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Chapter 30
Tip of the Iceberg
1900 – Hereford, UK
Georgie watched Elvis line up the surveillance equipment on the kitchen table. His nimble fingers began to connect several pieces together. He was intensely focused and she wished all of this would just go away. She sat down on of the chairs he had pulled away from the table.
"My mum said she would love to come help us with the move."
Elvis carried on with his task but eventually looked up at her. After he snapped a video cable together he said, "Ya got her goin on the cottage. She's probably got her bags packed already."
"Yeah." She said with a sarcastic laugh. "I hope all this shit doesn't fuck it up for us Elvis."
He stilled his hands. "George. I am meetin with the inspector on Monday. If it flies we're gonna make an offer. "At's it."
"And are ya gonna turn up in an armored vehicle?" She retorted.
He gave her a steely look and she knew he meant business. "I do not like this anymore than you do, OK?"
"If you hadn't gotten your nose out of joint about Jones I wouldn't need to be worrying about you now!" She said through gritted teeth.
He hated causing her worry, especially with the pregnancy. "Look! I can't talk to ya about details. I just simply cannot. But I will keep you and our baby safe!"
She stared at him. He was dead serious. "Why all this Elvis? Huh?" She said gesturing at the military grade materials littering their kitchen table top.
"This is security."
"It looks like a fucking arsenal."
"Well it is actually. I got everythin 'ere I need."
"What has got ya wound up? Do you really think Pettigrew means to harm ya?"
He paused and looked at her. "Yeah."
"Dear God Elvis! What the hell have you stepped in?" She said feeling a cold shiver creep up her spine.
"Still tryin to sort it all out." He answered honestly. She looked away from him. "Georgie. Listen to me." He said placing a small camera aside. "Please. Come 'ere." He reached for her when she attempted to turn away from him and he lifted her up from the chair, gently grasping her shoulders. "I will make it all good." He said deeply, his voice rasping as he drank in the despair on her face. She looked into his eyes.
"We should have just left the army." She groaned.
"Don't think I haven't thought about 'at."
"Seriously?"
"Yes. Can't do much about it now. Got to let this play out. At least we've got back-up."
She smiled then. Even in the midst of chaos he had a way of comforting her with his cool resilience. Elvis kissed her and placed a hand on her belly. "Has the little bloke weighed in on any of this?"
She lifted his hand away and kissed his fingers. "He's incommunicado at the moment."
Elvis grinned. "See. Got ya thinkin it's a boy as well."
"Shut up!"
He genuinely laughed then. The first time in the entire day. "I'm gonna connect a camera outside our door and one in the car park."
"Don't ya reckon the landlord will take issue with that?" She asked.
"Nah. High tech George. They'll never know they're there."
She moved to look over the other items on the table. "What's this?" She asked picking up what appeared to be a small bird.
"Drone."
"For real? This little thing?"
"Yep. Mad ain't it?"
"No wonder you're fascinated with these toys." She said examining the tiny drone even closer.
"Gets the job done."
Georgie looked at him. I will keep you and our baby safe. "Promise me you will not step in front of a bullet." She said gravely.
He fiddled with the camera and looked at her. "The only promise I can make Georgie is to keep ya safe." Her sad eyes bore into him.
"I cannot lose you Elvis. We cannot lose you." She said placing her hands on their growing child. His gaze drifted down at her actions and she could see the anguish in his eyes.
"I an't goin anywhere George. We 'ave a whole life time to share together.
Xxxxx
2330 –
"Talk to me Dave. Wha' 'ave ya got?" Elvis said settling into his seat in front of his laptop. He had all of the surveillance equipment set up in the spare bedroom.
"It is just as you said Elvis. Jones and Pettigrew communicated. It appears Wes was trying to delete messages from his mobile directly before he was picked up, but of course we can retrieve those."
"Anythin on Adam and Pettigrew?" Elvis asked, tapping his hands on the table.
"Negative."
"Not believing 'at." Elvis said glowering. "I saw those two go at each other. There was definitely a familiarity about it."
"But you do not know what was being said."
"I do not."
"Adam is not talking. Mouth is shut as tight as a clam."
"Got quite a lot to hide I would imagine. Are ya sure all the contacts on Adam's mobile were scoured?"
"Not one hundred percent, no. The prosecutors were looking for obvious threads. What's on your mind?"
"Different accounts maybe. Used a fake persona?"
"I can have them relook at his cell records."
"Yeah. Good. I reckon 'at needs done. We're missin somethin 'ere." Dave Warner nodded and jotted down notes. "Any action directed at Pettigrew yet?" Elvis asked.
"No evidence to formally go after him unfortunately. Just because he communicated with Wes does not mean he committed any crime. There is just speculation at this point." Warner said.
"But they will take him in for questioning?"
"That is expected, yes. Look, I know you are concerned Elvis, but we cannot tip our hand."
"Acknowledge, but I don't trust Pettigrew. I reckon when he gets backed into a corner he is gonna stike."
"His movements are being monitored. You have got yourself and Georgie on close protection. That is all we can do at the moment."
"Negative. Dave, there's too much at risk 'ere mate. Pettigrew knows I'm involved. If I don't like wha' I'm seein I am gonna 'ave Georgie concealed."
"Agreed. You have our complete support on that."
"Ya may be monitoring Pettigrew's movements but I guarantee it's business as usual for him. He's probably siphoning off evidence as we speak."
"Our hands are tied. We need more. You know that." Warner pleaded.
Elvis sat back and rubbed his eyes. "Right…OK…..so wha' about Adam's application. He had a grocery list of references and Pettigrew was hell bent on pushing him through. Any names strike yer fancy?"
"I know one caught your eye." Warner said with a smirk, flipping through the files.
"Knots. How the hell does he turn up? He's like a fuckin rash ya can't quit scratchin." Elvis said pinching the bridge of his nose.
Warner laughed. "Must have thought it would look good to have a MoD staffer's name to back him up."
"I doubt Adam Jones ever stepped foot inside of Whitehall." Elvis snarked.
"True. The uncle probably tossed names around over cocktails. Quite frankly, I am surprised they didn't use Brad Evans." Warner said.
"Brad Evans…from Special Reconn?"
"The very same."
"Why do ya say 'at?" Elvis asked, leaning in closer to the screen, captivated by this disclosure.
"He was in Afghanistan the same time Pettigrew was on mission to track down Mukhtar."
Elvis stared at Warner, his mental wheels turning. "When was this?"
"Reckon about three months before you were sent over to do the job. Pettigrew could not get in deep enough and as you know, Evans lost two of his operatives."
"I thought Pettigrew had been injured?"
"Yeah, there was something about that. But after his mission failed, Pettigrew was sent to an FOB in Kabul Province. They were policing heroin traffickers and needed some undercover work. When he returned to the UK, Evans put the word in for him to be re-assigned at SAS Headquarters."
"Well, well, well. I wanna look back and see where Adam Jones was when all this kicked off. I am certain I recall he had a tour in Kabul Province." Elvis said as he began to rifle through Adam Jones' dossier. He relayed the dates and watched as Dave Warner tapped into his desktop computer.
"Son of a bitch!" Warner said incredulously.
"Wha? Wha' 'ave ya got?" Elvis asked wanting to launch himself through his laptop to see the other computer screen.
"Pettigrew staged his mission from the same FOB where Jones was stationed."
"Shit Dave! This is just the tip of the iceberg!" Elvis said. "We gotta find a connection between Adam and Pettigrew."
"Affirmative. Once we retrieve all of Wes Jones' messages we will have more cause to bring Pettigrew in for questioning at the very least."
"I 'ave personal matters I need addressed in the comin week and I do not want that bastard interfering."
"Your back is covered Elvis. Get done what needs done and talk to Georgie about seclusion."
"Roger 'at."
"By morning more intel should be forthcoming. Wait out. Our operatives are in place. You know patience is key."
"Not my best virtue, but thanks Dave. I know the team is good."
Both ended their virtual call. Elvis sat back in his chair and extended his long legs out in an attempt to relax. His eyes scanned the video screens capturing the car park and threshold. He chewed on his lips. This was just a plaster at best he thought. He needed to get Georgie someplace really safe."
