by Hatchett
Daniel heard ‘music’ start up on the lawn and moved across to the cottage’s window to see what was going on. He and Rhys had managed to shower and change into some clean clothes when they got back. Isaac, Zak, and Nelson had beaten them to it, so the water was only lukewarm by the time they got in there. Grace and Shauna had been aware of the party earlier than them all so had a head-start and had changed before any of them got back. Grace was wearing white jeans and a light-coloured sweater and Shauna was similarly attired in a white skirt and cream top. Daniel had noticed that even the boys had grey coloured hoodies and tracksuit bottoms rather than their usual jeans and was surprised when Grace insisted that he and Rhys do the same.
“Are we joining the Mormons or something?” Daniel asked.
Grace laughed and explained, “Issy and the guys need to spot the friendlies, and as all the gang members are in dark clothin’, we decided to do the opposite!”
So, Daniel and Rhys both found themselves in some light-coloured cargo pants, rather than their favoured jeans. Hardly the weather for them, but needs must and all that!
Daniel had no idea where the gang had found the music, speakers or how they had managed to rig the power, but however they had done it, it was working. The Lynx helicopter sat in the middle of the lawn in place of a main feature, like a chocolate fountain.
As the sound of gangsta rap filled the lawn area and beyond, he saw loads of gang members helping themselves to food and drinks, which had been laid out on a row of trestle tables close to the steps of the White Tower. The whole area was aglow with man-made fires, the flames billowing out of the metal dustbins which he had seen being put out earlier. As he watched, he saw the Judge and Jury approach the area, Bill and Ben either side of them. The Judge still had the sceptre in his hand and the Jury looked like she had just raided a jewellery shop, which Daniel supposed she had, in a way.
At the same time, civilians from the Outer Ward were herded along the path and directed towards the lawn. They too appeared to be wearing light coloured clothing which clearly identified them against the dark clothing of the gang members, so word had obviously got around. Their guides must have drawn the short straw because they moved back to lean against the walls with their guns over their shoulders and a smoke in their mouths. Other gang members brought them drinks so they could still be part of the celebration to some degree.
“We better get out there and join in,” Daniel suggested to the others. It will give us a chance to pass on what’s expected to happen later. I wish we’d known about this party earlier because we don’t know if it will be a help or hindrance for the raid.”
“I tried to contact you,” Grace advised, but I wasn’t getting’ any response. “So, I spoke to Issy instead.”
“I know Grace, I’m not blaming you and you did well contacting Issy. We shouldn’t have turned off our comms while we were out, but I didn’t need to listen to all the preparations and I wanted to concentrate on what we were doing.”
“Let’s go! I fancy a drink,” Nelson shouted, as he made for the door.
“Just remember to take it easy,” Daniel cautioned, but Nelson had already gone. “Keep an eye on him,” Daniel told Isaac and Zak. Make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid.”
Isaac and Zak quickly left and jogged to catch up with Nelson.
“After you ladies,” Daniel offered, as he let Grace and Shauna leave in front of himself and Rhys. “Just remember what to do when the fun starts.”
Daniel and Rhys followed a few paces behind the women, shutting the cottage’s door as they left.
“This could be a good thing,” Rhys suggested. “I can’t hear myself speak, so there’s no chance of them hearing Issy and the teams.”
“What did you say?” Daniel asked.
“Funny!” Rhys replied, playfully punching Daniel on the arm.
They joined the queue for the drinks and selected a bottled beer each before moving away to search for their colleagues. It didn’t take long and within minutes an update had been provided and the message was rapidly being passed along like a radiation message.
At quarter past nine, the music abruptly stopped, and the Judge rapped on one of the tables with his sceptre. The chatter died down instantly, and everyone turned to face him and the Jury.
“Thank you all for comin’,” the Judge began, a wide smile across his face, his arms spread out wide like a preacher bathing in the glory of God.
‘Not that we had much choice,’ Daniel thought to himself.
“When we arrived a few short days ago, I promised that if you did as you were told, you wouldn’t be hurt; thankfully, there has been no trouble and I have been able to live up to that promise.
I also told you that we wanted to build a safe place, a place where we can all live together in harmony and all of you have been doin’ your bit to help make this happen. I am sure it will be a long and sometimes hard road, and I accept it will take time before we can earn each other’s trust, but I firmly believe we can do it.”
“Bloody Hell, it sounds like he actually means it!” Rhys whispered in surprise. Daniel wasn’t so sure.
The Judge babbled on for a few more minutes before the Jury had her say, then the Judge asked if anyone had any questions.
“I have one,” said a woman near the front as she raised her arm in the air.
The Judge spotted the arm and turned towards the woman, everyone else doing the same. “Yeah? What’s your question?”
“I would like to know what’s happened to those four poor women and two girls taken off by one of your goons.”
The Judge scratched his chin as he considered the question and what his response should be. The Jury whispered in his ear, then the Judge whispered something back.
The Jury stepped forwards. “I’ll show you, come with me.” She then headed in the direction of Mamba’s cottage and stopped after a few paces to see if the woman was following her. The woman hadn’t moved but she had put herself in a position where she couldn’t back down, so she slowly moved to follow the Jury.
Daniel was concerned for the woman, but he was also shocked to realise that he hadn’t seen Mamba since he bumped into him earlier. He quickly clicked his comms and asked, “has anyone seen Mamba in the last half hour or so? Is he here?”
Daniel heard a few ‘no’s’ and ‘not seen him’s’ as he turned to Rhys. “We’ve got a problem. Where the fuck is Mamba? And, come to think of it, I haven’t seen Ahmed, Skelly, Dodge, Bird or Smiley recently and they don’t appear to be around here.” He quickly looked around, scanning the crowd, trying to find any of the senior lieutenants or their next in line. He didn’t spot any of them.
“Daniel, is everything ok?” Daniel heard Issy ask through his earpiece.
“I’m not sure Issy,” Daniel replied, “but Mamba and a few others seem to have gone AWOL. I can’t believe they wouldn’t be here, kissing the Judge’s arse. Plus, I would’ve thought the Judge would’ve noticed their absence.”
“Maybe they’ve been given some sort of task?”
“Could be, and I don’t like the sound of that either. We’ll take a look around and get back to you.”
Isaac, Zak, Nelson, Grace, and Shauna started heading in Daniel’s direction as soon as they heard the conversation with Issy.
“Grace and I will take the Outer Ward and see if we can find Mamba,” Isaac advised.
Zak advised that he and Nelson would check the Jewel Room and Shauna and Rhys agreed to check the White Tower and the cells.
I’ll go check with the Judge,” Daniel advised, and they all set off in various directions.
Daniel had the shortest journey of just a few metres to the Judge, and as he closed in on his target, the music started up again and people continued eating, drinking, and smoking.
Bill and Ben saw Daniel approaching and automatically moved forwards to cover off any attempt to get too close to the Judge. The Judge noted their movements and looked up to see Daniel.
“Daniel, what can I do for
you this fine evenin’?” the Judge asked with a smile on his face.
Daniel could tell that the smile was forced and that the Judge had other things on his mind. He gave it away with his constant glances in the direction of Mamba’s cottage, where the Jury had gone.
“Just wondered if you’d seen Mamba recently or know where he is? I thought it would be a good time to run a few things past him.” The Judge was still looking in the direction of Mamba’s cottage and it seemed like he hadn’t heard a word. “Judge?”
The Judge’s attention returned to Daniel. “Sorry Daniel, miles away. Mamba?” The Judge considered the question as if tasting it before replying. “Come to mention it, I haven’t seen Mamba for a while. I’ve no idea where he is. I’m a bit surprised that he’s not here to be honest.”
“We know where Mamba’s gone,” came Isaac’s voice through the comms. “We’re on our way back.”
Daniel smiled at the Judge, “No problem, I’m sure we’ll see him soon, he can’t exactly go far.” Daniel had no idea how wrong he could be.
55
Day 7 – 21:30
Tower of London, Inner Ward
Isaac and Grace were almost running by the time they passed through the gate under the Bloody Tower into the Inner Ward. They saw Daniel coming to meet them and slowed down.
Between breaths, Isaac updated Daniel, “Mamba has just left the Tower in the armoured truck. None of the guards know where he’s goin’ or what he’s doin’.”
Daniel thought quickly. “Rhys, can you get up onto the rampart and see if you can spot the truck?”
“Will do!” came Rhys’s response.
“Isaac, do you know if he turned left or right after he left? If he turns left, then he’s heading towards Issy.”
“Sorry Daniel, I’ve got no idea,” Isaac replied.
“You and Grace get yourselves back to the gate and hang around. See if you can find out anything else and let me know.”
With that, Isaac and Grace headed back to the Byward Tower at a more leisurely pace, arm in arm.
“Issy, did you get all that?” Daniel asked.
“Yes, Daniel. There’s no truck coming this way at the moment and I can’t hear anything. Any idea what he’s up to?”
“I’m not sure. He was acting a bit funny earlier when Rhys and I bumped into him. He seemed very suspicious of us, but there again, Mamba is constantly suspicious of everyone and everything. I can’t see him just taking the truck for a spin, especially when there’s a party going on.” Daniel had a nagging feeling that he was missing something. Why would Mamba leave the Tower now?
“Rhys here,” came through the comms. “I’m looking West and can’t see anything other than the guards on the outer ramparts.”
“Alpha snipers here, we’ve got you Rhys. The truck went past this building a few minutes ago.”
“I see it!” Rhys suddenly shouted. “It’s heading up Tower Hill, back in our direction, and should be passing the Northern wall of the Tower soon.”
“He must have taken Lower Thames St and then doubled back onto Tower Hill as we did a few days ago,” Daniel suggested.
As the truck passed the Tower Hill Memorial, the Alpha snipers picked it up, “We’ve got him.”
“Bravo snipers here, we’ve also got eyes-on.”
“Let me know where he heads at the next junction,” Daniel ordered. He was liking this development less and less as each minute passed. “Rhys, get yourself back down here.”
“Still on Tower Hill, just about to reach the junction,” the Alpha snipers provided the commentary. “Do you want us to try and slow him down?”
“No point,” Danial replied. “The truck is fully armoured and has run-flat tyres, so the odd bullet isn’t going to do anything except warn him, if he even notices.”
“He’s skirting the small park, still heading East on Tower Hill.”
“Bravo snipers here, we’ve lost him.”
“I think I know where he might be heading, “Daniel advised. “Let me know if he turns down East Smithfield.”
A few moment later the Alpha snipers confirmed that the truck had indeed turned down East Smithfield.
“Issy, you there?” Daniel asked.
“Here.”
“We’ve got a problem. I think he’s heading for home, the Green Park Estate.”
“Shit! Why would he go there?”
“No idea, but as I said, he was spooked earlier, as if he knew something was going on, and he’s used the noise of the party to cover his escape.”
“Bear, Irish, you there?” Issy asked.
“Here Issy.”
“You better get moving. Quickly!”
“Will do, the heli’s are already warmed up so leaving right now,” Bear replied.
Daniel, how long will it take Mamba to get there?” Issy asked.
“Let me think….it was only two and a half miles and it took us just over two hours to get there, but we did have a few incidents and obstructions to deal with on the way. The road is now fairly clear, so Mamba has a free run, and even at thirty miles per hour, he’ll get there in five or ten minutes.”
“Shit!” Issy blurted out. “it’s about ten miles as the crow flies from Heathrow, so the Apache will get there about the same time, with the Lynx just behind. It’ll be a close-run thing. Bear, get the Apache to find that fucking truck and make sure it doesn’t get near the building. You’re on for your part of the plan, but you’re going to have to go straight in, there’s no time to check the area. Daniel, we’re coming in now, about ten minutes max.”
“Roger Issy,” Daniel replied, “Good luck all. Samata, are you there?”
A few seconds passed, and Daniel was beginning to worry that she wasn’t listening in, when thankfully she came online. “Here Daniel.”
“Thank God for that. The mission is on, I repeat on. You have about five minutes or less.
“Ok, Daniel, got it. The guys are ready.” With that, Samata clicked off.
“Everyone in the Tower get ready,” Daniel advised, “less than ten minutes before the real party starts.” He thought of the Pink lyrics ‘I’m coming up, so you better get this party started.’ Funny the sort of things your mind conjured up at inappropriate times. He looked around the lawn area to see the civilians and his Warders slowly inching their way to the outskirts of the lawn ready to dive for cover. As he looked around, he saw that the Judge and his two bodyguards were heading towards the cottages, no doubt to find out what the Jury was up to. The eighty or so gang members still on or around the lawn were oblivious to what was going on around them.
56
Day 7 – 21:40
Tower of London, Tower Wharf
“Bravo Team go,” Issy ordered, “all snipers stay alive,” she added, as she slipped her own key into the Henry III Watergate’s lock.
She listened carefully but couldn’t hear anything above the noise coming from the Inner Ward, so she eased the handle down and pushed the gate open a few inches.
Issy still couldn’t hear anything significant, so she unslung her Heckler & Koch MP5 and pointed the barrel out in front of her, towards the gap between the gate and the wall. Both teams had equipped themselves with the MP5’s rather than their usual Heckler & Koch SA80’s. The SA80’s were battlefield automatics with bayonets where sound was not an issue. The MP5’s on the other hand had silencers, night vision optics and laser targeting so they were far more useful for clandestine attacks. All team members had Glock 17 pistols and a Bowie knife as back up.
“Let’s go,” Issy whispered, as she pushed the gate open a little more and slid through the gap before hugging the inside of the outer wall, scanning the corridor of Outer Ward in both directions for the slightest movement. The other members of Team Alpha swiftly followed her, each of them staying close to the wall as they spread out. Luckily, the first few feet next to the wall was in deep shadow, so they were almost invisible.
“Team Alpha ready,” Issy whispered.
�
��Team Bravo ready,” Don whispered back.
“Alpha snipers ready, targets identified.”
“Bravo snipers ready, targets identified.”
“All snipers go!” Issy ordered.
57
Day 7 – 21:45
Stepney, East London
The pilot of the A64 Apache attack helicopter was heading East close to its maximum speed of just over two hundred miles per hour, the two Rolls Royce engines screaming in effort. He had passed the Tower of London, which lay just to the South of his flight path and the noise of the aircraft would surely have been heard if there hadn’t been a party going on.
The Apache was a potent weapon, although the pilot was not expecting to use all its options. The heli had sixteen Hellfire missiles, seventy 2.75 CRV-7 rockets, one thousand two-hundred 30mm cannon rounds and four air-to-air missiles.
The pilot was using the night vision and target acquisition systems which were mounted on the nose of the aircraft as he slowed and swooped low over the roof of the Green Park Estate.
“No truck here,” the co-pilot confirmed through the headphones as he peered down to the ground through the window. “I spotted four heat signatures on the roof, so four tangos’, but there could be more. There’s a lot of people on the ground. It looks like the electricity is out, there’s just a few fires in the open ground and what looks like lanterns or battery-operated lights throughout the rest of the building, so it’s quite dark.”
“I’ve got him!” the pilot exclaimed as he turned the Apache South and headed above East Arbour Street, picking up speed. “That must be his lights moving on the A1203, not far from the turning into Butcher Row. There’s no other lights around.”
The Apache reached the A13, Commercial Road, where the pilot turned East and dropped the aircraft down until it was twenty-five feet above the road surface. He sped along Commercial Road, the downwash from the heli causing abandoned vehicles to rock, setting off some car alarms in the process and knocking over dozens of zombies before turning right into Butcher Row. He brought the aircraft into a hover, fifteen feet above the road surface where he was below the height of the railway bridge and able to see the slight curve towards the end of the road.