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

All I could pick up was see you there at five. His accent was local I think.’

‘You done great, we’ll make an agent of you yet.’

‘I thought I already was.’

‘You are, Mary, you definitely are. By the look of things, he is heading back into the Conference so you just head for the Town Hall Café and I’ll meet you there shortly.’

‘OK, Joseph, see you soon.’

Tourist One returned to the Conference Centre the way he’d left and entered back through the security tent.

Reece and Grey followed, and he sent April to watch with Jonesy in the security suite. It was now 2.35 p.m. and from what Mary had heard, something would be happening around five.

Not long to wait, another few hours, and the picture should start to clear once more, he thought. Imtaz had returned to the safe house with the food and made himself and Waheed a lunch of beans on toast with a mug of coffee.

‘While you were out, Mohammad phoned. He said all is on schedule. The security is strong in and around the Conference itself but less so the further he walked away from it.’

‘If we go to Piccadilly, we’ll be far enough away but there might be more security at the station.’

‘I’m not worried about security. We can kill them too. We have the guns, the knives, and the bombs. Many infidels will die, and Allah will be happy with us.’

 

 

Chapter Fifty-two

They had booked out of the room and left their bags in a locked storeroom behind reception. Lyndsey had gone out for a walk and some fresh air and now he could see her through the glass windows at the front of the hotel speaking on the phone, the call only lasting a few minutes before she came back into the building and sat down opposite Costello.

‘I just had a call from Mohammad. He says he has booked the handover of the keys at 5 p.m. He has also been inside the Conference this morning and there does not appear to be any increase in the security other than what you would normally expect. I’ll collect the keys then leave on my own and go to the apartments, he’ll follow ten minutes later. I’ll phone you when we’re both inside the apartment then we can buzz you in when you arrive.’

‘Is there any change for the boys in Irlam?’

‘No. As of now they’re working on their own. They have their own part to play in this, so we leave them to get on with it.’

Mary had been waiting for Reece, sitting in a table near the high windows, she’d been reading a leaflet with information about the building when he sat opposite her.

‘You know it’s called The Sculpture Hall Café and they do fantastic afternoon tea,’ said Mary.

‘Then let’s do afternoon tea I could do with another bite the last couple of sandwiches were rushed and not very tasty to tell the truth.’

‘What happened to our friend?’ asked Mary.

‘He’s back inside the Conference Centre. Can you remember anything else he said during his phone conversations?’

‘No, not really. He spoke quietly and quickly, and he was facing away from me the whole time looking out onto the street. I tried to be as natural as possible and even though I’m stunningly beautiful, he paid no attention to me.’

‘I can’t believe that, Mary, you’re stunning,’ he said with a smile.

She returned the smile and reaching, across the table, took his hand in hers.

‘What next, what happens now?’

‘I don’t know, but he’s more than just a tourist or a delegate and it would appear he is the link to the rest of the team we were looking for. We stay close to him and the rest will lift their heads I’m sure of it, we already have at least one more in Irlam and the boys are keeping an eye on him. Either way we should know more tonight, and we can start to make our moves to wrap this up.’

‘Do you think Costello is in Irlam?’

‘I don’t know. But the fact that Tourist One made at least three phone calls would indicate their team is split at the moment, which is something I would do in the same situation if it was me, this gives more options and less chance of the whole team being captured at the same time.’

Mary poured the tea and between bites of food continued the conversation.

‘So, the plan is to capture them alive?’

‘If we can. But that is really up to them, to what they do. Our job is to stop them no matter what and if that means we kill them, then we kill them.’

‘Or they kill us.’

‘We always used to have a saying when I worked in Northern Ireland, our gang’s bigger than your gang. We have to get these people, we have to stop them, and well, they just don’t know it yet. For now, let’s not think about it too much; let’s enjoy this wonderful afternoon tea and the company.’

‘I agree, Joseph, but I’ll have to do some serious exercise to get rid of all these goodies and cream. You aren’t looking as tired now, maybe it’s the fresh cream perk up?’ She smiled.

‘I think the walk about helped but just being in your company helps.’

This time he reached across for her hand and as he did so his mobile buzzed in his pocket. Reece could see from the screen that it was Jim Broad who was calling.

‘Yes, boss.’

‘Ah, David, I believe Tourist One is still at the Conference Centre, but we now believe he’ll be on the move to meet up with someone around five. Do you need any other backup in case you have two or more targets to follow?’

‘Good idea, can we get