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

Looking out the window at the light below, Lyndsey understood what Costello was saying.

‘That’s why I live in the east. The cities are busy, but the people have time for each other, time to stop and talk, to look around, and to enjoy life. Anyway, one more drink and I’m off to bed what about you?’

‘Another Tom Collins.’

THURSDAY, 26 SEPTEMBER 2019

Chapter Twenty-eight

Reece and the SG9 team had spent the next morning getting to know the entire Deansgate area.

Reece had been thinking back to his first days of surveillance training with MI5 in London. As a young Special Branch officer, it had been part of the three-week course. On the first day, they’d each been given a copy of the ABC map guidebook to London and told to familiarise themselves with a specific part of the city. Reece had been allocated the Victoria section as this would be where he would be training day to day. Now he was doing the same in Deansgate, Manchester. Where were the bus stops, the taxi ranks, the car parks? Where was the security strong especially at the entrances and exits?

The team had worked first in the Land Rovers, finding their way around the one-way systems, then on foot, all the time getting used to each other’s voice in the earpiece each of them wore. Happy with the progress, Reece told the team to return to Barton where they could study the maps, aerial photography, and the only photos they had of Costello and Lyndsey. Reece phoned Jim Broad to bring him up to date. Broad had been in the communications room in London and had been listening in as they’d carried out their reconnaissance of the Manchester streets. Reece told him about the phone call from Mary.

‘She’s arriving in Manchester shortly. I’ll pick her up and drop her off at a hotel, probably in the Piccadilly area as all the hotels around the Conference are fully booked.’

‘I hope what she’s got will be worthwhile, David.’

‘I’m sure whatever she has will be more than we have right now. The more information we can get the better.’

‘OK, keep me updated. I have a meeting with Sir Martin Bryant at nine this evening and it will be good to have something to update him with. Call me if you need me or have something new.’

‘Will do.’

Reece told the team he was heading to the airport to pick up his agent and he would brief everyone at midnight.

‘Meanwhile, you should get some rest; it’s going to be a busy couple of days.’

He hated Manchester Airport. Its three terminals were always busy no matter what the time. He’d just parked up in the arrivals area for Terminal One when the text on his phone told him that Mary had arrived, and she’d be out in a few minutes. He’d talked about drop off and pickups at ports and train stations with Mary in the past. He would always be outside observing her coming and going making sure she was alone, that no one was following, or she hadn’t bumped into someone she knew on the journey.

The rain had stopped for now and as he stood by the Range Rover, he could see the front door of arrivals and saw Mary coming out pulling a small cabin bag. No one was following her. Since he’d spoken to her on the phone, he’d felt the anticipation of seeing her again, of being close to her, rising in him. Now, when he watched as she crossed to the carpark, his stomach turned, and his mouth was dry.

It had been even harder for him to concentrate on the job in hand when he could see her face and remember her voice in his thoughts. They hugged as friends would – close but not too close.

‘You look tired, Joseph.’

‘Tell me about.’ He laughed.

On the drive into the city she brought him up to date. The conversations she had with Maguire and O’Hagan was why she was here, why she had to see him, important enough to see him in person. He reassured her she’d been right to come. The change in Costello’s appearance and the fact he’d disappeared only helped to confirm he was already here. Not knowing what he looked like now worried him. It was already like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but this would make it almost impossible. He’d booked Mary into the Premier Inn in Piccadilly. It was a typical franchise hotel cheap but cheerful. Reece carried her bag to the room.

‘Have you eaten recently?’ he asked.

‘No, I’m famished.’

‘Me too. Let’s find somewhere to eat.’

They found a small café near the main Piccadilly Railway Station. The food was basic, and the café didn’t serve alcohol, so it was coffee for two to wash down the meal. Reece moved the conversation away from Costello. He could tell from her face the strain she was under.

‘When this is all over, I’ll show you the sights of Manchester.’

‘When this is all over I would rather you showed me the sights of somewhere warmer.’ She smiled.

There it was; that smile. His heart gave another little flutter. Once again, when he was with her, he had to force himself to be professional. Feelings get in the way, he thought.

She looked beautiful as always, dressed for business, not pleasure, this time, she still looked beautiful.

‘Right, we have a busy day tomorrow. Are you up for it?’

‘I’m up for it, as you say but what more can I do? I’ve told you all I know?’

‘I’ve interviewed Costello in the past. We have the most recent picture of him before his face lift. You’ve met him, you know him personally. Between us, we just might get lucky and see him before he