Whenever they identified TM, the plan would likely change at a moment’s notice. In the meantime, he needed to be prepared for any eventuality, hence the baby-Bergen and its military payload.
Galton Street, one of many leading to the rail tracks and flanked with dilapidated terraced housing, stood dark and quiet, with most of its streetlights broken. Long unlit areas of deep shadow made Kaine’s job easy. Head down in case of private CCTV coverage, he strolled along at a relaxed pace, preferring not to draw the attention of any neighbourhood watch scheme. Although, given the prevalence of riffraff and miscreants dealing drugs and spreading havoc, the existence of such a civic-minded organisation in the area seemed an outside bet at best.
More likely, he’d come under the watchful stares of gang members, dealers, and the local constabulary on one of its rare forays into Walthamstow’s underbelly. However, given Corky’s recent report on the state-of-play of the local nick, the police were running a skeleton night shift, the Metropolitan Police having had their funding cut once again.
The government’s ongoing austerity budget had a lot to answer for.
While clinging to the shadows without being obvious about it, Kaine turned right into Rennie Row. Halfway along, he ducked into a narrow alley separating the back gardens of neighbouring streets. The smell of rot, damp, and stale urine stung his nostrils. He padded forwards until he reached the end of the alleyway then stopped in the shadow of an overgrown privet hedge and dropped to one knee.
Palmerston Road crossed directly in front of him, running east to west. The school lay on the other side of the road, some two hundred metres to his right. Opposite him, a metal fence topped with vicious barbs restricted casual access to the rail lines, but would do little to prevent encroachment by a determined visitor, such as Kaine.
Once settled, he popped the comms unit into his ear and waited for it to scroll through its bootup process.
“Alpha One to Alpha Two, are you receiving me? Over.”
“Corky’s here, Mr K. You okay?”
Kaine sighed.
Here we go again.
“I’m near the railway cuttings now. Over.”
“Corky knows, Mr K. Been tracking your signal, remember.”
“Any news from the hospital? Over.”
“The patient is in the scanner as we speak, Mr K. Nothing visible, but they’re starting at his head. Over.”
“You’re watching the scan in real time? Over.”
“Sure am. Transmitting the scans to the Doc’s tablet in real-time, too. The pictures are a bit small, but the Doc says she’s coping. In fact, she’s seeing the pictures before that quack, Hamilton. Want to know how Corky managed this magnificent technical feat? Over.”
Kaine checked the time. 00:57. No need to rush. He had no intention of approaching the school before the bottom of the hour. According to Damian, the building stood empty overnight, guarded only by the enhanced surveillance systems, and he needed to give the remaining Goons and the Tribesmen plenty of time to bolt.
“Certainly, Alpha Two. Please feel free to enlighten me. Over.”
“Well, it’s like this, Mr K. The CT scanner is hooked up to the hospital’s IT infrastructure and Corky gained access with his usual aplomb. To be honest, the NHS firewall is a chuffing joke. Might as well not exist. If you ask Corky, the hospital’s so-called Chief Security Officer wants locking up. Taking money under false pretences, he is. Over.”
“Alpha Two, please open a link to Alphas Three and Four. I’d like a blow-by-blow while I’m waiting. Over.”
“Not possible while they’re in the radiography suite, Mr K. Too much interference for the gizmos. Over.”
Corky wasn’t making sense.
“Alpha Two, if that’s the case, how can you send the scans to the Doc? Over.”
“Good question, Mr K. Glad you’re paying attention. Corky’s having to use the hospital’s LAN to talk directly to the Doc’s mobile. Ordinarily, Corky would use the hospital’s IT system to piggyback the messages onto the web and transmit to the bone mic’s infrastructure, but there ain’t enough bandwidth and the signal delay would make comms impossible. Get it? Over.”
“Understood, Alpha Two. Thanks for the explanation. Over.”
“You is welcome, Mr K. Corky’s only too happy to help spread enlightenment.”
“Any news on the school? Over.”
“Nothing much. Corky’s been keepin’ his eyes on the place.”
“How are you managing that?”
“Corky has his ways, Mr K. Over.”
“Alpha Two, have you been breaking into military satellites again? Over.”
“Not givin’ you no details, Mr K, but right now, there’s an Igor in South Ossetia, who’s scratching his head wondering why his pet satellite ain’t answering his signals.” Corky’s delighted chuckle rattled down the line and made Kaine smile.
“Tell you the truth, Mr K, it were really funny watching that bald arsehole with the beard leave the school. You know, the first one you smacked, Demarcus Williams. Man, what a mess. Wobbling all over the gaff, he was. Looked like he’d been in the boozer for a week. The other one, Johnny Cox, Crabapple, were even worse. The bozos had to help each other into a taxi. So funny to watch. Like one of them gross-out teen movies when all the characters get pissed on a stag night.
“The French bloke managed to walk without help, but held his arm awkward, like. As for the geezer with the red hair and the wonky teeth … wouldn’t surprise me if he were still running.”
“Sounds like a real hoot, Alpha Two. Don’t forget to send the recordings to the servers and to Damian’s mobile. I’m sure he’ll get a real kick out of it. Might help his recovery. Over.”
“Already done that, Mr K.”
“Excellent. Any added news for me? Over.”
“Yeah. Corky’s got a shedload of stills of Tribesmen leaving through the front doors. Running facial recognition on the shitbags right now. Identification’s coming in all the time. So far, no obvious candidates for TM, though.”
“What’s that? I’d have thought satellites would be too high for you to run any kind of facial recognition. The angle would be wrong. And there’s been a fair bit of cloud cover tonight. Over.”
“Like Corky always says, Mr K. There’s more than one way to skin a bunny rabbit.”
What’s that?
“Never heard you say anything of the sort. Over.”
“Funny that, Mr K. One of my most favourite expressions, it is. Honest. Over.”
There was the use of “honest” again. Something was off. Kaine couldn’t help feeling Corky was hiding something, but he shook it off. If he couldn’t trust Corky, he was in deep doo-doo.
Paranoia’s a dangerous thing, Ryan.
“Keep working on it, Alpha Two. I’ll be setting us some more cameras in the next hour or so. We need the whole area covered, Over.”
“Right you are, Mr K. Unfortunately, there ain’t no telling how many of the little scrotes slipped out the back way. Over.”
“Yes, Alpha Two. I planned to install the cameras earlier, but circumstances changed. Over.”
“Yeah. Not to worry. Reckon Damian’s really grateful you stepped in when you did, Mr K. Not sure he would’ve survived much more of a beating. … Oh, hang about. Looks like the Doc’s just seen something interesting on the scan. I’ll get back to you when I can. Corky takes it you don’t have your mobile switched on, so there’s no point in asking her to call you for a while. Over.”
“No, Alpha Two, I’m in no immediate rush. Tell her to ring me. I’ll power up my phone right now. Alpha One, out.”
Kaine tapped the earpiece in an attempt to silence Corky’s inevitable interference. He pulled out his phone, which had been synced to the bone mic’s interface, and hit the power button. Breathing deep and slow, he waited.
One of the very occasional freight trains rattled past. In the distance, traffic rumbled its thrumming beat. The glow from London’s millions of lights flo
oded the sky and bounced off the clouds in a mist of subdued colours. The time on his covered watch ticked slowly by. Only eight minutes since he last checked.
Still, he waited.
Three minutes later, his mobile buzzed, and he hit the green button.
“Hi, Lara,” he whispered. “How’s the patient?”
“Fairly serious. Three broken ribs and a two-centimetre tear in the middle lobe of his left lung. He’s being prepped for emergency surgery right now.”
“Damn. What are his chances?”
“The prognosis is good. In fact, this sort of surgery is pretty commonplace, and he’s likely to make a full recovery. Damian’s lucky you reached him in time.”
“Not that lucky. I was the one who put him in danger in the first place.”
“Ryan, Damian knew what he was getting himself into. Don’t go feeling guilty. There’s no value in it.”
Kaine smiled. Trust Lara Orchard to see things in the best possible light for him.
“Any other injuries? He took a hell of a blow to the head and was slurring his words.”
“Nothing definitive showed up on the CT scan, but they’re likely to keep him in for at least a couple of days, monitoring for compression and concussion. If you’re happy to fund it, I’ll book him into a private ward. It’ll be more comfortable for him and Ariel.”
“He risked his life for us and didn’t talk under pressure. Makes him one of the team as far as I’m concerned. Of course I sanction the spend. How’s Ariel handling everything?”
“She’s coping really well, considering how far along she is. Wouldn’t surprise me if we found ourselves flitting between the surgical recovery ward and the maternity wing before too long.”
“And you? Any problems with the admin side of things?”
She laughed. “Ryan, I don’t know how you do it.”
Her laughter made him smile. Despite all his concerns, she still had the power to brighten his mood.
“Dr Griffin,” he said, using his serious voice, “I have no idea to what you are referring. Would you care to elucidate?”
“When did you ask Corky to add my name to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s staff registry?”
“While Damian and I were waiting for the ambulance, why? Did Hamilton check your background?”
“Indeed he did. Nearly gave me a coronary when he practically chased me down the hall to apologise for double-guessing my treatment advice.”
“Sorry about that. In all the kerfuffle, I forgot to mention it.”
“How did you know someone would check my credentials?”
“I didn’t. Just like to try and cover all eventualities.”
“At the time, I wondered why you claimed I worked in Birmingham.”
“Corky’s been helping DCI Jones for a while, remember. Although he has a gateway into most of the national databases, he’s particularly familiar with the first responders’ IT systems in the Midlands. Did you appreciate the job title he gave you?”
“Sorry. I haven’t had a chance to visit the site. What did he make me?”
“Dr Elizabeth Griffin, Assistant Chief of Clinical Medicine. He wanted to make you the Chief, but I thought that role would go to a more mature consultant. Sorry for the demotion.”
“You are forgiven. It amazes me how you think of such detail.”
“Not much to do with me. Corky’s the genius when it comes to building legends.”
The earpiece clicked. “Fanku, Mr K. I didn’t know you cared. Over.”
Corky’s high-pitched giggle mixed with Lara’s laughter.
“Damn it, Alpha Two. This is a private conversation!”
“If you wanted to keep it private, Mr K, you wouldn’t be using this particular comms system, yeah? You know Corky’s built in an override facility. And ’sides, I had to cut into your call. Over.”
“Why? Over.”
“Someone’s closing on your location. One hundred metres away. Approaching quickly along Rennie Row. About to turn the corner into your alley. Over.”
Damn it!
Kaine spun through one-eighty, pushed himself forwards, and lay prone in the sodden grass.
He pulled out his Sig and waited.
Chapter 31
Monday 20th February – Later Still
Walthamstow, NE London
01:11.
Kaine’s focus narrowed to a single point in time and space—the edge of the halo of light from the streetlight which backlit the turn into the narrow alley.
Background sound faded, his heart rate slowed, but his peripheral senses kept working. Protecting him against attack.
Using his well-practised breathing technique, he slowed his heart rate to a point where it wouldn’t affect his aim. His hands on the Sig remained steady, dry. The trigger finger extended, resting on the outside of the guard, prepared. He wasn’t going to risk shooting a poor old geezer walking his pooch.
Movement.
A shadow cut into the halo, moving slowly.
Kaine slipped his finger through the guard, rested it gently on the trigger, taking up the slack, but adding no actual pressure.
The shadow stopped, its owner keeping to the blind side of the alley, out of any line of fire. Slowly, its arms raised and then stopped moving.
Kaine’s earpiece clicked twice.
“Alpha Two to Alpha One, you still there? Over.”
Corky had finally discovered true radio protocol. Would wonders never cease?
“Alpha One receiving,” Kaine whispered. “Not a good time. Alpha One, out.”
Kaine released his left-hand grip on the Sig to tear out the earpiece.
“No, Mr K. Hang on. Don’t shoot nothing. That’s there is what you’d call a friendly. Get me? Over.”
“Repeat that, Alpha Two. Over.”
“Alpha One, this is Alpha Two, Corky. Right? The geezer you is aiming your gun at right now is a friend. Corky warned you about his presence so as you wouldn’t shoot him. Please let him approach and introduce himself. Over.”
“One day, Alpha Two. One bloody day you and I are going to have a serious falling out. Are you in comms contact with the newcomer? Over.”
“Alpha Two to Alpha One. Sure am. Over.”
Kaine relaxed his shoulders but kept the Sig levelled at where the centre mass of the shadow would appear when its owner turned the corner.
“Tell your friend to step out into the light and keep his arms raised and his hands empty. Over.”
“Will do, Mr K. Just a tick. Corky, out.”
Five seconds later, the shadow stepped forwards and fully entered the light. The man—above average height, slim hips, wide shoulders, hands raised as instructed—stood still.
With a gun trained on him at a range of less than thirty-five metres—point blank in Kaine’s terms—the stranger smiled.
Who the hell?
Without losing the shot, Kaine climbed slowly to his feet and signalled for the stranger to approach, but kept his hand raised, finger extended to indicate the man should do it slowly. When the gap closed enough for them to speak without raised voices, Kaine opened his hand again and the man stopped.
“Turn around. Three-sixty and do it slowly.”
“Don’t worry, Alpha One. I’m unarmed,” the man said, his accent mid-Atlantic, his voice calm and steady.
“Forgive me if I fail to take you at your word. Spin.”
Kaine inverted his finger and rotated it. The stranger’s smile didn’t falter, and he obeyed the command.
Dressed in black from head to toe, the man’s clothes hugged his taut frame—no loose cloth to flap about and give him away during a covert entry. Like Kaine, he wore his hair long and sported a full beard. Unlike Kaine, his fair hair showed no trace of grey. Apart from the small, dark backpack which covered his upper back, he was clean—no sign of a weapon.
When the man’s back was turned, Kaine looked about him, in case the stranger’s appearance was nothing but an elaborate diversion. Although why Corky
would allow him to fall into a trap was beyond him.
Face to face again, the man’s smile faded a little.
“Mind if I lower my arms, Captain? This backpack’s smaller than yours, but heavy nonetheless.”
Kaine nodded. The man lowered his arms, stepped forwards, and offered his right hand to shake.
“We’re not there yet,” Kaine said, turning the nod in to a quick shake of the head. “Explain yourself.”
“Happy to, Captain, but that cannon’s making me nervous. Never did like guns, me. Would you mind?”
Kaine lowered the Sig, pointing it at the stranger’s groin. “That better?”
“Not a lot, but I suppose it’ll have to do. Please don’t twitch. Although I already have a child, I’m quite keen to have others. Corky didn’t give you much warning I was coming, right?”
“No, the little … person wasn’t exactly forthcoming.”
“Annoying little ratbag at times, eh?”
“Hey, Corky heard that!”
The stranger sighed and shook his head slowly. He tapped his left ear. Kaine’s earpiece clicked in response.
“Alpha Two,” the man said, “butt out, will you, buddy? Let the Captain and me get to know each other. Over.”
“Okay. But time’s passing, you know? Over.”
“Just a second, Alpha Two. Can you let the Doc know what’s happening. She’ll be having kittens about now, I’d imagine. Over.”
“Will do, Mr K. Alpha Two, out.”
“As you suggested,” Kaine said, de-cocked the Sig and sliding it back into its holster, “your friend can be a touch annoying.”
“Good at his job, though.”
“Agreed.”
“Thanks for that, by the way,” he said, pointing to the holstered Sig. “Never could get comfortable with a gun pointed at the old family jewels.”
“It’s happened before?”
“Only once or twice, Captain.” The smile returned and humour edged into the voice.
Kaine could probably grow to like a man prepared to use humour under such trying circumstances—assuming he passed the upcoming interview.
He backed further into the undergrowth and beckoned the newcomer to do the same. Keeping arm’s length apart, they dropped to one knee, facing each other.
On the Money Page 26