White didn’t intimidate easily, but even Carmichael’s hand was bigger than his own. ‘Davies here tells me that you are a bit of a whiz on computers. I have forgotten my password and need to get into my laptop. Do you think you can help us?’
Carmichael eyed them cautiously. ‘This is your laptop?’
‘That’s right, man.’
‘And you can’t remember your password?’
White nodded quickly.
‘And you can’t remember the answers to your security questions either?’ Carmichael pressed.
‘Come again.’
‘Windows has a safety function where you can request a new password to be delivered to a saved email address if you answer some chosen security questions.’
White glanced quickly at Kyle.
‘His email got hacked,’ Kyle offered quickly. ‘So there’s no way we can get in or change the password.’
Carmichael looked from one to the other. ‘I don’t like it when people try to pull the wool over my eyes, gentlemen. Let me extrapolate from what you’ve told me…this laptop belongs to a perp and you need to read what’s on it? It’s okay, I understand the position you guys are in. I don’t understand why you can’t use one of your own specialists to do this for you though.’
‘They’re all busy,’ White interjected quickly. ‘Look, you’ve got us. We need access to the contents of that laptop urgently, and our techies are all in London involved in a major trial. We thought you might do us a favour.’
‘Why didn’t you just say that?’ Carmichael said, relaxing back into his chair. He opened his drawer and thumbed through some discs before removing one. ‘It’s my assistant who’s actually the whiz on computers but she’s been showing me a thing or two. This disc contains a programme that should allow me to bypass the security protocols and get you access to your files.’
‘Really? Is that legal?’ White said, astonished.
Carmichael fired him a quizzical look.
‘Sorry,’ White quickly said. ‘Please continue.’
Carmichael inserted the disc and typed away on the keyboard. ‘Right, we’re in,’ he said, turning the laptop around so they could see the screen.’
‘That’s amazing, man. Can I get a copy of that disc?’
Carmichael smiled at him. ‘Trade secret, I’m afraid.’
White took the laptop and began to scan through filenames. ‘I don’t even know what we’re looking for,’ he said to Kyle.
‘Try typing in ‘Cadre’,’ Kyle suggested.
White punched the keys. ‘Nothing.’
‘Try ‘Serpent’.
‘Nothing.’
‘What are you two looking for exactly?’ Carmichael interrupted.
The detectives looked at each other. ‘Should we tell him?’ White asked.
Kyle’s eyes widened and he shook his head.
‘Fellas, look, you can trust me. I used to be a cop, I understand that you can’t reveal details of an active investigation. It just seems like you’re struggling for ideas. Maybe if you give me some clue about what you’re hoping to find, I can have a play around with it and see what I can dig up.’
White returned his gaze to Carmichael. ‘We believe the person who owns this laptop was instrumental in the terrorist attack on the city back in May.’
‘Guv!’ Kyle warned.
White ignored him. ‘The laptop belongs to quite a senior figure in the city, which is why we’re trying to do things quietly. For your own safety I can’t reveal the name of our suspect. We believe she’s involved with an organisation called The Cadre, who are planning another similar attack on London.’
‘Holy shit! Okay, leave it with me. I’ll find what I can and call you when I have something.’
‘You shouldn’t have involved him, Guv,’ Kyle said as they returned to the car.
‘You said he was trustworthy. We need all the help we can get right now.’
Kyle climbed into the driver’s side and pulled his mobile out as he felt it vibrating against his leg.
‘Is that the missus?’ White asked as he pulled the seatbelt round him.
Kyle opened the message and read it quickly. ‘Yep,’ he lied.
‘Let me guess: she wants to know when you’ll be home for dinner? I don’t know how you do it, man.’
‘Do what?’
‘Marriage, man! Especially in this job. Do you know that most marriages, where one partner is a copper, end in divorce?’
‘Bullshit!’
‘It’s true, man! I can’t remember the exact figure, or where I read it, but it was just shy of half, like.’
‘That means at least half survive then.’
‘Policemen and women are not meant for marriage, Kyle. Mark my words, the better coppers are married to their jobs.’
‘You were married.’
‘Aye. Twice, and look what happened.’
‘That’s a ridiculous theory, Guv. We’re stronger than that.’
‘If you want to be a better detective, the best thing you could do is cut that wee lassie adrift. The more senior you become, the greater the pressure will become, and the greater the strain that will hit your marriage. I’m just saying, like.’
‘You ought to be a relationship counsellor, Guv,’ Kyle said shaking his head, yet wondering whether he should reply to Kate’s message.
34
LONDON, UK
16:35 (G.M.T.)
Prime Minister Thomas Houseman stepped from the large black door of 10 Downing Street and walked the short distance to the small podium that had been set up ahead of the evening’s press conference. He was wearing a thick grey overcoat and scarf over his Saville Row suit.
He waited for the signal and then began to speak calmly. ‘It is with great sadness that I stand here before you this evening. Whilst exact details are still undetermined, it is clear that there has been a terrorist attack in London today. Although there are no known casualties at this time, our thoughts and prayers must be with the families whose lives will have been significantly impacted by the damage this blast has caused. This was a barbaric act on a day when we should be planning for the season’s festivities. It saddens me deeply that in this day and age, there are still people out there determined to try and enforce their views and beliefs on the rest of the civilised world. It is important that those engaged in terrorism realise that our determination to defend our values and to defend our way of life, remains greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people.’
Houseman paused and looked down at his notes for a moment.
‘There will of course now be the most intense police and security service action to make sure we bring those responsible to justice. We know that the bomber died in the blast, but he could not have planned this without the support of others. It is these men and women we will be vigorously hunting. I would like to pay tribute to the resilience and proactive attitude demonstrated by the security services, police and emergency services today. They have acted with courage and in the best interests of those impacted by the blast. I must also praise the spirit and stoicism of the people of London who have refused to surrender to one man’s selfish and cowardly act. Despite intense disruption to roads and public transport, the city’s heart has continued to beat in the face of adversity.’
Houseman glanced at his notes again.
‘It is through terrorism that the people who have committed this terrible act express their values, and it is vital at this moment to demonstrate our own. I think we all know what they’re trying to do: they’re trying to use fear to threaten our way of living. They should not and must not succeed. When they try to intimidate us we will not be intimidated. When they seek to change our country, or our way of life, we will not be changed. When they try to divide our people, or weaken our resolve, we will not be divided and our resolve will hold firm. We will show by our spirit and our dignity and by a quiet and true strength that exists in all British people, that our values will long outla
st theirs. The purpose of terrorism is just that: it is to terrorise people, and we will not be terrorised.
‘I appear before you today as both a friend and a leader. I will share in your grief and emotion, and will listen to your fears and concerns. But as the elected official of our country, I will listen to the advice and guidance of the COBRA committee in the coming days and will lead us forward to victory in our fight against the very men and women who are determined to try and terrorise us. I promise you: we will be victorious in this war. We are united in our resolve to confront and defeat this terrorism. It is not an attack on one nation but on all nations and on civilised people everywhere.’
Houseman paused again as a flurry of questions were thrown at him from the gathered journalists whose camera flashes had been casting the Prime Minister in a ghoulish light throughout the speech. Houseman pointed at one who repeated his question. ‘Media outlets received the bomber’s warning just before one this afternoon, when did the authorities learn about it?’
Houseman stared straight at the cameras.
‘The Metropolitan Police received an anonymous tip-off at midday, and immediately began to act on that warning. The truth is: we have learned the lessons of previous attacks on our capital. We are aware of the important role that the media play in such circumstances and had already reached out to the major organisations by the time they received the tip-off. This summer, the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre raised the level of international terrorism from ‘substantial’ to ‘severe’. This was because the JTAC believed an attack on the United Kingdom was imminent. As a consequence, additional surveillance has been in place at all major airports, train stations and ports. The threat level was increased due to developments in Syria and Iraq. In the last six months it is believed that more than five hundred British nationals have travelled to the Middle East, many of them to fight. They have subsequently been joined by thousands of others from across Europe and western countries. We have been anticipating today’s act for some time, and I believe it is because we were so well prepared that we have avoided substantial casualties.’
Another reporter shouted out. ‘Do you believe today is an isolated incident, or can we expect further attacks in the coming days?’
Houseman took a moment to consider the question.
‘The threat level was raised to ‘severe’ for good reason. It would be naïve of me to say that the UK won’t ever be subject to terrorism again. The IRA once boasted that terrorists only have to be lucky once. Can I say that there won’t be further attempts to disrupt our way of life? No, I cannot. What I can do is assure the people of Britain that the police and security services will be working around the clock to prevent any further attempts.’
Another flurry of shouting and flashes was followed by a loan voice. ‘Do you know the name of the bomber or what he was representing?’
Houseman looked up to see who had asked the question. ‘The authorities were informed that the bomber planned to destroy a high-rise building in the capital if US troops were not removed from the ISIS border. A coordinated effort identified the tower block in Newham which the terrorist had selected to undertake his action. Concerted efforts ensured that the block and surrounding area was vacated, leaving the suspect alone. Efforts were made to communicate with that individual, but he refused to yield and took his own life in the explosion at precisely four p.m. The tower block collapsed in the explosion but, as I confirmed earlier, the suspect was the only person to perish. In many ways I see today as a defiant stand of the British people in the fight against terrorism. I am extremely proud of the courageous men and women who have mitigated the fallout of today’s incident. I can confirm that Dylan Taylor was the man who died in the Newham estate. We have a recording of his voice providing the exact location of the device just before three p.m. today.’
‘Prime Minister, this is Marshall Lancaster from the BBC. Mr Taylor was a British citizen, is that correct?’
Houseman nodded. ‘That is correct. Dylan Taylor was known to the police for a string of minor offences, and who had also served a custodial sentence in this country. It is now understood that Taylor faked his own death several weeks ago, before secretly leaving the country to join up with the extremist movement in Syria. We believe Taylor returned to the country earlier this week to plan today’s event.’
‘So you believe Taylor was a fundamentalist?’ Lancaster pressed.
Houseman nodded. ‘The threat ISIS poses to us is clear, and it is serious, but it is not the only threat we face. There are a number of other similar organisations in Yemen, Libya, and Nigeria, not to mention the radicalised ‘home-grown’ extremists living among us here. The threat we face is diverse and dynamic.’
‘Have you spoken with the Home Secretary yet, to determine how such incidents will be prevented in future?’ Lancaster shouted above the other voices.
‘I have yet to speak to Eve Partridge today as I have been in the COBRA session all afternoon. That said, the Home Secretary and I have been actively working on strategies for such events since my election and her appointment. As Home Secretary, Eve is responsible for government policy on crime, policing, immigration and border control, but by far the most important of her responsibilities relate to counter-terrorism. Since my election, I have also taken a much more hands-on role in this area. I now receive daily intelligence briefings on the threats to the UK and the steps undertaken to counter them. On a weekly basis, Eve and I meet with the head of the Security Services as well as representatives from the offices of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, MI5, MI6, GCHQ and JTAC. What has become painfully apparent to me in recent weeks is that our approach to these threats has been too reactive. We do a good job of surveilling threats when they have arrived or are due to arrive on our shores, but it clearly isn’t enough, as today has shown. It is time to stop waiting for these threats to be realised, and time to prevent them before they occur. There is currently a bill passing through the House to help increase the budgets and personnel in our military forces. I have been called a harbinger of doom for proposing this Bill, but I think the Newham events only serve to show I am right to be taking the country in this direction. The time to cower is over. No longer will we allow other nations to push us around and belittle our history.’ Houseman stared straight into the camera once more. ‘One of my campaign promises was that I would do whatever it takes to end the fear induced by terrorism. I stand by that promise. To that end, I will be fighting fire with fire. If these fundamentalists want to terrorise us, then they should be prepared for us to retaliate with equal or greater force. The time to stamp out zealots who choose suicide vests over resolution is now!’
The reporters once again shouted out their various questions. Houseman pointed at one of them. ‘Prime Minister, is this a formal announcement of war on those nations who continue to harbour the types of people you have described.’
Houseman smiled for the first time in the conference. ‘I have this message for those people: we’re coming for you and will stop at nothing until you are no longer a threat. That’s all I have for now,’ Houseman added as he turned and walked back towards the large black door.
From within his bunker beneath the former City Road tube station, about halfway between Angel and Old Street on the Northern Line, The Chairman applauded at the television screen before switching it off. ‘I told you he could do it,’ he said.
‘I never should have doubted you,’ General Greig said. ‘It was quite the rousing speech; how much of it was Houseman’s own work?’
‘I may have offered him the odd line,’ The Chairman smiled modestly.
‘And you think the House will now formalise the bill?’
The Chairman nodded broadly. ‘After what we’ve just witnessed, I’m sure half the population will petition them to do it. Everything is on course as we planned, Walter. I would conservatively estimate we’ll be ready for the big push by Easter.’
Greig burst into laughter. ‘I think this calls for a cele
bration,’ he said, pulling two large cigars from his jacket pocket and passing one over. The Chairman lit a match and smiled as he inhaled the blissful smoke as the flames licked the end of the stogie.
35
SOUTHAMPTON, UK
17:30 (G.M.T.)
Kyle and White were laughing as they walked into the major incident room at Southampton Police HQ. They hadn’t noticed the flurry of activity as their fellow officers buzzed from desk to desk and jabbered urgently into phones.
‘Where the hell have you two been?’ D.C.I. Naomi Payne bellowed from across the room. The room quietened instantly. ‘My office now!’ she shouted, storming from the room.
White and Kyle glanced at each other, neither sure what they had done wrong.
‘What’s going on?’ Kyle asked D.C. Watkins, who was standing closest to him.
‘Someone’s set off a bomb in London,’ she replied without looking up. ‘Payne’s been trying to get hold of you for over an hour.’
‘Oh shit!’ White sighed, as he turned and headed out of the door. They walked down the corridor and turned right at the end.
Payne was pacing behind her desk. Her blonde hair was scraped into a tight bun at the back of her head, and her pale skin gave her the appearance of a librarian, rather than a hardened police woman. ‘Shut the door,’ she said as they entered. Kyle did as commanded. ‘Well?’ she shouted after a moment. ‘I’m still waiting to know what the fuck the pair of you have been up to today.’
Kyle had never seen Payne lose her temper, let alone swear. In the six months since she had replaced Mercure, he had always assumed she didn’t know any rude words.
‘Let me explain, Ma’am,’ White began.
‘This had better be good,’ she interrupted, fixing him with a fierce stare.
‘D.I. White was helping me chase down a loose end with the Paul Burns case,’ Kyle said quickly.
Payne threw her arms up in the air in frustration. ‘The Burns case? When are you going to just put that to bed? It’s been over six months for pity’s sake! He did it. Close the case and move on.’
Double Cross: A gripping political thriller (The Cadre Book 3) Page 22