Part Forty Eight   "Re-evaluation"

 

Saturday 14th March (Continued)

"Tammy, we've got to get home so you can phone Heather."

"Why didn't she call my mobile?"

"Apparently she tried."

Tammy pulled her phone from her bag, finding several missed calls as well as a very depleted battery. There was no way it would survive another call.

"Damn, it was on silent because of the rehearsal plus I didn't charge it up last night after the meal."

"That's what happens if you have a glass or two of wine, you forget things."

"How do you manage Dad?"

They'd reached his Landrover.

"Practice, after making far too many silly mistakes. Get in."

Once Richard had the car moving Tammy felt able to ask the pressing question.

"What happened?"

"It seems that she was found by the gang so the police arranged to move her but something went wrong."

"Why wouldn't Heather tell you everything?"

"I don't think she knew, it's a Saturday so people aren't at their desks."

"Oh."

"It's also possible that there are people involved who I'm not cleared to know about, but you are."

"I suppose so."

Thankfully the road was clear so the ride didn't take long. Richard swung into the driveway then stopped at the side gate, deciding not to take the car into the rear parking area. Tammy hopped out and let herself in through the front door. She nearly tripped over Angela on her way to the study.

"What's the rush, Tammy?"

"Mum's hurt."

"She's in the lounge, I've just seen her - oh."

Tammy by this time had the study door open, the light on and the door swinging back into the frame. It took a minute to get the encryption card from the safe as, in her rush, she fudged the combination number.

"Hi Heather."

"It's Sophie. Please try to answer your phone."

"Sorry, it was on silent at the theatre, what's going on?"

"It seems that the Russians having been doing background checks on you and managed to find your mother."

"There's nothing going on up here."

"They don't know what kind of security you have, plus don't you have a driving lesson booked for the morning?"

"Oh, shit."

"Language, young lady."

"Sorry."

"Anyway, your mother may have been a little indiscreet and was warned for being drunk and disorderly a week ago, at which point she had to give her names, including past names."

"The bottle again!"

"Yes, so we heard."

"But that was a week ago, what's happened since?"

"It seems that PC Trethgarwyn is on restricted duties but managed to find her address using a PNC search, and then saw that she was on bail for something more serious. She would have looked quite attractive to the Russian operation and that might have changed how they saw you?"

"I guess so."

"Well, two gentlemen went to see her but she wouldn't let them in. They were still there when a couple of plain-clothed officers from the Met arrived to relocate her but she wouldn't let them in either. One had a key but didn't apparently declare themselves as Police Officers as they'd dealt with your mother before. Unfortunately the Russians rushed the door, thinking a rival group was nabbing her but knocked her over in the mêlée, before the officers tried to arrest them."

"Is she safe?"

"So to speak, she was checked over in hospital for concussion following a nasty bash on the head, but is otherwise alright. She's in a bed and breakfast place somewhere else under a different name and we've arranged to change her mobile number."

"Okay, but what about me?"

"Quite, what was the arrangement for tomorrow?

"It's now a two hour lesson but we tend to drive between Scrabster and Wick, along the A9, plus use the town roads."

"Oh, we don't have time to put anything in place and that's plenty of open road."

"Yes, do I cancel the lesson?"

"That might be advisable but we don't want to scare them into leaving the area just yet, we also don't have enough concrete evidence."

"What about PC Trethgarwyn looking her up on the Police National Computer? Wouldn't that be an abuse of power?"

"Yes Tammy, but it's a minor offence compared to what they could be involved in. We don't want to take him out and leave the rest in place."

"So you want me to go on this lesson?"

"Yes and no."

"Thanks Sophie."

"Look, we have an obligation not to put you at risk. Can you be ill in the morning?"

"I wasn't planning to be?"

"No, pretend to be unwell so the lesson is cancelled at short notice."

"Sure, but what then?"

"We'll arrange to monitor what they do next, but I suggest you don't go anywhere."

"It's Angela's birthday, we're due over at Elsie McPherson's house for dinner."

"When?"

"In the evening, I presume."

"Okay, we'll play it by ear. You'd best update everybody."

"They don't know about the Russians yet, how much can I say?"

"Don't say anything about the Thurso connection then, but feign illness as we agreed."

"Mum, Joan that is, will see through it straight away."

"Do what you can but try not to say too much. You owe us a report, too."

"Yeah."

They finished the call so Tammy walked into the lounge where the others were waiting. Tammy told a tale that fitted the circumstances.

"So this started because she hit the bottle?"

"Yes, Dad."

"It all sounds rather amateurish, do we know who these gentlemen were?"

"No, they fled the scene."

"What about the corrupt copper who found her on the database?"

"I wasn't told."

"Or can't say?"

Tammy blushed.

"Tammy, how much are you holding back?" Joan was now onto her.

"A bit."

"How much?"

"Quite a lot."

"Are you in danger?"

"Um, maybe."

"How come?"

"I don't want to say."

"Then we can't help or protect you."

"Where are the staff?"

"Finished for the day."

"So it's just the four of us?"

"Yes."

Tammy started to tell the tale, Angela looked shocked. Richard was the first to comment.

"So all of this goes back to Cornwall, where Heather and Sophie are based?"

"To the Scilly Isles in the case of one family."

"And your driving instructor is of Russian origin?"

"Yes."

"We'll have to cancel the lesson."

"That will tip them off."

"You can't go in the car alone with her!"

"I know, you'll all just have to pretend I'm ill."

Joan shook her head. "What have you become involved in?"

"I'm on the edge of this, not in the thick of it."

"That's not how it looks from here, young lady."

Tammy walked out of the room and went upstairs, kicked off her shoes then flopped on her bed; she didn't have an answer for Joan. She started sobbing and ignored the sound of her bedroom door being opened, then shut. Someone sat on the edge of her bed.

"Tammy, you're doing too much."

Angela held a tissue out so Tammy could dry her eyes.

"I look up to you and I want to do more, like you do, but this is too much."

Tammy dabbed her eyes.

"I know, but I didn't choose this."

"However you never say 'no', you just go along with what these people want."

"It doesn't look that way to me."

"It does to the rest of us, or at least those that have some idea what you're doing."

"What should I do?"

"I'm the wrong one to ask, I'm full of indecision myself. You need to ask yourself how important it is, as well as considering the risks. You're not some secret agent, Tammy, you're a school girl."

"You're not the first one to say that recently."

"Come on Tammy, turn your phone off then plug it in. I'll turn off that ruddy thing in the study for a day or two."

"I'm sure they'll find a way to get to me."

"That's starting to sound like paranoia."

"I don't know, I don't know."

"Look, back off for the next week, concentrate on school."

"What about the driving lesson?"

"I'll ask the oldies."

"Thanks Angela."

"No worries, sis, we'll sort this out."

Angela quietly left the room, startled when she found Joan outside the door. She waved her mother back downstairs so as not to disturb Tammy any more.

***

Tammy must have fallen asleep as her father gently shook her.

"It's nearly dinner time, have a wash and come down if you want to."

"Thanks Dad, have I been silly?"

"Not exactly, you've been dragged along by events starting with your mother's stupidity. Maybe that's my fault?"

"No, that was her own choice, as this was mine; I could have said no."

"Could you? How many would have turned down the chance to be involved in something like this, including being given the toys?"

"Yeah, that is rather neat."

"Exactly, there's the adrenalin too, it's a drug that gives you a rush. You are less able to resist it than me."

"Angela seems to be immune to it."

Richard laughed.

"That's cruel."

"Maybe, but she's a fully qualified sceptic."

"As opposed to yourself, who's sure all the time about all she does?"

"I suppose so."

"Look, question everything, do you expect Heather, Sophie or the others to be right about everything all the time?"

"No, human nature says we'll be wrong from time to time."

"Like Sophie wanting you to take the driving lesson, in spite of common sense?"

"Because she just sees me as an asset?"

"A disposable one, in some sense, although she would never admit it."

"I'm sure that's not true."

"How can you be sure?"

"I can't."

"That's exactly my point. Look, it's Angela's birthday tomorrow so I don't want to anything to spoil that."

"Now, that's a selfish opinion."

"Good, you're questioning. I wonder if that school's responsible for your compliant attitude?"

"So why not Angela too?"

"She lived in the cottage so didn't have the full twenty-four hour experience."

"I forgot."

"Yes, now get in that bathroom and we'll see you downstairs in a few minutes."

"Yes, Dad."

***

Tammy heard the phone ring whilst she was washing, Joan was coming off the phone as Tammy made it down the stairs.

"That was your instructor, she wanted to move your appointment to the afternoon but I told her that was important as we had a lunch appointment in town."

"We don't, do we?"

"No, I lied to cover for you and I didn't like that one little bit."

"We have to let the girls know."

"No, we don't."

"Did she give a reason for moving it?"

"Something involving her nephew."

"Christopher Jones? He lives with her."

"Right, anyway I don't think it's advisable for you to be here for the next day or so."

"You think so?"

"Yes, there's plainly something going on and I don't think Linda and her friends will be happy once they discover we don't have a booking for Sunday lunch."

"True, but they can be tracked."

"How?"

"I put bugs in her car and her handbag."

"Is that what they were for?"

"Yes."

"If they're found you'll be suspected."

"Will they?"

"They might, if this copper looks you up he'll find out."

"I'm not on PNC as I've never even been accused of an offence, and my entry on the intelligence system is apparently locked."

"That will tell him something, even if he can't see what it is."

"Damn."

"Look come in and have dinner, then we'll make a few calls."

"Right, thanks Mum."

***

The few calls were to Elsie, The Castletown Hotel, Joan made these whilst Tammy was out of the way. Richard made the last call but wanted Tammy in the study while he spoke to the accountant.

"Hello Richard."

"Hello, this is a surprise."

"Look, I won't beat around the bush but you've put far too much responsibility on my daughter."

"She's been very willing, but I admit the latest events are a concern."

"Far too willing, she's now told us all about the Russian involvement."

"I see."

"Now, fortunately for her, the driving instructor has tried to change the appointment but we've said we can't make it."

Richard explained the call Joan had received.

"What about the restaurant?"

"I've made a booking, but we'll cancel it in the morning."

"Fair enough, where will Tammy be?"

"That's not important and please don't try to find her."

"I understand, but you will call if you become suspicious about anything?"

"I will, can you make sure Sophie understands this?"

"When I get hold of her I will."

"I though she was there?"

"She's just left Newquay airport."

"Okay."

"Obviously don't expect me to say where she's heading."

"I understand."

"If that's all, bye."

"Yes, bye."

Richard put the handset down then unplugged the phone from the wall. Tammy started to say something but Richard put a finger to his lips before locking the safe and ushering his daughter from the room. He took Tammy outside.

"What's going on, Dad?"

"I'm more than a little suspicious. Anyway, get indoors and pack an overnight bag, you and Angela are going to stay with Elsie tonight. Don't forget a swimsuit."

"If you think that's a good idea?"

"I do."

Richard suggested Tammy took Angela on one of the golf buggies, so they had it available. He made certain all the gates were locked as he watched them disappear.

Tammy had been told to park around the rear of the house and to use the kitchen entrance.

"Why?"

"Because, Angela, if anyone is watching the house they won't see our buggie out the front."

"Is that necessary?"

"Probably not, but a sensible precaution nonetheless."

They were met by Anna, Elsie's maid, who took their bags. The girls walked through the kitchen and around to the sitting room. They were instantly pounced on by Andrea and Alison.

"When, why?"

"Because it's a certain girl's birthday tomorrow, silly!"