by David Costa
‘April, you’ve been out in the cold for some time so go and get in the car with Joe. Steve, you come with me and Mary back to the suite. Alpha Two, can you park up with Alpha Three in Peter Street with a good view of the front door?’
‘Roger, Alpha One, on my way,’ replied Cousins.
Less than a minute later the BMW parked in the ideal spot to observe the building’s front door. Grey joined Cousins in the car leaving the other three to walk back to the Conference suite.
Chapter Fifty-six
Mohammad had made himself a cup of tea and joined Lyndsey and Costello in the apartment sitting room. Both had been watching Sky News concerning the day’s activity at the Conference. The pictures also showing the Prime Minister alighting from his car when attending a lunch with businesspeople in Manchester. The news reader then made a comment on what was expected in his speech to the Conference tomorrow.
‘He might have to speak through a hole in his head.’ Costello laughed.
‘Not might, will,’ said Lyndsey.
‘I’m just glad to be in from the cold for now,’ said Mohammad. ‘I’m thinking of tomorrow…how are we set up?’
‘No change. Sean does his bit and Waheed and Imtaz do theirs. In the panic and inevitable lockdown, we leave by different routes. Sean is going to set up in the morning, you get into the Midland, and if you can give us a heads up when the Prime Minister is heading towards the back door, then Sean has some warning which will help. His conference speech is pencilled in for 11.45 so we can expect him to walk over around eleven so be ready from 10.45 onwards. I’ll get the van and we’ll drive out of the area which, if we’re quick enough, should be easy to do in all the panic.’
As she was speaking, Costello went over to the dining room table where he’d left the sports bag sitting on top. Unzipping the bag, he reached in and removed three large parcels of bubble wrap and began to unwind the wrapping from the objects inside. Mohammad and Lyndsey silently watched him produce the rifle barrel then the shoulder stock then the breech and trigger mechanism. Next, he took a smooth dry cloth and wiped down each of the parts before assembling each part into the whole. Finally, he attached a tripod stand and sniper scope. When he’d finished, he placed the completed weapon back to stand on the table the barrel almost the same length as the rest of the rifle. Pointing to the rifle he turned to speak to the two silent watchers.
‘This, ladies and gentlemen, is a TRG 22 Rifle with a match sight mounting set and foldable bipod for stability when using. It’s one of the most accurate rifles around and one of the best sniper rifles in the world and in the hands of someone who knows how to use it, such as myself, a deadly killing machine. I’ve spent time zeroing the rifle in before I came here, so I’m ready to play my part.’
‘I know you’ve had something to eat, Mohammad, but Sean and I could do with something. Could you phone somewhere for a delivery?’ asked Lyndsey.
‘I’ll check Google; what do you fancy?’ replied Mohammad.
‘I’m in the mood for some Indian food. What about you, Sean?’
‘Sounds good but not too spicy.’
‘That’s great. I know a good Indian down near the station I could go and get a carry out from there, be back in about twenty minutes. I’ll get a bit of a mixture with some rice, that should be OK for both of you?’
‘Suits me and some chips,’ said Costello.
Chapter Fifty-seven
In his suite in the Midland the Prime Minister loosened his tie and kicked off his shoes as he pushed himself back further into the leather armchair. The almost finished speech lay on the coffee table between himself and the two other men in the room. Sir Martyn Bryant and Sir Ian Fraser sitting in similar chairs opposite both had a crystal glass of malt whisky in their hand. Peter Brookfield took a long sip from his own glass of the same refreshing spirit. The lighting in the room was low adding to a relaxed atmosphere. Sir Ian had returned after his meal with Jim Broad and had updated both men in the room with the latest movements of Tourist One and the subsequent phone calls.
‘So, Sir Ian, you believe you have these people tied down to two locations…one of them quite close to here. What now?’ asked the Prime Minister.
‘We’re happy we have at least two under control at the house in Irlam. We don’t know if there’s anyone else there, so we’re moving in closer later tonight to confirm one way or the other.’
‘What then?’ interrupted Bryant.
‘We don’t know what weaponry they have inside the house or how many to use it. Either way we need to keep them confined to that location without giving them the opportunity to blow the whistle on us to the rest of their friends, who we now think are somewhere in the apartment block not far from here.’
‘And where are we with that end of things?’ asked Brookfield.
‘As I’ve said before there may be at least three in there, Tourist One surveillance observed going in. There is an unknown woman inside, possibly Sharon Lyndsey, who buzzed Tourist One into the building and we now believe from intercepted text messages, Sean Costello as well. We’re monitoring all the phones both at Irlam and now the apartment.’
‘I think what the Prime Minister needs is some sort of end plan. Do you have one, do you have an idea of how this will end, what about the people out there who know what your team have been doing?’
There it was again, the famous Sir Martyn Bryant ass covering, thought Fraser. What are you going to do never mind what was agreed, I’m not letting you wriggle out this time, thought Fraser?
‘As you know, Prime Minister, from the very start, SG9 was set up for such a scenario and at the very start of all this they were given the heads up to track these people down and deal with them, to work ever in the shadows. Now is not the time to second guess us but to be determined in completing what we set out to do, not just for this operation but for the original idea of opposing this very kind of threat to our country and to our people. The SG9 team have completed the first part of their task by tracking these terrorists, for that’s what they are, terrorists, down to a location where, with a little more work we can finish the task. I believe we have to send a message. We have to let the people out there know we’ll protect them no matter what. The real people out there don’t care how we deal with the likes of Costello and Lyndsey as long as we protect them. Fail and they’ll crucify us. Fuck the media. A week down the road and it’s another story they’re chasing.’
He knew by mentioning the people out there that Brookfield would as a politician convert the word people to votes in his head and there was nothing the voters loved more than a strong leader.
‘Of course, Sir Ian, I totally agree so let’s get this out of the way as soon as possible. As things stand it’s going to get more coverage than my speech tomorrow. It’s just the timing and how we’re going to deal with it.’
Bryant had said nothing, just nodding his head in silent agreement.
‘Of course, Prime Minister, so if you don’t mind, I’ll get it out of the way as you put it.’ Sir Ian finished his whisky and left the room.
‘I want you to keep a close watch on things, Martyn. No mistakes and no comebacks.’
The politician was determined to cover his back.
Chapter Fifty-eight
April Grey had fallen asleep almost as soon as she sat inside the car. Cousins continued to watch the front door of the Great Northern Apartment building, he let her sleep. A few people entered and left the building but not his target. The rain had stopped, and the evening light had faded into darkness, the street lighting lit up the square and its buildings making identification of the people coming and going easier. Grey had been sleeping for an hour and a half when he saw him come out the main apartment door.
‘I have Tourist One leaving the building and turning down Watson Street.’
April Grey woke immediately as the reply came over the radio from Reece.
‘Roger, Alpha Two can you follow on foot, Alpha Three stay with the vehicle, we�
�ll come to your location.’
‘Roger, Alpha One, will do,’ replied Cousins, he was out of the car and walking at speed in the direction Tourist One had taken.
Grey watched the door of the apartments to see if anyone else was watching or looking for surveillance, there was no one.
Cousins kept fifty yards behind closing the gap when his target turned a corner out of sight only to reacquire him once more. Target One didn’t go far, he passed the front of the Hilton Hotel on Deansgate and walked towards the train station before turning left and into an Indian Restaurant, The Raj. Cousins kept the team updated with every twist and turn. Cousins passed the restaurant and saw Tourist One standing at the counter with a menu in his hand. He found a safe place across the road where he could see the front door.
‘Surely he’s not eating again?’ said Reece over the radio.
‘No, he is still standing at the counter. He may be ordering a carryout,’ replied Cousins.
‘Feeding his friends in the apartment no doubt. Stay with him Alpha Two we’ll meet with Alpha Three in the car.’
Twenty minutes later, Cousins reported Tourist One on his way back to the apartments. Reece, now sitting with Grey and Mary in the BMW watched as Tourist One pressed the door button and the apartment number he wanted to be buzzed into the building. Seconds later Joe Cousins joined the rest of the team in the car sitting in the back seat behind Reece.
‘It looks like they might be settling down for the night, so we should try to run a sleep pattern for ourselves. I’m sorry but we’re going to have to use the cars, it won’t be comfortable, but we need to stay close to the targets. Mary, I’ll drop you back at your hotel,’ said Reece.
‘I can sleep in a car.’
‘No, you need to get some sleep we need you fresh in the morning to help us spot Costello if he’s about, I’ll pick you up at six. Joe and April can stay here, Steve, you come with me. No risks, if you see anything, let everyone know.’
‘This might be a long shot, but apartment buildings of that size usually have a warden or security man. Do you think I should go and check at least if there is one, he might be able to tell us where in the building our friends might be?’ asked April Grey.
‘It’s worth a try, April, but that building has 257 apartments, I googled it, so we don’t want a panic or a situation getting out of control so tread carefully,’ replied Reece.
Reece and Steve Harrison took Mary back to her hotel in the second BMW then returned to park up at the bottom of Watson Street looking back in the direction of the Great Northern Square and in line of sight with April Grey and Joe Cousins.
‘All Alpha callsigns, this is Alpha One I’m parked up on Watson Street one hundred yards from target door. Let’s take turns, people. I’ll start for the first two hours everyone else try to get some sleep. Any luck with the enquiry, Alpha Two?’
‘No luck tonight there was a sign on the door that says someone will be available between eight and five tomorrow, so we’ll have to wait until he or she turns up.’
‘Right, let’s speak to them when they do, we could also approach the estate agents where we saw Tourist One, they should be open around nine. Or better still.’
Reece spoke into his body mike.
‘Alpha Control. Local police usually hold details of key holders in case of a fire or burglary of businesses. Can you chase it up and see if we can get some information from them on our friend Tourist One and if he got the apartment from them? They might just be able to tie it down to which one they’re in. It’s a risk as Tourist One might work for them but I don’t think so I think it’s more likely he is a client.’
‘Roger, Alpha One, will get back to you.’
‘What’s happening with the Irlam address, Alpha Control?’ asked Reece.
‘The Tango Team are moving forward around 0200 to recce the building and place a mike on the window. Depending on the results, it’s the intention to hit the targets when they leave the building and they have them under visual control.’ This time it was Jim Broad who had replied.
‘Roger that, Control, unless we get more information on which apartment they’re using, we’ll hold and observe here,’ replied Reece.
‘OK, Steve, you get some sleep if you can. This whole operation looks like it’s going to kick off soon one way or the other, I’ll give you two hours.’
‘Thanks,’ said Harrison as he pressed the recliner button for his seat and tried to get into a comfortable position. Within minutes he was asleep his breathing slow. Reece knew that Grey and Cousins would be able to do the same and would be asleep in the BMW across the square. By now the local police would be told to leave the people in the cars alone. Putting the area of the Conference and the hotel out of bounds to regular patrols wasn’t on the cards. There were too many dignitaries attending the Conference. Reece knew that when they moved on Costello and friends, they would have to be sure to wear the armbands provided by ACC Lockwood, even then they would be at risk of being mistaken for the enemy by over hyper police officers with little experience and the adrenalin rush of a gunfight going on around them. The waiting while trying to stay alert was the hardest part of surveillance but Reece knew the waiting would be over soon, so staying alert was the most important part now.
Chapter Fifty-nine
At two in the morning the night was quiet and the darkness deep except when directly under the few street lights illuminating the shadows around the Kings Road and the few streets it serviced in Irlam. The troop team had sent the van back to the Hanger at Barton to pick up a few pieces of equipment. Four SAS soldiers in full assault clothing and equipment left the back of the van and made their way to the front of the target house. Two of them took up positions at the end of the driveway at number two Henley Avenue, with their MP5 H&K rifles with suppressors fitted covering the other two soldiers who moved forward to the front downstairs window. One rifle covered the front door while the other covered the window where the two soldiers in front now approached low down and quiet. All the curtains in the house had been drawn closed and the lights in the downstairs front room were still on. The four-foot-high shrubbery and hedging gave them the cover they needed from the street. One soldier placed two sucker devices, sealing them to the glass while the other covered him with a SIG Sauer pistol. As close as they were to the window, they could hear muffled voices from inside. A dog was barking in the distance. Happy the listening device was securely stuck to the glass, both soldiers returned to the end of the short driveway and all four back to the van. The whole time they were outside and exposed was six minutes, another job well done.
Inside the van a signaller from the regiment sat facing the electronic equipment picking up the short frequency feedback from the sucker mike, now on the terrorist safe house window. He flicked a switch which would boost the signal back to the hanger where Jim Broad could listen in real time to any conversation in the downstairs area of the target house. Surprisingly, at first the voices were still muffled then after the trooper swivelled a few dials on the equipment the voices came through clearly.
‘Imtaz, hold the camera steady, that’s it. I make this statement because I’m willing to die in the great battle against the enemy of Islam and Allah, blessings be upon him. I accept this task and will fulfil my destiny. The Great Satan America and her little Satan Britain, will be punished for their failure to acknowledge the one true faith and for the murder of the followers of that faith, this is why they must be punished. Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar.’
‘Allahu akbar,’ a new voice said.
The recording equipment in the troop van had picked up the whole conversation. Jim Broad realised he’d been holding his breath throughout the short clip of conversation. What he’d just heard only confirmed everything he already knew about the type of people he’d been dealing with they couldn’t let them leave the house, a suicide bomber let loose on a public street didn’t bear thinking about.
The voice that had given his statement of pre
paration for death spoke again.
‘Now, brother, let us get some rest, our battle with the infidel begins in the morning.’
‘Allah be praised, brother.’
‘That’s the downstairs lights out and a light coming on in the front upstairs,’ reported a trooper who had eyes on the front of the building.
‘Tango One, can you come back to control, we need to discuss an assault on the house tonight,’ said Broad.
‘Roger, Alpha Control, I’m on my way. I’ve ordered daylight aerial photos of the target house they should be there now can you have them available when we get back?’
‘They are here, and we’ve uploaded them onto the big screen.’
‘Roger that, I’m on my way.’
Jim Broad phoned Reece and brought him up to date with the details of the conversation. Reece answered the call on the second buzz of his phone which had been on silent but sitting on the dash the light had lit up the car interior. His Casio watch said it was 0230.
‘So, what happens now, boss?’
‘What we’ve heard, means they’ve forced our hand. We can’t let them get out of that house to mingle with the public and we can’t have a standoff situation lasting who knows how long before the press gets on to it and help tip off their friends. In that scenario they could also phone the others tipping them off. I intend sending in a troop assault team on the house about 6 a.m. to take them out of the picture, from what we’ve heard and from what we know this is not going to end well for us unless we take the upper hand now.’
‘I agree, boss, when you go in let me know. We will be ready for any movement here; these people need to be stopped whatever it takes. We also need the caretaker here right now. I need to talk to him and find out who we have here, there’s at least three in there so we might need backup ourselves when we move on them. I’m sending you the number displayed on the building’s door as the emergency contact number so you should be able to track him down.’
