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

mobile phones then press the send button. The explosions and following confusion should give us the cover we need to escape the area. If you feel you can’t get back, try to return to your own city and home.’

‘I’ll gladly offer my life for Allah, all praise to his name,’ said Waheed.

‘Me too,’ said Imtaz.

Costello thought Imtaz looked a little more frightened at the thought of being a living sacrifice.

‘If we kill the British Prime Minister and hundreds of people, we’ll need all the angels on our side to get away, that’s for sure,’ said Costello.

Costello felt the buzz from his mobile phone in his pocket. Mohammad had already done his usual security scan, so he answered when he saw the number.

‘John Jo, how are you?’

‘Oh yes, hi, Sean, it’s me, OK. Got a bit of information for you. Sorry it took so long, it took me a bit of time to track down Mary’s mum. People are still very suspicious when someone starts asking questions. She lives in the Beechmount area on her own.’

‘What have you got for me, John Jo?’

‘Well, I told them that an old friend of Mary’s had died and as I was up in the city for the day, I thought I’d call with her and tell her if she didn’t already know. She told me Mary lives on the Lisburn Road, she didn’t have the number, but Mary had phoned her a few days ago to say she’d be away for a while and would call her when she got back. Does that make sense to you?’

‘Yes, that would add up.’

‘She believed my story, so she gave me Mary’s number. I’ll text it to you now.’

‘That’s great, John Jo, I owe you one. If you hear anymore, give me a bell.’

‘Will do, bye for now.’

The phone went dead and almost immediately, the text with Mary McAuley’s number appeared on the screen.

 

 

Chapter Forty

When he parked the van at the airport, Costello thought that even he would have a problem finding it again in what looked like the biggest car park in the world. He made a special note of what lane and section the van was in in case he needed to find it in the dark in a hurry. He was thankful that all being well, he’d be coming back to find it in daylight.

He walked to the Radisson Hotel about a mile from where he’d parked up. A good distance for security purposes. He could check for surveillance and the van was far enough from the hotel it wasn’t obvious where he was if the security forces found it. Had he flown out of the country, they would wonder, and if not, it’d be like finding a needle in a haystack.

Rain was falling, so he pulled his coat closed, slipping the Browning pistol into his right-hand pocket…the cold steel comforting in his grip. It reassured him knowing this was the final stages of the operation. He was happier now that the action was close. He felt more in control…this was his world now.

Lyndsey was sitting in the foyer of the hotel when he entered. They kissed each other on the cheek then he sat opposite her.

‘No problems getting here then, you’re parked up OK?’

‘No problems. No one following, and you were right, safely lost in a car park for the night.’

I know someone who won’t sleep tonight, he thought. Before he’d left Irlam, he couldn’t resist calling the number John Jo had sent him. When the woman answered, he recognised her Newry accent.

‘Hello, Mary. Surprised to hear from me?’

He could hear her breathing, the hesitation in her voice as she spoke.

‘Who is this?’

‘I think you know, Mary. I just called to let you know I saw you and your friend today. It took me a while to figure out where I’d seen him before, your Special Branch friend.’

‘Who are you? I don’t know what you’re talking about?’

‘Don’t worry, you’ll be seeing me soon, you and your friend.’

The call had only lasted seconds not long enough to get a trace but just long enough to give her and her friend a message.

‘I could do with a bite… I will order a plate of sandwiches for the room. What floor are we on?’

‘The third, room 302.’

‘I’ll have a quick wash then a bit of kip.’

Ten miles away, in a field near Warrington, Mohammad had parked the BMW. He knew that a short distance away was the small train station of Glazebrook where he could catch a train in fifteen minutes that would take him to Irlam.

Plenty of time to do what he needed to and get to the station. He was sure no one had seen him turn into the field and the darkness would give him the cover he needed. Taking out the tea towel he’d brought from the Irlam safe house, he opened the petrol cap and stuffed the towel in as far as he could, then, using the lighter brought for the job, lit the piece of towel hanging outside. Making sure it was well alight, he turned and walked towards the road and, turning left, he walked the short distance to the station. Halfway there, he heard the loud explosion and saw the sky light up in the darkness as the car turned into a fireball.

 

 

Chapter Forty-one

The call to the Warrington Police Station from a disturbed resident said there had been an explosion near Glazebrook the small village on the edge of the Warrington Police Divisional Boundary with Greater Manchester Police. Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Connor, Cheshire Constabulary was old school, you always keep your senior boss up to date, and there was no one more senior than his Chief Constable so he was the first call.

‘Kevin, I’ll contact the