At 08:30, they were both sitting in the office, Sally showed Dave the report she had typed. “Some of it doesn’t make sense, other parts are round the wrong way, they spent an hour going over it several times before Dave thought it was right. “Why have you named Taff, you’ve put his name in the report?” Dave laughed, “do you mean Harry Lime,” she nodded as she was typing, think about school, did you ever read a book by Graham Greene?” Sally had stopped and was looking at him, “I read Brighton Rock at school, but I can’t think of another,” Dave asked her if she had seen the film, The Third Man, she shook her head, “he was Harry Lime, Taff was our ‘third man’ I thought it would be a good alias.” Sally carried on with the corrections, all Dave had to do was add the images.
He was looking at the passports from yesterday, as well as a Dutch one, there were passports from France, Brazil, Switzerland and the USA. The image in them all was the same, the names were different, he wrote them all down, he wondered which one was the correct one, if any. He looked at his watch, it was 10:00, he wondered what time it was in the US, he checked and decided to leave it for a couple of hours. “Sally, can you add an extra couple of pages to the report. He handed over the passports to her, “these belong to the blonde haired one from Saturday. I suspect he is a professional killer, brought in to do someone else’s dirty work. I am on his case, we will find him eventually.”
Dave returned to the phones, he looked at the messages being sent between the Dutchman and his employer on this job, he noted down the number being messaged. He then checked the phone used by Frank Pell, his instructions had come from the same number. Dave suspected it would be a burner phone, untraceable, but, he thought, it had to be topped up. He checked to see what network it was on, ‘Tesco Mobile’, they piggy backed on the ‘O2’ network. He phoned MI5, he gave them the phone number and asked them to find out as much information including where it was topped up and it’s last location if possible.” While he was waiting, he read the file on Piet HoutKooper, he was suspected of many murders, mostly contract killings, his fee was 50k euros per hit, more if it was complicated. There was a list of those killed where they thought he was involved. There was also a list of alias’s he used, Dave checked, they were in the French and Brazil passports. There were details of his childhood in Amsterdam, a few petty convictions, involvement in gangs and then nothing, no convictions after his sixteenth birthday. At the end, it noted current location unknown.
Sally and Dave stopped for lunch, he wondered out loud who would pay £50k to have Jane Goodley killed. “Why do you think she was to be killed?” “The Dutchman is a contract killer, you don’t pay that money to rough someone up, I think she was to be set on fire, possibly together with the rest of the building.” “Dave, that’s horrible, how can you hate someone enough to do that.” As they ate, he picked up his phone, checked in his notebook and called the USA. He heard the phone ringing, he thought it wasn’t going to be answered, “Cyrus Grantly, how can I help you?” Dave explained who he was, he waited a few moments for Cyrus to place him, “How are you David, how’s it going in London.” Dave said it was fine, “Cyrus, I have an American passport which may or may not be a fake, I would like to know if you have a file on the person named in it.” “That’s not my line, you need to contact immigration.” “He’s a contract killer.” “I’ll be in my office shortly, I’ll call you back.” Dave took his coffee upstairs, he scanned the passport and put it into an email, he filled in the message, all he wanted was the email address to send it to. Cyrus phoned, he asked for the name, “if you give me your email address, I will stay on the line and send it over to you.” Dave pressed send, Cyrus wanted to know how he had come by the passport, “it was in a booby trapped briefcase I opened yesterday.” “I’ve got it,” Dave could hear typing, “shit, do you have him in custody?” “He’s in a body bag.” “He’s suspected of several murders over here, I’ll pass on the information, I may have to speak to you if they want to follow it up.” When he had finished Sally asked if he was the one they met in Flemings Hotel one evening. “Yes, the Americans would have got the information eventually, but it keeps me onside by giving it earlier, I do them a favour, hopefully they will do the same for me.” “What was that you said about a case with a bomb in it?” The briefcase had a bomb built into it, open it the wrong way and bye-bye. It looked too easy, I opened it up without using the locks. That’s all.” An email had come in with details of the phone, every time it was topped up, it was the same credit card, but not a UK card, it was a Dutch one, Dave looked at the number, he opened the wallet, the credit card was inside. The phone had been supplied by the Dutchman, he topped it up as required. A dead end, Dave thought, the only good part was that the phones last location was in Manchester. Frank Pell lived in Manchester, was there a link, Dave thought there was. He decided to add an extra call to his schedule on Friday, a visit to MI5 would round the day off. Whilst Sally was downstairs, he added the images to the report, read through it one final time, printed it out and saved it on his laptop, a copy would be sent over on Thursday for the Prime Minister. He looked for the printout from last Saturday with the movements of the car used in the kidnap. It had been driven down from Manchester last Wednesday, On Thursday it had been located on the journey to and from Harwich. Friday, it was driven into London, the rest of its journey Dave knew. Another link to Manchester.
It was only Dave who was in the office on Thursday, he was to start on the logs of all the files looked at or accessed on Saturday. Before he started, he checked both the phones. It was Frank Pell who had sent the login information around midnight on Friday, he didn’t want to think what Jane had gone through before she gave the information. There were pages of logs, it would take him days to go through, he didn’t know what he was looking for, there was no way he could ask Sally or anyone else to help him, he would know when he saw something that interested him.
Sir George Dawson was angry, he had been angry since Sunday morning, switching on the TV, he watched the news, “fucking useless bastards.” The TV was switched off again, he went into his study, shutting the door behind him, Susan, his wife of thirty five years kept out his way, staying in the kitchen she got on with preparing Sunday lunch for them both. The atmosphere over the meal was terrible, not a word was spoken. He returned to his study when he had eaten. Susan Dawson spent the afternoon in the garden, there was over an acre, gardeners came in once a week, however she liked to potter about. Today she was as far from the house as possible. They were both fifty five years old, childhood sweethearts, they were married when they were twenty. George Dawson, as he was then, worked in his father’s scrapyard. He had taken over when his father died, he bought up and opened more scrapyards throughout Manchester and the north west. He had become rich, there was no shortage of money, the five bedroom house they owned had been bought without a mortgage, new cars, replaced every year were on the drive outside. Despite his wealth, he still worked five days a week, he had been knighted for his work in recycling, the truth was, it was given to him for his political donations. It had brought him influence, shortly afterwards, he decided to open up a recycling plant in London, he found premises on an industrial estate in Acton, the site had an office block and plenty of space for scrap cars and metal. He might have been a major player in the north, however in London, he was seen as someone trying to move in on established businesses. The business was closed within eighteen months, he retreated back to where he was the king of scrap. The losses would be written off against tax. The land was put up for sale, but so far there had been no offers.
At dinner that evening Susan tried to ask him what was wrong. “None of your fucking business, don’t ask me again.” She was used to his swearing, many years ago she had asked him to not swear at home, “fuck off, it’s my house, I’ll swear if I want to.” His anger didn’t subside until Thursday, he apologised to Susan for being grumpy. “Have you sorted out whatever it was?” “Not yet, but I will do soon.”
Around lunchtime, Sally asked if there was anything she could do to help him. “There is, but it might take some time,” “I’m going out with Olivia and Sam tonight, we want to have a girls night, I’ve got nothing to do until I have to get ready.” The Dutchman, I think flew in and out of Manchester a few times, he might have used his own name or one of his others. Can you check which carriers fly from Schiphol to Manchester, try his various aliases, only go back over the last twelve months.” Dave stopped what he was doing, he made lunch for them both and took it upstairs. He returned to going through the logs, he opened up each page visited, read what was there to see if he noticed anything, it was mentally draining. At 16:30, Sally printed out a sheet and handed it to Dave, five times he had flown into Manchester, each time using the Swiss passport, sometimes he had flown back out the same day, other times he stayed for one night. “Does this help?” “Yes, it confirms my thought that this is based in Manchester, several bits of information are all pointing there.” “Dave, you need to stop, your eyes are red, you’ve spent too much time staring at the screen.” “I want to print out a quick addition to the report, it will only take ten minutes, then I will finish.” He washed his face in cold water before going downstairs. Sally had opened a can from the fridge, he drank the cold lager, it felt refreshing. “What will you do tonight?” “I will put everything together for tomorrow, then either cook a meal or go to the carvery.” “Give Michael a call, he will probably be on his own as well.” “No, I have some thinking to do, I want to be away by 07:00 in the morning, I will be in bed when you come back.”
Sally went off to get ready, she was wearing jeans and a jumper when she returned, they sat together until Olivia sounded the horn on her car. “Enjoy yourself tonight, they kissed before she left, Dave waved to Olivia, then closed the door. Later in the carvery, he sat quietly eating, it could have been anything, his thoughts were everywhere, he was stuck, it was early days, but so far, no one had made a mistake, or if they had, he hadn’t spotted it yet. He didn’t stay for coffee, it was to be an early start and a busy Friday. Sally came in as he was drifting off to sleep. She kissed him on his cheek and climbed into bed. The alarm went off at 06:30, with a quick shave and shower he was gone, Sally had woken, he gave her a kiss and was gone. He had rung security a Chequers the day before, he was expected, it was just after 09:00 when he arrived. Jane was having breakfast alone, she looked much better. “Where’s Alison?” “She went home yesterday to get the house ready. I’m being taken home later. As well as a driver, I am to have a guard when I am out. I will be working from home from Monday, depending on how I feel, I may go into the office later in the week.” Dave asked if she was healing OK. “Externally it’s looking and feeling much better, I can walk fine now. My head is not right, this has affected me, I’m still on the tablets the doctor gave me.” “Don’t try to do too much too quickly.” “Can I see a copy of your report?” “I’d rather not show it to you yet, maybe at our next meeting. I’m going through all the places visited using your login details, it might take me a few weeks, I’m not sure what I am looking for, we will go over it another time. Once you are back in the office, I would like to work with you on Thursdays and Fridays until we can find out why, once I know that, hopefully I will know who. They have been very careful so far, but they will have made a mistake, hopefully I will find it. Do you mind if I have breakfast with you, I haven’t eaten this morning?” He returned with a full English and a mug of coffee. Dave told her about the Dutchman, she recognised the name, but nothing else. “We’ll talk more once we are working together.” As he left, there was only a handshake, no hug or kiss, more businesslike he thought.
He drove to Aylesbury station, parked his car and caught a train into Marylebone. He was in the MOD just before midday, the Brigadier was waiting for him. Dave suggested as his time was short, the Brigadier might like to learn of his work while they had lunch. During the meal, he listened as Dave recounted the events from the initial contact in Greece up to the stay in Chequers. “I don’t see how any of this affects the MOD,” “It doesn’t sir, but I thought you needed to know. Only you and a select few are aware of the full facts, I’d like to keep it that way.” “I’m not all that keen on the woman, but I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.” “Sir, I think this is going to keep me busy for a little time, however if you need me, I will try to make myself available, I will be office based from now on, if you need me, please call.” At 13:40, Dave thanked the Brigadier for lunch, “I have to see the Prime Minister next.” He was wished good luck, they shook hands and he headed for the lift. The meeting was in a private office with only a secretary present to take notes or attend to anything the Prime Minister wanted. “I’ve read your report, it’s very comprehensive, I liked your reference to Harry Lime.” Dave explained there was an update, he took out the addition he had typed yesterday afternoon. There was a pause while it was read. “Very good, I had heard a mention of his name yesterday.” He then handed over the five passports, I don’t need these, I’m not sure who they should be passed to, I thought I’d leave them here.” What will be your next move?” “I have loads of files to check, when she is back at work, I will be spending two days a week working with Miss Goodley, we will be going over cases she has been involved in.” The Prime Minister had been making notes during their conversation. “Sir, should I talk to you about funding and expenses, or the Home Secretary?” The look said for him to go on. “We’ve had a holiday ruined, a week ago we were sitting on the beach in Rhodes. A lot has happened in that time. You know we are paid £20k per week when working, I can see this lasting at least another three or four weeks, the expenses will be mounting as well, I submit them and our invoices on a weekly basis, normally Miss Goodley or the Brigadier would sign them off, do you want me to carry on doing it that way?” “David, it’s not much, when you consider what you did, I’m sure you are worth every penny, I will have a word with her deputy to make sure there are no hold ups with the money.” He was offered coffee as they chatted after they had finished, Dave declined, he explained he still had another meeting to go to. Howard, Jane Goodley’s deputy was waiting for him, this time he accepted the offer of a drink. He was excited to tell Dave she would be working from home next week, he feigned surprise at the announcement. “Frank Pell, one of those killed lived in Manchester, I have his address from his driving licence, can you have the local police check out his flat, call me if they find anything, no matter how insignificant they think it might be. Find out who he banks with, his employer, wife or girlfriend, he must have friends, make sure the police carry out a thorough investigation, I know it’s Friday, but get on to it today. Find his bank and have the statements sent over to me. He is our only lead at the moment, I want him turned inside out.” Howard was furiously making notes, Dave asked him to read them back to make sure nothing had been missed.
It was after 20:00 when he arrived home, he had called Sally to say he was starving, he could smell Chinese food as soon as he opened the door. When they had kissed she said it had been delivered ten minutes ago and was in the oven. They sat at the kitchen table to eat, the opened trays between them, there was nothing left from the ‘meal for two’ when Sally had finished, Dave, with food still on his plate, carried on eating. “Ice cream for dessert, I went to Tesco’s today so you don’t have to tomorrow.” Sitting on the sofa afterwards, she asked how the day had gone. He told her everything, especially the bit about their pay and expenses. “As soon as Jane is in the office again, I will be going down two days a week, I thought if I went on a Thursday morning, you could join me in the evening, we could stay for one or two nights depending on what we had planned for here. You would be able to resume your training.” “How would I get from St. Pancras to the hotel, I don’t want to take the tube?” “Take a taxi from the rank.” “OK, we’ll give it a try, I’m not sure about my Saturday morning tennis, I may have to change it to the afternoon, I will speak to Olivia.” They sat listening to music, several times she felt Dave’s head drop. “Time for bed, two more days and we are back to normal.”
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