The door opened and Mallory popped back in, looking first at the technicians, who were still huddled over their equipment, then at Morrisey, who was looking at his watch. She walked over and sat beside him.

"Pouting?"

"Where did you go?"

Her voice dropped to a whisper again. "I received a signal from my source." She neglected to tell him how. "She passed a message containing the contents of a telephone call between Felix Kubavich and Vladim Iilyin. Felix is at some fishing lodge he goes to now and then, so she was able to talk safely."

"And?"

"Apparently there were some terse exchanges regarding this," she nodded toward the two technicians huddled over the message. "The upshot was Felix was assured the problem was being managed."

"That sounds like a worried stall, unless Vladim knows about this hotel too. In that case we should be concerned."

Her eyes flicked to the two men just as there was a cry of success, and the two technicians exchanged a high five.

"Do we have joy?" Mallory stood and walked to them.

"Yes!" He sounded chuffed. "It's an instruction for an address in the south end and a time to meet."

"Can you get me the particulars?"

"Already on route to your phone."

Great job chaps." Mallory patted them both on the back. "Get this to Percy, yeah."

"Will do." They gathered their equipment and left.

Mallory waited until she was sure they were gone. "Morrisey, we have to be more careful around them. They're Percy's boys. They report everything to him."

He felt the coffee urn, sucking his teeth because it felt cool. "Okay, I've got it, so now what?"

She looked at her phone. "The meet is set for ten tomorrow morning. My guess is Percy will mount an assault on the address they found. He will assume if he gets whoever is waiting, they will then lead him right to Luka and the case." Her hand went up, "they'll also tell him they gave us the address."

"It's not much good anyway, since Luka didn't get it."

"Still, Percy will most certainly pounce on that, and if he has any success, he will probably inform Grant, taking personal credit."

Morrisey snorted. "Grant won't give a damn about that; his concern is the briefcase and its contents."

"And ours as well." Her voice contained a hint of uncertainty.

Within the hour Percy was on the phone to Mallory doing as predicted. She stood, smiling at Morrisey and pointing to the phone as she muttered assents. The call ended and she chuckled, shaking her head.

"Was he pissed?"

"For effect. It was as I said; we continue surveillance, and he will lead the team in securing the address. He also said Grant wants you to call." Her smile faded as she watched him.

They both stood in awkward silence looking at one another, the implications made and left to fade in the tense air of the room.

"Do you think he will change your orders again?"

"I have no idea. Predicting the future is easier than predicting him."

"I guess you call."

"Yeah." He felt his neck, thinking Mallory had been up front with him about everything, and was sticking her own neck out to do it. What if his orders did change, would he cut her loose? He'd made a deal, was his word any good or not? He dialled Grant's number.

♟♟♟♟♟

Morrisey relaxed in the soft chair he had spent the afternoon in, feet up on the coffee table and phone at his ear. Mallory was showering again, after making arrangements for some of her clothes and necessaries to be brought to the hotel.

"Have you learned anything new?" He asked his boss Grant, keeping the tone neutral.

"Beyond the usual sources for any traffic, nothing. We can't step on Percy's toes, and have him waving his bloody flag at us."

"So for me nothing has changed?"

"We want that delivery more than ever now.

"I am under the watchful eye of Ms West."

"As long as that's all it is. I have faith in you, Abraham--"

"You're a crude bugger, Grant."

"Never mind my manners, Abraham, you just mind your orders and see that Felix gets that dossier."

"I can't take overt action on a friendly's turf. What am I supposed to about Carstairs in that event?"

"You will use whatever devious ploy you can up with. It's why you were chosen, Abraham."

"This all sounds like an unmade bed, Grant. Is that the best you can offer? How do we explain a snatch of the coveted dossier to SIS if it becomes necessary?" He looked up and saw Mallory standing in the bathroom doorway watching him.

"As I said, that's why we sent you, Abraham - it's what you do."

"It's what you intend that I do, but you gave Percy authority over me. Makes it a bit- you know what, never mind, I'll manage something." He disconnected and stared back at her.

"Deal still?" She asked, her stomach twisting with worry.

He got up and went to her, taking her hand and nodding, and they just stood there holding hands.

She released a sigh. "Next step is to get the briefcase then."

"Yeah, and we've already used the breakfast tray ploy."

♟♟♟♟♟

Dinner was room service, and the few moments of relaxation were enjoyed by both. Mallory took her coffee to the armchair for more comfort, and Morrisey remained on the side of the bed, picking at the remainders of their meals.

"Think you should check with your spy again?" He offered, breaking the silence.

"Housekeeping knows to inform me if he leaves his room or makes any calls."

"Well he won't be using the room phone for anything we're interested in. He'll have a burner if anything." He held up the carafe, "More coffee?"

"Yes, but I'm too lazy to get up and get it."

"Pity, there's only a little left." He began pouring it in his cup.

In an instant she was across the room and grabbing the carafe from his hand.

"Whoa!" The serving cart was pushed aside and she stumbled over him onto the bed, the carafe hitting the carpeted floor, and miraculously landing upright, spilling very little.

"Is this some SIS manoeuvre?" He leaned up on his elbow, looking over at her. She was on her side facing him and the space between seemed to collapse. In a burlesque of awkward fumbling, noses bumped, lips landed off-centre, and breathing ceased.

"Uh-that was- uhm . . ."

"You're crushing my wrist."

"Oh geez, sorry." Morrisey pushed himself up, leaning on one arm. His eyes probing hers for danger signals. Instead, he saw the pink tint climb her cheeks, and then her face tilted to one side in a coy smirk.

"Do you think if we tried that again we could get it right?"

"I know I could." He leaned over her again, pressing her back down onto the bed, one foot shoving the food cart well out of the way.

♟♟♟♟♟

Luka used his emergency burner phone to advise Ivan about the breakfast mix-up. Ivan immediately became suspicious, their meeting could be compromised. He needed to get that case, but he needed even more to be very careful. After some considered thought, he gave Luka new instructions that he hoped would both flush out any watchers, and prevent Felix getting the briefcase.