To Kill Or Be Killed (46 page)

“Consider DIC
back to full operational duties.” He added. Again Jack nodded.

Moments later
Jack, Diane and David stood in Downing Street as the black door of
number ten closed behind them.

All three cast
large shadows as they walked towards the exit of the famous
street.

CHAPTER
109

St Albans

5pm

April 20th

Tony opened the
front door of Ellie’s house to find Jack Fulton standing there
holding a casserole dish.

“I thought I’d
find you here Tony. I brought dinner. Good choice of woman. Great
cook by the smell of it.”

“Come on in
Jack. The proof of the pudding is the eating anyway.” Tony
added.

“Spare me the
intimate details, Ellie my dear!”

Ellie stood in
the hall with her arm in a sling children running around her.

“Look honey
Jack brought dinner.”

They went into
the lounge. Tony went and put the kettle on.

“I’ve had
conformation that you’re to get the George Cross Ellie.” Jack
beamed.

“Why me?
There’s David and Beaumont and well why me?”

“You showed
real courage. In the words of Atticus Finch, to misquote I might
add, ‘true courage is not a man with a gun in his hands’.” Ellie
flushed. Tony came in with the tea.

“What’s that
did I hear you quoting the great literature of my homeland?”

“Ellie’s going
to get the George Cross Tony.”

“Wow” Oh
sweetie that’s so well deserved.” Tony kissed her head.

Ellie’s son
said ‘Yuck’ and ran from the room.

“What’s the
situation anyway?” Tony asked sipping his tea.

“Sternway and
Robinson are to face trial, but they’re being silenced by the
secrets act and they know they won’t live if they make a scene in
the media, at least that’s what I hear. Telford woke in hospital
shouting that he had to get to the Priory Arms in Vauxhall, very
confused. He’s been sacked by MI6. Sternway’s department has been
disbanded. Oh and the Prime Minister called today to say that he
wants a DIC operative as permanent secretary at the Home Office,
sort of insider. I’ve suggested Diane.”

“Who’ll replace
her?” Tony asked.

“Beaumont’s my
choice.”

“What do I
get?” Tony mockingly whined.

“You get me.”
Ellie laughed.

“That’ll do
me.” Tony replied.

“I heard David
said he was going to leave DIC. Thought that killing would rot his
soul, so he said.” Ellie looked at Tony when she said it.

“Yes he did say
that. I told him to think about it. I know he’ll stay on, he’s a
natural for it and nothing can taint the soul of people like the
ones I choose for DIC.” Jack said and beamed at them.

“How can you be
sure he’ll stay on?” Tony asked.

“I arranged for
someone to talk him into staying, now how about that dinner?” Jack
said with finality.

CHAPTER
110

DOVER HARBOUR FRONT

6 p.m.

April 20th

Mary McKie sat
uncomfortably on the wooden bench by the swimmer statues on Dover
harbour front. Conor was wrapped in a puffy coat dancing around to
the tune that only every child knows and hears in their head.
Beside her David’s father looked as she did to the two figures at
the water’s edge.

“She’s a lovely
old lady. Her husband was in Ireland bomb disposal. She’s very
sweet looking for an old widow that woman.”

“Do I detect a
hint of romance in the air you old widower man?” Mary laughed.

“Don’t be daft
Mary.” The old man blushed.

At the shore
the tall man and the small old lady stood looking out into the
channel.

“So you see
David it’s always a matter of needing people with a good soul. You
naturally want to protect. You’re a good soul. From what you told
me, Sternway pushed his family away to protect them. You would have
stood in front of them and shielded them. You’re a natural
protector” They both looked back at the family on the bench then
back out to sea.

“I suppose if
you put it that way I should stay on.”

“You should
David. As is always said in times of war and don’t forget we are at
war ‘your country needs you’ and your country does need you David.
Good men are hard to find especially those who in service of their
country are willing to kill or be killed.”

EPILOGUE

Shores Of Loch Carron
Scotland

APRIL 20th

Sunset

At the very
edge of the Atlantic coast of Scotland, near Port an Eorna, a black
and white border collie snuffling the deep green bumpy ground
looked up and barked at his master.

Michael Dewey
stood watching MOD officials and divers drag dumped diving gear
from the water near the shore. There were four official Land
Rovers, Highland police men in black uniforms, plain clothes men
and two men in Navy uniforms. Half a mile away off the shore a Navy
Corvette sat rocking on the swell and five metres off shore a hard
shell dinghy sat anchored with a diver and his support colleague
looking to a small marker buoy with a red flag on it. The stark
primary crimson seemed unnatural against the blue green of the
water. Two divers surfaced, their masks catching the blood orange
light of sunset, and together they held up a black bag, which was
dragged into the dirigible.

Suddenly bored
by the scene that had held his attention for an hour Michael looked
over at Paddy. He took one last look to the setting sun on the
western horizon and turned to the dog.

“Come on boy
let’s go home.”

They got back
in Land Rover and drove back to the house in Drumbuie with the
large white satellite dish on; the house that was an electronic
‘pin’ on the DIC map of England, one amongst hundreds of ‘pins’,
each one representing a dedicated watcher.

Night and day
the watchers of DIC scan the electronic and digital networks for
any signs of plots against the stability of the society they serve.
Unallied to governments, security services or military forces,
beholden to no group of officials the Department for Internal
Concerns continues it’s work dedicated to protecting the way of
life and values of the United Kingdom. Since 1940 to the present
day they ‘stand to’ with teams ready to eradicate threats against
the lives of the citizens and the stability of the government.
Patiently they wait and always they watch.

*************************************

About The Author

Richard Wiseman

Richard Wiseman
graduated from the University of Hertfordshire in 1989 with a
degree in literature and philosophy. After a spell as a freelance
journalist and jobs as wide ranging as security guard and zoo
keeper he went into secondary teaching. He left teaching in 2009 to
write novels. This is his first thriller in a planned series about
the DIC. He is married with two children and lives in Devon. He is
on twitter as @Rickythewiz and has a facebook book under his full
name. He also writes a blog entitled MIcawber's Last Word.