by John Morris
He got a match to the man now driving car three. He jumped in the air and shouted, “Got them! The sneaky bastards.”
All eyes turned to him expectantly. “Alison, please find and follow this number plate, sending now. That is car four. This takes precedence over today’s operation. I need you solely focused on this. Damn, drones. Alison, pull the mother drone from Rochdale, it’s the closest we have. Follow that car.”
The room became quiet. Felicity spoke into the vacuum. “I have the Met and the NCA in the air. MI5 don’t know how to respond, want me to have a word with them?”
“Yes, do your best. Tell MI5 not to intercept the car, the man we are after is now in a different vehicle, and we are tracking it. Also update the Chief Constable.”
Minutes passed. Dan said, “Car one is leaving the inner ring road, the city centre cannot be the target, unless they are avoiding traffic congestion. They are headed west towards Piccadilly. Options?”
Alison said, “The train station, one of the busiest in England.”
A few minutes later, Veronica said, “Car two, is now on the M60, headed west. I think I know where they are going. Where’s car three?”
Percy replied, “It’s on the A56M headed for West End.”
Felicity said, “I’m updating response teams now.”
Dan spoke to the Chief Constable, who transferred him to Detective Superintendent Terry Meads, Officer in Charge. They exchanged numbers, and talked about the three strikes. “If our incomplete information is verified, we have a strike on Piccadilly train station, and possible coach station. Another car is headed for the West End, the shopping district, and my only guess is the third location, Manchester airport. Please dispatch armed teams towards all three locations. I’ll liaise with the relevant managers, once all targets are confirmed.
“We work by zooming in on the targets, and having appropriate response near enough to be effective.
“Understood. Do we have backup?”
“Yes, the new NCA antiterrorist unit is on its way to Piccadilly. The Met antiterrorist unit are already at Manchester airport, and we hope to have a few MI5 agents near the shopping district. I’ll call in bomb squad as well. I have Police Chief Inspector Wigglesworth on comm., so please send all but the most important information via her.”
A short time later, the targets were confirmed as Manchester Airport, Piccadilly train station, and the busiest shopping arcade in Manchester. The team took appropriate action.
Alison said in support, “I traced car four Dan, headed into a residential area. Bude are now monitoring it. You still need me on it?”
“Yes. I need you to monitor car four, and precisely identify where it goes, who leaves it, and use the drone to cover the back, the all of it if you can. This will be the most demanding job. Each controller is now dedicated to one car and response team. Chief, please cover any gaps.”
“ I’ll call your Director, she needs updating, you should follow up with MI5, try that number for the agent you know.”
The strike on the airport was first, as they thought––the farthest away for emergency teams to respond to. The Met were inside and waiting. The car crashed through the main departure foyer, and was met with a hail of bullets. It came to the rest, with three dead, and one unconscious inside. Local police and the Met fought over jurisdiction, Greater Manchester force eventually taking charge.
Piccadilly was a more complex operation, but with the aid of station security and the British Transport Police, all the suspects were taken by surprise, and alive. The car was parked to take out the main entrance, but was deactivated by bomb squad just in time.
Dan said to no one, “You see how they work, disruption outside, then a major hub. That would have used up all spare response capacity, and more. Then they hit the shopping centre. The Met are relocating there, but time is a problem.”
Felicity said, “I have MI5 on site at major entrances, and they are in communication with the shopping centre security. Evacuation has been ordered, and people are leaving by all exits. Car three has been waiting in a nearby side street.
“Greater Manchester Constabulary have since surrounded it, and there is a standoff. Wait … shots fired by snipers. The driver and woman controller are dead. The two girls threw their detonators out of the window.
“This is a major result Dan, team, congratulations. We’ll celebrate tonight, but there will be a few hours of clearing up, and writing reports first. What can I do to help?”
“I need to speak with everyone that headed, or led teams today. Congratulate them on our first success, and it is a massive one. I need the words—a script, and then the calls stacked. I also need to apologise to Linda at the NCA, I was out of order, if correct. But I should not have said what I did, aloud at least.”
After a rash of calls, Dan rang his Director. She was exceptionally pleased with the result. “Well done Dan. Pass my praise on to the team. This is a great result. My new jet was released to me last evening, so I’ll see to it you receive it soon. Ciao.”
People set about writing reports. The stress evaporated, and they had their first success. A mood of euphoria was rising, when Sinjun called them to order. “Congratulations team. Excellent result. Please, stop what you are doing, and leave it until tomorrow. You all need to enjoy the moment. Come, it’s my round. I’ll put it on your tab Dan.”
Felicity was first to respond. “I’ll take you up on that offer, Sinjun, I feel a Pernod moment coming on.”
They all went to the inn, but Dan caught Felicity speaking to Brian. When he asked why, she said, “Oh, everyone is having curry tonight, so I was just warning the kitchen. Cheers everyone. That was a great performance today. My parents are joining us.”
Dan needed a word with Ayesha. He was planning to raid Hussein’s offices, and wanted a brief update. He caught her before she became too busy, and they spoke aside for a moment. “I’ll go in soon. Anything else you can tell me?”
Ayesha was gone for a moment, and on returning, handed him a folder. “I made this file for you. It’s all in there. Tuesday early is good, they all go for morning prayers at five a.m.”
“That is early. Thanks. I really appreciate this.”
Dan rejoined the others, a half-plan forming in his mind. A short time later, Felicity left to meet her parents. Veronica went with her and said, “I’m driving, you may be over the limit. And anyway, I am the only one who hasn’t seen this home of yours yet.”
When Veronica pulled into Dan’s driveway, she enthused. Felicity gave her a short tour, but it was dark outside, and chilly. When they got to the second bedroom, purposefully the last room they entered, Felicity said, “Help me get this ready, my parents will be staying here tonight.”
They were about done when Felicity’s phone rang. “I’m five minutes out. Can you put on the landing lights?”
“Yes Ma’am, on my way.”
The girls went to the hanger, and flipped various switches, before the lights came on. “You stay to greet the Director, I better get back, as my parents should be here by now.”
But for the lights, Veronica hardly noticed the plane come in to land. She welcomed the Director, plus two bubbly children who were overtired, and having a ball. “This is great ‘Gan-ma’! Can we go to the air raid shelter?”
“Yes, can we? I know both ways in, but can't reach the catch.”
“No. Behave children, or I won't bring you again.”
The convoy proceeded to the village, and assembled around a large round table, with central Lazy Susan. The evening came to be remembered as the celebration of the first successful strike back at ISIL on British soil.
Before celebrations became overly enthusiastic, Felicity sidled up to Dan and said, “Walk with me.”
“Is it about the baby?”
“No. Work. Shut up, and let me give you some news, once we’re out of earshot … I’ve put the pair of them, Karen and Benaris under the microscope, and they both show up clean. The flies in the ointment
are circumstantial, and easy to read too much into, or too little I guess. I’m perplexed. Other than have GCHQ trace every phone call, text message, and email between them, I have nothing that makes sense. I hate that.”
“Not knowing?”
“Yes. I made a full copy of the file for you to go through. I hate to admit it, but we may need Alison on this. If she’s good as you say?”
“No, she’s better. What about the Chief Inspector, you dig anything up on him?”
“I never looked, and I doubt anything would show in our records. I’ll pull his full file all the same.”
“He must have upset somebody to end up there.”
“I’ll need to check, but I’m sure I read somewhere, he requested it.”
“That’s odd. Do your worst. I’ll ask Alison to ride shotgun for both of them. That must be worth a kiss at least.”
“Yes, and a cuddle … Stop it, we are being observed … That’s enough Dan, let’s get back inside, or no nookie for you tonight.”
Chapter 42 ~ Flying in the Face of Destiny
Sunday began quietly, Felicity had put a leg of lamb in the oven on lowest setting, overnight, and the smell was already whetting palates.
Meanwhile the Director visited the office, and afterwards drove down to the house in Dan’s car, left on purpose for her use. The children were running around like headless chickens, keen to explore everything and everywhere.
The Director said, “Good. That will wear them out. I better hand over this plane to you, but I want it back when the replacement for mine is ready. You can customise that for your needs. Then I will leave.”
Felicity said, “Please stay for Sunday lunch, we’re having roast lamb, and there’ll be far too much.”
“Very well then, thank you. It’s been a long time since I enjoyed a family Sunday dinner, but I must be away by two. Dan, let’s swap planes now.” Tom accompanied them to the field, as Margaret helped in the kitchen.
Dan checked in with Veronica, but she was fine, reports all done. She was researching other information. After the Director departed, Dan told the neighbours that was the last time they would hear the noise. They were surprised to learn another, much quieter jet, had landed.
That evening, when the home was their own again, Dan wrote his reports, and when finished, sat back to think about his life, and his future. Felicity came in. “Penny for your thoughts.”
I was thinking about impossible things, like the E word, the M word, and the C word.”
Felicity interpreted, just to be sure. “You mean Engagement, Marriage, and Children. More than the one on the way.”
“Yes. Not today, but I like having you around.”
“So, you plan to trap me by putting a ring on my finger. Or by getting me pregnant again. It won’t work Dan.”
“No, silly. My commitment to us as a couple. The future of our relationship, it needs careful consideration, and the timing.”
“These three words embody possibilities?”
Dan looked at her, his eyes crinkled. “No, probabilities.”
“In that case I better sit on your lap and give you a kiss. I think we should have an early night.”
Monday morning became a blizzard of interagency communication. Alison was in the middle of the chaos. Dan kept a watching brief, as she and Veronica handled calls, and followed their prescribed response.
Dan called Derek at Bude. “Ah Dan, sorry I missed the action on Saturday. Excellent result by the way. Congratulations.
“Regards the terrorist chief, we are monitoring twenty-four seven, and all who enter and leave, including via the rear access. We are also monitoring all nearby houses, just in case there are tunnels or interlinking lofts.”
“Good. I have a drone up there that needs to be elsewhere. I’ll recall it later today. What else?”
“We have a growing file, but no flags as yet. He is one of the ten most wanted men in the world, so we cannot afford any slip-ups. He uses many names, but in English is known as ‘The Executioner’.”
“Yes, thanks, I read his full file. Has he broadcast anything yet on the internet?”
“No, but we are monitoring the precise internet address, you will know as soon as we do.”
“Good. I am fluent in Arabic, excepting regional variations, so send me the original files. There will be an English version also, but they may not be the same, or mean the same. I mean no offence.”
“Understood Dan. We have found this before. We are also monitoring local cell towers, and intercepting all calls, text messages, the works. You have people nearby on the ground?”
“Greater Manchester Police have this in hand, but various agencies are still arguing about who has control. We do. This began as our operation, and remains so. My Director is fighting our corner, and winning. We also have agents who can mix in the area and not be discovered. Two should go in today. We pulled them out of Syria, as the greatest threat is now at home. They will have drones.”
The call finished quickly, and Dan checked on Percy. “It’s going Okay Dan. There are a lot of drones to monitor, but little is happening most of the time. When it does, I watch and enter results in the log.
“Otherwise, I’ve already caught up with everything since Martin left. I’m covering the whole thing except Lillyworth Moor. Alison’s on that.”
“It’s time we took these aerodromes, and Lillyworth Moor out. If we don’t, we're just creating a bigger problem for ourselves to deal with in the future. Nobody in power seems interested, so if the Muslims take them out, it may be a blessing in disguise. Sir Jack is working on an immediate and brutal response.”
Dan called the Director, who had been busy that morning. “Good news Dan, GMP, Greater Manchester Police that is, were most impressed with your operation, and are relying on you personally, to follow through. They have the captives in a secure police station, and want you to interview them. I will join you, say this afternoon?”
“Ma’am, always a pleasure.”
“I wished you meant that, but I’ll take what’s on offer. Collect me from London City Airport at one-thirty, in my jet. Don’t you dare put a scratch on it. Ciao”
Later, they conducted a series of interviews, the Director doing much of the talking, and Dan profiling. After the last was led out of the room, and knowing they were still being videoed, the Director said, “What do you think?”
“It’s pretty clear Ma’am. Four of the five living, girl suicide bombers are glad to be freed. One is not. I consider her to have been brainwashed. Same with the man and woman. They are hard cases, and will be tough to crack.”
The Director said, “I agree Dan, that’s the way I read it, although we have something on the man. Came in just before I left the office, and could be a lever. I’ll leave it to the locals to play with.”
The Director looked up at the camera and raised her voice. “I presume you are still videoing, Police, so send someone senior in here to finish this. Refreshments would be nice as well.”
They did not speak again until a man in a suit entered, followed by a uniformed Constable carrying a tray of drinks. “Detective Superintendent Terry Meads,” he saluted. “Good interview, Ma’am. Dan, a pleasure to meet you in the flesh.”
“Likewise. You heard our comments. Reaction?”
“As we read it Ma’am. Dan, you were taking notes, may I have a look?”
“No, if only because some comments are personal. I’ll give you a factual copy before we leave, but I’ll need access to a computer.”
“Yes, let’s get out of here. You can use my office, the Constable will bring your drinks up.”
Dan said, “Thanks Terry. You heard our comments on the girl from the airport, what did you make of her?”
“She didn’t fit. The others are victims. She’s crossed the line.”
“Exactly. I think we can turn the man. My Director has something on him. It’s worth a try at least. Your team will take over interviewing the hardliners, and they won’t be easy to
break. MI5 may be able to assist, but in instances like this, they operate on the fringes of the Human Rights Convention, as sometimes do we.
“What of the four girl victims? Have you anywhere for them to go, as in extremely safe and secure accommodation? Monitored of course.”
“Yes we do. Its public face is that of secure housing, but it is more like a hostel come open prison. They have rooms, and share the catering and cleaning. Donations provide funds for food, et cetera.”
“Good, do you have room for five more? We have other ex-Boko Haram victims that need securely placing, and I’m not happy with their current situation. You say the place is monitored?”
“Yes it is. Full electronic surveillance.”
“I’d love a feed of what they say to each other. The secret bits will be in the Hausa language, and you’ll need to run whispers by a lip reader. We may have a handle on that. Can we work together, on all these girls?”
“Can't you return them to their homes and families?”
“We'd like to, but no. They would be executed for disgracing family honour––they had sex outside of marriage. To these people, the fact that it was rape is irrelevant. I spoke to several of the girls about this, and they all said the same thing. One saw her parents executed.”
“In that case, I’d need to pass this one upstairs, but I have no objections, and will recommend it. I have found that by getting people under subtle scrutiny, to talk to each other, we learn a lot more.”
“Exactly, that was my intention. Ma’am?”
“This is a good result, well done the pair of you. You finished the report yet Dan, ah yes. I believe we are done here, until next time Detective Superintendent, and thank you.”
Dan dropped the Director back at London City airport, and she said, “You better head for RAF Cottesmore, a little bird told me Sir Jack will call you soon. A boys’ jolly I believe. Ciao.”
Dan had been sideswiped by the Director’s last comment, so stopped his plane’s taxi to the runway, and called base. “We’re fine Dan. Dead as a dormouse here. How’d it go?”