Thanks once again to those who read and those who reviewed.
May 4 15.30: Tom has reported that the sting on Rachel Goldsmith was partly successful. Although subjected to a considerable degree of emotional pressure she refused to reveal anything directly. However the fallback option of bugging of her mobile phone provided us with the name of the next target: Dr Diane Sullivan who works in a private practice based in St John's Wood. Surveillance agents have been dispatched to observe but instructed not make any approach unless they consider her to be at risk. At the end of her working day two other officers will visit her at home and organise her covert removal to a safe house. Further decisions await the return from Liverpool of the field officers, Quinn, Reynolds and Hunter.
The papers authorising Mary Kane's extradition have been returned unsigned on the grounds that they contravene the UK convention of not returning detainees to countries/states that retain the death sentence. Ms Kane was convicted of a capital crime in absentia so her fate is a given and therefore in line with accepted national policy the request should be rejected.
In the absence of any discussion, and despite the life threatening nature of our transatlantic guest's plans I've taken only basic, low key steps to ensure that Diane Sullivan is not reduced to cinders. It's my guess that since Saturday happens to coincide with Paul Kane's execution the designated victim is safe until the weekend, hence my decision to delay removing her to safety forthwith. It is entirely possible that we may need to create the illusion that Dr Sullivan is following her normal life's pattern, whatever that may be, and therefore I can't risk giving any instruction that might signal that we are aware Sullivan is carrying an invisible target on her back. From an operational POV we have to recognise that members of Mary Kane's network may also be observing Sullivan's movements, although I'm prepared to bet that my officers are better trained than Mary's gang of ignorant amateurs. While I'm reasonably certain that these assumptions are accurate I'm somewhat less confident that sending Helen to supervise Sullivan into safe custody after she returns home is a risk free chance. Unfortunately my choice of officer in this instance is a little limited, given that only a handful of my staff are aware of the basics of this operation, with the three most experienced still stuck in northlands.
I can only keep everything crossed that I didn't make the wrong call in selecting Helen. She clearly needs more practice in the field, as evidenced by her excitement when I assigned her this fairly routine task. Talk about overdrive, she jumped with alacrity, suggesting that she stuffed cushion under her coat as a disguise. I dissuaded her on the grounds that if not well secured it might drop to the ground, thus destroying the operation with one featherlight blow. I should have added that a pregnant woman usually has swollen ankles, water retention, enlarged breasts and the need to avail herself of the Ladies with a frequency not consist with effective cover. I haven't forgotten Jane's endless moans when she was pregnant with Catherine. When she discovered she was pregnant with Graham it's a miracle I avoided involuntary castration.
While we try to track down the delightful Ms Kane, I've managed to delay her return to the loving embrace of Uncle Sam on the unassailable grounds that the decision of the American courts to consign her to the electric chair is an event that doesn't dovetail with my understanding of our existing protocols. I will of course be obliged to sign eventually due to the elastic conscience, not to mention the brown tongues, of HM Government, who will happily deport her while simultaneously offering asylum to others who are every bit as dangerous. Tough luck Mary, you're a Catholic Christian – allegedly – and therefore lacking in essential multicultural credentials. Not of course that everyone fleeing and then claiming asylum is a closet terrorist. The 7/7 bombers were home grown, an indication that many a would be martyr for Allah is a native of these shores, but even so we do seem to be importing and sheltering a worrying number of manipulative hot heads. Reds under bed at the start of my career, mad mullahs in mosques as it approaches its horizon.
The need to retain Mary's presence within our borders in an attempt to unpick her plans and network wasn't the only reason behind my refusal to sign. I know this sounds strange from someone whose field officer past has involved more face to face shootings than I care to remember, and who still, via kill orders, delivers death by proxy, but I really find the idea of capital punishment stomach churning. Killing to save myself or a colleague: yes. Killing as part of an ongoing operation to save nameless others: yes. I'll live with the nightmares that ensue and consider it a price worth paying, but the idea of escorting someone to a death chamber, calmly strapping them to a chair or a gurney and then either pulling a switch or injecting them with a lethal drug as the culmination of a pre-planned ceremony makes me shudder. Even worse, and almost unbelievable for a nation that considers itself civilised, in America they invite spectators!
Anyway Tessa's face when I returned the papers and told her to rethink was a picture. She really gets annoyed by me. I know why of course, when we were both junior officers and I was still married to Jane, just – we were forced to attend a conference together. After a few drinks she decided to proposition me and asked if there was any good reason why I couldn't come to her room that night. She's never forgiven me for replying that I could think of several. Frankly I make no claims to marital virtue - although if I'd slept with the legions of women who figured in Jane's accusations I'd never have had time, or the strength, to do up my trouser zip, let alone stagger into work - but after Juliet I'd learnt my lesson about shagging colleagues I then have to work with on a daily basis. Thankfully Juliet managed to oil her way into a post in America shortly after our liaison, had she stayed I'm sure my life would have been made Hell. Even before I dumped her, the result of knowing that Catherine was on the way, she'd rather blamed me for the subsequent disciplinary, although as my boss she should have known better than to energetically bonk a junior – orders were orders after all - even if I did enjoy obeying them at the time. The only positive outcome from the whole sordid experience was that I imbibed a principle I've stuck to rigidly ever since my promotion to Section Head. Namely if you are the team leader you should never ever take the risk of becoming romantically or sexually involved with a subordinate, of either gender. If the relationship blossoms the rest of your staff feel they are shut off from being able to argue or dispute with either of you, leading to operational problems. If the relationship goes down the tubes the whole atmosphere stinks, leading to operational problems.
Consequently these days I prefer to adopt the boss cum uncle cum father persona. Very privately I'll admit to myself that if I was going to have a crack at any female on my staff, and I'm not about to break my self imposed rule, it would be Zoe I'd approach, not Tessa. All other considerations aside Tessa is not, and never would be my type. The only person whose survival Tessa is interested in is Tessa's. I didn't make my mistakes with the spider that was Juliet, trapping and wrapping everyone hand and foot, simply to indulge myself in déjà vu with a praying mantis.
Sorry but I couldn't resist a homage to PF's appearance on Top Gear. Thanks for reading and if you have a moment a review would be very acceptable.