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Chapter 6
Things Can Change in a Moment
1050 – Oxfordshire, UK
Elvis leaned his head against the seat back processing in his mind what Georgie had just texted. The couple across from him were still embedded in their mobiles. Laura was watching the world outside rushing past the window. He calmly looked up at the message board informing their approach to Oxfordshire and an odd sensation crept over him. The train felt as though it was losing speed. A burst of static was heard sputtering from the speaker system, then –
"Attention all passengers! It is imperative you find your seats immediately."
"Daddy? What is it?" Laura asked wide-eyed, feeling the train slowing as well.
"I don't know," Elvis answered, leaning past her to take a hard gander out the window.
Likewise the couple across from them stretched to inspect their surroundings. Suddenly everyone felt the need to brace themselves in their seats. The passenger car was shuddering and Elvis knew the operator was breaking hard. He and Laura's bodies were forced back against their seats as the couple pitched forwards against the table-top. High-pitched screeching of metal caused everyone to grimace and Elvis could see the young woman opposite Laura was on the verge of panic. She clawed at her male companion's arm.
"What is happening?" she shrieked.
His face was chalk white. "This can't be good," the man muttered grimly.
They all felt a harsh jerk and tremendous weave, rocking in their seats as the train once again gained speed. Elvis shot from his seat, hands pressed against the window glass. He swayed to steady himself and said, "We've switched tracks…."
"What did you say?" the man across the way asked, eyes locked on Elvis.
"We've been diverted. Stay calm," he answered scanning the entire car with a full swing of his head.
"Stay calm? Are you fucking mad?! This is highly irregular! We were not advised the route needed to be diverted, I demand an explanation!"
"You gotta a warning to sit your arse down. Now shut up and stay alert," Elvis said sitting down swiftly, sliding his hands under the table, thumbs rapidly sending a text.
"I'm calling the authorities," the man announced smugly pressing his mobile to his ear.
"Keep 'at out of sight," Elvis advised, never looking up from his messaging.
"Kiss my arse. Hello?! Yes! We are onboard…."
Elvis saw the shadow emerging and it was no surprise the caller's mobile went airborne striking a passenger across the aisle.
"What the fuck did you do that for?" No sooner did the man rise in protest at losing his phone, he was violently punched in the face causing him to fall like a ragdoll next to his companion.
"No calls!" The menace in black snarled, turning in a flourish of circles for everyone to see.
Elvis calmly blinked his searing brown eyes, recognizing it to be the person of interest he had observed earlier. It did not take long for the concealed weapon to appear and seal the enormity of the threat. When the perpetrator was turned away Elvis shoved his mobile down the inside of his boot and leaned into Laura, putting an arm around her whispering, "Give me your phone." The child was wide-eyed but stoic and dug a small hand into the pocket of her ruck sack shielded by her father's body.
"Everyone! Hold your mobiles up in the air, all of your devices! We are taking a collection thank you very much!" The gun-wielder ordered.
Two additional men clad in black entered from the front of the car and rushed up and down the aisle snatching everyone's electronics. Elvis silently thanked himself for not bringing his laptop along. The woman across from Laura tried to conceal her mobile inside her clothing.
"Don't do it," Elvis cautioned.
"They'll never know," she said fumbling with her blouse.
"They already do. They've been watching us all along," he said.
She looked at him with pained disbelief and said to her companion, "Maybe your call got through."
He continued to dab at the blood trickling from his nostrils and simply nodded, still dazed from the trauma. With shaking hands the woman withdrew her mobile, second guessing whether she should try to send a plea for help. She looked at Elvis. He stared back providing no response one way or another. He had already offered his advice. Within minutes the passengers onboard train 1L83 were stripped of any connection they had to the outside world.
Xxxxx
1120 – London, UK
Retired Army Colonel David Warner was sat behind his cherry wood desk at MI5. Bright sunlight filtered through the large window behind him. His desktop computer came alive loading a new volume of emails. It was a far cry from the remote locations he used to command and sometimes he missed that life. There were several subject headings that caught his eye causing his rugged upper lip to curl with disdain. He knew it, he felt it deep in his gut, that the developing intel would soon erupt into a public anomaly.
For months Security Services had been picking up on hints of activity around Oxfordshire but to their frustration they were not able to piece the puzzle together. Several banks had fallen victim to hacked accounts and MI5 became involved because of the oddly encrypted malware that was detected. An abrupt knock at the door barely preceded the entrance of Jason Speers which tore Warner away from the screen.
"What the bloody hell!?" he grunted.
"Sorry. Critical intel, we're on Dave," Speers said coming to a standstill in front of the desk.
"Critical you say?"
"A passenger train was hijacked just outside Oxfordshire." Speers said planting hands on his hips.
Warner slid his chair back and stood, pressing his knuckles down on the desk. "Contact?"
"Negative. Paddington received an alert that 1L83 was diverted off-track at 1055 hours. Full passenger capacity on board,"
Both men locked gazed. "Fuck sake, is it a clear track or are they headed for a collision?" Warner asked as he shut the computer down and practically flew out the door with Speers.