Part Thirty Nine   "The Vulcan"

 

 
Wednesday 4th March
 

Schoolwork was taking precedence during the week, naturally, with time running out before her first exams. Tammy, however, seemed to be taking it easier than Angela.

"What's up, sis?"

"I don't get it!"

"Don't get what?"

"Maths."

"Which bit?"

"All of it."

"Come on Angela, you've been doing this for years."

"Getting it wrong for years."

"Don't be silly, you can do this."

"Can't."

"You can, I'll be in the study if you want some real help."

Tammy had tried to get hold of Heather since Sunday afternoon but there was no answer. Sophie's mobile had been off too.

"Hello Tammy."

"Hi Heather, I guess you heard about Saturday?"

"Yes, the media reports were quite interesting but we also had the police report sent to us."

"So you saw my name?"

"Oh yes. What's your connection to Chief Inspector Brown?"

"He's the director for the theatre group I belong to."

"I see, you seem to have some well-connected friends."

"I just seem to come into contact with folk. Did the report mention PC Trethgarwyn?"

"No."

"Well he comes across as a sexist bigot, he's currently on report for being rude to me."

"If he's one of the family I'm thinking of then that's a family trait."

"Here's a strange thing, my driving instructor is Linda Young but her email gives her name as Linda Trethgarwyn."

"Okay, have you asked if they're connected?"

"No, I haven't replied to the email yet."

"Don't dig, let the information come to you."

"Well, there's more. Her brother-in-law is trained in explosives and currently works on a trawler but did work at Dounreay once."

"That's interesting, but don't go jumping to conclusions."

"I won't, my schoolwork outweighs everything else."

"What about the trip on Friday?"

"I'd forgotten about that, the head of physics still can't understand how I got clearance for the trip."

"Don't push it and don't make a song and dance out of it, Tammy, people will start to ask difficult questions."

"I understand."

"I hope you do. We're investing in you but not so you can blow it."

There was a bang on the study door.

"Looks like I'm wanted, Heather."

"Ok, bye, but keep me up to date and don't take any risks."

"Bye."

Tammy hung up then went to open the door, Angela was there, she'd been crying.

"I thought you were going to help me?"

"I said I would, when you told me what the problem was, instead of that other rubbish."

Angela fled upstairs, crying loudly. Tammy put the phone's encryption device away and locked the safe before leaving the study, It was seven in the evening and both parents were at the school for meetings.

Tammy walked back upstairs. Angela's door was closed so she left her sister and went back to her own work. There was very little homework outstanding so Tammy read the business press for a while, although much of the Scotsman's major business coverage was just thinly disguised political rhetoric given that the election was just over two months away. Out of interest she did a google search for Trethgarwyn, finding that all the results centred on news reports concerning one family in the Scilly Isles.

Richard and Joan returned at nine, by which time Tammy was showered and changed for bed. Angela hadn't been seen since she'd stormed away from the study.

"Tammy, what did you say to Angela?"

"She asked me for help with her maths but couldn't say what she wanted help with."

"She's losing confidence and needed help for that. I would have thought you'd recognise that."

"Mum, I just thought she was tired, and stressed, there's not much time to go."

"I realise that, but try to support her, she does struggle at times."

"It's not all a breeze for me, either."

"I know but it's also not a competition for the best daughter."

"I guess so, but I always compete with myself. How did Suzie do?"

"Very well, four A levels with As and one B."

"So is that Angela's problem? She's not competing with me but with Suzie, and I guess it's not just the exams."

"You might be right, maybe she can visit before the exams?"

"Or maybe you go down there at Easter, so Angela gets time away?"

"Where would we stay, we don't have the house in Bletchley any more?"

"There's an apartment in Docklands that we rarely use. I think it had been bought for me once I finished school?"

"I think Suzie's in Hackney, is that far?"

"About thirty minutes on the Docklands Light Railway and the Overground, or change onto a bus at Stratford. Quite easy really."

"Easy if you understand London."

"Several million manage it every day."

"I suppose so. Would you come south?"

"I've my driving lessons, the test and an appointment with Professor Roberts in Glasgow. I won't get many days rest and I can't go far."

"How's it going with Linda? Would she be okay to teach Angela?"

"She's fine so far, but there's something nagging me."

"What is it?"

"Do you remember that copper who was the sexist pig on Saturday?"

"Yes."

"He's connected to Linda, but I don't know how. She uses the name Linda Young but her email is Linda Trethgarwyn, same as the copper."

"I wouldn't read too much into that, you'll probably get it wrong!"

"Thanks for the vote of confidence."

"No trouble. Goodnight."

"Goodnight."

 
Friday 6th March
 

Tammy elected to have breakfast at school so she'd be in the right place. Unfortunately that meant being in the right place where the Head could easily find her.

"Miss Smart, I've had Mr Fulton come to me quite confused."

"I asked to go on this visit and he approved my request."

"But he didn't believe you would get clearance given that you put the application in late. The point was to teach you to put such requests in before the deadline."

"Fair enough, Sir, but I already had the required security clearance."

"How did you achieve that, surely it's not needed for a school, er, girl?"

"I have a summer placement that requires it, before my degree course starts."

"Can you tell me where?"

"Sorry Sir, I've signed the Official Secrets Act."

"Right, in that case what's the real reason you want to go to this place today, it's hardly one of your subjects, is it?"

"No, it isn't, but I still think it can be instructional for me and it's only half a day."

"Ah, we have the fashion show people arriving mid morning and they've asked for you to act as liaison. How would that have happened?"

"I was involved from the first day, it's connected to the shop I work at. I've been analysing the show's accounts as part of my coursework."

"When were you going to tell me this?"

"Originally I didn't need to, Sir, the show was going to be held at the Golf Club."

"I understand there's going to be quite a few young girls here tomorrow, I hope the boys will be kept at bay?"

"I doubt if many would be interested, I understand some of the parents of day students will be in the school?"

"Miss Lane suggested we throw an invite to those who live locally."

"Good, it should generate some positive press for the school too."

"We don't need the newspapers, Miss Smart. I think you've been mentioned in the press more times in the past few months than the school has in the past century!"

"Excuse me Sir, but can I get some breakfast before there's none left?"

"I would have thought you'd be on a diet, like most girls?"

"I still need to last the day, Sir, it wouldn't do for me to expire on the premises? That would generate plenty of press!"

***

The coach ride was a non-event, once the mixed group of lower and upper sixth formers understood that a girl would be with them. It was also the case that she was the only prefect on the trip, something that a few had to be reminded about.

"Physics is hardly a subject for a girl, is it? Too technical for your head!"

"How medieval, Jones. Repeat that and you'll be on report."

There was a muttering of "Stupid bitch."

"That's enough Jones, humour I can take but insolence is not acceptable."

Tammy's phone rang before she could do anything else.

"Hello?"

"It's Heather, are you somewhere private?"

"Hardly, I'm on a coach."

"Okay, we have some info and normally I'd call you this evening but you need to know this now."

"Fine."

"Linda Young is married to Patrick Trethgarwyn but the business pre-dates their marriage. So far?"

"Yes."

"Her brother Thomas works at the place you're visiting."

"Okay, any more?"

"Yes, but not over this line."

"Understood, bye."

"Bye."

Plenty of eyes now looked at Tammy. The side of the conversation they'd heard could hardly be enough to work out what was being discussed. What was unusual was that she had her phone with her.

"Miss Smart, can you explain that?"

The rule was that during the school day boarding students left any mobile phones or tablets in their rooms turned off. Day students were expected to hand mobiles and tablets in at the secretary's office on arrival. This helped ensure students were not distracted.

"My phone, Mr Fulton, Sir?"

"Yes, why do you have it?"

"I've been attacked and had two failed abduction attempts on me during the last ten weeks, Sir."

"That sounds like a load of fiction."

"But true, Sir. I had a bodyguard between Christmas and New Year. She finished just before we went back to school once counter terrorism officers had arrested the gang, the Head knew about the attacks and I was allowed a little latitude."

That was always a trump card, claiming that the Head had approved of something. None of the Masters would query this unless it was necessary. As it was, they were now approaching the main gate.

"Right boys, and Miss Smart, all off. Please remember your school ID."

Tammy's school ID hadn't been updated as there was only one print run a year and still identified her as Thomas Edward Smart. She was therefore carrying her passport which had been re-issued in December; that was much better than Jones who had forgotten any form of identity.

"Sir, can you ask them?"

Tammy felt a little sorry for the kid, just a little.

Mr Fulton stepped off the coach and spoke to the security guard. He returned a minute later.

"Sorry Jones, but that's the rule. You'll have to stay on the coach, everyone else come with me."

They trooped off with Tammy taking the tail-end Charlie position. One by one they were checked against a list and issued visitor passes, although Tammy's said 'Visitor - leader' as opposed to 'Visitor - student'. They also had to surrender any mobile phones or other electronic devices. They were next shepherded into a briefing room and warned against straying into prohibited areas, before given an oversight of the establishment's use. Finally two warnings, "you may be searched when leaving and we have heard every Star Trek joke that exists."

The public relations man, Chris, who was their guide for the day asked Tammy and Mr Fulton to speak to him separately.

"Excuse me, Chris, but Miss Smart here is not a member of staff, she's a student."

"I thought it was an all boys school? Nevertheless for a group your size we need two leaders and Miss Smart doesn't look like one of the schoolboys."

"She's one of the first female students at St Andrews, at least that's the official line."

Chris seemed to ignore the snide comment. "I also saw that her clearance came through a different route."

"I'd like to know about that too."

Tammy was stood there while she was being openly discussed. Some of the boys were also listening in.

"If you don't mind, I don't want to explain my clearance and don't see that I should, not if I want to keep it."

Chris nodded, "that's the correct answer, the only concern here is that it's valid. Royal Naval Intelligence were certainly happy with it."

The physics master didn't look happy, as he had plainly expected to belittle Tammy. Chris continued by making certain Tammy and Mr Fulton knew their responsibilities.

Then the tour started. The subjects covered varied from pure nuclear physics, to electro mechanical engineering, naval design, warfare and politics.

"Never forget that the decision to build a new submarine or invest in this establishment requires political will so we have to make certain the politicians understand what we do." Chris was being quite serious. "Those groups are not as well behaved as yourselves!"

What was strange, to Tammy's ears, was that Chris did not appear to be relaxed, it was as if he'd not done this tour countless times and had only recently arrived.

They were back in the briefing room and Mr Fulton was remonstrating with one of the students, waving a large white envelope. Tammy watched, listened, but said nothing.

"You took that from one of the staff here?"

"He said he was going to give it to Jones, his nephew, but didn't realise Jones had been left on the coach."

"What's in it?"

"He didn't say but it looks like a birthday card, even if it is a large one."

"I'll take it, but I'm not happy. I'll check it before Jones gets it."

Mr Fulton put the envelope under his arm and set off for the exit, the rest of the group following behind; Tammy brought up the rear, again. Up ahead the physics master had reached the security office to reclaim his mobile but there seemed to be a problem. Whispers were coming back towards Tammy about the teacher being taken into a side room.

Chris walked up to Tammy, "Miss Smart, could you come with us?" With him was a military policeman.