by Gary Weston
Sandra sipped her coffee thoughtfully. 'That's fair and reasonable. I look forward to it. I'll go and drag Ferret out of bed.'
Chapter 39
Two hours later, the meeting was convened. The sumptuous lounge was the informal venue. The brothers sat side by side on one of the settees. Sandra would never have picked them for brothers. Steve, although the eldest by three years, didn't look his age. His hair was a thatch of dark blond waves. His blue eyes had a sparkle to them, and he looked as if her were always smiling.
Frank, his stockier brother, had almost black hair sprinkled with grey, which was thinning in places. Perhaps it had been his suspicions of the unexpected guests that gave his face a serious expression, his brown eyes staring coldly them, his thin lips turned down in a scowl. Sandra could tell he was going to be hard work. Steve kicked the meeting off.
'Okay. I promised Sandra and her partner a fair hearing. I have no idea what this is all about, so we'll just listen and talk it over. Sandra. The floor is yours.'
'Thank you, Steve. I realise Ferret and I have the advantage over all of you. We know quite a lot about all of you; you know very little about the two of us. Sorry. It has to stay that way.'
Hank Andrews didn't like that. 'All a bit one sided, isn't it?'
'Hank. To operate, I have to fly under the radar. Anonymity has kept me alive for many years. I hope to serve my country for a few years yet.'
'Okay,' said Hank, still unsure.
'Right,' said Sandra. 'For over four months, I've been to many places. A contact gave me word of something very big going down. I needed the help of a specialist expert. This is where Ferret comes into the equation.'
Chas said, 'Is that really your name? Ferret?'
Ferret smiled. 'It'll have to do.'
Steve said, 'I think we should cut to the chase. Sandra?'
'Thanks. On the coffee table there is a notepad. On that pad I wrote a name. He is what we are up against. Steve?'
Steve picked up the pad and whistled. 'But this joker is dead. Hell. There was even a film made about it.' He showed the name to the others and there was a collective sharp intake of breath.
'One of his several decoys died. He's very much alive. He's used the fact that the West thought he was dead so he could plot against us. Now he's ready.'
Steve said, 'I won't insult you by asking if you are sure. But come on, Sandra. The CIA will be on his case. Can't they handle it?'
'They are of the opinion they already did. Of course I have passed on my information to a contact in the CIA. It didn't go down too well. They are still sure he is dead. Ferret?'
'They did do a brief check into it. In the meantime, he has been planning his revenge. This involves like minded people in four other countries. We know their target.'
Steve asked, 'Which is?'
Sandra said, 'Turn the page on the pad.'
Steve turned the page, looked at it, then Sandra. He showed the others.
Frank said, 'That's his target?'
'Yes. I don't have to spell it out. If you are the men I think you are, you'll help us. If not, say so now, Ferret and I will just go and do what we can between us.'
'This is huge, Sandra,' said Steve.
'I don't do small,' said Sandra.'
Steve threw the pad on the table. 'Right, you lot. This is where I stand on this. Sandra has made it abundantly clear how close we came to killing people. Thank God we didn't because I couldn't have lived with myself if we had. This is a way for us to put things right, so I'm in.' He looked at the others. 'This could be interesting. Okay. are we all in?'
Chapter 40
Prime Minister Sinclair Carlisle felt his phone vibrate and knew it was his wife, texting him for the the third time in less than half an hour.
'Paul. I really have to go. Otherwise you'll be seeing me on the evening news about my wife killing me for missing another anniversary. Is everything okay?'
Paul “Rosy” Rose, Chief of Internal Security, said, 'Yes. As much as possible. We are on top of things.'
'Good. We both know how much this meeting means. We'll be in the spotlight with this conference. Do you need anymore resources?'
'I think we are covered. But with just two weeks to go, I'll be flat out.'
'Right. I'm out of here. I'll see you at nine in the morning and I want your full progress report.'
'Have a good evening, Sir.'
* * *
Chrissie Carlisle said, 'Do we really have to have him with us?'
Ignoring the strange bearded man sitting alone at a table three places away, Sinclair Carlisle said, 'It's just Rosy being paranoid. We talked about this. It goes with the job. Besides, he's not doing any harm over there. He's probably not even carrying a gun.'
'He's carrying a gun?'
Carlisle said, 'No. Probably not. No. How's the duck?'
'Dry. You'd think a three star restaurant would get the duck right.'
'Mrs Carlisle,' said Raymondo. 'Is everything satisfactory?'
'Perfect, Raymondo. Falls off the bone.'
'And Monsieur Prime Minister?'
'Absolutely delicious. Compliments to the chef.'
'Merci Monsieur. I will pass on your comments to Claude.'
As Raymondo minced away Carlisle said, 'I thought you said it was dry?'
'It is. I just don't want the chef spitting in my dessert.'
'He'd spit in our dessert?'
'He'd probably flambé and season it first.'
'I did offer to go to your mother's.'
'She couldn't cook to save her life. This is just fine.'
* * *
'Did you have a good evening, Prime Minister?'
'Apart from your agent staring at us all night, Rosy. Did you have to send him? I specifically asked for no agent last night. You know my wife hates that sort of thing.'
Rose looked puzzled. 'I do. That's why I didn't assign one.'
'Well, he was certainly there. Not very discreet. Is he new?'
'What did he look like?'
'Look like? Hmm. Like a young Ringo Starr. Beard. Shades. Who wears shades at night in a restaurant?'
'Ringo Starr?'
'Paul. It wasn't Ringo Starr.'
'You could have asked for his autograph. If he'd have signed it, you would have known if it was Ringo Starr.'
'Paul. Watch my lips. It was not Ringo Starr.'
'So who was it then?'
'That's what I'm asking you. You really have no idea?'
'I would do had you let me assign you an agent. I've no idea who he is.'
'Now I'm worried,' said Carlisle.
Chapter 41
The Chief called the meeting to order. 'Right. As you all know by now, the international conference is just two weeks away. Ten world leaders will be here for just over a week. The eyes of the world will be on us. They are here to find a way to stimulate the global economy and avoid a triple dip recession. All the leaders will be bringing in their own security people, and our own Internal Security Service will be coordinating between all of them.
Our job will be to support them in any way we are required to. All overtime rosters have been drawn up and signed off. Extra officers have been drafted in from other regions. Detective Inspector Dale Andersen will be in charge of all suits; I'm personally taking control of all uniforms. I don't have to tell you the significance of this conference, so we need to be vigilant and professional at all times. Work with your department heads for the duration. Questions? No? Good. Dismissed.'
Everyone filed out except for Andersen and the Chief.
'I'll be glad when the damned conference is over and they've all gone home to screw up their own countries,' said the Chief.
'Do I detect a little cynicism?'
'Me? Never. Just being realistic. At least all this takes my mind off life at home.'
'It can't be easy for you. How's Poppy holding up?'
'Trying to hold it all together. Her being pregnant adds to her anxiety.'
'She's having a baby? Ferret's going to be a dad?'
'Yes. That makes it all doubly hard. I have to tread on eggshells all the time. I blame that sister of mine. If I ever see her again, she'll be told in no uncertain terms she never drags Fred into any of her adventures ever again.'
'Let's hope they turn up soon.'
Chapter 42
'Thank you. All of you,' said Sandra.
'We've agreed to help in principle, Sandra,' said Steve, 'But some of us have wives, children. We have to think of them.'
Sandra and Ferret shared a look. They didn't let on, but they also had a family to worry about.
Frank Telford said, 'Exactly what are we up against? We need to know.' He tapped the notepad. 'For a start. Is he coming here?'
'No,' said Sandra. 'He'd have problems getting through airport security. They have been coming here in ones and twos all year. From five different countries. Businessmen, teachers. Fertiliser salesmen. They have blended in, ready for the big day.'
'How many?' asked Titch.
Ferret said, 'Between forty and fifty.'
'What?' gasped Frank. 'Ten of us against that many? Do you even know who and where they are?'
Ferret shook his head. 'Not all of them.'
'How many?' asked Steve.
'Two. We think.'
'Two? You think?'
'Definitely one. Maybe. Not really.'
Frank said, 'Sandra. Ferret. With due respect. None of us are getting involved in a badly thought out plan. If that's all you got, I'm out of it.'
Ferret said, 'We do have an ace. Our CIA contact came up with something for us. They communicate via emails. They are using a language I haven't seen before. I need to identify that first. They are savvy enough to change their passwords a lot and they will undoubtedly use a cryptic code. It would mean nothing at all without the code. I must admit, I still haven't completely cracked it, but I have a week or so and if I can follow it, then we'll have a good idea of their plans. I've managed to hack into the main coordinator's computer and install a a virus of my own making. It is linked to my own computer and anything he's writing is continuously being downloaded onto my computer.'
Nick Fowler, a family cousin, was intrigued. 'I've a few skills on computers myself. Not probably to your level, but I'd like to work with you if you'll let me.'
'Thanks,' said Ferret. 'Two heads are better than one. I must admit, this is where it could all fall down.'
Sandra asked, 'If Ferret and Nick can give us the information we need, can we rely on your support?'
Frank said, 'I've three kids, including Gary here. The people we're talking about, suicide missions are what they do. Not a concept I buy into. I'm no coward, but I'd need to see most of the risk taken out before I go diving in.'
'I wouldn't ask any of you to put yourselves at risk. Ferret?'
'I'm not about to take unnecessary risks, either. We need to get cracking.'
Steve took charge. 'Right. Ferret. Where is your computer?'
'In our vehicle. I just need to set it up in here.'
'Nick. Can you take a few days off?'
'I feel a terrible cold coming on.'
'Good. You help Ferret. The rest go home. We meet back here next Friday night. By then, we'll either be doing this thing, or we won't. Agreed?'
They agreed.
Chapter 43
It took an hour to install Ferret's equipment. The mansion's library became his centre of operations. It was a highly modified collection of unorthodox hardware. Nick helped Ferret assemble everything and then he stood back and stared in awe.
'You built all this?'
'I hate shop bought.' He took a few covers off. 'Take a look inside.'
Nick understood most of it, but some mystified him. 'That works?'
'Very well, actually. Not my best set, but it was all I could do in a hurry.'
'I've never seen anything like it.'
Ferret replaced the covers. 'They'll all be like this in a few years.' He checked a few connections and fired it all up.'Somethings happening. Always a good sign. Pull up a chair and lets go flying.'
* * *
Sandra and Steve relaxed in the swimming pool. Sandra swam an easy twenty lengths then sat on the steps at the shallow end with the host.
'You intrigue me,' said Steve. 'I'd love to know more about you, but I suspect you wouldn't tell me much.'
Sandra smiled. 'Nothing personal. I can't afford the luxury of distractions, regardless of how attractive they are.'
'I'm flattered you find me attractive. I think you know how I feel about you.'
Sandra couldn't look at him. 'Not now, Steve. Maybe once we have the job done.'
'So I have a chance?'
Sandra got out the pool, towelled off and wrapped in a robe. 'I'm going to see how the computer wizards are doing.'
He watched her walk to the door. She opened it, paused and turned to look at him. Steve tried to read her expression, translate what her eyes were saying. There was nothing he could read. Perhaps something in the way her full lips turned up at the corners. There was a depth to her eyes that gave him hope.
Chapter 44
Gary Telford, Frank's eldest son, had always been mechanically able. For a young man a few months shy of his twentieth birthday, he had acquired many useful skills. If there was a problem with a family members vehicle, it was Gary they called first. Gary didn't mind that, but working on his Uncle Steve's helicopter was what he liked to do most. He was seriously considering a career working on choppers and light aircraft. He had been helping Steve clean out the boom spray jets.
'That's the last one,' said Gary.
'Great. Thanks for staying over to help with the chopper,' said Steve. 'I'll sort you some cash out later.'
Gary shrugged. 'No need, Steve.'
'Hey. You save me a small fortune. The least I can do is pay you.'
'Fair enough. I've met a new girl, so any spending money can't hurt.'
'Another girl?' said Steve with a grin. 'I can hardly keep up with your love life.'
'Nothing serious.
'Hey, Gary. I've been thinking. If it looks like us not all being millionaires now, I'll see if I can keep you on full time. If I can help get you your pilots licence, we could build the business up together. There's nothing cheap on these birds, so we could make a good team.'
'Yeah? I like the sound of that. Me. A pilot. You're on.'
'Something to think about.'
'Yeah. That Sandra's nice.'
'Where did that come from?' Steve wiped his hands on a rag. 'Can't say I really noticed.'
'Yeah, right. We all see how you look at her.'
'Is that right? I think people are reading more into things than are really there.'
'Are you going to make a move?'
Steve said, 'Excuse me, young man. Not something a gentleman talks about when it comes to the ladies.'
'Well, I reckon she likes you, too.'
Steve gathered up the tools into the box. 'I'm not sure it would be a good idea even thinking about a relationship with a woman who could kill me with a flick of her wrist.'
'She's a scary lady, that's for sure. laid me out before I knew it. Dad's not sure about getting involved with her and Ferret.'
Steve said,'If we can't come up with a plan, none of us will. Just don't say anything to your mother.'
'No way. She'd go ballistic if she'd known what we've been up to. And you'd never have been doing anything risky if Aunt Camila was still around.'
That was true. Camila was his anchor. Even thinking of taking on the huge loan for the chopper had caused many arguments. But like Camila had always done, once she'd finally agreed, she supported him one hundred percent. Her income from her job had helped them survive the first hard couple of years as they built up the client base. The last couple of years had been their best, but then the devastating news of her cancer had brought their world crashing down.
As he had held her hand as she slipped away, he could
never imagine ever loving so deeply again. After almost a year and with much encouragement from friends and family, a few dates with women had been pleasant, but going nowhere. A further blow had been the death of his parents in a freak railway crash.
It had been agreed that he moved into the huge family home, and with the money raised from selling his marital home, it helped his cash-flow. He gave up thinking about the ladies and concentrated on the business. And now here he was again, and his head was full of this amazing woman that had his life in a turmoil.
'We agreed to keep our little adventure between the eight of us. Maybe it's for the best it's over. Somebody up there telling us it was a stupid idea.'
'Yeah, I guess. Pity. I was enjoying it.'
'Somethings are just meant to be, Gary.'
Gary grinned. 'Like Sandra?'
Steve gave his nephew a playful slap on his head. 'Come on, you. I need a coffee.'
But as they walked back to the house, Steve wondered if there was any truth in what Gary had said.
Chapter 45
'This guy is a genius,' said Nick.
'Don't tell him that,' said Sandra. 'He already thinks he's God's gift to cyberspace. How are you doing, Ferret?'
'A couple of password changes. Nothing too hard. He's been laying low for a few days, no emails back and forth.'
'Is that a good sign?'
Ferret shrugged. 'Not sure. We have a few old messages we can check out. I haven't tied down the language they're using yet. What we need is to figure what they really mean so when they get busy, we can understand them.'
Sandra said, 'Can you help with that, Nick?'
'I studied languages. That might help. We're about to print a few messages out and see if we can make sense of them.'
'Any chance they could turn the tables on us?'
'Depends on how good they are,' said Ferret. 'I'll keep contact to a minimum. We don't really have much choice.'