A Range Rover was waiting for him, inside were three armed guards, it didn’t take long to reach the police station. The car was parked within the complex, Dave was expected, he produced his MI5 ID and then passed through a metal detector, his briefcase was searched. Outside the interview room, the sergeant said he had been saying he had Diplomatic Immunity. “He has been demanding we call the Embassy, we haven’t done anything.”
“Good, could you organise coffees, when I leave, I would like copies of the audio and video files.” The door to the room was unlocked, Dave asked one of the policemen to remove the handcuffs and to leave them alone.
“What the fuck am I doing here, you’re in deep shit when I get out of here.”
“Cyrus calm down, I’m here on official business, I want answers to questions. I would suggest, the sooner you answer them, the sooner you will be on a plane home.” The door opened and two coffees in plastic cups were brought in. Dave waited until the were on their own again. “I have a file to show you, I would like an explanation.” The downloaded file from earlier was taken from his briefcase. “Read this, I would like your comments, it’s the file you said was destroyed.”
Cyrus flicked through the pages, “it proves nothing.”
“Every company the money passed through is controlled by the CIA, what I want to know is if it was an officially sanctioned job, or a few rogue operators.” Cyrus sat there saying nothing. “OK, if you don’t want to talk, that’s OK by me, perhaps you might want to talk to me about your office at fourteen Albert Mews.”
The arrogant look had now gone from his face. “You once told me we were only pawns in a much bigger game, expendable pieces which could be sacrificed. I think tonight, I have been elevated to become the queen. We have helped each other in the past, I’m trying to do what I can to get you out of here, if you don’t want to cooperate then I understand, but it also makes it difficult for me to have you released.”
“David, I am an American, I am loyal to the USA, I will never betray my country.”
“The SAS will be visiting Albert Mews later, I think we might find some evidence there, I’m sorry you wouldn’t help me, it’s too late now.” He stood up to leave, pressed the buzzer by the door, the two guards returned. Speaking to the sergeant, he said to return him to the cells. “No phone calls or visitors, release him without charge at 06:00.”
“There is an Army officer waiting to see you, if you follow me.” Dave was shown into another room, a lieutenant was sitting waiting. “Thank you for coming, there is a building which needs to be taken tonight, hopefully you have been given the address.”
“Yes, the layout is being studied now.”
“My name is David Stretton, ex-military intelligence, now head of investigations at MI5, I spent six months in Hereford learning field craft. I will be accompanying you when you go in. I’ll explain more when I see your men.”
“I’m sorry, but that won’t be happening.” David phoned Jane Goodley, she was back in the meeting, she excused herself and left to take the call. “Jane, the officer from the SAS is refusing to take me along, find someone to say it’s OK, there isn’t much time left.”
Dave sat in the Range Rover outside Regents Park Barracks, after ten minutes he was allowed in, he thanked the guards who had been with him. Inside he was recognised by a couple of the squad, he shook hands with them, photographs of the outside of the building were up on a large screen. Dave listened. “The heat signature is coming from the first and second floors, there is a bored security guard on the ground floor, CCTV outside and in the foyer. Since Dave is here, we can use him, he will be dressed as a copper, his job will be to get the guard to open the door. Once we have access, we will cut the power, eight on the first floor, eight on the second floor, secure the area, use flash bangs but no shooting unless a firearm is pointed at you.” Dave stood up to add some information. “The building is being used by the CIA to monitor the heads of MI5 and other departments, I want the equipment secured, that is more important than anything else. No one is to be allowed to leave until their ID has been photographed. The police won’t be told until fifteen minutes before we enter. You will remain until my people have removed everything. Any questions?”
“Where’s your girlfriend, isn’t she coming?” There was a laugh round the room. A police uniform was produced for Dave to wear, it nearly fitted.
At 22:50, he was round the corner from the main entrance, the ground floor had glass windows all the way round, two delivery vans were parked across the road. Dave could see the doors slightly open. At the entrance, he knocked on the glass door, the security guard looked up, Dave motioned he need to use the toilet. The guard slowly got up from his chair and walked towards the door. “I’m desperate for a pee,” the door was unlocked, Dave hit him when the door was opened. He caught him as he fell. Within seconds sixteen people were piling out the vans, two had tools to lift a manhole, there was a small explosion, the lights in the building and the street went out. Silently they raced up the stairs, in less than five minutes it was all over. Dave rang the night team at MI5, they were waiting for his call, ten minutes later, two large vans and six men were waiting for Dave’s instructions. He went upstairs to see the people being held, he stood on a chair, counting there were eleven, “which one of you is in charge?” A middle aged American said it was him, Dave addressed him directly. “The work you have been doing here is illegal, the place is now closed down, we are part of a UK government department, the equipment will be seized. No one is to make a phone call or send a message, any attempt to do so will result in immediate arrest. Phones will be taken, once your ID’s have been photographed, you will be free to go. A box was found for the phones, Dave was informed the police were downstairs, he said they weren’t to be let in or allowed to hinder the operation.
He took pictures of everything before the kit was removed, the only light was from the emergency lighting units on the walls and the head torches worn by the SAS.
Within an hour, the building was clear, before leaving, they checked the upper floors, they were all empty. The two vans returned fully laden to MI5 headquarters. Dave was dropped off at the back of Downing Street by one of the SAS vans. It was now 00:15, he was still wearing the police uniform, his suit was in a black bag. He was shown to an office, inside was the Prime Minister, Jane Goodley, Sally and the Head of MI6, William Ferguson. There were jokes at Dave’s expense when they saw him. In an adjacent office he changed, then rejoined the meeting, he was asked about what he found. “Probably fifty to sixty recorders, eleven people, I have copies of their ID’s and their mobile phones, I let them all go. I didn’t see any point in arresting them. Cyrus Grantly wouldn’t speak, he will be released without charge at 06:00. I guess he will be on a flight later the same day. Is the Ambassador here?”
“Yes,” it was Jane who answered, “he is furious at being summoned at this time.”
“Does he know why he is here?”
“If he does, he isn’t saying.”
“What did you find in his file?”
“From what I can gather, he has a good marriage, but he will shag anything, the younger the better, male as well as female. I checked his wife’s file, there is nothing on her. There are pictures in the file, the FBI file is larger.” Sally pushed the two files towards him.
As Dave closed them, Richard Carlton asked him what he was going to say to him. “I’m not sure, I’ll see how the conversation goes. What has been decided?”
“There will be another meeting at 08:00 tomorrow morning, at 09:00 I will address the country. At the moment, it is proposed I will deal with the espionage tell them what we have found, we are scanning the heads of department offices and then cabinet offices, by 07:00 most of it should be done. You finding the recording equipment should help. While you are in your meeting, Sally and Jane can transfer the pictures, some of them may be released to the press. We want to be seen as being pro-active on this.”
Dave said he wanted a coffee and then he would see the Ambassador. “Sir, will you sit in with me, I have no experience of talking to these people, you may have to tell me if I go too far. I also want there to be an audio recording. Jane, everything went back in two vans, have some of the night crew go through the stuff until they find the CCTV recordings, there might be CCTV footage you can release.”
An aide had brought him a coffee, with three files, he motioned it was time to go. “I don’t know his name,” Dave quickly looked at the file, Simon Montgomery. Dave walked into the room followed by Richard Carlton. “Good evening, thank you for coming, but then I suppose you didn’t have much choice, my name is David Stretton. You have met the Prime Minister on previous occasions, I would ask your two aides to leave us, this is to be a private meeting.” Dave had to listen to a tirade of complaints, he was told the President would be informed about the way he was being treated. Dave ignored him, he sat down, Richard Carlton sat on a chair to one side. Looking at the two aides. “Gentlemen, there is someone waiting outside, they will keep you company and give you a drink while you wait.” The aides didn’t move, “you have thirty seconds, if you haven’t gone, you will be arrested and taken to the nearest police station.”
One said they had diplomatic immunity. “Not tonight you don’t, the choice is yours.” They looked at the Ambassador, he said for them to go. “Thank you.” He turned to face the Ambassador, “Simon, would you like a coffee or some water before I begin?” He ignored the question, “I have no idea what a diplomat does, I guess you represent your country abroad. I’m not a diplomat, I speak plainly. Richard is here to make sure I don’t say the wrong thing. I want to talk to you tonight about some very bad things your country has been doing over here. Your Embassy is full of CIA employees, we all know that, tonight one of them was arrested. Cyrus Grantly is currently in Charring Cross Police Station, I interviewed him earlier tonight, but he wouldn’t say anything to me. I hope I have more luck with you, when I looked in his cell, there was a spare mattress.” Dave drank his coffee. “Are you sure you don’t want a drink, I saw you gulp a couple of times? Richard, would you organise some water?”
He turned to be facing Simon Montgomery again. “I want to ask you about two different lines of enquiries I am pursuing, we will start with the easiest one. Are you aware of Albert Mews, your embassy rents two floors in the building?” Dave watched the expression change, the confidence was going. “Today, we found listening devices in a government office, they were voice activated, connected to Albert Mews by a sim card. Earlier tonight the building was raided, each person there had CIA ID’s. I’m not sure how many laws have been broken, but there are enough to put those involved in prison for many years, do you have anything to say?” There was no reply, the door opened three bottles of water were put on the table. Dave pushed one across to the Ambassador, it sat unopened.
“I’m not sure where your diplomatic skills have gone, this is a very one sided conversation. Perhaps this file may loosen your tongue.” Dave pushed the FBI folder across the desk. “I don’t know if you have read it, your wife wouldn’t be too happy if she saw it.”
“I demand to leave, I’ve had enough of this charade,” he stood up to leave.
“Sit back down and shut the fuck up, you’re going nowhere.” The soft friendliness had gone from his voice. “Do you think your wife would like to see the images of you fucking kids? No doubt the FBI and CIA remind you of the images every now and again, it keeps you compliant. You might be listening to our conversations, but we can look directly into your heart. You have a one time opportunity to assist us, if you insist on leaving, you can go, the images will somehow be found on social media, none of us want that. You would be ruined. Your wife would leave you, out of a job and your friends gone.” This time the water was opened when Dave paused, it was gulped down. A handkerchief was taken out his pocket, his eyes were dabbed. “How long have you been eavesdropping?”
“It’s been a gradual process over the last twelve months, whenever there has been an opportunity, I don’t know the full extent, I’ve never been in the building.”
“Who is in charge, is it Cyrus Grantly?”
“No, Peter Flaxman, he is here on a two year assignment, he has around eighteen months to go.”
“Who does he report to in Langley?”
“Nat Dawes.”
“I want you to read a file, I will ask you about it when you have finished.” The file containing the information about the stolen EU money was handed over, Dave took the opportunity to drink some of the water, ten minutes later, the file was closed.
“I don’t know anything about this.”
“The money was used to buy explosives which killed and maimed hundreds in London, your government has the blood of British citizens on its hands, forgive me if I’m a little pissed off about it. What gives the US government the right to try to force regime change on a supposedly friend.”
He felt a hand on his arm, Richard Carlton indicated for him to stop. “I’ve finished now, you may be contacted again if you are still here, remember we have the files and images, you may go.”
The Prime Minister left the room, Dave said nothing, he stared at Simon Montgomery, he wouldn’t look at Dave. His two aides returned, he was unsteady when he stood up, he walked out the room without saying anything. He and Richard Carlton returned to the others, “Has there been anything from the Americans?”
“Nothing,” all eyes were now on Dave, he thought for a minute.
“Send a copy of the file we found this afternoon to the head of the CIA, copy in Nathaniel Dawes, add images from Albert Mews. Say the money was used to kill innocent civilians, ask for a comment before 08:00 UK time, if there is no reply, then you know they aren’t bothered.
In around thirty minutes, they will have a report from the Ambassador. Now, I have to sleep, we will be back before 08:00. Jane will you organise a car, I want to call into MI5 on the way.” It was 02:30 when they left, Sally was shattered, in the car Jane asked what they wanted from the office. “I want to go to the armoury.” She rang ahead to have someone meet them with the keys. Sally stayed in the car, inside Dave took a Glock for himself and Sally, he gave one to Jane, he filled the magazines then took a box of shells.
“Do you expect trouble?”
“No, but I want to be ready in case there is, I’ve upset a lot of people tonight. Keep this by you, it’s much better than the little one you have.” He took two shoulder holsters, everything was put in a black hessian bag, they were dropped off before Jane was taken home.
Sally flopped onto the bed, Dave helped her undress, when she had cleaned her teeth he waited until she was in bed and asleep. He changed and went downstairs, the porters were standing chatting. It was easy to spot the gun in its holster, neither of them said anything. “I want to see the CCTV, earlier, there were two Americans waiting for me, a car was outside.” He was led into an office, one of the porters left and came back with coffee and sandwiches as Dave was going through the cameras. They had gone by 22:00. He thanked them both, they were each passed a folded note. He was soon sleeping, the Glock was on the bedside table, a chair was wedged under the door handle preventing it being opened. He was woken at 06:30, he had slept for less than three hours. The first coffee was strong and black, at 07:00 he woke Sally, he asked if she wanted to go to the meetings today. Half awake, she said no. Dave was wearing chinos and a shirt, with a jacket to cover the Glock, they kissed before he left to have breakfast, he checked Sally knew where her Glock was.
In the restaurant.
He asked if the food could be brought quickly, he said he was short of time. He was finishing as a porter came for him, “your car is outside.”
Jane asked where Sally was. “Sleeping, she is shattered.” The alarms sounded as he went through the metal detector, he left his gun with the guards. The Prime Minister updated those present with the events following the meeting, Dave wasn’t asked anything, it was over by 08:30. Everyone was told to stay in London, and be ready at a moments notice to attend a follow up meeting. Dave was amongst several people asked to remain. There was thirty minutes until he was due to give his press conference.
David and Jane were called out by an aide. “You are to go to meeting room ‘G’, please follow me.” Sir Rupert Parsons was sitting at a table, he said for them both to sit down. He looked across at Dave, “I see you have been thrown in at the deep end, from what I’ve been told you have coped very well, I think Miss Goodley would agree. Miss Fellowes has cleared her vetting, she has DV clearance. However, the vetting officers had issues with you Mr. Stretton, it was around some of your contacts and your cavalier attitude to authority. It was brought to me, I discussed it with the Decisions Officer, I cannot influence him, but I pointed out the job you would be doing required a different type of person. I suggested he look at you as a field operative, you now have eDV clearance, be careful who you deal with.”
The meeting was over, they returned to the room, everyone was watching the large screen TV. The Prime Minister was ten minutes late coming into the press briefing, behind him was the Home Secretary and the Foreign Secretary. “Good morning, I want to make a brief statement, the current situation is changing by the hour, there will be no questions afterwards. When we have more information, it will be released. Yesterday, several listening devices, were found in a government department, they used a small transmitter to call mobile phones. A property in London was raided last night, around sixty audio recorders were found, the people working there were identified and released. The eavesdropping was carried out by one of our allies, it was not a European or far Eastern Country. The investigation is ongoing, we expect to find more out in the coming days, when we do, information will be given out. We are, at the same time continuing our investigation into the funding of the recent bombing campaign, I cannot say at the present time if there is a connection. Thank you and good morning.”
They all watched as he turned and walked out the room, the TV cut away to the newsroom, reporters were beginning to speculate.
Jane turned to Dave. “Fuck me, that was brutal, there was very little attempt to hide who was behind it. Did you advise him what to say?”
“No. I did say there were two ways he could handle this, either lie down and say it never happened or stand up and fight for Britain. Looks like he chose the better option. He said enough for the media to work out who it was, they only need to find out where the raid took place and the connection will be made.” There were smiles and handshakes when he came back into the room.
A short time later Dave was called into another meeting, this time there were more ministers and aides present. The meeting was to discus the next move. Dave asked if there had been a response from the Americans. He was told there hadn’t. Sanctions were discussed, some wanted to do nothing, eventually Dave was asked what he thought. “I’m an outsider here, I don’t fully understand politicians, my thinking is, what would hit the Americans hard, but have little impact on the UK. RAF Menwith Hill is a base we let to the US, it is the largest listening and monitoring station in the world, I understand there are people from GCHQ based there alongside the Americans. Serve them notice to quit, we could easily expand our operation to cover the work. Whether you carry out the threat or not, it will show you mean it. Before the end of the day, the media will know who is behind this, keep up a steady drip of information, I’m sure the foreign press will run with the story. The opinion will be if the Yanks can stuff the Brits then no one is safe from them.”
The meeting broke up a short while later, Dave returned to the main room, he found Jane. “If nothing is happening, I’m going back to the hotel. Call me if I’m needed, I booked an extra night.”
© 10210ken 2026
