Part   Eleven   "Care In The Community"

 
Wednesday 30th November 2016
 

"Are you okay, Tammy?"

"Err, yes James."

"You look as if you're miles away?"

"Ummm." Tammy had certainly been staring past James, completely unfocused.

"Look, we can scrub dinner if you're not up to it?"

"Maybe."

"Tammy, tell me what's wrong?"

"I can't."

"Can't or won't?"

"Both."

"What is it, a ruddy secret?"

Tammy blushed.

"Oh, is it woman's problems?"

"Something like that."

"I can re-arrange?"

"No, James, you can take my mind off it."

Tammy had first met James during her stint on the Business Studies course a year earlier but they hadn't spoken much. James, however, had made a point of regularly joining Tammy for a coffee and it started from there, albeit slowly. It was a lovely surprise to find that he'd auditioned for Deathtrap but Iain hadn't awarded James one of the key parts, only that of an understudy.

They ate in the Italian, Tammy figured that 'Pollo al forno patate e funghi' wouldn't be too difficult for her, given that she's had a knot in her stomach since Monday.

"I'm sorry, James, I have a touch of indigestion."

"You nearly finished it, never mind, will you feel better in a few days?"

"Hopefully. Can you call me a taxi?"

"Of course."

She was home fifteen minutes later and was certain she'd ruined the evening, maybe it would have been better to have cancelled? She really didn't know. Tammy was also looking for a life raft after being cast adrift by UK Intelligence.

What had Jenny said a week earlier? Tammy struggled to recall it, "I can't protect you if you continue this line."

Of course, the context was now different, but was Jenny trying to protect her? Tammy hadn't dared call her manager, or even her sister, in case the deceit had spread that close to home?

Kerri had no more information for her, either, or she would have broken some rule, sanction or code. Unless Tammy did something for herself, she was truly on her own.

Naturally, that was easier said than done. It was nine in the evening and she was due at the university in the morning and at the theatre for most of the rest of the day. Friday and Saturday were just a nightmare waiting to happen, she'd split the casts so they only had one show each a day, but, as director, was on her own - again!

There was a new text message on her phone.

Sorry it's a bit late, I wanted to check with uncle Iain first. Tom was in front of the Sheriff this afternoon. He was fined £400 for stalking me. He was warned not to repeat it

Hi Lucy, thanks for letting me know. Please report anything else that happens

That's what uncle Iain said. I'll see you tomorrow

Tammy hadn't realised that Tom would end up in court, but even she didn't know the full facts. A conviction was likely to cause him trouble in the future with employers, but that was not her concern.

Whatever she needed to do, for herself, would have to wait until the play was finished, and she had a pretty good idea what was going to happen.

One concern was this data, the lists. Of course her name was on it, but anyone should be able to find her even without the database. Their home was the registered home of Smart Dunbankin Ltd and several other companies, although a few were offshore to minimise costs and increase financial security.

So a search of Companies House, the central UK business registration agency, would instantly reveal her name, company name and position on that company's board. She was hardly hiding, it was her connection to the intelligence community that was being obscured.

Sharon Gainsborough had known Tammy could only have done a course at GCHQ if she had a good reason, but had Tammy told her what she did? There was a risk, but was Sharon just the purveyor of the database? How many folk, who were former agents, knew about Tammy?

Hilary Bull was one, Tammy had worked with her and then had been chased around the gardens of St Paul's Cathedral by Hilary before the woman was captured. She was in prison somewhere, as far as Tammy knew. Ben Franklin had a good idea of Tammy's work, but he was, hopefully, going to keep his mouth shut.

The Gores were a concern as well, although only Martin Gore liable to do anything and he was now in Belmarsh High Security Prison near London. Martina had been placed in a boarding school somewhere in the Midlands and both of her parents were dead. Anita had been shot by Tammy a year earlier and John had suffered an accident whilst on remand awaiting trial. The suggestion was that John had failed to complete on a contract. One question remained, where had John and Anita sent their intelligence reports about Tammy?

Paula Lavoska had been arrested after the attempted abduction of Andrea McPherson on a train and was being held pending trial as she was considered a flight risk, her sister Penny was missing and presumed to be out of the UK. Both had suggested that Tammy was an intelligence operative but equally both could have made an attempt on Tammy regardless of the database.

Also in prison were Yvonne Stewart, Jerry Trethgarwyn, Doran Kelmendi and Alban Berisha. There had been two attempts on Tammy's life as she arrived at the Old Bailey for Kelmendi and Berisha's trials, resulting in the barrister for the Albanians being arrested.

Another concern was the gang called 'True Freedom' who had launched a terror attack on London, starting with a random coffee house shooting. Tammy, and Kerri, happened to be there at the time and took out the terrorists, but the inquest had become deadly. Tammy hadn't yet been called to testify at the inquest and didn't know if it had already been held in secret. Next up was the trial of the two surviving terrorists, did they know her name?

What of the Templetons? Carl Templeton had left St Andrews after a short tenure and she had no idea where he was. She strongly suspected he was an MI6 informer or operative, possibly former operative, but he was officially off-limits. His brother, Donald, was more of a mystery; Donald was Tammy's senior lecturer but had clearly taken an interest in her background and seemed to have privileged information about her. He'd also been to see Martin Gore in prison several times, but could this be explained because Martin had worked for the university?

Closer to home Helen McPherson was a gossip, but Tammy could do very little about her. Could Helen be bought? She had money but not all of it was accessible to her until her twenty-first birthday. Of another McPherson, John McPherson was in prison on terrorist charges, it was said he was still trying to prove that Tammy was male.

So, was Tammy at risk because of the database? She guessed not, as she was living in plain sight and had already garnered the attention of the criminal fraternity; although her natural mother, Tara, was to blame for some of her troubles.

Tammy decided she simply had to get on with her life; to the residents of Thurso, and the surrounding area, she was a student, with a sideline in the theatre as an occasional actor and director.

If someone wanted her out of the intelligence game, she would appear to acquiesce to their unwritten demands, let them think she'd given up. If she wasn't a risk to them, could she get on with her life? Of course, that's what she would like them to believe, just how could she deal with the situation that MI6 had created?

That question could wait, right now Tammy had bigger issues to deal with.

 
Thursday 1st December 2016
 

Tammy was surprised to see Tom in the university, earning her a glare as they passed in the main lobby. She continued her walk to the coffee stall before heading to the seminar room they were using that morning. One of the junior tutors walked in.

"Good morning everyone, we're doing a test this morning based on your recent work, Please collect your sealed test pack from the front."

The twenty or so students all started to move, Tammy hung back t avoid the crush.

The tannoy burst into life "Tom Lake, please report to the Principal's Office." It was clear that a few of those present knew Tom and a few heads turned towards Tammy although only Lucas made a comment, by which time Tom was out of the door.

"You set Tom up, didn't you?" Tammy shook her head but said nothing.

"OK everyone, you have ninety minutes, starting now. Additional sheets are available if you need them."

Tammy opened the envelope to find two test papers, one of the multiple-guess variety and one that required expanded answers. She guessed that most would start with the first of the papers but that was only worth thirty percent of the overall mark, so she started with the first quesion on the other paper.

Q1: You have been accused of bullying but you feel you've done nothing wrong, what recourse do you have?

Tammy stared at the question, she'd been accused by her first shrink, Jill, of pushing Angela into transition. Fortunately, on that occasion, Joan and Elsie had defended Tammy. On the flipside, John McPherson had threatened and harassed Tammy when he's discovered she'd been born male, in that case she had resorted to a court injunction to prevent him publishing the allegations in the media. She started writing.

It was just over an hour later that Tammy had written answers to the six questions, she now had twenty two minutes to tackle the thirty multiple-choice questions.

"Time's up."

Tammy put her pen down, she had skipped a few of the questions and had just managed to go back and answer them, although she had some doubts about those choices.

"Put your sheets in the envelope and write your name on the outside. Don't forget to put your name on every sheet you used!"

The tutor went around the room to collect the envelopes, stopping at Tammy's table briefly. "The Principal would like to see you now."

She picked up her bag and jacket and headed out of the door, behind her Lucas was sneering "bye bye!"

Tammy waited by the PA's desk for the few minutes it took for the Principal to finish his important business.

"You can go in now."

She was waved into a seat across from the Principal.

"Thank you Miss Smart, I must advise you that I've received a complaint."

"About me, Sir?"

"Yes, the complaint alleged that you had been involved in harassing another student."

"Really, I suggest you give me some evidence before I call my solicitor."

"Please don't be hasty Miss Smart, all I've said is that we had received a complaint. Perhaps I might be allowed to explain what we did next?"

"Of course."

"As the incident happened offsite, at the Mill Theatre, I called the Theatre's Chairman to ask if he knew of this. He was able to clarify what had happened and no further action is needed."

"Such as?"

"An alleged assault."

"Which never happened."

"Indeed, and I trust Dr McIntosh in this matter. There was also no report to the police, which further cast doubt on the allegation."

"Good, I too trust Steven and I know he would have said exactly what happened."

"Indeed."

"Now, what about Tom Lake?"

"That's confidential."

"So you allowed him to spout off about me?"

"Actually, his mother made the allegation and this was supported by another student."

"I stand, er sit, corrected."

"Just to let you know, later this morning we will be submitting a statement on bullying and harassment to the local media with a copy on our website. We have a zero tolerance approach as we hope to have a happy and safe learning environment for our students and staff."

"So he's no longer welcome here? I just hope his fan club get the message as well?"

"I would urge you to report any issues."

"Sir, I have a thick skin and can cope with jibes. I've also had several attempts on my life in the last few years so a few harsh words really don't bother me."

"I hope you don't carry any weapons in the university?"

"Not normally, Sir." Tammy smiled as she stood. "I believe you're done with me?"

"Yes, thank you, and I have tickets for the final performance."

Tammy needed a drink, and a little relaxation, before the next session. Unfortunately she spotted Lucas near the coffee stall and her instincts wondered what he'd do next as she still wanted a coffee and didn't have the time to go to another outlet. As a precaution she reached into her bag and hit the audio recording app before dropping the phone back into her bag, leaving it unclasped.

As she approached the stall, Lucas was happily talking into his phone, a drink in the other hand.

"Yeah, she got dragged off and we won't see her again."

Tammy squeezed closer, keeping to his blind side.

"No, they won't know it was me."

Tammy saw an opportunity, "yes, they will!"

Lucas spun around.

"You bitch, what are you still doing here?"

"Getting a coffee before we head to the lecture theatre."

"You're out of here!"

"Nope."

Tammy could sense malice but there were too many students around, and more were approaching. Lucas turned to leave. "This ain't over."

"I couldn't agree more!" Said Tammy to whoever was listening. She reached for her phone and stopped the recording before, finally, approaching the stall for her drink.

A few minutes later she was in the lecture theatre ready for two hours of excitement, or boredom. She had clearly fazed Lucas as he only made eye contact once whilst the tutor droned on about the support available for ex prisoners returning to society, and the hardships they faced.

Tammy had helped put a good few in the courts and subsequently into prison and their freedom wasn't anything she'd considered. For terrorists there was often only one way they could leave a maximum security establishment, so she hadn't been involved with parole arrangements.

What of the minor criminals, such as Lucas' uncle? Once he'd finished the short sentence for assaulting Tammy and Angela, an incident that had occurred two years earlier, it hadn't been long before he was involved with thieving and assaulting behaviour. Could James Dougall be truly rehabilitated?

The way the lecturer was speaking, sending these poor unfortunates to prison was counter-productive and he suggested support in the community was a better approach. Judging by the mutterings and head shaking, most of the students didn't agree. Tammy wondered if she shouldn't have the tutor's name put through the Police National Computer?

"Excuse me sir, that's utter garbage."

Tammy turned her head, a lad had stood up and was addressing the tutor.

"How is it acceptable to put a dangerous criminal, or someone who has no regard for people and property, back on the street as if they had done nothing wrong?"

"It isn't as simple as that," replied the tutor, "society could be directly responsible for that person's behaviour."

The lecture theatre erupted in laughter, Tammy stifled her own amusement at the comment, remembering that she was a professional. The room died down as the tutor regained control, although it was clear that all credence had been lost.

"Clearly there are circumstances where incarceration is the only sensible solution."

The lunch bell sounded outside the room and, without waiting for permission, the students headed for the door.

Tammy had a lunchtime appointment and wasn't going to allow anyone to ruin it.

James was already in the bar when Tammy reached the Castletown Hotel.

"Wine, if you're feeling up to it?"

"No, James, I have a very busy rest-of-the-day and I'll be driving."

"Okay, let's grab a table and you can tell me how your day's been so far."