By the Pale Moonlight

Chapter 3

 

 

Chapter 3

 

A week had passed and still no ‘chatta’ as Daemon would say, from the Afghans so Becker told Daemon he could take Claire home.

Claire was feeling restless.  She was eager to get started looking for another job, but this sequestering they were under was making her impatient.

The last week passed slowly as Daemon became withdrawn after the first day of their safe house stay.  Claire didn’t understand why he stopped the casual banter they had shared in the beginning but she took her cue from him and kept to herself.  Claire found books on the shelves and picked one out to read.  Eye if the Needle by Ken Follett.  How appropriate she thought, considering her situation.  She was just finishing the last chapter when Daemon entered the parlor.

“Becker says we can leave so I’m going to take you home.”  Daemon said, as he sat next to Claire on the sofa.

“Oh good!”  exclaimed Claire.  “I have to look for another job or move back to Boston and I’ve gotten to like it here and don’t want to have to move.”  Claire stood up and Daemon stood as well.

“Now hold on, Slim.”  He still called her ‘Slim’.  “There are some things I have to tell you.”

“Go on”.  Claire urged.

“We’ve hired a car for you to use.  I”m going to have to take your car for a while for your protection.”  Daemon was very serious as he said this.

“We need to take precautions to be sure that no one knows, not just about me, but you as well.  Your car is very recognisable and if you are known by the Afghans to have been seen with me they’ll find you by that damned vintage car of yours.”  Daemon said this last part with a smile, like the one he used the first day they spent together.  Claire smiled in return.

“Well Steve, just don’t wreck it or you’ll wish the Afghans caught you!”  Daemon gave a slight chuckle.

“Let’s go.”  he said as Claire was putting on her coat.  He watched her as she flipped her long hair from the collar of the coat and he thought about that first morning when he woke to find her standing in the kitchen offering him some tea.  Daemon hadn’t realized how truly beautiful Claire was until he saw her hair flowing down her shoulders and her back. He knew right then that he had to keep her at arms length.  It would not do to get involved with this intelligent, funny and beautiful woman.  The life Daemon led wouldn’t allow it.  But he couldn’t stop himself from enjoying the little quips they shared that morning.

Once again Daemon drove as Claire told him where she lived.  Every now and then Daemon would speak to someone he was connected to through some sort of wireless device Claire could not see.

“How’s it look, Hastings?”  Daemon asked as his eyes darted from rear mirror to side mirrors.

“Where’s Delta team?  Good.  Have you got someone at her address?  Good.  Approaching the street now.”

Daemon spoke to Claire.  “We’ve swept your flat for bugs and all’s clear but we’ll still have people watching out for you just in case.  Don’t worry, Slim.  We won’t let anything happen to you.” He smiled at Claire as he stopped the car.

“I’ll walk you to your flat,”  Daemon took Claire’s arm in his and they walked to the lift.

In the elevator, Claire was thinking how dreamlike all this was.  Just a week ago she was cleaning out her desk in her office and now she was going home with all of MI 5 watching her.