Soft Target 02 - Tank

by Conrad Jones

  The formalities over, the Major went on to outline the situation to the multi-agency gathering. A wall opposite the window had a plasma screen attached to it. Images appeared and changed as the Major talked through recent events.

  “We are now certain that the River Dee attack was carried out by members of a Russian organised crime syndicate. They employed members of the 18th Brigade to snatch a Saudi national called Jeannie Kellesh. She is the daughter of a member of the Saudi royal family.”

  “The riverboat bomb was made to look like an extremist attack in an attempt to confuse the investigation. A second attack at the Piccadilly rail terminus was also carried out to implicate Islamic extremists as the culprits. It was actually committed to destroy all the loose ends from the kidnap plot, and to cause civil unrest against our Muslim communities.”

  “It appears that there was a breakdown in the relationship between the two parties involved, and the Brigade went on the rampage, targeting Russian interests across the North West. We have six members of the Brigade in custody and they are undergoing interrogation. We also have two, and I repeat, two undercover agents being debriefed.” The Major looked over the top of his glasses and glared at the MI6 director, Garden. The Terrorist Task Force was aware that an Organised Crime Unit officer was working in the Brigade, but the MI6 agency had not disclosed that it too had penetrated its ranks.

  “We have two dead Russians in the strong room of the casino, both shot with 9mm bullets from a gun which we recovered from Agent Simon Pinn of the Organised Crime Unit. The same gun killed a nineteen year old member of the Brigade who was found in the walk-in refrigerator of the casino.” The uniformed police superintendent in charge of the Organised Crime Unit flushed red with anger, which made Tank smirk. The police chief glared at Tank, and Grace kicked Tank’s foot under the table in an attempt to avoid the obvious oncoming conflict.

  “My men had that casino sealed off, and the situation was under control until Officer John Tankersley and his team turned up. Do you have evidence that officer Pinn shot these people?” the police chief spluttered. Tank shifted in his chair and loosened his tie again. He grinned at the police chief.

  “We have the gun, the bullets, three dead bodies, an empty safe and your officer’s prints all over the weapon. He has tested positive for gunshot residue on his hands, which proves positive that he fired that weapon. You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to work out that your officer will be charged with murder,” Tank countered. The police chief reddened again but thought better of arguing. The evidence was overwhelming, and they had expressed concerns themselves about their officer.

  “We also have agent Neil Clarke in custody, who it turns out is a current employee of her Majesty’s MI6. He was arrested trying to escape capture and was bloody lucky that he wasn’t shot in the process,” the Major looked over his spectacles again at the MI6 director who wouldn’t meet his withering gaze.

  “We needed to keep our agent’s position in the 18th Brigade intact. He was trying not be compromised, which unfortunately did not happen. He was on the verge of communicating the contact names and details of right wing extremist leaders on the continent and across the US,” the MI6 director explained and he coughed nervously, “Clarke was just one of many agents we have infiltrating these groups. He was part of an Anglo-American intelligence gathering operation.”

  The three Americans glanced at each other embarrassed by what the MI6 man had disclosed. The operation was clandestine which meant that it should not be discussed outside of the agencies directly involved. The Minister of Defence glared at the Americans and made a note on his pad. Protocol insisted that allied intelligence agencies must inform the host government of any covert operations on its soil. Now was not the time or the place for remonstrations but the issue would not be forgotten.

  “Washington has serious concerns about right wing extremists groups in our country and abroad. They are gaining significant political ground, especially when immigration and racial integration is concerned,” the NSA man explained, trying to lift the tense atmosphere. “They are receiving campaign funds running into the millions and their networks have become worldwide and well organised.” Tank looked at Faz and rolled his eyes up to the ceiling, politics, politics, politics he thought.

  “Back to the subject at hand gentlemen please,” the Major steered the meeting back on track. There were several serious breaches of political protocol highlighted so far, which could be dealt with by the Minister of Defence at a later date.

  “The situation has gotten out of hand. We are staring at a serious international incident. The Saudis incorrectly bombed a suspected terror camp inside Syria’s border. The Kuwait army are reinforcing their borders with Saudi Arabia with over two-thousand tanks, which in turn has caused the Iranians to mobilise their armoured divisions. Syria and Israel are also moving troops into stand-off positions either side of the Golan Heights. The situation is a tinderbox gentlemen, which is exactly what the Russian Jewish gangs intended to create. They have caused a significant rift between the Islamic Arabian countries in the Middle East, and domestic turmoil in our towns and cities.” The Major paused to allow the significance of what he had just outlined sink in.

  “Now the facts here in the UK are as follows. We have a dead Russian exile with injuries consistent with interrogation under torture. He was dumped along with audio tapes near a police station in London. The tapes hold recordings in which he accuses a high profile Russian businessman of kidnapping Jeannie Kellesh. We also recovered a mobile telephone which we can link to Roman Kordinski,” the Major paused a moment because the mention of the Russian oil tycoon’s name had caused a reaction from the Americans.

  “We have recovered ten dead bodies from a disused airbase in Cheshire. All the men have injuries consistent with a gun battle. The men bear tattoos consistent with those found on Russian gang members, or the Organizatsiya. We haven’t identified all of them, but several have Russian military records, and all of them are Jewish extraction. The land is owned by a company which is registered in the Cayman Islands, and the director is one Roman Kordinski,” the Major studied the faces round the table and the Russian’s name was definitely familiar to them. His instincts told him that there was some history between Kordinski and the American intelligence agencies.

  “The Saudis now know that Jeannie Kellesh was not killed in the River Dee incident,” the Major stood up and walked to the window. A packed Mersey passenger ferry was docking at the Pierhead and hundreds of Japanese tourists were disembarking, cameras at the ready.

  “They know that she has been kidnapped, and the unprecedented spike in the cost of crude oil adds proof to the pudding. They also know that we know. The problem is that no one can actually broach the subject without endangering the girl. We think that she is in a Chechen medical facility inside Dagestan.”

  “Are you planning to arrest the Russian?” asked agent Shaw, from the NSA.

  Tank looked sternly at the tanned American and had to restrain himself from being abusive. “What kind of question is that? The man is responsible for two major terrorist attacks, which claimed hundreds of lives, and has sparked an international incident. Maybe we should ask him to apologise and stop being so naughty,” Tank was starting to lose his temper. The Major stepped into the breach.

  “We are going to arrest Roman Kordinski today. He will be taken to Belmarsh prison and held under the suspicion of terrorism act 2002, which means that we can hold him for 28 days before concrete charges need to be filed.”

  “I am afraid that we must object to Kordinski being arrested today or any other day Major,” agent Garden of MI6 interrupted. The room was stunned into silence and the atmosphere suddenly became charged. The American agents were looking very uncomfortable every time Garden opened his mouth. He had already dropped them in it once today by exposing the covert Anglo-American intelligence mission. Tank and Grace looked at each other and a silent communication passed between them. Tank wanted to shoot Garde
n in the face but it probably wouldn’t go down well with the Minister of Defence. The Field Marshall, Admiral of the fleet and the Wing Commander shook their heads in disbelief. They were the heads of Britain’s armed forces, soldiers and fighting men. They didn’t hold any respect for the intelligence agencies, especially, MI6. Major Stanley Timms removed his glasses and placed them onto the polished table top. He reached for his glass of water and sipped it. His hand was shaking slightly as he placed the glass back down, but he remained silent. Everyone looked to the MI6 director to qualify his statement, except for the American agents who were looking down to avoid eye contact with anyone. They knew that agent Garden was about to slip on a huge political banana skin.

  “We have been gaining information from Kordinski for a number of years now, when I say we, I mean the joint intelligence agencies of the UK and America,” he stuttered, “his connections in the Kremlin, and other influential Soviet organisations are a valuable source of intelligence.”

  Agent Galvin of the FBI looked up at the ceiling exasperated, and he could not believe that a spy of Garden’s rank was so incompetent, not to mention forthcoming. The room stayed silent.

  “The New York Police Department arrested Roman Kordinski and four of his Organizatsiya brigadiers six years ago. They were charged with racketeering, extortion, kidnap, multiple murders, and robbery with violence, I could go on all day,” agent Shaw said, “Kordinski is a very rich man with power and influence in the Soviet halls of government. He made a trade with the department of justice. He attained sensitive Russian military documents and other such top secret information; in return he was given his liberty.”

  “He was given his liberty on the condition that he moved his business enterprises to the United Kingdom,” Tank finished the sentence for him. “Her Majesty’s MI6 knew all about this trade-off, and allowed him to come to Britain without letting anyone else know, because the Americans were sharing the information with them.” Tank spoke slowly and stared at the MI6 man in disgust.

  “The information we have received from Kordinski has been vital to our dealings with the Soviet Union. We have detailed information about their nuclear fleet,” Garden tried to defend his position but the incredulous expressions around the room brought him to a stuttering halt.

  “It would be highly embarrassing for both our governments if Kordinski was to be arrested. If details of our arrangement were leaked to the press then every defence lawyer in America would have a field day in the appeal courts,” agent Shaw butted in, trying to assist the MI6 man. The British government would never acknowledge that such an agreement existed, but the look on the Minister of Defence’s face showed his horror at the situation. He had no prior knowledge of what he had just heard from his own head of department.

  “When is Kordinski being arrested Major?” the Minister asked looking at his watch. He needed to speak to the Prime minister immediately. The political fall-out from this type of situation could be devastating to a government that won the general election on the back of a ‘tough on crime’ policy. The fact that MI6 had agreed to an international gangster setting up business on British soil in return for military secrets was a shocking breech of public trust.

  The Major looked at his watch and then looked at Tank and smiled.

  “We arrested him forty-five minutes ago,” the Major said, smiling at the now purple agent Garden.

  Chapter 37

  International Agencies meeting cont.

  “I insist that he is released immediately, Minister,” Garden slammed his hand on the desk for effect. He was a very small weedy man in stature, so he felt the need to use grand gestures to make a point. Tank responded by slamming his huge fist on the table causing it to shudder violently, spilling water from the glasses on the table. Agent Garden jumped in fright on his chair, and looked at Tank with fear in his eyes.

  “You are in no position to insist anything Garden, this is a Terrorist Task Force investigation and we answer directly to the Prime Minister,” Tank said pointing a finger at the MI6 man, “and if you bang your hand on this table again I’ll break your arm.”

  Garden sat back in his chair. His mouth opened as if he was about to retaliate, but the look in Tank’s eye made him think better of it.

  “Minister I think you should step in here,” said agent Shaw, “both our governments will suffer if Kordinski speaks out about our arrangement.”

  The minister flicked through his papers aimlessly as he mulled over the conundrum. The intelligence agencies from both countries had shattered his confidence in their operational integrity. They had no integrity from what he had heard today. He looked at Tank across the table and imagined that he probably would break agent Garden’s arm without a second thought.

  “At this point in time agent Tankersley I am inclined to believe that you would indeed break the MI6, Chief of Staff’s appendage, and I would jolly well recommend you for a commendation if you did,” growled the Minister of Defence. He could tell that his military chiefs were speechless at the behaviour of their allies, and their own intelligence community. Tank, the Major and Grace Farrington had brought this investigation this far in a professional impartial manner. The intelligence agencies appeared to operate unilaterally, with their own agendas top of the objective list.

  “Agent Garden, how long exactly have you been aware of the Kordinski affair?” the Minister asked, “was this agreement entered into by you or your predecessor?”

  “Err, we were made aware of the situation from the beginning Minister, we....I mean that,” Garden mumbled as the Minister interrupted him.

  “Did you or your predecessor make the agreement with the American secret service agent Garden? It’s a straight forward question,” the Minister pushed.

  “It was my decision Minister made for....” spluttered Garden.

  “You’re fired Garden, I will have your desk cleared and your things forwarded to you. Please leave your security pass at reception and leave the building,” the Minister turned to the American agents who were sitting open mouthed.

  “Roman Kordinski is the hub of a Terrorist Task Force investigation, and he will feel the full weight of the British judicial system upon him,” the Minister began, but then he turned his attention again.

  “Agent Garden why are you still here?” the Minster snapped at the stunned MI6 director, who was still sat in his chair. The ex-director stood up shaking, and picked up his papers. He walked toward the door, opened it and stepped into the outer office. He paused as if he were about to speak. Tank stood up and walked toward him. He placed his huge hand gently against Garden’s chest and firmly pushed him through the door, and then he slammed the door shut on Garden’s face and career simultaneously.

  Tank took his seat at the table and nodded to the Minister, signalling him to continue.

  “Roman Kordinski will be detained under the prevention of terrorism act. His role as a spy or informer will not gift him any special privileges. I will arrange a further meeting with your agency directors at a later date to discuss future protocol,” the Minster was assertive in his manner and the Americans decided not to challenge his decision.

  “Now if we can move on, Major Timms where do we stand with the matter internationally?”

  “The arrest of Kordinski is going to affect the Kellesh issue,” the Major began, “whoever is holding the girl is going to realise that she is no longer of any value to Kordinski. Our theory is that the Russian government has given notice to all exiles, that their business interests within the Soviet Union will become state property. The sharp rise in Saudi crude oil prices could be a response to a kidnap demand. Kordinski could be trying to maximise his profits before he loses his oil revenue.”

  The Americans nodded in agreement with the Major’s theory. The US agencies had come to a similar conclusion. The Minster coughed dryly and took a sip of water.

  “What are our options to resolve the issue?” the Minister asked.

  “The Russian constitution does not
allow any business to be controlled from outside of the Union, if the directors are proved to be involved in criminal activity.”

  Tank looked at the faces round the table, and he deducted that most of the attendees had no idea where the meeting was headed. He wasn’t a hundred percent sure himself. The meeting was attended by covert agencies only. The only member of any government was the British Minister of Defence, which meant that no action requiring conventional allied forces could be proposed. Whatever was coming would require covert operations by clandestine agents. Tank’s sensory perception made his skin tingle with excitement, and he had a feeling that he would be at the centre of what was to come.