"Ah, oh hell, Angus, this is so ... so unexpected. Hell, it's awkward at the moment," said Mary quickly, trying to think clearly, logically.
"Well that's a fine welcome for a long lost brother, I must say, sis," said Angus, the joy going from his voice.
"Oh Angus, I'm sorry, it will be grand to see you. Really it will but I'm not at home right now and I'm waiting for an important call ..." said Mary.
"From boyfriend Sam, I suppose," said Angus, interrupting with a chuckle.
"From Sam, yes, but he's not a boyfriend, like I told you," said Mary, feeling embarrassed in front of Halee and Ahmed while her brain failed to come up with an immediate solution to the problem, like it usually did. Losing it again! Damn!
"And, hey, it's not just me, sis, I've got some important visitors for ye," said Angus, his chuckle beginning to get right on her craw. "All the way from New Zealand to see ye and ye're out on the town, living it up!"
"Look, Angus, let me think for a moment, will you," said Mary. "I've got your number and I'll call you back in a jif."
"Okay sis, just give us an address of the closest hotel and we'll catch up tomorrow, yeah?" suggested Angus. With a huge relief, Mary gave him the address of a hotel around the corner from her apartment and told him she'd pay the bill.
"I can't let ye pay me bills, Mary. Doncha' know I'm Scottish!" said Angus with a laugh. She wondered what he'd been smoking - she'd never heard him so chipper before.
"Yeah and so am I so shut up, book in, enjoy the amenities and I'll be round in the morning to settle up and have breakfast with you," said Mary as the solution presented itself. She was curious about his visitors but needed to have the phone clear for Sam's call. "Okay?"
"Okay, we can argue about it tomorrow, you obstinate Scot!" said Angus and the phone went dead before she could reply.
As Ahmed announced their arrival at his apartment, he grabbed the briefcase to go.
"Hey Ahmed, do you mind!" snapped Mary, not letting it go. "This is my case, not yours. Okay?"
"But I am the man and I must protect you two women," said Ahmed, obviously surprised. "That is my duty."
"Oh Ahmed, that's so kind ..." said Mary, uncertain what to say next, so long used to fending for herself.
"It's my duty," said Ahmed with finality.
"Ah, your Muslim duty," said Mary, suddenly realising the man she had worked with for the last two years had a life and beliefs beyond the insurance company. "You're not used to taking orders from women and I'm not used to men doing for me."
"Well, Miss Collins is the boss so she gets the case and you get the door, Ahmed," said Halee cheerily. "Would that work?"
"I don't feel right ..." said Ahmed, uncertainly.
"Don't feel, just do," said Mary, handing the taxi his fare. Ahmed still hesitated. "Ahmed, now! They'll be here any time, I just know it!"
"But we've lost them," said Ahmed, hesitating between the modern world he worked in and the ancient world of his ancestry.
"We don't know that so get going and let us safely into your apartment, will you!" said Mary, feeling opportunities for safety slipping away. She could see him relax as he seemed to make a decision.
"Yes ma'am," he said suddenly, releasing the case and leaping from the taxi up the steps to unlock the imposing front door into the spacious foyer of the Kensington apartment block. Mary and Halee followed on his heels.
"Holy moly, you could have a choice party in here!" exclaimed Halee, her voice echoing round the cavernous space. "You didn't tell us you lived in a museum, Ahmed."
"It's not a museum, it's an apartment block, Halee," said Ahmed, explaining carefully, obviously unsure whether she was joking or not.
"Wow, you live here," said Halee turning round and round, taking in the intricately patterned marble floor, the oak-panelled walls, the marble and mahogany staircase that went up five floors, the plastered ceiling sixty feet above them and the massive chandelier in the centre of it. "You could keep your pet brontosauruses here, along with a herd of elephants, Ahmed!"
"Well, yes, it is nice to have the space - a nice contrast to the rest of London," said Ahmed smiling as he walked over to the lift.
"Space? SPACE? You could keep your pet concord in here too!" exclaimed Halee, her voice rising, obviously in a trance. "We're not using a lift when there's this Gone With The Wind staircase here, are we?"
"Oh, well, I've always used the lift," said Ahmed. "The stairs are for tradesmen to take furniture up and things like that. It's not seemly to use them."
"Not seemly? Not blooming seemly?" exclaimed Halee, probably finding the habits of Londoners unusual. "Come on Ahmed, I'll race you. What floor are you on?"
"Oh, the fifth floor, Halee, but you cannot run around in here. It's not done," said Ahmed, his usually calm features looking decidedly lopsided as he scratched his immaculately trimmed beard.
"Not done? 'Tis now ..." said Halee.
"I am not, I repeat, I am not clambering up any steps, young lady," said Mary interrupting and feeling terrified at the thought of the exertion required to attain those giddy heights. "If I was meant to climb things I would have had crampons for toes. I don't."
"Ah you party poopers!" said Halee skipping up to the bottom of the stairs. "I'll wait till you get in your stuffy lift and then I'll race you to the fifth floor. Quick, here it is!"
The crazy young girl fled up the stairs as Ahmed and Mary took the sensible route, not wasting the technological advances brought to this century. Mary wondered if her health would be better served by a few flights of stairs, from time to time, and she rather envied Halee's energy and unconcern for appearances. Oh well, she though, she'll ponder it from the comfort of a quiet lift and a nice glass of wine at the top. Mary was thankful for Ahmed's silence as she could ponder ... well, everything, really - Sam, night-time chases, gentle and bossy Muslim manners, Sam, childish exuberance, Sam, Angus, New Zealand visitors, Sam ... the doors started to open and Mary hadn't realised the lift had stopped - another technological marvel - and there stood a panting Halee on the threshold.
"So you beat us ..." said Ahmed, smiling.
"Shh, they're here, they're ruddy well coming," whispered Halee quickly
"Who's coming?" asked Mary, her mind still not unwinding from thoughts of Sam.
"Shhh!" whispered Halee urgently, leaping into the lift and looking around frantically. "How do we get back down in this thing?"
"But they can't be here ..." said Ahmed, his usual calm disappearing into lopsidedness again.
"Shut up will ya! They'll hear you!" whispered Halee urgently. "They're following me up. Where's the ruddy down button in this fangled thing? Now!"
Ahmed, stunned by her language and panic, pressed the button for the first floor. As the doors closed they could hear the clattering of shoes coming up the marble stairway, towards them.
"Are we headed for the bottom? We need to get out there!" said Halee, leaning back against the elevator wall, catching her breath.
"I have a friend on the first floor," said Ahmed. "We'll sneak in there."
"They found us in this building, mate, so they'll find us anywhere in it," said Halee, grabbing Ahmed by the lapels. "This is real, Ahmed, don't you get that? They're in here, now, after us."
"And so is my plan very real," said Ahmed, gently taking Halee's hands off him as the doors opened onto the first floor.
"Okay, stop a sec. Keep the doors open and see where they go now," suggested Halee quietly.
"We need to get out and into Mohammed's apartment," said Ahmed quietly, about to step out, with his guiding hand on Mary's shoulder.
"See, they're coming down again! They're like bloody homing pigeons!" whispered Halee.
"Mary, what's this?" asked Ahmed, his poise gone. He leapt back into the elevator, pulled the women in with him and pushed the button for his floor. In his hand was a black, circular plastic thing. "This was stuck on your coat, Mary. Do you think it's a device ... I don't know, for following us?"
<
br /> "Oh hell!" said Mary, suddenly feeling overwhelmed and out of control.
"Well, if it is, leave it here, we get out at the fifth and we send it back to the bottom," said Halee. "They'll follow it back down."
"And pick it up and know we're still in the building," said Mary, feeling her neurons starting up again.
"Yes, good one," said Halee, smiling and scratching her head. "So we go back down, leave it in here, send it back up and we scarper ..."
"What if one of them is waiting at the bottom?" asked Ahmed, adding his chilling thought as the doors started to open again on the fifth floor. He pushed the ground floor button, threw the thing out onto the fifth floor landing as the doors closed and they descended again.
"Ahmed, we need to work this out together ..." said Mary, as she felt control slipping away again.
"I'm sorry Miss Collins, but I didn't think we had time," said Ahmed, looking embarrassed.
"Okay, no time to discuss. You're right, Ahmed," said Mary, smiling. "So we tear out of this lift, hope there's no one at the bottom, shoot him if he is and then get out of here?"
"Shoot someone?" asked Ahmed, looking aghast.
"Just joking, Ahmed," said Mary, laughing to cover her dread. "Point and pretend to shoot ... I don't know ... get out of here and then what?"
"What if there's others outside?" asked Ahmed, measuring possibilities as the lift doors opened at the second floor and a couple entered, obviously dressed for a party in a smarter part of London. They giggled at each other, oblivious to the conspiring and panicking threesome. Mary was inwardly cursing the giggling couple in front of her, barring a quick getaway, but was soon thankful. As the doors opened on the ground, a brown, tattooed arm reached in and grabbed the incredulous couple.
"Got ya now, ya bastards!" said the stocky, dark, curly-headed man attached to the arm. "Get out here and give us our stuff, will ya!"
Our Terrified Three were momentarily stunned, unsure what to do next. The problem was solved by the party-going man who reacted quickly and efficiently, ramming his attacker against the wall with quiet fury.
"C'mon!" whispered Halee, leaping from the lift and towards the huge entrance doors. Mary and Ahmed reacted on instinct, as if they were chained to Halee, and fled as they heard a clatter and curses coming down the marble stairs.
"Don't bloody move! Not one inch!" yelled the taller blond man, leaping down stairs, three at a time. Halee struggled with the mechanism of the door which was designed to open with dignity and grace.
As the brown man slid to the floor with blood on his face, the blonde one hesitated between helping his friend and pursuing his quarry, now so close.
"C'mon ya bugger, open!" demanded Halee but the door continued to open slowly, quite unmoved by her threats. Within seconds, which seemed like hours, the door had opened enough for Halee to slip through and Mary and Ahmed followed her down the steps.
"Go left Halee, go left!" ordered Ahmed, and they did until they got to the first intersection.
"Which way now?" asked Mary, panting heavily, bringing up the rear.
"I don't know. Just get out of here!" said Ahmed. "Any way."
"Hey, wait up ... ah ha ah ha ah ha ... please," pleaded Mary, panting and clutching the briefcase while struggling to keep up. "I don't do running."
"We can't let them get us now!" said Halee, slowing down with her hand out like a relay runner ready to take the baton. "Give me the case if you like ..."
"Not on your Nellie ... ah ha ah ha ah ha ... Halee!" said Mary, determined to keep hold of her dignity and the case, both of which seemed to be slipping. "Can't we hide ... ah ha ah ha ah ha ... hide somewhere here, Ahmed ... ah ha ah ha ... you must know someone here ... ah ha ah ha ah ha ..."
"I ... I don't really know, Miss Collins," said Ahmed, stopping round the corner in a shop alcove.
"Come on Ahmed, this ... ah ha ah ha ah ha ... this is your territory," said Mary, following them in. "You must have a friend or café owner who'll take us in for a mo'."
"Well, yes I do but I'm not sure it's quite the right thing ..." said Ahmed, looking conflicted.
"Right thing? Right blooming thing, Ahmed?" whispered Mary hoarsely as her breathing started to return to normal. "Look, you genteel Englishman, our lives may be at risk, Sam may be at risk ... what the heck's right about that?"
The Call Of The Lord
Tuesday, 13th March 2012, 3.06 p.m.
The phone cut sharply through their reverie. Arthur leapt up to answer it, his nerves still a little raw from the morning's events. He lifted the receiver.
"Hello Arthur, old chap ..." It went dead. He knew who it was, immediately, but his thoughts and actions failed him, momentarily. Joan came into the dining room to see him staring into space with the phone still held by his ear. James Bond, of course, would have leapt into the fray and done something dramatic and saved the world, or a part of it, in an instant. However, Arthur's batteries were flat.
"What is it dear?" asked Joan.
"It's Lord Atkinson, dear. He's in trouble," said Arthur.
"The one who ..."
"Yes, the one I met this morning," said Arthur. "It was a call for help."
"Well we'd better go and help him then," said Joan, clapping her hands as a teacher would, to get her pupils into line. Arthur jumped and looked around as if seeing the room for the first time.
"Oh Arthur, you do seem to have run out of poof, don't you?" Joan said, embracing him. "It's been a hell of a day ... it's been a hell of a few weeks, really. And you've mastered it all so well. You really are my hero, Arthur. My hero and my love."
"Oh Joan," was all Arthur could manage before the tears started rolling. He wanted to embrace her forever, for the world to go away and leave him in peace. Yes, he thought, he did love Joan, this lovely, admiring and supportive woman in his arms. He really must tell her some time.
"Thank you, Joan, thank you," he said. However, he thought, right now Lord Atkinson needs help of some sort and so one must rally one's forces. "That's lovely Joan. But now I must go."
"Oh no you don't, Arthur Bayly!" said Joan, standing back with her hands on his shoulders. "You don't think you're going to rush off on your charger and leave your poor damsel here, waiting and pining, do you?"
"Uh ..."
"You silly man! I'm coming too!" said Joan cheerfully. "We're in this together, my lover!"
"Well, if you think ..."
"Too right I think so! Let's muster our troops, shall we?" said Joan, leading him back into the lounge. "Lord Atkinson needs our help so who wants to join us?"
Everyone leapt up as one with fervent cries of assent.
"But, Dottie, are you sure you want to come along?" asked Arthur. "It could be dangerous."
"Arthur dear, I've never had such fun with my clothes on!" said Dottie, laughing. "I may be an old woman but you don't get rid of me that easy!" Everyone laughed, except Dominik who seemed to be trying to make out what Dottie meant about having her clothes on.
"And you, Toby?" asked Joan.
"I'm only half-armed but most of me works and do you think I'm only here for half the action?" asked Toby. "Besides, I've done enough damage so I'd like to make amends if I can."
"Hang on, Dad," said Martin quickly. "This is a matter for the police isn't it? Shouldn't we call them first, surely?"
"No Martin and I'm sorry but I don't have time to explain, right now," said Arthur. "However, Lord Atkinson specifically asked me not to involve the police if at all possible. It seems there's a leak, an informer, there who is not after our best interests."
"Right, if you say so, Dad," said Martin, uncertainly.
"Now, first, Arthur, that file seems to be awfully valuable," said Dottie. "Shall I hide it in my house in case yours gets raided?"
"Mmm, I hadn't thought of that. Good idea, Dottie," said Arthur.
"I'd take my car, Dad, but I have to pick the kids up from the child minder in a few hours and we don't know how long we're going to be, do we?
" said Martin.
"You're right, Martin, but why don't you ring Emily and see if she can pick them up," said Joan.
"Oh hardly, Mother, I don't really even know her," said Martin, looking a little flushed.
"Well, this is one way you could get to know her," said Joan, smiling impishly. "Look Martin, she wants to help with finding her father and this little excursion could unearth him for her."
"Look, Mum, I know you only want the best for me but don't push it. I'm not ready for anyone else yet," said Martin, his politeness obviously being stretched.
"So, what are you going to do - wander on home, wishing you'd come and helped us out in a sticky situation?" asked Joan.
"Oh, okay, I'll see if she can help," said Martin, knowing his mother would not be deterred by obvious obstacles. He called Emily and was surprised that she jumped at the chance to help him out.
"Perhaps you take Dottie when she returns, Martin, along with Toby, who knows the way," suggested Arthur.
"And I'll ring Amanda to see if she can help," said Joan.
"Gosh, yes, grand idea," said Arthur. "And you, Dominik and I will go in the van." Dominik visibly brightened at the mention of his name, perhaps fearing being left out. "No Dominik, we're not going without you!"
"Me good for punish new bad man!" said Dominik, smiling and patting Toby on his good shoulder. Arthur was relieved that Dominik had made friends with Toby and had no lingering hatred or 'bad man' thoughts about him.
The Turkish Connection
Tuesday, 13th March 2012, 11.36 p.m.
Ahmed's conflicted look did not disappear to any perceptible extent "Ah, yes, I see what you mean," he said. "Perhaps I could ask Safak ..."
"Don't talk about it, man, do it!" said Mary in frustration.
"Uh, right, yes," said Ahmed peering out, left and right, along the street. "Follow me!"
"Oh God, not more running!" said Mary as she hitched the case up under her arms and forced her legs to move at an unnaturally rapid pace.
The Last Stand Down Page 22