Bridging the Gulf (Aka Engulfed)

by Malcolm Hollingdrake

  Toes, hidden in a small hollow amongst the cliffs opposite the castle had observed most of the incident; he had particularly enjoyed her legs. He logged the time of the meeting and when Roy left. He would keep an eye on her before making a brew. His location was carefully selected; he was a professional. There was nothing in front but a cliff face that dropped vertically to the jousting ground some three hundred feet below, to his back were pine trees that led to the forestry track. The rocks in which he was sheltered would collect the heat of the sun during the day and release it slowly at night. He was more than pleased with his bivvy.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Bill and Drew had agreed that they must contact the police to discuss their findings; it might be nothing, but it could be important. Their conversation was already recorded and the necessary action was in hand; all they were waiting for was their call. The security forces had agreed to leave Joan alone for the present, if they were to spook her, Roy would soon know. No, they needed to keep that part of Roy's life as uninterrupted as possible. All the bugging devices were in place and they would glean all they wanted to know from those. There was of course, the one doubt: suppose, even by the slightest margin, that Roy was not their man. They dared not dwell on that for too long. Everything pointed that way and the latest findings from Drew McKenna narrowed the odds considerably.

  ***

  Jim Bentley's flight arrived late. A tall, sombre man in his late thirties, he was credited with a distinguished military career, being awarded the Military Medal in the Falklands as a young soldier. He had a steady nerve. His intelligence and bravery were legendary. He was still single and chose to live alone, had few real friends and kept himself to himself. His only real vice was his love of red wines, his palette was expensive but his pockets were deep. He kept in the peak of physical fitness.

  He waited for his two small suitcases, both black, both identical. He kept his nose half buried in the book he had started on the plane until his luggage arrived on the carousel. Once through Customs he stopped at the car hire desk to confirm that a car had been booked in his name. He collected the keys and was shown to a new Seat Cabrio.

  The drive was longer than he had imagined but the late afternoon was forgiving; the slipstream buffeted his head. He headed for Gazimagusa but turned off the road following the signs for Salamis. His hotel was situated along the main coast road that ran up the 'pan handle', the long-extended strip of land that gives Cyprus its distinctive pan like appearance. He turned off the main road and ran down a track to a small, red-roofed hotel that sat on the beach. The neatly kept gardens gave the hotel a strong Mediterranean feel. He had specifically requested a room overlooking the ancient ruins of Salamis and he was not disappointed. Although Jim knew that Pippa and Bob were already working, he would not meet with them. However, he could receive and send details using the personal hand-held e-mailer should the need arise. His job was to wait; only time would tell whether his services would be required.

  He changed quickly and went for a swim. His body was muscular and hard. There were two scars, one to his left shoulder and one to his thigh, both received in close hand fighting in the Falklands.

  The water was clear and warm. He swam along the coast, 500m from the sand, there were few waves. Climbing out onto the jetty near Beddis, he lay on the warm wood looking at the sky. In three days he would know if his journey were in vain. The hotel, a mile up the beach, nestled amongst the sand hills and he started to run back. This regime he would keep morning and evening whilst there.

  ***

  Roy had parked his Vitara in Girne and walked to the harbour. He sat at the same table he had shared with Joan in the summer and ordered a beer. The waiter brought his order. He sipped the cold froth from the top and his mind re-ran his day's observations. He was sure now that he could leave the castle by more than three different routes that would link with the parked vehicle. There was an interesting alternative to arriving back at the car that would take him on foot to an old farm building some two miles away from the castle. From there he could walk into Girne but he would use this method only if things went horribly wrong and there was a welcoming party laid on. He felt sure that things would be straightforward. The harbour was calm and he stared at the perfect reflection of the buildings opposite.

  Pippa had seen the car and parked some distance away before strolling round the small town. She had in her bag the receiver that would signal the Vitara's movement. She would like to meet Roy again accidentally, to gain his confidence.

  The horseshoe harbour was extensive, there were few boats as the summer was ending, only the real sailors who lived on their boats were still sailing. She took countless photographs, using the telephoto lens to scan the people drinking at the many tables that framed the harbour edge. Sitting alone, staring out to sea was the man she had been looking for. Unhurriedly she strolled round.

  "Hello again, small island." She smiled at Roy. "I'm having a coffee, may I buy you a beer for your kindness this morning?"

  Roy stood and offered her a chair. "Please, allow me. Turkish or Nescafé?"

  "I'm afraid the Turkish coffee is a little harsh."

  Roy ordered two Nescafés and settled back. The conversation mainly stayed with the history of the island and Roy's affection for it. He recommended a number of places to visit and she made notes in the tourist handbook she produced.

  "Does your husband not like to see the sites?"

  "My husband travels a great deal with his job and therefore the last thing he likes to do is spend his precious holiday time travelling around. He's far happier with a drink in one hand, a good book in the other and a beach under him. I'll be joining him on my return to the hotel. Tell me, are the waters safe?"

  They finished their coffee and Roy walked her round the harbour and reassured her that swimming was safe. They parted as she decided to visit a tourist shop. Within minutes the Vitara was on the move.

  In just over the hour, Roy pulled into the garage owned by his friend. A mechanic pointed to a small office as Roy asked for Tongus. He beamed when he saw Roy.

  "I have your car my friend, although why you want to bake in a black car I don't know." He took Roy to the parking compound and a large Alsatian dog barked, the hair on its neck raised as it strained at a leash. There was his black Vitara. He tossed Roy the keys. "Look after it, it's the newest I have."

  Roy moved to stroke the dog.

  "I wouldn't do that, my friend, unless you want another bad hand. He only likes me. He can be very mean."

  He moved away from the flashing jaws realising the error of his way. He climbed into his new car, and waved before driving the Vitara out of the compound. The dog growled and barked in a desperate attempt to stretch the leash but without success. It continued to bark as the blue Vitara was brought in. It was parked close to the dog and Tongus patted the animal as it jumped and licked his hand.

  "You should like my friend Roy, you stupid dog." He brought a biscuit from his overall pocket and gave it to the dog, who was now playful and quiet. Roy drove back to the flat.

  Pippa drove around the area of the strong signal but failed to locate the car. In the end she gave up and travelled to the hotel, they could try later. Bob was not in the room. She moved to the balcony and looked down. He was there, prostrate on a lounger enjoying the late sun. She would join him.

  Anyone looking at Bob would have thought he was listening to a personal stereo, the small box by his waist and the lead to his ear certainly gave that impression, yet he was not. He was listening to Roy move about the flat and from that he knew that Pippa would not be long in arriving.

  "It's certainly a good life for some." She kicked a little sand at him. "Can you believe I lost him?"

  "He's been in the flat for a good half an hour or else he's being burgled as we speak."

  "We must check his car tomorrow, he may have thrown the tracker. I could only pinpoint him to an area of town, after that there was no signal."

  ***<
br />
  The meeting planned by Sheila Dewar was eagerly awaited, there was a tension in the room as each figure listened intently to the progress made over the previous two days.

  "The money is ready and permission for the UN movement to the mountain area has not been the problem we anticipated. I’ve met with the Home Secretary, the Defence Secretary and the Chief of Defence Staff, who is with us today. We have at present a member of the SAS in the field, who is closely surveilling the drop area. His role is purely a monitoring one, to ensure that it is the suspect who is seen to take the money. Reports to date suggest he has already made a positive ID at the scene. We’ve two other operatives actively tracking Hanna, they’ve bugged his apartment and placed a tracking device to his vehicle. One has actually made personal contact, accidentally, I hasten to add, but we feel this could work to our advantage. The third operative at present is dormant; his true role will only be divulged should a problem arise with the return of the bomb details. We are now totally committed to believing that Roy Hanna is our man and although any further information on the bombings is being channelled through the PNC, we feel our attention should remain with this suspect until the 14th. Gentlemen, any questions?"

  "Do we have the co-operation of the Turkish Government to monitor the ferries and flights into Turkey should our man make a quick dash?"

  "The routes, of which there are few, have been secured and you need have little worry on that score."

  The meeting ended and the group dispersed.

  ***

  Toes, wrapped in his sleeping bag and camouflaged webbing, was totally happy with his lot. He was watching the castle and the road to it through the night sights, noting any activity. The Turkish Army post down in the valley was the only thing that showed life apart from the movement of animals, night birds and the shining of lights six miles away in Girne. On the faint wind he could hear the occasional strains of music drift through the mountains. No one came to the castle. It was after two when he slept, waking as the sun broke the cover of his resting place. Nicosia, behind on the plain below, would wait longer for its dawn.

  ***

  Roy slept until late. On the penultimate day he only had one task and that was to check his equipment and relax. As for Pippa, she was annoyed that the marker had not moved again. She jumped in the car and drove to the apartment. The Vitara was there but the colour change angered her.

  "Shit! He's changed the car."

  The news was not well received.

  "We really need to find the tracker or you are just going to have to sit and watch and believe me, doing that here is far too risky; wait just a few minutes outside the flat and the world and his wife will see you. Where was the last place you had a trace?" snapped Bob.

  They drove to the location and left the car. Pippa walked down one side of the road and Bob the other. It was Bob who spotted it and that was by sheer luck. A barking dog behind a garage caused him to look and there in the compound was the missing Vitara.

  "If you think I'm climbing into the lion's den you can think again, Pip. No."

  Pippa shook her head before strolling to the garage. "Hello, do you hire cars? I'd like to hire a Vitara 4x4. Do you have one?"

  Tongus was more than thrilled to hire, he had not hoped to rent many more now the summer was almost at an end. "I've a yellow and green one but they’re not cheap."

  "Would you have a blue one?"

  "As a matter of fact, I have."

  They negotiated and Tongus drove the Vitara from the compound, accompanied by the dog's enthusiastic barking. Instantly the receiver sensed a move and signalled.

  "You clever girl," Bob muttered to himself.

  The Vitara passed him and returned to the hotel.

  "All you have to do is put the bloody thing back onto Hanna's car, and the sooner, I should add, the better." Pippa's anger showed. She was annoyed at herself as much as anyone.

  "He's still not up, there's no radio playing or movement from the flat."

  Bob took the hint and went and placed the transmitter, using the same routine.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Jim had been awake at dawn, had swum, run and was enjoying breakfast. In twenty minutes he would walk down the track to the main road. He had an appointment with a convoy; they were expecting him. At the appointed time he was sitting on the roadside and almost to the minute, the daily UN convoy of three vehicles approached. He stood up, waved a greeting and the lead vehicle slowed, before pulling to the edge.

  "Good morning. I believe you have a package for me from home?"

  The officer in the passenger seat handed a long, rectangular metal box through the open door.

  "Good luck," was all he said before closing the door and signalling to the driver to move on.

  Jim watched them leave and then walked back to his hotel. Once in his room he put the case on the bed and opened it. It contained a Parker-Hale M-85 7.62 sniper rifle. It was his personal weapon. The case also contained telescopic and passive night-vision sights as well as an LEI-100 Laser sight. He removed the contents from the case and checked them meticulously before building the weapon. Everything he had asked for was there, including the five, ten shot magazines. It was an accurate, high precision weapon designed to give first shot accuracy up to six hundred metres but it could, in the right hands, be accurate to nearly a kilometre; it was in more than capable hands. Jim would need time to zero the sights; he would do that at a later date. With luck he would not have to use it, but if he had to, his accuracy had been tested and proven on many occasions. He stripped the rifle, cleaned it and stored it before walking to the beach.

  ***

  In the hotel room the black receiver blinked and bleeped to signal Roy was on the move and Pippa and Bob both approached the screen. It was 11.30. It was Bob's turn to follow and he quickly grabbed his things and headed for the car. The route was clear and it soon became apparent that Roy was heading up the coast before turning down towards the beach. He parked the Vitara under the trees to give him shade and then retrieved his bag. The wooden jetty stretched out into the calm sea and Roy settled nearby.

  Five minutes later, Bob pulled in to the parking area and noted the car sheltering under the trees. He parked the Seat some distance away before taking the same path to the beach. Tourists were not plentiful and he would certainly attract attention. There was only one person on this section of sand – it had to be his man. He looked carefully and made sure before progressing. Without obviously taking notice of him he walked to the end of the jetty and sat looking out over the water. The sun warmed him. He waited a few minutes before turning and walking back; he deliberately looked away from Roy so that eye contact would not be made. By the way Roy had settled himself he assumed he would be there for quite some while.

  His assumption was correct; his quarry remained there until 4pm. The shadows had lengthened gradually and Roy found himself in the shade. The colour of the sea had grown a darker green. It was time to leave. He collected his things and returned to the flat. That night he would drink with his friends; it might be the last opportunity to do so that he would have for some time.

  ***

  Jim Bentley walked briskly down the sand hills facing his room and placed a white square card against one of the taller hills, anchoring it with two sticks; it was about two hundred metres away. He looked back, adjusting his eye line with the window and the target; satisfied he returned to his room. The beach had emptied of sunbathers as the late afternoon sun was now low. It was time to zero the sights on his rifle. Normally he would fire five rounds at the target and then check the group, making adjustments on the sight; this time was no exception. The suppressed shots were silent and there was no flash from the gun. The only signs were the small eruptions of powdery sand that ejected skywards with the force of each shot. He checked the grouping carefully, readjusted the sight and fired one more shot. He checked this against the group. It was set. Removing the telescopic sight he replaced it with the laser sight. The
LEI-100 laser sight was one of the most powerful red dot lasers. It could clearly spot a target six hundred metres away, showing clearly the point of impact. The dovetail mounting enabled this to be done swiftly and quietly. The red dot was visible on the target and one round burst fractionally below and to the left of the red dot. A slight adjustment punctured it perfectly. He then unloaded and reloaded each magazine checking the springs; old habits die hard but they brought results. Superstition also played a part although he would deny it; only then was he happy.

  ***

  Even after a heavy night of drinking Roy failed to sleep. The thought of the next day brought a feeling of restlessness he had never experienced; doubt, excitement, fear, were all mixed and churned together. He moved to the balcony and appreciated the peace and the beauty of the stars. What would tomorrow bring, just what would it bring?

  He stirred himself from a sleep that he had been denied for so long and felt ill; his head spun and the nausea tormented his stomach. He drank some fresh orange with paracetamol but felt no better. Coffee was needed. Of all the days to feel like this! His mind was blank, he knew the symptoms and alcohol might have some part to play but by no means was it totally responsible for his emotions and mood. The phone rang but he ignored it and returned to bed. He had to be right, he had to feel better.

  "Bob, our man's moving but there's little action. He's failed to answer the phone and now all is quiet. Some night he had." Pippa walked through the bedroom, coffee in one hand and a bread roll in the other. From her ear dangled the wire; she was tuned in to Roy's every move.

  ***

  Toes moved from his resting place and walked into the pine trees. He rubbed his legs to increase the circulation before stretching and yawning. It had been a long night. He moved further from his spot and dug a toilet. He felt better and returned to see what delights there might be in the bag for breakfast. He put a brew on before peeking over the edge. There was no activity, not even from the Turkish troops.