THE NEW RECRUIT

Chapter 9

I don't want to sound like one of the production team from Kudos in an interview in a force 9 gale but the following plot development was written before the whole London/Glasgow terrorist crisis broke, so please don't think that it is making capital from the present crisis. Also as only a handful of people are likely to source this fic I think it would be over precious to suggest that this chapter should be delayed in posting on until a later date; but, for those of our select 'band of brothers' who don't want to read even more coverage of failed terrorist attacks: look away now!

Grassington Hall

Police cars were parked three deep by the tall imposing wrought iron gates whilst familiar blue and yellow helicopters hovered overhead like annoying wasps and men with flak jackets and telescopic rifles patrolled the grounds. The two black Lexus cars travelling in convoy were momentarily halted at the main checkpoint before gliding up the long tree-lined avenue. Adam sat in the back of the first car with Harry whilst Zaf drove the second car that held the two female field officers of the team. Ros gazed out of her window willing the journey to end whilst Jo played eye-flirting with Zaf in his rear-view mirror until Ros's acid tongue broke the silent communion:

"If I'm going to end up mangled in a car crash Zaf, I'd rather it was in the line of duty rather than as a consequence of your adolescent games – keep your eyes on the road and your mind off the sexual availability of your colleagues."

Jo blushed scarlet and immediately dropped her gaze but Zaf was unabashed:

"Some men can multi-task Ros – so shall I put you down as a possible then?"

Ros shot him a piercing look of annoyance:

"I can think of few things in life with less appeal."

Zaf continued in his quasi-jocular tone, determined to both wind Ros up further and have the last word:

"I don't know, don't knock it until you've tried it, you might be pleasantly surprised."

Ros surmising that Zaf would be quite happy to continue to exchange witticisms indefinitely scowled witheringly at him and went back to staring out of the window as they continued to advance slowly up the driveway.

Meanwhile Adam and Harry were in deep discussion about the planned evacuation of the delegates.

"This whole procedure is very risky Adam. Pander to my middle-aged caution and go through the schedule again."

Adam smiled tolerantly at the older man.

"Your caution is a consequence of personality not age Harry. Anyway, the delegates will arrive between three and four. Their cars will draw up at the main entrance and they will be greeted by the PM and the Home Secretary. They will enter the main building and be escorted into the main reception room and from there into waiting vans parked alongside a rear door – there have been delivery vans arriving and departing since two o clock so additional vans should not draw any undue attention. The delegates will be driven back in groups of ten to Whitehall where the talks will get underway at six."

"How can you be sure that your human cargo won't be spotted being loaded into the vans or that the lack of delegates at Grassington won't become apparent and frighten off any attackers before they can be apprehended?"

"The delegates will be wearing commercial overalls and should not draw attention especially from a distance and as for the empty meeting room – I've arranged for a group of film extras to be brought in so to outside observers it will appear that the talks are going ahead."

"Hmm, well let's hope there are no moles operating inside the building: your operation hinges on the presumption that no one will get a close-up view of the proceedings. This is still a very high-risk operation. If the delegates are spotted leaving there could be carnage. Even if you remove them successfully, that still leaves a large number of people at Grassington who are sitting ducks. How sure are you that a rocket attack can be prevented?"

"The army will be tackling that side. They have assured me that as long as they know the target area they can provide adequate protection. There will be jamming devices and anti-rocket ordinance in position. Any attempt to pinpoint the target will be detected and any rocket launch will be neutralised. I know there's no point in saying it Harry, but stop worrying, it will be fine."

This was said with a confident air and a quick smile but the tension around Adam's eyes betrayed to any who knew him well that he was far from being 100 per cent confident about the outcome.

The gravel of the driveway crunched discreetly as the Lexus turned and came to a halt in front of an impressive porticoed entrance that was guarded by armed police. A dozen or so delegates loitered by the marble columns greeting fellow diplomats as they arrived.

"Get these people out of here Adam, they're a soft target."

"They've got to look natural in case they're being watched. The cell are not going to launch an attack until they think all the delegates are assembled."

"Well I wish I could share your confidence in the rational behaviour of these terrorists. We still don't know who's behind these attacks or what their objective is; so it's a little naïve to presume that we can accurately predict what their next move will be."

The bulk of Harry's stocky form was silhouetted against the bright afternoon light as he moved through the milling groups of delegates, greeting one figure with a welcoming firm handshake and another by a sharp nod of his head.

"Well gentlemen, shall we go through into the reception area, we'll create a bottleneck waiting out here and I'm sure you are all anxious to resume discussions as soon as possible after the unfortunate interruptions of yesterday."

Harry smiled affably at the assembled delegates but his eyes were alert and scanning the horizon for any signs of a hostile presence. Flanked by the tall athletic form of Adam, he ushered the dawdling crowd into the marbled entrance hall and through into a spacious reception room where a colourful melee of assembled nationalities and ages were already assembled. Drinks and canapés were circulated and Adam, Zaf and Ros discreetly approached individual delegates and guided them out of a side door in the far corner of the room. Everyone was so busy drinking and chatting that the gradual removal of the diplomats and their replacement by new people similarly attired, was not obvious. At the rear of the building there was a steady hum of activity as vans arrived and food, drink, flowers and laundry were unloaded whilst simultaneously a discreet human cargo was stowed in the vehicles, which then departed. Some of the Commonwealth delegates were clearly alarmed by the procedure and the obviously threat to their safety that the subterfuge suggested whilst others were merely disgruntled at the inconvenience. One and all were ushered discreetly into the vans and urged to make themselves as comfortable as possible on the hard bench seats that would be their means of transport back to the real venue for the Conference in central London.

After about half an hour Zaf signalled that the last of the genuine Commonwealth members had left. Harry glanced at his watch: 4.45. The meeting was scheduled for 5.00 pm – if an attack was to be launched it would likely come in the next half an hour. Ros opened the double doors leading into the meeting room and addressed the assembled crowd of bit-part actors and aspiring extras:

"If you'd like to come this way gentlemen."

A few looked bemused who obviously hadn't been fully briefed as to what they were doing for this particular location shot and couldn't work out why there were no cameras or lighting rigs set up for filming; the majority followed along, eager to prove that they had the talent and faces that were just waiting to be discovered. Harry watched them parade through the tall panelled doors with distaste:

"Such a collection of shallow, over-ambitious limited individuals, it really is almost impossible to distinguish them from the real thing."

"I take it you don't like actors any more than you like politicians Harry?"

"On the contrary. I much prefer actors, at least their self-serving personal ambition and over-sized egos can be channelled to provide something that resembles entertainment; although I will admit I am always struck by the common characteristics of the two professions: "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."

Adam smiled broadly at Harry and wondered how much of the invective levelled against politicians was actually believed and how much was just part of the bravura of an external mask intended to shield the more vulnerable and sensitive man from closer scrutiny.

Harry interrupted his reverie:

"Right, the decoy ducks are in position so now we await the attack, if indeed there is to be an attack. Is everyone in position?"

"Yes, the military techies are ready in their surveillance lorry and they will contact us as soon as anything is picked up and the special forces with all the necessary anti-missile equipment and jamming devices are situated in the copse of woods to the north of the building."

At that moment Adam's intercom buzzed in his ear whilst almost immediately Harry's phone rang warning of a red flash alert.

"Hello yes Zaf, what's happening? Where? Are they sure? Well cut off all exits and make sure that they take them alive. We've got to find the rest of the cell."

Adam spun round to Harry to tell him about developments, but Harry, his eyes widened in alarm, held up a warning hand to him to be quiet:

"Are there casualties? Are you sure you're ok? What more? Where? This is obviously a well co-ordinated multi-point attack. How many targets have been confirmed? Ok, are your communications still functioning? Good well stay there with Malcolm and liase with the Met and Special Branch, make sure you're kept fully updated. I'll get a helicopter to bring me back. I should be there within half an hour."

Harry rang off and immediately spoke into his intercom:

"I want a helicopter ready for takeoff in three minutes. I'll confirm the destination when we are airborne."

Adam., no longer able to contain his anxiety broke in:

"What's happened Harry?"

Harry's voice was terse but level as he responded:

"There have been multiple explosions in central London; what appear to be rocket attacks although that hasn't as yet been confirmed. Targets include the Terminal 1 runway at Heathrow, the grounds of Windsor Castle, the Morgan Stanley HQ in the City and Thames House."

Adam stared at him momentarily speechless until the adrenalin kicked in:

"Christ. Thames House? Is anyone hurt?"

"As far as Ruth can tell, no. The rocket hit the roof and some ceilings are down, but HR and personnel are up on the top floors and most of their staff were out irritating other departments so thankfully if there are any casualties they will be few."

"What about the other targets?"

"Again, initial reports suggest minimal injuries. Most of the damage is structural and even then not as much as you would expect, nothing as bad as the Buckingham Palace attack. I'm not sure what the hell is going on, but we've got to stop this before it gets out of control."

"Well, we have some goods news at this end at least. Guidance lock-on was detected from a site about 2 miles from here in a country park, but so far no rockets have actually been launched. Special forces have closed off all exits and are sweeping the area to try and locate the launch site."

"Good. Keep me informed – I'm going back to assess the situation at Thames House and to co-ordinate the Intelligence response. I'll take Ros with me; you and Zaf stay here until Surrey's answer to Hezbulah have been apprehended. Anyone captured I want answers PDQ , we'll worry about the Geneva Convention later."

Adam nodded curtly that he understood the implications of Harry's instructions and hurrying out to the waiting Lexus drove off at speed, scattering gravel onto the immaculately cultivated lawn. Minutes later the police helicopter that was waiting on standby with it's blades swishing noisily through the air rose in an ungainly lurch as it defied gravity and bore Harry rapidly up in a northerly direction towards the urban sprawl of central London.

Landing on the rooftop of an adjacent building, Harry literally ran from the helicopter down through to the lifts and then from the ground floor across the road towards Thames House with Ros in hot pursuit. The entrance to the building was littered with rubble and debris, but the main fabric still appeared to be intact and once inside all appeared normal, apart from the ant-like activity of the milling crowds who had been brought down from the upper storeys of the building but not allowed to leave for fear of further attacks. Harry pushed his way impatiently through the throng and took the steps two at a time as he made his way down the stairs. The pods did not open to the usual code and he had to resort to banging on the glass door to gain the attention of a passing clerk who alerted Malcolm to activate the override.

"Right Malcolm, what updates do you have?"

Malcolm struggled to keep abreast of Harry as he strode across the Grid and through the door of his office.

"Em, well there were several baggage handlers injured at Heathrow, but not seriously and several dozen people taken to hospital from the explosion in the city, er mostly with injuries from flying glass but again no fatalities as far as I can gather."

At that moment a pale-faced agitated Ruth flew in through the open door.

"Harry. Adam has just been on the phone. They've caught two men with a rocket launcher and two unfired rockets at Grassington Country Park. It sounds from the description that they are the two Pakistanis. Adam says that it looks as though they were trying to launch the rockets but had missed out a vital step in the sequence and so the launch had failed.

"Good. Tell him to bring them back to Thames House. Yes I know before you say anything that it should be Paddington Green, but it's vital that no time is lost on the niceties of established procedure."

Ruth shot him a piercing glance

"I thought you once said that you liked the niceties, they save us from tyranny? We can't just interrogate without rules or limits to what we can do otherwise we're no better than they are."

Harry's expression darkened at the implied criticism

"That's precisely what we are. We're trying to save lives not destroy them."

"Yes but Oliver Mace uses the same argument to sanction indiscriminate abuse of human rights in the name of national security. It's a slippery slope Harry, are you sure we have the right to embark on it?"

Harry rubbed his creased forehead with his hand as once again he felt intellectually forced into a corner by the penetrating intelligence of Ruth's argument

"It's precisely these qualms of conscience that we don't have time for. At any minute the remaining members of this cell could unleash further death and mayhem on London. I'm happy to argue the finer philosophical points of the conflict of interest between morality and national security on another occasion Ruth, right now we need to identify the extent of the cell as soon as possible and locate the remaining terrorists. Malcolm, I need updated status reports on the situation at each of the target sites in terms of casualties, structural damage and any evidence that has been found and bring Adam up to speed on them when he gets back. Ruth, I want you to focus on monitoring the stock market. I want to know immediately any large-scale share purchases take place."

Ruth with a subdued mutinous expression on her face nodded her agreement and moved to follow Malcolm thorough the door when Harry caused her to hesitate:

"Ruth …" his voice was suddenly soft and low as he walked over to stand in front of her and barred her exit

"I don't want to argue with you Ruth and I appreciate the moral morass that always surrounds these situations but this is the job we do. I have to make decisions and make judgements that are always shades of grey. The truth is there is no simple line in the sand these days, no absolute black and white morality, the important thing is to still keep in mind that there is still the obligation to look for one and to draw new ones if necessary."

Ruth smiled back her assent that Harry was trying to mend fences and reassure her that he was still 'one of the good guys' but she was still determined to stick to her view:

"I appreciate that Harry, but surely the whole point of lines in the sand is that they are immovable. If you start to equivocate about moral absolutes then it invites everyone to follow their own moral codes with equal validity and you end up with so many lines in the sand that they are meaningless."

Harry, wisely concluding that Ruth was not going to back down nor was he likely to win his argument any time soon decided to change tack:

"Anyway are you sure you're all right?"

As he said this his voice dropped lower and he took a step closer to her , his hand briefly stroking her arm.

"I'm fine Harry. All we felt down here was a loud bang and then vibrations."

"Well you don't look fine, you're very pale."

Harry raised his arm to pat her shoulder in a familiar reassuring gesture, but thought better of it and instead stroked the side of her head gently.

"Please don't fuss. The whole of London is under terrorist attack and you're worried that I'm not as rosy-cheeked as a Devon milkmaid."

"I'm concerned about you Ruth. I can't have my best analyst collapsing in the middle of a vital op can I? Get a hot drink and something to eat and sit down for a few minutes."

Ruth smiled back at him and reaching up caressed the broad hand that was stroking her face.

"Honestly Harry I'm fine, but if it makes you feel any better I'll tuck into the contents of the vending machine when I get the opportunity."

He desperately wanted to take her into his arms and express his relief that she hadn't been hurt in the attack; she desperately wanted to return his gesture and stroke his soft cheeks and tell him how much she loved him and was relieved in turn that he had not been hurt at Grassington Hall. Instead both smiled awkwardly at each other and turned away to their allotted tasks.