Enjoying a lazy breakfast, Sally said she wanted to go shopping, I liked the dress I had on for the dinner, I want something similar. Dave followed her round the shops, the receptionist had told her where the best places were, once the dress was bought she wanted something for the meal that night. “We will need to take a gift with us, flowers for his wife and probably beer for Cyrus.” The flowers were ordered at reception, Dave said he would go out and buy the beer, on the way he called Cyrus, “whose following us, is it anything you have set up?” “No, it’s not me, it was ordered by higher up.” “They’re not very good, why are they tailing me?” “The director thinks you might make contact with whoever has the software.” “How many?” “Two at a time, switched every so often.” “I spotted them this morning when we were shopping, one was in reception as I left a little while ago, I will speak to them, let them know where I am going, I’ll see you later.” He stopped and looked in a café window, he saw the man following him stop and look in the shop window Dave had just passed. He turned and walked towards him, as soon as he was passed, he turned and stuck his finger in the man’s side. “Stay where you are, is that your accomplice across the road, the woman with the blonde hair looking across here?” There was a nod, “Wave her to come here unless you a miked up, if you are, tell her to come across the road. We are going to walk into the café, sit down at the first table for four.” His finger was still in the man’s side, he did as he was told, the two walked into the café, as the man sat down, Dave showed him his outstretched finger, there was a sigh of relief. He stood as the woman came in, Dave pointed to the seat next to the man. He ordered three coffees, “You’re not very good, I spotted the team this morning and then you pair this afternoon. I won’t say anything, when we have had coffee, I’m going to buy beers, and return to the hotel, this evening we will be going out to dinner with a friend from Langley, you won’t need to follow us for that one, he will file a report on Monday.” The coffees arrived, Dave offered them advice on tailing people, “I have a friend in the UK who does this kind of work all the time, he carries a backpack with jackets, jumpers, spare shirts, different caps and glasses, he changes his appearance several times a day, more if it is a quiet place. Hopefully the more times you do it, the better you will become. Sorry about the finger in the side, it was all I could think of.” He shook both their hands as he paid the bill and left, “Liquor Store, then back to the hotel, Taxi at 19:00.” Sally asked where he had been, “we have been followed all day, I suspected it this morning, they were rubbish this afternoon, I bought them both a coffee and offered them some advice. I said where I was going and when we would be leaving this evening. Tonight, be chatty and open, but watch for leading questions, I’m sure we have been invited with no other motive than to have a good evening, but watch out.” As the taxi arrived, Cyrus walked down his driveway to greet them, his wife Marybeth was waiting by the door, behind her was a boy and an older girl. There were kisses and hugs as they handed over the flowers and beers. Inside, the introductions were done including Cyrus Junior and Rosie. “Dad says you are both spies, is that true?” Dave looked at the lad, “if your dad says that, then it must be true.” “Do you have a gun?” “Not with me,” “why not, all spies have guns?” “I’m not at work today, I have a day off.” Cyrus had poured out drinks, Marybeth asked Sally if she wanted to join her in the kitchen. Cyrus and Dave were left alone, “Do you have to report this evening on Monday?” “I’m sorry, when they knew, I was instructed to find out what I could.” “Tell whoever it is I’m not stupid, there will be no work talk this evening.” “Good, it drives me mad at times, they don’t realise you are offering help. Anyway, no more talk. Did you enjoy your shopping trip?” “Sally wanted a dress similar to the one she wore to the dinner party,” “I never saw you in any of the pictures released.” “No, I didn’t want us to be seen.” Dave remarked on how much bigger the houses were inside, “you must find it cramped when you are in the UK.” “As many have said before, it’s quaint. The UK has a much friendlier population than here, I like it.” In the kitchen Sally thought one of the cupboards was bigger than her entire kitchen. The talk was of cooking and families, Sally was asked if she had any children, “I only met Dave a couple of years ago, our life is too hectic for children.” She had been asked the same question many times before, she always had an answer. Sally helped get the table ready, Rosie was hovering about looking to see if she could eat anything before they sat down. She asked Sally why she talked funny, “It’s how we speak in England, just like people from Texas speak differently to those from New York. The six sat round the table enjoying ribs and salad, the table was full of food, by the end of the meal, most of it was gone. Everyone helped clear up afterwards, the adults were left on their own to enjoy coffee. Sally asked if it was normally as relaxed as this, it was Cyrus who answered. “When you wear a suit all week, and are stuck in an office with constant meetings, it’s good to sit and enjoy great cooking and friendly company.” The children had been back in and said goodnight, Dave remarked on how polite they were. “That’s because you are here this evening, normally it’s a job to get them into bed.” At 23:00 Dave asked if they could call a cab for them, they thanked their hosts for a great evening. Sally and Marybeth swapped email addresses before leaving. There were handshakes, kisses and hugs as they got into the cab. Cyrus said to Dave they would speak soon. The plan was for more shopping the following day, before she left the hotel, Sally wrote an email to Marybeth thanking her for the great evening.
They were followed again the next day, Dave said to Sally to try to spot them, she didn’t have much trouble, “one is wearing a white tee shirt and jeans, the other has a jumper and trousers.” In one of the department stores, Dave decided it was time to have a laugh, he spoke to one of the security guards, he said there were a couple of people following them, “I think they might try to rob us, they have been watching us for about thirty minutes.” Dave laughed as the two were approached by more security and asked to leave the store, he waved to them as they were escorted out.
One of them was sitting in reception when they returned to the hotel, Dave went over to him, Sally followed, “Did your friends find anything in our bedroom? We will be having dinner here tonight, in the morning we will be gone, you can go back to your office then, there won’t be much to put in your report.”
The flight back was busy, their tickets were economy, they wished they had upgraded to business. It was an uncomfortable flight, Dave was glad as he felt the plane descend. Taxiing towards the stand, there was the usual sound of seatbelts being undone, a flight attendant was telling everyone to remain seated, her request was ignored. The captain came on to the intercom system, “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, when we have stopped I would request that you remain in your seats, we have been notified from the control tower that there is a priority disembarkation, no one will be allowed to leave before this has been carried out, thank you for your co-operation.” Sally looked at Dave, “what’s all that about?” “No idea, it may be medical, we will just have to wait, five more minutes won’t make any difference.” The plane stopped at an air bridge, the doors below them opened to allow the luggage to be taken out. Most people obeyed the request to remain seated, those who didn’t were reminded by the cabin staff. The door opened, Dave saw two men in military uniform, there was an armed policeman with them. He swore quietly, Sally half pulled herself up to look to see, “what is it?” “Get ready, I think it might be us they want.” Sure enough, a passenger list was consulted, an RAF officer walk down the aisle, one of the cabin crew was behind him, he was looking at the seat numbers, “David Stretton, Sally Fellowes?” Dave nodded, “would you come this way please, your bags are being unloaded now.” Sally was about to ask why, Dave put his hand on her arm, “we will find out soon enough.” They were taken to a small office, the policeman waited outside, “there is a plane here to take you to Glasgow, Brigadier Storey is waiting for you there.” Dave knew there was no point in asking why, Sally said she was due back at work on Monday. “I have a feeling that isn’t going to happen.” There was a call, the luggage had been located. “Time to go, we have a bit of a walk to get to the plane.” Twenty minutes later they were airborne again, this time there was plenty of space, a steward made them drinks. “What the fuck is it this time?” She didn’t expect Dave to have the answer, she was just expressing her frustration. There was no sign of Brigadier Storey at Glasgow, instead, there was a car to collect them, “where are we going, I’m not getting in unless I’m told.” “My orders are to take you to the Faslane Naval Base.” Sally looked at Dave, “it’s where our nuclear submarines are based, I guess something is up.” Passes were waiting for them when they arrived, not visitor passes, but staff ones. They were taken to a briefing room, waiting for them was Brigadier Storey and the Base Commander. As soon as the introductions were done, they sat down round a table. “We need food and drink, can you send over to the mess to have some food sent over, sandwiches and coffee.” A phone was picked up and the request was made. Dave knew they would have to wait until the food was delivered before they would be told, there would be no interruptions. As Dave and Sally ate, the Brigadier started, “Sally your boss has been told you have been recalled to London to help investigate something from your past time working at the MOD, we have said you will be off next week. Everything is OK, we have people on the campus who have spoken to your boss and the vice chancellor, there will be no problems. Something happened here on Friday, as a result two people are missing.” Dave interrupted, “that’s what you have Military Police for,” “It’s more complicated than that, one of the missing people is a submarine Captain, the other one is a woman, mid-twenties who clocked out on Friday evening, but never reached her accommodation.” “Are they connected?” “We don’t know, there are ‘things’ missing from the sub,” “What ‘things’?” “An inventory was done on Saturday, there are some top secret items not accounted for.” “Anything nuclear?” “No, the warheads are removed at the Naval Armaments Base at Coulport further down the Clyde before the subs come up here.” “What’s missing?” The Base Commander looked at the Brigadier, “Are they cleared to be told?” “Yes, spare parts which are kept on board, a small but significant part of the guidance system is unaccounted for, as is a piece of the outer acoustic covering, there is nothing in the logs to say either of the parts had been used. If the control panel had been used, the faulty one would be in its place.” “I want an office, the files on the two missing people, someone who can make things happen, I’m not familiar with how the base works, Sally and I are to be given free range to go anywhere on the base, no restrictions, where are we staying?” “There is some messing on the base, you will be staying there.” Dave looked at the Brigadier, “sir, where are you staying?” “I’m in a hotel about a mile away.” “That will do, book us in there.” “David, I am only here to make the introductions, I will be flying back tomorrow.” “Sir, have you said how I operate?” “I’ve explained as best I could, the Base Commander has said he will give you every assistance.” Dave now looked at the Commander, “Sir, whatever the Brigadier has said about me, expect me to be a lot worse, I’m only here because no one else has a clue and there is urgency, please try to understand, I will demand things happen, I won’t ask, it’s how I operate, Miss Fellowes is on an equal level, we make things happen, it’s nothing personal, my only goal is to have a resolution. Now, since we have travelled from Washington, there is a need to go to the hotel, change and come back, by the time we return, could you find us an office and the files I asked for, if there is anything you haven’t told me then please tell me.” There was no response, the Brigadier said he would go with them to the hotel.
Once booked in and changed, they met the Brigadier in the lounge, it was Dave who spoke, “Sir, we need certain items from our home, if Sally fixes it, can you arrange a collection and delivery here by tomorrow morning.” The Brigadier made a call, “a car will be at your address in an hour,” Sally phoned Olivia, she had a spare key, Michael and her would go to the house and phone her from there. Twenty minutes later, Olivia was on the phone, Sally said to pack up the two laptops, she then asked to speak to Michael, she directed him to where the Glocks were kept, Michael wrapped them in a towel and put them in Dave’s old backpack. As they were finishing, there was a knock on the door, the laptops and backpack were handed over. Sally thanked them both and said she would phone when she had a chance. “Dave, what about the software?” “I will download whatever I need. I don’t think we will need too much on this job.” The three returned to the base, an office had been allocated to them, a junior officer asked what they needed, it was Sally who spoke, “a printer, scanner, paper and stationery, a lockable filing cabinet, coffee machine and cups, a fridge would be good if there is one and biscuits, plenty of biscuits. Anything else, I will let you know. The Brigadier left them, two files were on the desk, Dave took the Captain’s, Sally, the missing woman. The Captain, Thomas Grassington, was married, his wife lived in Portsmouth, they had no children, his record didn’t show anything out the ordinary, he had spent time in both surface vessels and submarines, he had been Captain of his current ship for the last two years. His next move would probably be shore based. The woman, Morag Fossey, was twenty-six, she was a civilian worker who had been there since leaving school, she worked in logistics, she supervised the dispatch of anything going off base. She shared a flat in Helensburgh with another base worker, no current boyfriend, driving licence but no car.
Equipment was being brought into the office, as soon as the coffee machine was there, Sally made drinks, Dave went off to find the officer he saw earlier. “I want the reports of the search for the missing people, can you bring it to me please, back in the office, they swapped files, when Sally had finished, Dave asked if she had seen anything out the ordinary, “no, both look like ideal workers, gradually gaining promotion. Do you think the disappearances are connected?” “To start with, look at them as two separate events, we may find a link further down the line. Once we have the reports from the MP’s we might get a little further.” Finishing their coffees, there was a knock on the door, two more files were passed to them. Dave had the report regarding the Captain, he was the last to leave his ship, he officially handed it over to the contractors for maintenance work to be carried out, he had left with a large backpack and a suitcase. He was seen walking towards one of the mess halls, there was no further sighting of him, he never swiped out the base. It was only when security checked the logs he was reported as still being on the base. A full search was carried out, his mobile phone was dead. The search returned no results, it was repeated, again there was nothing found. On Sunday the river was checked, Thomas Grassington was still missing.
© 10210ken 2025
