ACV's 1 Operation Black Gold (50 page)

‘Or you could damn well leave them alone.’

‘I’m bloody sure I won’t,’ spluttered the editor.

The analyst leaned forward onto his desk.  ‘You don’t really seem to understand who you’re fucking with here do you?’

The editor stood but the sub-editor restrained him.  ‘Let’s just find out exactly what we’re fucking with before we take it head on.’

He exhaled deeply than sat.  ‘OK sub fire away son.’

‘You’ve got to ask yourself one question, what’s made Microtel billions, the answers simple.  They have a system that is totally secure and they can tailor fit it to anyone’s specifications.  Like they probably did for you.’

‘Well, we bought a basic package with a few adaptations but yes, it was supposed to be totally secure, go on.’

‘To this day no-one has been able to hack into their programmes and because of that everyone and I mean everyone Police, Army, Banks, Building Societies, Law Courts, Businesses media.’

‘Yes, yes we get the picture.’

‘OK, one of the things that make it so attractive is that even the people who sell it can’t get in, that and the belief the man who wrote it, the only man who may have had a back door to it, was supposedly dead.  Our own government use it for god sake, anyway that’s getting away from the point.  Let’s just say for arguments sake you’ve found the man, alive and he doesn’t want to be found, for anything, period.  The power he could wield would damn near be limitless.’

‘What do you mean limitless?’  The editor snapped.

‘OK, let’s see, aye, take your bank account, it could disappear overnight, so could your car insurance, your mortgage could suddenly be in the red by thousands, you gas, electricity, phone bills could triple overnight.  You could find yourself with a police record and become a dangerous paedophile.  Or a parking ticket you paid ten years ago could suddenly become unpaid with an outstanding warrant for your arrest and that’s just a tiny example of what he could do to you personally.

What he could do to the paper doesn’t bear thinking about.  If he’s in a bad mood one day, he might crash the whole system.  On the other hand, he might just make a nuisance of himself.  Taking out say, every other letter or turning hand into band.  He could even write his own stories and have them printed and bar scrapping every printing or changing all your software there’s not a damn thing you can do about it.’

The editor sat back with a sigh, ‘except leave him be.’

‘I don’t like it,’ the sub editor added.  ‘What guarantees do we have he will leave us alone?’

‘You already have a few if you think about it.  He could have crashed your whole system but didn’t.  All he did was change your lead story back to the original.’

The editor nodded, ‘you’ve got a point, go on.

‘He also went to the bother of giving you a warning with a safety net built in.  There’s no doubt in my mind you would now be suffering a complete systems failure, every piece of software you have would be useless maybe the hardware too.’

‘So what you’re saying is this man remained hidden for years and doesn’t want anyone to know who or where he is?’

‘That’s right.  I think if you leave him be, he will just disappear back into obscurity.’

‘Why for god sake, he could be a millionaire?’

‘As your reporter pointed out he already is a millionaire.  If I took a stab in the dark, I would say he more than likely leads a perfectly normal life and like’s it like that; with no one, the wiser to who he actually is.  On the other hand if his identity was known his life would become very difficult indeed.’

‘How?’  Croaked Gail.

‘For starters he would be hunted by every major software company, but his biggest problem could be anyone with anything to hide.  Remember half the world’s government uses this system and all their secret organizations.  MI5, CIA, Mossad, anyone who can get into their files is a potential threat, or if he can get into their enemy’s files a big fat prize.  I wouldn’t like to be in his shoes.’

‘Are you telling us that exposing him could put his life at risk?’  Asked the editor.

‘I don’t know how these organizations work but it would be a fair bet.’

‘But this isn’t the story we were after him for, he’s exposed himself in this case, not us.’

‘A calculated risk, you know what you media boys are like.  Once you get your teeth into someone, you never let go.  Sooner or later someone would catch on to who he really is.’

The editor sat back with a look of concern on his faced, ‘yes, then his life’s worth jack shit.’  He turned to Gail.  ‘Gail, this is your story, how do you want to proceed?  We can always sell it to another paper and get it published that way.’

She thought long and hard.  ‘Let’s leave it for now.  I was told something last night I want to look into first.  I might want to come at this from a different angle.’  The editor and sub-editor passed looks.  Neither seemed pleased at the prospect.  ‘Don’t worry I won’t put the paper or the magazine at risk.’

‘I know you won’t but be careful.’

‘I will.  Can I take a few days off?’

‘You’re due about six months holidays, take as long as you like.’

‘Thanks, I’ll be off then.’

The analyst left shortly after, leaving the two men alone.  ‘I’ll be glad when this day is over sub.’

‘Me too, did you notice something strange about Gail today?’

‘Let me see, something strange.  You can’t probably mean the way she sat quietly all day, or why she never blew her stack when her story wasn’t printed.  Was it the way our star reporter asked for time off for the first time since she’s been here or was it just the way she sat and sucked at her lips all day.  Did I miss anything?’

‘Noo I think you got the lot.’

CHAPTER 52

I had been in a foul mood since I received the uniform and a summons from Mr. D’Ord.  Here I was the following day, duty officer at the football, Sam Brown kilt the lot, guarding the Prime Minister’s box or should I say the Royal box.  Buff, who had been dobbied duty sergeant, was sitting across the other side keeping out of my way.  It had taken a lot of threats and swearing but I had finally relented on the promise I would only have to do it for a few hours.  ‘Twelve to five, that’s all I ask, then you can fuck off to the Bahamas for all I care,’ Mr. D’Ord growled at me across the table.

‘It had fucking better be,’ I’d growled back.’

To top it all the uniform hadn’t fitted, Buff’s either, so that entailed a number of visits to Mr. Gordon’s.  I did take the precaution of purchasing a pair of boxer shorts for the fittings though, which Buff thought was hilarious, as he’d never known me to wear underwear.  That hadn’t helped my mood any either, even though I threw them out as soon as I got home.

‘Jim, will ye stop pacing up and down, you’re making me dizzy for Christ sake.’

‘Oh fuck off and leave me be will ye.’  We were alone and had been for an hour.  Everything was laid out for the big man and his entourage, the place swept for bugs and bombs and left for us to guard until his arrival.

‘Come on it’s not that bad, in a few hours we can knock off for a week.’

‘Och it’s no this.’

‘Then fit?’

‘I dinna ken,’ I paced some more.  ‘I just feel the shit’s about to hit the fan.’

‘Whit.’  He was on his feet like a shot.  ‘Ye don’t think they’re going to attack now do ye?’  He asked anxiously peering out the big bulletproof window.  ‘They could knock out the whole army in one fell swoop.’

‘Nah it’s nae that.’

He plonked himself down with a sigh of relief.  ‘Fit then, this private interview we have we the Prime Minister.’  Buff as usual put his finger on the spot.

I came down with a crash and planked myself down onto one of the comfy chairs.  ‘Aye I don’t like it.’

‘He’s only going to thank us for saving those civvies lives.’

‘Nah, I think there’s mare to it than that.’

‘Then deal we it when it happens and gee me some peace.’

I laughed for the first time in two days.  ‘OK mucker.’

We were all gathered waiting.  Mr. D’Ord was doing all the pacing now, bursting with pride at our achievements.  ‘No swearing,’ he warned me for the umpteenth time before strutting off again.  General Lamb and Davie were standing off to the side discussing Grigor’s treatment.  Amongst us all, I was the only one with any reservations.

Moments later the great man himself arrived with Andrew in tow, one look at his face were enough to intensify my fears.  It was very informal.  He started with Davie and worked his way round.  He had done his homework well and knew us all by sight.  I came last.  It should have been one of the proudest moments of my life, his handshake was warm but firm, and for all my reservations, I couldn’t help but admire this grey haired old man.

‘We finally meet at last Lt Murison.  I have been following your career with great interest.’

I suddenly didn’t want his flowery words and my mind wondered as he launched into a little speech about our achievements.  ‘Sir’, I cut in, ‘From every man and woman here,’ I nodded to Samantha, ‘I’d like to thank you for the consideration you’ve shown to each and every one of us, I’m sure it’s a memory all will cherish.’  There was a spontaneous shout of agreement and we even had a little clapping.  I raised a hand and it trailed to a stop.  ‘Now why don’t you just can the bullshit and tell us what you really want.’

You could have knocked them down with a feather.  It was then I saw the steel in the man reflected in those grey eyes.  ‘Andrew?’

‘Don't look at him, if anything, he’s been conspicuous by the great effort’s he’s taken to avoid us.’

The silence stretched filling the room with tension, but he had the ball.  ‘You’re as intuitive as I’ve been told Mr. Murison.’  He took a stance in the middle of the room so he could address us all.  I glanced over at Mr. D’Ord and thought he was going to explode.  Andrew stood shamefaced, the rest were just stunned.

‘Your officer, and I believe friend, is quite correct.  I do have a hidden agenda today, as a reward for your achievements I have decided to disband this unit and reassign you to a new one in the intelligence corps under General Pearson.  I firmly believe in this new role you will be in an even better position to save lives than you are now.’

‘That’s a load of shit; in five minutes I could write a programme that could empty every American database overnight.  He would have so much data it would take him and a small army of operatives a couple of life times to sift through it all.’

‘The ACV’S unit won’t die, I will ask for volunteers from the special services branch,’ he tried to reassure us.

‘Even with Samantha, Kenny and Reginald on side, they haven’t a hope in hell of achieving what we have in the time we have left.’

‘Damn it man, you’re far too important to risk on operations.’

‘Which is basically the whole crux of the matter isn’t it.’  It was now my turn to take a stance and I took it a few paces from the Prime Minister. 

Their shattered faces began to spring to life again as I looked at each in turn.  ‘What he means is, while the rest of our generation is giving their lifeblood to keep this country free, because of my peculiar talents with a keyboard he’s going to wrap me up in cotton wool and hide me away somewhere and you lot will be coming along so I don’t get lonely.’

‘Whit!’  Exclaimed Abie.

‘Fuck that,’ murmured Davie M.

‘Your nae that bonny Murison,’ stated Buff.

They straightened as the fuse was lit; their building anger gave me all the impetus I needed.  I turned to the Prime Minister.  ‘Well there you have it; as far as we’re concerned you can take your new unit and shove it right up your arse.’  A great guff of laughter erupted from Abie, quickly clamped off by Grizz’s large hand.  Andrew bit his lip and turned away.  Mr. D’Ord raised both eyebrows and sat down.  Samantha almost fainted.  Apart from Abie who looked like he was being asphyxiated as he held onto Grizz’s arm for support, his body wracked with spasms, there was a great deal of restraint being exercised by all.  Although tears ran openly down Gig’s face and Fritz had gone into a coughing fit.

‘How dare you?’  He spluttered.

‘Actually it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.’  Now Nommy started making sobbing noises.

‘Damn you man your far too important to risk on operations,’ he shouted at me.

But I can shout back.  ‘No damn you!  What bloody right have you to tell me my life’s so important I have to spend it hidden away.  Tell me what will you be doing, will you be sitting across the-breakfast table from me in our little hideaway.  I’m bloody sure you won’t.  You’ll be out there every day inspiring the troops to fight harder and the civilians to work harder.  You’ll be on the front line everyday as much as any other soldier making yourself the number one target of the day.

What will happen if I’m killed, I’ll tell ye, nothing.  My friends will mourn me for a short time and maybe what’s left of my family but then they’ll get on with it.  But what will happen if you get killed, well that’s an entirely different story isn’t it.  If you get killed, the whole country could collapse and the repercussions could affect Scotland’s history for the next two hundred years.  How can you expect us to give any less of ourselves than you ask of yourself and your family?’

My words had sobered the room a little and we waited for the answer, but he had none, instead he fell back on his authority.  You are a soldier and you will obey orders.’

‘Am I?  I looked over at Mr. D’Ord.  ‘I believe officers can resign at any time.’

‘Yes you can,’ he smiled.

I took off my pips and handed them to the Prime Minister.  ‘You’ll only be recalled in a few weeks’ time.’

‘From the Bahamas, I’d like to see you make that one stick.’

‘I’ll stop you leaving the country.’

‘Don’t even think about trying that.’

‘Well I’m not an officer, but nobodies hiding me away and I’m fucked if I’m fighting without ye.  Have ye room for me and the family Jim?’  Buff asked tossing down the red sash.

‘Why not, I’ll just buy an island.’

‘How do you fancy building a hospital on it,’ Davie Whitton came forward, removed his pips and placed them in Mr. Grey’s other hand.

‘I’m not quite sure they’ll have enough building material to encompass that monstrous ego of yours but I can try,’ I grinned, ‘Anybody else want to come?’ 

They all did except Abie.  ‘What are you doing Abie?’

‘This is my day Jim; I’ve got to see it through.  Phone me Monday and tell me where you are, I’ll catch up with you then.’

‘Nae probs.’

I opened the door and they filed out into the corridor.  I looked at General Lamb.  ‘Sell you a second hand X-Ray machine.’

‘Sold.’

‘I’ll try and get my hands on another and keep working on it, I’ll get the data to you somehow.’  I took in Mr. D’Ord and Ivan Muckle next.  ‘You pair know you’ll always be welcome wherever we are.  Thank you for the chance.’

Mr. D’Ord smiled.  ‘It was a pleasure, good luck and send us a postcard with your address on it; we might need it in a hurry one day.’

I moved onto Kenny and Reginald.  ‘Sorry Jim,’ Kenny spoke for both.

‘You two can still make a difference but if you want I’ll send you some open ended tickets to stash away for a rainy day.’

‘That would be great, ta.’

‘Andrew.’

‘I, I –’

I held out a-hand to stop him.  ‘I know you had nothing to do with this, I’ll send you a few discs and a postcard, don’t be a stranger again OK.’

‘OK.’

One look at that lost and stricken face tore my heart to pieces.  ‘Samantha,’ she took a hesitant step forward and stopped.  ‘You will always be,’ I couldn’t finish the sentence and turned away.

‘Mr. Grey before I go I would just like you to know, whether it means anything to you or not.  Regardless of what transpired here today, I never have, and never shall have, anything but the highest regard for you.  Good-bye.’

*

The door closed with a deafening click.  The Prime Minister looked down at the badges of rank in his hand uncomprehendingly.  The woman burst into a flood of tears and had to be comforted by the big scared man.

‘He left without me Kenny,’ she sobbed.

‘Shhh, you could still catch him, he wanted you to go.’

‘But I can’t,’ she wailed.

‘Don’t worry; we’ll all go join them when it’s over.’

‘I’d like that,’ put in Reginald wistfully, ‘If they’re not going to be allowed to help, at least they’ll be warm.’

‘Aye, but it’s going to cost a lot of good lives though Reggie.’  Kenny agreed.

The two line officers were making plans for the end of the war.  ‘They’ll probably own the Bahamas by then sir.  You know that lot?’

‘Yes, you’re probably right; you never know they might even give us our own islands.’

‘Ivan’s island.’

‘D’Ord’s Island, I could buy a micro light and pop over anytime.’

Ivan grunted, ‘I’d rather have an old dug out with an outboard, I could drop the missus off in the morning and we could go fishing for lunch.’

‘Mmmm.’

The Prime Minister turned to Andrew.  ‘What went wrong?’

‘I did try and warn you sir.’

His anger began to bleed off.  ‘You did didn’t you.  I have never under estimated someone so badly, I should have listened closer.’

‘Don’t feel bad about it sir, you’re not the first and you certainly won’t be the last,’ Mr. D’Ord offered helpfully.

‘But how did he know.  I’ll swear he was waiting for me.’

‘He’s always been like that,’ Abie interrupted, slumped down on a seat with his booted feet resting on the one in front.

‘Really?’

‘Ummm, I fucking hate it when he does it to me.’

‘What will you do now Mr. Ritchie?’

‘Me, well I’m already in my thirties that’s old for a football player, but I got a late start.  I’m at the pinnacle of my profession now.  I’ve won the European cup but I would have liked to have won the World cup too; but I doubt if we’ll be in any condition to front a team when it comes round again.  There is only one way for me to go now, and that’s down.  I think I’ll announce my retirement at end of play tomorrow; then take a nice long holiday in the Bahamas.’