Light of the Sun: They always make a mistake and when they do, we kill them...

by David Costa

  It was after ten when she left the hotel and pressed the number on speed dial for Ari. After a few rings he answered.

  ‘Hello’

  ‘Ari, I’ve just left our friend. I know it’s late, but I think we should meet tonight.’

  ‘I can be at the apartment in an hour.’

  ‘Great see you there.’

  Chapter 27

  Alpha One had signed off for the night and Reece, after checking that there were no updates, returned to his hotel room where he cleaned up, changed his clothes, and headed down to the hotel bar. He sat on one of the stools at the bar and ordered a Bloody Mary. When he tasted it, he realised it wasn’t as good as the last one he had drunk in Malta. Just then he saw his Malta drinking companion walk into the bar and walking closely behind was Geoff Middleton. Did they come together or just happen to arrive at the same time? Reece thought.

  ‘I see you’re having our drink,’ said Anna.

  She was wearing a tight-fitting white trouser suit and Reece thought she must have her gun in her purse as she couldn’t hide anything in the suit.

  ‘Hi David, what are you having?’ asked Middleton.

  ‘I’m OK. You two go ahead. I’ve booked us a table for eight.’

  ‘Let’s share a bottle of wine,’ said Anna.

  Middleton looked at the wine list then spoke to the barman.

  ‘A bottle of Lindeman’s Bin 65 Chardonnay please and two glasses.’

  ‘Good choice,’ said Anna smiling back at Middleton.

  ‘Unfortunately, this will be about all we will be able to drink tonight and possibly until this bloody thing is over,’ said Reece.

  The dining room was busy, but their table was near the window overlooking the city and in one of the few quieter places in the room. It was obvious to Reece that his two dining companions had been speaking earlier. There were no personal questions. Are you married? Is there anyone else in your life? Where do you live? The kind of questions two people who are getting to know each other ask. Instead, they’d moved to the next phase. What do you like to do when you’re not working? What are your likes and dislikes? Where do you like to go to get away from it all? Reece now knew what Harrison meant earlier in the day when he said he had felt like a gooseberry. When the time came to order dessert, Reece asked for the cheese and biscuits with a small glass of Taylors vintage port. Middleton said the same but Anna who asked for Cointreau with ice.

  ‘Any news or updates?’ asked Middleton.

  ‘Nothing new on our side,’ said Reece. ‘The plan stays the same. There will be people out all night in the two-mile area we think, or should I say, hope they’re in. We are back on the ground from 7am.’

  ‘Nothing new from my side. All our people across the globe and here in London are working to find answers.’

  ‘What if we don’t find them? What happens if they get through?’ asked Middleton.

  ‘I don’t want to think about that. You remember when we were in Ireland, Geoff? We worked night and day to stop attacks. The public didn’t appreciate that we stopped nine out of every ten terrorist attacks. People only remember the ones that got through, the ones that took lives and devastated communities. We don’t have the comfort of worry. We need to do our best and I’m sure if we do, we can stop these bastards.’

  ‘Amen to that,’ said Middleton.

  ‘We have been stopping these bastards as you put it David for a lot longer than any of you. When they do get through the blowback is way above our paygrade,’ said Anna.

  ‘It’s not only a time for good soldiers but good leaders as well,’ Middleton replied.

  ‘I don’t like politicians at the best of times, but I have to say Brookfield is one of the strongest Prime Ministers we’ve had in a long while. I saw how he worked in Manchester up close. Even though he knew there was a terrorist hit squad out to assassinate him, he still went about his normal business and let us get on with our job, giving us the OK to take them out when we found them.’ said Reece.

  ‘It’s always been my experience that politicians look for a way out to blame someone when things go wrong,’ commented Middleton.

  Reece raised his glass.

  ‘Well, when I finish this port and cheese I’m off to bed. Early start in the morning provided nothing happens tonight.’

  ‘Don’t forget to call Mary before you go to bed.’ Anna said.

  ‘of course, she would never forgive me if I didn’t say good night.’

  Reece left the two diners alone and headed to his room. As promised, he called Mary to say goodnight. She told Reece her mother had come through the operation and was resting well.

  ‘How was your day, Joseph?’

  ‘Busy. I just had dinner with Anna and Geoff Middleton. Do you remember him from Manchester?’

  ‘Yes, I think so, the SAS Captain?’

  ‘Yes, that’s the guy. I think him and Anna are getting on very well if you know what I mean?’

  ‘If I know you, you’re not happy about that, you’re too much of a professional.’

  ‘I know they are too, or I would have to remind them we have important work to do.’

  ‘That sounds more like the Joseph I know. I’m tired my darling, so I think I’ll hit the pillow. You do the same, by the sound of things you have a busy day tomorrow.’

  ‘You’re right, and that’s exactly where I’m heading. All being well tomorrow, I should still be OK for Saturday in Belfast.’

  ‘I’m looking forward to it and you can meet my mother. Good night. I love you.’

  ‘Good night, Mary, sweet dreams I love you too. I’ll try to call or text you tomorrow if I’m not too busy and you’re not in the hospital quiet zone.’

  He poured himself a small glass of Bushmills taking a few sips while looking out the window across the city. He thought about Mary and then his enemy across the river somewhere on the other side of the city. He was glad Mary was safe and far enough away to make his job that bit easier not having to worry about her.

  Reece felt warm and decided to lie on top of the bed. Following old and trusted habits he placed his gun within reach on the bedside cabinet. He closed his eyes for what only seemed minutes when his phone, which he had plugged into a charger, started to buzz loud enough to wake him. Looking at his watch he could see it was only 2 am and he had been sleeping for two hours. Lifting the phone, he could see the name Broad on the screen. And he pressed the button to answer.

  ‘What’s up, Boss? I hope it’s good news. I was having a beautiful dream.’

  ‘Sorry to interrupt your dream but we aren’t getting any sleep here. We have just been given some new information I think you need to know.’

  Reece didn’t know whether it was the warmth in the room or being awakened in the dark, but he could feel small beads of sweat rolling down his back and his forehead.

  ‘Is it good information or bad?’

  ‘Why don’t you come here and see for yourself I’m in the Ops room.’

  Reece took another look at his watch.

  ‘I can be there in twenty minutes.’

  ‘Try and make it fifteen.’

  What the hell’s going on, thought Reece, as he began dressing. No one likes to be rudely awakened and Reece knew from experience such awakenings were not only rude but not welcome usually bringing bad news. No matter how fast he moved it was seventeen minutes later when he walked into the operation room at MI6. He was surprised to see Kurt Shimon sitting at a table beside Jim Broad.

  ‘What brings us here at this time of night?’ asked Reece, sitting down opposite them.

  The two men looked at each other then back at Reece before Broad spoke.

  ‘I won’t say I’m sorry to get you out of bed David, but if I have to be up at this time of the day then so do my people.’

  ‘You know me Boss, you say jump and I say how high.’ Reece smiled.

  ‘Thanks for jumping. Kurt has some new information which you need to hear, I’ll let him explain.’

  K
urt Shimon pulled out a small notebook from his inside jacket pocket and started to read from it looking up at Reece as he spoke.

  ‘As you might expect, like your Security Services, we have operatives all over the world especially in the major capital cities. This is not just for the benefit of Israel but also for our friends and allies in the war on terrorism.’

  That’s the politics out of the way, thought Reece, as he listened without commenting.

  ‘One of our operatives has been working with a casual contact to obtain information from one of Iran’s diplomats who works in their Embassy here in London. Late last night our contact was able to pass on something that the Iranian said. The contact thought the comment odd enough to pass on, and we think the same. The Iranian commented that your financial services might suffer a problem tomorrow. Our contact had been asking about investing in the stock market. On its own it could mean several things, even something as small as insider trading or a market slump concerning oil prices. But when we think that we are expecting the terrorists to attempt some sort of attack tomorrow it started me thinking and I contacted Sir Ian and Jim.’

  Again, Reece kept quiet looking across at Broad as he felt there was more to come.

  ‘Kurt contacted me just after midnight at just about the same time I received a call from the director at GCHQ. As you know they’ve been monitoring everything, and they found a text message that was sent from the Arab’s mobile earlier. With the help of our friends in the NSA, we were able to clarify the message around the same time as Kurt contacted me, so I asked him here and then called you to join us.’

  Broad pushed a piece of paper across the table on it he could see two lines of type.

  ‘Light of the Sun, Tomorrow Friday, Allah Akbar.’

  ‘Interesting. You are sure this was the Arab?’ asked Reece.

  ‘GCHQ are happy it was the same phone we identified earlier.’

  Reece read the words once more.

  ‘Were they able to say where he is?’

  ‘Unfortunately, no, because the phone was switched off immediately afterwards, but they did confirm from what they were able to get that he’s somewhere in the two-mile radius we are covering. At least it confirms our theory, and we will continue with our main efforts there.’

  ‘Was your GCHQ or the NSA able to identify who he sent the message to?’ asked Kurt before Reece did.

  ‘Now that’s where it gets interesting. The person at the other end of the text was none other than our Quads General Malek Hasheem Khomeini. Even though his phone is encrypted we can decipher the message.’

  ‘Ah, more confirmation we are on the right track and looking for the right people. I’ll contact Tel Aviv tonight and tell them to listen out for anything coming out of Iran. We have found in the past when these terrorist operations take place, we can expect a build-up of chatter to all their Arab friends to expect news from their Jihad friends.’

  ‘Thank you, Kurt, between our people and the Americans, I’m sure we can point the finger in the right direction when this is over,’ replied Broad.

  ‘How are things out there right now?’ asked Reece.

  ‘As you can see it’s quiet. We have updated everyone relevant with the information that our terrorist friends are still in that area and we believe the attack will be tomorrow. The police are going to hit the Mosque in the morning before Friday prayers. They want to be in and out before people start to gather so they’ll go in at six. At the same time, they will hit the Imam’s house and other suspect’s houses.’

  ‘I don’t think they’ll find much,’ said Reece.

  ‘Neither do I, but the powers that be want to send a message. If not to the Jihadis in our midst, then to the ones involved in this operation, in the hope it will scare them off, at least until we get more concrete information,’ replied Broad.

  ‘I know these people. They have come this far. They won’t wait or run, they’re here, and they’ll complete the job or die trying,’ said Shimon.

  The phone on the main Ops desk began to ring and one of the two desk officers answered it before looking across at the three men and replying, ‘Yes sir he’s here. Mister Broad it’s ‘C’ for you,’ holding out the phone.

  Broad crossed the room and took the phone and listened. As Reece and Shimon watched Broad’s expression gave nothing away.

  ‘Understood, Sir.’ said Broad before putting the phone down and crossing the room to sit down at the table, joining the two men once more. They waited for him to speak. He was working out what to say and from his expression they knew the news wasn’t good.

  ‘As you will have gathered that call was from ‘C’. When we spread the latest intelligence and all the other agencies were updated, he was contacted by both the Met Commissioner and Sir Martin Bryant who informed him that the Princess Royal is expected to open a new banking firm in the financial district of Canary Wharf today at 3 pm’

  Broad waited for both men to take in what he had just told them.

  ‘That’s all we bloody need, a blue blood in the middle of everything. Can we stop her from being there?’ asked Reece.

  ‘Apparently the PM has already asked the Palace that same question. This is a new office in the city of the Bank of South Africa. The South African ambassador and a lot of high-ranking businesspeople will be there, and it’s been arranged for some months. The Palace have refused to alter their plans, so yes, we have the added problem of the daughter of our Queen right in the middle of where our terrorist friends might be going.’

  ‘Finding these people before they get there is more important than ever. I presume the Princess will have her own security?’ asked Shimon.

  ‘Correct, all the usual diplomatic protection. And Canary Wharf comes under the jurisdiction of the City of London police. It’s my understanding they will all be briefed by the Met Commissioner and MI5 that there is an increased threat and that several security agencies will also be operating in the area. It’s not unusual and something they’ve seen in the past, and they’re happy they can work around it,’ replied Broad.

  ‘Have they been told it might be a dirty bomb?’ asked Reece.

  ‘No, that part they won’t be told. With too many people knowing the full story, the worry is that someone will leak it to the press and all sorts of panic would ensue. The Home Secretary has increased the threat level so that’s all they need to know for now.’

  Reece looked across at the two men before speaking again.

  ‘Realistically nothing has changed for us. The object of our task is still the same; find these people before they get to their target and stop them. With the added outside security for the Princess we need to ensure their people wear their identification such as the baseball caps and arm bands, we don’t want people getting in each other’s way. Our surveillance teams need to be aware of the Canary Wharf and especially the area that will be covered by the Princess’s visit.’

  ‘Agreed David. We will keep the night people out on the ground and have the day teams here for 7 a.m. for a full update and briefing.’

  Reece looked at his watch.

  ‘It’s 03.30 so I’m off back to my hotel to try to catch a few hours’ sleep. Can you organise a small A4 paper for the morning showing where the Princess will be with times and call signs for her protection? You could also give us a map of the area.’