The Nationalist by Campbell Hart

through Graeme Donald. Sarah had access to email systems and Ian had suggested she should be looking to smuggle out a copy of correspondence for the last few days. She thought he was joking at first but he had insisted, “It’s for the cause Sarah, we can help show why things need to change; highlight real corruption, nepotism and bad management.” She thought he was just looking for a good story for his website, which she wasn’t convinced was really doing all that well. He didn’t seem to be making any money and during their time together he was always looking for a loan. Still he had persisted, going on and on about what an opportunity they were being given. She had logged on using Norrie Smith’s old details. It had been her job to shut down access to his account so by changing the time code to a few hours beforehand she thought she had covered all bases. The operation itself didn’t take long. There were around 350 emails altogether from Rosalind Ying and John Arbogast’s account. Donald’s wasn’t up and running yet but the email traffic from her personal account contained his side of the conversation. It had taken her longer than expected as she kept getting interrupted, and was almost caught when a nosy neighbour spent too long staring at her screen but she got away with it.
    By the time she met Ian she knew she was late. Knew he didn’t like being kept waiting. After she dropped off the USB she made the decision not to bother with him again. He was a cold, arrogant bastard who didn’t care about the risks she was taking. Next time he could do it himself.
     

20
     
     
    Rosalind Ying was furious. At what should have been the happiest time of her life events had conspired against her. On one side she had managed to land the promotion she had been looking for, but she had just found out she was pregnant. She hadn’t told John yet; didn’t know if it would be a good idea given the circumstances. Things hadn’t been going well for a while, but maybe a baby would change that? Who I am trying to kid? He cheated. What was he thinking? I can forgive a lot, but that’s taking the piss. Rosalind knew that the relationship was over but she didn’t know what to do about her situation. They had both talked about children but in a maybe one day kind of way. Now that it was real, she didn’t know what to do. This particular investigation offered the chance to put her name on the map. If it went well she could be looking at a lot of new opportunities. Maybe even the Met? She had a lot of decisions to make. One way or the other her life was about to change. How did the quote go? ‘It was the best of times and the worst of times.’
    “Looking to make a sacrifice for love, Rosalind?” Her chain of thought was broken by Graeme Donald who was leaning against the frame of her office door, she hadn’t realised she’d be talking out loud, “Not so you’d notice. I’ve just got a lot on my mind,”
    “Anything you want to talk about?”
    “I can’t.”
    “Doesn’t have to be at work; we could make it over a drink?”
    “No, as I said, I can’t.”
    “You can’t or won’t?”
    “Look, I don’t like where this is going. Do we really need to go through this sexual harassment routine? If this is the way it’s going to be you can find someone else.”
    “That’s right, I can.”
    “Fine.” Rosalind stood up, picked up her bag and started to leave the room. Donald grabbed her arm as she passed.
    “A joke, Rosalind, surely you can take a joke?”
    “I’m afraid I don’t share your sense of humour. No more, OK?”
    “Fine, I’m here to talk about John Arbogast anyway.”
    “What about him?”
    “I know you two are an item, but I wanted to check if you will be able to work well together. You’re both looking at the terror case but I sense there might be a tension between you. I need to know this isn’t going to be a problem. If it is, I’ll move him.”
    “He’s the specialist Graeme. You need