Tan crouched on all fours at the corner of the living room window, straining to make out any sign of humanity in the car parked across the street. The door opened, the light came on and she saw two heads briefly join. She pumped the air. “Yes!”  She quickly crawled to the door and into the passage before standing and waiting to hear steps on the porch and a key being used. Instead Zoe called out on the first step. “Open up.”

“Wow, incredible prescience kid.” She opened the door and frowned. “So how did it go Zoe, you ok?”

“Fine.” Zoe led the way into the living room and sat down. “So what were you watching?”

“Some old movie. Nothing really. Come on, tell me.”

“First a tip. When the only light in the room is the TV and even if it only a dull old movie it’s still enough to make out a big head peering out. It amused Michael.”

“Any danger you thought it slightly hilarious?”

“Not really. For you information it was an absolute disaster. He failed to answer one question. I failed to ask one question. Apart from when will he be back from Cuba. I just felt like putty. He’s so nice, it’s awful. I’m hopeless.”

“Shit.”

“Thanks Tan.”

“I meant shit what am I going to tell Jack? I promised I’d ring him back after you got home and I listen intently to the wonderful recording you surely would have of your conversation.  Gord, I’ve forgotten half the stuff I told him. Wicked webs weaving and all that crap.”

“You could hardly forget telling him on my first meeting I met Manhattan’s political advisor in Mexico three days ago. The one with the possible Russian accent and with the code word aunty. ”

“That’s not the big worry, he worked out I was half pissed and prone to bullshitting more than usual when I flogged that slant. It was the new bits I hammered like how important the meeting tonight was, how you were going to suck his brains dry.” Zoe took Tan’s hand. “You really are worried. You do understand you really haven’t asked me how tonight went.”

“Didn’t have to, unsneaky me saw two brains almost amalgamate permanently. So pretty obvious you’re completely compromised and you’re at least fucked in the head so the physical bit is totally irrelevant and I’m regretting my complete inability to keep my honest mouth as well as my lying mouth shut. And don’t argue with me, it’s all my fault, my useless ego, thinking I could lie better than you……yeah ok you wouldn’t lie in the first place.”

“Tan! Stop it. And what’s the big deal? You always  boss Jack around, just tell him you got it wrong. I suppose that would mean admitting you weren’t a good liar.”

“Yeah, but that’s ok. No, I think what’s really upsetting me is I misled Jack for no real good reason, it wasn’t going to help you. Actually it was really silly wasn’t it?” Zoe got up and went to the door. “I’ll make coffee while I’ll try and think of a reason why you’re not silly.”

“Just a tick, do you have any idea why he’s going to Cuba?”

“All he said was he often goes down there for a few days as a bit of a break. He said he has a place down there but I don’t whether he owns it or rents it or whatever. I know nothing else.” She walked out leaving Tan on the sofa with her thighs against her chest and her arms wrapped around her lower legs. Various facial distortions occurred for a minute before she jumped up and pulled out her phone, hesitating for ten seconds before calling and putting it on speaker. It was answered in one ring. “Good morning, this is the mobile phone of Mr. Jack Darling who is disposed and he is not allowed to talk because he is driving and can’t afford to lose any more points and I am playing a game with his phone so be quick. Who are you?”

“It’s Tanami and I will call granddad back in the morning. So how-”” A scream was heard. “Tan, Jack. Two seconds I’m just pulling into the school. There we are, be good sweetie, see you at three. Ok, I can talk now.”

“Is that Saint Snots for rich little bitches?”

“Spot on, they’re training her well. How did Zoe go?”

“Well, first I have a confession about what I told you about San Diego and Manhattan. I may have been a little tiddly and sort of lied. Actually I lied through my teeth.” She waited for a response. “You still there Jack?”

“Yeah, my god. Is it me or are teachers looking younger and more disgusting these days? My granddaughter is being taught by porn star lookalikes.”

“You’d know. Can we get back to me?”

“Yeah fine, I didn’t believe a word you said, and if you’re going to bullshit don’t do it while pissed. Go on.” Zoe walked in, coffee mugs in hand. Tan put a finger to her lips. “Alright, she did go to San Diego because the prick turned up for the meeting with his aunt who wanted to go to Mexico just for a minute and she had the choice of go or miss out on interviewing him. She hardly got a word in after that and she even ended up standing on the border looking like some pro because she didn’t have any ID.  And tonight she had to cancel her date with a hunk because Manhattan reckoned it was the only time he could talk to her. He’s a creep and I bet he’s trying to spin out the interview hoping to score a root. She’s way above his league. Typical fucking arsehole male. Her looks are probably the only reason you hired her come to think of it. So go easy please.”

“Right, whore on the border. I’m trying to imagine. Must be true, even you wouldn’t try and pitch that one. If it’s time for truths then I’ll come clean, I’ve got the Chairman’s chief bum wiper asking every day how’s Manhattan looking and no I don’t know why because he ducks my subtle request as to why.”

“So you and Zoe are both useless, neither can get anywhere.”

“When you put it that way….. let me stew on it. Jesus, who hires these teachers?”

“Bye Jack.”  Tan picked up the coffee and sipped. “Thanks. Say why don’t we get rid of the cleaner and get a barista, an Australian trained one. If the wind changes Zoe you’ll look pretty yuk.”

“Like maybe a border whore?”

“Hey brilliant, make a great movie title. Sorry I was just talking good coffee in the hope I could avoid the elephant but actually your coffee is as good as you get in most Yank coffee shops. Oops, you’re going to remind me of something I say every time we go out for coffee in this town aren’t you?”   

“No point. What I’m going to say is you did a brilliant job, bit of a Mexican standoff by the looks of it.”

“Oh, thanks. Mind you I’m relatively sober and he thinks I only lie when I’m pissed. I mean just exaggerate, not really lie. I can’t work out why he wasn’t pissed off. Do you think he’s lying when he says he doesn’t know? I don’t but I’m just so naïve sometimes.” Zoe sipped and nodded. “So naïve indeed. His focus is elsewhere right now.”

“So is yours. You’ll hit the ceiling any second.”

“No way, I’ve got this anchor holding me down.” 

“Poor Zoey, moored to a ton of experience. So what are we doing about meeting Jack’s cop with the dirt on Manhattan? Make that Michael, I need to treat him with intimacy henceforth?”

“I’m doing exactly what Jack asked, meeting him in the bar. No we, just me.”

“No way, a woman on her own in that pub isn’t safe. Even someone like you who’d put any guy off. While you’ve been flirting around I’ve arranged for security. Team Tan will consist of me and big Bill. And Mrs. Cunt has given her permission.”

“That surprises me.”

“Why? He’s completely safe with the Lesbros. Why am I bothering, you’re still going to whine on about no need for a security team and particularly the key member called me who will love to sit close and hear first hand the crap you’ll dump on the cop. I’ve finished.”

“Well pitched. I’d love to have Team Tan helping. I’m sure I’d have started to get worried sooner or later. I’ll tell you where you’ll be sitting too.” Tan rose and folded her arms. “I’m betting I’ll need to brush up on my lip reading skills.” Zoe mouthed yes.

Next Chapter: Chapter FIVE