by Ian Berry
“Advance copies, Twin?” whispered Saskia.
“Yeah. Didn’t think he made it up as he went along did you? The press already know exactly what he’s going to say. It’s so they can decide how important they think it is. For instance, declaring war on Iraq is more important than declaring war on litter louts. See what I mean?”
“Ah. So they can decide how much of the News to schedule?”
“You got it.”
This whispered conversation had taken only a couple of seconds, Ben didn’t notice any appreciable delay as I said, “We’ll show you where the Print Room is. You can use whatever they’ve got.”
Jack had a big box with him. Turned out this was full of badges and other stuff to identify our plant workers. In its own envelope, tucked in down the side, was Rio’s Royal Rota pass. I thought we’d go round to her house on the way home and give it to her. She’d probably be quite excited, we’d not told her about the Royal thing yet. Needed to check she was all prepared anyway.
The badges we gave to Petra to hand out as required. I picked out Melanie’s. I needed to talk to her anyway.
Caro wanted to know what we’d arranged with the media people so far. I told her, “Working on the principle that the Beeb will go live into 24, we’ve agreed with them and ITN that they’ll share visit ENG footage. They’ll leapfrog the PM as he does the plant visit. Everybody else will be held in the marked areas and have to tag along behind.”
“Blimey. Don’t know why I bothered to come.”
“I’m sure we’ve not thought of everything,” said Saskia. “I’m watching you carefully, I might learn stuff.”
“Doubt it,” said Caro. “Perhaps I should watch you.”
As it happened we were passing through Reception as we were talking. A voice behind me said, “Hi Saskias. We were told you were in charge. You’ve just saved us getting somebody to find you.”
These were a couple of people we knew by name from the local TV people. I introduced Caro. “We’re not really in charge, Caro here is. Want a quick recce? What are you bringing? Your little news gathering truck?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind. We’ll shoot stuff single camera and edit a package to sent back to base. Seen your plans, look great. Thought we’d just make sure.”
“No problem, Ray. Step this way. Coming Caro?”
“Why not. I might learn something.”
Ray got the same tour we’d given the BBC and ITN people - minus the offer of leapfrogging. Caro looked on in approval. After Ray left, she had questions.
“Do you know many of your local press by name like that? I remember you’re a friend of your local paper editor.”
“Most of them, yes. Why?”
“Because you won’t believe how much easier that makes stuff like this. I know quite a lot of the Fleet Street guys and it’s so much easier when you can just say, ‘Hey Fred, how about this’, or whatever.”
Eventually the boardroom was set up to Ben’s satisfaction, James had been dragged out of his office to make sure he was happy. Security was suitable primed and ready to fire. It seemed we were all systems go. Melanie had agreed to be a camera chaperone and had gone away and come back with another girl we knew only slightly from HR, a slim girl with long blonde hair introduced as Katie. Apparently Katie knew the layout of the plant almost as well as Melanie. We did have one bobble when it turned out that Katie hadn’t been cleared, she wasn’t on our list. Jack said not to worry, he’d deal with it. The four of them disappeared to the hotel.
By going home time we reckoned we were all set. First stop was Rio’s.
“Hi Saskias. Come in, come in.”
“Hello, you. Got a dangly thing for you to wear tomorrow along with your plant badge.” I handed it over.
Rio turned it over a couple of times looking at it. “Got my picture on it and everything. What’s the Royal Rota?”
“Top level Press clearance. Means you can follow the Queen and so on around and take pictures of them. If you can do that, following the Prime Minister is no problem. That’s a permanent clearance, not just for tomorrow. Don’t lose it. I’ll introduce you to Jack tomorrow. He’s the security guru. He’ll tell you all about what it means.”
Rio had eyes like saucers again. I wasn’t sure she could say anything. Neither could her mum and dad.
“Just remember we need you there by about nine o’clock at the latest. Saskia and I will have been there hours by then but that’s our job I’m afraid.”
Rio found her voice. “Dad’s going to drop me off at about half past eight as he goes to work.”
“Brilliant. Good night’s sleep. Busy day tomorrow.”
We left Rio to her thoughts and went to try and get our own good night’s sleep. In our case it didn’t really matter of course but we’d at least try.
Twelve
Thursday. Saskia and I didn’t need alarm clocks. Having decided to wake up at four thirty, that’s just what we did. What with not needing to use the bathroom and changing to be ready instead of actually getting dressed, we were getting into the mini by twenty five to five.
Despite the early hour, the plant was a hive of activity. We spent the first hour or so making sure all the security people knew what should go where. For instance, all the TV and Radio people needed to be directed to the loading yard, all others should go to the Flour Mill car park. Saskia had been good and put the mini there as well although I doubt anybody would have fussed if we’d parked it just about anywhere.
With everything in place, we watched as cameras and stuff began to be set up in the boardroom. There was a lot of cable going out through the window down to the loading yard. We had little to actually do, all down to our planning and organising during the previous days - at least I thought so. Apparently so did Saskia.
“I love it when a plan comes together. Going well I think - touch wood.” She reached up and touched her own head. I grinned at the old joke.
There were inevitable near disasters, like the journalist who’s mobile broadband wouldn’t work. We worked our way through them, helping where we could. Rio turned up at more or less her appointed hour. Her plant badge let her in without anybody questioning her. With two lanyards and badges round her neck, she looked like a successful Olympic athlete.
“Hi Saskias. Hoo, bit different to last weekend.”
“Just a bit,” said Saskia. “Take pictures of anything that takes your fancy, pop down to the cafeteria if you like. Just have fun for the moment. No, not photographs of us!”
Rio grinned as she lowered her camera. “You did say anything I wanted.” She turned and walked away looking for further subjects.
Archie Spencer turned up with one of his staff and Dan, his photographer. He had a problem.
“Dan isn’t cleared to do more than stand with the mob. Anything you can do?”
“Archie, your faith in our abilities is touching but possibly misplaced,” I said. “I shouldn’t think we can get that changed at this stage. However, I might have a cunning plan.”
“Saskia Chandler, that doesn’t surprise me in the least, “ laughed Archie.
“Our staff photographer is cleared onto the Royal Rota. Would you like access to our pictures?”
“Bloody hell! How did you wangle that? You bet I’d like access!”
“Careful Archie,” grinned Saskia. “You’ll burst something. I’ll introduce you and Dan to Rio and you can tell her what you’d like. Bear in mind she takes our stuff first.”
“She?” asked Dan.
“And why not?” said Saskia. “Mind you, that’s not the only surprise you’re going to get.” She waved at Rio who just happened to be passing.
“Rio, meet Archie Spencer, yes dear, that Archie Spencer. Can you do some stuff for him as you follow the PM? Dan here will tell you what he wants. Our stuff
first though.”
“Hello, Mr. Spencer, Dan. What can I do for you?”
Archie was laughing. “I should have known who it’d be.” He turned to Rio, “We’ll have a chat later, my dear. Can I leave you with Dan for the moment?”
Rio nodded, she and Dan wandered off talking animatedly, I suppose they spoke the same language after all - if you can call photography-speak a language.
Archie smiled, shook his head and went to talk to some people he recognised. Saskia and I went down to the cafeteria, not for hot chocolate for a change, but to check up on Jeeves.
“Good morning, Saskia and Saskia. And how are you this morning?”
“Quite well thank you, Jeeves, considering our early start. And yourself?” asked Saskia.
“I am quite well also. I think I have made suitable arrangements here for your important visitor. Would you like to inspect the arrangements?”
“Thank you, Jeeves,” I said, “but no, that won’t be necessary. We trust your judgement implicitly. Whatever you’ve arranged will be an improvement. May we leave it entirely to you?”
Jeeves bowed slightly. “Thank you, Saskia. I will try my best.”
“We know that, Jeeves,” said Saskia gently. “We’ll see you later, yes?”
We left Jeeves to bully the cafeteria staff and did a final tour of inspection. It was while we were doing this that we had a problem. We came up against one of the security men from the PM’s Office.
“You can’t come in here. No badges.”
“Oops, Twin. Problem.” whispered Saskia.
“Not really. He doesn’t know who we are. Show our MI5 badges, it’ll still be secret from the plant workers.”
Doing this let us past this guy but the problem still remained. Because we already had clearance, Jack hadn’t added us to his list. I thought I might know a way round this.
“Can you remember what the highest clearance badges looked like?” While I was speaking I’d changed to be holding one. It even had the correct name and picture on it. Saskia caught on right away and quickly she was holding one as well. That was that sorted.
It might have been sorted but eagle-eyed Jack spotted it at once. His response wasn’t what I expected.
“Oh heck. Saskias, I’m sorry. I completely forgot about you two. It didn’t occur to me you might want to stay undercover. Bloody good job you have your own contacts.”
“Mm. Don’t really want it known we work for MI5. Sorry, suppose we should have mentioned it earlier.”
“My fault entirely. At least it’s all sorted out.” He hurried off to harass somebody else.
“He-he. Not quite what I expected but that was a hoot,” said Saskia. “Another one in the eye for the government.”
All too soon the time approached for the PM to arrive. James had asked if we wanted to be introduced to the PM. We’d said no thank you, we preferred to stay in the background, to try to be inconspicuous.
We had a boardroom full of guests, including Saskia’s dad, and an official welcome party on the front steps when a large quantity of police and other vehicles swept into the car park. Several very efficient-looking gentlemen in suits got out first, one of them opening the car door to let out the Prime Minister. I had a silly thought that perhaps the child-locks were still on and he couldn’t get out by himself. I’d keep that thought and share it with Saskia later.
James stepped forward and shook hands with the PM, then they turned and walked through the front door and into the plant. One of the things James had specifically asked us to arrange was the Visitors Book, nicely turned to a fresh page for the PM to sign. I noticed Rio prominently situated, taking pictures.
Up the stairs to the boardroom. I saw Rio again at the top of the stairs, how had she got there? I had another silly thought, perhaps she had super powers. Something else to share with Saskia. There was no time for further silly thoughts, James and the PM entered the boardroom to applause from the standing crowd of visitors.
While James sat in a seat kept for him in the front row, the PM went straight to the lectern with its microphones and two glass autocue screens. These had fascinated Saskia who couldn’t work out why you could see through them one way but they showed the words of the speech seen from the other side. Once I’d reminded her about her ‘O’ level physics lessons, she soon figured it out for herself.
The PM’s speech was long, pompous - and boring. Rio remembered that we’d have plenty of pictures of the PM himself and I could see her documenting the actual event. I hoped she’d not caught anybody actually asleep.
When the speech was over, there were questions from the press around the room. Not all that many, they already knew what the speech was about. None of the invited guests chipped in, perhaps it was discouraged. I’d have to ask Rob later if he’d been told not to.
Now for the plant tour. Saskia and I had our chance to shine at this point. The official party knew to follow us. The PM paused to talk to some of the people who’d joined him and James. This was deliberate as quite a lot of the press took that as a signal to rush out to get to the first media point before the PM set off. I saw Melanie and Katie organising this.
Once the mass exit was over, James and the PM walked down the boardroom towards Saskia and I waiting at the door. They’d more or less reached us when all hell broke loose!
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw one of the press people lift something and point it at the PM. A gun no less!
Saskia was nearer the PM than I was. “Saskia! Gun!” I shouted. A single gunshot rang out!
Nobody but me could possibly have seen Saskia’s arm shoot out. She caught the bullet before it hit the PM in the chest. Still at super speed, she returned her arm to her side. Almost certainly nobody would have seen her move. They saw me move however.
I ran towards the gunman. The only way out was the one door and I was between him and it. He ran towards me, obviously hoping to push past a young girl and make good his escape. I had other ideas.
As he pushed me, I grabbed his arm and turned sideways. I stopped moving at that point - he didn’t. It didn’t matter how much he weighed or how strong he was, I didn’t budge. His feet left the floor. Using a bit of super strength, I turned him through a neat cartwheel and dumped him on his face on the floor. In the confusion he dropped his gun. I caught it before it hit the floor. I ended up kneeling on his back holding his gun. The whole thing had taken just a few seconds.
The PM was quickly surrounded by his efficient-looking men in suits, better late than never I thought. Some more suits ran over to join me and help me play with my new friend. I held out the gun, holding it by the barrel, the way I’d caught it.
“Can you take this please and check the safety’s on. Barrel only please until you get it in an evidence bag.”
Somebody did this. With one large suit on each side of my captive, I got up off him and he was lifted to his feet.
James was shaken but he, at least, was used to this sort of stuff. I was fairly sure he knew how we’d saved the PM. “Good job he missed,” he said. “Wonder where the shot went?”
Saskia wandered over to the wall in line with the path of the bullet. She appeared to look around for a few seconds then said, “Here, there’s a hole in the plaster.” I knew what she’d probably done. She’d just pushed the squashed bullet into the wall, it was already in her hand, she’d caught it after all.
I dusted myself off and joined Saskia as she approached the PM. “What would you like to do, sir?” I asked him. “Continue with the tour or abandon it?”
He gained a certain amount of my admiration when he shook himself slightly, drew himself up a bit and said, “Continue, of course. The least I can do. Would you be so kind as to show us the way?”
We left the boardroom. I noticed Rio just in front of us, I couldn’t help wondering what her pictures
might show. Have to check carefully later.
The plant visit went off without a hitch, all arrangements working perfectly. Even the PM’s hard hat fit him. In due time we ended up in the cafeteria.
Ben and his helpers had sorted the guests into the ones that had to go home from the ones having lunch with the PM. The latter category were already waiting for us. Saskia had bullied Ben into allowing her dad to at least have lunch with the official party. I saw her have a quick word with him as we all trouped in.
Cameras were only allowed to see the PM sit down and get comfy, then they were banished - apart from Rio. She snuck around unobtrusively taking pictures until I indicated she should stop. She disappeared outside somewhere.
Jeeves engaged top gear. He organised the ‘top’ table with the PM as if it was a Royal banquet. I think the PM enjoyed the experience, I was fairly sure he enjoyed his lunch. I was quite pleased with the whole effect.
At the coffee stage of the proceedings, the Prime Minister told a couple of his party to get lost leaving a pair of seats next to him at his table. He made motions to Saskia and me to come and join him.
“I need to thank you two girls. You reacted far faster than my own security. You even managed to subdue the man before he had chance for another shot.”
“I think we were lucky he missed you, sir,” I said. “We just did what we could.”
“I could do with you two in my group of security men,” he said.
“Er, well, I suppose you’ll find out from your own staff soon enough,” I said and appeared to fumble in an actually non-existent pocket. I showed him my MI5 badge, making sure nobody else could see what I was doing. “We’d rather this wasn’t common knowledge.” I put the badge away - actually changing to be not holding it anymore.
The PM turned to Saskia, “You too?” She nodded.
“You know, you remind me of a couple of other young girls I meet from time to time,” he said.
“You probably mean Kyra and Katya,” said Saskia. “We’re not quite up to their standard, although they are friends of ours. They say that’s because we’re so alike, as you’ve just said.”