Assassins

by Jim Eldridge

  ‘Then I would suggest a joint enterprise,’ said Sir Jocelyn. ‘Special Branch to ensure security at the Marconi factory, while Chief Inspector Stark and his team protect the King on his journey to the factory, and offer additional protection during his visit. After all,’ he added, his voice adopting a very serious tone, ‘if Chief Inspector Stark is right, there is the serious possibility of attacks by these assassins, and they could happen very soon. The whole Cabinet could be killed. Who is to say these men would stop at using firearms. There are many men who returned from the war who are experts in explosives.’

  A silence descended on those around the table as the implication sank in. Bombs and guns used by experts. The destruction of the Cabinet, of leading military figures, top industrialists. The destruction of the structure of British society.

  ‘But why wireless?’ burst out a brigadier plaintively, obviously still unhappy at the idea of this technology being used for anything other than military purposes. ‘If we’re going to put something in the newspapers about it, why not leave it at that! More people read the newspapers than will ever listen to the wireless! There aren’t enough domestic receivers in this country for lots of people to be able to hear to it!’

  ‘Because I believe actually hearing the King’s voice saying the words would have much more impact,’ said Stark. ‘It’s real; they would be hearing it.’

  ‘And if the brigadier would permit me to take issue with his view on the numbers who will listen, at the time of the Melba broadcast, people went to houses of their friends and neighbours to hear it,’ said Sir Jocelyn. ‘I believe the same will happen here.’

  ‘Thank you, Sir Jocelyn,’ said Shortt. ‘I propose we vote on the issue. If we could have a show of hands on the proposal. Those in favour?’

  Churchill’s and Sir Jocelyn’s hands went up first, followed by Stark’s. A brief hesitation, then more hands rose to signal assent. Stark did a quick calculation: more than half of those around the table had voted in favour.

  ‘Those against?’ asked Shortt.

  Burns, Rogers, a field marshal, a brigadier and two of the civil servants raised their hands.

  ‘Abstentions?’

  Two.

  ‘The motion is carried,’ said Shortt. ‘I will contact the King to ask him if he agrees with the proposal. And, in view of the urgency expressed, I will do that immediately this meeting finishes and try to arrange the broadcast for tomorrow.’

  FORTY-TWO

  As the meeting finished and people began to drift away, Stark made a point of seeking out the civil servant who’d supported the use of wireless.

  ‘Sir Jocelyn,’ he said, ‘I just wish to thank you for speaking up the way you did. I have no doubt that, without your intervention, my proposal would have been dismissed.’

  Sir Jocelyn nodded. ‘And I, in turn, wish to thank you, Chief Inspector, for making the proposal. This country spends too much time looking backwards instead of forward. Wireless is the future. I see the day when a wireless broadcast in one country will be heard across the world.’ His eyes glinted. ‘Think of the power! Propaganda! Wars will be won without a shot being fired, just by the power of a wireless broadcast!’ He gave a slight bow, and left to hurry after the departing Home Secretary.

  ‘Good work, Stark,’ Churchill muttered in a low growl, coming to stand beside him. ‘The King will agree, I’m sure of it. And it’ll be up to you to keep him safe. If I were you, I’d start to put together your team of bodyguards in readiness. Men you can trust. The country is depending on you.’

  Stark walked into the office and saw that the piles of paper on the desk had increased enormously. ‘More information?’ he asked.

  ‘Tons of it, sir,’ said Danvers. ‘Some useless, some good. Every piece with a name and address attached. Everyone’s hoping to lay their hands on the rewards. How did the conference go?’

  ‘If my proposal is accepted by the King, we have an important task ahead of us.’

  Danvers looked at him, a bewildered expression on his face. ‘The King, sir? King George V?’

  ‘How many other kings do you know, Sergeant?’

  ‘Yes, sir, but …’ He looked nonplussed. ‘If he accepts what, sir? What proposal?’

  Stark briefed him on the events at the conference and the proposal for the wireless broadcast. ‘The meeting approved it, but we have to see if the King agrees.’

  ‘It’s asking a bit much, sir,’ said Danvers doubtfully. ‘I mean … the King! And wireless is not exactly … well, I heard that Melba broadcast last year, and it was a bit scratchy. Difficult to listen to.’

  ‘I’m sure the technology will have improved since last year. And, if the King agrees, people will tune in because it’s not been done before,’ said Stark. ‘We have to make preparations on the basis that the King will agree. You and I have been authorized to act as the King’s bodyguards for his visit to the Marconi factory at Chelmsford.’

  ‘Us, sir!’ Danvers’ expression showed that he was obviously delighted, but then his face clouded. ‘What about Special Branch? Won’t that put their nose out of joint?’

  ‘Very much, but a compromise was suggested, which they will be forced to accept, however reluctantly. We look after the King on the journey to Chelmsford; Special Branch are responsible for security at the factory.’

  ‘They’ll need to be on top of it, sir,’ said Danvers.

  The note of serious concern in the sergeant’s voice made Stark frown. ‘In what way? Why?’

  Danvers sifted through the pieces of paper in one of the piles, then found the one he was looking for.

  ‘Daniel Harker. Served in the Royal Engineers during the war. Part of the team that blew up the mines of Messines.’ He looked at Stark. ‘He was a demolition expert, sir. The mines of Messines …’

  ‘Six hundred tons of explosives,’ nodded Stark. ‘Ten thousand Germans killed in that one blast.’ He winced as if in pain. ‘My God! And I’ve told them to put out advance notice of the broadcast in the newspapers!’ He grabbed the telephone. ‘I have to stop them talking to the King.’

  ‘Switchboard,’ said the voice of the operator.

  ‘DCI Stark,’ said Stark. ‘Can you find the number for the Home Secretary’s office. Edward Shortt. I need to speak to his personal private secretary. Urgently.’

  ‘I’ll call you back,’ said the operator crisply.

  Stark hung up. ‘Why didn’t Special Branch say anything at the meeting!’ he exploded angrily. ‘They must have known his background! An explosives expert! In a factory like Marconi’s, with all that wiring everywhere and all those machines, it’ll be easy for him to plant a bomb!’ He looked at the telephone, willing it to ring.

  ‘By the way, sir, I called a few people about this Christopher Richards, and spoke to someone who knows the family quite well. His older brother, Gerald—’

  ‘A war hero. Died at the Somme. Younger son, Eric, came home from the war an invalid,’ interrupted Stark. ‘I was told so at the meeting by someone who was keen to protect the good name of the Hinshelwood family.’

  ‘Did they tell you that Christopher was expelled from Eton?’

  Stark shook his head. ‘No,’ he said.

  ‘Nor that he was suspected of poisoning the family’s dogs when he was a teenager?’

  Again, Stark said, ‘No.’

  Danvers looked at his notes. ‘There’s an awful lot about him. Manipulative. A cheat. A liar. And a bit of a heartbreaker. At least two young women are said to have had illegitimate children by him and then just been abandoned. He’s also described as charming, persuasive … all that sort of thing.’

  ‘I get the picture, Sergeant. Have we got anything on Naomi Pike?’

  Once more, Danvers sorted through the pieces of paper on his desk. ‘Twenty-one years old. It seems she was originally from Derbyshire, one of a family of six, with four brothers and a sister. Her father was a coal miner who was also active in the trade union. He was killed in an explosion at the pit tw
o years ago when she was nineteen. Ten other miners also died in the accident. She got into trouble for writing letters to the owners of the mine accusing them of being responsible for her father’s death. The owners of the mine threatened to have her jailed.’

  ‘On what charge?’

  ‘Threatening behaviour, according to this report. The mine owners had the backing of the local police and the magistrates.’

  ‘There’s a surprise,’ murmured Stark sarcastically.

  ‘It seems that made her decide to come to London. She joined the Communist Party and started work there, and has been working for them ever since.’

  ‘And at some time she met Christopher Leyton-Richards, and he must have persuaded her that the only way to get social change is by violent revolution,’ said Stark bitterly. The phone rang, and Stark snatched up the receiver. ‘DCI Stark.’

  ‘I have your call for you, Chief Inspector. Sir Jocelyn Stevens is on the line.’

  There was a click, then the voice of Sir Jocelyn said, ‘Stark. I was about to call you. The Home Secretary has received confirmation from the Palace that His Majesty will undertake the broadcast tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s just it, Sir Jocelyn!’ said Stark agitatedly. ‘We have to cancel it.’

  ‘Cancel it?’

  ‘We’ve just discovered that one of the suspects, Daniel Harker, is an explosives expert. He was part of the team that carried out the explosion of the mines at Messines. I have no doubt that the Hand of Justice will try to blow up the King at Chelmsford.’

  There was a pause, then Sir Jocelyn said curtly, ‘Then you’d better make sure that doesn’t happen.’

  ‘But, sir—’ began Stark desperately.

  ‘It is too late to change it now, Stark!’ snapped Sir Jocelyn. ‘Everyone around that table was aware that an attack on the King was a possibility, as, I am sure, is His Majesty himself. It is your responsibility to ensure that doesn’t happen. Remember, you were the one who said that ordinary soldiers would not take action against the King.’

  ‘But Harker isn’t an ordinary soldier! I also said that he was duplicitous—’

  ‘That’s enough! Arrangements have been made for you and your team to be stationed overnight at Buckingham Palace so you’ll be ready for the journey to Chelmsford. Accommodation has been provided for you in the stable block. You will have breakfast in the servants’ quarters, and then you will proceed in convoy with His Majesty at nine o’clock tomorrow morning. It is expected you will arrive at the Marconi factory at eleven. Firearms will, of course, be issued to all of you. The country is depending on you to keep the King safe.’

  There was a click. Stark replaced the receiver, a sinking feeling in his heart.

  FORTY-THREE

  Danvers looked questioningly at Stark. ‘I take it he said no?’

  Stark nodded. ‘Special Branch could have said something about that at the meeting, and they didn’t!’ he fumed angrily. ‘Harker is their man! They must have known!’

  He picked up the receiver and asked to be connected to Inspector Rogers at Special Branch. When Rogers answered, Stark dispensed with false social niceties and barked, ‘Why didn’t you tell me that Harker is an explosives expert?’

  ‘You’re the detective,’ retorted Rogers icily. ‘I assumed you’d find that out. Or do you want us to do your work for you?’

  ‘Look, Rogers, we’re supposed to be on the same side—’

  ‘Except when it suits you,’ snapped Rogers.

  ‘Can we concentrate on tomorrow?’ said Stark. ‘I think that the Hand of Justice will try something at Chelmsford.’

  ‘So do we,’ said Rogers. ‘Which is why, as you may have noticed, we voted against this stupid and reckless proposal.’

  ‘Harker’s going to set off a bomb.’

  ‘If he has time to prepare it.’

  ‘He’s an expert, for God’s sake! He’ll prepare it ahead of time, then put it in place. The early editions of the papers hit the streets at six. This outfit will make sure they get hold of them as soon as they do to see what the news says about them. They’ll have five hours to get the bomb to Chelmsford and put it in place.’

  ‘We’re taking care of it,’ said Rogers.

  ‘What does that mean?’

  ‘That we’re doing our job!’ shouted Rogers angrily.

  ‘You need to stop all people from going in and out of the factory who aren’t known to the company. In fact, everyone needs to be checked. For all we know, some of these secret assassins may be workers at Marconi!’

  ‘Don’t tell me how to do my job!’ stormed Rogers. ‘Yours is to deliver the King to the factory.’

  ‘And stay with him while he’s there,’ said Stark. ‘We’re his protection.’

  ‘Then God help the King!’ snapped Rogers, and slammed the phone down.

  Stark replaced the receiver and shook his head. ‘I’m not sure if their job is protecting the country or protecting themselves,’ he said angrily.

  ‘I’m sure that we’ll be all right working together tomorrow,’ said Danvers.

  ‘That’s just it. This … division between us means we’re not working together! They seem to think we’re in competition!’ He sighed. ‘I’m sorry, Sergeant.’

  ‘For what, sir?’

  ‘For landing you in this. You heard my conversations with Sir Jocelyn Stevens and Rogers. This could go drastically wrong, if Harker gets a bomb inside there.’

  ‘The King could be killed,’ said Danvers sombrely.

  ‘And us as well. We’ll be with him.’

  There was a thoughtful pause at this from Danvers, then he asked, ‘Who are you thinking of for the rest of the protection team, sir?’

  ‘I was thinking of getting in touch with Sergeant Alder of Maida Vale station.’

  ‘A good choice, sir,’ nodded Danvers approvingly. ‘He’s a very good man.’

  ‘That was before you found out that Harker is a bomb expert.’ He sighed.

  ‘You should at least give him the chance. Sergeant Alder, that is. We’re going to need reliable people on the job tomorrow, and he’s one of the best I’ve seen since I’ve been on the force.’

  Stark nodded. ‘Yes,’ he said. ‘I’ll get in touch with him.’

  ‘What do you want me to do, sir?’

  ‘I want you to go and see your family.’

  Danvers frowned, puzzled. ‘Sir?’

  ‘If things go wrong tomorrow, and if Harker is able to get his bomb into the factory, and it goes off, that’ll be it for us, as well as the King. You need to see your family. Just in case.’

  Danvers sat silent for a moment, then he said, ‘My father and I don’t get on, sir.’

  ‘I know,’ said Stark. ‘My father and I don’t get on either. Which is why I shall be going to see him after I’ve spoken to Sergeant Alder and organized the rest of our protection team.’

  Danvers sat, doubtful. ‘I’m not sure if my father would welcome me, sir.’

  ‘There’s only one way to find out. And I’m pretty sure your mother and sister will be pleased to see you. As will Mr Bridges.’ He paused, then added, ‘It’s only being fair to them, if anything should happen. People need to know they had the chance to say goodbye.’

  Danvers continued sitting there, thinking, weighing it up. Finally, he nodded. ‘Yes, sir. You may be right.’ He got up. ‘I’ll go along there now, if I may, sir.’

  ‘You may. In fact, I insist upon it.’

  ‘What time do you want me at the Palace?’

  Stark looked at the clock. Three o’clock. ‘Report back here at the Yard at six. And bring an overnight bag.’ As Danvers headed for the door, he asked, ‘Do you have a favoured weapon among your father’s collection of guns?’

  ‘No, sir. My father was very precious about his firearms.’

  ‘Then we’ll get you fitted out at the armoury when you return.’

  Danvers left, and Stark reached for the telephone again. ‘Maida Vale police station,’ he said.


  There were the usual series of clicks as plugs were pushed in and numbers dialled, and then a voice said, ‘Maida Vale police station. Sergeant Thomas speaking.’

  ‘Good afternoon, Sergeant. This is DCI Stark from Scotland Yard. Is Sergeant Alder there?’

  ‘Actually, he is, sir. He’s just come on duty. If you’ll hold on a moment, I’ll get him for you.’

  There was a long pause, during which Stark could hear the background noises of the station reception area – chattering, clattering, some raised voices – and finally the receiver was picked up.

  ‘Sergeant Alder speaking, sir.’

  ‘DCI Stark, Sergeant. Tomorrow His Majesty the King will be travelling to the Marconi factory at Chelmsford to make a wireless broadcast to the nation. I’ve been given the task of arranging police protection for him. I and my Sergeant, DS Danvers, will be heading the team. I would appreciate it if you would consider being part of that team.’

  There was a pause, and then Alder said in a tone of astonishment, ‘His Majesty the King, sir?’

  ‘This is not an order, Sergeant. I can only ask if you’d volunteer.’

  ‘Yes, sir!’ said Alder. ‘I’d be proud to. And thank you for asking.’

  ‘Wait one moment, Sergeant, before you say yes. I have information that there may be an attempt on the King’s life during his visit to the Marconi factory.’ He hesitated, then said, ‘It may well take the form of a bomb secreted somewhere in the factory. It could be very dangerous.’

  ‘That goes with the territory, sir,’ said Alder. ‘I was aware of that as soon as you said the task was police protection.’

  ‘And you are still willing to take part?’

  ‘Yes, sir. As I said, I would be proud to serve the King at such close quarters.’

  ‘Thank you, Sergeant. One more thing: I need a team – eight of us altogether. There’ll be you, me and Sergeant Danvers; I need five more men I can trust. As it’s short notice, do you know five of your men whom you would be able to trust for this operation? Men you would trust with your life?’

  ‘I do, sir. I have the five men who would be ideal for it. I know them well, and trust them implicitly.’