by Roger Rapel
Ricky handed over the tape which the grey suited agent placed into a tape machine he then placed earphones on as he listened to the tape for a few minutes. ‘That’s just what Yvonne required Ricky, that taped message from Masterson seals his fate, as he is talking to an Afghan suspect about you and where you could be found; he sealed your death warrant. Is this the only copy?’ Ricky nodded then said ‘the only one.’ The suited agents shook the hands of Ricky and Jim then both left the room saying ‘you will be required to remain here Ricky until this is all over.’ Ricky nodded as he smiled and for the first time began to relax.
Once Ricky was shown to his barracks and out of the sight and hearing of anyone else he said ‘take this Jim.’ Jim looked at the outstretched palm and saw another tape. Ricky then said ‘I trust no one else other than you and Yvonne, so get this to her as it contains more than the one I gave to the other spooks just now.’ Jim nodded as he pocketed the tape. Ricky then said ‘be careful Jim that tape contains a goldmine of information, do not take it home, but meet Yvonne and pass to her, I mean it Jim only her.’ Jim looked at the seriousness on Ricky’s face and knew he meant what he said.
Jim shook hands then Ricky said ‘have you got a sweeper?’ Jim nodded ‘Then sweep your car Jim just to be sure there’s not a tracker on it.’ Jim nodded as he walked with Ricky to his car. Jim opened his boot and took out the sweeper from his luggage then turned it on and pressed the button. It stayed green. Ricky looked at it then said ‘press it again in about five minutes once on the road just in case.’ Jim gave Ricky a man hug just before he got into his car, then drove to the gatehouse where he handed his visitors pass to the soldier on the gate.
Once on the road he drove for a couple of miles then pressed the sweeper; it went straight into the red. Jim thought fuck me as he looked in his mirrors continually, but knew if he had a tracker fixed onto his car it would mean any surveillance vehicles would be a couple of miles behind. He drove to a country pub, where he parked in the car park and went inside overlooking where he had parked his car then called Yvonne.
Yvonne answered ‘yes Jim how can I help?’ ‘Okay I have delivered Ricky, also the package that Ricky had, has been handed to your agents. But another more in depth one is with me; also my device is running into the red when in my car. I need to meet you ASAP, to hand over the package; text me to tell me where? I also need to dump this car.’ ‘Okay Jim same place as before, but dump the car in the nearest Avis office in Birmingham and hire another.’
Jim finished his drink as a text message came through, with a time for the meeting and the location for the nearest Avis rental office.
Jim had kept an eye on his car, but saw nothing to cause him any suspicions, so he called Langton to update him; then he called Jackie to let her know he’d be later than he hoped, but would keep her updated.
39
Jim set a new destination for the Avis car rental office; on arrival he explained he was not happy with the car and required a replacement. He looked out of the window to where he had parked the hire car and saw someone underneath the rear; it looked like he had retrieved something and walked off.
Jim received the keys for the replacement car after signing many new documents. He walked the row of brand new vehicles then found the replacement car where he placed his case in the boot, then he swept the car, but the needle stayed on green. The replacement car didn’t have a satnav, but he knew the way.
He set off on the journey, after a couple a miles he swept the car again, but it was clean. It was at that point that he realised that if the tracker had been removed any surveillance would have to be by conventional means. So he kept an eye in his mirrors it was then he knew he was being followed. He contacted Yvonne saying ‘the watchers are watching.’ ‘Okay lose them don’t meet me if you can’t.’ That was it, the brief phone call ended.
Jim then went back to his days with the crime squad and set about doing compromise manoeuvres, eventually he was sure he had clocked all the cars following behind him, he went round roundabouts numerous times waving at the cars he suspected. Then he did a classic piece of anti-surveillance driving. He indicated left at a set of traffic lights then manoeuvred into the left hand lane of a dual carriageway. Just as the lights changed, he swerved across car into the outside lane as he swung in front of the traffic making a sharp U-turn which caused may-hem at the traffic lights with beeping horns and waving fists. The reciprocal turn had worked, all of the surveillance cars including the motor bike had been baulked at the lights giving Jim enough time to zip down a couple of side streets onto an inner dual carriageway where he booted it for a mile or so, he was constantly looking in the mirrors, but he had lost them. Jim felt pleased with himself as he arrived at the Marriot hotel.
As Jim walked in he saw Kirstin at the reception desk, she beamed her normal smile, ‘Hello Mr Broadbent, have you reserved a room, I didn’t see your name on my list?’ ‘No sorry Kirstin just a meeting, but lovely to see you again, it’s so refreshing to look at your lovely smile.’ Kirstin smiled as she answered the phone.
Jim looked around, but couldn’t see Yvonne, so sat in the lounge and texted her saying he was at the place having lost the watchers.
Jim ordered coffee, then it hit him he was exhausted; once he had relaxed the adrenalin had settled. Once the fight or flight mechanism had left him he just sat staring into space wondering what had just happened.
The coffee was hot and milky; he closed his eyes savouring the aroma. He was just drifting off on the thoughts of what the fuck was happening when he heard a cough. He slowly opened his eyes and saw Yvonne sitting down opposite him. Jim was on the verge of the blackness in between sleep and waking. He saw Yvonne smiling at him.
‘Welcome back Jim, quite a trip for you as I understand?’ ‘It certainly was in one way or another.’ Jim took another sip of his coffee then waved to the lounge assistant requesting a coffee pot.
‘Well Yvonne this makes a change meeting you here?’ He smirked and winked at her, Yvonne slightly blushed as she tugged at her skirt pulling the hem to her knee.
Right Jim give me a run down on everything you did in relation to the package nothing else just the package.
Jim then explained the meeting with Rhanjee then Barney including the handover of the small case which Barney had x-rayed; he had also copied the transcript and the audio tape. Then the incident at the airport where the case was lifted from under his nose after a distraction had caused his and other passengers attention to be directed to the cause of the noise. The whole incident had been so quick.
Jim sipped his coffee then continued ‘the man who took the case was dressed as a cleaner pushing a bin on wheels and sweeping the floors. No one took a blind bit of noticed of him he just blended in. Then the shout from someone in one of the other queues which had been so loud, it caused everyone to look at the person causing the commotion. That’s when the cleaner took the briefcase, it had been perfectly orchestrated; by the time I went to pick up my suit case the cleaner had gone, briefcase and all. The airport security showed me the CCTV, I saw quite clearly the cleaner taking the briefcase. But no one knew who he was; he was obviously one of the opposition.’
Jim and Yvonne sipped their coffee’s then Yvonne held out her hand as she said ‘and now the package from Briggs?’ Jim reached into his pocket handing over the small tape to Yvonne. ‘Ricky said to tell you this one contains more than the one handed over to the two spooks at Hereford. He didn’t trust them, only you and me.’ Yvonne nodded.
Yvonne sipped her coffee as she said ‘thank you Jim you will never know the whole truth about this, but it has been a tremendous coup which will save countless lives out in the field and most importantly expose a few bad apples in my organisation who will now just fade away somewhere.’ With that she stood up smoothed her skirt, Jim shook her hand and kissed her on the cheek then she was gone.
Jim walked by reception and blew a kiss to Kirstin who was on the phone, she waved as Jim exited.
> The journey home was a complete blur as his head nodded on a couple of occasions with the effects of jet lag; he had to stop and close his eyes for 10 minutes which helped the feeling of drowsiness.
Jim finally arrived back where he parked outside Jackie’s apartment. He sat thinking about his life and what he had here. He smiled to himself then got out of the hire car, collected his suitcase from the boot then entered the apartment with his key. It was quiet no music or kitchen sounds. Jim put his suitcase down as he entered the innermost part of the apartment. ‘Jack’ he called, but there was no reply. He entered the bedroom, but no sign of Jackie.
He went into the kitchen then looked around then checked the answer machine. Two messages flashed, he listened to both, but neither were of consequence just a couple of girlfriends of Jackie’s.
Jim then called her on her mobile, but there was no reply either. He then called Vicky, ‘hi Vick I’ve just got back, have you seen Jackie, I thought she would have been home by now?’ ‘Oh hi Jim glad you’re back, no not seen her, but you need to call Langton as soon as you can.’ Jim didn’t like the sound in Vicky’s voice there was a tremor in it, not the normal bubbly sound. ‘Okay is there anything wrong?’ ‘Not as far as I know.’ That was it the phone went dead.
Jim sat down and looked at his phone he was so tired after the journey; what with the picking-up then dropping off Briggs and meeting Yvonne.
He dialled Langton’s number and waited for it to be picked up, but it wasn’t, so he left it a couple of minutes then he called again, but no reply.
Then he heard the front door open as in walked Jackie ‘oh my god Jack there you are, I’ve been so worried about you, where you been, I tried to ring you?’ ‘Oh Jim what a day, put the kettle on babes, I switched my mobile off. I’m gasping for a coffee, but come here first.’ Jim walked over to her as she put down her brief case and shopping bags then he hugged and kissed her deeply. ‘Oh Jack, Vicky sounded different and asked me to call Langton ASAP, but he’s not answering either. God I was worried.’ ‘Well I’m here now so put the kettle on.’ Jim smiled as he switched the kettle on.
Then as Jim was pouring the water into the cups his phone rang. Jim saw from the display he saw it was Langton. He passed a cup to Jackie as he said ‘yes guv.’ Langton then informed him that Vicky had received some telephone threats and was really worried about it. ‘Okay I’ll be there in the morning.’
Jim looked at Jackie who had her fingers wrapped around her coffee cup with both hands then she said ‘Jim I can’t take this much more of this, I know you like the work, but going away like this and not knowing when you’re coming home is killing me, I know the presents are nice, but I’d rather have you here.’ Jim smiled and said ‘don’t worry after this job I think I have made the same decision.’
Jackie stood up and said ‘order an Indian and come and take me now or you will be out of luck as my visitor is due soon.’ Jim ordered the take-away then went to bedroom where they duly satisfied each other. Not long after they had consumed each other the intercom rang, Jim put on his dressing gown then let the delivery man into the downstairs foyer then he waited at the door for the delivery man, paying for the meal as it was handed over.
40
Vicky was sat in her office; Brian had gone back to his home force. Now she had to put all the paperwork together for the trial including interim reports for Langton. The report was so in-depth running into many pages.
Vicky still had dreams of Brian in her bed and him between her thighs as she sat daydreaming whilst having a moment from typing her report. Then the office phone rang, Vicky answered DC Howser speaking. Then she heard a voice at the other end say ‘don’t take this any further or you will be very sorry’ then the phone went dead; all of a sudden Vicky shuddered at the sound of the voice at the other end, which had been very intimidating.
Vicky went to see Langton. She had been threatened before and had kicked them into touch as rubbish, but this was not the kind of threat she had heard before, this was menacing. If it was meant to scare her, it had certainly worked.
‘Come in Vicky what’s wrong?’ ‘I just received another threatening phone call, saying not to take this any further or I’ll be sorry. The voice was so menacing I’ve never been so afraid, not by the threat, but by the voice.’ ‘Okay what time was this?’ ‘Just now,’ ‘was it on your mobile or the office phone?’ ‘On my office phone,’ Langton then rang the switchboard requesting them to run through the list of calls put through to Vicky’s extension also a breakdown of the numbers.
Langton then gave Vicky a scotch to calm her nerves as she was still shaking. ‘Okay Vick I want you to record the phone message and its content, I will get the switchboard to record any further calls put through to your extension.’ Vicky finished her scotch as Langton said ‘they are worried Vicky that’s why the call was made to un-nerve you, but don’t let them get to you. Jim will be back tomorrow, also what Jim has been doing will be culminated soon which should ease things here a bit.’ Vicky nodded as she went back to her office. Where she began to write out the message she had received then handed it to Langton.
When she arrived home her hands were shaking, what if someone was inside waiting for her, what if they already knew where she lived. Then she took hold of herself trying to control her thoughts as she turned the key in the lock of her apartment and entered. She had a perfume spray in her hand ready to spray into the eyes of anyone inside; but the apartment was as it should be, all quiet and empty.
The night was long as she tossed and turned in bed, she had called Brian telling him of the threat; he was sympathetic, but could do nothing from where he was. Vicky was still tired by the time she finally arose and dressed. Her drive to work was on auto-pilot with all kinds of imaginings going on in her head.
When she arrived in the office Jim was already there, he too was bleary eyed, but his was from Jet lag and the running around and being abused by Jackie. Vicky smiled ‘oh Jim thank god you’re back.’ Jim smiled as he handed her a bottle of perfume he had picked up from duty free. ‘Come on then Vick tell me all about it, including the dirty bits with Brian?’ Vicky smiled as she said ‘how is it you always make me laugh when I want to slap you.’ ‘Just my natural ability I suppose.’
Vicky made coffee then they sat down as she filled Jim in with all that had occurred including the interview with Masterson and his revelations.
Jim looked at her and said ‘good work Vick, there should be some news very soon and then and only then will I be able to reveal some of what I have been doing hopefully you will understand the reason for the secrecy.’ Vicky smiled as she sipped her coffee then said ‘you always make me feel better Jim.’ ‘Did Brian make you feel better afterwards as well?’ ‘Fuck off Jim’ as she laughed and slapped his arm again making him nearly spill his coffee. Langton poked his head around the door and said ‘in my office now, both of you!’ Jim said to Vicky ‘It looks like the fan has been hit’ as he smiled at Vicky.
When they arrived at Langton’s office the glasses were already on the table ‘shut the door please.’ Vicky was just entering behind Jim so closed the door. Langton handed them a glass each. ‘This is a toast to the both of you for a job well done.’ Langton raised his glass as he took a good slug of the scotch. ‘Right Vicky I can now tell you that MI5 have made a number of arrests of high profile people from governmental departments including suspects from their own section; also at the same time, the CIA has made a significant arrest in the states. This now ends this enquiry except for the paperwork.’ Jim nodded with self-satisfaction although he wanted to tell Langton that he was finished with the spooks, but after seeing his elation and sense of pride he decided to leave it until the dust had settled before announcing it.
Langton then opened up a file and passed a piece of paper to Vicky saying ‘the name and number on this piece of paper is probably the person who made the threatening calls to you, he has been swept up in the arrests made this morning. The spooks found your n
ame and the HQ’s number in his room when they raided it. That should end it. Well done and thanks again Vicky. Jim, stay behind please.’ Vicky knowing the cue again left the office, closing the door behind her. Langton poured another measure in Jim’s glass. ‘Yvonne was elated this morning, she couldn’t sing your praises enough, but I expect you’ll hear all about that in bed sometime soon.’ Langton beamed a big smile as he toasted Jim and sipped his scotch. Jim smiled then said ‘I don’t think I can do this much longer guv, this cloak and dagger stuff is doing my head in and Jackie is worried out of her skin as well.’ ‘Well don’t be too hasty Jim, this has given you a great reputation, the chief is over the moon, so don’t kill the golden goose, not yet anyway.’
Jim sipped his scotch then looked at Langton as he cocked his head to one side questioning the statement he had just made. Langton just said ‘all in good time Jim, all in good time, but don’t burn your bridges yet.’ Jim thanked Langton for the scotch then went to find Vicky, but diverted to Sandy’s office. He opened the door slowly as he peeked his head around, he saw that Sandy had seen him so couldn’t surprise her; he smiled then handed her a gift wrapped bottle of perfume. ‘Oh Jim thank you so much, I suppose I have to take some of your dict again?’ Jim laughed as the banter went to and fro, then he said ‘I will give it to you very soon so get ready for it.’ He then peeked under her desk at her legs she laughed and said ‘bugger off Jim.’ Jim waved just as Sandy smelt the perfume. She smiled and waved back, ‘oh thank you Jim that’s nice.’
