Page 134 of Tell No One
But…fuck!
He knew why he’d been given it. So that he could start again somewhere else.
He also suspected it was Delaney’s money.
Andhe knew why Delaney kept going out for hours every day. To give Tag time to pack up and leave. Delaney had even gone away for two days, though he had made sure there was plenty of food so Tag didn’t need to go out. Of course, the other reason Delaney was out a lot was that he was still working, sorting out the case against Norbury and the others. Tag didn’t think it was his imagination though, that Delaney always seemed a little surprised to see Tag was still there when he got back.
AndTag thought he knew why Delaney didn’t just tell him to go, though Delaney wouldn’t be happy with Tag’s conclusion. Delaney was a coward. Tag could just imagine how telling him that would go down, but he was sure he was right. Delaney thought he could make Tag want to leave so he didn’t have to do the pushing. He’d given Tag money and opportunity and no reason to stay.
But hehadgiven him a reason. Tag had heard him sayI love youseven times when he thought Tag was asleep. He’d counted. Maybe Delaney had said it more times when Tag reallyhadbeen asleep. If he wanted him to go, Tag wished he’d stop saying it.
Why couldn’t they be happy together? Delaney didn’t seem to want to try. If Tag started to talk to him about anything personal, Delaney shut the conversation down or walked out.
Two weeks for Tag to finally get the message. Even though it was a message he didn’t believe, one that he wasn’t sure Delaney believed either, but once Tag felt well enough, and now he did, he’d go. He did have some pride, so he’d be leaving that otter behind. If Delaney didn’t care enough to want Tag to stay, the otter meant nothing. Didn’t matter that he’d slept with it every night since Delaney had given it to him.Like some stupid kid.Maybe that was part of the problem. The age gap didn’t bother Tag so why should it bother Delaney?
So today, he’d leave. When Delaney had gone out, he’d pack up his stuff and go. He’d use three thousand pounds of the money he’d been given and that was all. He was owed that much. He’d have to find a way to give the rest back to Delaney. Tag didn’t want a row or tears or words coming from Delaney that he didn’t want to hear. He’d leave no note. He’d just walk out.
Now who’s the coward?
Tag headed into the main room to find Delaney drinking coffee.
“Morning,” Delaney said.
“I’m leaving today.” Tag was amazed he’d told him, even more amazed that his voice didn’t break.
Other than a slight tightening of his jaw, Delaney didn’t react. Tag sighed. What had he expected? Delaney to tell him he didn’t want him to go?
“I don’t want that money,” Tag said. “Not all of it. But I am owed three thousand pounds. Can you explain how I can give the rest back to you?”
“Me?”
“I know it’s yours.”
“I want you to have it.”
“I don’t want it. It’ll just sit there. I won’t use it.”
Delaney’s cheek twitched.
“Anyway, I’ll get my stuff and go.”
“My boss wants to see you.”
“Henry? Is he going to offer me a job?”
It was a joke but Delaney scowled, so maybe that was what Henry was going to do.
Delaney drove them there in a car that Tag hadn’t seen before, but then Delaney hadn’t taken him anywhere until then. Not even the supermarket. Tag had done a lot of sleeping and watching TV. Even though Delaney had bought him more clay, he hadn’t felt like making anything with it.
They went through a manned barrier and down into underground parking beneath a building in Mayfair called Concorde House.
Tag was given a badge at the ground floor reception, but when he walked through the metal detector, lights flashed. He put the bullet in the tray and tried again. No lights. He picked up the bullet on the other side and put it back in his pocket.
Delaney had seen what caused the issue but said nothing. Tag always kept the bullet in his pocket. It reminded him how lucky he was.
There were more security checks before they reached the third floor. Tag guessed this was some clandestine government department. MI5 offices weren’t near here. He followed Delaney along a corridor and into a room where a woman with grey hair coiled in a bun sat behind a desk. It said Magda Morgrave on a brass name plate.
“Good morning, Magda,” Delaney said.
