by Asia Mackay
‘I’m just checking all the kit.’ Robin motioned towards the box in front of him. I glanced over at the assortment of Lego pieces, Barbie dolls, small cars, fluffy bunnies and a few elves. ‘I’m breaking into the Pigs’ houses and leaving toys there. I’m Father Christmas.’ He grinned.
Using children’s toys as Trojan horses masking listening devices was inspired by the mess of my own home. No one with kids would notice if something they thought was in one room was now in another. I thought of the time I’d found a legless Barbie stuck in my underwear drawer. Just this morning there had been a tin teacup and two marbles inside my right shoe. And as Hattie had pointed out, Security Service operatives would be on the lookout for devices in the more usual places like the landline or the smoke detectors. Not the very toys that they were permanently tripping themselves up with.
‘By the end of today we should have the Pigs’ online histories, their phone records, and be able to listen in on all their conversations. Having their whole lives in our hands will fast-track any intel that rings alarms bells.’
‘I’m betting whatever they didn’t want us to find on the phones would’ve been deleted by now. They wouldn’t risk us making another grab for the intel without making sure it was wiped.’ I knew this as it’s exactly what we would do.
Hattie nodded. ‘And that’s why you need to stay on the women. Be their friend. Find out what you can. They will know something but they probably don’t even realise its significance. They’re our best chance.’
Jake and Cameron walked into the meeting room, each holding a large chocolate bar.
‘Thank God the vending machine still works,’ was all Jake said as he slumped down into a chair.
‘That was a total waste of time. Those Ghosts know nothing,’ Cameron said as she tore off the wrapping with her teeth and took a bite. I remembered that she was one of those people who ate whatever she wanted and ‘just couldn’t put on weight’. Her annoyingly fast metabolism was yet another reason I couldn’t wait for her to disappear back to America.
Hattie eased into the seat at the head of the table. ‘Each of you will have individual operational objectives outlining exactly what you need to. Please familiarise yourselves with everything expected of you.’
Hattie observed us as we all pulled out our phones and clicked onto a ‘$$$HornyHotMums’ email.
‘I don’t need to remind you that we only have each other. We’re running on a shell on the biggest mission we’ve ever had. But the Committee were clear. Until the Tenebris Network is shut down no one else can be trusted. Dugdale and Frederick will not come back to the Platform again – it’s too risky. Any intel we want exchanged between Six and Eight happens through Lex and Frederick at the nursery.’
We all scanned through our email orders.
‘We need to be incredibly efficient,’ said Hattie. ‘Unmasking the key players is how we destroy them. I will focus on identifying the Coyote. Lex and Frederick on identifying the Snake. Jake and Cameron will be working through a list of hackers that we believe have the necessary expertise to fortify and manage the Tenebris website. We just need one of us to succeed. Exposing one of them will help topple the others. We need to get Tenebris offline and keep Peng alive.’
Cameron looked back to her phone and read out, ‘Authorised force level – light. Maimed or critically injured computer programmers could warrant unwanted attention.’ Cameron sighed. ‘You Brits are so boring.’ She finished her chocolate bar, scrunched up the wrapper and dropped it on the floor.
Robin waved his phone at Hattie. ‘So I’m just providing support to everyone.’
‘Yes. G and Pixie will be supporting us on the tech side and you will be actioned in the field as and when it’s needed.’
‘There are no small parts, only small agents.’ Robin grinned. ‘Don’t worry, boss, I won’t let you down. We can call this my graduation mission, right? The one where I prove I deserve my own unit?’ He looked round at Jake and me. We averted our eyes and tried not to notice his face fall. It was like kicking a puppy. I would talk to Jake later. Things were complicated enough without me having mum guilt over our treatment of Robin.
‘You all have your orders. Now get out there.’ Hattie spread his hands. ‘We need your best work. The quicker we solve this, the quicker we get Eight back up and running. I expect regular encrypted updates.’
We all stood up. Robin with his box of toys was the first out the door. Off to a running start to make a good impression.
Jake came up to me. ‘What do you think of Frederick?’
‘Fine. He seems fine.’ I avoided meeting his gaze.
‘I don’t like him.’ This was no surprise. Jake didn’t like most people. ‘Having some pretty-boy Pigeon along for the ride is only going to make things more complicated.’
‘We wouldn’t even know about Tenebris if it wasn’t for him. And we can’t do this without him. We need someone inside Six monitoring the Pigs day to day.’
‘He’d better be up to the job.’
‘I’ll make sure of it. You’re the one who’s going to have it tough.’ I motioned towards Cameron, who was already by the door scowling at us.
‘I can’t wait for this mission to be over,’ sighed Jake as he went to join her.
Pixie bounded up to me, pineapple earrings jangling. ‘Sweetness, I need to see what’s in your handbag.’
‘What? Why?’
‘We need inspiration on what options we have for hidin’ kit in. We’ve just finished the items you’ll need for the Natural History Museum.’
I opened my large tote bag. Inside were five conkers, a half-drunk smoothie, a Tupperware box of biscuits, a pack of babywipes, a small pair of purple woollen tights, a pair of Tinkerbell pants and a naked doll. At the bottom was a piece of chocolate cake still wrapped up in a Paw Patrol paper napkin and remnants of crushed Pom-Bear crisps. I tried to remember when the last birthday party was and whether that cake would still be edible.
Pixie wrinkled her nose. ‘Are those pants clean?’
‘Of course,’ I said with a confidence I didn’t really feel.
*
As I was getting on the tube to South Kensington my phone buzzed. I looked down. Several messages had arrived into my personal WhatsApp group: ‘Group Therapy’. Although at first glance seeing messages such as: ‘There’s just so much blood. An unstoppable flow that soaks through everything’ might seem more related to work, it was actually a discussion on the pros and cons of the copper coil. The members of the group were my real-life friends Tamara, Shona and Frankie, and the Group Therapy moniker created by Frankie was a nod to how it was a safe place to discuss parenting fails and generally feel better about ourselves. It made me think how the ‘We are Family’ initiative, despite its dishonourable intentions, had its heart in the right place.
We all needed a support system. Considering one of the ‘We are Family’ spouses or employer was a traitorous Snake unlikely to live past the week, it was good they would have friends that they could lean on when the inevitable happened.
Chapter Six
‘I’D LIKE TO START by thanking our parent volunteers.’ Ms Yvonne was standing on the steps of the Natural History Museum, addressing our rabble of teachers and parents. The adults all sported name badges with smiley faces, the children bright yellow safety vests.
‘Trips like this are only possible with your help. And a particularly special thank you goes to Frederick Easton for organising today’s visit to see the Prehistoric Pete Puppet Show.’
Although sucking up to his daughter’s headteacher was an added benefit for Frederick, this nursery visit was a cover.
Frederick had learned from his informant, Y at the Embassy, that Peng would always have with her a security card with an inbuilt GPS tracker. It was a security protocol for whenever a minister was abroad. Tomorrow evening the Natural History Museum was presenting Peng with an ancient Chinese scroll to return with her to China. This exclusive event would be happening in the
library and Robin would be doing security at the door – his handheld scanning wand would pick up the tracking device signature and relay it back to a control box. The perfect location for this box would be the Marine Invertebrates room, directly opposite the library, and the location of the Prehistoric Pete Puppet Show.
Our objective this afternoon was to securely position the control box into the Marine Invertebrates room and test that the radio range would have no interference.
A class-load of overexcited two-year-olds aside, it should be a straightforward mission.
The other parents, mostly mothers, were talking among themselves. Thirty-six kids, covered by nearly as many adults. I wondered whether it was the health and safety dictating ratios or if many of the parents had taken the afternoon off specially to accompany their little ones on the big museum day out. I stood beside Frederick as Florence and Gigi whispered and giggled to each other in front of us. Gigi was wearing a red mackintosh and floral-embroidered jeans. Her brown hair was tied back in pigtails. One was already half coming out. She was so excited for this trip. Every time she looked at me her dimples shone as she grinned the biggest grin. I was so glad to be here.
With Yvonne leading the way, holding a yellow flag on a stick high above her head, we all headed inside the museum.
I leaned towards Frederick. ‘Last Tuesday Daddy Pig apparently went to a conference in Birmingham.’
‘Tuesday . . .’ Frederick was a quiet for a moment. ‘No, there was nothing on the schedule. He was still in the office when I left around seven p.m.’
‘It could’ve been a meeting with the headhunters. I’ll get G and Pixie to check his credit card and the CCTV records. We might be able to pick him up leaving the building.’
‘Has Hattie rethought giving the Pigs trackers? I can easily fit them.’
I shook my head. ‘He thinks it’s too big a risk. If any of them discover a tracker they’ll know we’re closing in and that they’re under suspicion. Tenebris may know we’re hovering but they mustn’t know how close.’
I looked down at Gigi and Florence still giggling together. I wondered if I could get Eight to set up a trip to the Aquarium next. Much better going during the week and missing all the weekend crowds.
‘Hello, there.’ A young blonde teacher with a clipboard came up to us. ‘Now, are you Florence’s parents? Or Gigi’s?’
‘I’m Florence’s father.’
‘And I’m Gigi’s mother.’
‘Oh, right, sorry. I just presumed . . . Apologies!’ she trilled.
‘We work together,’ I offered.
‘How lovely. Great. So you have your two covered. And I’m going to allocate you Milo and Jack as well.’ She made a couple of ticks on her clipboard and motioned towards two boys who were chasing each other up and down the corridor. ‘Milo! Jack! Come here, please.’ She beckoned them over to us. ‘This is,’ she peered at our name labels, ‘Alexis and Frederick, and they’ll be looking after you on this trip so make sure you do exactly as they say.’
The boys barely looked at us before they tore off again. The blonde teacher went after them with a sing-song ‘no running, boys!’ plea that was totally ignored.
‘Hello, Alexis.’ A mother with her dark hair held back in a tight ponytail came up to us. I recognised her from the school gates; she seemed to know everyone. Or make it her business to know everyone. She tilted her head at Frederick. ‘Aren’t you going to introduce me?’ She looked at me expectantly.
‘Ah yes, Frederick, this is . . .’ I looked down at her lapel. Dammit, her name label was covered by her pink scarf. ‘. . . Raquel.’
She grimaced at me. ‘Rochelle. It’s Rochelle. I know Will, remember? We used to work together?’
Looking at her I did now remember her irritatingly over-familiar fawning over my husband. ‘Oh, you’re married to the wonderful Will. We go way, way back. He is such a poppet. Can’t believe we live so close now. I must give him a ring and organise drinks . . . I mean for all four of us, of course.’
‘Rochelle. Of course. Sorry. Haven’t had enough caffeine this morning.’
She ignored me and gazed at Frederick.
‘Nice to meet you. So great to see dads being hands-on and showing an interest.’
‘Why wouldn’t I? She’s my daughter too.’
Rochelle’s mouth opened and shut a few times before she muttered, ‘Yes. Quite,’ and looking over Frederick’s shoulder waved at someone else and dashed off to them.
The blonde teacher reappeared with the two boys we had been charged with. ‘Here they are!’ she announced and quickly disappeared off. We ushered them along with Florence and Gigi towards the security guards that were at the entrance to the main part of the museum.
Geraint had warned us that security would be tighter than usual due to the high-profile event the next day.
Frederick was motioned straight through while the security guard stopped me to rifle through my tote bag. There were two dolls, several packets of snacks, a Tupperware box of biscuits, a Peppa Pig toy phone and an Etch A Sketch. He handed me back the bag with a grunt.
As we entered the main part of the museum, Yvonne, still tightly clasping the flag above her, addressed us all. ‘Everyone, please make your way to the Marine Invertebrates room. It’s just round the corner. We’ll go at a very slow pace so everyone can keep up.’
She was not kidding. It was a painfully slow pace.
I spoke softly to Frederick. ‘I’ll go ahead and fit the box. You OK with the kids?’
He looked down at our motley crew of two-year-olds shuffling in front of us. Gigi and Florence were holding hands. The tallest boy was picking his nose. The other had his hands down his trousers.
‘Last time I was out on an op in charge of four subordinates it was under heavy gunfire in Afghanistan and we had to make it across twenty miles of desert.’ He shrugged. ‘I think I’ll be OK. If Ms Yvonne continues with this speed I’ll see you there in ten.’
I bent down to Gigi. ‘Mummy’s going on ahead. You stay with Florence and her daddy.’
‘Bye, Mama. Bye bye.’ Gigi kept swinging Florence’s hand as they walked.
I swiftly overtook the rest of the nursery group and Yvonne and her flag.
There was nothing like being relieved of your two-year-old to realise how free you feel being able to walk at a good speed. I headed straight to the Marine Invertebrates room. Another group of school children were already in position on the floor waiting for Prehistoric Pete’s arrival. I looked around. The display cabinet at the back of the room was the one closest to the library door opposite. We already had its exact dimensions from Duggers and Frederick’s previous reconnaissance visit. As long as the measurements were correct the Etch A Sketch should fit snugly into the gap between the floor and the curve of the cabinet.
I put my tote bag on the floor and rummaged inside. I pulled the Etch A Sketch out and, using my handbag to mask what I was doing, slid it under the display cabinet. If it was discovered, a lost toy from a careless child wouldn’t raise any red flags with security. They wouldn’t bother dissecting it to find the receiver carefully hidden inside.
I patrolled round the room, stopping for a token admiring glance at the exhibits in each display case. At the back of the room was another door that led out into a large corridor. The library was opposite it. There was already a ‘No Entry’ sign on the door and a rope cordoning it off. Slumped in a chair on the right of the library door was a uniformed security guard. He may have just been blankly staring at his phone but his presence was a sign they really weren’t taking any chances with the security for tomorrow’s event.
Yvonne and her flag finally entered. I watched as kids and parents filed in after her. Where was Frederick? More importantly where was Gigi? I kept scanning the faces of every child in the room.
It looked as though everyone was here except Frederick and his four charges. I checked my watch. I’d left them over fifteen minutes ago to walk thirty feet. Co
uld someone have intercepted them? My heart rate sped up. Where the hell were they? I headed out the door and was making my way back down the corridor when I saw them.
Frederick had Florence in his arms and was holding hands with Gigi as the two boys ran behind them, stopping every few seconds to give each other a shove. ‘Milo! Jack! I said, NOW!’ Frederick hissed at them.
‘Mama!’ Gigi let go of Frederick’s hand and came running to me. She clung to my leg as Frederick looked at me, shaking his head. His hair was dishevelled. His eyes wild.
‘What took you so long?’
‘They all needed a wee. All of them. Have you ever tried taking four two-year-olds to the loo? It was a fucking disaster zone. The loos are blocked. I just . . . And then I nearly lost one. He ran off and I couldn’t remember what the little shit looked like. Do you know how many kids here are wearing Spiderman T-shirts? I grabbed the wrong bloody one, which led to screaming and an awkward conversation with his mother.’
‘It’s OK, Frederick, calm down. You made it. The puppet show’s about to begin.’
He took a few deep breaths. ‘I’m fine. I’m going to be fine.’ He smoothed a hand over his hair.
Frederick put Florence down on the floor and we ushered the four of them into the room.
‘Go sit with your friends,’ I said to Gigi and pointed towards Yvonne and the rest of her class. They were all sitting cross-legged in a line in front of the makeshift cave stage.
Prehistoric Pete announced his arrival with a wolf howl. We all turned to see a hairy, rotund man in a shaggy black wig, wearing an indeterminable furry animal skin and brandishing a club, come lunging into the room. ‘Hellllooooooo, children,’ he said in a deep voice. ‘Me Pete. Me like puppets. You want show?’
The children remained quiet, not quite sure what to make of him.
‘Yes!’ called out a couple of teachers and parents; they were clearly feeling charitable to the grown man being left hanging by a bunch of toddlers.
Frederick leaned towards me. ‘Did you manage to fit the box?’