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

Reece grabbed his Barbour jacket from the back seat and slipped his gun into the pocket.

‘Alpha One, to control. I think we have our Asian hoodie. He came out of Henley Avenue, so we need to pay more attention to the residents there. There could be more of them in there, maybe even Costello and Lyndsey. I’ll follow our friend on foot, I’m sorry, but get Alpha Three and Four back here as soon as possible, no sleep for anyone today.’

‘Roger, Control, Alpha Two will stay and cover until backup gets here.’

‘Roger, Alpha One.’

‘Are you OK with all that, Joe?’ Reece asked.

‘No problem, David. Anything more comes out before help gets here, what do you want me to do?’

‘Do what you can to check it out, anything moving try to stay with it; the street won’t be going anywhere.’

‘Roger that. Will do.’

Reece left the vehicle and started walking at the same pace as the target who was now about fifty yards ahead on the opposite side of the main road. Reece was watching for signs that the target was conducting anti-surveillance techniques, but he didn’t appear to be. He was keeping a steady pace towards the junction at the railway bridge overpass. Reece pulled a tweed flat cap out of his pocket, it wasn’t much, but the cap was also good protection when following someone as it would make it difficult for the target to see the concentration on the face of someone in a crowd.

As Reece expected, the man stopped at the main junction and waited for the traffic lights to turn green before he crossed the road to the side Reece was on before turning right once more towards the railway footway underpass to the station. Reece held back until he was sure the man had entered the underpass.

‘Alpha One to Control, Tourist One now heading to the Irlam Railway station I will stay with him.’

‘Roger, Alpha One.’

Reece took the turning into the underpass following the path under the railway line above and walked up the stairs on to the platform. The station was very busy with a large band of early workers on the platforms on both sides of the tracks. Looking around slowly, Reece took in the faces and spotted Tourist One buying a ticket at the machine then walking to the front of the crowd to wait for the next train.

Reece took his time and slowly moved to the same machine and purchased a ticket that would cover his travel for the rest of the day, then he moved behind the target.  The man was about five-foot ten, with a lean build and smart appearance. His clothes looked like they’d been purchased from Marks and Spencer and he wore smart black shoes. The shoes were important and made Reece smile. They were not the kind of shoes for walking long distances, more for working in an office environment. To Reece this meant unless Tourist One was stupid he wasn’t going to be walking far today, and that was OK by Reece.

When the train arrived, the loudspeaker announced that it was the nine fifty to Manchester Piccadilly, calling at Manchester Deansgate. Tourist One boarded the middle of the three carriages by the forward doors, Reece boarded the same carriage at the rear doors. The carriage was packed, and it was standing room only, the passengers from Irlam filling the aisle almost to capacity. Reece could easily observe Tourist One for the journey. He faced forward throughout the trip, speaking to no one and Reece could see him move towards the exit doors when the train started to slow on its approach to Deansgate.

When the carriage stopped, and the passengers alighted from the train, Reece followed Tourist One over the walkway and down the steps then a sharp left street level. Reece followed him at the same pace from fifty yards behind.

‘Alpha One to Control. Tourist One took the train from Irlam and we got off at Deansgate. We’re on foot heading towards the city centre.’

‘Roger, Alpha One. The rest of the team now in Irlam maintaining observation.’

Where are you going, pretty boy? thought Reece. He walked with his right hand in his pocket feeling the grip of the Smith and Wesson helping to reassure him. There were fewer people on the street and Reece made a point of not gaining on his target and walking to his left rear as most people in Britain are right handed, they’ll look over their right shoulder when turning around to see if anyone is behind them, this would leave Reece in the targets blind side. If the target did turn to his left, Reece would definitely know he was looking for followers, Tourist One was making no effort to turn. Reece assessed that Tourist One was sure of where he was walking to, and that he wasn’t carrying anything of concern, his steps continued in a set direction with the walk of a man who had no cares no fears.

‘Tourist One now walking past the Bridgewater Hall following the tram tracks towards the Midland following the security barriers on the outside of the Conference Centre.’

‘Roger, Alpha One.’

‘Bloody hell he’s just turned towards the main security entrance to the Conference, wait out.’

Broad stared at the speakers in the comms section of the hanger trying to imagine what Reece was seeing and reporting, the rest of the room was silent.

‘Alpha Control, you’re not going to fucking believe this but Tourist One just produced a Conference Pass and went through the security checks into the Conference Hall itself. I closed the distance between us; if he’d made a wrong move, he’s one of the bloody delegates. I’m heading to the security suite within the building to see if I can get him on CCTV, will phone you when I get there.’

‘Roger, Alpha One, I await