Authors: David Lowe
‘I
understand.
Have
you
heard
from
Sayfel?’
‘I
was
talking
to
him
on
a
chat
room
last
night.
He
told
me
to
keep
a
close
eye
on
you
to
make
sure
you’re
OK.’
‘I
could
do
with
speaking
to
him
myself.
What
chat
room
does
he
use?’
‘I
can’t
tell
you.
You
know
he’s
hot
property
after
what
happened
six
months
ago.
They’re
still
after
him
for
killing
those
two
MI5
agents
and
those
motorway
cops
as
well
as
nearly
killing
a
Special
Branch
copper.
All
I
can
say
is
he’s
safe
and
he’s
looking
forward
to
his
return.
Now
it’s
time
you
left
before
your
car
attracts
any
more
attention.’
When the recording stopped, George continued with his briefing, ‘That recording was taken two weeks ago, so we can assume the few weeks they discussed means they are closer to carrying out their operation. Some very interesting points came out of this conversation. Firstly a mention of our Steve’s dice with death and how Sayfel’s still pulling the strings even though it’s believed he’s still in Pakistan. Also, regarding Islam, it looks like we’re looking at a target that’s a bit green behind the ears in relation to terrorist operations. Importantly, what came out of this conversation was the fact he’s transporting chemicals. Being a doctor, no one would seriously question his possession of chemicals. So by monitoring their movements in Prestwich and at their workplace, it’s important we find out what chemicals they’re getting their hands on, as well as how they’re obtaining them. You never know, Al Qaeda might be fancying their chances with another dirty bomb attack. Have you anything to add Jerry?’
‘Only that we’ve been working on this one for a good few months and we’ve built up a good profile of the targets we’ve been watching. We’ve no idea when they will strike, but the Manchester and Liverpool job six months ago leads us to believe they may be considering another dirty bomb strike. Of course, and I’m aware that I’m talking to the leading team on that job. As you all know, one of the targets did try and mislead us as to their intentions. We’re wary that they may be giving us misinformation on this job as well. What has us going down the path they’re planning another dirty bomb strike is the fact they’re collecting chemicals. We first got a hint they were doing this from intercepted Internet traffic between our targets and an Al Qaeda cell based in Pakistan. MI5 have assisted us and they’re sure the operative helping to organise the attack is one this team are very familiar with, Yousef Sayfel, who’s simply known as Sayfel. From all the forms of communication traffic West Yorks ISB and MI5 have intercepted, it appears he’s instructing our targets when to carry out each stage of their preparation. That includes the two you’ve been asked to look at for us. Your role in watching Islam and Hussain is to see if they’re accessing chemicals and if so, where and in what quantity. As we’re looking to go to the search and arrest stage, we need you to find out as soon as you can about the chemicals. I’m sorry I can’t give you a timescale. All I can say is we’re looking to move to the arrest stage as quickly as possible. Time is not on your side. Thanks sir, that’s all I have to add at this stage.’
‘Thanks Jerry. As I said, Jerry’s going to be working with us over the next week or two, so I’d be grateful if you’ll make him feel at home. Jerry’s staying in one of Manchester’s finest hotels, well the finest we could find on the meagre expenses West Yorks have given him. So make sure he’s not left on his own during out of work hours, I want you to be sociable and show him the bright lights of our city. Regarding how we can start our side of the investigation, I’ve already made some enquiries with local estate agents and I’ve secured entry into premises that affords an excellent view to the front of our targets’ house as well as one that is directly at the back of their house. A stroke of luck I know, so let’s keep that lucky streak going. Has anyone got any questions?’ As the assembled officers remained silent, George said, ‘Right apart from David Hurst go and get a brew and start thinking how best to start up the obs. Steve, I want you to organise that while David and I brief Detective Superintendent Edge.’
‘Consider it done sir,’ Steve said
‘Thanks Steve. Come on David let’s go and update Mister Edge.’ As they walked out of the briefing room towards Edge’s office, George said, ‘I was disappointed in you this morning bringing your phone in. I know it’s unlike you, but I had to bollock you during the briefing, especially as we had an officer from another force with us.’
‘I’m sorry George, I should have had a word with you before the briefing, but I knew you were tied up with other stuff.’
‘So who’s this snout that’s so important?’
‘Do you remember Jimmy O’Leary?’
‘That’s going back a few years and if I remember right, he was your main snout when we were investigating the Irish.’ As they were getting close to the detective superintendent’s office George stopped walking and said, ‘Has this something to do with you and Steve seeing Sean McCrossan and the shooting last week?’
‘Yes. I tried to call you yesterday, but you must have had your mobile switched off and your home phone went onto the answer phone.’
‘I took a few days leave and went up to the Lakes with Chloe for the weekend. We switched the mobiles off as we literally wanted a few days away from work. With what happened on Wednesday I suppose I should have kept it on.’
‘Don’t worry about it. Certain events happened over the weekend that caused Steve and I to go to Reilly’s Bar yesterday to see Jimmy.’
‘Oh Davey, why? You know since RIPA, you need authority from at least a DI to act as handler if you go to see informants. I know old habits die hard, but one old habit that should be eradicated by now is experienced detectives going off to see their informants without the authority of a handler.’
‘I know, but it was serious.’
Sensing something was on David’s mind, George said, ‘What would have happened if you got put into a compromising position? No matter how serious it was, you’d be fucked. I won’t go on about it as I noticed you were very quiet this morning. I’ve known you long enough to know that something’s troubling you. Understandably with what happened, I can see McCrossan’s playing on your mind.’
‘It’s not just McCrossan who’s playing on my mind, I saw O’Byrne and McElvaney while I was in Liverpool. I really do need to speak to you about it. Have you got a minute before we see Edge?’
‘No, we’re late as the briefing overran a little and I don’t want to start upsetting him at the moment by keeping him waiting, but if you saw those two as well, no wonder you looked so preoccupied. We’ll go to the coffee shop round the corner after we’ve spoken to Edge and you tell me everything then. Before I brief Edge put my mind at rest, you and Steve haven’t been off doing your own thing have you?’
‘No.’
‘Good as we and you in particular are to leave that investigation to SO15 and Jenny Richmond at MI5.’ George paused by the door to Detective Superintendent Edge’s office for a moment and quietly said, ‘Let me do the talking. I don’t want any sarcastic comments from you that will wind him up. And that’s an order.’
David mockingly raised his right hand to his forehead to salute George saying, ‘Yes sir. I understand fully sir!’
George knocked on the door. After hearing a curt ‘come in’ from Paul Edge, the officers entered the room and stood at the doorway to the office. Without looking up from the reports on his desk, he beckoned both officers to sit down. Not giving any eye contact, he continued to read the report in his hand as the two officers sat down opposite his desk. For a couple of minutes Edge did not say a word. In an attempt to assert his authority, he would regularly pretend to read documents with the aim of making junior ranking officers wait in an uncomfortable silence before they got his attention.
While going through this familiar charade, Hurst looked around the office that to him was typical of an office housing a senior officer insecure in themselves. The pale coloured emulsion painted walls were bedecked with class photographs from courses Edge attended at the police college at Bramshill, plaques with police badges from other forces in the UK and abroad and framed certificates. Hurst looked for any new additions. Working his way to the right from the framed certificate that said simply ‘pass in police studies’ from the John Jay police college in New York with an NYPD badge above the certificate, that he knew was basically a four week jolly. There was one from junior command course at Bramshill and one from a project management course, also from Bramshill. They were all neatly hung above a bookshelf containing a small number of criminology books. From the pristine condition of the book’s spines Hurst knew they had never been read and were there to impress callers to Edge’s office. On seeing a new certificate in a cheap plastic gold coloured frame confirming Edge’s recent promotion to superintendent it grated on Hurst. It was a promotion obtained on the back of his team’s work on the dirty bomb attack in the north of England and the Chechen attack in London Edge had little involvement with. When he did, due to his incompetency, Edge was sidelined to play a minimal role in the operation.
Having a sly glance over his paperwork, Edge saw Hurst looking at the certificates. He knew they did not impress the DS, who had a degree in criminology and was studying for PhD. There was no love lost between the two officers. As David Hurst had to study part time, Edge tried to make it as hard as possible for him to attend university by giving him tasks to carry out in the late afternoon and early evening when Hurst’s university sessions were running.
On finishing reading the report, he slowly placed it down on his desk and looked up at the two officers. Scowling at David, he turned to look at George and said, ‘I’ve asked DCI Johnson to join us so he’s up to speed with this West Yorks job. As you’re looking after the DC they sent over as liaison officer, George make sure it’s the more sober and better behaved members of Hurst’s team that chaperone him out of hours around the city. I don’t want any unwarranted tales of how I run this ISB office going back over the Pennines.’
‘You can ask me directly sir. I am sitting right in front of you,’ David said.
‘I asked George as you’re one of the officers I don’t want looking after him,’ Edge said.
‘Nice to see that you still have the highest regard towards me boss. Are you not going to ask me how I am after being shot at on Wednesday?’ David asked.
‘No. I have the SO15 report in front of me and that’s all I need. I can see you’re in one piece and as you’re sat here, I take it you’re fit for work. From what I read of the shooting incident, once again I see you and Adams went off doing your own thing. You didn’t request back up and you were off your own patch. Reading between the lines, you got what you deserved. It’s only been a few weeks since you returned to work after your injury and from now on I want you to toe the line. Do I make myself clear?’ Edge said.
Before Hurst would come back with a reply likely to enrage the detective superintendent, George said, ‘I’ll make sure he does sir.’
‘See to it George before he does something that’ll ruin all our carers, not just his,’ Edge said picking up another report from the in-tray on his desk.
‘Do you want to wait for Tim to arrive before David and I update you on this new job that’s come in from West Yorks?’ George asked trying to change the subject before a row ensued between his DS and the detective superintendent.
‘I know he’s sorting out Baskin’s investigation. He said he might be a few minutes late so you may as well make a start.’
‘First I’m glad David and Steve Adams returned in full health after the injuries they sustained in that Chechen job,’ George said.
Paul Edge turned to David and said, ‘Adding that incident onto last Wednesday’s shooting, I just hope it’s taught you a lesson not to be so impetuous in future and to start doing things by the book.’
‘Oh yes sir it has. I have fully learnt my lesson. I mean, if I’d done things by the book and waited for back up to arrive with that Chechen job, Steve would now be six feet under and you’d still be a DCI. It’s the last reason that’s caused me to regret me using my initiative. It certainly taught me that I should play by the book sir.’
‘Don’t fucking start Hurst. For Christ’s sake in the few weeks since you returned to work from your injury, you’ve been insubordinate more times than I care to mention,’ Edge said snarling at David.