by David Costa
‘I’ll do the same if you’re ever in London.’
‘It’s a deal. You never know, what happens here might see us both in London and Jerusalem sooner than we think.’
Inside the hotel, Reece had continued to watch the men over Anna’s shoulder. He noticed they were getting more agitated, looking at their watches talking quickly to each other. The one in the leather coat had got up and walked back and forth while at the same time looking up at the lights on the lift numbers and then the stairs for movement. They had been there for almost two hours.
‘I hate this waiting for something to happen,’ said Anna.
‘Especially when we can’t drink real alcohol. We will give it another thirty minutes then we can swap places with the guys at the café. These two are beginning to look like cats on a hot tin roof,’ said Reece.
‘They must be like us. Starting to wonder what is taking so long. It’s a waiting game for everyone but I think a change of scenery for us is a good idea.’
‘I’ll take a quick trip to the steps outside and let the boys know what we’re thinking can you cover here?’ asked Anna.
‘Yes, no problem but avoid eye contact when you walk by them.’
‘Of course, darling, I don’t want to make you jealous.’
‘I’m not worried about me, it’s them I don’t want getting ideas,’ smiled Reece.
True to her word Anna walked straight past the two men without looking in their direction. Reece noticed the two men paid no attention to the woman but continued in close conversation with each other still looking at their watches and then at the stairs where they last saw their boss two hours ago. From years of interviewing terrorists across a desk Reece could see from the men’s body language they were planning to do something soon.
Anna had returned and sat in front of Reece once more when the men made their move.
‘I don’t think we will have to wait much longer. Our friend in the leather coat just went up the stairs and his buddy is standing by the front door,’ said Reece.
Anna spoke quietly into her mic to update Palo and Simons.
Ten minutes later Reece watched as leather coat came back down the stairs and whispered to his partner to which his partner asked a question. Leather coat shook his head in the negative. Both men then went up the stairs together. Although they did not seem to be in a hurry or panic Reece could see the concern on both their faces.
‘Somethings wrong. They don’t seem happy. I’ll follow them you stay here. They have seen you twice and we’ve been sitting here for some time. If they spot me, they might think we are residents, but I think it’s time to get a little closer. Tell Palo and Matthew to take up position outside and be ready for action if we need it.’
‘OK David but take care. Our handover friend might not be here yet and that’s causing them confusion.’
Reece passed the reception desk and noticing there was a young girl behind the desk he turned left, taking the stairs two at a time. Each floor of the hotel had closed glass fire doors giving a view of the long corridor leading to the suites. Reece could see the first floor was empty as he reached the second, he could hear loud knocking. Slowing down he took care to look through the glass doors in time to see both the Arab bodyguards shoulder charge the door which on the third charge they broke through. Reece turned and made his way back down to sit beside Anna, who had now turned her chair to face the reception area.
‘I think we may have a problem,’ said Reece.
‘What’s happening?’
‘Our friends had to break down a door to a suite on the second floor. They are in there now so I think we will be seeing them soon with or without their boss.’
Twenty minutes later his prediction came true. Both bodyguards came back down the stairs this time a little faster than when they went up and left the hotel.
‘Alpha Two and Alpha Four try to follow our two friends and see where they go. We are checking up on their boss,’ said Reece into his mic.
‘Roger that,’ replied Palo, ‘we have them, they seem to be heading back the way they came.’
‘Anna, you stay here and cover my back if anyone else goes up the stairs ‘
‘What are you going to do?’
‘We have to know what’s going on up there. The way those two left tells me there is something wrong. We need to act now.’
‘Just so you know: I hear anything that sounds like trouble, I’m coming up gun blazing.’
‘Just make sure you’re aiming at the bad guys,’ smiled Reece.
Reece passed the reception desk which was empty again and took the stairs two at a time once more. He had noticed there only seemed to be one CCTV camera and that was facing the reception desk. There didn’t appear to be any on the stairs or in the corridors leading to the suites. Reaching the empty second floor, Reece walked slowly until he was standing outside the door to suite number five. He had intended to listen at the door, but he could see that despite the DO NOT DISTURB sign which still hung from the handle, the door frame was splintered, and the damaged lock set back from the closed position leaving the door slightly open. Reece pulled out the Smith and Wesson and gently pushing the door with the barrel, he slipped off the safety catch, ready to fire quickly if he needed to.
The lights were on and, with the gun in the fire v shaped position, with his arms straight he swept from left to right and focused on what he could now see was the body of Shafi lying face up on the bed. He didn’t need to check if he was dead. Shafi’s eyes were open looking at the ceiling and it was clear that a bullet had passed through the centre of his head, just above them. The bathroom, like the bedroom was clear.
Looking around he could see the bloody pillow with the scorched hole lying on the floor. He searched the pockets, and checked drawers and the room, making sure to leave no prints, he used his handkerchief to touch the surfaces. There was nothing to find or any more to be gained by staying and he returned to the bar where Anna watched him as he sat at the table her expression full of questions.
‘We need to move. I’ll explain as we go,’ said Reece standing.
Outside the hotel Reece told Anna what he had found, and he passed on the information to Palo and Matthew as they walked back towards the harbour.
‘What the fuck’s going on here? I don’t believe the bodyguards killed him. That’s probably why they left so quickly. They need to get back to the ship and report home.’
‘I agree,’ said Anna, what do you think happened?’
‘If the bodyguards didn’t do, it then it could only have been the courier he was supposed to meet. I can tell you this, whoever did it was a professional, someone with training. And whoever they were, they were gone before the bodyguards broke into the room.’
‘Then who?’
‘I saw a woman leave the hotel. She was limping slightly and wore a scarf. She passed by the bodyguards without looking at them which, now that I think about it; is exactly what we would have done in her place.’
‘Again, I ask if she was the contact why kill him?’
‘I think that’s a question for people on a bigger paygrade than us,’ said Reece.
Reece spoke into his radio.
‘Alpha Four, did you see the woman who came out of the hotel before the bodyguards left?’
‘Yes,’ replied Simons. ‘She passed us on the other side of the street and got into a taxi.’
‘Alfa Three?’ It was Matthew Simons again.
‘Go ahead, Alfa Four,’ replied Reece.
‘Our two friends are back on-board ship.’
‘Roger that. Both of you go back to the apartment we will meet you there.’
‘So, we go back to the apartment for a catch-up?’ Said Anna.
‘We need to contact our bosses, tell them what’s happened and what we think needs to be done next.’
Chapter 17
Two hours later the four agents had gone over the operation so far and Anna and Reece had both updated their bosses. In the case o
f Anna to the Director of the Mossad Kidon Units Kurt Shimon in Tel Aviv and for Reece it was Jim Broad, Director of Operations SG9 in London. Both agents had spoken to their relevant bosses in separate rooms away from the hearing of the others.
‘How did it go for you?’ Reece asked Anna when she came back into the front room.
‘Not bad, he seemed to take it very well. Then I don’t think anyone can read Kurt Shimon when he’s about to blow his top. How was it for you?’
‘Jim Broad is going to get ‘C’ to phone the British High Commissioner to ask him to discreetly find out what the Malta Police find out. If I know anything, someone with a name like Julian Richardson Smith does not do discreet; they’re more like a bull in a China shop but will always make sure to protect their asses making sure the shit falls on someone else.’
‘I presume when your boss uses the Old Boys’ network, they make sure this Julian won’t know about us?’
‘Correct. We disappear into the sunset or sunrise, as it will be coming up next. In the meantime, I think our bodyguard friends will stay on that ship awaiting instructions from Tehran. We also must assume that our lady friend who left the hotel and took the taxi is our courier and killer and headed straight for the airport. Why she killed him we have yet to discover. The last we saw her was over four hours ago so if flights were on time and I’ve checked on flights out of Malta dot com they are, then she could already be in London. Our technical people at GCHQ in Cheltenham are checking CCTV and manifests for passengers leaving Malta and landing in London for that timeframe. My boss wants me back in London as soon as possible. Matthew is to stay here and keep an eye on our friends on the ship and if necessary be available to link up with the High Commissioner and local security forces.’
‘My boss told me I have to stay with you, so it looks like I’m going to London. Palo will stay here with Matthew as back-up.’
Matthew Simons, who had been watching the people coming and going through the harbour and on the ship through the binoculars, raised his hand in acknowledgement. Palo, who had been listening into the conversation, nodded in agreement. The lights in the room had been dulled to reduce Simon’s silhouette at the window making the room seem secretive to the conversation it could hear, if, rooms heard secrets.
‘I’ve been thinking about how the woman walked to the taxi,’ said Palo, ‘She seemed to be limping or had some form of stiffness in her leg. Do you suppose she had the walking stick down her trouser leg?’
‘That’s a good bet, especially if she’s the courier and assassin. I saw no sign of the stick when I was in the hotel suite,’ said Reece.
‘But you did see Shafi with his face blown away,’ said Matthew.
‘Yes, and we still don’t know why and that’s the problem. There’s something else going on here that we don’t know about. Maybe we will know more when we get to London. There is plenty of stuff in the fridge, so I suggest you take turns at the window while the other gets some rest. Anna and I will take the car back to her hotel and my house to pick up our bags and on the way, I’ll get London to book us on the first flight out. They probably won’t notice they have a dead body in suite five until the morning cleaning. I left the DO NOT DISTURB sign on the door and closed it the best I could when I left. Matthew if that ship sails with our two friends on it, let our people know then act on their instructions.’
Reece and Anna left collecting her bag from her hotel room then Reece brought them to his villa at Saint Paul’s Bay. Mary was still up and after introductions Reece left Mary and Anna to get to know each other when he went for a quick shower.
Within a short time, Mary realised she liked this woman and had nothing to fear when it came to Reece. Anna told her of her life in Israel and how she loved her country without adding anything about her work for Mossad. She spoke more like a travel agent making Mary respond by telling her of her own home country in Ireland. Mary made a pot of coffee, and they were just sitting down to a cup when Reece returned from his shower. He was carrying a small rucksack which Mary recognised as his quick travel bag for travel at short notice.
‘Only time for a quick coffee I’m afraid. I’ve booked us out of Malta on the last flight tonight. It’s going to Paris, but we can jump on the Eurostar which will get us into London for six tomorrow morning. The first direct flight to London from Malta doesn’t leave until ten thirty in the morning and I thought this will help us get ahead of the game. A game we are already behind on.’
Reece could see by the expression on her face Mary wasn’t happy. Anna could also see Mary’s face and excused herself for the bathroom.
‘Mary, you know I don’t want to involve you in this. I don’t want to leave you here, but you know the business I’m in and I can only tell you it’s not going too well now and that’s why we need to get to London as soon as possible. I want you to stay here and wait for Matthew who will need to pick up his stuff. If he needs to fly back to London, why don’t you jump on the same flight, and we can spend some time in Belfast when this is over. You’re always saying you want to catch-up with your mother.’
This seemed to pacify Mary, she nodded and smiled.
‘Good save, I would love that. You know I worry because I love you, so wherever you are and whatever you’re doing it’s important you stay safe for me.’
Anna who had caught the last bit of the conversation when she walked back into the room, said nothing but smiled at seeing the concern Reece had for the woman he loved.
‘Mary, the flight leaves just after 1 am so we will need you to drop us off at the airport. I love you too and don’t worry I intend to stay safe.’
‘No problem, I’ll get my coat.’
Chapter 18
The flight from Malta landed in London just after midnight and as she didn’t have to wait on any hold luggage Yasmin found no obstruction going through the Terminal building. Following the lanes marked Arrivals EU she soon found herself passing through passport control where the officer behind the desk paid no special attention other than looking at her walking stick as she limped through. Outside the arrivals building she got into a black cab; the kind well known in London. She asked the driver to drop her off at the bottom of Edgware Road across from Hyde Park. When she’d sent the Teacher a text that she’d arrived, he had replied with the address she was going to. When she’d been with him at his villa in Iran, he had told her to get dropped off at the end of the road or street she was travelling to, and never to give the driver the exact address or to be dropped off outside. She was then to walk to the address looking for security forces who might be observing her or the address. In the taxi she soon relaxed in the seat, noticing two things, the large number of similar taxis leaving the airport and the drop in temperature which was a lot colder than the air in Malta. Forty minutes later she was knocking on the door of the apartment on Edgware Road, which was quickly opened by Hassan.
‘Good evening,’ said Hassan speaking in English as they’d been told by the Teacher.
‘Good night I think at this time of the day,’ replied Yasmin smiling.
Both embraced as if they’d not seen each other for years. Anyone watching at this time of night would think that they were friends or lovers. Hassan closed the door, took the rucksack off Yasmin’s back and led her up a flight of stairs to the first floor above the barber shop and the street.
He pointed to a door on the right down a long corridor, which had stairs on the left leading up to what could only be another floor in the apartment. ‘The Teacher is waiting for you through that door.’ Yasmin walked to the door still in limping mode with the walking stick in her right hand. The room was well lit, bright with a set of wall lights and a ceiling light all switched on. The Teacher sat in a large soft chair facing the door with his back to the window that looked out onto Edgware Road, if the curtains were open.
‘My child it is wonderful to see you once more,’ said the Arab standing to greet her with a hug and kissing her on each side of her face. ‘How was your jou
rney? Tell me everything while Hassan makes us some tea.’
For the next hour during which Hassan joined them Yasmin told the Arab everything that had happened to her on her journey from Iran through Malta and then on to London. He made her go over her meeting and killing of Shafi three times, taking the walking stick from her as she spoke. Screwing the top of the stick clockwise he took off the knob and turning it upside down he let the contents, three long sticks covered in a thick plastic type of material slide out onto the couch. The Arab, satisfied, put on a pair of surgical gloves and slid the black sticks back into the walking stick screwing the knob back on. He took off the gloves and placed them in the bin in the kitchen.
‘Do you think the bodyguards will remember you?’ asked the Arab.
‘No, I had my scarf pulled up and walked straight past them without eye contact.’
‘Did you see or suspect anyone else on your journey?’
‘No, I saw no one or suspected anything unusual.’
This satisfied the Arab as he stood once more. ‘You will be tired. Both of you have done well and the first part of your mission has now been completed. You will both be staying here for the rest of the plan. I will be staying elsewhere, and you do not need to know where that is, it is not important. I’ll return tomorrow morning and we will discuss the next part of our plan. In the meantime, rest, keep the walking stick here and you will know more tomorrow. In the morning make sure you pray to Allah that he will bless our mission.’
The flight to Paris and the train journey into London had gone well arriving on time at St Pancras just after 6 a.m. Reece had received a text from Jim Broad telling him that he should bring Anna to the MI6 HQ at Vauxhall Bridge for a 1 p.m. debrief and meeting. For now, he had booked them into apartments in Pimlico where they should get some rest. The Churchill Serviced Apartments in Pimlico were just as it said on the tin as far as Security Service Personnel staying and working in London were concerned. The stylish apartments were watched over by several ex-military personnel to ensure safety for the people using them. The smartly dressed concierge reminded Reece of a para regimental sergeant major he once knew in his days fighting the terrorist war in Northern Ireland. Built like a brick wall Reece was sure he could still jump out of a plane and hit the ground running if he had too.
