Richard Wiseman - To Kill Or Be Killed

Mason wasn’t happy, but at least content that it would take them some time to find it, not long, but it would be enough time to get away.

He left the woods and jogged through the grass and weeded areas along the rail track, staying safely on the other side of the fence to the tracks. Ten minutes after dumping the car he had skirted the roads around the station, entered it, bought a ticket for King’s Cross and was sitting on the platform waiting quietly.

The London train was five minutes away. Mason allowed himself a smile. In half an hour he’d be in central London and no-one watching CCTV knew what he looked like. Commuters gathered in numbers creating a crowd causing Mason to risk a silly smile in front of strangers; hidden by the crowd he felt a lot safer.

Manchester

8-30 a.m.

April 18th

The good news for the team landing at Manchester airport was that the Bewley Hotel was close by. As the Helicopter landed Jaz, Shadz and Tony were met by a chief inspector and the head of armed police in Manchester.

Once out from under the turbulence of the Bell 206 Jetranger helicopter’s landing Jaz, Shadz and Tony were greeted by serious faces. Tony took the lead showing his government pass.

The chief inspector gave serious attention to the leather covered passes and took his visitor’s all the more seriously knowing that diplomatic immunity and the right to bear arms in the UK were not rights given lightly to anyone. The quick clearance for the landing of the chartered helicopter near the Manchester Airport freight terminal told him equally as much about the importance of the DIC team.

As he walked them to a waiting car the Inspector chattered quickly.

“We’ve got the place surrounded, marksmen on every vantage point and personnel covering every exit.”

“I take it you haven’t cleared staff or guests from the hotel?”

“No we didn’t want to alert your man and we were waiting for you.”

“Good. When we get there you can clear staff from danger points and into a safe area of the hotel. Have someone outside the window and I’ll go in.”

“Are you sure about this?” The head of armed police, a solid and heavy set man with a day’s stubble and marble hard eyes, exclaimed loudly and looked from face to face.

“Yes I want to go in first and these two will back me up. I don’t want a repeat of Perth. I want this man alive.”

“If you say so Mr Deany.” The chief inspector said, but he gave a meaningful sideways glance to the head of the armed police units.

The unmarked police Vectra swirled its way through the airplane parking and taxi areas and passed for a moment along near the runway, where the thunder of a taxiing passenger jet drowned the out conversation in the car. They passed through a gateway into the car park, from Ringway Road and within five minutes the team found themselves walking to the Hotel along Parade Road, the chief inspector readying his staff by radio.

The chief Inspector and the head of armed police stopped at the edge of the car park near an unmarked van being used as a control centre. Tony led Shadz and Jaz up to the reception of the hotel.

“Tony are you serious?”

“Listen Jaz we have to do this ourselves. Beaumont and David allowed the armed police in first and look what happened. No we’ll handle this. Alright Shadz?”

“Sure if you say so but this is a bit of a first and it’s been a while since the training.”

“You’ll be okay. We’ll do a run through in reception. I’ll lead the way.”

“Tony I don’t want to be rude, but is this some kind of macho crusade?” Jaz asked somewhat sarcastically.

As they entered the hotel and the door closed behind them they saw reception staff being replaced by armed police and being shepherded to the kitchen areas of the hotel.

“Look Jaz I was New York police. I know how to deal with this. You’ll be more effective DIC agents if you use your brilliant minds, some guts and the rights the badge gives you to see this job to its ultimate end. I want him alive and I don’t want to go back to Jack having stood back and let armed police fill him full of holes. Okay.”

Jaz nodded.

“Let’s find a door and empty room to have a quick run through then let’s get on with it.” Tony said with finality.

Using the empty manager’s office Tony showed Jaz and Shadz how to stand either side of the door and with the door open he pushed it, as if kicking, open and stepped into the room; Jaz and Shadz followed his instruction to follow in to left and right.

“Okay. Now if you have to shoot, Shadz you aim low, Jaz you hold back at the right and kneel down, that means you can take a second to pick and aim at his gun arm or hand okay.”

“My god you had better be right Tony.”

Tony smiled and patted her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

They made their way down the narrow dimly lit corridor with, at each end, armed police waited.

“You’re to put these on. No Questions.” An armed officer handed them some bullet proof vests.

Tony nodded and took the Kevlar vest. Having taken a moment to adjust and fit the bullet proof vests the three DIC officers took up positions at the hotel room door. Tony paused and kicked the door in.

The crash of the door and Tony’s shouted ‘Armed Security show yourself’ woke several guests on the corridor, especially the drunk next door.

Shadz was in the room in a second his Sig before his face pointing where he looked. Jaz knelt on one knee to Tony’s right her Sig steady at the end of her pointing arm, the muzzle like an accusing finger.

The empty room, unmade bed and lack of articles around the room didn’t put them at ease. All three pistols pointed at the bathroom door. Slow steps to the door, all three fingers now edgy on the triggers, ignoring the voices in the corridor the three inhaled, Jaz pushed the door open from the hinge side and Shadz put his weapon hand around the jamb as Tony stepped into the door way. Finally the empty bathroom put them at their ease.

“That was great!” Shadz finally breathed. “Man what a rush!”

“Bloody men!” Jaz laughed and shook her head.

They made their way into the corridor.

“Empty.” Tony said.

“We’re sweeping the rooms and corridors one at a time, one guest at a time. We’ve got the manager’s list. You think he might be in another room.”

“No.” He’s gone.” Tony shook his head. “We’re too late. Keep checking the rooms though.”

“Mr Deany this man’s got an interesting story.” Tony turned to see a young man in his late twenties, hastily dressed, ruffled morning hair and red eyes.

“Someone stole my stuff in the night, wallet, car keys and phone.”

“What make of car?”

“Citroen C4, pale metallic blue.”

“Check the car park.” Jaz spoke to the nearest officer. He radioed the request. They all heard the reply.

“No car like that in the car park is he sure he parked it here?”

They all looked to the man.

“Yeah of course I left here and we went into the city and got bladdered, used the bus there and back.”

“That’s your answer then.”

Jaz, Shadz and Tony walked down to reception. The Chief Inspector was waiting with the manager.

“He went in the night then?”

“Yes.” Tony answered, slowly calming from his adrenalin high.

“He’ll have watched the news late and seen the Perth footage and the news item on Wally’s murder. That’s when he’ll have decided to get out.” Jaz spoke excitedly, still pumped up by the danger.

“I’ll put out an alert for the Citroen C4.” The chief inspector said calmly.

“How far south could he be in say eight hours?” Jaz asked.