Part   Fifteen   "Conspiracy"

 
This is the seventh book in the Tamara's Tales (formerly Tommy & Tamara) series. For the whole saga visit Tamara's Tales
 

 
Wednesday 30th December 2015 (Continued)
 

Across the icy road, maybe 20m away, something was definitely going on in the bank; Florence said that at least four customers had left in a hurry. Tammy and Florence were inside a store, but Tammy had itchy feet, she reached for her bag.

"What are you thinking of doing, Aunt Tammy?" Florence whispered.

"Helping?"

"What good will that do, you're meant to be protecting me and Daisy?"

"Yeah, but ..."

"I overheard that Mr Brown talking to Grandma Elsie, he really likes you but thinks you jump with both feet instead of weighing a situation properly."

She'd have to ask Elsie about security later. "Okay." She took her hand away from her bag, her phone started ringing again.

"Yes, Dad, sorry I missed your call, we're in Superdrug ...... No, I'm not about to do anything stupid."

Across the road a car drove up outside the bank and waited, the driver was constantly scanning the street and was clearly nervous.

A familiar figure came past the store window then doubled back and came in. By now there was a small crowd of staff and customers in the window.

"Tammy, I hope you're not considering taking executive action?"

"No, Ben."

"Well, thankfully I'm trained for this sort of thing. Are you carrying?"

"Err, yes. In my bag."

Using his body to shield his activities, DS Ben Franklin reached into Tammy's bag and retrieved the Glock.

"Not enough time to explain, back shortly." He hid the weapon and left.

"Auntie, did I see that?"

"No, Florence, you didn't."

Sirens could now be heard in the distance but across the road three males were coming out of the bank; one fired a weapon into the air before they all jumped into the waiting car. It shot off towards the end of the road, where it would make a right turn to get out of town.

Tammy, and many others, emerged from the shops to see the fleeing bank robbers' vehicle disappear around the corner. Tammy heard two bangs and recognised the sound of her weapon, although no-one else had apparently made the connection. The sirens were now much closer and very soon there was plenty of shouting - and barking.

Tammy wanted to go ahead to see what was going on but Florence had hold of her hand and wasn't going to let go. Ben could now be seen trotting back towards them, he indicated for Tammy to move away from the crowd before he slid alongside to drop the weapon back in her bag.

He gave Tammy a kiss on the cheek and wandered off, before she had an opportunity to ask what he'd done. Her phone rang again.

"Okay, Dad, we'll meet you there."

She put the phone away.

"We're off to the library, Florence."

A bemused Florence walked away with Tammy as police officers arrived at the bank, no-one it seems had paid attention to her exchange with the plain clothed officer.

Inside the library were the other members of the shopping party, Richard took his daughter to one side.

"Now, did you stay with Florence?"

"Yes, throughout."

"Good, Dave Brown thought you might be spontaneous if something happened near you?"

"No chance of that!"

"Good, I reckon he'll need a report though."

"Thanks, Dad." Only another report.

Sandy Franklin, the library manager, walked over.

"A bit of excitement, Tammy? It's normally so quiet around here. My husband would like a word, he's in my office."

She told Richard where she was going and checked no-one was following.

"Now, Ben, what was that all about?"

"Sorry, Tammy, but I really had no time for explanations. I've just qualified, by the way, with firearms."

"Okay, but I would like to know how I'm going to explain my weapon being taken and then discharged."

"Well, I saw an opportunity and I didn't know how close the marked units were. My intention was to stop them, the slugs went through the windscreens and the glass fractured, the driver couldn't see where he was going. It slid into lamp post, with the wheels spinning."

"Did you hit the driver?"

"No, that would have caused far too many problems, I simply went for the glass. As it was, the marked cars were nearby and only needed a little help."

"Won't the bullets be found?"

"Not for ages, they'll be in the wall of whatever building was behind the car, probably the hotel."

"And no-one saw you?"

"I was crouched in an alleyway, I'm in the clear."

"You might be, but I'm not."

"I'm certain you can deal with that, maybe you tested it at home - behind the barn?"

Tammy wasn't happy. "I have to report this."

"If you do, I'll take responsibility. Satisfied?"

"Okay, Ben. Now, have you been asked to travel with us in a few days?"

"Yes, but I haven't been given details."

"You'll get a full briefing nearer the time, no doubt. You didn't seem surprised when I mentioned it?"

"Iain Brown asked me personally, he said familiarity with the other parties would be advantageous. My inspector was a little pissed off! If he hears of this morning's activities then I might not be around for a while, unfortunately."

"Why?"

"He keeps getting bypassed, but I'm cleared for this and he isn't so I can't even tell him what I'm doing! If he decides to bring up a disciplinary then even the Chief Inspector can't overtly help me."

Tammy was worried but didn't want to delve further.

"How much does Sandy know about your security service support work?"

"Enough so she doesn't think I'm having an affair, with you!"

"Understood." She was flattered, and blushed.

Tammy rejoined the others, just as Elsie's Range Rover pulled up outside. Her father and Suzie left them to find their own transport.

Florence and Daisy were comparing notes on their shopping expeditions, and not the bank robbery, as they rode back to Elsie's. Lunchtime was approaching so both children were sent to put away their new things, wash and present themselves in the dining room.

That was the plan, Cathy came down with them just as lunch was being brought out.

"It seems they were experimenting with the new make-up, I cleaned most of it off their faces!"

Much of lunchtime concerned plans for New Years Eve, discussion of the events in town was distinctly absent. Elsie proposed hosting a party, although Tammy wondered if her idea of a party bore any similarity to that of a teenager?

"I was a teenager once, my dear."

"There's a dance at the golf club?"

"Over eighteens, probably?"

"Err, yes, Elsie."

"Is there an under eighteen discotheque anywhere?"

Tammy cringed at the term, even if she hadn't been one for the nightlife until a year earlier. "I don't think so."

"So, we'll hold a party here. How about inviting that poor girl and her husband?"

"Tanya and John? They're not getting married until the fourteenth of Feb."

"Well, ask her if they're doing anything. You can use the games room, we can cover the snooker table and push it out of the way."

"Music?"

"That's your department."

Florence had clearly been listening. "I'll look after that, if you don't mind?"

"Well, it's coming together. I'll ask if Zara can help in the kitchen, to make some snacks that teenagers will recognise?"

"Won't she want to go to a party?"

"The staff here have their own party and she's welcome to join them, we'll put her up for the night too. Thomas will handle that, won't you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

Tammy now had her laptop with her, so after lunch sat down to write a report on the morning's strange shopping trip. Outside the white stuff was starting to fall. Finlay knocked then came in just as she finished it.

"Oh, where's Florence?"

"I left her in the shower, aunt Cathy suggested I cleaned myself properly."

"Okay."

"You prefer Florence, don't you, Aunt Tammy?"

"You're a good kid, regardless which name you use."

"Thanks, but don't you get on with Florence easier?"

"No, I get on with you, regardless which name you're using."

"Maybe, but when I was holding your hand earlier, would you have been just as happy if Finlay had held it?"

"You're a good looking boy, Finlay, of course I'll have been happy." She pulled his close and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He returned the favour by kissing her fully on the lips.

"Oh."

Finlay smiled and left.

She submitted her report then went for a shower, she needed space.

 
New Years Eve 2015
 

Thursday morning was cold and very white, it was still snowing. Tammy grabbed her tablet then wrapped herself tighter in her duvet, just looking out of the window had made her shiver.

She looked at the local newspaper's website, unsurprisingly the bank robbery was the top item. A policeman was quoted as saying "the car lost control and we were close enough to let the dogs have a go at the occupants, before they made off on foot. It was a good, clean, stop and no-one got hurt. A four figure sum was recovered and enquiries continue."

Apart from those bitten by the dogs, thought Tammy.

She pulled on a onesie before heading for breakfast. Elsie was already there and clearly wanted to say something about Tammy's fashion statement but both Daisy and Finlay were similarly dressed, then Cathy came down in one of her own.

"I might as well get a baby-grow of my own!"

If there was any awkwardness between Finlay and Tammy, he certainly never showed it. Tammy's phone pinged as she went back to her room.
 

Conference call at ten

 
She hurriedly showered and dressed, black leggings under a tartan skirt would satisfy her need for warmth, as well as Elsie's standards. This was topped off with a UHI sweatshirt - high fashion it wasn't.

The University of the Highlands and Islands sweatshirt had been a Christmas gift from Angela, probably intended as a joke. It was comfortably fleecy and clearly designed for a colder environment. Tammy still intended to restart her studies, but that couldn't now happen until September.

"Let's start with what we know."

Tammy laughed, "that's always a good point."

"Firstly, the pair who allegedly tried to abduct Angela did report off bail and were rebailed until the end of January so clearly Police Scotland isn't taking that seriously. Their bail conditions mean that they can't contact any of you, go within five hundred metres of your home or the school plus they are only allowed into Thurso town centre on a Tuesday when they need to visit the job centre."

"Okay, Kevin, Angela just needs to avoid the town on a Thursday or have someone with her."

"Yes, although I wish the restrictions could be tougher seeing how there was a concerted campaign to win her trust."

Tammy sighed. "Indeed."

"Now, the Russians have started talking. They're not naming names yet but do want to go home."

"I guess that's not on the cards?"

"No, but we'll let them think that for a while. We found out where they had left their clothing and identified a vehicle there that they'd bought in Germany. The upshot is that we now have their passports so we know who they are, even if they haven't told us themselves."

"Good, anything else to connect them to the Gores, or Lavoskas?"

"Not yet, their contact appears to be just a mobile phone number that always goes to voicemail."

"I take it there's enough to prosecute?"

"Yes, we have them on a holding charge right now of 'going equipped' but we'll be able to add 'conspiracy to abduct a minor'."

"Is your team handling them?"

"Yes, Tammy. Now, the Gores were spotted at Waverley Station yesterday but they were then lost."

"So they're heading South?"

"That's the presumption, you wouldn't make it to Edinburgh then turn North, would you?"

"No, but they could have travelled to Glasgow before heading into England, that would bring them down the West coast instead of the East coast?"

"That was considered, but we're now concentrating on picking them up at Birmingham New Street, as well as Birmingham Snow Hill in case they end up there on their way to Stourbridge or Egbaston.

"I know that we need to consider all eventualities but I'd rather hoped that they didn't know about the studio."

"Sorry, Tammy, but we have to include that possibility. Transport Police are running extra patrols at Snow Hill and New Street as part of an exercise, with plain clothed officers targeting ticketless passengers so we've circulated their descriptions."

"Okay, now what about the Lavoskas?"

"The credit card used for the hotel in Wick has popped up in Dundee."

"Are they also heading South? When was that?"

"Yesterday, Paula hired a car."

"Can they be tracked?"

"If she uses roads that are suitably equipped, it's entirely possible she knows which roads aren't yet covered as there are websites with that information."

"Surely that would mean a slower route off motorways?"

"Yes."

"So, four persons of interest are on their way into England, I'm a little uncomfortable with where this is heading."

"So are we, Tammy, we've issued warning where we can."

"Just a thought, if she used that credit card in Wick, surely she'd know that we could check where it's also used?"

"Correct."

"Could this be a ruse? Could they in fact still be in Scotland, or even split resources?"

"Indeed, Tammy, we are not looking at amateurs."

"For as much as we now know, there's still much more that we don't. This could affect our travel plans on the eighth?"

Dave Brown had kept quiet but now joined in.

"Plainly, Tammy, and I believe we'll need to review who travels with the children."

"Of course, Dave."

"Now, I have seen your report."

"Oh."

"Firstly, you were right to report it and I and grateful that you submitted it within a few hours."

"I felt it was necessary."

"Correct, and we need to deal with the issues that arose from it."

"I see."

"Firstly, where is the weapon now?"

"In my bag, with me."

"Have you cleaned it?"

"Yes, as best I can, and I've put a full clip in."

"Was DS Franklin wearing gloves?"

"Yes, it was a bitterly cold day."

"Who observed you?"

"As my report stated, I was with Finlay O'Shaughnessy although he was dressed as Florence at the time."

"So did he, she, see this happen?"

"Yes."

"Was she, I mean he, aware you carried a weapon?"

"Yes."

"Would you have given your weapon to anyone else?"

"No."

"Why didn't you handle the robbery yourself?"

"My primary concerns were with the children."

"And yet you were left without a weapon?"

"I realise this."

"DS Franklin has been interviewed and his account tallies with your's. He has accepted responsibility, but you are also responsible for your own actions. What is the correct procedure here?"

"I refuse his request."

"Correct."

"So, is Ben in trouble?"

"His problem is that he can't produce the weapon and they can't find the slugs, so he's been referred to the force psychiatrist and put on administrative leave whilst they determine if he's fit to work."

"Despite helping in the arrests?"

"He wasn't there, according to everyone else. You will not be giving evidence to the contrary."

"Hang on, how did you know it was my weapon?"

"DS Franklin named you in his report, the one that I saw, but the copy to his inspector was redacted to the point of being waste paper."

"That inspector doesn't like him."

"Clearly, he's also one of the people Martin Gore called in the last week."

Tammy finished the call with more questions than when she'd started. She wasn't being disciplined, yet, but Jenny would have to review this once the current operation was over. Ben was on gardening leave, but did that mean he wouldn't be available for the weekend after next? Was he being used? Was Tammy also being used, by implication? How could he have known where she'd be?

One thing was clear, she had to follow instructions, even if others didn't like it. Before she left the house there was a caller at the door, Pru answered it, the caller was in military dress.

"Tammy, it's for you, I can't deal with it."

Tammy took a look at the ID card that was being offered, it said he was Sgt Grant.

"Hello Sergeant, how can I help you?"

"Excuse me, Miss Smart, I have a delivery for you, but do you have some ID you can show me?"

She reached in her bag and pulled out her National Crime Agency pass. "Will this do?"

"Thank you. I have a package for you."

"Where did you say you were from?"

"Royal Logistic Corp, Dunfermline, Miss. Sign here, please Miss."

Tammy signed and was handed a wrapped package that was heavier than it looked. The despatch note was timed that morning, at five AM.

"Thank you Miss, goodbye."

She closed the door then took the package into the study.

"What is that?"

Pru stopped working as Tammy fought to get into the package. There were two separate items, one was a gun maintenance kit including oil, brushes and cleaning cloths. The other was four hundred rounds of 9mm ammo and a spare clip.

"I guess they're not that unhappy with me!"