Inverness
8- 30 p.m.
April 17th
Stanton had made his phone reservation for the night sleeper to London via a call box using the Mastercard happy in the knowledge that it worked. It was a simple matter of check in and board. He walked into the station at eight-thirty. The train left at eight-thirty eight giving him just enough time to catch it. He knew he’d show up on CCTV and given the odd method of entry into the country and the cash limitations he felt that someone somewhere would be watching. He strode in quickly, head down and made every subtle move to make any camera image unclear.
“Ticket in the name of Sam Kirk please?”
“Yes Mr Kirk. I have it here.”
She handed over the ticket and asked, “You have a restaurant reservation…” Stanton tuned out. To his left, exactly the next ticket station along, he heard a voice he recognised. Slightly stressed sounding Spencer was there.
“No sleeper births at all?”
“No I’m sorry sir. You should have booked earlier.”
“Okay, Okay I’ll take any seat.”
“That’ll be seventy eight pounds.”
“Mr Kirk, you’ll have to hurry the train will be leaving very shortly”
“I’m sorry, I was distracted.” Stanton said politely then added “Do you know if Mr Townshend, he’s a friend of mine has booked in?” Stanton said this loudly. Spencer suddenly tuned in.
“I can’t check for you and you really should get moving sir.”
“Oh well he was booked for a sleeper on this train. I’ll try and catch him in the restaurant, I know he has a booking there.”
“Well each carriage has the name booked on a reserve ticket on the sleeper door so if you’re willing to walk the train I’m sure you’ll find him.”
“That’s really sweet, you’re so kind.”
He was handed his ticket and passed by Spencer, who gave him a grateful look. Spencer recognised Mason’s entry cover name, Townshend and realised that if Mason had taken another route the sleeper would be empty. Spencer counted out the cash he’d taken from the taxi driver. He was grateful that Stanton had helped him with the information as on the submarine he had not been one to talk, keeping himself to himself. The coded ‘I’m sure I’ll meet him in the restaurant’ didn’t pass him by unnoticed either.
They both made their way to the train, though separately. They boarded, both feeling safer, ironic as the nearest DIC watcher was keenly scanning for them and immediately sent a message to DIC centre.