Sharpe's Sergeant

Chapter 7 Enigma

Remembering his brunch date with Tom Clegg and Bernard Cornwell, Sean jolted himself back to reality. No time for dwelling on the events of last night when he couldn't do anything about it right now anyway. Besides, both his business phone and his personal phone were already ringing. His main objectives for the immediate future was to weather the aftermath of the Nina disaster and get himself together and get down to the Four Seasons.

Gifting Sean with a signed first edition of his latest Sharpe novel, Bernard excitedly presented Sean with the proposal for a new series of Sharpe episodes. The first episode, Sharpe's Commission, would introduce a whole new dimension to the Sharpe universe. Knowing Sean's reluctance to commit to a new series full time, Bernard and the Sutherland/Craddock terrible twosome at Picture Palace Films had worked out a partnership with HBO and ITV for a series which would feature Richard Sharpe in a capacity dependent on the amount of time that Sean would be free to participate without interfering with his ever burgeoning feature film schedule. The partnership with HBO would guarantee plenty of publicity and exposure for Sean in the American television market while providing the production values of feature films on a series basis. It also would permit for a grittier and more sexually explicit tone. The budget for each episode would be on a par with any dramatic feature film.

Tom Clegg further explained that after visiting with his good friend, director Dave Moore, on the set of Tom Brown's School Days he had called Bernard all excited about having found the perfect actor to be a young incarnation of Richard Sharpe. Alex Pettyfer was an up and coming young actor who, at the age of 16, was already a teen heartthrob with the added benefit that he was a perfect match on a physical level with Sean. Green eyes, blond hair, lanky athletic build, the whole package. And, a level of maturity that far exceeded his years. On a professional level, his work ethic and habits also paralleled Sean's and he kept his personal life completely separate and private and he hated flying. Even though Alex was a Berkshire lad, he had begun working with dialects early on in his career and had a knack for quickly picking up languages and accents which would be required for the new Sharpe episodes. He had been a working model and actor since the age of seven.

A week later, Sean had read Sharpe's Commission in nearly one sitting and had his agent begin the contractual negotiations. Immediately after meeting with Sean in person, Alex Pettyfer jumped at the opportunity to become part of the Sharpe legend. Within the month, Sean had received the first draft of the script for Sharpe's Commission and Bernard's book opened at number 2 on the New York Times Bestseller List. Sean's schedule for the next year was set. He would begin filming on the Polanski film in October in the Czech Republic, finishing in February, spend March and most of April promoting and premiering The Hitcher and True North. He would have a few weeks off and then in mid-May go to Germany to begin shooting Sharpe's Commission, set to be a two-part four-hour feature.

The whole month of September was gone before he realized it. Sean was so busy during the cool autumn days that he didn't have much time to think of Camden Cantrell, but alone every night he found it impossible not to put her out of his mind. His dreams left him frustrated and angry with himself. Cold morning showers and his own right hand became routine to quench the morning arousal his thoughts of her would bring. He found himself hooking up with some of his previous bits of fluff just for a quick shag every now and then only to find the relief was temporary and left him feeling empty. When he finally took the time to analyze himself he found the gnawing need for the authoritative little honey blond nearly unbearable; the need to touch her, taste her, smell her, feel her tight pussy as he stroked into her, hear her as he brought her to climax. How she could climax! He had never known a woman so vocal.

When he finally got an evening all to himself, Sean made his way back to the Wellington. He calculated the time just right. The pub was busy for a Thursday, but not too crowded, with off-duty police officers, a variety of government law enforcement types in suits and comfortable shoes and a bunch of uniformed military officers. He had always been popular with this sort of crowd, mainly because of his work as Sharpe and Andy McNab. They accepted him as a mate, a man’s man. It was easy for him to walk up to any of them and have them respond to him as if he was just another of their mates. But when he wanted solitude they knew when to just leave him be.

It was a Royal Army officer who spoke up first that he knew who Sean was asking about: Sergeant First Class Cantrell, an American Army NCO, and a right little bitch she is, too. Comes into London maybe twice a year for about a week at a time whenever there's some sort of important American making an official visit. Seem to recall she was based out of Germany. Real important specialist she was, just couldn't remember what exactly it was she did. Made lots of people jump to her tune, she did. Always ordering everyone around. God forbid if anyone pissed her off 'cuz there would be hell to pay.

An MI5 agent knew her also, only he was a bit wary about her: That's one you don't want to be messing with, Beano. A nice bit of arse, for sure, but a real heartbreaker. Had a Royal Engineer mate who kept her company during a trip up to Chattenden for some select NATO school. She don't remember his name, but five years later he still hasn't gotten over her.

An older Metropolitan police officer had been detailed to her team once: Really decent sort. Right proper soldier, she is. Very respectful of all the police officers. Had something to do with anti-terrorism or something close to that sort of thing. Very approachable, very helpful, very polite. Really quite funny, too. Happy to chat and tell stories and toss back a pint or two.

An SAS Warrant painted an entirely different picture: She can hold her own at the bar that one can. Can raise hell all night with her mates then the next day she's all business, getting the job done. Eyes like a hawk, quick at making decisions, runs a tight ship. Great at sorting things out when a situation gets a bit dodgy. You know, keeps her cool under pressure. Always seems to know exactly what to do. Not afraid to get her hands dirty. Highly decorated and very respected in her profession.

They all wanted to know why he was so interested. Sean answered with a vague “She done me a good turn by helping me out with an ex-girlfriend problem and I just want to thank her proper.” But, nobody knew how to go about getting in touch with her other than to go through the American Embassy. By the time he headed home from the Wellington, Sean wasn't sure what to think, what to believe. He did know one thing: Camden Cantrell was an enigma, a contradiction, an ambiguity. Now that she seemed so far out of his reach, he wanted her more than ever. Every night he would pull out that little bit of black lace, letting her scent send his thoughts back to the night she occupied his bed. The farther away she seemed, the angrier he would get, sometimes at himself, sometimes at her. What the fuck was ‘er game? Why’d she do me like ‘at? I’m Sean bloody Bean, I am. Where the fuck does she get off runnin’ out on me? Must be losin’ me touch!