Part   Thirty Three   "Friends"

 

Tammy's Tales Book 6
 

 
Monday 2nd November
 

Tammy was on the road shortly after eight for the journey into central London. It wasn't far, twenty miles or so, but London's traffic would not be kind. Her driver was the same as yesterday, still unnamed, and Kim was back alongside.

"I'm Sorry, Miss Smart, about yesterday, I made an error of judgement. I'm not used to protective duty and I could have handled it differently; my managers weren't happy either but it seems I'm the only person cleared to handle you who knows the Old Bailey."

Sunday's incident at Brent Cross had played on Tammy's mind for several hours before, and after, the previous night. She'd also had to relive the little she knew and give a statement late the previous evening.

She finally accepted that it had almost certainly been a random attack. She now knew that the kid had been identified as the assailant in six other cases, four resulting in wounding. Young women were his preferred target; Tammy hoped he'd be incarcerated for a while to reflect on his crimes.

"He'll be in front of a magistrate later today and will probably be bailed."

"Bailed? He was going to mug me!"

"Sorry, the prisons are full and magistrates can't remand everyone who goes before them."

"Then what?"

"Probably crown court in a few months time, maybe even a year from now."

"Ridiculous."

"That's the way the system works."

"So he'll be free to keep on mugging?"

"If he's arrested again, the magistrate might consider remanding him, but there's no guarantee."

"The system is broke!"

"No, society is broke, and the criminal justice system is overwhelmed."

Their car didn't stop outside the Old Bailey, but around the rear of St Sepulchre's Church. Tammy was led quickly into the church, via a side door. She went through the vestry then down a set of steps into the crypt. Kim put her finger to her lips, Tammy nodded acknowledgement.

They went down another level then through an old door manned by a uniformed officer, it was slammed shut behind them and the officer walked briskly ahead. They were now in a tunnel, there were rumblings of traffic above so Tammy assumed they were under the road which gave its name to London's Central Criminal Court. A hundred metres on and another door, this was already open but was immediately locked behind them. Steps led to a more recent doorway which Kim opened with a swipe card and a PIN.

They were now in a more modern building but clearly it wasn't a public area. After another few minutes of walking, where they passed through more security doors, Tammy arrived in a plush office area. she was clearly expected.

"Ahh, good morning Miss Smart. I'm James Mortimer. I'm the barrister dealing with Berisha and Kelmendi, I'm also liaising with the prosecution for the Stewart, McPherson and Trethgarwyn trials."

He signalled for Tammy to take a seat, meanwhile Kim departed.

"What do you need from me, Mr Mortimer?"

"I'd first like your recollections of your encounters with Mr Berisha."

"It's all in my statements."

"If you're cross-examined in court then there's every chance you'll go way beyond any statement, I need to know how you'll fare under examination."

They started with Tammy's statements, naturally, but soon the questions started.

"Did your mother have any idea you were going to be at the house?"

"None, she wasn't even supposed to be in the country."

"And she was clearly upset at seeing you in a skirt."

"Perhaps I didn't have the legs for it?"

"Keep that line for the court room, even though the judge will rule it out of order!"

"If I remember, is this relevant?"

"It's all relevant, like your current status?"

"I'm a woman, legally and physically. I do not want to answer questions of a more personal nature."

"Okay, but for my own benefit ...."

"Mr Mortimer, I am legally female and have the evidence to confirm that, somewhere."

"I've seen your gender certificate, it's in the court bundle. I'm sorry, but you can, should, expect hostile questioning from the defence barrister."

"Hostile? I've been shot at and almost mugged, all in the past few days. There was a contract on my life." She felt that was sufficient to solicit respect.

"I understand you have some extra security."

"Yes, but, I'd rather ...., I mean, ..... I think I should....., oh, forget that."

She stopped, paused, uncertain if she wanted to finish what she hadn't said.

"Can we continue, Miss Smart?"

Tammy nodded.

"You were involved in a homicide?"

"Hmmm."

"Were you?"

"I can't say."

"Look, Miss Smart, if the defence hear that you shot and killed someone, they will rip you apart. Your mother's testimony will be discredited, by association. The fact that you're not sitting in a cell right now will complicate things further, you are clearly a liability to the prosecution."

"I defended myself, it was a bloody assassination attempt! They wanted me dead, so perhaps I am a liability to someone?"

"So how come you are not in a cell?"

"You haven't worked that out?"

"No-one's telling."

"Good." Tammy folded her arms.

"Don't look smug, you'll win no friends here or in court. I and my learned colleagues have seen all possible attempts to obscure testimony. I should also remind you that these are high profile cases."

"In which case my testimony may have to be given in camera."

"There's been no application."

"Given the degree of Security Service involvement, that surprises me."

"Don't patronise me, Miss Smart."

"I'm not, but please don't under-estimate me. I wasn't expecting to be in London but I'm here. I've co-operated with you but I'm not sure what your aim is, do you want to expose me in court?"

"I want to discover the truth, and prosecute those responsible for these crimes. If the truth hurts, so be it, but it will be the truth."

"History, they say, is written by the victors. Some of the truths I know cannot be said or I will be breaching the law, that's a dichotomy that I will have to accept."

"There is, as you suggest, a privilege available in court to deal with that."

"Yes, but I guess you won't want me saying that I run around with a licence to kill?"

"Very droll, Miss Smart." Tammy shrugged.

"Now, about your relationship with Yvonne Stewart?"

"Relationship? She's an evil conspiring bitch!"

"Exactly, if you are asked that question in court then your answer to me is inappropriate."

"Another trick question, eh, how about 'I believe there is mutual distrust'?"

"You'd have to give an example and it's not strong enough."

"Okay, I hated her the first time we met?"

"Strong but it would imply that you were the aggressor, at first."

"This is ridiculous, I thought we'd be discussing my statements and instead you try to pick me apart."

"How did you first meet Yvonne Stewart?"

They spent another two hours going through the statements but Tammy decided she really didn't like James Mortimer's attitude and made life difficult throughout.

"One thing is certain, Miss Smart, if you behave like that for the defence then they will certainly become agitated. Unfortunately you will also find that the judge's tolerance is tested."

"Oh well, never mind. I spent years in a private boarding school knowing exactly how to test the masters without over-stepping the line. I think I can cope, I know I can cope."

"I hope so, the defendants could be acquitted if you're discredited."

"I can't be that important to the trials?"

"You are the only witness who has met every defendant. Each defence team will be watching you, looking for a fault that they could exploit. Right now I can see a whole load of faults."

"Perhaps it would be easier if I wasn't around?"

"In what way?"

"I don't know yet."

"In which case you'll be failing yourself and the courts, these people deserve to be incarcerated for what they did. They're terrorists, and there's no doubt they would make another attempt on you."

"I don't doubt it, but what if they believed I was dead?"

"I don't play hypothetical games, Miss Smart, and I think you've been watching too many fantasy dramas."

Tammy took lunch in the staff restaurant, across the room for her minder. Kim was under orders not to expose her - so far as anyone was concerned Tammy was still in or around Thurso.

"Do I have to meet anyone else here?"

"No, I've been told I have to take you to Thames House."

"Fine."

Tammy wondered if it actually took longer to negotiate the corridors, stairs and tunnels of the Old Bailey than it did to drive the short distance down to The Embankment, beside the Thames. They entered the underground carpark of Thames House after clearing the security checkpoint. Tammy was handed a new pass once the guard was satisfied she was the girl he was expecting. Kim and the driver were given temporary, escorted, passes for the duration of their visit.

"I wonder who our escort is?" Pondered Kim as she climbed out of the car. The driver shrugged, he was going nowhere.

"My pass works in most of the zones, but I'm not certain you can go where I'm heading, why don't I take you to the restaurant? I think it's one level below us."

If Kim was impressed that Tammy knew her way around MI5's HQ, she didn't show it.

A few minutes later Tammy made her way, solo, to the Finance section, not recognising the two girls present.

"Is Jenny here?"

"She's with the Director and the Minister. You must be Tammy?"

"Yes, I'm not sure why I was asked to be here today?"

"I'm Florence and that's Ermie, by the way, I believe there's a package for you?"

Tammy waited whilst Florence opened a secure cabinet, pulling out a large jiffy bag. "You can use Jenny's office to check it."

Tammy first found the covering note:

Miss Smart,
 
Unfortunately your cover identity has exceeded its usefulness and you should destroy anything that has the prior identity on it. Your new identity is within this package, please do not disclose this to anyone as only myself and the personnel staff have a record. Your own personal documents from Thurso are also in the package, in case they're needed. I would ask that you do not disclose your location to anyone, not even family, until I confirm that you can.
 
You will need to stay with us until your involvement in the court cases has concluded and there is no perceivable risk to your life or the prosecution cases. I must stress, however, that returning to your home is not currently an option.
 
You will already have been told that you are on leave, this will be reviewed at the end of the month.
 
Please sign and date the slip to acknowledge receipt but do not disclose this note or the contents with anyone, even staff within Thames House or AA House, unless authorised by myself or John Smith.
 
Jennifer Osborne
Head Finance Section

Tammy signed the slip and placed it in a small prepared envelope. She took a look in the jiffy bag but everything was sealed, it could wait.

She put the small envelope in Jenny's intray then left for the restaurant to find Kim.

---

Back in Abigail Adams House Tammy went to her room. Her new identity pack included passport, driving licence, bank cards and a few loyalty cards for well-known brands. She looked at the name, they really hadn't tried very hard, her alias was to be Rebecca Simpson, a resident of Chelmsford in Essex. She packed those items away then opened the other packages.

She now had the usual contents of her handbag, including her rather dead mobile phone, student card, driving licence and so on. University! She'd been due there that morning, had Pru sent the sick note? Had anyone read it over half term? How could she attend lectures, or even finish her course? The play? She put her phone on charge, a charger was now on her vanity table.

Tammy changed into a swimsuit and wrapped a towelling gown around herself. Remembering Jenny's note, she took the old Beccy debit card and broke it in two, there was a confidential waste bin near the lift so she dropped it in there then took the new Rebecca identity pack to the housekeeper's office.

"Can this go in the safe please?"

"Of course, can I remind you that you can't use your mobile phone in the house."

"I remember that from my last visit."

She walked down to the pool, being joined by Kim a few minutes later.

"What's the plan for the rest of the week, Kim?"

"I won't be told until the start of each day, but I'm staying in this house for a few days."

"So I guess I'll see you a few times more?"

"Probably, but I could be removed from this job at any time, and almost was."

Tammy started to swim lengths, but others now arrived. Barely fifteen minutes after she'd arrived, Tammy walked back to her room for a long shower.

After dinner she was back in the interview room being debriefed again, but this time it covered her first encounter with Penny Lane.

"Were you suspicious?"

"Of course, but it was a fun event, I'd never seen myself as a model before."

"So you weren't careful?"

"Don't get that impression, but I can now see that she was digging for information about me."

"To what end?"

"I don't know, but my maid later sold personal information so I don't know how much of my life was compromised?"

"Did anyone accuse you of working for the Security Service?"

"Not as such, a few jokes from my friends, but nothing serious."

"A joke can be taken seriously, by someone listening nearby - most jokes have a basis in fact."

"Well, I was careful."

"Your friends, Tanya Smith and Helen McPherson, are not careful. It's likely they compromised you."

"Not deliberately, if at all."

"Deliberately, or otherwise, the nett effect is the same, you're compromised, damaged goods."

"What do you want me to say, that I agree? No, I don't and I won't, I kept my lives separate. Why don't we see what happens in court?"

"I would suggest that's up to you, we should remove your protection team and send you out into the world, you have places to stay?"

"Yes, even if I can't go back home straight away, but that would mean you couldn't manage me, and that might prove to be a problem?"

"In what way?"

"Right now I can't phone my family, or my friends. I can't study for my degree. If I'm outside, in the real world, I'll make efforts to deal with those things. While I'm here you can control that, you can control me. We could work together to put these people away, and mop up whoever's left, or you can forget me, what's it to be?"

"The senior officers still believe you are an asset, as well as a liability. It seems you have friends, not everyone involved in this mess had a friend."

"Hilary?"

The officer stood and opened the door, the session was over.