[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
coronation took over.
Amanda lay quietly smiling. She had him exactly where she
wanted, and had not even had to resort to sex, and might yet not
have to. He was kind of cute, but was totally ineffective. Rees would
eat this guy for breakfast and not even have to spit out the bits. It
was a shame, but she was not so foolish to think that Howard
would be a match for Rees. She knew where the bread was buttered.
Rocking the boat was not good for her future well being. Poor
Howard.
Kings Ransom
PART TWO STORM SURGE
145 | Page
Kings Ransom
TUESDAY
Rashid parked the van in one of the car parks by Heathrow
airport and they caught the tube into central London, changing at
Acton Town before getting off at Westminster. Nadira was trying
hard not to show her excitement at his obvious research as they
walked around looking at the Houses of Parliament and also
crossing the river to look across from the other side. Rashid looked
at his watch.
Come, he said it is soon time for our ticket. He lead them
away and they made their way to the Millennium Wheel and joined
the queue, Rashid presenting ticket vouchers. She did not know
where he had got them, nor how long ago he had planned this trip.
His focus was obviously the Houses of Parliament, but she could
not understand why. She could not work out any credible means of
attack, if that is what he meant. He was, after all, merely a local
plumber, he would not have the means to legitimately gain access to
Parliament except as a tourist, and he would not be able to take any
form of offensive weapon or bomb in, it just was not possible these
days. She doubted her own mind and could not imagine the reason
for his interest. Her wondering over, they took their turn in a
gondola and slowly they ascended, giving a great view over
Parliament.
There were several other people in the Gondola and an
American man turned to Rashid and spoke.
Man those Parliament buildings are sure something else.
Yes indeed, they are impressive. It is where our Government
make our laws. A very magnificent building and very well protected
I am sure. Like your White House I would think, no? Rashid
responded, his eyes not wavering from the view down to the
Parliament building as he spoke.
Hell yes, I guess, but Pennsylvania Avenue sure as hell ain t
as purdy a sight as this one is. Man you Brits sure knew how to
build buildings of magnificence. Hell of a thing that you let your
empire go, but hell of a good thing for us. The American laughed
and chuckled and started taking photographs as the view unfolded
as the wheel turned and they got higher.
Nadira turned away from the view to Parliament, her
concentration on the conversation, but attempting to look as if she
147 | Page
Tuesday
were disinterested. She must not appear to hang on every word or
watch him like a hawk; she could not risk exposure. She wondered if
the conversation had contained a secret message, was it a meeting
with someone? As far as she could tell, the two had not actually
touched and had not passed anything between them. She consigned
the exact conversation to memory for later analysis.
She could see a large building behind them, presumably a
hospital if the number of ambulances going in and out was a guide.
Rashid also seemed to show great interest in that. She racked her
brains to try and think of what form of attack would link the
Houses of Parliament with a hospital. The only thing that sprang to
mind was that the hospital would probably be where they would
take anyone injured and wounded in an attack on Parliament.
As they approached the top point of the ride she remembered
the mud and clay on his clothes. Did he intend an attack by river,
perhaps at low tide? Had he been practicing on the River Severn
near home? That had to be it, there must be something that he
knew that would enable him to attack Parliament at low tide.
What news? Edward asked as Geraldine joined him in the
operations room. The Colonel was out in London today, and so
Geraldine was more or less free to help Edward.
Nothing beyond what we already know. Howard stayed in
the British woman s room. We have no idea but can assume that sex
occurred. We could not get an asset in place last night, but we now
have a chambermaid in place who will be going in to clean the room
shortly. We can examine the bedding for evidence and DNA when
the room has been cleaned. At that time we can also install
surveillance. We will then know what they say, as well as do.
This is what we know. Five days ago Howard changed his
routine from using his car to travel to and from work, to using
public transport to get from his home to the bus depot in the
centre, and then the works special bus to take him to work. This
takes him an hour longer than the car journey used to take him. As
far as we know there is nothing wrong with his car.
Geraldine nodded as she mentally ticked off the points that
Edward raised. Edward continued. There were four unaccounted
pay as you go cell phones that took the bus journeys with Howard.
King s Ransom
By accessing the phone operators records and analysing the call
traffic, I have eliminated three of the phones and identified the
owners. They are not associated with Howard through work as far
as I know at this time. The remaining one cell phone only appeared
on the spectrum one week ago. It has only received two text
messages and one phone call, all from another unidentified pay as
you go cell phone.
Any way we can trace the other cell phone?
When it is in use, yes, provided it is on for long enough. So
far, it has only appeared on the network for the brief calls to the cell
phone I am associating with Howard. Of course I have only an
assumed assumption of association, nothing categorical.
So in summary, he seems to have changed his way of getting
to work for no apparent reason, and might have a cell phone that he
might have received a couple of calls from, which may have been to
set up his night of sex with a British woman who is normally
resident in America, and who might have just come across to simply
meet with, and have sex with, Howard.
Yes.
Not a lot to go on.
No, but then these things take time. We still have to trace
back when her flights were booked, and then access her phone
records in the states for the few days before she left for the UK.
That will give us an idea of who phoned her, if it was
Howard?
Yes. We also have eight cell phones that were used to phone
the hotel booking system at around the time that Amanda Maxstoke
made her reservation. It is mildly irritating that the hotel sysem was
unavailable for a fifteen minute period, giving us only an
approximate timeframe. However, as and when the cell phones are
switched on, we will eliminate them one by one. We will get there,
believe me, we always do.
I know, but will we be in time, what ever Howard is
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]