A Devil Is Waiting by Jack Higgins

Granddad at home?”
     
    “In the study. But he’s going out this evening.”
     
    She was examining Holley as she spoke, and Sara said, “Mrs. Cohen is our housekeeper, Daniel.”
     
    That the woman was running an eye over him made Holley feel foolish, standing there with a bag in each hand. He put them down.
     
    “A pleasure, Mrs. Cohen.” He held out his hand.
     
    She took it briefly, then turned to Sara. “I’ll bring you tea.”
     
    She moved down a wide corridor, obviously making forthe kitchen area. They followed her for a moment, then Sara opened a large mahogany door to the left and led the way in.
     
    The room was a relic from the past, a wonderful Victorian library, walls lined with mahogany paneling or bookshelves, a period fireplace, Turkish carpeting on the floor. Rabbi Nathan Gideon was seated at his desk in a swivel chair and turned around as they entered. He had the look of a scholar and wise man, but with the kind of face that seemed ready to break into a smile at any time. The fringe of gray beard suited him, and his unruly hair topped by a black velvet yarmulke somehow made him look quite dashing. So did the old black velvet smoking jacket he wore.
     
    He flung his arms wide and stood to greet her, removing his reading glasses. “My dearest girl, how wonderful to see you.”
     
    They hugged for a few moments. “I love you so damn much, Granddad,” she said fiercely.
     
    “Such language,” he told her. “You’re bringing tears to my eyes.” He took out a hanky to dab at them. “What will your friend think?”
     
    “That you’re a lucky man to have such a beautiful granddaughter, Rabbi.” Holley held out his hand. “Daniel Holley. Sara and I are colleagues.”
     
    “Is that so?” Nathan Gideon led the way across to the fireplace, where two sofas faced each other across a glass coffee table. He sat down with Sara in one, Daniel facing them. The door opened and Sadie Cohen pushed in a trolley.
     
    “Do you also work at the Ministry of Defence, like that nice Major Roper who came to hear my sermon?” the rabbi inquired.
     
    “Now and then, if I’m needed,” Holley said. “I’m also in the shipping business.”
     
    “But somehow a colleague of my granddaughter who’s a captain in the Intelligence Corps. This I don’t understand.”
     
    He accepted the cup of tea Sadie handed him, and Sara said, “The thing is, I won’t be wearing the uniform much anymore.”
     
    “Except if you have to go to the Palace to get your Military Cross,” Holley said.
     
    The news was received with astonishment, Sadie missing a cup entirely while pouring more tea.
     
    “The Military Cross?” Nathan Gideon was amazed. “Sara, you never said a word.”
     
    “I only just heard,” she said. “And it was totally unexpected. Frank, my sergeant, deserved it more.”
     
    “I don’t think he’d agree,” Holley told her. “It was his account of your actions that night that led to you being put up for the award in the first place.” He stood up. “Look, sir, you’re a sensible man and I get the impression that Mrs. Cohen is pretty smart, too, so please listen. Major Roper, Sara, myself, and a few other people work for a top secret intelligence unit, responsible only to the Prime Minister.”
     
    He turned to Sara inquiringly and she nodded in agreement. “What Daniel says is true, Granddad. But you know you can’t say anything about this, right? Neither of you. It’s under the Official Secrets Act.”
     
    Her grandfather gaped at her in astonishment as Sadie said, “So no more wars, no more Afghanistan?”
     
    Sara smiled and then said, “Sadie, I’d be perfectly happy if I never have to clap eyes on the place again.”
     
    “So you will be living at home? That’s good. Now, you get that tea down you, and I’ll see to the trolley when you’re finished.”
     
    She went out, and Nathan said, “I’d like to thank you for clearing the air about all this, Daniel. We