Free A Choice of Evils by Joe Thompson-Swift

understanding. I smiled and ordered us both a large scotch. Amid our small talk, his roving eyes followed the barmaid’s movements as her shapely body seemed to have a hypnotic effect upon him. But this was broken when her smile informed us our meals were ready.
    At table, Dave went into a spasm of eating, hardly waiting for the previous mouthful to be chewed before the next one was lined up for demolition. In between his grunts of approval, his mixed grill was rapidly disappearing as if he were in competition of finishing first.
    It was the best part of an hour before our meals were finished. A satisfied smile lit up his face as he volunteered to speak and from his tattered leather coat pocket, he produced two large sheets of paper. They were print outs about Ahmed and Bruce. This is how it read:
    Hashemi Ahmed. Born 16.08.50
    Occupation: Official Interpreter attached Iranian Embassy.
    Current address: ‘Dreyfus’ Lyndon Gardens, Notting Hill Gate, London.
    Domestic status: No known cohabitee.
    Observations: Frequent flights to Teheran. Attends mosque (Stamford Hill)North London. Of interest to MI5/6. Suspected of covert intelligence gathering. Known to have contacts with Islamic revolutionaries.
    Summary: Has resided at present address for past 3 months.
    Specific: No known scientific interests in UK or EU. No trace/knowledge of joint collaboration with British scientists on government projects. End.
    Note: Enquirer should fill in form SIS/O47 if in receipt of information not indicated in print out. End.
    I let out a controlled sigh. Dave searched my eyes but I quickly masked the disturbance in my mind. I read on to the next print out on Bruce.
    Alexander James Bruce. Born 24.11.53. Chester, UK
    Occupation: Scientist (Dr. BSc. PHd. Hon) Specialist Genetics/Biology.
    Government employee. O S Acts. Code Red.
    Place of work: Tropical Research Lab’ Blackfriars Road, London. GHQ & Porton Down Research Facility.
    Current address: 61/b Willifield Road. Golders Green. London.
    Social history: Only son of 2 siblings. Cambridge hon’s graduate (as above). Parents mid class status. Reside Surrey.
    Domestic status: No known cohabitee. Occasional female liaisons.
    Observations: Prolific supporter of scientific conventions. Holiday’s twice yearly. Bahrain/Majorca.
    Government clearance code: Green.
    Summary: Has resided at current address past 7 years.
    Specific: No evidence/trace of foreign collaboration. End.
    Note: Enquirer should fill in form SIS/O47 if in receipt of information not indicated in print out. End.
    I folded the papers over and promised Dave they would be destroyed when I returned home. He gave a half-hearted smile and reminded me this was classified information. My mind was already in over drive with what I had read. I ordered two more large scotches because this time for sure, I knew I had been taken for a sucker by Ahmed. Whatever was in the XP42 formula was obviously of immense importance to him for whatever reasons. He was not a scientist after all and he gambled on my ignorance to make his proposition seem almost respectable. So just who and what was I really dealing with?
    The weasel saw I was a little preoccupied with my thoughts. It was almost 2o’clock. He rubbed his thumb and forefinger together to indicate the balance of the money I owed him. Then he told me again how difficult it was to get that kind of information. It was worth a lot more, he emphasised. I took the hint and offered another £50 making it now £100.
    I could see it was going to be one of those afternoons for Dave. What the hell, I thought. Someone was sure to eventually pour him into a cab. He was now about ready to start cracking his well-worn jokes to the barmaid. Unfortunately she gave him a smile which was all he needed. I told him I had to go and invited the barmaid to refill his glass. Dave lingered with my handshake almost pulling my hand from my wrist. ‘We’ll be in touch,’ I told him, and left.
    My plan for this evening