Specials: Based on the BBC TV Drama Series: The complete novels in one volume. Brian Degas

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      A buzz on the door-intercom startled her, and she frowned, smearing some of the eye-shadow. She wasn’t expecting a certain visitor … not just yet anyway. Walking into the small sitting room, she went to the door and lifted the intercom telephone.

      ‘Hello?… Ginger? But I thought …’ Didn’t he remember the time they set? ‘Of course you can come up. It’s just I didn’t expect you for another hour. I’m not decent …’

      Neither was his response.

      ‘Ginger, you’ve got a dirty, horrible mind …’ she half-smiled.

      ‘I know it’s a bit late in the day, but congratulations,’ Barker declared, once they were settled at a table in the Pub on 4th and Briggsy had served him a mug of brew, which he offered in solitary toast.

      ‘Thank you,’ nodded the modest John Redwood. He had declined having to drink.

      ‘It’s good to see professional people like yourself joining the service,’ Barker began. ‘When I became a Special, more moons ago than I care to remember …’ he winked, ‘… well, the quality of intake was, shall we say, lower down the scale. Conversation was on a par with the corner pub.’ He took a sip of the brew.

      Redwood raised an eyebrow. ‘What’s more important, surely, is if a man or a woman can do the job well? I don’t believe their background makes any difference.’

      Barker wasn’t about to argue if Redwood were going to make an egalitarian issue out of an innocent pleasantry. Already he could see the man’s tenacity in defending a moot point, which was, after all, an encouraging sign.

      ‘True. Very true, John … I can call you John?’ Redwood indicated his assent. Barker smiled, then assumed a more confidential attitude. ‘The reason I wanted to have a chat with you is not so much that you’re a fellow Special – although that’s important,’ Barker reassured him. ‘No … it’s of a more personal nature, if you follow me.’

      From the look on his face, Redwood did not follow exactly, seeming uncomfortably uncomprehending. ‘As a solicitor, you must get a lot of people chewing your ear … needing advice … You probably hear all kind of things …’