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

comms there which will save time. No sense in me getting a breakdown here and then having to contact you. Have you the means to work that?’

‘Yes, no problem, that’ll be helpful. The team have been following that one guy around the Conference and then the Deansgate area all day as you know. We don’t think he’s contacted anyone other than by phone earlier. He’s currently sitting having a meal in a Chinese restaurant in China Town and we have people covering him. We have the troop on standby in Irlam at what we think is the safe house ready to move in close later tonight, so I believe we’ve at least two of their people covered.’

‘What about Irlam, Jim? Are you thinking of hitting the house?’

‘Not for now. We’ll try to get close enough to find out who’s in there first, but I think we’re getting close to the end game. If there’s people in there and they’re the kind of people we believe they are, then we can’t let them leave and get mixed up with the public.’

‘Agreed, but if we move too soon and the rest of the terrorist outfit are already gone, we may only get the small fry and the big fish will disappear. It’s something we have to think about. Either way, call me back before you make your move. If I get anything more, I’ll let you know right away. I’ll bring Bryant and the PM up to date. I also think that now we have Costello and at least one other close to the Conference area we should get the Gold Commander and the Prime Minister’s security team to beef up their cover. I know we expect Costello to make his move tomorrow, but I don’t like him being this close without an actual location or eyes on him.’

‘Agreed…but an increase in cover needs to be discreet not the Normandy Landing. I still think Costello is working to a schedule so let’s give our teams a little more time.’

‘Thanks, Jim, I’ll keep in touch.’

The call ended, Broad studied the electronic maps on the wall once more one of China Town and one of Irlam both with a red dot showing exactly where he believed, at least two dangerous terrorists were currently located. Blue dots showed the locations of the SG9 team in Manchester and the SAS team in Irlam.

‘Tourist One on the move,’ April Grey broke through the silence in the room.

‘Roger that, all teams be aware,’ replied the comms operator.

The next voice over the network was that of Reece.

‘Alpha One, I have him. By the look of things, he’s heading back towards the Conference area. Alpha Two can you cover the foot approach to the front of the Midland Hotel, Alpha Four stay mobile in case we need vehicle cover.’

‘Roger, Alpha One’ replied both agents.

The voice of Broad broke in on the conversation.

‘Alpha teams from Control. We have been informed by our friends that there are at least two more, including Costello, in your area. GCHQ have picked up a couple of text messages which indicate they may be holed up somewhere close to the Conference Centre so be aware. If they get anything concrete will let you know.’

Reece acknowledged receipt of the new information and continued to follow Tourist One as he walked straight by the Conference entrance and the front of the Midland Hotel.

Where are you off to now? thought Reece.

‘Tourist One continuing on Peter Street past the Midland,’ reported Grey, who was ahead of the target on the opposite side of the road.

‘He’s stopping and taking out his phone.’ Reece could see him clearly from where he’d stopped with Mary outside the Midland front entrance.

‘Now talking to someone, Alpha Four, can you come in from your end in case we need the help?’ asked Reece.

‘Roger, on my way,’ Harrison replied.

Tourist One finished his call and started walking in the direction of Deansgate at the junction with Watson Street he turned left.

‘I have Tourist One,’ Harrison’s voice spoke clearly over the air.

Now it was the turn of Jim Broad.

‘Alpha Team, be aware your target has just spoken to a woman. He told her he was almost there. She replied she’d buzz him in. Looks like he is going to be meeting with his buddies, so stay on him.’

This was the time when the adrenalin would be pumping up in the watcher’s systems. Now they were close anything could happen. Mary couldn’t hear both sides of the conversation, but she’d been with him long enough to recognise the change in his voice when he spoke.

‘On your toes, people, looks like our fox is going to ground.’

Reece kept up a steady pace fifty yards behind the target with April Grey behind Reece, catching up on the opposite side of the street. Harrison gave another update.

‘Tourist One using intercom on the front of an apartment building. Now going in and waiting at lift, will try to get closer.’

As Reece and Mary followed, Grey reached the left turn that Tourist One had taken. Harrison walked over to meet with them.

‘He went into that block of apartments. It’s called the Great Northern Tower, after the square in front of it, I guess. He was buzzed in. I can only say the lift definitely went up.’

‘Great work, Steve, at least we know he’s probably in there with Costello and a woman, so three here, and two in Irlam. Let’s lock this down and see if we can zero in on what apartment they’re in. Alpha One to control, did you get all that?’

‘Roger that, Alpha One. I’m happy that we have this team narrowed down to two locations. Now we need to find out exactly which apartment they’re in. I’ll do some research here and keep an ear for more phone use and