Part   Thirty Five   "Flushed Out"

 

Tammy's Tales Book 6
 

 
Monday 9th November (continued)
 

Tammy wasn't certain that lunch would happen so she decided her breakfast plate was the most important item on her agenda at that point. Trouble was, she didn't know what the agenda was. Right now it was nearing half seven in the morning but she wasn't due in court before ten.

"Are you done, Tammy, we need to have a talk?"

"I want another coffee first, then a wee."

"Okay, but as of now you are going nowhere on your own, WPC Straight will accompany you into the cubicle if necessary."

"No privacy?"

"Not if you value your safety. Look, we can't have that conversation here."

They reconvened in an office ten minutes later, DI Edmunds was joined by an old friend.

"Sophie!" Tammy gave her a hug.

"That's Inspector Grieve to you, young lady!"

"Congrats on the promotion, but why are you here?"

"It would seem that Heather and I are involved as well."

"So, is she here?"

"No, that would be unwise, Heather is safe enough at home and isn't needed here."

"Now, ladies, can we continue?"

Kevin pulled down the blinds but only turned on a desk lamp. WPC Straight waited outside, now dressed in civvies, as Tammy entered, but didn't stay.

"Bit melodramatic, Kevin?"

"It's the best we can do, Tammy, there isn't a proper secure room in this station. We'll be fine here."

"So, where exactly is Snow Hill nick?"

"We're just behind St Sepulchre's Church. This is actually a City of London Police Station, not the Metropolitan Police, but as this is a counter-terrorism job I have cross jurisdiction."

"St Sepulchre's Church? That means the Old Bailey is about a couple of hundred metres away?"
 

 
"Exactly, as far as anyone is concerned, you're being brought in by car again, with a full security detail. We've put road closures in place and some buses have been temporarily diverted."

"Meanwhile I sit here and wait?"

"Yes, we'll head over to the Court in good time, but I don't want you exposed."

"Okay, but does that mean you're trying to flush out the attackers?"

"Yes, Tammy, we have a look-alike travelling from Abigail Adams House by helicopter to London City and by road from there. We're monitoring several suspects right now whilst some of this information is leaked."

"But someone will have seen me here?"

"This station is in lock-down, officially it's a mole hunt, how many people did you see apart from our team?"

"Three or four, including the canteen ladies."

"They're borrowed from the security service, everything you've seen so far today has been managed."

"Stage managed?"

"Quite, Tammy."

"So, Kevin, what's the plan for me?"

"We wait, you'll go to the court only when it's safe and sensible to do so."

"Fine, but that still doesn't explain why you're here, Sophie?"

"The threat against you dovetails with an investigation that Heather and I have been conducting."

"Sounds serious?"

"It is, it's best I don't say any more. I'll see you later."

"Where are you going?"

"To the Silver Control, at NSY."

"Okay, see you later?"

"Maybe."

Kevin beckoned WPC Straight into the room as Sophie left. "Diane will be your contact with the rest of the team, please leave your phone off as we don't want anyone to track you."

"What about my mother?"

"We're following a lead, the suggestion is that they'll try to use her as a bargaining tool to prevent any further testimony from you, if you make it into court."

"That's not new, it didn't work last time."

"I know, but it is different this time. We're doing everything we can but we don't want to make any sudden moves yet."

"More waiting?"

"Yes, intelligence-led operations are 90% waiting, 9% work and 1% mania; when things happen they tend to be over very quickly but it may have taken days, weeks or even months of planning and intelligence gathering to get to that point."

"Fair enough."

"Look, I'm heading off, I'll see you later."

"Okay, bye Kevin."

WPC Di Straight was clutching a few newspapers. "I thought you might want to pass the time?"

"Where are we going?"

"We'll stay here, there's a loo along the corridor and that's the only way to this room. Keep your bag nearby in case you need your weapon but otherwise try to relax."

"We are safe here, aren't we?"

"Safety, Miss Smart, is all relative, there's no absolute definition of the word 'safe' as it depends on your environment at any given time. Right now the fire alarm could go off, meaning that we would have to leave the building."

"So, am I safe?"

"There's no immediate risk to you, but that depends on compartmentalisation of knowledge and an absence of the chance that you've been seen."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"No, and I can't. Look, sit back, do the crossword and you'll be fine, probably."

Tammy first tackled the Times, there was a small article about the trial but it was speculative. She spent some time looking at the business pages, pleased that her investments were still rising.

WPC Straight was wearing an earpiece and received a message, which she quickly acknowledged. "Your stand-in is boarding the chopper right now."

"Who's with her?"

"I really don't know, I don't need to know those details."

Fifteen minutes later, Di received news that the chopper was at London City Airport and the transfer was taking place, it was eight forty-five and Tammy had started on the Guardian crossword.

Tammy needed another wee, but Di was now receiving minute-by-minute reports of the motorcade's progress. "Okay, but quick now as I need to be ready to relocate you if necessary."

She accompanied Tammy to the ladies loo and checked the cubicle. "Okay."

Unfortunately, Tammy took a while, it was going to be one of those days! She was still wearing liners and the current one was soaked.

"Di?"

"Yes?"

"Can you get me a clean pantyliner? There's a few in my bag."

"Oh, you left your bag in the room, damn!" Di nipped back to the office but wasn't happy.

"There was a cleaner in there, she had her eye on your bag, I'll slide it under the door."

"Hadn't you better check it for bugs, or boobytraps?"

"Bugger!"

Tammy finished in silence, feeling freshened but very uptight. Still in the corridor, she tipped her bag on the floor, after removing the weapon. She checked the lining first, then each item as they were returned to the bag.

"Seems okay, even so?"

"Where's your phone? I didn't see it?"

"In my jacket pocket."

They didn't return to the office but instead WPC Straight walked Tammy down to the custody suite. "More secure down here, obviously." Tammy was a little perturbed to find another group of black-clad guys and girls, Di introduced them.

"This is the City of London Operational Support Group, or OSG, their normal job is the abnormal for most officers. Today they're your escort team."

"Hi everyone."

Di addressed the team leader. "We had a potential breach upstairs, we cannot guarantee that we're secure but it's too late to move to the Beta site as the diversion has reached St Paul's."

"What was the breach?"

"This lady left her handbag in an office while she went to the loo."

That generated a few laughs.

"Unfortunately a cleaner found it, at least we assume she was a cleaner, but she was recognised by the duty officer and had a valid pass."

"Damn, okay let's assume it's a breach, but there's no indication that any information has left the building?"

"No."

"Good, let's leave it that way. Radio silence unless urgent and no names to be used, understood?"

Everyone agreed with the team leader's instruction, this was serious stuff and Tammy respected that.

A few minutes later the motorcade had reached Ludgate Hill, it seemed that some of the planned road closures hadn't happened and the usual Monday morning traffic was impeding the vehicles.

Di now received word that they had turned into Old Bailey but everyone heard the next news as there was a massive explosion very nearby, the whole station shook.

"Down!"

Tammy didn't need to be told twice.

"Stay down!"

That really was unnecessary, she pulled her bag close and unclipped the top.

It was about a minute, but seemed longer, before Di received the next message, the OSG Team Leader had the same information.

"The motorcade was attacked by a mortar launched from a delivery van near the underground carpark entrance. There are casualties."

"Oh my! That should have been me! What about the girl who was the decoy?"

Di glared at Tammy, the OSG probably didn't know the whole plan. It was a few more minutes before there was any more news.

"The decoy vehicle is badly damaged but, apart from minor injuries, shock and concussion, everyone's fine. The official story is that at least one has life-threatening injuries, however, and the London Ambulance Service are on the scene. The operative in the delivery van was killed by undercover officers and the driver captured, a second vehicle was identified and the occupants are in custody."

Tammy was allowed to stand, "now what? Is it safe yet?"

"No, just because there's three in custody it doesn't mean there weren't any more. There's a search ongoing."

Tammy clipped her bag shut. "Can I have a wee?"

"Yes, use one of the cells!"
 

 

Tammy took one look and decided she could hold it, at least until she reached the court, if indeed she was still going to appear there today.

More information was now coming in, but everyone except Tammy had an earpiece, so she was hearing very little. Di was in conference with the Team Leader, but suddenly acknowledged a radio message.

"You can turn your phone on."

"Thanks." Tammy reached for it and waited for the device to boot. It was ringing before she could unlock it.

"Hello?"

"It's Kevin, phase 2 has been completed, so we're moving forward."

"How's that going happen?"

"There's a subterranean passage from the old custody suite that connects at the church with the one you're familiar with."

"So I'm going down a tunnel?"

"I believe I said that."

"Fine, any news about my mother?"

"Sophie's handling that, but please don't call her."

"Okay, where will you be?"

"I'm at the court already, I arrived a few minutes ago, come over."

Tammy was surrounded for the underground walk, it seems that not even Wikipedia knew about the link from the Victorian custody block that led back to the gallows within Newgate Prison. A few minutes later she was in the admin area that she'd frequented a week earlier.

"Ah Tammy, are you ready for your appearance?"

"I really should spend a penny."

"Okay, Di will be with you."

Tammy knew where the loos were and decided to fix her face before she exited, albeit with WPC Straight literally breathing down her neck.

"Excuse me, I'll end up poking this mascara in my eye."

By the time they returned, Kevin was a little impatient, "you need to see the judge."

"Why?"

"To confirm you weren't killed an hour ago."

"Fair enough, lead on Macduff!"

"Hmmmm."

Tammy barely had one word to say whilst in the chambers of Geraldine Brathwaite, although Kevin had to explain the subterfuge and give his assurance that the stand in was not, as initial reports suggested, fatally wounded.

"Was this all necessary, Detective Inspector?"

"Given Friday's attack and today's attempted assassination, I would say it was, your Honour. It isn't over, unfortunately."

"Well, if Miss Smart is here then I thought I might hear the case, unless you have an objection?"

"Your Honour, I would not even suggest how you run your court, but enquiries are continuing and there may be further arrests."

"Arrests that could disrupt the trial, even more so than already?"

"That might be unavoidable, your Honour."

"I don't like that suggestion, Detective Inspector."

"I don't like predictions, Your Honour, but sometimes I don't have better information to go with."

"I sincerely hope you never base a prosecution on a prediction!"

"No, your Honour, never!"

The next stop was the prosecution Barrister, James Mortimer.

"Rumours of your death have been greatly exaggerated, Miss Smart?"

"So it would seem."

"I can't say it will be a pleasant day in court as Kelemndi's barrister gets to put the knife in today, metaphorically of course."

"As opposed to a mortar round or a 9mm slug?"

"Touchée, Mademoiselle."

Tammy's phone started vibrating as they left the barrister's room, she waited until they back in a private room before checking the messages.

"Dad's asking if I can say I'm safe, Kevin."

"You can't reply, we don't know if he's been compromised."

"Bloody hell, Kevin, my family might be fearing the worst!"

"And that is what we want everyone to think."

"Then why tell the judge?"

"What if Mr Lupo or Miss Grover ask for all of your testimony to be wiped, the judge might agree in principle because she didn't know any better."

"She'd need proof, surely?"

"That's what should happen, but she might say something off the cuff that can't be ignored. So, best we deal with her before someone else gets to her."

There was a call over the tannoy for 'All parties in R v Berisha & Kelmendi to proceed to court six.' Kevin led the way, even though Tammy had been there twice already in the past week.

As they reached the side door, Hugh Lupo caught up with the party.

"I was ready to go home! Oh!" He had stopped next to DI Edmunds and hadn't initially realised who was behind the policeman.

"No! You're supposed to be dead!"

Lupo went for Tammy but he was taken down quickly by WPC Straight and DI Edmunds, neither of whom had any handcuffs. Fortunately, one of the local security officers had a set of flexicuffs available. The caution was read, carefully.

"Damn, Tammy, that was unexpected."

"His involvement?"

"No, for having the nerve to have a go inside the Central Criminal Court! He'll be up in front of a judge within the hour for contempt, even if we drop the assault. If he's lucky it might even be Geraldine!"

"I thought I'd be safe in this building!"

"That's a relative term, anyway I'll deal with the barrister, you and Di can go into court, but find the usher and let the judge know what just happened!"

Ten minutes later, court was adjourned until Wednesday and Duran Kelmendi needed to find another barrister. Fortunately, as the judge pointed out, both Lupo and Grover worked for the same Chambers. Harriet Grover, barrister for Alban Berisha, acknowledged this and was plainly unhappy with the turn of events. She was even more unhappy when she was asked if she would represent her colleague Hugh Lupo in the small matter of contempt? She refused.

Tammy asked, via James Mortimer if she needed to remain and was dismissed.

"Great, we get to do this all again on Wednesday, Di."

"I can't wait, Miss Smart, I really can't wait."