Richard Wiseman - To Kill Or Be Killed

10Downing Street

8-15 pm

April 19th

Tarquin Robinson sat on the same side of the cabinet room table as Gary Braine. Across the table Diane Peters sat with an MP3 player attached to speakers in front of her. Next to her Jack Fulton sat with his face like stone looking over at the photographs arranged in front of the PM. They were photographs of Sternway and Mrs Robinson leaving La Rueda, separately.

“This is ridiculous!” Robinson was in full flow. “I have no idea what this is all about. That could be Nigel Sternway’s voice, it sounds a bit odd, but Melinda didn’t meet him there as far as I know, even if she did we’ve met socially, she could have been there to ask a personal favour.”

“You know why she was there.” Jack’s voice was flat.

“This doesn’t change anything Fulton. We need to suspend all DIC activity until this whole sorry mess has been investigated.” Robinson was adamant

“I’m sorry Jack, it doesn’t look good. I’ll admit the tape does show Mrs Robinson speaking to Sternway, but frankly Jack I’m shocked you’d make the accusation on such flimsy evidence. The Home Secretary has a point, you’ve hardly distinguished yourselves.”

Jack looked at Diane and Robinson smiled.

A phone rang. The phone was in Robinson’s pocket. He took out the orange coloured Bic cell phone and pressed cancel.

“I’m sorry…” He went to put it back in his pocket but it rang again. At the same time the cabinet room door opened and David McKie walked in holding an identical orange Bic ‘disposable’ cell phone in his right hand. In his left hand he held a sheaf of papers.

“What’s the meaning of this?” The Prime Minister asked tersely. Jack looked quizzically at Diane.

“I’m sorry Prime Minister. I’ve just come from Nigel Sternway’s house where myself and another DIC officer shot Trevor Stanton…”

“This is ridiculous!” Robinson shouted. “Your duty teams were suspended Fulton. I want this man arrested.”

“.. Stanton spoke before he died. Sternway was injured and a female DIC officer, unarmed, shielded Sternway’s children with her own body and was also injured.”

Jack looked horrified.

“It’s alright Jack she was just a shot in the arm, Ellie’s fine.”

Robinson rose from his seat.

“I must protest Gary…”

“Sit down!” It was Diane’s voice.

Robinson suddenly bidden by her voice did sit down glowering and was beginning to feel warm and uncomfortable.

“Stanton told me about the plot to discredit DIC and he told me about this cell phone. It was in Sternway’s jacket. I checked the locations of phone calls.”

David moved around the desk and put the papers by the Prime Minister. Then he reached into his pocket and took out two lime green cell phones.

“These link Stanton and Sternway. The orange ones link Robinson here and Sternway. That’s the chain. There are two dead bodies, Stanton’s work, at an MI6 safe house. Sternway was there earlier this evening and he took a call from that phone whilst he was there. The whole plot was to discredit and disband the Department for Internal Concerns. Stanton told me that Sternway had Cole killed, by Marco Spencer, the man who died at Perth, no less. Della Sternway is a witness to everything Stanton said. Sternway himself is in hospital with a police guard, shot in the shoulder.” David looked at Jack. Jack gave a grim smile.

The Prime Minister looked at Robinson, who was no longer protesting then he looked at McKie.

“Good work McKie. Now call a police officer and have Mr Robinson arrested.”

“Gary really?”

“Robert Cole was a friend of mine. I always wondered about his death. You’ll answer for all of this.”

“I’ll go public.”

“You think MI6 will want the scandal?”

“What are you suggesting?”

“Think about it.”

McKie re-entered with two police officers and Robinson was taken away.

“Take him out the back please.” The PM called out.

Mr Braine turned to Jack and Diane and said “Sorry Jack I should have trusted you.”

Jack got up and went to gather the evidence.

“Leave it there Jack." The prime minister said and Jack nodded in answer.

“Consider DIC back to full operational duties.” He added. Again Jack nodded.

Moments later Jack, Diane and David stood in Downing Street as the black door of number ten closed behind them.

All three cast large shadows as they walked towards the exit of the famous street.

St Albans

5pm

April 20th

Tony opened the front door of Ellie’s house to find Jack Fulton standing there holding a casserole dish.

“I thought I’d find you here Tony. I brought dinner. Good choice of woman. Great cook by the smell of it.”

“Come on in Jack. The proof of the pudding is the eating anyway.” Tony added.

“Spare me the intimate details, Ellie my dear!”

Ellie stood in the hall with her arm in a sling children running around her.

“Look honey Jack brought dinner.”

They went into the lounge. Tony went and put the kettle on.

“I’ve had conformation that you’re to get the George Cross Ellie.” Jack beamed.

“Why me? There’s David and Beaumont and well why me?”

“You showed real courage. In the words of Atticus Finch, to misquote I might add, ‘true courage is not a man with a gun in his hands’.” Ellie flushed. Tony came in with the tea.

“What’s that did I hear you quoting the great literature of my homeland?”

“Ellie’s going to get the George Cross Tony.”

“Wow” Oh sweetie that’s so well deserved.” Tony kissed her head.

Ellie’s son said ‘Yuck’ and ran from the room.

“What’s the situation anyway?” Tony asked sipping his tea.

“Sternway and Robinson are to face trial, but they’re being silenced by the secrets act and they know they won’t live if they make a scene in the media, at least that’s what I hear. Telford woke in hospital shouting that he had to get to the Priory Arms in Vauxhall, very confused. He’s been sacked by MI6. Sternway’s department has been disbanded. Oh and the Prime Minister called today to say that he wants a DIC operative as permanent secretary at the Home Office, sort of insider. I’ve suggested Diane.”

“Who’ll replace her?” Tony asked.

“Beaumont’s my choice.”

“What do I get?” Tony mockingly whined.

“You get me.” Ellie laughed.

“That’ll do me.” Tony replied.

“I heard David said he was going to leave DIC. Thought that killing would rot his soul, so he said.” Ellie looked at Tony when she said it.

“Yes he did say that. I told him to think about it. I know he’ll stay on, he’s a natural for it and nothing can taint the soul of people like the ones I choose for DIC.” Jack said and beamed at them.

“How can you be sure he’ll stay on?” Tony asked.

“I arranged for someone to talk him into staying, now how about that dinner?” Jack said with finality.

Dover Harbour Front

6 p.m.

April 20th

Mary McKie sat uncomfortably on the wooden bench by the swimmer statues on Dover harbour front. Conor was wrapped in a puffy coat dancing around to the tune that only every child knows and hears in their head. Beside her David’s father looked as she did to the two figures at the water’s edge.

“She’s a lovely old lady. Her husband was in Ireland bomb disposal. She’s very sweet looking for an old widow that woman.”

“Do I detect a hint of romance in the air you old widower man?” Mary laughed.

“Don’t be daft Mary.” The old man blushed.