Free The Code War by Ciaran Nagle

lipstick. She pursed her lips as she looked in
the mirror making sure the coverage was even and neat. Then she
dressed in some new underwear bought as a treat for her holidays
and on top of that a short pink skirt and a pink woollen blouse
with short sleeves and a low neckline. Finally she pulled on a pair
of medium high heels and then paused to look at herself in the long
mirror on the room’s only wardrobe.
    It was the same Nancy as before
and yet, though nothing had changed, everything had changed. As she
turned sideways left and right to regard her neat figure in profile
it seemed to her that she was a different person. Her bust was just
the same size as before and her legs were no longer. They were all
just…working harder. She opened the bedroom door, stepped into the
corridor and walked slowly down into the lounge. The boys had heard
her approach and had stopped talking. As Nancy stood before them,
one smooth leg carefully placed behind the other, they gaped at
her, waiting for her to make the first move.
    Nancy paused before speaking, enjoying
the moment. She moved her front foot slightly so that her body
swayed, delicate and sinewy in front of them. Her big toe traced a
short arc on the rug beneath her, teasing the fibres this way and
that. Was this how matadors tormented their raging prey, with small
insolent movements? How could cruelty be so delicious? For a moment
of exquisite pleasure she felt power and control that had never
been hers before. Always too much competition. Always someone with
a deeper cleavage. Not now.
    Earlier Nancy had talked about
calling the boys in alphabetical order. But that wouldn't meet the
need. If she was going to travel five hours each way to Jerusalem
she wanted to do it in style.
    She looked from Pete to Martin and
back again, smiling. 'Pete, my wardrobe door is stuck. Could I
borrow you a minute?'
    'Sure.' Pete stood up obediently. He was
only human.
    Nancy turned and walked back to
her bedroom. The boys followed her with their eyes, their gazes
fixed on her lilting hemline. Pete looked at the other two for a
moment without expression and then followed Nancy down the
corridor. He was walking surprisingly fast.
    Nancy stood by one of the beds.
The corner of the duvet was turned back,
invitingly. She was smiling and had her hands behind her back, feet
together. They both knew who was calling the shots.
    Nancy looked gorgeous and knew it. She held out her hand. It was
part invitation and part order. Pete was glad to obey. He stepped
forward and took her hand and she drew him to her, surprisingly
firmly. His lips bore down on hers and his hands searched for
landing places on her body.
    She stopped him.
    'I need a small favour.'
    'Oh, what's that?'
    'I need you to hire me a car.'
    'What? Are you kidding?' He pulled
his head back.
    'No. Not kidding. I want you to hire me
a car. Just for one day. Can you do that for me?'
    'No. Of course I can't. I'm just a
poor student. I'm borassic. Skint. I can barely afford this study
tour.'
    'Really? Haven't you got any money?'
    'No. I'm broke . Truly. Is that what this…?'
    Nancy placed her finger on his
chest, tapping gently. 'Because, you know, I was convinced,
absolutely convinced,' she looked up earnestly into his eyes, 'that
you were the son of the Duke of Buckinghamshire. First and only
son. Isn't that odd? You've heard of the Duke of Buckinghamshire,
haven't you? He owns half the county. Filthy rich, apparently.' She
gazed at him with wide-eyed sincerity like a young daughter
mesmerised by her dad.
    Pete rushed his hands to the top of his head. Then he pulled them down
over his ears, squashing his face. His lips puckered out like a
blowfish. 'How did you find out?'
    'Oh, I just keep my eyes
open .'
    'No-one must ever
know ,' he hissed. 'If they do, if they
find out at uni that I'm a toff, I'll be meat. I'll lose all my
friends. How did you find out?'
    'Well ,
let's see,' said Nancy tilting her head up to the left. 'Was it
your perfectly