False Friends (The 9th Spider Shepherd Thriller)

by Stephen Leather

  ‘The world is fucked up, John.’

  ‘Yeah, isn’t it just?’ He heard the roar of a motorcycle engine and, in the distance, the sound of a siren. ‘Now listen to me, Raj. In a few minutes the cops will be here. Armed cops. They know you’re one of the good guys and they know you’re in the van, but accidents can happen so as soon as they get here you slide the gun to the back of the van and you do exactly as they tell you. They have a procedure to follow and it doesn’t involve them minding their manners. Just grit your teeth and it’ll soon be over.’

  ‘I hear you.’

  A motorcycle pulled up behind the van.

  ‘I’ve got to go, mate,’ said Shepherd, taking off the wool gloves. He held out his hand. ‘And my name’s Dan,’ he whispered so that Afzal couldn’t hear him. ‘Dan Shepherd.’ Chaudhry reached out with his left hand and awkwardly shook with Shepherd, all the time keeping the gun aimed at Afzal’s head. ‘You did good today, Raj. Really good. But your part’s over now.’

  ‘I’ll see you again, right?’

  Shepherd nodded. ‘You can count on it.’

  He climbed out of the back of the van. A group of housewives were staring wide-eyed at the van. One of them was pushing a toddler in a stroller. ‘Ladies, you need to get away from the van for your own safety,’ he said. The siren was louder now. The women hurried away.

  The dispatch rider was dressed all in black, his face hidden behind a tinted visor. He nodded at Shepherd and revved the powerful engine. Shepherd climbed on to the pillion. The engine roared and the bike sped off.

  ‘Right, everybody, status reports, please, and let’s keep them short,’ said Charlotte Button. ‘Commander?’ She looked over at Commander Needham.

  ‘I have three ARVs heading to Westfield now,’ said the commander. ‘The first one is ETA nine minutes. The second will be there in eleven and we’re looking at twelve minutes for the third. I’ve asked two to go to the main entrance and one to the other end of the mall. All on the ground floor. That’s where we assume most of the shoppers will be.’

  Button nodded. ‘That’s three confirmed but more on the way?’

  ‘I’m working on that now,’ he said. ‘The timing is dire.’

  ‘I’m sure that’s deliberate,’ said Button. ‘What about the vans?’

  ‘We are close to the three that we’ve been tailing and can take them out on your word,’ said the commander.

  Three of the screens on the wall were now showing floor plans of Westfield shopping mall. Entrances were marked with flashing red squares.

  ‘Let’s see if we can tell what the drop-off points are going to be,’ Button said. She pointed at the screens. ‘We’re looking at fourteen entrances and exits in all. Several are reached by the car parks so if we can ascertain that any of the vans are heading to particular car parks we take them out and then we’ll know that those entrances are going to be safe.’ She called over to Lesporis. ‘Luke, we do have comms with Spider?’

  ‘Working on it,’ said Lesporis.

  ‘Soon as you can,’ she said. ‘And tell your watchers that as soon as they know where their targets are going to pull in they must let us know. And Zoe, that goes for the helicopter. The sooner we know where exactly they’re headed, the sooner we can take them out.’

  Zoe flashed Button a thumbs-up as she continued to talk into her headset.

  ‘Commander, we need regular police in the area because assuming the armed response teams start firing there’s going to be panic. We’ll need to get people moving in the right direction.’

  ‘Can I suggest an evacuation of the mall and the surrounding shops?’ said the commander.

  Button looked over at him. She knew that the commander was covering his back, making sure that everyone realised that the decision to allow the terrorists to continue was her decision and hers alone. ‘As soon as we know that we can neutralise all the shooters, we’ll clear the area,’ she said. ‘If we evacuate now we might tip them into shooting before the six o’clock deadline. But your suggestion is noted.’

  Button looked at the clock. Ten minutes to six.

  Lesporis raised a hand. ‘Charlie, Tango Two is heading for car park A, at the John Lewis end. Nowhere else it can be going.’

  Button turned to the commander. ‘Take out Tango Two, Commander.’

  Commander Needham nodded and pressed a number on his console.

  Lesporis raised his hand again. ‘We have Spider on comms,’ he said. Button reached for a headset and put it on.

  The motorcyclist was a true professional, barely using his brakes as he wove in and out of the traffic. They had already gone through two red lights, taking one at full speed and the other much more slowly with the bike’s hazard lights flashing. With no official markings or siren they were leaving angry looks and blaring horns in their wake.

  The driver had had to remove the full-face helmet and pass it back to Shepherd because HQ wanted to talk to him and he needed the microphone and earphone built into it. It was now only the driver’s glasses that kept some of the wind out of his eyes as the bike continued powering east.

  ‘Spider, can you hear me?’ Button’s voice was coming through the earphone.

  ‘Yes, I hear you.’ There was no mic switch so Shepherd assumed it was voice-activated.

  ‘What’s your ETA?’

  ‘At the rate we’re going four minutes, maybe five.’

  ‘You’re armed?’

  ‘I have the guns that Khalid supplied, plus a few dozen clips.’

  ‘Where were Chaudhry and Malik supposed to go?’

  ‘They were dropping us at one of the car park entrances that would put us on the first floor. We were to chain the doors, start shooting and then escape via Marks & Spencer.’

  ‘Spider, it looks as if most of the vans are heading to the car parks. We’re taking them down now so the imminent threat is from the terrorists arriving by the tube and by bus. The likelihood is that they will be heading for the main entrances on the ground floor and the lower ground floor.’

  ‘Which is where I should be?’

  ‘Exactly. The first ARVs to reach the mall will head for the main entrance too and move in that way.’

  Shepherd looked at his watch. It was eight minutes to six. ‘Charlie, you have to give them my description. Blue jeans, black polo shirt, brown leather jacket. I’m wearing Harvey’s green parka but I’ll dump that as soon as I get off the bike. The last thing I need is to get caught in friendly fire.’

  ‘It’ll be done,’ said Button. ‘We have ARVs en route but most of them are going to be getting there after six so you’re going to be on your own for a few minutes.’

  Shepherd’s stomach lurched as a bus pulled out in front of them. The motorcyclist had seen the vehicle and accelerated at the same time as he leaned over to the right. Shepherd leaned in sync and they missed the bus by inches. ‘How’s Raj?’ asked Shepherd.

  ‘Raj?’

  ‘Raj Chaudhry. I left him at the van with a gun.’

  ‘The van has just been secured. We’re taking him to see Malik. Spider, one other thing. We’re going to start evacuating the mall within the next couple of minutes. We’re on to the mall people now and we’re going to start emptying the first and second floors through the department stores.’

  ‘What about just sounding the fire alarm?’

  ‘If the terrorists lock the ground-floor doors we’ll just be sending people towards the guns,’ she said. ‘Best you and the ARVs get there first.’

  Shepherd looked over the shoulder of the motorcyclist. Ahead of them was Westfield mall. ‘Almost there, Charlie.’

  ‘Good luck, Spider.’

  Button looked up at the screen showing the view from the police helicopter. She could see the motorbike arriving at the main entrance to the mall. ‘Commander, how are we doing with the ARVs?’

  ‘Two minutes until the first one arrives,’ he said. ‘Two minutes after that we should have a vehicle at car park B.’

  ‘And t
he vans in transit?’

  ‘Two have been stopped without shots being fired. We should have the third within the next minute or so.’

  Button looked over at Zoe. ‘What’s happening with the evacuation?’ she asked.

  ‘I’m having problems getting someone there to approve it,’ said Zoe. ‘No one seems to know who’s responsible for authorising it.’

  ‘Head of security, presumably.’

  ‘He’s saying that unless he knows the nature of the threat he’s not prepared to evacuate the building. I’m contacting the owners of the mall as we speak.’ She held up her hand and began talking into her headset.

  Button caught the commander’s eye. ‘Do you have any uniforms close by?’ she asked.

  ‘Two TSG vans already, more on the way,’ he said. ‘No blues and twos and they’re staying in the vans until needed.’

  ‘I think we need them in now, Commander,’ she said. ‘Tell them to go straight up to the top floor and get people moving through the department stores.’

  Zoe waved at Button and Button nodded for her to speak. ‘It’s okay. The CEO is on to the head of security now. He’ll get the security teams to begin moving people out.’

  ‘Through the stores, not through the main entrances,’ said Button. She looked back at the commander. ‘We still need your people in there, Commander. We need to start getting people out. But discreetly. No panic.’

  ‘They’re on their way,’ said Commander Needham. ‘They’ve been told to say that there’s going to be a power cut.’

  Button looked at the screen showing the overhead view of the mall. Shepherd was standing by the bike, opening his backpack. It was five minutes to six.

  Shepherd rested the backpack on the pillion of the motorbike and handed the helmet to the driver. ‘Thanks,’ said Shepherd.

  The driver slid the helmet on as Shepherd unzipped the backpack. The guns were both Glocks, similar to the MI5-issued one that he’d left with Chaudhry. He pulled one out, ejected the magazine, checked that it was full and then slotted it back into place.

  ‘Anything I can do?’ asked the driver.

  ‘Are you firearms trained?’ asked Shepherd. He slid the Glock into his shoulder holster.

  ‘Afraid not. Strictly surveillance.’

  ‘Then thanks but no thanks,’ said Shepherd. He took off Malik’s parka and gave it to the driver. ‘You can hang on to that for me, if you don’t mind.’ He shouldered the backpack and began running towards the main entrance.

  Zoe waved over at Charlotte Button. ‘The security guards on the upper floor are now directing people out of the mall and into the department stores.’

  ‘Excellent,’ said Button. She looked over at the clock. Four minutes to six.

  ‘We’ve just intercepted the fourth van,’ said the commander. ‘It was heading for car park B. Four men in custody; no shots fired.’

  ‘And the ARVs?’

  ‘First one will arrive in about one minute. Second one two minutes later.’

  ‘Make sure they have a full description of Spider and explain that he is armed. I don’t want any friendly fire incidents.’

  ‘They’ve been informed,’ said the commander.

  Button looked up at the screen showing the overhead view from the helicopter. Spider was running towards the main entrance.

  Heads turned as Shepherd ran through the crowds. He scanned the faces, his trick memory comparing them with the photographs he’d seen at Thames House. He slowed to a jog as he reached the entrance. The glass doors were wide open as shoppers poured in. He walked into the mall and checked his watch. There were three minutes to go before six o’clock. That meant that the terrorists were almost certainly already in place. He looked around, breathing slowly and evenly.

  Two security guards were standing to his left. They were Asians, wearing black suits and with their identification cards in clear plastic cases strapped to their arms. One was in his forties, dark-skinned and wearing tinted glasses. The other was younger, with lighter skin, and carrying something in his hands. Shepherd moved to the side to get a better look. The man was holding a length of chain and a padlock. The older man looked at his watch. There was a black Timberland backpack at his feet. The two men were standing with their backs to the wall, watching the shoppers walking into the mall. Two middle-aged Chinese women went over and asked them for directions and the younger security guard pointed up to the first floor.

  Shepherd walked over, his hand slipping inside his jacket. ‘How’s it going, guys?’ he asked.

  ‘Can we help you, sir?’ asked the older guard.

  Shepherd stood facing them, using his body to conceal the Glock as he pulled it out. ‘I need the two of you to stand facing each other right now,’ said Shepherd. ‘If you don’t I’ll shoot you.’ The younger guard opened his mouth to speak but Shepherd jabbed the gun in his stomach. ‘Don’t say anything. Just do it. I don’t have time to fuck around.’ The men turned to face each other. Shepherd patted them down but didn’t find a gun. He kicked the backpack to the side. It was heavy. He took the chain and padlock with his left hand and gestured with the gun. ‘Put your arms round each other, like you were hugging.’ The men hesitated and Shepherd jabbed the younger guard again with the barrel of the gun. ‘Do it or I swear I’ll shoot you both.’

  The two men put their arms round each other. Shepherd kept hold of one end of the chain and let the rest fall to the floor. He draped it over the neck of the younger guard, then, using his left hand, he wrapped the chain round their waists and round their necks; finally he pushed it between them and pulled it hard to tighten it. He fastened the chain with the padlock and pushed the men to the floor. The guards said nothing as they glared defiantly up at Shepherd. He holstered his Glock, picked up the backpack and began to run to the entrance at the far end of the mall. Several shoppers saw what was going on but hurried by, not wanting to get involved. London was a city where passers-by who intervened in violent situations tended to end up in hospital. Or worse.

  The mall was so crowded that Shepherd couldn’t manage more than a jog and he was constantly having to change direction. People he banged into cursed and shouted at him but he was so focused on checking faces that what they said barely registered. He was looking for two things: faces from the Thames House surveillance photographs and Asians with backpacks.

  He took a quick look at his watch. A minute and a half to go. He barged between a group of teenagers. One of them lashed out with his foot and caught Shepherd’s calf but Shepherd barely felt it. He slowed to a walk, scanning faces. Walking in through the glass doors were two Asians in Puffa jackets, both carrying backpacks. Shepherd’s hand went to his gun. One of the Asians said something and the other laughed. They were too relaxed to be a threat, Shepherd realised. One of them went over to a display of store guides; he took one and unfolded it. The two men looked around, trying to get their bearings. Shepherd took a deep breath, knowing that he had come close to shooting two innocent shoppers.

  He moved closer to the doors. A police ARV arrived and it screeched to a halt. The doors opened and three armed officers got out, all holding MP5s. A tall Asian man in a long raincoat walking from the train station whirled round to look at the police car. He had a backpack and he took it off and began to fumble inside it. He turned so that his back was to the approaching policemen. Shepherd caught a glimpse of a pistol. He pulled out his Glock and fired twice, catching the man in the centre of his chest.

  The armed police all jumped as if they’d been stung and then crouched low as they covered the area with their MP5s. Shepherd threw down the backpack that he’d taken from the security guards and turned and ran from the doors He didn’t have time to explain to the police that he was on their side. People were screaming all around him and some were running out into the street.

  He slotted the Glock back in its holster as he ran towards the escalators that led to the lower ground floor. He stopped and looked down over the balcony. No one on the lower ground floor
had reacted to the screaming or to the shooting.

  He couldn’t see the doors that led to the outside, but he heard shouts of ‘Armed police’ at the entrance behind him. He hurried on.

  As he rode down the escalator he looked left and right, scanning faces, checking for bags. He was almost at the bottom when he saw an Asian man with a backpack facing a shop window and looking at his watch. As the man turned round Shepherd recognised him. He was one of the men from Leeds who had arrived at St Pancras on the tube. The man started to walk away from the shop and Shepherd ran up behind him. He pulled out his Glock and slammed it against the side of the man’s head and he slumped to the ground without a sound. Two middle-aged women screamed and backed away from Shepherd as he holstered his gun. Shepherd looked down at the unconscious man. He’d be out for a while, certainly until the police had arrived in force.

  Most of the shoppers in the vicinity seemed unconcerned about what had happened and continued to walk by, looking down at the prone figure but not stopping to help. Even the two screaming women soon fell silent and hurried away.

  Shepherd did a full three-sixty turn but didn’t see anyone else that he recognised so he jogged over to the entrance that led to the tube station. He stopped when he saw that an Asian man in a green anorak with the hood up was walking purposefully towards the entrance. Shepherd had seen the man’s face before, in Thames House. It was the Egyptian, Riffat Pasha. Pasha was carrying a backpack in his right hand as he looked at his watch. He looked scared, as if he might be having second thoughts about what he was about to do.

  Shepherd ran towards him, pulling out his Glock. Pasha saw him, saw the gun, and then began to grope inside his backpack. Shepherd stopped, steadied himself and took aim. As Pasha’s hand appeared from the backpack holding a gun, Shepherd fired twice, both shots to the chest. Pasha fell backwards and hit the ground hard. Shoppers screamed in terror and began running out of the mall.

  ‘He’s got a gun!’ screamed a woman with close-cropped hair and a nose ring.

  Shepherd looked at her in amazement. ‘I think they know that,’ he said.