Tested by Fire by David Costa (the little red hen read aloud TXT) 📗

The temperature this time of year still wasn’t cold enough for a heavy coat so jeans and a light sweater under her green Barbour jacket covered all the points needed. Deansgate always seemed to have a gale force wind blowing down it but once you entered any of the side streets or squares, this died down and it could be pleasant again. She met Mohammad in a café that looked across the square at The Great Northern Tower Apartments.

The great thing about cities everywhere, she thought, was that no one pays attention to anyone else anymore. They are all lost in their own little worlds. They either had their heads down stuck in a screen or in deep conversation with someone else to the total exclusion to everything going on around them. Lyndsey was sure that this must make it very difficult for someone involved in surveillance. To blend in they would have to make themselves invisible to the people they were following. She supposed it could work the other way if she showed she was looking for surveillance following her and not blending in with the crowd making them aware she was being aware. It was a strange and dangerous game that the fox and hounds played out. One she’d played out on two continents coming close to capture occasionally and having to shoot one of the hounds when she was cornered in Mombasa. That was why her shoulder bag felt a little heavier. The .38 pistol added the extra weight but made her feel more secure. For now, she was sure there were no hounds.

‘As you can see from here,’ said Mohammad over his coffee, ‘the security for the apartments starts at the main entrance door with push button access. I’ve checked the square and there doesn’t seem to be any CCTV coverage of the door. I passed by the door earlier and there appears to be a camera inside covering the entrance. I think that’s so the people inside can see who has buzzed their apartment allowing them to buzz anyone in.’

‘While we’ve been sitting here, I’ve seen a few people coming and going,’ said Lyndsey. ‘How do we get in there when the time comes?’

‘I’ve been thinking about that. I would suggest I knock on a few doors advertising my agency and hopefully I’ll get inside one for a look around. I would pay special attention to the apartments where we’d like the operation to go down from.’

‘It sounds easy enough but what about your exposure, your face, your business card?’

‘Don’t worry, my days here are numbered anyway and this operation will be the one to expose all our comrades whether they like it or not. We will shake their foundations so deeply they would find me, so it’s home to Tehran and my family.’

‘Worst-case scenario, we go in the night before and take over the apartment and wait. All we’d need is two people: Sean and one other.’

‘It would have to be me. With my agency credentials, I would be able to give Sean the cover he needs to get in.’

‘No, we need you in the Midland and the Conference area, inside the security cordon. You can update Sean when the Prime Minister and his detail are moving towards the target area. There’s no photo on your business card so Imtaz can pretend to be you and go in with Sean the night before.’

‘What about you and Waheed, what will you be doing?’

‘Don’t worry I’ve been thinking about that, let’s just say I have a contingency plan which I’ll explain when we next meet up. Right now, I’ll finish my coffee, have another walk around, and meet Sean for a cocktail. You keep looking for ways to get us in that building. The easier the better, but no matter what we’ll be in there and ready.’

Not for the first time was Mohammad impressed by this woman. Her determination, her coolness, her total commitment to the cause and the task at hand. He had no doubt she was ruthless; ruthless enough to kill anyone who got in the way.

 

 

Chapter Twenty-seven

Costello sipped his Tom Collins, the gin refreshing. To his surprise, Lyndsey had settled for a fresh orange juice with plenty of ice. From where they sat next to the window, they had a panoramic view of the city at night. The drink added to the whole feeling of calm. Lyndsey had even smiled once or twice, something he couldn’t remember seeing from her for a long time. Maybe she was starting to feel more relaxed.

‘I’m glad I got here early enough to get the full lie of the land before they sealed it off.’

Lyndsey brought him up to date and what Mohammad would be doing to get them access to the apartments.

‘Imtaz is OK, I don’t think Waheed likes me,’ said Costello.

‘Waheed will do as he is told. He has a strong, built-in hatred of the West since his uncle died. He hates everything with the West, but he’ll do his job, as we all will. Now that the security is being increased around the Conference, we all need to be more surveillance aware. I have no doubt there’ll be the extra vigilance and CCTV coverage.’

‘I’ve already made a note of the CCTV. I know where they’re placed and the area they cover, even the cameras in here.’

‘I know. Where we’ll slip up is if we draw attention to ourselves, so we need to blend in and avoid being seen, that’s what the camera operators will be looking for: something different. Ordinary Joe Public will be unaware of our presence until it’s too late. They’re too lost in their own little insignificant worlds to realise what’s going on around them. I’ve seen it before in Mumbi and Africa.’

Costello smiled understanding, but his eyes showed nothing.

‘That’s why I’m a country boy at heart.