Every Second Counts

by Sophie McKenzie

  ‘Come on, Nat, being able to open a locked door won’t help Charlie or any of you if you’re up against men with guns.’

  I exchanged a look with Parveen.

  ‘We know how to use guns,’ I said. ‘Riley trained us in that too.’

  Latimer looked shocked.

  ‘It’s true,’ Parveen said. ‘He trained us so he could use us, then he tried to throw us away.’

  Latimer blew out his breath. There was a tense silence.

  ‘None of us want to put them at risk,’ Julius ventured timidly. ‘But Nat and Parveen aren’t exactly ordinary teenagers, are they?’

  ‘No.’ Latimer said, tight-lipped. ‘Well, perhaps if the teams going into the hotel are bigger, that will offer you more protection?’

  ‘No,’ I said, firmly. ‘If we go in too heavy we’ll be stopped by hotel security. If anyone thinks we look suspicious the whole thing will fall apart. I say we sneak in through front and back entrances – two pairs. And it really has to be only people with stealth training –’ I glanced at the two bodyguards, ‘– or brute strength. We don’t want to be thrown out before we’ve even found the bomb. And we don’t want anyone at the hotel tipping off Riley so he can abort the mission at the last minute. He’s got spies everywhere.’

  ‘But won’t you need more than four people to overpower whoever’s bringing in the bomb?’ Latimer persisted.

  ‘It’s just Riley’s son, Spider, and Charlie,’ I persisted. ‘Charlie said so. And remember she’ll be there to help us too.’

  Latimer fell silent.

  ‘That’s the one bit of Riley’s plan I don’t understand,’ Julius said quietly. ‘I mean I get him sending kids through the pipes – adults would be too big, so I can see why he’s using his son. But why Charlie? He can’t really trust her after everything she’s done, despite her wanting to know about her dad.’

  ‘What’s her dad got to do with it?’ Parveen asked. ‘I thought he was dead.’

  I explained reluctantly about Riley telling Charlie her father was still alive. I felt bad doing so, I knew Charlie would hate everyone finding out, but Julius already knew and anyway there wasn’t much choice. Despite the circumstances, it was good to know I would see her in just a few hours’ time.

  ‘How are you going to get past hotel security and down to the basement?’ Latimer asked, a worried frown creasing his forehead.

  ‘I don’t know,’ I said. I checked the time. ‘But it’s four-thirty, which gives us three hours to work it out before the bomb goes off.’

  Charlie

  It was finally happening. I still hadn’t seen the bomb itself, but Spider and I were all set to plant it in the hotel basement. I didn’t know much more than I had before, though from various hints Taylor had dropped it was obvious the pipes we would be swimming through were narrow – which was why Spider and I had been picked for the mission. We were slimmer than any of the older EFA soldiers.

  Taylor had assured us that the route through the pipes was straightforward and that, though there wasn’t room in the pipes for breathing equipment, we would only have to hold our breath underwater for just over a minute. I was a lot more worried about how I was going to stop the bomb than I was about the swim into the building. I just had to trust that once I was alone with Spider I would find a way.

  Right now the three of us – and Uchi – were waiting for the go-ahead in an apartment near the docks just a couple of streets away from the hotel. Everyone was tense with anticipation. My mind kept flickering back to Nat. Was he here somewhere? Was the rest of the resistance? Did they have a plan of their own for sabotaging Riley’s attack? Taylor slipped outside, leaving Spider at one end of the room watching TV and me curled up on a sofa at the other end. Uchi turned away from the window, where he’d been standing, and limped across the room leaning heavily on his stick. He reached me and bent down so that he could speak in a whisper.

  ‘Please be careful on this mission, Charlie,’ he said, his voice low and gruff. ‘Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you again.’

  I stared up at him, surprised. There was real emotion in his eyes. Something twisted uncomfortably in my guts. In spite of my hatred of everything Uchi stood for, he was still my father. I sighed. Why did it all have to be so complicated? I sat back, wondering just for a moment if it might be possible to change the way Uchi saw things so that the two of us could somehow end up on the same side, against Riley. He patted my arm, then hobbled off again.

  Who was I kidding? Uchi would never change his views. And I would never support Riley. We might be father and daughter but, on this, our attitudes were polar opposites.

  I checked the time on the waterproof watch Taylor had just given me. Spider had one exactly the same. Both watches were set with the exact time and synchronised with Taylor’s own timepiece, so that we could all operate as one unit. It was six-thirty p.m. I hadn’t been left alone for a second since I’d made my phone call to Nat. Spider had given no indication that he’d seen I’d used his mobile. I was sure that he had been too busy receiving Taylor’s last-minute instructions to check his call log. I tried to focus on how I could get the bomb away from him once we were underway. He might be slim, but he was wiry and muscular too. At least he didn’t seem to be armed, as far as I could tell.

  Riley’s overheard words about the effects of the bomb being ‘extreme’ echoed through my head. What did ‘extreme’ mean? How many people was Riley hoping would die? I shivered. Nat had said he and Parveen were with the resistance, which was good, except that I had little faith the resistance would really be able to make a stand against Riley. There was Mayor Latimer, of course; Nat had seemed convinced that Aaron’s dad was genuinely on our side. At the time I’d been sceptical, but Nat wasn’t stupid. Maybe if he trusted Latimer, I should too.

  At that moment Taylor came back into the room, two tote bags in his hand. ‘It’s time,’ he said. He dropped one of the bags next to Spider, then crossed the room and handed me the other. ‘Spider will change in this room,’ he said. ‘You can use the bathroom next door.’

  ‘Sure.’ I took the bag and went into the bathroom. This was it. I squatted down and unzipped the bag. I’d expected to find a wet suit and mask inside, but instead found myself pulling out a summery, strappy green dress, a grey silk cardigan and a pair of grey pumps. I stared at each one in turn.

  Why the hell did Taylor want me to wear these?

  Nat

  We travelled in the back of a van to the road nearest the hotel. I had to admit that Latimer’s contribution of both men and technology had made a massive difference. The two men he’d sent over – Sean and Simon – were fit, muscular and definitely up for a fight, and we were all fitted out with tiny earpieces and microphones so we could keep in touch with each other.

  Latimer had gone to get changed, ready for the party. He’d told us that he would see us there and that Aaron would be with him.

  ‘I’d rather he wasn’t, but I just rang him to tell him he should stay at home and he’s insisting that if he doesn’t come along it will look suspicious,’ Latimer had confided in me shortly before leaving the safe house. ‘I don’t want Aaron anywhere near a bomb, but he wants to help. And he’ll be useful – he can keep a look out for you while I’m busy.’

  ‘If you’re sure,’ I’d said, privately hoping Aaron wasn’t going to get in our way.

  And then the Mayor had paused and said something extraordinary. ‘To be honest, once I told him you’d be there, Nat, wild horses weren’t going to keep him away. He thinks you’re about the bravest, coolest person he’s ever met, a real hero.’

  ‘That’s stupid,’ I said, feeling my cheeks burn.

  Latimer raised his eyebrows. ‘Actually, I think the same thing.’

  I turned away covered in embarrassment.

  ‘I’m not perfect, Nat,’ Latimer went on, lowering his voice so none of the other resistance members could hear. ‘I’m ambitious and I’ve embellished and fudged and spun like all p
oliticians do, but I believe in democracy. And when I look at someone like you, fighting back in spite of all you’ve been through, I believe in this country’s future too.’

  The van stopped with a jolt, bringing me back to the present moment. Aaron and his dad were both wrong. I was no hero. Even now, armed with a taser, I was scared witless.

  The others looked over. I checked the time. It was quarter to seven.

  ‘Time to go,’ I said to Parveen.

  She nodded, her face serious and determined. Outside the van, she set off with Simon towards the back of the hotel. I headed to the front entrance with Sean. Cars were already pulling up outside the hotel, depositing a series of leading politicians. After a few minutes, Riley and a woman with long blonde hair emerged from a black Bentley. Riley turned and waved to the small crowd that had gathered. He was laughing, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. As I watched, Riley put his arm around the woman’s shoulders and ushered her into the hotel.

  ‘We’ve just seen Riley,’ I whispered into my mike. ‘No sign of Latimer. Maybe he’s inside already. We’re heading in now.’

  Static fizzed in my earpiece. ‘Hearing you loud and clear. We’re already past the fire door and hotel rear security, heading down to the basement.’ That was Parveen.

  ‘Well done.’ I whispered into my mouthpiece. ‘Over.’

  Sean and I followed the crowd of politicians to the hotel main entrance – just past the door shrouded by the canopy – and slipped inside, our baseball caps pulled low over our faces. I looked around. A trickle of guests were coming through. No one I recognised, but it was obvious they were all following the same sign:

  Future Party reception Churchill Room

  Sean and I walked along the corridor. As we drew close to the Churchill Room, a queue of people were lining up to have their bags searched. The Mayor and Aaron were at the head of the queue, intent on the first security guard as he explained something I couldn’t hear. Riley and the blonde woman were just behind them, chatting with the second security guard. I grimaced. Riley was unbelievable: smiling like that while all the time he knew a bomb was going off here in just over half an hour. Some of the kids here were really little, dressed up in smart shirts and dresses, clutching their parents’ hands.

  I glanced at Sean. It was time to find a route down into the basement. Presumably the bomb was going to be set to go off immediately under this room.

  ‘How you doing, Par?’ I whispered. ‘We’ve found the venue.’

  I listened attentively.

  There was no reply. I gulped. Perhaps now she was in the basement, Parveen was out of range. Or perhaps the earpieces didn’t work as well as they were supposed to. I hesitated. ‘Parveen, come in,’ I hissed. ‘Simon?’

  Sean and I exchanged anxious glances, then Sean also spoke into his mike.

  Nothing.

  It was eight minutes to seven. Most of the guests must be here by now. Blood thundered in my ears. Sean made a circular motion with his finger – the sign to carry on moving. He was right. There wasn’t time to worry about Parveen and Simon right now. We needed to keep going.

  I glanced at the security queue again. The Latimers and Riley and his girlfriend had disappeared. The party must surely be well underway by now. I crept along the corridor, searching for the stairs I knew led down to the basement. Sean sped silently alongside me. As we turned the corner, I checked the time again: 18:54. My heart thudded. I had to make every second that followed count.

  Sean nudged me. He pointed to a door up ahead marked Churchill Room. The stairs down to the basement were opposite. Sean headed towards them. I was about to follow, when I noticed that the door into the Churchill Room was ajar. No guard stood outside. That was odd, wasn’t it? Riley posted security guards everywhere. And he certainly didn’t leave vulnerable entry points unlocked.

  I turned to call Sean back, but he had already disappeared down the stairs. Heart thudding against my ribs, I pressed my ear against the door. No sound came from the other side. Surely a room full of people would make more noise? I eased the door open and peered inside.

  The room was empty – just a few tables and chairs stacked in the corner and a sideboard along the nearest wall. The door opposite, out to the corridor where the security guards had been checking bags, was open.

  I stood, bewildered, looking around the room. There was only one other exit, an open fire door which led directly outside the building.

  I frowned. This didn’t make sense. There was no sign that anyone had ever been here and yet I’d seen crowds of people – including Riley and Latimer – heading this way just a few minutes ago.

  So where had everyone gone?

  Charlie

  The dress and the shoes fitted perfectly. I picked up the handbag and cardigan and went back to Uchi, Taylor and Spider – who was now dressed smartly himself, in a skinny-fit grey suit.

  ‘Why am I wearing this?’ I demanded. ‘Where’s the wet suit?’

  ‘One step at a time,’ Taylor said, his face impassive. ‘Let’s go.’ He opened the door that led to the street.

  ‘Good luck, Charlie,’ Uchi said.

  I glared at him, then followed Taylor, Spider at my side.

  We walked along the street, past one of the huge political murals that littered the capital – this one showed a pair of crossed-over machine guns. Taylor handed Spider a small leather backpack, which Spider arranged carefully over his shoulder.

  ‘What’s in that?’ I demanded. ‘Is it the bomb?’

  Taylor said nothing.

  I tugged at Spider’s arm. ‘Tell me what’s going on. Why are we dressed up?’

  Spider ignored me. We turned on to the dock. A marina was spread out in front of us, hotels on either side. Was one of these the Almeida? Yes. Except for some reason instead of going into it, people were coming outside, then walking over to the boat opposite. My heart pounded. All this time I’d been seeking to expose Riley I’d assumed that, once I was actually on the mission with Spider, I’d be able to do something about the bomb. But now, as we headed along the dock, I had to face the fact that time was seriously running out and I had absolutely no idea what was really planned, only that it was due to take place in just over thirty minutes – and that it would cause ‘extreme casualties’.

  I pushed past Taylor and stopped, blocking his way. ‘I’m not going any further until you tell me what’s going on,’ I said.

  ‘It’s a mission, Charlie,’ Taylor said impatiently. ‘That’s all you need to know.’

  ‘But what about the swimming? I can’t do that in this dress. How are we taking the bomb in? And why are all those people leaving the hotel?’

  ‘No more questions.’ Taylor seized my arm. ‘And just so you know, Nat and Parveen can’t help you.’

  I stared at him. How did Taylor know that Nat and Parveen were even aware of the mission? ‘What do you mean?’

  Taylor narrowed his eyes. ‘We know you’ve been in touch with them, Charlie.’

  My breath caught in my throat. I opened my mouth to deny what Taylor said, but he was already speaking again.

  ‘We know Nat and Parveen and probably others from the resistance are coming here today to try and stop the bomb. And we have a team in place to prevent that from happening.’ Taylor glanced at the thick black watch which he had synchronised with mine and Spider’s earlier. ‘In fact, I’m expecting confirmation they have both been captured.’

  I stared at him, horrified. Was he saying that Nat and Parveen were being watched? That they were in danger?

  Taylor sighed. ‘You didn’t really think we were just going to let you back into the EFA that easily, did you? I told you before: Uchi might trust you, but Riley and I were never going to buy a miraculous conversion. Come on, Charlie, whatever you think of me, you know how smart Riley is.’

  Panic filled me. All my efforts to pretend to be open-minded about Riley and his ambitions had been utterly pointless. Riley had seen through me, right from the st
art.

  ‘We need to get going.’ Taylor’s eyes glinted. ‘And I strongly suggest that if you want to see Nat ever again, you’ll keep on with the mission. Don’t try and run off. And no attempts to raise an alarm.’

  I stumbled numbly on as the horrific truth settled inside me. Far from helping the resistance to undermine an EFA bomb plot and expose Roman Riley, all I had done was lead them into a trap.

  Nat

  I glanced at the time as 18:55 ticked on to 18:56. There was still no sign of anyone in a room which, according to everything we’d been told, was supposed to be hosting a large drinks reception. Something had gone terribly wrong.

  ‘Parveen? Simon?’ I hissed into my mouthpiece.

  Still no reply.

  ‘Sean?’

  Silence.

  My guts twisted. Now Sean had vanished too. What was happening?

  The security guard I’d seen Riley laughing and joking with just a minute or two before was walking over. ‘Hello there,’ he said.

  I glanced over my shoulder, looking towards the stairs that led down to the basement where I’d last seen Sean. There was definitely no sign of him.

  ‘Hello?’ The guard frowned as he reached me. ‘Can I help you?’

  ‘Yes,’ I said. ‘The, er, the party, the drinks reception. Where are all the people, the politicians, everyone who came in here?’

  The guard stared at me, as if considering whether or not to tell me. His eyes flickered over the dark chinos and thin cotton top I was wearing under my jacket, deliberately chosen by the resistance as simultaneously smart enough for the party but also loose enough to move in easily.

  ‘Please,’ I said, thinking fast, ‘I’m looking for my dad, we got separated.’

  The guard nodded. ‘Party venue shifted to a boat. Last-minute security change.’

  I stared at him. Had Riley somehow known we were coming? And then it hit me. Latimer must have told him.