by David Costa
Lyndsey brought him up to date and what Mohammad would be doing to get them access to the apartments.
‘Imtaz is OK, I don’t think Waheed likes me,’ said Costello.
‘Waheed will do as he is told. He has a strong, built-in hatred of the West since his uncle died. He hates everything with the West, but he’ll do his job, as we all will. Now that the security is being increased around the Conference, we all need to be more surveillance aware. I have no doubt there’ll be the extra vigilance and CCTV coverage.’
‘I’ve already made a note of the CCTV. I know where they’re placed and the area they cover, even the cameras in here.’
‘I know. Where we’ll slip up is if we draw attention to ourselves, so we need to blend in and avoid being seen, that’s what the camera operators will be looking for: something different. Ordinary Joe Public will be unaware of our presence until it’s too late. They’re too lost in their own little insignificant worlds to realise what’s going on around them. I’ve seen it before in Mumbi and Africa.’
Costello smiled understanding, but his eyes showed nothing.
‘That’s why I’m a country boy at heart. I hate cities and the people in them.’
Looking out the window at the light below, Lyndsey understood what Costello was saying.
‘That’s why I live in the east. The cities are busy, but the people have time for each other, time to stop and talk, to look around, and to enjoy life. Anyway, one more drink and I’m off to bed what about you?’
‘Another Tom Collins.’
THURSDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2019
Chapter Twenty-eight
Reece and the SG9 team had spent the next morning getting to know the entire Deansgate area.
Reece had been thinking back to his first days of surveillance training with MI5 in London. As a young Special Branch officer, it had been part of the three-week course. On the first day, they’d each been given a copy of the ABC map guidebook to London and told to familiarise themselves with a specific part of the city. Reece had been allocated the Victoria section as this would be where he would be training day to day. Now he was doing the same in Deansgate, Manchester. Where were the bus stops, the taxi ranks, the car parks? Where was the security strong especially at the entrances and exits?
The team had worked first in the Land Rovers, finding their way around the one-way systems, then on foot, all the time getting used to each other’s voice in the earpiece each of them wore. Happy with the progress, Reece told the team to return to Barton where they could study the maps, aerial photography, and the only photos they had of Costello and Lyndsey. Reece phoned Jim Broad to bring him up to date. Broad had been in the communications room in London and had been listening in as they’d carried out their reconnaissance of the Manchester streets. Reece told him about the phone call from Mary.
‘She’s arriving in Manchester shortly. I’ll pick her up and drop her off at a hotel, probably in the Piccadilly area as all the hotels around the Conference are fully booked.’
‘I hope what she’s got will be worthwhile, David.’
‘I’m sure whatever she has will be more than we have right now. The more information we can get the better.’
‘OK, keep me updated. I have a meeting with Sir Martin Bryant at nine this evening and it will be good to have something to update him with. Call me if you need me or have something new.’
‘Will do.’
Reece told the team he was heading to the airport to pick up his agent and he would brief everyone at midnight.
‘Meanwhile, you should get some rest; it’s going to be a busy couple of days.’
He hated Manchester Airport. Its three terminals were always busy no matter what the time. He’d just parked up in the arrivals area for Terminal One when the text on his phone told him that Mary had arrived, and she’d be out in a few minutes. He’d talked about drop off and pickups at ports and train stations with Mary in the past. He would always be outside observing her coming and going making sure she was alone, that no one was following, or she hadn’t bumped into someone she knew on the journey.
The rain had stopped for now and as he stood by the Range Rover, he could see the front door of arrivals and saw Mary coming out pulling a small cabin bag. No one was following her. Since he’d spoken to her on the phone, he’d felt the anticipation of seeing her again, of being close to her, rising in him. Now, when he watched as she crossed to the carpark, his stomach turned, and his mouth was dry.
It had been even harder for him to concentrate on the job in hand when he could see her face and remember her voice in his thoughts. They hugged as friends would – close but not too close.
‘You look tired, Joseph.’
‘Tell me about.’ He laughed.
On the drive into the city she brought him up to date. The conversations she had with Maguire and O’Hagan was why she was here, why she had to see him, important enough to see him in person. He reassured her she’d been right to come. The change in Costello’s appearance and the fact he’d disappeared only helped to confirm he was already here. Not knowing what he looked like now worried him. It was already like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but this would make it almost impossible. He’d booked Mary into the Premier Inn in Piccadilly. It was a typical franchise hotel cheap but cheerful. Reece carried her bag to the room.
‘Have you eaten recently?’ he asked.
‘No, I’m famished.’
‘Me too. Let’s find somewhere to eat.’
They found a small café near the main Piccadilly Railway Station. The food was basic, and the café didn’t serve alcohol, so it was coffee for two to wash down the meal. Reece moved the conversation away from Costello. He could tell from her face the strain she was under.
‘When this is all over, I’ll show you the sights of Manchester.’
‘When this is all over I would rather you showed me the sights of somewhere warmer.’ She smiled.
There it was; that smile. His heart gave another little flutter. Once again, when he was with her, he had to force himself to be professional. Feelings get in the way, he thought.
She looked beautiful as always, dressed for business, not pleasure, this time, she still looked beautiful.
‘Right, we have a busy day tomorrow. Are you up for it?’
‘I’m up for it, as you say but what more can I do? I’ve told you all I know?’
‘I’ve interviewed Costello in the past. We have the most recent picture of him before his face lift. You’ve met him, you know him personally. Between us, we just might get lucky and see him before he can do any damage. You know the mannerisms that make him who he is. He can change how he looks but he can’t change who he is. He can’t change his height, how he walks, what he sounds like, how he speaks, his voice, his accent. It’s going to be dangerous, Mary, especially if we get close enough to confirm who he is, but I’ll be with you every step of the way. Are you OK with that?’
‘If he sees me first, I’m dead, at the very best I’m blown.’
‘That’s worst-case scenario but I intend to get to him first. A dead Costello doesn’t talk. But I need your help. I need you with me on this.’
‘It’s nice to be needed.’
There was that wicked smile again but this time there was moisture in her eyes.
He reached over the table taking her hands in his as much to reassure her as to feel the warmth of her skin, to be close to her. She squeezed lightly back.
‘OK, I’ll do it but only for you, Joseph.’
It was his turn to smile.
‘I’ll walk you back. You get a good night’s sleep, and I’ll pick you up in the morning.’
‘What, no night-cap?’
‘Well, maybe just the one, I’m driving.’
When he left her at the hotel, he hugged her, holding her closer and for longer than normal. She responded by pulling her arms around his shoulders. It was then he knew he couldn’t wait or hold back any longer. When his lips met hers, he co
uld feel a surge of electricity flowing between them both. When they separated both were breathing heavily.
‘I’m sorry, that wasn’t very professional of me, but I’ve wanted to do that for a very long time.’
‘Don’t be sorry, Joseph, I’ve wanted you to kiss me, to hold me. What do we do now?’
His professional head kicked in, overruling his heart once more.
‘I promised you when this was over, I wanted to see more of you. I want that more than ever, but for now, I need to keep my head for the job in hand. Can you understand, can you wait?’
‘I don’t have much of a choice. I’ll wait, but not forever. See you tomorrow then,’ she said as the lift doors closed and took her to her room.
Not for the first time did he admire the strength in this woman. When she’d gone, he realised he was still breathing heavily, his pulse racing.
I’ll see you tomorrow and for longer to come, he thought.
Reece liked driving through cities at night. Less traffic, more time to think. Peoples’ laughter as they moved between the restaurants, pubs, clubs, theatres, and parties. A city at night has a breathing, living sound all of its own.
His thoughts were still of Mary, her face, her brown eyes, and dark hair, her smile. His thoughts were interrupted by the in-car phone system.
‘Hello?’
‘Hello, David, can you talk?’ It was Jim Broad.
‘Yes, I’m using the hands-free. Just dropped Mike off. I’m on my own.’
‘We have some news which might be helpful. The ports’ people have been checking back over their CCTV and records as we requested, and they may have something. A couple of days ago a small white van with one male on-board landed at Holyhead port from Dublin. The van went through without a close stop check but a few things have been highlighted. The registration shows it came from Crossmaglen, but a quick check with the local police shows the real van originally came from a farm belonging to a recently dead farmer. There’re some grainy images of the driver. The height and build fit Costello’s description but the driver’s wearing a baseball cap, so we can’t be sure. The interesting bit is that CCTV was able to follow the van’s movements from Wales through to the M56 then the M6 and then leaving the motorway at Warrington.’
‘That is interesting. If he was heading straight to Manchester, he would have stayed on the fifty-six.’
‘I’ve sent you the CCTV and informed the police to be on the lookout for the van. It might just be the break we’re looking for. Anything new from Mike?’
‘No, but I’m going to keep her here. She knows Costello better than any of us and that might just give us the last piece of information we need to complete the jigsaw of what’s happening.’
‘OK, if I get anything more, I’ll be in touch, you do likewise.’
‘Will do.’
This was going to be another long night looking at CCTV recordings before getting to bed. Reece knew all the activity of the day would make it difficult for his brain to switch off and for the sleep to come.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Mohammad had wasted no time; he’d carried out more research into the apartment block and noticed on the Right Move website that there were two for sale and a few for rent. Apartment C13-1 and apartment C6-3 both in the region of £300,000 or £1,000 per month for the rental properties. The history of sales in the building showed that they had two or three coming up for sale on a yearly basis, so this was a lucky break. He spent more time digging further and identified two of the rental apartments, fully furnished for immediate occupancy. He phoned Lyndsey and arranged for her and Costello to meet with him at the apartments later that morning. Then he phoned the agent for the properties and arranged viewings for eleven at the two for sale and two of the rentals which seemed to fit Costello’s requirements.
Costello was in the lounge drinking his coffee when Lyndsey sat down beside him.
She told him about her call with Mohammad.
‘We can go together as the Webbs and you can have a good look around and see what you think.’
‘Sounds like a plan.’
‘We’ll have a better idea where we stand, and we can bring everyone up to date tonight.’
They met Mohammad outside the apartments at eleven on the dot.
‘I just have to buzz the one that’s for sale and the agent will let us in.’
‘Introduce us as Mr and Mrs Webb, I’ll do the rest of the talking,’ said Lyndsey. ‘Then I’ll keep the agent occupied while you two look around.’
‘Fine by me,’ said Mohammad.
He buzzed a number on the metal keypad for apartment C-13 which was on the first floor.
‘I’ll buzz you in and you can take the lift to the first floor where I’ll meet you,’ said a man’s voice.
The door opened with a loud click. When they came out of the lift they were met by a young man. Costello thought he was just out of school.
‘Hello, I’m Jake, welcome.’ He shook everyone’s hand.
‘Good morning, Jake,’ said Mohammad. ‘I made the appointment with your office for Mr and Mrs Webb, my clients.’
‘Nice to meet you. Let me show you the first apartment which is up for sale.’ He spoke as he led the way to the door.
‘As I told your office, my clients would like to see both the properties for sale and to rent with a future option to buy,’ Mohammad said.
Mohammad knew the commission for Jake would be larger if he sold a property rather than rent one, but the fact they would rent one with a future option to buy would perk him up. The prospect of a rental becoming a sale as opposed to a straight rental improved his commission prospects even more.
‘There are eight apartments on each floor four facing front onto the square and four facing the rear of the building. All the apartments are of similar design with two bedrooms except for the top floor which has four penthouse apartments.’
Jake opened the door of number 13 and led the way, still talking as he walked.
‘This apartment as you can see looks out to the rear. All apartments have a balcony. This one because it’s for sale is, as you can see completely empty of furniture although all the main electric goods, cooker, fridge, washing machine are installed all included in the price.’
‘Really, we’re more interested in a fully furnished let for now,’ said Lyndsey.
‘No problem, we have two on the twelfth floor. I’ll take you there now.’
Lyndsey looked at Sean, she didn’t need to speak. She could see for herself the first-floor balcony gave no view of the target area.
‘Great, Jake, let’s have a look at them.’
It took another half hour and the inspection of the second rental on the twelfth floor, apartment C-12 for Costello to nod to Lyndsey that this was the one. Jake had walked her round the fully furnished apartments she’d questioned him for long periods in one bedroom giving Costello the time he needed to check the view from the rear windows and balcony. He took a few discreet photos on his mobile of the main living area and from the glass doors onto the balcony using the zoom on the camera phone he could clearly see the rear door of the Midland.
The monthly rent was £1000 with a deposit of £3000 Jake told Lyndsey.
‘I’m happy with that and I think this apartment is perfect. We might need a second viewing if that’s all right, but it would be soon if we do.’
‘Yes, that’s no problem but a property like this is highly sought after so first come first served, as they say.’
‘No problem. Mohammad will be in touch with you later today. How quickly can we get the keys?’
Jakes eyes lit up at her answer.
‘There’s just a little paperwork and once the deposit has been paid, you can have the keys right away.’
‘I think it’s just what we’re looking for. We’ll be in touch this afternoon.’
After leaving Jake and the apartment they sat once more in the café looking back towards the building. Looking at the photos on his cam
era it was Costello who spoke first.
‘It’s good. I can get a clear shot from there, at least two good ones if needed. Can you cover the paperwork? They might ask for references and credit checks.’
‘The credit check I can cover. References might take a little longer and it will take them longer to check than we need but they can be provided. Cash jumps many fences, my friend. At the very least we can ask for another viewing on Wednesday morning do the job and get away. We will meet tonight to go over things and tie up details. In the meantime, I’ll go with Mohammad to Jake’s office and complete the forms to get things moving. A cash up front offer should get us the keys.’
‘While you’re doing that, I’ll take one more walk from this side to the front door of the building then back to the hotel. The NCP down the street will be ideal to park the van up when we’re in the apartment.’
‘Until later then. Mohammad can pick us up outside the hotel about seven. I’ll see you in the lounge about six thirty.’
FRIDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2019
Chapter Thirty
Reece hadn’t slept well. The pain in his shoulder and the dreams woke him during the night. When he’d returned to the bunker it was late, but the team were still up. They’d been watching the CCTV sent from London tracing the van along the motorways from Holyhead to Warrington. Jim Broad had also contacted the GARDA in Ireland asking for any identification of the driver. The same request had been made of the Irish Ferries shipping line that transported the van across the Irish Sea. Reece had watched the short clips showing a man, tall and lean with the black New York baseball cap, and asked the SAS team to watch too so they had every piece of information he did. He’d also told them about the supposed cosmetic surgery.
The only photos the GARDA and Tom Wilson had of Costello had also arrived. They were of the old Costello; the one Reece knew so well from across the table in the interview room. But if he’d changed his face, as Mary had reported, they wouldn’t be much use.