Watching. Jeff Edwards
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be of help.’
‘But you cannot speak a word of this to anyone. This is a matter strictly between you, and I. I haven’t even told my boss that it was you that retrieved the information.’
‘So I won’t be receiving a medal from the King?’ Jade grinned.
‘You certainly deserve a medal for wanting to marry an undependable person like me. I’ll have to give you one of mine instead,’ grinned Robert. ‘In fact, I have something right here for you,’ he said, handing her a small package.
Opening it, Jade found a sparkling diamond, glinting back at her.
‘I thought we should make our engagement official,’ beamed Robert, as he slipped the ring onto her finger. ‘Now that you’ve become my partner, you can’t be shot for knowing state secrets. As long as you don’t give them away to the enemy.’
‘I’ll have to make sure I don’t talk in my sleep, or better yet, I’ll have to make sure you’re always beside me to make sure I don’t talk in my sleep.’
Robert looked serious for a moment. ‘I’m afraid that won’t always be possible. In fact I have to go away again tomorrow.’
‘For how long?’
‘I don’t know, but I do know that we’re going to get married just as soon as I get back.’
‘Well, in that case, I suggest we get out of this very public place, and return to my very large bed, where I intend to say goodbye to you for the rest of the evening.’
‘Oh dear! The things a man must do for King and country.’
Jade felt as though she were leading three separate lives, one as a normal working person at Haskins and Green, a second as banker, and ‘den mother’ to the girls at the Golden Stag, and the third, as the lover, now fiancee, and intelligence partner, of Robert.
With Robert gone, Jade was able to settle down to just two personalities, which was proving easier to manage.
Financially, the girls’ accounts were coming along fine. So grateful were the girls, that they now insisted that Jade receive a percentage of the profits, which, as she was doing more and more work for them, Jade decided to accept.
After the brief flurry of having money, then spending it all, the girls who had abandoned the scheme, began to realise its long-term benefits, and were slowly returning.
It was as a result of a dinner with Rani, when the overworked doctor explained some of the medical problems faced by the street girls, that Jade came up with the plan that, for a pre-agreed fee, they could use their accumulated funds to pay their medical bills as well.
So now the girls, and their families, could call to the surgery, whenever they were sick, without the need to pay. A single bill was given to Jade at the end of each month, and Rani was paid immediately.
However, not everyone was happy with the growing influence of Rani and Jade on the wellbeing of the girls. Their pimps were gradually becoming less and less relevant. It was only their physical threats, which enabled them to keep control, and to collect their unearned money. They became increasingly hostile toward their workers, and Rani was forced, more and more often, to repair the damage.
Tony, of the red silk tie, was the chief complainer, when the pimps were at the bar of the Golden Stag, sipping their drinks, and waiting for their money.
‘I’ve had enough of those bitches interfering in my business. Colleen wanted to knock me back the other night. I had to stick my knife under her throat before she took her knickers off. Then she did nothing but complain the whole time. Like it wasn’t my right to have it whenever I fucking want. That fucking doctor, and her mate have got to be taught a lesson. Who’s going to help me?’
A couple of his companions, knowing they would only be taking on a couple of women, were more than happy to help. The rest were satisfied to sit back, and let someone else do their dirty work for them.
Jade had been to the Golden Stag, enjoying a beer, and the jazz, when she decided that it would be good for Rani to join her for a much-needed break.
It had taken all of Jade’s powers of persuasion, and the placing of a ‘closed’ sign in the window, to discourage further patients, before Rani finally agreed.
The pair of them finally returned to the pub, just before midnight, and, after a couple of relaxing beers each, they decided to head home, for the first decent night’s sleep that Rani had had in a month.
During their time at the pub, they had been unaware of the cold glances directed at them, from the pimps, arrayed along the bar, and the way that Tony of the red tie gave them the benefit of his lizard-like smile.
As the two girls left the bar, Tony motioned to his two companions, and followed them into the night.
Jade and Rani were making their way toward the high street, for a better chance of locating a taxi, when the trio following them, and made their move.
Striding up behind Jade, one of Tony’s associates whipped his knife out, and, grabbing Jade’s arm from behind, spun her around viciously.
‘This is what you get for interfering in our business,’ he snarled, as his knife-holding hand slashed across Jade’s front, slicing through her thick woollen overcoat.
Jade was knocked off balance by the attack, and she stumbled backward, causing the man’s attack to miss as he slashed at her again.
Rani had a second longer to react, as the second assailant moved in to attack her. Stepping in front of Jade, Rani swung upward with her heavy, doctor’s bag, catching her assailant beneath the chin.
It sent him crashing backward into the arms of Tony, who was moving in for his chance at glory. The two tripped backward over the edge of the gutter, and staggered into the middle of the street.
With Jade behind her, and one eye on the one assailant still within range, Rani placed the bag on the ground, opened it, and grabbed out a scalpel. She passed it backward to Jade, before picking up the bag once again, to use it as a combined shield, and cudgel.
Her first attacker came in, swinging the knife as he came.
Rani placed the bag in the way of the thrust, and the knife was embedded in its leather side. Jerking the bag, Rani was able to pull the knife, still securely embedded in the bag, out of the attacker’s grasp, and a full swing brought the bag, and knife, crashing down upon his shoulder.
Disarmed, and hurt, the man retreated a few steps, taking stock of the situation, just as the other two regained their balance, and renewed their attack.
Rani swung again, but the men were prepared, and the bag missed its mark, leaving Rani’s side exposed on her follow-through.
Tony moved in, with a slash aimed at Rani’s side, but there was a flash of steel, as Jade swung the scalpel.
‘Fuck!’ Tony screamed in agony. He pulled back, to see the scalpel embedded in his forearm, and hot blood streaming from the wound.
‘I think that’s enough!’ came a shout from behind them.
They all turned to see Robert, striding toward them.
‘I’ll look after this prick. You cut the sluts,’ snarled Tony, as he pulled the scalpel out of his arm, and threw it aside.
A grimace of concentration crossed Tony’s face, as he crouched, knife extended toward the approaching man.
Robert was unarmed, but Tony had no way to know of his target’s military training.
As soon as Robert was in reach, Tony lunged at his opponent, hoping to drive the knife into his unprotected stomach.
Watching the knife come toward him, Robert surprised Tony by moving into the swing, and slightly to the left, allowing the thrust to pass him, while grasping his opponent’s elbow, and pushing it up. The arm holding the knife was now in the air, and unable to be of use, as Robert