A Real Job

by David Lowe

  ‘Yes. I tried to call you yesterday, but you must have had your mobile switched off and your home phone went onto the answer phone.’

  ‘I took a few days leave and went up to the Lakes with Chloe for the weekend. We switched the mobiles off as we literally wanted a few days away from work. With what happened on Wednesday I suppose I should have kept it on.’

  ‘Don’t worry about it. Certain events happened over the weekend that caused Steve and I to go to Reilly’s Bar yesterday to see Jimmy.’

  ‘Oh Davey, why? You know since RIPA, you need authority from at least a DI to act as handler if you go to see informants. I know old habits die hard, but one old habit that should be eradicated by now is experienced detectives going off to see their informants without the authority of a handler.’

  ‘I know, but it was serious.’

  Sensing something was on David’s mind, George said, ‘What would have happened if you got put into a compromising position? No matter how serious it was, you’d be fucked. I won’t go on about it as I noticed you were very quiet this morning. I’ve known you long enough to know that something’s troubling you. Understandably with what happened, I can see McCrossan’s playing on your mind.’

  ‘It’s not just McCrossan who’s playing on my mind, I saw O’Byrne and McElvaney while I was in Liverpool. I really do need to speak to you about it. Have you got a minute before we see Edge?’

  ‘No, we’re late as the briefing overran a little and I don’t want to start upsetting him at the moment by keeping him waiting, but if you saw those two as well, no wonder you looked so preoccupied. We’ll go to the coffee shop round the corner after we’ve spoken to Edge and you tell me everything then. Before I brief Edge put my mind at rest, you and Steve haven’t been off doing your own thing have you?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Good as we and you in particular are to leave that investigation to SO15 and Jenny Richmond at MI5.’ George paused by the door to Detective Superintendent Edge’s office for a moment and quietly said, ‘Let me do the talking. I don’t want any sarcastic comments from you that will wind him up. And that’s an order.’

  David mockingly raised his right hand to his forehead to salute George saying, ‘Yes sir. I understand fully sir!’

  George knocked on the door. After hearing a curt ‘come in’ from Paul Edge, the officers entered the room and stood at the doorway to the office. Without looking up from the reports on his desk, he beckoned both officers to sit down. Not giving any eye contact, he continued to read the report in his hand as the two officers sat down opposite his desk. For a couple of minutes Edge did not say a word. In an attempt to assert his authority, he would regularly pretend to read documents with the aim of making junior ranking officers wait in an uncomfortable silence before they got his attention.

  While going through this familiar charade, Hurst looked around the office that to him was typical of an office housing a senior officer insecure in themselves. The pale coloured emulsion painted walls were bedecked with class photographs from courses Edge attended at the police college at Bramshill, plaques with police badges from other forces in the UK and abroad and framed certificates. Hurst looked for any new additions. Working his way to the right from the framed certificate that said simply ‘pass in police studies’ from the John Jay police college in New York with an NYPD badge above the certificate, that he knew was basically a four week jolly. There was one from junior command course at Bramshill and one from a project management course, also from Bramshill. They were all neatly hung above a bookshelf containing a small number of criminology books. From the pristine condition of the book’s spines Hurst knew they had never been read and were there to impress callers to Edge’s office. On seeing a new certificate in a cheap plastic gold coloured frame confirming Edge’s recent promotion to superintendent it grated on Hurst. It was a promotion obtained on the back of his team’s work on the dirty bomb attack in the north of England and the Chechen attack in London Edge had little involvement with. When he did, due to his incompetency, Edge was sidelined to play a minimal role in the operation.

  Having a sly glance over his paperwork, Edge saw Hurst looking at the certificates. He knew they did not impress the DS, who had a degree in criminology and was studying for PhD. There was no love lost between the two officers. As David Hurst had to study part time, Edge tried to make it as hard as possible for him to attend university by giving him tasks to carry out in the late afternoon and early evening when Hurst’s university sessions were running.

  On finishing reading the report, he slowly placed it down on his desk and looked up at the two officers. Scowling at David, he turned to look at George and said, ‘I’ve asked DCI Johnson to join us so he’s up to speed with this West Yorks job. As you’re looking after the DC they sent over as liaison officer, George make sure it’s the more sober and better behaved members of Hurst’s team that chaperone him out of hours around the city. I don’t want any unwarranted tales of how I run this ISB office going back over the Pennines.’

  ‘You can ask me directly sir. I am sitting right in front of you,’ David said.

  ‘I asked George as you’re one of the officers I don’t want looking after him,’ Edge said.

  ‘Nice to see that you still have the highest regard towards me boss. Are you not going to ask me how I am after being shot at on Wednesday?’ David asked.

  ‘No. I have the SO15 report in front of me and that’s all I need. I can see you’re in one piece and as you’re sat here, I take it you’re fit for work. From what I read of the shooting incident, once again I see you and Adams went off doing your own thing. You didn’t request back up and you were off your own patch. Reading between the lines, you got what you deserved. It’s only been a few weeks since you returned to work after your injury and from now on I want you to toe the line. Do I make myself clear?’ Edge said.

  Before Hurst would come back with a reply likely to enrage the detective superintendent, George said, ‘I’ll make sure he does sir.’

  ‘See to it George before he does something that’ll ruin all our carers, not just his,’ Edge said picking up another report from the in-tray on his desk.

  ‘Do you want to wait for Tim to arrive before David and I update you on this new job that’s come in from West Yorks?’ George asked trying to change the subject before a row ensued between his DS and the detective superintendent.

  ‘I know he’s sorting out Baskin’s investigation. He said he might be a few minutes late so you may as well make a start.’

  ‘First I’m glad David and Steve Adams returned in full health after the injuries they sustained in that Chechen job,’ George said.

  Paul Edge turned to David and said, ‘Adding that incident onto last Wednesday’s shooting, I just hope it’s taught you a lesson not to be so impetuous in future and to start doing things by the book.’

  ‘Oh yes sir it has. I have fully learnt my lesson. I mean, if I’d done things by the book and waited for back up to arrive with that Chechen job, Steve would now be six feet under and you’d still be a DCI. It’s the last reason that’s caused me to regret me using my initiative. It certainly taught me that I should play by the book sir.’

  ‘Don’t fucking start Hurst. For Christ’s sake in the few weeks since you returned to work from your injury, you’ve been insubordinate more times than I care to mention,’ Edge said snarling at David.

  ‘I’ve not been insubordinate sir. I’ve only passed on my observations and opinions. And you did just ask me if I had learnt anything from what happened,’ David said adding in a surly tone, ‘sir!’.

  ‘Don’t come the smart arse with me.’ Not wanting to enter into a discussion with the DS, Edge looked at his watch and said, ‘George just get on with the update on the West Yorks job.’

  George repeated the main facts he gave to David’s team in the briefing and David informed Pau
l Edge he was arranging a shift rota for the surveillance including the observations at the targets’ respective workplaces as well as the address in Prestwich adding he would submit the authorities to conduct covert surveillance with the chief constable once their meeting had finished. Knowing Hurst was an officer the chief constable respected, Edge contorted his face even further to show his dislike for the DS. On finishing the briefing George and David got up to leave his office, but just before he left the room, David said to Edge, ‘Seeing how it’s the first chance we’ve had to talk since I came back from my injury, thanks for asking sir. When I got injured it hurt like hell for the first few weeks but I’m feeling much better now.’

  Showing disinterest, without acknowledging David’s presence, Edge picked up another file and for a few seconds started to thumb through it. Looking up at David, he said, ‘Close the door on your way out.’

  ‘You arrogant shit.’ David slammed the door to Paul Edge’s office and ran a few paces down the corridor to catch up with George.

  As the door shut George turned round and said, ‘Leave it, forget him and go sort out Steve and the rest of your team while I go and order the coffees. I’ll meet you in ten minutes.’

  * * *

  Seeing David enter the coffee shop, George raised his hand to show David where he was sitting. David reciprocated the gesture and walked over to the table to join George who shoved a coffee in his direction, ‘Here you are. A triple espresso and you should’ve seen the look the bloke behind the counter gave me when I took half a dozen sachets of that brown sugar you’re so partial to. Now what’s up?’

  ‘Seeing McCrossan’s only part of the story. As you know, Debbie and I went to my parents at the weekend to celebrate Peter becoming a QC. On Saturday morning I went with Debbie, Siobhan and me Mum to the market. We were in a café when I saw Rory O’Byrne arguing with a stallholder right outside the café. One thing that’s stuck in my mind from the war in Ireland was the times PIRA told us how they don’t make threats only promises. Me and Debbie followed him while Debbie got a couple of MI5 officers to tail him. I thought that would be it then I joined my Dad in his local to watch the England game when in walked O’Byrne and McElvaney. I thought they were going to get me so I confronted the bastards. Basically I told them to get out of the pub. They refused, so I forced them out of the pub and told them not to come near me or mine again.’

  ‘When you say “you forced them out of the pub” I take it you mean that you had a fight? Did you fight both of them on your own?’ George asked thinking this could have been a set up by the Irishmen and the possible ramifications of a complaint being made about one of his officers fighting with the two men.

  ‘Well yes, it was a fight, but a couple of the lads who live by Dad’s were in the pub and gave me a hand in sorting them out.’

  ‘This is starting to sound like a scene from a John Wayne western. What damage did you and your drinking associates do to them?’

  ‘After head-butting and ramming O’Byrne’s head on the bar, I think I broke his nose and as well as cuts on his head, he may have a couple of broken ribs. McElvaney may struggle to have any more kids and he took a few blows to the ribs as well. It was in self-defence, honest. O’Byrne went to hit me so I got in there first. McElvaney was coming at me with a broken glass when one of the pub regulars stopped him.’

  ‘If they’re here legitimately and make a complaint of assault, this is just the ammunition Edge needs. Regardless of the SO15 investigation into Irish dissident groups and McCrossan shooting at you and Steve, if he gets his way, it won’t be you out of the Branch, it’ll be you out of the police. Why didn’t you just walk out of the pub?’

  ‘This is the point I’m coming to. Debbie contacted Craig MacDonald and got a couple of MI5 officers to tail them. They’re staying at a flat close to the safe house we first came across in the nineties. As a result of Debbie doing some more digging yesterday, we believe they could be checking out the Liverpool area for one of the Irish dissident groups. Jimmy told me O’Byrne and McElvaney are working for some bloke based in Cheshire. On top of that, since Wednesday SO15 have McCrossan as their number one target. Although he hasn’t been seen since he had a pop at me and Steve, as a result of their enquiries they’ve found out he’s changed address in London. They turned over four addresses last Friday but drew a blank. When I was speaking to Ben Solaru from SO15, he said that while they’ve not seen McCrossan they’re getting closer to finding him. That may help in finding out what O’Byrne and McElvaney are up to.’

  ‘OK first things first. Keep your fingers crossed O’Byrne and McElvaney don’t go running to the local police,’ George said concerned for his DS, ‘They could have been setting you up. Going into the pub they knew it would wind you up and you’ve given them just the ammunition they need to cause you problems and, if need be, get you out of the way. I have to admit, it seems more than a coincidence that these three have popped up within days of each other. What else did Jimmy O’Leary have to say?’

  ‘Not much. He had no idea McCrossan was this side of the Irish Sea. It was him who text me during the briefing. I rang him on my way here and he wants a meet later this morning as he’s found out some information that he thinks could be useful.’

  ‘Well you’d better go and see him and take Steve with you. I’ll do a report that you contacted me yesterday and I sanctioned your meet with O’Leary yesterday and today. Don’t worry. I’ll act as handler,’

  ‘I’m sorry about this morning but I didn’t want to miss Jimmy getting in touch.’

  ‘I realise that now. As much as I didn’t want to, I had to make a show of you in front of the others, especially with having Jerry over from West Yorks.’

  ‘Don’t worry George, I know that.’

  ‘What time’s the meet with O’Leary?’

  ‘Half ten at the Starbucks in St. Anne’s Square.’

  ‘Does he want paying?’

  ‘We never mentioned money and in the past he’s never wanted paying.’

  ‘I just hope this isn’t the start of mainland campaign by the Irish’

  ‘It could be,’ David said taking a sip of his coffee, ‘when I go over to Ireland to see my relatives with Mayo and Sligo being close to the border with the north, I still get the odd comment alerting me to the fact it’s not all a bed of roses over there since the Good Friday agreement. There are some youngsters who missed out on their chance to fight for the cause and there are a couple of old PIRA operatives struggling to make a legitimate living. If you ask me, the embers of dissent in Ireland could easily be ignited and become a major flame sweeping through parts of Ireland, especially in the north. You only have to look at events over the last few years, the killing of the PSNI bobby in Omagh, the bombings in Derry and the declaration by the Real IRA that they will kill more PSNI bobbies and they want to kill the Queen. Only recently the PSNI have arrested a number of Real IRA suspects including that job in south Armagh where the PSNI also found explosives and firearms. On top of that was the Michael Campbell job where Campbell was caught in a sting operation by Lithuanian police and British security officers buying explosives and firearms for the Real IRA in Lithuania.

  ‘As I can’t stop thinking about it, it’s affecting my focus on this West Yorks job. I was wondering if you could pull me off it and give me a few days grace to help SO15 with their investigation. I’m not hopeful Debbie will uncover concrete intelligence in the next day or two. I’ve no idea what Jimmy’s got for me and whatever he passes on this morning will need verifying. Surely being a possible target should be enough for you to swing it?’

  ‘Not with Edge. I’ll have to have a think about how I can get you off from the West Yorks job for a few days while you chase up this Irish angle. I could work on phrasing it in such a way Edge would have no choice but to give you a week to follow up these Irish lads so you can see what they’re up to.’

/>   ‘That’s all I’m asking for. If you could give me a week and let me borrow Steve, you can have Alex Bullard acting DS. She’s got enough service and experience behind her and she has passed the sergeants’ exam. I’m not saying that you have her acting DS for the week, but in my absence she can run the show with the Al Qaeda doctor and dentist for a week. If anything significant happens you can easily recall Steve and I.’

  ‘Well, she was acting for the five months you were off while that hip of yours got mended and she did a great job running the team. I could contact Craig MacDonald and get him to tell Paul Edge that you have to go to London for a few days for a meeting in chambers with the barrister who is prosecuting the Chechen job. That trial’s in a few weeks isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘Also I could bullshit Paul Edge and tell him that you’re also chasing up a few leads with SO15 and Thames House over our doctor and dentist. The trouble is, we’re not leading this investigation and the Senior Investigating Officer is the head of West Yorks ISB. I know her very well. If I ask her as a favour to play along, she’ll do it just in case Edge tries to check up what you’re up to, something he’s likely to do for no other reason than he hates your guts.’

  Chapter Nine

  Starbucks Coffee Shop, St. Anne’s Square,

  Manchester city centre, Monday,

  2nd July, 10.35 hours

  ‘Sorry we’re late Jimmy. Do you want a refill?’ David asked as he and Steve joined Jimmy O’Leary in the coffee shop in St. Anne’s Square.

  ‘You’re not that late boys, but another large cappuccino would go down nicely. Make sure there’s plenty of those chocolate sprinkles on the top,’ Jimmy said as Steve sat next to him while David made his way to the counter.

  ‘Have you got anything useful for us?’ Steve asked.

  ‘All in good time. How are you doing yourself?’

  ‘Not bad thanks Jimmy, and you?’