Free The Blind Run by Brian Freemantle Page A

it and he tried to cover the weakness by immediately imposing his control over the meeting, nodding curtly towards Charlie as if it were an order to stop. He said, ‘I don’t think you can have any idea what has been involved in creating this meeting. Other departments, apart from the Home Office, have had to be involved and Sir Alistair here …’ the man paused, turning his head towards the Director. ‘Sir Alistair has shown a very great public attitude by coming here, at such short notice. His attendance was your condition, Muffin. And it is one that I have deferred to. If, having heard what you have to say, I conclude that this whole episode was the farcical invention I fear it to be, I shall have you charged before visiting magistrates with secreting a weapon, with intent to facilitate an escape and make a prosecution plea that an additional sentence is imposed upon you. Further I shall endorse your file against any parole consideration, for as long as regulations permit such suspension.’
    Fuck you, thought Charlie. He was home. Home and dry. Steady, he thought, in immediate warning. He’d considered he had a deal before with Wilson and the bastard had reneged upon it.
    ‘All right,’ said Armitrage, still attempting to appear forceful. ‘What is it?’
    Charlie talked not to the governor but to Wilson. ‘What about our deal?’ he demanded.
    ‘What deal?’
    Charlie looked around the other assembled men. ‘You want me to talk about it here, like this?’
    ‘What deal?’ repeated Wilson.
    ‘I could have run, in Italy,’ reminded Charlie. ‘I knew you’d found me but I could still have run. But I didn’t. Because I knew our own ambassador there had gone over to the Russians I stayed and did everything you wanted me to, so you could not only stop it but reverse it, to try to create as much harm as you could …’
    ‘Which was all set out at your trial,’ interrupted the Director.
    ‘Bullshit!’ rejected Charlie. ‘It wasn’t set out, like you say it was. It was mentioned, almost in bloody passing. But the deal was that you’d make sure the judge understood. That there would be a consideration, not the maximum sodding sentence possible. And that after the sentence, you’d see I got out …!’ Charlie’s anger grew, as he remembered the promises Wilson had made to him. ‘Didn’t you?’ he said, careless of the rise in his voice. ‘ Didn’t you?’
    ‘I will not have Sir Alistair interrogated!’ broke in Armitrage. ‘Any more than I will tolerate any longer this ridiculous charade.’
    ‘It’s all right,’ placated Wilson, from behind the governor. To Charlie he said, ‘Approaches were made to the judge. I could only give you undertakings, not guarantees. He decided that what you did in Italy was a very small mitigation against the damage you did. There was no way I could prevent that.’
    ‘What about getting me out, afterwards?’ persisted Charlie.
    It was Armitrage, not the Director, who responded. ‘Sir Alistair has been in contact both with the Home Office and myself, long before today, seeking the earliest parole opportunity for you,’ said the Governor. ‘It was because of that earlier contact that I was able to get into touch so quickly. And why Sir Alistair responded, with matching speed.’
    ‘Oh,’ said Charlie, momentarily deflated.
    ‘There’s only so much I can do, to circumvent the existing system,’ said Wilson. ‘There’s a consideration hearing in six months’ time. I’ve already indicated I’ll support any parole application you make, even though, of course, you’ll have to serve the required minimum, even if that parole is granted.’
    ‘I didn’t know,’ said Charlie.
    ‘There’s no way you could,’ said Wilson. He added, ‘Or should.’
    ‘Whatever Sir Alistair intended doing, I shall still block it if all this is a nonsense,’ repeated Armitrage.
    He only had their word – Wilson’s word – Charlie realised, recovering. It could all