by John Morris
“Nightmare!”
“Just as well you never turned the power on. Poof!”
The plumber was running under floor heating and radiator points. The Aga man was doing gas fittings, one to each coal fire, both upstairs and down, when a local builder tuned up to place detachable front covers to all the fireplaces. They would have the option of real fires, or gas ones. The builder said, “This is illegal nowadays, just so you know. They should be separate flues. I expect no comebacks.
“Understood. I'll say they were already here, but I doubt anyone will notice.”
“I cannot complete until the chimneys are swept. Want me to organise that?”
Dan was agog, and gave the go ahead. He was distracted when the locksmith arrived, but they understood one another. All new fittings were of old design. The locksmith said, “These new fangled computer whatchamacallit’s, they’re dead already, just need to crack the code. Now this beauty I have here, is a piece of art. It would take a thief days to pick the lock. It’s treble balanced you know, works like this…”
Dan and Cathy had their hands full. That was until Felicity arrived, and immediately took control. That night, Dan gratified Cathy’s obligation, and they had a large meal for all the workers, including Dan’s own, at the village Inn.
The next day proved to be more of the same, and a local farmer turned up to mow the field. He did likewise for next door and Percy’s house, but the other occupant of four was out. There were farm gates through to the next property, which the lads cleared with hedge cutter and strimmer.
Dan was watching the mowing, sat on a tree stump, munching upon a freshly picked damson, when Felicity called to him. “Dan. Come. We found a hidden passage.”
They hurried into the house, and library, where the electrician was shinning a light down a hole in the far wall. A wall panel lay open, as if a secret doorway, but to where?
“We followed the wiring under floor, and we got this.” The electrician pointed to the heavy wires running to the edge of the room, and beyond.
He added, “Stokie found the secret lever, here. I ain’t going down them steps, mind. There may be dungeons down there. Slavering beasts. So I called the laird of the manor.”
Dan looked at the opening, cast a wink aside to Felicity, and drew his gun. People gasped and backed away. “Torch!” he commanded, and one was placed in his hand. He aligned it with his gun sights, and made theatrical incursions into the unknown.
Felicity followed him into the dark, her truncheon in hand, picking up instantly on his sense of theatre, and whispering, “They’ll be gossiping about this for months, just wait and see. Lay on McGyver.”
Dan cast her a wry look back, and for an instant, passionately kissed her lips. “To do, or to die, Mi’Lady. Onwards. Excelsior!”
The stone steps, layered with cobwebs from floor to ceiling, and across, went down a long way. Some keystones were treacherous underfoot, but they persevered, acting out the dramatics for those that followed, as much to still their own nerves.
They entered a long room, like a railway tunnel. It had a flat floor and upturned, U-shaped walls and ceiling. There were seats all around, dishevelled, and camp beds that had never been used, but were delaminating.
In the middle were two doors, one to each side. One contained rations from the nineteen forties, and the other, ancient radio equipment, the large communication sets run by valves.
Dan punched the air. “An air raid shelter. Top hole! Now where does the exit lead to?”
They were moving forward, but encountered a mass of larger than dense cobwebs. Dan used a lighter, but it didn’t take out the bulk. Felicity reached into her bag, and sprayed them with hairspray. The effect was dynamic, and they scorched cobwebs upwards, until confronted by a trap door.
Mercer Locke was working in the coach house when he heard banging coming from below. The locksmith had only just breached the old doors, and was attempting to renew, but with old style fittings. He gathered his senses, and moved towards the sound.
It originated from beneath a section of floor covered by linoleum. Intrigued, he pulled the plastic carpet back, revealing a hatch. It was bolted and padlocked shut. Running fingers over his whiskered chin, he waited for the sound to come again. “There be peoples down there, methinks.”
He tapped back to let whoever know he was on the other side, and delved into his tool bag, quickly picking the ancient locks. Tossing them aside, he pulled up the trap door, and saw Dan and Felicity gawking at him. “What you be a’doin ’ down there then. You’d better come up.”
Dan asked, “Where are we?”
“In the coach house. Here, grab my hand.”
It was the first time any of them had set foot inside the building, and they hurried to see it all. There were two bays, one with a four-wheeled covered coach, and a second with a two-wheeled open one. Both were well preserved and protectively wrapped. “These would have been drawn by horses. I think we’ll find stables on the other side.”
The room at the rear had three stables and a tack room, and it faced towards the orchard. The tradesmen were tasked with providing services, water, electricity, and gas for a fire in winter. The builder came down the stairs to the loft and said, “Don’t nobody be going up there. The floor’s full of woodworm, but it’s a decent space. You want me to start on that Ma’am?
“Yes please Sid, quality floorboards and quality work. Get rid of the woodworm, do your best, and we’ll see what else needs repairing.”
Meanwhile Dan had wandered outside with the plumber. “I know this might not be your thing, but I need a modern septic tank, and could you get the pond working.”
“I likes a challenge, so I does. Summut different to be doing. I’ll call in experts for the sewage. Best I talks to Sid about it first.
“Get those lads to clear the pond and I’ll have a look. I can set up a water feed and aerator unit, and work on an overflow as well. Tell them to be careful with the strange plants, as we’ll replant those. I’ll ask Misses Kennedy to drop by and see if there’s any rare species. She’s into that sort of thing.”
“Thanks, I’ll have a word with the lads right now.”
Cathy provided a buffet lunch at Dan’s expense, and afterwards they set about clearing Felicity’s house, taking everything to their new home. Percy borrowed Alf’s van, and between them, they got her police house cleared by early evening.
Cathy had stayed at Felicity’s place, helping them hoover and clean. Felicity left a kettle and the makings for tea and coffee, with a carton of UHT milk. She also left much of the furniture and cooker, more than had come with the place.
They moved her washing machine, tumble dryer, and dishwasher into the scullery of their new home, leaving a list of jobs for the builder to do in the room. By the time they were done, night had descended, and they were all hungry and tired.
Dan said, “I had hoped to stay here tonight, but we’d find things to do. I propose the same as last night, and sleep at the inn.”
Cathy was first to enthuse. “Thanks Dan, that’s a big relief for me. Otherwise, I’d be cooking as soon as I got home. Everybody, time to finish up and clear off, Dan’s treating us to dinner tonight.”
Chapter 31 ~ Inter-Agency Sharing
Dan was up early on Monday, saw Felicity off, and completed his morning routine. His reports were prepared, but he went to the office for breakfast, because he needed a word with Alison and Veronica.
Stella was cooking breakfast, but Veronica relieved her. Trade in the shop was brisk. When she returned, she said, “I’ll need a run to the Cash and Carry again Percy, either today or tomorrow. Some items have almost sold out, and others have been requested.”
Dan dug into his wallet, pleased with the way the shop appeared to be taking off. “Here’s the other six hundred I promised you for stock, and that’s your lot. You still refusing to give me discount?”
“You’ll pay the full price, just like everybody else. But I only need one hundred of that Dan, thank you.
I aim to pay it all back quickly. Mind you, I’ll have to pay Cathy for looking after the shop while we’re gone.”
“Go this morning, Percy, you okay? … Good, then bring fresh for buffet lunch. And get an everlasting stew or soup going, it’s getting colder, so some warm food required. We’ll all be here today, I think.”
Dan went upstairs and studied the latest developments. “Alison, get me all the information you can regards how Lillyworth Moor operates, especially things like clubs and permits, legal documents and so forth. Do they have a flying club for instance?”
“I’m on it.”
“Be quick. I need a hand to play before I report to the Director. Send the results through to me. I’ll be at the inn.”
Dan received the information, adding it to his report and submitted. The Director came online, as he had expected.
“Dan, they can’t just take over an old airbase, get it working again, and run it as a jihad training ground. This is impossible.”
“I thought so too, but they’ve covered all eventualities. Alison has confirmed, just this morning, that they have a licence for a flying club, another for a gun club, and a third for offering dangerous sports. These are all legal, Ma’am.
“The Firearms Act is ostensibly limited to hand weapons, mainly, and their gun club gets around that problem. Did you know there is no law to prevent any of us buying, and using a fully functional tank or howitzer in our back garden? Firing it would be a crime, if any outsider bothered to report it. Out in the wilds of Lincolnshire, I doubt it.”
“But this is preposterous. What can we do about it? I need that place shut down immediately.”
“No can do Ma’am. We might be able to pursue something regards health and safety, but that’s a long shot, and would show our hand. I propose to do nothing, but monitor the place like a hawk. I’ll get drones in all over it, and I expect I will need an Arabic translator added to the team, for when I’m not here. I hope you have one ready.”
“We will see. Well done with the two girls by the way. You informed Bristol police they are ripping the wrong house apart?”
“I sent a communiqué on Friday, via official channels, to them and the Met, but I have a feeling that will only show up flaws in the system.”
“I know your game Dan, and you are correct. The sharing system for inter-agency dissemination of terrorist threats needs fixing. Anything from Bude yet?”
“No Ma’am, and I’m not expecting anything unless they raise a flag, or until they have completed their current investigation. I may pop over to RAF Trimingham, on a personal visit to keep things sweet. I tasked them with monitoring all flights into, and out of Lillyworth Moor. I strongly suggest we get the latest speed cameras on all roads going to the base, but not too close. The Truvelo D-Cam would be ideal.”
“Agreed. See to it.”
“Ma’am, with the two Bristol suicide bombers, and others Bude will no doubt identify, I think we need to begin working more directly with our main antiterrorist agency.”
“That’s still the Metropolitan police, and they are trying all ways not to pass the unit responsibilities on to the new National Crime Agency.”
“Yes, our formative version of the FBI, except MI5 already have that role. I wish they would all concentrate on the job in hand, and not waste their time building political castles in the air.”
“Exactly. Come down here for mid-tomorrow morning, and we’ll go and see both of them. No promises how far we’ll get mind, but the direction your enquiry is taking means we must begin to include other agencies. I may make a visit to MI5 as well. Until tomorrow, Dan. Ciao.”
Dan sat back, wondering what it would take, to get British security forces to react to the obvious, and ominous threat to the entire British way of life. He made a coffee, and returned to his room to think. The only people he perceived to be acting in a way conducive with the threat, were the military, the RAF at least.
He called Bude. “Hello Bernie, how’s it going?”
“Ah, Dan. Splendid. We have identified nearly all of those that came into Luton. I need surveillance on that building, everything that comes in, or goes out.”
“Consider it done. What about the suspects?”
They talked for some time, Bernie holding back on sending the file until it was complete. Dan knew he was a man that liked to completely finish one project, before beginning the next. Dan came to the reason for his call. “Bernie, did you manage to call a military advisor in?”
“Why, yes I did. That was a great idea. The Colonel will arrive tomorrow morning. You want to meet him?”
“Yes I do, but I have to be in London tomorrow morning, we’re meeting the supposed antiterrorist specialists.”
“Well, come in the afternoon, he is booked in with us for two days.”
“Wonderful, I’ll join you mid-afternoon, all being well. Is there anything else you need from us?”
“Not for now, except keep the images coming. You?”
“I’ll need more of those latest U.S. drones, set for facial recognition. We plan to blanket cover the British jihad base with them.”
“I’ll arrange it. Until tomorrow.”
Dan smiled, and for no definable reason, was warming to working with––those who knew about the ways of war. His mind turned to the immediate situation, the hour of the day, and he made plans for the next few days, for all of his team.
Satisfied, he went to the office, where he found them enjoying early lunch. He was about to tuck in, when Bernie’s words came back to haunt him; ‘keep the images coming’. The word images reverberated in his mind, until he made the correlation. “Alison, I want you to run all images from the airfields through the best facial recognition software.”
“That’s one hell of a lot of work. Okay, I can set up a program to run it. I’ll need to use GCHQ resources. Who’s it for?”
“GCHQ Bude. Use it for all new people as well.”
“I’m on it. Priority?”
“New faces is top priority. Work backwards to when we began on lower priority. I think we have all covered, so this is to double check.”
They heard the shop bell ringing every few minutes, and knew Stella was being kept busy. She poked her head through to check they were all right, and Dan said, “You have good trade Stella.”
“Thank you, I am selling what they want to buy, and I’m a minute’s walk from their homes. Told you it'd work. I've also applied to be Postmistress again. It'll save the pensioners going to town.”
The bell rang again, and she returned to the shop. Dan hacked off a baton of French bread, split it, buttered it heavily, and pasted a pot of feisty crab spread into the jaw, adding slices of cheddar cheese, coleslaw, and far too much salad dressing. He took a large bite, and his face became alive within the pleasures of eating.
Coming down from his gustatory high, he noticed others looking intently at him, and his food. “It’s delicious, if spirited. Try some.
“I’ll drive over to Trimingham this afternoon. Percy, Martin, I want you to fly over to Luton and take a selection of drones with you. I need them in the bonded hangar, and on the warehouse, placed for facial recognition as people come out of the main door. A bus or van may block the view, unless you can get high enough. Try not to use trees, unless there is no alternative. I remember the yard had floodlights.”
Alison added, “I’ll tell Luton when you are due, and arrange a hire car. Let’s move upstairs so I can show you on the map.”
“Good,” said Dan. “Alison, I need speed cameras on all roads in and out of Lillyworth Moor, but not too close. Several miles away would be ideal, just as long as vehicles can go nowhere else.”
“I’ll see to it. What type?”
“The Truvelo D-Cam is about the best for our needs, and only we need access. We’ll need images of number plates and occupants. If any occupants show up on facial recognition, forward to Bude.”
“Martin, plan a drone invasion of Lillyworth Moor. You and Percy will set t
he drones tomorrow. You’ll have to drive there I’m afraid, as I am with the director in London all morning, and at Bude later that day.
“Alison, I would choose to take you with me, and offer your usual digital back-up services. Comment.”
“Dan, I would love to go, but I have far too much on. Some of it I will need to show you before you leave. Take Veronica with you, she’s fully up to speed, and I’ll ensure she has all the information you are likely to need.”
“You are with me in the morning, Veronica, and you better print off four sets of copies of the faces we have from Bude.”
That afternoon, Dan spent over one hour at RAF Trimingham, regardless his business could have been concluded within minutes, or by phone. His physical appearance led to greater respect and sharing, Dan spending time understanding the operator’s problems, and workload.
He also shared with Tom, and they discussed involvement with Bude. Dan mentioned a grand meeting including Bernie and an Army tactical strategist, which Tom found interesting. “Okay. I like the sound of your meeting, and if you give me one day’s notice, I’ll be there. “
“Great, thank you Tom, but the meeting is set for tomorrow afternoon. You know, when Blighty goes tit’s-up, it will be left to the military to respond, and erase the threat of ISIL from our shores.”
Tom walked with Dan to his car. Dan said, “Tom, how would you take over a country such as England, given what we know?”
“The same as anywhere, control the skies, the seas, and have an iron grip on communications, the control of information.”
“The second phase?”
“Run disruption, like the bombings we have witnessed recently. Tie in emergency services, before the main strike. Cripple infrastructure, including roads, railways, and the internet, but not to the detriment of invasion plans. Where are you going with this, Dan?”
“I’m not sure, Tom. Our recent information indicates they will create small to medium sized Muslin enclaves, probably protected by forces and artillery from Lillyworth Moor. Towns, maybe cities, but we are a long way from discovering the source, this is all conjecture.”