In the blink of a spy!

                                  IN THE BLINK OF A SPY!                    

                                                                   (1944 words) 

                                                                   A short story,

A stranger sat at her table claiming to be her soulmate.

Ann had agreed to meet her ex-husband one more time; it had been years since she had heard from him. There seemed to be something slightly askew with his appearance and he looked like he hadn’t had a shave for several days.

Even now she remembered all of the hostility which had caused her to flee from the house after constant abuse. Ollie had been great at turning on the natural charm when he had to but once she was alone with him and the arguments began he had an uncomfortable temper. She thought that she knew where he was going to work every day until she had the nerve to follow him. It had been a whim of hers to find out the truth but she hadn’t been ready for what was about to happen…

                                                         12^th February 2022

   “See you tonight honey” Ollie shouted as he was walking out of the door.

Ann knew that she had to reply or else he would go into a fit of rage. “See you later and have a good day at work! Hope that it all goes well!”

Waiting until the car pulled out of the driveway she unfolded the crumpled piece of paper with the address on which had been sticking out of his top pocket. Intrigued as to the explanation Ann had kept it well hidden going about her mundane daily duties like nothing had happened. Using her mobile she called a taxi and waited with baited breath, something felt slightly off with the way he had tried to hide the information. Working on a suitable disguise whilst she was waiting ann checked herself out in the mirror. Impressed with her handy work she poured herself a small glass of wine, it was still early but today was going to be a celebration, her tyrant of a husband was going to get just what he deserved.

The taxi cab drew up outside their house and she gave herself one last check in the mirror, no one could possibly recognize her which was part of her secret job. In all of the years that they had been together the one rule was that neither would discuss work, as far as he was concerned she was at home every day doing the housework whilst he earned the money.

   “Hi there where are we going?” the taxi driver asked in a pleasant voice.

She unrumpled the address and gave it to him. “Are you sure that you want to go here!?” He asked.

 “I’m absolutely certain! I would like you to get me as close as possible without being seen”

The driver didn’t argue as it was her money and he had been to all kinds of strange places before but never asked to pull outside the Russian embassy.

  “Have you worked there long?” the man asked.

 “No this is the first time that I am going there, I have some unfinished business” she lied.

 “I wish you every success with that as I for one wouldn’t like to work there! Don’t take this the wrong way but espionage isn’t my thing”

She smiled as she glanced at her reflection in the window glass, it was so easy to fool men as they had the audacity to feel in control, and in her line of business self-control was the biggest thing. Watching the familiar landmarks pass them by the taxi soon wound its way through the busy London streets eventually reaching the outside of the Russian embassy. Ann paid the driver leaving a healthy tip and made her way to the front gate. A man on security eyed her suspiciously until she showed him her identification then he drew himself up straight with a salute.

Walking along the marble floor she could hear the sound of her stilettos clicking, several members of staff were busily going about their daily routine hardly giving her a second glance. Reaching the main office she tentatively knocked and heard several loud voices in deep discussion on the other side.

  “Come in!” A sharp sounding voice barked.

Ann opened the door and walked in, she tried not to look too shocked at the sight of her husband standing there. It must have been a good disguise as he just gave her his usual sickening smile.

 “Can I help you miss?” the man asked sitting behind the desk looking slightly red in the face.

  “Oh I do apologise I think that I’m in the wrong room please don’t let me interrupt your conversation”

  “Who are you?” the large man asked.

  “Saskia Clarksville” she lied and without waiting for a response turned around and walked out of the room. Astonished to learn that Ollie worked for the other side she didn’t hesitate in calling a taxi, armed with the information she asked to be dropped off at the British embassy. It was a place which she happened to know well as she had been secretly working there every day for the last couple of years and happened to be exceptionally good at her job. Greeting the staff as she walked in she walked towards a well-groomed man who was waiting to greet her.

  “I got your message Ann please come in” he beckoned her into the office. “It’s great to see you, have you finally decided to leave him?” he asked once the door was securely closed behind them.

Richard had been her secret lover, the one who had supported her through all of the horrific domestic abuse and made a careful note of each time it happened. He was the complete opposite of Ollie and was kind and gentle. It was odd the ways things worked out and only by accident had they bumped into each other in a coffee shop in the city.

Managing to persuade her to come and work with them as a spy she couldn’t resist and had been happy to escape ever since. Now armed with details about what her husband had really been doing she had no hesitation in dobbing him in, he would be called to the embassy to try and explain just why he was in deep discussion with the Russians. Ann felt a tide of relief flowing through her body and decided that this was the day she was going to start the rest of her life.

Waiting for her husband to return she innocently went about doing the housework like nothing had happened. The sound of the car pulling up outside the house made her jump but she regained her composure. Ollie strolled in looking very pleased.

 “Have you had a good day at the office dear?” she casually asked.

  “Nothing out of the ordinary I suppose you could say that it was a bit mundane, I have bought you a bunch of flowers to say that I’m sorry about what has happened”

Looking at the crumpled bunch of flowers as a token effort for his monstrous behaviour made her want to scream, was he so oblivious to what he had done? She pretended to gratefully accept them resisting the temptation of throwing them into the bin.

 “That’s great thank you, dinner is on so do you want to go and get changed?”

He grunted something and attempted to kiss her then disappeared upstairs, whilst he was up there taking a shower she picked up her secret mobile and spoke to Richard, it was a joy to have a proper conversation.

Ollie eventually reappeared whistling to himself and seemed to be in a good mood, sitting opposite him she looked across at the stranger claiming to be her soulmate, he would no longer intimidate her with his fists. A knock on the door interrupted their meal and she innocently opened the front door. Richard was standing there with two other men.

  “Sorry to interrupt you madam but is your husband in?” he asked.

 “Of course please come in”

Ollie was sitting there trying to work out just what was happening, alarmed by the presence of the three men.

  “Can I help you!?” He asked looking shaken.

  “I do believe that you can sir if you wouldn’t mind accompanying us down to the embassy as we have some questions to ask you”

Richard didn’t wait for a reply deciding to hoist Ollie up and manhandle him out of the door; he gave Ann a wink as he left and drove off. She knew that might possibly be the last time she ever saw her husband and had no regrets.

That was until tonight when a call had come out of the blue, at first it seemed like a sick joke or reoccurring nightmare. The slimy voice had been all too familiar and she was shaking after the brief conversation. He had agreed to meet her at a local restaurant where it was known for its busy atmosphere. It was the safest way of seeing Ollie as she couldn’t trust him; she hadn’t particularly bothered to make an effort to glam herself up as she wanted the ordeal over as fast as possible. It had been so long ago now since they had last seen each other that in her mind he was dead. Richard had agreed to sit at a table nearby in case he tried any funny business, she had grown to love the strength of a good man who knew how to treat her properly and felt relieved at him being there. It was finally her opportunity for closure and say goodbye to the ghost of her past.

Arriving early she ordered a gin and tonic to steady her nerves, the room was full of diners and several loud conversations were taking place on nearby tables. Ollie finally made his appearance and looked the shadow of the man she had known. He ordered his drink and gave her a sickly smile.

   “It’s good to see you again Ann, they have only just let me out, being in jail has given me time to reflect on all of the heartbreak I caused you. I’m so sorry can you find it in your heart to forgive me and we can start again?”

He was pleading with her which made him appear even more pathetic.

  “Ollie for years I have tried to be the perfect wife for you and not once did you bother to ask me how my day had been! Instead you took your frustration out on me with your clumsy fists expecting me to take it, well guess what I have a surprise for you. I don’t want to see you ever again and it was me who informed the embassy about your conversation with the Russians. You see I happen to be a spy too and I followed you that day, don’t you remember a Saskia interrupting your conversation? Well that was me!”

His mouth dropped open and he looked like he was going to erupt, grabbing hold of her arm he drew his face close to hers.

  “You are a traitor!” He snarled.

 “Get your hands off my wife!” Richard snapped glaring at Ollie.

  “Oops that was the other surprise I was going to tell you, I assumed you were dead and after waiting for a long time decided to remarry. Richard here is my new husband so have a nice life Ollie!”

She stood up and explained to the waiter that the man was going to pay for the bill, seeing the tortured look on Ollie’s face was only a small amount of pay back for what he had put her through.

                                                                           THE END