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Chapter 9

Planning Decisive Action

Part One

1415 – SAS Garrison Hereford, UK

General Atkinson was surrounded by his advisors including Colonel Jonathan Godfrey and Major Timothy Hawthorne. The general had been alerted to the hijacking by the MoD but for now, only the SAS were privy to the fact that they already had one of their own smack dab in the middle of it all. They did not have much to go on but knew they needed to act fast.

Atkinson leaned back, raising his arms, clasping hands behind his head saying, "All that clammoring in an around Oxfordshire MI5 was monitoring, that is where the targets opened up."

"Affirmative sir. MI5 is scouring the area with surveillance drones in an attempt to pick up on any intel. There was a minutiae of activity clocked in at 1045 hours but by the time Metro CT invaded the location it was empty," Godfrey reported.

"Paddington received word the targets would be making contact at half past to outline their demands, MI5 is already on site to intercept the call." Hawthorne added.

Atkinson looked at Spanner. "Any updates?"

"Negative sir," the lieutenant replied, hands confidently clutching the sides of his armored vest, but he whispered to himself, "Come on boss…throw us a bone.."

Xxxxx

1430 – Paddington Station, London, UK

Tension within the depot office was almost unbearable. Jason Speers glanced at his watch knowing the incoming call was imminent. The depot master's forehead glistened from anxious perspiration and then the bell tolled. Immediately Speers directed hand signals to his agents. They were on it, ready to intercept and record the exchange. All eyes were riveted on the depot master as he answered.

"Oliver Wells here."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance once again poor sir. I trust all parties realize there will be consequences for any missteps," the eerily mechanical voice recited.

Wells wiped his brow. "Why are you doing this?"

"Your job is to listen!" the phantom voice growled. Wells looked up at Speers who gestured for him to remain calm. The room was taunted with the sound of laughter, a sardonic, hurtful laugh. Speers gritted his teeth. "I know you have summoned the authorities. In fact, they are there with you now, are they not?" the voice said.

Wells swallowed hard and said, "There are lives at stake here. Please, just tell me what you want."

Speers waved an empathetic hand, coaching the depot master to take it slow. With a shaking kerchief Wells blotted his forehead and said, "What is it that you want?"

The response was eerily quiet until they heard….."Everything….."

All eyes shot to Speers and they waited to hear more. But there was nothing. No sound. No ridicule. Nothing. The MI5 specialists frantically pushed buttons and toggled switches. There was nothing. All contact was lost.

Xxxxx

1415 – Undisclosed location

Laura was restless. She was trying to hold out but it was becoming more difficult. Squirming did nothing to help. She leaned into Elvis.

"Daddy….." she whispered.

"Wha' angel?" he asked leaning his head down to her.

"I have to wee," she whispered close to his ear, brows knitted in distress.

Elvis' jaw tightened. This was inevitable. He was surprised more folks had not sounded a similar alarm. "Hold tight. I got this," he said sitting tall in his seat, head swiveling around for a target.

"Do you reckon that is wise?" Woods said from across the way.

Elvis pierced him with a glare. "Ya got a better plan mate?"

"No," Woods said breaking eye contact and scattering his gaze in every direction.

Elvis stood, immediately eliciting a reaction.

"Sit!" Commanded a black clad target.

"Please. My daughter is in need," Elvis said holding his hands up in a defensive posture.

"How so?" the target said charging towards them, rifle leveled at Elvis' chest.

"She needs the loo."

The Special Forces captain and target sized-up their respective positions. The man saw something in this father's eyes. His own soul was devoid of feeling but his instincts were telling him to relent. He could almost feel the drive inside of this prisoner. There was an edge that made him uneasy.

"Be quick about it," he finally said lifting the muzzle of his automatic weapon in the air, hand waving for Laura to exit her seat.

A slow exhale through his nostrils relieved Elvis' tension and he guided Laura past him to the aisle, gently reinforcing her courage with a stroke to the back of her head. "It's OK. Do wha' ya need to do. I will be right 'ere." She looked back at him and nodded. "Sii coraggiosa," he said with an encouraging smile. Be brave. She returned his smile and squeezed his hand before she let go and hurried to the loo.

Elvis felt his heart skip a thousand extra beats, certain if anything happened to her, he would turn this entire passenger car upside down.

Xxxxx

1500 – SAS Garrison, Hereford, UK

Georgie could barely concentrate on her field reports. There was no further word from Elvis. The SAS was silent. She pressed her fingertips into her closed eyelids hoping when she opened them this madness would all be just a dream. Unfortunately reality invaded that fantasy with the appearance of Tad Peters making way in her direction.

"Filsap did fine work this afternoon wouldn't ya reckon?" he said sitting in alongside of her.

"Huh? Yeah. Yeah, he did. A bit faffy though," she said pulling herself together.

"Some details can be a good thing."

"I'd fancy a few more details on this hijacking to be honest." She said toying with the stray strands from her hair bun.

"Radio silence," Peters said tapping fingers uncomfortably on the table top.

She looked at her watch and chewed on her lower lip. "From you or them?" she said.

"I got nothing. But someone turned the heat up on the kettle because I saw your boys dressed in full kit," he said.

"My boys?"

"Elvis' team. They were marched in with McAllister's sniper unit."

Georgie became lost in a trance of worry. Soon she would be heading home alone to her baby son whilst her husband and stepdaughter were in dire straits. Her emotions were begging to know something…..anything to keep her desperate imagination at bay. Deal with it, Elvis voiced inside her head and her eyes closed as her face melted in anguish. "Please be careful," she pleaded, conjuring his image in her mind.

The mobile buzzed in her pocket and she could not pull it out fast enough. There was disappointment followed by comfort in the message. It was not from Elvis.

Wait out. They're going in. No details, but Elvis contacted Spanner.

Thanks Toni, Georgie texted back. A flood of relief washed over her. At least Elvis was alright. She had to trust he had his position under control. Being incommunicado was one of the worst parts of their relationship, now more than ever, because now she knew exactly where he was behind enemy lines.