Stephen Leather: False Friends

‘Harvey, focus, will you?’ said Chaudhry. He looked at Button. ‘She knew that we’d betrayed Bin Laden,’ he said. ‘We’re screwed.’

‘Not necessarily,’ said Button. ‘The fact that she was interrogating Harvey suggests that she wasn’t sure. If she knew for a fact that you were working for us she would have killed him there and then.’

‘It sounded like she knew everything,’ said Malik.

‘That’s what a good interrogator does,’ said Button.

‘She was going to kill me,’ said Malik.

‘But she didn’t. And now we have her in custody.’

‘But as soon as she gets to a phone she’ll tell them what happened,’ said Chaudhry.

Button shook her head emphatically. ‘That’s not going to happen. She’s being held in Belmarsh Prison. In isolation. No phone. No lawyer. No nothing.’

‘Can you do that?’ asked Chaudhry.

‘We’re MI5,’ said Button. ‘We can pretty much do anything we want. She’s being held under the name she used to enter the country. But the Americans have her under two other names, one of which was involved in a plot to blow up the American Embassy in Islamabad. They’re asking for extradition and they’re going to get it. D Notices have already been issued so there won’t be a word in the press. She’ll be gone within a week and the Americans won’t be letting her near a phone.’

‘Guantanamo Bay?’ asked Malik. ‘Do you think they’ll send her there?’

‘I don’t know for sure what they have planned,’ said Button. ‘But a little bird did tell me that the Americans are keen to rebuild bridges with the Pakistan government and one way of doing that might be to give her to them. The Pakistanis would love to question her about terrorist groups active in Pakistan and when they’ve finished interrogating her they’ll throw away the key. She’s never going to be a threat to you again.’ She looked over at Chaudhry. ‘To either of you.’

‘And the two men with her?’ asked Malik.

‘It’s going to be a package deal,’ said Button. ‘And we’ll be keeping a close eye on you both for the foreseeable future.’ She nodded at Shepherd. ‘John here will be available whenever you need him. And you can have as much security as you need.’

Chaudhry smiled at Shepherd. ‘What do you think, John?’ he asked.

‘I think you’re both in the clear, but you might think about a change of identity. And relocation.’

‘Do you think that’s necessary?’

‘For your peace of mind, maybe. But no, I don’t think they’ll send anyone else. And if they do, you know what to look for.’

Chaudhry grinned. ‘Yeah, pretty girls who want their laptops repaired.’

‘Hey, she was very convincing,’ said Malik.

‘I’m not sure that you’re going to have to do anything drastic,’ said Button. ‘We’ve already started a disinformation campaign to muddy the waters.’

‘What do you mean?’ asked Malik.

‘We’ve got the Pakistanis saying that one of Bin Laden’s wives betrayed him. She’s in custody and they’re putting it about that she was getting jealous of one of the other wives.’

‘A woman scorned?’ said Chaudhry.

‘It’s perfectly possible,’ said Button. ‘She was in the compound when the Seals went in. Plus, the Americans are now suggesting that they were helped by the courier that died in the attack. It’s all grist to the mill.’

‘So you think it’s over?’ asked Chaudhry.

‘You’ll still have as much protection as you need, but yes, I don’t think either of you needs to worry overmuch. But if you want a change of identity we can absolutely do that for you. Also, I’ve spoken to my bosses and there’s quite a bit of money coming your way. By way of compensation for what you went through and as thanks for everything you did.’

‘What about the reward for Bin Laden?’ asked Chaudhry.

‘We’re talking to the Americans,’ said Button. ‘I’m quietly confident that at least some of that money will be coming your way.’

‘Too bloody right,’ said Chaudhry. ‘It’s the least they can do. If it wasn’t for us they’d never have known where Bin Laden was.’

‘So when do we get the money?’ asked Malik.

Chaudhry laughed. ‘Bloody hell, Harvey. At least wait until you’re out of bed.’

‘I’m just asking. I want to get started on my restaurant.’

‘I think you’ll find you’ve got more than enough money to do that,’ said Button.

Malik grinned and flashed a thumbs-up at Chaudhry.

‘What about Khalid?’ Chaudhry asked Button.

‘He died resisting arrest,’ she said.

‘Which was convenient,’ said Shepherd.

Button raised one eyebrow. ‘Meaning what?’

Shepherd shrugged. ‘Just that it keeps things neat and tidy. With him being a British citizen it would have been a bit harder to send him off to Pakistan.’

‘Indeed it would have been,’ said Button coldly.

‘So picking a fight with armed cops was convenient, that’s all I’m saying.’ He tilted his head to one side. ‘Was it CO19? Or did the SAS go in?’

‘The latter,’ said Button. ‘But I’d really be happier not discussing operational matters here.’

‘I can quite understand that,’ said Shepherd. He patted Chaudhry on the back. ‘What about you, Raj? Not thinking of going into the restaurant business with Harvey?’

Chaudhry smiled and shook his head. ‘I’m going to be a doctor. And I’m going to be Dr Manraj Chaudhry. I’m proud of what I’ve done and I don’t want to hide.’

‘You should think about working for us,’ said Button. ‘You could do very well in MI5.’

‘Miss Button, that’s not going to happen,’ he said. ‘Not in a million years. I’ve done my bit. I’ll leave the job of fighting terrorists up to you.’