Sweet Tooth

The ongoing energy crisis in Great Britain means that the MI5 offices are not heated “in order to set a good example” (139). Serena wears her coat in the cold office. She receives a letter from Haley, telling her that he is driving his alcoholic sister back to Bristol. After an argumentative Christmas, he tells her, the journey will be difficult, and he is delayed through the New Year celebrations. A few days later, Serena is called into a big meeting of everyone working on the Sweet Tooth assignment, including those working with writers other than Haley. An unfamiliar American named Pierre gives a presentation about his experiences in the war, in intelligence, and the way in which America and the Soviets have used arts and culture as propaganda tools. He concludes by reminding his audience of two points: the Cold War is not over and “the United States [is] the only country on the planet that [does not] understand that some things work better when they’re small” (142). As a result, he reminds the people working on Sweet Tooth to keep their operation small and thus more effective.

Two days later, Haley meets Serena at the Brighton train station. He is gripped by an exciting new idea and, after they have sex, he tells her that his publisher is thrilled about the short novel. He also reveals his idea, which is to talk to Serena’s sister Lucy about the life of someone “who lives on the margins, scrapes by, but quite successfully” (144). Serena agrees to set up an interview, on the condition that she is not a topic of conversation. He is also scheduled to give a reading of his work for the first time and the idea makes him nervous. Haley assures Serena that he likes her and that she is special, “whatever happens” (145). She feels reassured and, as they have sex on Brighton’s pebbled beach, Haley tells Serena that he loves her. She repeats the words back to him but knows that she now must tell him the truth about her life.

Serena’s department remains cold as the staff fall into a depressive bout of intense work, brought about by the failures of their agents in Northern Ireland. Haley writes to Serena to say that his reading was a disaster. He has been productive, working on several academic pieces and finding a publisher for the short story which Serena helped him complete. Soon, he will interview Lucy. Serena attends a meeting with Max during the midst of a snap general election. Serena and Max have barely spoken since his drunken visit to her house, but she provides him with an update on Haley’s work. She praises the short novel to spite Max and defend Haley, though Max aggressively dismisses Haley’s “little fantasy world gone to shit” (149). He believes it adds nothing to the Sweet Tooth operation. Serena leaves the office, even though Max emotionally asks her to stay.

Serena returns to her desk and tries to work. The next day, she plans to meet Haley after his meeting with a friend who wants to publish Haley’s work in a magazine. She feels restless and arrives early, browsing nearby bookstores. Desperate to see Haley, she enters the pub where they are supposed to meet but sees him caught in a seemingly romantic situation with another woman. She recognizes one of Haley’s writer friends, who provides a scant excuse for Haley’s situation and buys her a large glass of wine. Serena looks back to Haley and realizes that the woman is Shirley, who has lost weight and now strikes Serena as “beautiful” (152). Shirley sees Serena but leaves without an explanation. Haley approaches Serena and his friend, smiling as though nothing has occurred. Serena listens to the conversation while seething with jealousy. She thinks about Shirley, who is apparently now a writer.

The pub closes, so the trio moves to a late-night drinking establishment. As the evening draws out, Serena convinces herself that she is ready to leave Haley. They leave the bar at 6 am and Haley’s friend departs. When they are alone, Serena accuses Haley of having an affair with her friend Shirley. He is shocked by the accusation, claiming to have met Shirley at his disastrous reading. Her father died recently, and Haley insists that he and Shirley are simply friends. Serena wants to believe him, but she is angry. She allows him to take her hand and take her to her apartment. They share a bath and then go to bed.

Haley’s novel is shortlisted for a prestigious literary prize, though the announcement is overshadowed by political turmoil in Britain. By March, the right-wing government is replaced by a left-wing government. Unlike most people at MI5, Serena voted for the left-wing candidate for Prime Minister, but she is too exhausted to be happy with the result. She wants Haley to win his prize but is worried that her superiors hate his work. The press finally catches wind of Haley’s surprise success, and he is profiled in newspapers. Meanwhile, he has already begun work on a secretive new project. At work, Max passes a message to Serena reminding her not to be photographed or seen alongside the newly famous Sweet Tooth writer. She wonders whether the letter is bureaucratic trap, set by Max in revenge for the rejection. Angrily, she plans ways in which she can avoid attending the award ceremony to avoid any issues at work. She is reminded of the secret life she hides away from the man she loves.

On the day of the ceremony, Serena sends Haley a telegram in which she feigns illness and says to meet her afterwards. He arrives later with the news that he won the top prize of £2,000. They go to dinner, and she discovers that the final published version of the novel is dedicated to her. She ignores any security issues and kisses him. The book is finally published for everyone to read, and the reviews are mostly positive. Serena begins to see the novel in a new light. Serena visits Haley, but he spends most of the weekend writing. As she eats breakfast, she studies the newspapers for more reviews and is shocked to see a headline which claims that the recent prizewinner is “funded by MI5” (159). The article exposes the links between the Foundation and Serena’s employers. She panics.

Serena returns to Haley’s apartment and shows him the article. Haley is indignant, angry that people will think that the government has told him what to write. He does not seem to suspect Serena’s role in his recruitment. He plans to refuse any more payments and wants Serena to help him draft a response for the press. She does so, missing her opportunity to tell him the truth. Much to her surprise, Haley adds a line to his statement claiming he has never “had any communication from or contact with any member of MI5” (161). Afterward, as Serena despairs about what to do, Haley takes her for a walk along the seafront. As they walk, Haley is convinced that they are being followed. They see the same man after they stop for lunch. They return home and Serena falls asleep to the sound of Haley’s typewriter, worried about the week ahead.