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

on them because it’s against the law not to inform the DVLA who you sell a vehicle to, but the family don’t seem too worried about not doing things by the book. The Prime Minister will deliver his main speech on Wednesday afternoon and he’s staying in the Midland for the duration.’

The food arrived for the other three SG9 operators. Reece waited until the waiter had left before he spoke again.

‘I’ll work with Mike and you three should work together and I want us all to be in contact at all times. For the rest of the day we should keep going over the ground, getting to know every inch of the ground.’

Reece continued to speak as they ate, ‘We can only speculate to the who and when, but we have no ideas on the how. Answer that and we can end this and go home to our own beds.’

He knew he was speaking to professionals, no sense in teaching them how to suck eggs when they already knew the game and what was needed.

‘Mike has joined us at great risk but I’ve asked her to come to Manchester for two reasons. One, so we could all meet as a team and get to know each other. Two, she knows Costello personally. Even though he may have changed his appearance, she knows how he moves how he walks, how he stands, how he dresses. The habits of a lifetime that are hard to change. It might mean Mike having to get close enough to put herself in danger. That’s where we come in. If she does point out Costello, we need to be ready, we need to be there. Not only to protect Mike and the Prime Minister but to make sure Costello and his friends don’t get away. Mike knows the dangers and she is willing to take the risk. Is everyone happy with this?’

‘That’s what we’re here for,’ said Harrison. ‘I hope the boss, the PM, and everyone else realises the risk we’re all running. If we could get a little more information that would help.’

‘Don’t worry, Steve, that’s what we’re working on. Everyone knows the risks. There are no guarantees, but the PM has decided he won’t hide from terrorism. It’s our job to do our best, that’s all we can do. Mike and I’ll go for a walk after lunch and walk off some of these fish and chips. I want you all to go back to the hanger for eight tonight for any update.’

‘Great. We will do a couple more runs around and we can all catch up later,’ said Harrison.

Reece stood. ‘Well, Mike, do you fancy a walk?’

‘Yes, that sound great.’

Leaving Weatherspoon’s, Reece walked in the direction across the front of the Town Hall Square. For a change it wasn’t raining, and the wind was slight, with the sun breaking through white clouds.

People were moving through the city, but it’s not as busy as London, he thought.

‘We can walk the whole block, so you’ll have a better feel for the place in case you’re on your own at any time. What did you think of the team?’

‘Scary and quiet, but I think strong too.’

‘Scary?’ He laughed. ‘I think they would love to hear that. If I met them cold like that for the first time, I would probably have to agree with you. The one thing to remember is they’re the best at what they do. They cover each other’s back, and now they’ll cover yours.’

They continued to walk down Deansgate and as they passed the front of the Hilton, Costello watched them from the café lounge through the tinted windows. The man was familiar to him, he was sure he’d seen him somewhere before. The woman he definitely knew.

‘So, Mary McAuley, what brings you here and who’s this man you’re with? I know him, but from where?’

He left the hotel and crossed the street to follow them; keeping at least one hundred yards behind. He watched them cross the road at the bottom of Deansgate and go into the railway station. He decided not to follow them further. Having travelled through the station himself he knew it was small with nowhere to hide, it was too open an area where he risked being seen. They might be getting a train or tram, they might even come back out, so he couldn’t hang around, he needed to get back to the hotel to call Lyndsey and put in an important call to Ireland.

Reece felt that sixth sense he’d felt many times before. He knew they were being watched and he’d studied the glass panel on the station wall and using its reflection he could see a man turn and go back the way they’d just come. He couldn’t see him clearly, and he could be jumping to conclusions, but Reece felt certain. The man had been following them, watching them, and he was wearing a dark baseball cap. By the time they were through the entrance and Reece could risk a look over his shoulder, the man was gone.

‘What is it?’ Mary asked.

‘I’m not sure. Stay here.’ Reece ran back down the station steps and across the road in the direction he’d seen the unknown man but there was no sign of him. He returned to where Mary was waiting and watching.

‘Nothing, and something, I don’t know for sure but let’s get back to the car.’

Reece took Mary a different route to the one they’d used, passing the Bridgewater Hall, and following the tram lines back to the Library Square. As they walked, he spoke to the team.

‘Alpha One to Alpha Team, I’m leaving Deansgate Station heading back to the car near the Library Square. An unknown male with a dark baseball cap was behind us for a while on Deansgate but did a U-turn, and might still be in