Islamic State: England

by John Morris

  Saturday began with sore heads, and Dan’s phone ringing. “Well done Dan, your report is acceptable, written last night I note. The Minister was livid, and fully backed our proposal to instigate NCA as our primary response team. We plan to set this up before the politicians change their minds, or they discover who was the leak to the press. A-hem.”

  “You’re a wily old stick, Ma’am. Well played.”

  “Less of the old if you don’t mind. But yes, it worked out well. You will need to meet the NC A later today. Your plans?”

  “Before, or after I interview the two girls in Parkeston, Ma’am?”

  “Better afterwards. I still need to present my own report and tactical assessment. I’ll make your appointment for two o’clock, don’t be late.”

  “I’ll need a translator. The one from last time would be ideal.”

  “She will meet you there. Get to it Dan.”

  “Ma’am.”

  Dan reacted by asking for a pot of coffee to be delivered to their room. Gwen brought up a tray with full breakfast, as Dan showered, and Felicity came awake.

  Dan entered the room dressed in a towel, and thanked Gwen. “Filly, I need to leave ASAP, interview the two girls, then head for the NCA in London. Want to come along?”

  “Yes, I’ll be in on the interview. But count me out for London, unless I can go shopping instead. I’ll interview Ayesha next time.”

  “Deal. I’ll take Wendy with us and drop her back in London, also.”

  The interview went similar to the one in Bristol. Dan gave them prayer mats, and a Mecca locator. They had both been enslaved by Boko Haram, and spilled the beans, with subtle prompting from both Felicity and Dan. Maye was again acting as translator. One of them had been a favourite with a leader, and they were able to press her for details, many of which were revealing. The girl was thirteen years old.

  Felicity whispered to Dan, and he said, “We are arranging a secure location for you. You will not be harmed, but treated with respect. Please stay here while arrangements are completed.”

  They departed for London to meet Linda Snowe, Director of the National Crime Agency. Felicity headed off to one of her favourite shopping haunts, Covent Garden. Dan gave Maye a lift back to central London, but Wendy stayed with him for the duration.

  Surprisingly, Linda Snowe was more than amenable. Dan did not need to use most of his prepared material, but left both printed and digital files as backup.

  They discussed setting up the response team, the target one week that day. Dan would be required at their headquarters to help set things up, which he agreed to.

  Afterwards, names of suitable people were thrown into the mix. Dan took the opportunity, and offered Wendy as chief liaison officer. Linda grilled Wendy for a short while in private, before stating, “She measures up and has worked with you. I will requisition her on Monday. Now, let’s return to the firearms team…”

  Dan left with the impression a new anti-terrorist strike force would be operational within the week. He was equally buoyed, but concerned. He dropped a delighted Wendy near an underground station, and met up with Felicity. She was waiting outside a new shopping centre, and eating a cream cake.

  “I thought you hated those things, Felicity.”

  “What, raspberry Mille Feuille. I do, but this was so tempting. Reminds me of Cornwall. Now follow me, I need a new handbag. Come, this will be fun.”

  Dan shook his head, watching her head off ‘girl-shopping’, something he detested. They were almost at the entrance to what was nowadays called ‘the mall’, when they stopped to look in a window. Dan was bored.

  Just then, a car pulled up at the kerb, and two females wearing a niqāb got out of the rear. An older female got out of the passenger seat, and he noticed a man driving. Pulling his pistol, he looked back at Felicity and shouted, “RUN!”

  He levelled the barrel at the first girl, who dived to the pavement and let her trigger device go. The second girl looked Dan in the eye, and he motioned her to surrender. Her hand moved towards the trigger device, and he shot her between her own. There was no explosion.

  The woman started to run, but Dan shot her in the back of the head. He turned his weapon on the driver, and fired. His shot missed, as security tackled him to the ground. The boots of a large man appeared in his eye line, and he said, “We don’t like people who kill innocents here.”

  Dan began to reply, but the boot hit full force on his jaw. He heard a loud bang, as if the car bomb had exploded, and awoke in hospital.

  “Dan, I was so worried about you, are you okay?” Felicity was mopping his brow with a damp rag, and looking extremely concerned.

  He said, “I could do with a kiss.”

  Female lips planted on his own, but withdrew too soon. “You are incorrigible, Danforth Glover. Just as well you saved my life today, plus many other people’s, or I may not have done that.”

  “You missed me then. You were worried about me.”

  “Yes, damn you. How did you know, are you profiling me?”

  “No Filly, I almost died saving other people’s lives, and feel like shit. Either turn on the compassion or go. I don’t need this. Save the petty recriminations for later. How many died today?”

  “Three, damn you. The two women you shot dead, and the driver who blew himself and the car, up. Over thirty were injured, including the guard who kicked you. He and five others are in critical condition.”

  “Serves him right.”

  “I’m so proud of you, you read the situation perfectly.”

  “They were Islamic extremist suicide bombers.”

  “Yes. The car obviously. The woman had remotely controlled pipe grenades and worse in her bag. Both girls wore suicide vests.

  “ I have the remaining girl in my personal custody, but am out of my jurisdiction. I have requested priority control, which I may not get. But the Met are under the Press cosh today, so it may happen.”

  “Is it still Saturday?”

  “Yes, you were out for less than one hour.”

  “Hand me my phone” Dan tapped a number. “Director, today at the mall, I need the girl bomber secured, and we will interview her. Can you do this?”

  “You are still alive then. That is no surprise. I’m already working on the girl. Felicity called me an hour ago. The Met are determined to charge you with First Degree Murder. That’s their way of getting back at us for Friday, and it will never happen. Sweet dreams, and speak to you later.”

  Dan nodded at Felicity, and said, “Disconnect me, I need to go home.”

  “What! You only just survived a car bomb.”

  “Yes, and I’m fine, if my hearing’s a bit off. I’ve survived much worse. Give me a hand here, I must leave, be at home, with you. Anyway, yesterday I told the team no one was allowed sick leave. Let’s go.”

  Despite protestations, Dan got dressed and discharged himself from hospital. He had work to do, and scores to settle.

  Chapter 39 ~ Best Laid Plans

  When they got back home, Dan checked in with the team. They were still pouring over data, and analysing feeds. Dan said, “Have a slack day tomorrow, and I’ll see you on Monday morning.”

  Dan was quiet, and Felicity knew he was still hurting, both physically from the boot to his jaw, and mentally from his work.

  She needed to change the environment. “Let’s eat out tonight, have a drink, and somewhere close. I know a lovely restaurant nearby, so get ready to leave in five. I’ll check they have a table. It’s Saturday night.” She was already on her phone. “Yes, table for two booked. Let’s go.”

  She knew going out was the last thing Dan wanted to do, so did not give him a choice in the matter. He needed spiritual healing, a relaxing drink in convivial company, and dining in a nice environment. Her choice turned out to be the remedial therapy he needed.

  As they finished up, she said, “I don’t think you’re up to going to Mother’s tomorrow. Why don’t I call them now, and invite them down? I’ll cook for the
m for a change.”

  Dan looked up, his face changing expressions with his thoughts, and their implications. As if to seal the deal, Felicity added, “They’ll only stay a couple of hours, but it lets them to see the house, and we can relax instead of driving for hours.”

  “I’m going to say yes, dear. I must speak with your father about work, but it won’t take long. I have a request I must finish though, so I will be working first thing, but in the library. I do not believe your mother will be less than three hours, but we’d spend almost that long travelling. Okay, as long as I help prep, and can cook some side dishes.”

  “Your roast potatoes are better than mine, you blanch them? Never mind, it will be interesting. Have we got any joints in?”

  “I bought a lovely looking joint of local beef from the butcher on Thursday, it was too good bypass. There’s New Zealand lamb, and chicken in the freezer, but I fancy lamb.”

  “We’ll do roast beef with all the trimmings, I’ll call them now. I’ll also put the joint in when we get back, on extremely low. It’s still in the fridge, right?”

  “Yes, it’s well marbled, and encased in fat. I like the idea. Make the call, but on condition I make the gravy using the meat juices, in the roasting pan. It’s an art you know.”

  Felicity ensured Dan did not work when they got home. They slept early, and rose early. Dan took a morning bath, which was most unlike him, but he luxuriated within the ministrations of the massage jets. He seemed back to his usual self over breakfast. His energy had returned, as had his focus on work.

  He spent the morning in the library, Felicity preparing most of the meal in advance, and running to the shopping centre for things they needed, or were out of.

  When she returned Dan was working on the gas cooker. “What are you doing?”

  “Opening the oven gas valve up full. It will be as hot as can be. Just one more leverage … there, got it.”

  “But why?”

  “Yorkshire puddings. They need to be treated like the art of tea, everything as hot as can be. These will be eight inches high.”

  “Impossible. Mine are usually like lumps of fried dough.”

  “There you go. What are you doing with that packet? I’ll make a fresh mixture, so watch and pay attention. Light and fluffy. I need to impress your mother.

  “Oh, and Sid has organised decorators to begin painting tomorrow. I'm for white, unless you have any ideas.”

  “That's good for most of it, but boring. This place needs picture rails, and coving where the walls meet the ceiling. I'll make some notes. Oh, light blue for the sun room, and wooden ceiling in the attic.”

  Later they received a call to say her parents were on the way. Dan uncorked a bottle of red, and they sipped as they wandered around the house and gardens, checking on progress.

  “This renovation is almost finished, Dan. Your hangar is an eyesore, but out of the way. I’ll hide it with plants. We need a dock by the river, if only for fishing, and a boat maybe.

  “We can now use the coach house as a garage for our cars, and I see we have winter fuel in, coal and wood.”

  They walked outside and Felicity stopped to gawp. “What the hell is that?”

  Felicity had been looking at the back of the house, and noticed the formative balcony under construction. Dan hoped she would like it. She gulped down her drink, and ran for the house, beating Dan upstairs as he was slow off the mark.

  He found her tentatively walking up the new staircase to the attic. Dan said, “The steps are fine, just needs painting, or wood dye, or carpet. Go on. I hope you like my surprise.”

  Felicity briefly scanned the large room, but headed directly for the window, which had been made into doors. Regardless of the tape blocking the exit, she opened the French windows. “They’re triple glazed.”

  Her eyes rested on the balcony, which was still under construction. She turned to Dan, her face becoming scrunched up and falling into itself with disbelief. Her tears of joy ran freely, but her voice when it came, was high-pitched, squeaky. Her words fractured, and almost indecipherable.

  “Dan, I never imagined. Thank you. Amazing! Just what I always dreamed of. It’s so big. I could grow plants. Make a roof garden. There’s even a retractable awning. I love you.”

  For the very first time in his entire life, Dan stated with conviction, “I love you, too.”

  Before they realised, clothes had been dispensed with, and Dan turned Felicity onto her back, in preparation for his next move. He caught a glance at his watch and said, “Shit! They’ll be here soon.”

  Felicity dragged his head down for a kiss, and gasped with a deep voice, almost breathless with lust, “They’ll have to wait. Love me.”

  The heat of the sun caressed them, as they lay dreamily, half-asleep afterwards. Their world was perfect, until Dan’s mobile rang. He came instantly awake and said, “Hello, this is Dan.”

  Margaret replied, “Felicity is not answering her mobile, and we are in Upper Meddlington. Tom says he knows where he is going, but I do not believe him.”

  Dan said aside, “They are close, check the meat, and baste it.

  “Margaret, Tom is taking a short cut. All he needs to do is go through the village, and follow the main road as it curves right at the end of the main street. We are at the end of that road, a few houses before it meets Lower Meddlington High Street. I’ll be out front waiting for you. See you in five minutes.”

  Downstairs Felicity said, “I have no idea how, but the meat is perfect. I’m turning the heat up to crisp the fat on top. I took your roast potatoes out, as they are superb, and the veg is on slow simmer. Get the dining table prepared, and we’ll swap over.

  They rushed out to the road minutes later, and were just ahead of schedule. They waved to the approaching car, and welcomed Felicity’s parents to their home.

  Felicity excused herself to work in the kitchen, and Dan showed them the coach house and garden. Margaret was picking fruit when Tom said, “Well, I’ll be damned. You have your jet parked here. The runway is––short. That over there will be the hangar I presume, great work. I love this place, and the river down below. The aspect is perfect. Well done.”

  Felicity called out, and they swapped over, Dan finishing the cooking, and Felicity showing them the rest of the house. Within ten minutes, Dan shouted, “Dishing up now, come and get it.”

  They asked Tom to carve the joint, which he accomplished with practised ease. Dan returned to the kitchen, bringing out a tray of Yorkshire puddings that had exceeded even his expectations. All were over ten inches high, light and fluffy. They were in great demand, as was his gravy. However, Felicity took the honours for cooking the joint to perfection.

  Afterwards the men took tawny port and cheese into Dan’s office. Dan presented his request to meet the Marshal of the Air Force, and was told, “It seems Sinjun also recommended the meeting. He is a stout fellow, except late at night in the bar. But with his disability, that is forgivable. Show me your request in full.”

  Dan plugged in a memory stick, and said, “This is what we offer. I need that meeting, Tom.”

  “This is perfect Dan. Everything, all the links work off this pen drive. I’ll give this to the Marshal of the Air Force.”

  They talked for a long time, their conversation diverting to the immanent Muslim takeover of Luxembourg and Belgium, through Islamification of other European Countries, to Blighty.

  Dan finished, “I know they will take England by force. The when I do not know, but it will be a week or two, not months. I’ve shown you the SCUD’s they flew in, howitzers, and antimissile batteries. Why did they do that?”

  “Offence, and defence. But we do not know where.”

  “Correct. I mean to discover which locations they will attack, but I feel time is running out. This will be a concerted move to make Europe an Islamic Governorate. They will call it a Caliphate. Same thing; different ideology. Even with the levers Bude has, interaction with the continent’s supposed security servic
es is quasi at best. Sometimes I think that I, and my team, are the only people to truly understand what is about to go down.

  “You are not alone. Others are beginning to think the same way. Tell me of your thoughts, misgivings.”

  “We need to be able to defend ourselves. I would recall all armed forces: Navy, Army, and Air force. All troops, back to Blighty, ready to respond immediately to any internal threat.”

  “You won’t get that, you know.”

  “Yes I understand, but I can ask for it. When I am proved correct, a lot of people should be sacked. I fear they may already be dead. ISIL do not take prisoners. They punish their own by death, for the slightest infringements of their version of Islam. What do you think they plan for us, their sworn enemy? “

  “Total extinction of Christians. Regards Islam, I’m not even sure what that is anymore. They change flavour with the wind. Dan, can I have your word of honour, and I’ll tell you something.”

  “Yes, already given. But I know that you and Sinjun will meet with the Marshal of the Air Force early next week, probably Tuesday. Can I come along for the ride?”

  “You are perceptive. Yes, and no. We will need you to pilot the plane. You will remain in the cockpit unless called for. This is military business, and you have no jurisdiction.”

  “It will be so. Thank you.”

  The door opened, and two women entered. “What are you two boys doing in here? Talking shop no doubt. Come, we need to take family pictures, and start planning the wedding.”

  “Mum, don’t. We’re not ready yet.”

  “Speak for yourself, child, but I know you are ready. And not only for marriage, but for a baby as well. When is it due?”

  “Mother, I am not ... How did you ... Damn you! Eight months.”

  Aside, Felicity mouthed to Dan, “I think.”