Page 125 - double revenge 3.

TOM’S CABIN. CHISWICK
TH
THURSDAY APRIL 30 1998
Secrets are the lifeblood of the intelligence service.

Someone once said, “A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept.”

It would be equally true to say a secret’s worth depends on those who share it.

Friendships made across the secret services inevitably lead to sharing of secrets.

The foot soldiers secrets are not worth a great deal but nevertheless they create bonds and as the
foot soldiers climb the career ladder then their secrets or what we like to call intelligence, become
more worthy.

One such bond was made many years ago between me and Oliver Stroud. Oliver joined MI5 at

roughly the same time as I joined MI6 and over the years, when we both needed additional
intelligence, we would check in with each other.

It had become tradition that when we needed to meet it would be over a lunch invitation and
Oliver took great pride in finding the most unusual eateries in London but my invite left him looking
somewhat speechless. The welcome from the maitre de also left a lot to be desired.

‘If you am going to sit at my best table then you an’ your friend had better order more than just
coffee. Today’s special is liver and onions and folks come from far and wide for my wife’s special.’

‘Thanks for the warm welcome Tom but my friend and I have come especially for your wife’s world
renowned cooking and a cup of your special Dockers.’

‘What is this place?’ asked Oliver, ‘and what exactly is a cup of Dockers?’

‘Don’t worry,’ I assured him, ‘The meal will be wonderful. I have been promising to treat myself
here for some time and Tom’s cup of Dockers is a cup of tea so sweet and strong the spoon stands
upright unaided, it is what dockworkers used to carry in their thermos. It’s the first class
complement to liver and onions which, as I remember, is your favourite dish.’

‘Maybe so,’ he replied, ‘but I also adore chateauneuf du pape.’

We made small talk during the meal until eventually Oliver put his knife and fork down.

‘Bryant, that was absolutely brilliant, first class.’ He closed his eyes and took a swig of his tea. ‘You
are right, the tea is totally complementary.’ He lowered his voice. ‘Now, the meal is your treat so I
suppose you need some gen?’

‘I am wondering if you could do some research for me. It would be easy for me to do myself but it is
a little too close to home. Do you know the CIA Directorate of Support European Global Services?’

‘Francisco, Alfredo, Maria de Angeles Delgado.’ Oliver replied.