, I still have to finish my tea,’ said Button. ‘But when I get up from this table I need to know whether you are accepting my offer or not.’

Harper looked at her for several seconds. ‘Where’s the stick?’

‘The stick?’

‘I see the carrot. What’s the stick? What will you do if I don’t agree?’

Button smiled sweetly. ‘I hadn’t even considered a stick, Lex.’

‘You just assumed that I’d do what you want?’

‘Most people do, Lex. Sooner or later.’ She sipped her tea and smacked her lips. ‘You know, I’m genuinely surprised at how good the tea is here. It really is quite delicious.’