Page 13 - double revenge 3.

He walked over to his filing cabinet and came back with a small booklet.

‘Communication between you and your Assist is encoded using a session code. It is a simple form of
encoding but on each communication, the instigator informs the recipient of the current code used,
that way the two of you use a different code every time you send a signal. Each Assist has a
telephone answering service and one of our Direct Lines with an answer phone has been assigned
to you and is being installed right now. Inform the Assist of the number on your first
communication.

We wait for further calls and as soon as GCHQ track him, you can check in with the appropriate

Assist. We have to hope that GCHQ contact you directly again. I would hate to have to ask them to
check their intercepts follow ups, they have thousands every day. Any questions?’

She felt like asking ‘why me?’ but she would not want to give him a reason to change his mind. She
was excited and almost trembling. Bryant would be so pleased and proud of her but the pity was
she knew she must not breathe a word to anyone. Eventually he would understand. Instead, she
asked,

‘Do we currently have a tap on any of our own?’

Barker rose, walked to the window and stared out across the Thames.

‘What your question implies is, do I have any idea who might be being blackmailed or do I have

suspicions about anyone who might be giving cause to be blackmailed.’ He turned back from the
window.

‘Whatever my personal feelings or suspicions is irrelevant, that is why you now find yourself in this
position. The Deputy Director wants a virgin approach to this, no hang-ups, nothing pre conceived.
Whatever is happening that has given rise to this blackmail you need to find out. Keep me informed
at all times.’

Anne rose to leave.

‘And be careful, remember, you are an investigator not an agent. Investigate and report.’

Something told her that Barker knew who was being blackmailed; he just needed her to prove it.