Authors: David Lowe
Chapter Sixteen
GMP’s Special Branch Office,
18.30 hours, Thursday, 5
th
July
As Debbie was going through the latest intelligence files with George in his office, carrying his overnight bag, David called in to the office to see if there were any last minute instructions for him before he left for Ireland. Entering the room, George looked up at David and said, ‘Ready to go?’
‘As ready as I’ll ever be. I was just wondering if there were any last minute developments.’
‘Nothing’s changed. Promise me you’ll just do as you’re told and take your orders from MI5 with good grace,’ George said.
‘As its MI5’s show, I’ll be so well behaved they won’t even know I’m there.’
‘I’ll believe that when I see it,’ Debbie said with a knowing smile walking around George’s desk to stand next to David.
David began to read the files lying on George’s desk. Although they were upside down, over the years he developed the talent of being able to glance and read quickly information on documents on desks, even if they were upside down. Seeing they related to West Yorkshire’s Al Qaeda investigation his team was working on, he asked, ‘How’s the Prestwich job going?’
‘We’ve not uncovered anything new yet, but we’ve been able to watch both targets at their home and respective workplaces. The calls and emails we’ve monitored have been interesting. It sounds like your old friend Sayfel could be back in the UK,’ George said.
‘I thought he was still in Swat Valley in Pakistan?’ David asked, surprised at hearing his old adversary could be in the country. ‘Having him in the country out to get his revenge on me as well as McCrossan and his mates is all I need right now’
‘We’ve got no intelligence that you’re his primary target. I think he’s got bigger fish to fry. That’s right isn’t it Debbie?’ George said.
‘That’s what the last intelligence report on him said. I can check to see if there’s been any new information on Sayfel if you want me to,’ Debbie said.
‘No it’s alright, we can check that later,’ George said, ‘I’d rather make sure David forgets about Sayfel and concentrates on arriving at Eastlands on time to catch that helicopter MI5 are sending over to take him to Ireland.’
‘When I get back, I’d love to get my hands on the bastard,’ David said.
‘Forget all about Sayfel for now,’ George said, ‘just focus on finding out what McCrossan’s up to.’
‘There’s no worries on that score George,’ David said, ‘Seeing how we’re dealing with the Real IRA, I suppose you could say this is a real job. Debs, any chance of a lift?’
* * *
Driving along Great Ancoats Street towards Manchester City Football Club’s stadium, Eastlands, Debbie asked David, ‘So what were Jenny’s final instructions?’
‘She reiterated I’m to be no more than an observer and only provide information to the MI5 officers. I’m not to get involved with anything else.’
Turning right into Every Street, she said, ‘Do as she says. I want you back in one piece, so no unnecessary heroics.’
‘There’s no worries on that score. Jenny also mentioned Declan Murphy. She’s arranged for Cheshire’s Special Branch to mount obs on him, including static obs at his home. She only expects me to be in Ireland for two nights at most as MI5 hope to have housed McCrossan in Armagh by then, when I get back I’m to go straight over and assist Cheshire on the Murphy investigation.’
‘That’s good isn’t it?’ Debbie said approaching the stadium, ‘That means you’ll soon be back home doing work you’re more familiar with. I’ll park up here. What time is it now?’
David glanced at his watch and said, ‘Nearly seven. They’ll be here in a minute. The other more disturbing thing she said was that I was to be careful when I go to Cheshire as it looks like McCrossan’s inside source could be an officer from Cheshire. I’m to trust no one in Cheshire’s Special Branch and I quote, “to tread carefully, keep my eyes open and my mouth shut”.’
Debbie stopped looking in the skies for the helicopter and looked directly at David. Gently touching his cheek to reassure him, she said, ‘I’ll speak to Jenny and try and get more out of her regarding who is passing on the information so you know who to avoid before you go to Cheshire. For now you’re just to focus on McCrossan. He started all this and if it goes to plan he’ll be one less thing to worry about.’ As Debbie spoke, the sound of the helicopter could be heard in the distance and her mobile phone rang. ‘Hello.’
‘Stuart Stroud here Debbie. Is your man ready to be picked up?’
‘He is,’ she replied. Looking up to the western sky, Debbie saw the helicopter turn from a small dot into an identifiable object. ‘We can see you now.’
‘We can see the stadium. We’ll touchdown shortly.’
‘Thanks Stuart,’ Debbie said. She put her phone back into her handbag, leant across from the driver’s seat and kissed David. ‘Let me know when you get there and don’t worry about what’s going on here, you just look after yourself. If you’re working with Stuart Stroud you’re in safe company. He’s a good man.’
As the helicopter slowly descended the last few feet to the ground, David’s phone rang. ‘Jimmy what have you got for me?’
‘McCrossan’s at Ivy Farm just outside Cullaville in Armagh . . .’
David interrupted Jimmy O’Leary, ‘That’s fucking brilliant news Jimmy, but I’m in the middle of something right now. Text me the details and I’ll ring you later.’
‘Of course, good luck with whatever it is you’re doing and watch your back.’
‘That was Jimmy O’Leary,’ David said putting his phone back into his jacket, ‘He’s found out where McCrossan is, it’s Ivy farm in Cullaville, Armagh. Tell Jenny.’ Leaning over to the back seat, David picked up his overnight bag and kissed Debbie. ‘I love you Debbie Heron,’ he said getting out of the front passenger seat.
* * *
‘Welcome to Belfast, you made good time,’ said the tall, gangly, bespectacled MI5 officer wearing a grey, slightly stained suit that was so crumpled it looked as though he had slept in it. David’s first impression was that he looked like a geek. ‘I’m your reception committee. I’ve got a car waiting for you over there on the apron,’ he said pointing to a blue coloured Ford Mondeo. As he spoke, David’s first impression of the officer was enhanced by the whiney tone of the officer’s voice. ‘We’ll leave the airport and go straight to the office in the city where you’ll be briefed.’
The small, but stocky built Stuart Stroud got out of the helicopter first, followed by the second MI5 officer, Lisa Greening. On the flight over, Stroud was pleasant enough with David, keeping a conversation going. The flight was one of those awkward moments where on entering the helicopter at Manchester, David knew his presence changed the atmosphere inside the cabin. Not knowing them nor they him, Stroud tried to find some common ground to talk about that did not entail work. Not being one for small talk, David struggled to keep the chat going, but Greening hardly said a word. Throughout the whole flight he was conscious of her constantly staring at him. As hard as Stroud tried to be polite, David knew he was an unwelcome outsider and thought these officers must have had a similar outlook as Craig MacDonald as to why they would have to bring a plod along with them.
Once in the car, the gangly MI5 officer got into the driver’s seat, switched on the ignition and put the car into gear. Just before he moved off, he picked up the car’s radio transmitter and said, ‘Pick-up made, on our way to you now.’ Mile after mile, not a word was said by the car’s occupants. Looking out of the window David’s large frame was hunched on the back seat behind the driver while resting his overnight bag on his knees. Breaking the tense silence, he said, ‘Going by the witty pace of this conversation, I can see this op’s going to be a barrel of laughs.’
Sitting next to him, Greening said, ‘We’re not here for laughs DS Hurst, we’re here to do a job.’
‘It’s clear it’s a job you want to do without having me along,’ David said still looking out of the window.
‘Not at all David,’ Stroud said, ‘it’s been a long day and for one, I’m feeling a little tired after all the travelling.’
Looking at David, Greening said, ‘And we’re not finished for the day yet. After the briefing, we’re to drive down to Armagh. This is a dangerous job you know.’
David stopped staring out of the window, turned and looking Greening in the eye said, ‘And you don’t think I know that! If I’ve guessed your age right, I was dealing with PIRA when you were at school. Don’t start telling me how dangerous these bastards are. How long have you been in the service, a couple of years?’
‘That’s not your concern DS Hurst,’ Greening snapped back aggressively.
‘I think it fucking well is. If I’m going back on ops in bandit country, I’d like to know that whoever’s watching my back is up to the job.’
Sensing the argument could get out of hand, Stuart Stroud said, ‘David has a point. We don’t know him and he doesn’t know us. I do know of your extensive experience of dealing with Irish groups David. I also know that you received death threats from former PIRA operatives and that you’ve had some unpleasant encounters with them recently, including with our man, Sean McCrossan. That’s why we want you along.’
‘And what’s your experience of dealing with them?’ David asked.
‘To be honest, very little,’ Stroud said, ‘Just before the Good Friday Agreement came into play, I only had the one op and that was keeping an eye on leading Sinn Fein members. This is Lisa’s first time over here isn’t it?’
‘You know it is Stuart,’ Greening said, ‘but don’t worry DS Hurst, I’ve enough experience of dangerous situations to make sure you go back home in one piece.’
‘I don’t doubt it,’ David said, ‘it’s just that I get the feeling you don’t want me here. I’d appreciate it if both of you would be straight with me, what’s your brief on this op that you’re not telling me about?’
‘What do you mean?’ Lisa Greening responded angrily.
Not rising to the bait of Lisa’s short responses, David calmly said, ‘When I spoke to Jenny Richmond she got the impression we would only be over here for forty-eight hours max. My experience of dealing with your outfit tells me that you’re holding something back. Is it more than just a simple housing of McCrossan and keeping obs on him to find out who he’s sending over to London?’
‘Essentially what you say is what this op’s all about,’ Stuart replied, ‘but I suppose it would do no harm to tell you now . . .’
Before he could say anything else, Lisa interrupted Stuart. ‘Stuart, you know it’s strictly on a need to know basis.’
‘I fucking knew it,’ David said shaking his head.
‘No, it’s not what you think David,’ Stuart said, ‘once we’ve housed him you’re to point out McCrossan, identify any of the contacts he makes then you’re to return back to Manchester and leave the rest of what needs to be done to us.’
‘Why didn’t you say so,’ David said, ‘I’m happy with that. For your information my snout rang me just before you picked me and gave the address McCrossan’s staying at. I’ve had it forwarded onto Jenny Richmond so the Belfast office should have it by now. With luck I’ll only be with you the one night.’
* * *
‘I think it’s time we met up. I need to know what arrangements you’ve got in place before we move onto the next phase. I’ve put my neck on the block on this and one or two of the others are getting the jitters. Sean’s been spotted in London and the security services laid a trap for him. Certainly after trying to kill Hurst and Adams Sean knows he’ll be under constant surveillance. So as not to jeopardise our plans, he’s gone back home. I’ve told Sean to keep his head down while he makes arrangements for someone else from our firm to take over his role in London. If it couldn’t get any worse, Rory bumped into Hurst in a pub in Liverpool last weekend. That Scouse bastard gave Rory a right kicking. It might be just coincidence Hurst was there, as the pub’s near to where his family lives. This streak of bad luck needs to be stopped, so I’ve suggested that all the boys keep their heads down for now. That includes me,’ Declan Murphy said over the telephone to his caller.
‘We haven’t got the luxury of time for you or your team to keep their heads down. Events are moving faster than what we thought at my end. You’ve no time to waste. What we don’t want is them to work out your involvement, where you are and what you’re up to.’
‘It’s too late for that. They’re onto me already.’
‘How do you know?’
‘My man on the inside told me. Hurst is joining up with Cheshire’s Special Branch in a couple of days and they’re going to be watching me, and most probably the rest of the boys in the area.’
‘It’s definitely Hurst I’m up against again. If he’s not coming over to your area for a couple of days, use that time to put things in place. They can’t have much on you if they’re still setting up an operation on you.’
‘I wouldn’t be so sure. My man told me Hurst has gone over to Ireland to find Sean and take him and anyone else Sean’s with out of the game.’
‘Do you know who Hurst’s working with? They wouldn’t send him over there on his own.’
‘I assume he’ll be working with officers from Special Branch in Northern Ireland. Don’t worry, Sean’ll give them the slip. I rang him earlier and warned him. He’s moving out of the safe house in Armagh to another place Hurst won’t find. The difference this time is Sean’s on his own turf. As Hurst’s off of his, he won’t have enough knowledge of the area to move quickly enough to find Sean.’
‘But if he’s with Northern Ireland’s Special Branch . . .’
‘I won’t say any more, but trust me on this one, even the Northern Irish peelers will struggle to find Sean.’
‘Let’s hope so, because if they get him and any of his contacts, it won’t take the security services long to find out what Sean and his colleagues know. Get things moving as quick as you can in the next few days, then we’ll meet up. If they’re onto you they’ll be monitoring your calls soon so don’t contact me. I’ll ring you nearer the time to arrange putting the final bits into place. So far, I’ve managed to keep the security services focused on an Al Qaeda cell. If I’ve guessed right, they’ll be using most of their resources on the wrong targets. I can only keep this going for so long. If I’m going to potentially sacrifice my own position, you’ll do exactly what I tell you. Stay calm and get everything ready you’re end. If they were really onto you, Hurst wouldn’t be over in Ireland now. I think they’re still pissing in the wind over what you and your team are up to,’ the caller said.