snorted and assessed the man who was tall and slim with thin blond hair and regal bearing about him. “Yeah, and I’m Paddington Bear.”
“I assure you, Mr Granger, this is not a joke.” He reached out a hand and in it was a thick cream envelope with the Royal seal on the back. “This is an invitation to meet with Her Majesty at Buckingham Palace tomorrow.”
Jack took it, his confusion growing and blaming it on the volume of alcohol he’d consumed the previous night. “You’re serious?”
James Fitzgerald stepped closer. “I never joke about work, Mr Granger.” He stepped past Jack and to the door as a car drew up outside before turning back. “Might I suggest a shower and a change of clothes before tomorrow.”
“What is this about?”
“I’m afraid I cannot say but rest assured, it will be to your benefit to attend.”
With that, James Fitzgerald left, and Jack was more confused than ever, but instead of having a belly full of dread and grief, he felt a sense of something big was about to happen, like an opportunity had presented itself.
Jack arrived at the Palace fifteen minutes before his appointment, still expecting someone to jump out and shout ‘joke’ at him. He’d done research until his eyes hurt, and he’d missed Will’s computer skills despite his anger towards him. Will would’ve had it figured out in a heartbeat. He’d managed to ascertain that James Fitzgerald was who he said he was, which only intrigued him more.
What the hell did the Queen of England want with him? Dressed in a dark navy suit, he adjusted his tie and exited his car that had been ushered through security without so much as a pause.
James met him, and they shook hands. “Mr Granger, so glad to see you looking more put together this morning.”
“You did catch me at rather a bad time, unfortunately. But then again, I guess when you forget to knock that’s what happens, Mr Fitzgerald.”
“Please, call me James and I apologise for the intrusion but there was no other way, I’m afraid.”
James led him past the rooms open to the public and towards a drawing-room where two guards and butler stood beside a set of double doors. James knocked and waited before he went inside, indicating Jack should wait.
As he did, he took stock of his surroundings and began pondering potential security breaks and weaknesses. Jack didn’t see code like Will did, but this was his arena, and he could look at any building or situation and read the threat or potential for danger, and he could see at least three now.
The door opened again, forcing Jack to concentrate on the task ahead, which he knew absolutely nothing about.
“Please follow me.”
Jack straightened his spine and walked inside the private Study of Queen Lydia II.
“Mr Granger, thank you for coming.”
Jack bowed low and took the offered hand, shaking it gently. “Ma’am.”
“Please take a seat.”
He waited until she was seated before he sat, aware James was still in the room with them.
“I’m sure you’re wondering what you’re doing here.”
Her Majesty sat with her legs angled to the side, a cream skirt falling past her knees, a pale blue twinset, and pearls adorning her top. Her naturally blonde hair—because the Queen would never be so crass as to bleach it—was pulled back into an elegant chignon. At fifty-nine, she was still an attractive woman and held her head high and with grace.
“I’m intrigued to say the very least.” Jack was careful not to give away too much until he knew what was happening. His life had taken some very odd and not so pleasant turns this last week, and he wasn’t sure the blows had stopped just yet.
“Yes, I’m sure. Let me not waste any more time. My private security detail will be retiring at the end of the year, and I need a new one to fill its place.”
Jack frowned, confused as to how this affected him. “I’m sorry, but surely this is a job for the Home Secretary? Don’t they provide your security detail through the Met?” The Met being the short form of London’s Metropolitan Police
“Not exactly. My day-to-day detail, yes they do, but I’m talking about my personal detail who are answerable to me alone.”
“I was unaware such a detail existed.” Jack was trying not to sound like an idiot and wasn’t sure he was succeeding in his ignorance.
“And that is how it is meant to be and will stay. Since my great grandmother’s reign, the Monarchy has