Chapter 7

Everything went back to normal pending the trial. There was a rumour of a possible major new project in Scotland but no more than that.

Susie came prancing in the following Monday morning. "Rory would like to meet you," she said to Tom.

"I'd like to meet him. Has he got wheels?"

"Yes, why?"

"Well why don't you both come down for the weekend? I know we haven't got anything on and Briony would love to see you again."

"That sounds a super idea but do you mind if I run it by him first?"

"Do. I wouldn't expect you not to. What I suggest is that he picks you up from here and I'll hitch a lift with you to show you the way. The last bit's quite complicated, lots of little windy lanes."

"OK."

Susie rang Rory at lunchtime and he approved the plan.

"Great," said Tom. "I'll warn Briony off this evening."

On Thursday Clive called Tom in.

"Tom, one of the major oil companies reckons it has found a large reserve off the west coast of Scotland. It also has its eyes on the Arctic."

Tom nodded.

"They want to build a port somewhere, I don't know where exactly, on the northwest coast of Scotland. They've got a meeting in London next Wednesday at ten to give the outline to companies that might do the job for them. I'd like you to go."

"Sure. Are you coming too?"

"No. I suspect our competitors will be sending directors who will not be switched on engineers. OK, I've got an engineering background but you are a real professional and I think we would gain kudos for that. You should also be able to get ahead of the competition. Don't be too clever though. It might give the others ideas."

Tom grinned. "Got you, boss."

Even so he was puzzled as he went back to his office. Why didn't they both go, he and his director? Surely that would show more respect or the importance the company placed on the project. He turned back.

"Clive, I'm not entirely happy representing the company on my own. I'm perfectly happy to attend and do my bit but don't you think you ought to be there as well to show how much we value being considered."

Clive smiled. Again it was humourless which Tom noted. "Only one representative has been invited. Rather you than me. If asked I had a previous engagement which I was unable to change."

"Ah! OK, I understand."

He did not. It seemed to him that the company was not showing sufficient appreciation at being invited to what at this stage would only be an outline of the project. He wondered at Clive's motives. His distrust in the man intensified. Briony was right. Mr Slime was becoming a more apt nickname as time went on.

He went to the meeting and his misgivings were realised. He was politely received but it was clear that a director had been expected, not just a senior engineer. Tom listened and accepted all the handouts. He took in who the competitors were. He also made a point of going up to the oil company's chief engineer, who was present, after the meeting.

"I think my company may have made a cock-up by sending a mere engineer to this meeting," he said with an engaging smile.

"I think it might," grinned Edward Robson. "I'm honoured to have been allowed to attend myself. I suspect the only reason was that the white collars thought I might be able to field a fast one."

"Too early to bowl fast ones," replied Tom. "Look, we've got a largish scale map and the requirement for umpty-ump facilities and are required to make a guesstimate on that. It doesn't make sense. One could be a couple of million either side."

"Yes."

Tom sensed he had found an ally and realised that Clive may not have been as stupid as he had thought.

"Look, Edward," he said. "It would make much more sense if we were to send a small team up to the site for a week or so to have a really good sniff round. We need to look at the geology, the water depths and so on not to mention the environmental aspects. The nimbies and the Greens will go wild."

Edward nodded. "You're right. There's not a building within five miles. I'll send you details of the Bed and Breakfast places we've used but you'll still need to take provisions or you'll starve. You'll need to hire vehicles too. I'll tell you who we used. They were very reasonable."

"Thanks, Edward." They exchanged business cards with telephone numbers and e-mail addresses.

The meeting was followed by lunch in the directors' dining room. Edward had not been invited and so Tom was on his own again. The oil firm director asked him why Clive had not come.

"He said he had another important engagement which he couldn't cry off."

"I see. Well, give him my regards and tell him we missed him."

"Thank you. I will."

"That has pulled the wool over nobody's eyes," Tom thought to himself. "Clive should have damned well asked them if he could send me in his place. Rude and arrogant that was. Oh well, on his own head be it."

He reported back to Clive that afternoon who was pleased with what he had achieved and laughed off the fact that his absence had been noted. Tom once again noted the bonhomie and the charm but still sensed a lack of true warmth. He needed to talk it over with Briony.

Clive asked him to come up with a plan for the reconnaissance. Tom went back to his section and told them the news. There was excitement at the prospect of a major new project.

"Why did he choose this section, I wonder?" one of the older members asked.

"Because of our outstanding brilliance?"

There was laughter but it gave Tom more food for thought.

He settled down to work out who and what he would need on the reconnaissance.

"Can I come, Tom?" asked Susie.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

"Rory?"

"Yes."

"Sex maniacs?"

"I don't think we have any and in any case they haven't been sex-starved like bloody Andy."

"What have you got to offer? Survey?"

"Yup!"

"Depth sounding?"

"No but who else has?"

"Oh I'm sure we've got someone who can swing a bosun's lead."

Susie made a rude noise.

"OK, Miss Longfellow, provided Mr ... er ... Clive agrees."

Susie noticed the hesitation but attached no importance to it.

"I told you about this Scottish job and how Clive wanted me to go to the introductory meeting instead of him," Tom said to Briony that evening.

"Mm."

"It was as I thought. They were miffed and I get the impression that Clive, having given me a lie as to why he wasn't there, didn't bother to tell them why I would be representing him."

A thoughtful 'mm'.

"He's given me the recce job."

"Well that makes sense since he sent you to the meeting."

"Why did he pick me though and not one of the other section leaders?"

"Because you're the best of the bunch?"

"I'm not convinced of that."

"Watch him, Tom-Tom. He's smooth but one of these days he's going to slip."

"Wise woman."

Briony smiled superiorly and then got the giggles.

Edward Robson e-mailed through the details he had promised on Thursday morning. Tom set Susie to ringing round. He had come up with a team of twelve and a requirement for six cross country vehicles and two boats.

By mid-afternoon on Friday Tom had a plan which he took to Clive for approval. The team would be away for a fortnight in three weeks' time.

Clive endorsed everything but did have one question. "Do you think it's a good idea for Susie to go with you, Tom, after that experience in West Africa?"

"She asked to come."

Clive smiled inwardly with satisfaction. "OK, if that's what she wants. I was only concerned about her personal feelings."

Tom, somehow, was not convinced.

Rory arrived at half past five and Susie introduced him to Tom. The men shook hands warmly.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am, Tom," Rory said genuinely.

Tom smiled back. "I'm sure you'd have done the same," was all he could think of to say.

The drive was uneventful and they were home shortly after seven. Briony had to restrain her usual exuberant welcome for Tom in front of the others whom she immediately made to feel at home. They all took a drink into the sitting room. The Cliffords took to Rory immediately and he to them. Susie was thrilled.

After dinner Briony insisted that Tom and Rory went back to the sitting room with a brandy apiece. She and Susie would do the clearing up, make some coffee and have a chat.

Briony really wanted to get to know Susie better. She had met her at the party and before and after the West African trip but that was all. She had appreciated that she was an intelligent, pretty and vivacious girl but she had a feeling there was more to her than that.

"How long have you and Rory been engaged?" she asked.

"Three months but I've known him for ever. Dad and his father were teaching at a prep school and both of us were pupils there and were thrown together in the holidays. When we were thirteen we both moved on to different schools but still saw each other in the holidays until Dad moved to Harrow when I was sixteen and Rory was seventeen. We still saw each other once or twice a year because our families used to do holidays together, mostly hill walking in the summer holidays but we also all had a holiday in Malta one Easter holiday and another in Cyprus. We hardly saw each other while we were both at university but then when Rory got a job at Slough we started to see quite a lot of him again. His family are now up in North Wales which is a bit too much of a flog for weekends. We both had boyfriends and girlfriends but seemed to gravitate back to each other. I thought he was attractive when I was fifteen but the important thing was that we are best friends."

"So why were you so worried about his reaction to the African beastliness?"

"I don't know. It was irrational really, I suppose, but there was that fear that he'd consider me shop-soiled."

"Tom was worried for you but then he didn't know Rory or the fact that you had known each other for so long."

"He would be. You're very lucky to have him, Briony. I joined his section about a year before you got engaged and became his unofficial assistant six months after that. I was thrilled. It was before Rory and I became serious and I definitely had an eye on Tom."

"Oh you did, did you?" Briony's eyes were dancing.

Susie smiled back. "I'm glad you got him, Briony. From all I see it was a marriage made in Heaven."

Briony nodded. "You're right. It was. Anyway, enough of us. When are you getting married?"

"Nine weeks tomorrow. Whee!" She did a whirl of excitement and happiness.

"Will you go on working?"

"You bet. Well until we start a family and we're not in a rush to do that at the moment."

"Nor are we. So you enjoy the job."

"You bet although I sometimes wish I wasn't so highly qualified and could actually be doing some hands on engineering rather than be office-bound." She paused. "I'm possibly speaking out of turn," she went on, "but I'd be happier than I am without our director."

"Ah," replied Briony, "funny you should say that. I met him for the first time at the party and didn't think much of him. At the party Tom and Angela discovered that their mother's were cousins so we were invited to Sunday lunch. He flirted the whole time we were there: not ostentatiously but suggestive asides. Yuck!"

"After West Africa he suggested that I might have developed feelings for Tom."

"Did he just? What the hell is he up to?"

"I don't know but I wouldn't trust him further than I could throw him."

"Hmm. We call him Mr Slime."

Susie shrieked with laughter. "Spot on!" she exclaimed.

"One more thing before we join the boys," said Briony, "I've put you both in separate rooms. You've got the double bed and Rory the single one. We don't know or care whether you're sleeping together so it's up to you." She chuckled. "I wouldn't share the single bed if I was you."

Susie giggled. "Nor would I much as I love him. I'll give you one guess. Thanks, Briony."

They did not carry either conversation through to the sitting room but instead discussed what they might do on Saturday. Susie and Rory decided that they'd like to wander round Pitsbury in the morning, have lunch there and visit Stonehenge in the afternoon. A pub supper at the Crown was agreed by all.

"Oh well," said Tom ruefully. "I suppose the garden does need attention."

"Front or back?" asked Briony wide-eyed.

"Briony!"

Rory and Susie exploded with laughter.