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

no doubt in his mind that he could hit every target he’d looked at in the head, with a follow up to the main torso, in plenty of time before the target crossed the open ground to safety. He’d kept the sliding glass doors slightly open, so there was no need for movement which might be seen from the ground in daylight. This had made the room cold, so all three were wearing a coat over their clothes, even with the central heating on full blast the room was freezing at this time of the early morning, before any warming winter sun had risen in the sky. This was also why they were on to their third pot of coffee.

‘I think I’ll leave now and get a full English breakfast in one of the cafés, without the bacon,’ said Mohammad. ‘I’ll text when I’m through security and into the Conference area.’

Lyndsey looked at her phone and noticed she had no signal. ‘My phone signal has dropped out must be a problem.’

Both men checked their phones noting the same problem.

‘All right,’ said Lyndsey ‘Let’s not panic, it could be a local problem but let’s not take any chances. Mohammad, you go ahead with the plan, go get your breakfast, get yourself a newspaper. If all is OK and you’re happy you’re not compromised, exit the hotel’s rear door. If you think there is a problem, open the paper as if you’re going to read it. If you do sense danger, we’ll pull out and you do the same. It would be better to live for another chance than to get caught unnecessarily.’

‘What about Imtaz and Waheed?’ asked Costello.

‘They will be martyrs to the cause and the distraction they’ll make will help us retire to fight another day. Their deaths wouldn’t be in vain, they’ll strike a great blow in the name of Allah,’ replied Lyndsey.

‘Mohammad, walk out of the door at 9 a.m. exactly. I don’t want to be bent down looking through the scope for hours.’

‘I can do that.’

‘We should be able to see you at a stretch from our view here anyway but that would help me.’

The radio brought their attention back to the announcer bringing the eight o’clock news. There was nothing significant and the mention that the Prime Minister Peter Brookfield would address the Conservative Party Conference at eleven thirty this morning meant to the three people in the room that the operation was still on.

Reece had been listening to the same broadcast in the car and the fact there had been no mention of the house in Irlam meant that Jim Broad had done his job and stopped any news of the suspected gas explosion getting out for the minute. The next broadcast at eight thirty would be different. As the radio station turned to the traffic and weather reports for the day, Reece noticed a man in a long dark coat with its hood up approach the door to the Great Northern Tower and press the buttons on the entry keypad. Reece could see the man through the glass door turn left and using a set of keys from his pocket open a door to the left of the lift and stairs.

‘I think our caretaker has arrived. Mary, you come with me. When I question him, it might be good to have a woman with me to keep him calm two unknown men this time of the morning might spook him, and we want his quick support. Steve you stay here and keep your eyes open.’

Reece pressed the radio mike. ‘Alpha Team, I’m going to have a chat with our caretaker stay alert.’

April Grey and Joe Cousins replied, ‘Roger that,’ as did Alpha Control.

Leaving the car Reece and Mary quickly crossed the space to the door of the Tower Block and Reece pressed the button for the reception.

 

 

Chapter Sixty-four

When the man answered the door, Reece was surprised. In his mind, caretakers were always old retired men but then he remembered this young-looking man opening the door had been out all night at a party. Kevin Williams looked like a twenty something student wearing blue jeans with trainers and a Pink Floyd T-shirt. He was about six-foot with his black hair tied back in a ponytail. He was thin build with brown eyes on a thin face with a small goatee beard. Reece produced his security services ID and he could see the immediate look of fear on the man’s face although Reece thought that was probably to do with the strong smell of the pot he’d obviously been smoking at his all-night party.

‘Mister Williams, my name is Joseph. Can we have a few moments of your time?’ Reece didn’t bother to introduce Mary as he knew Kevin Williams wouldn’t ask, his eyes were still fixed on the identity card inches from his face.

‘Yes, of course, come in.’

‘Is there somewhere we can talk in private?’ asked Reece as he returned his ID to his pocket and Mary followed him into the hallway.

‘Oh yes, of course. This way.’

They followed him into the small office he’d come out of before answering the door. Reece noticed there was a real nervousness both in Williams’s demeanour and voice, he would have to proceed gently if he was to get the help he wanted.

The office was small. More like a broom cupboard than an office with a desk with a laptop and a CCTV screen showing the front door and what Reece assumed to be the fire escape door at the rear of the building. There was two small swivel chairs and a small four drawer filing cabinet. Williams sat down on the chair at the desk. Reece and Mary continued to stand.

‘What’s this all about?’ asked the nervous caretaker.

‘You’re not in any trouble, Mr Williams. Your party life is none of our concern,’