Andy McNab: Payback

Danny could see that for himself as he read the four levels of security on his own screen. There was nothing more he could do now but watch and wait. Everything depended on Elena.

Another pop-up appeared on her screen, asking which operation or name was required. Elena typed in ‘Fergus Watts’ and within seconds there were three F. Wattses on the screen, but only one with a regimental number.

‘That’s me, Elena. Let’s find out what they’ve got on me.’

Elena was amazed at what appeared on the screen. Details of Fergus’s entire life, everything from his school history to hospital records and military career, were listed. There was even information on a conviction for speeding more than twenty years earlier.

But Fergus was unimpressed. ‘This is useless, it proves nothing about me being a K.’

Elena looked up from the computer. ‘I could delete all this. You wouldn’t exist. I could give you a new name, new social security number, new driving licence, a whole new life. You could even claim the dole.’

‘But in my head I’d always be on the run,’ said Fergus as he stared at a lifetime on the screen. ‘And Fincham won’t give up until I’m dead, whatever I’m going by. The only place we’ll find anything about me being a K or operating in Colombia is in Secret Ultra.’

‘Secret who?’

‘It’s the only place left that’s worth checking, and getting to that is probably impossible.’

‘Maybe not for Black Star.’

Elena went back to the Deep Web. Black Star was there. Waiting. Lurking. Eager for information on the progress of the ultimate exploit.

Elena punched in her request. Could Black Star help? Could Black Star get them to Secret Ultra?

She got an immediate reply:

NOTHING YOU LIKE SO FAR?? YOU WANNA GO DEEPER? CHILL, GOLA, YOU WANT IT YOU CAN HAVE IT. BUT THIS TIME YOU GOTTA GIVE ME A FEW MINUTES…

In the Depository at Northwood George Fincham was looking at his own life history as it rolled out on a screen. His national security and passport number, DNA, handprint and iris identification details, and medical, dental and university degree records.

Fincham was deleting them all, erasing every aspect of his life held on any mainframe, anywhere. Soon George Fincham would not exist. Everything from his bank accounts to his gas bills would be gone. George Fincham would have disappeared and George Davies would be flying to Moscow on the 8.30 from Heathrow.

Outside, in the corridor, the escort waited, having been told by Fincham before he closed and locked the door that he was not, under any circumstances, to be disturbed.

Fincham worked quickly but methodically. Soon there was only one place left to go; the one place no one would ever have known he was able to go – SECRET: ULTRA.

This was the reason why Fincham had demanded to be admitted to the Depository. There were only three places where access to SECRET: ULTRA could be gained: the offices of the heads of the Intelligence and Security Services, and the room Fincham was in now.

But Fincham did not need the three code holders, each with their separate codes, to be present. He took a USB memory clip from his jacket pocket and plugged it into the PC.

The screen went blank for a second before a box popped up asking for codes A, B and C. Slowly three sets of numbers and letters began to appear next to the three corresponding letters.

Fincham smiled at his own brilliance and ingenuity. It was all down to the second Gulf War. Twice during the conflict he had been present as all three code holders entered their separate codes in the office at Vauxhall Cross to access the latest intelligence on Saddam Hussein.

The codes were long and complex. There was no fear amongst those present that anyone could memorize all three, not at the speed at which they were entered and for the brief time they were individually on screen. But George Fincham could. He was blessed with a photographic memory, and each time his eyes had flicked onto the screen like a clicking camera shutter, capturing the codes, which were then logged away in the photographic darkroom of Fincham’s mind.

Later he had downloaded the codes onto the clip. As a backup. To ensure that they were never lost. Even by him.

The screen informed Fincham he now had access to SECRET: ULTRA. Fincham had no idea if there was anything relating to him in the files, but he had to know. Everything had to be deleted if he was to disappear completely.

He keyed in his name and Intelligence Service number and hit ENTER.

George Fincham was brilliant. But so was Black Star. There was a reference to Fincham in SECRET: ULTRA. It linked him to the one name to which he seemed destined to be linked for ever: Fergus Watts.

And as Fincham read the file, Fergus and Elena were also reading it at the unit, and so was Danny, just a few metres away down the corridor in the Stand By Room.

SIT REP 1

FERGUS WATTS

AGE: 53

HEIGHT: Five feet, eleven inches

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Hair – grey; eyes – blue; build – lean, wiry; distinguishing physical marks – noticeable limp due to bullet wound in right thigh BACKGROUND: Infantry. SAS, Warrant Officer, special skills – explosives. Tours of duty include – Northern Ireland (decorated), first Gulf conflict (decorated), Colombia. Recruited as a Deniable Operator (’K’) to infiltrate FARC, Colombia. Cover story – traitor, ‘gone over’ to rebels for money. Watts’s cover was deliberately blown by our PRIMARY TARGET. Watts wounded and captured after gun battle with Colombian anti-narcotics police. Imprisoned by Colombian authorities. Subsequently led mass jail break. Returned to Britain, route and date unknown. Traced through grandson, Danny (see below). Captured but escaped from safe house with help from grandson and Elena Omolodon. Note: Information on Omolodon’s involvement unknown to Secret Intelligence Service. Two operators and one civilian (Eddie Moyes, freelance reporter) killed during escape. Watts on run for past six months.

DANNY WATTS

AGE: 17

HEIGHT: Five feet, ten inches

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Hair – brown; eyes – blue; build – slim; distinguishing physical marks – none known

BACKGROUND: Orphaned at six, parents died in car crash. Various foster families until moved to Foxcroft, south London, residential home for teenagers, where he met Elena Omolodon. Applied for army officer training bursary. Rejected after interview with PRIMARY TARGET. Had never met grandfather but fed ‘traitor’ story and located (method unknown). Assisted in escape of Fergus Watts. On run for past six months. Note: Elena Omolodon still resident at Foxcroft.

INTERIM OBJECTIVE: Still need to confirm who, if anyone outside the FIRM, knew Fergus Watts was working as a K. Watts also remains potentially useful in operation to expose PRIMARY TARGET.

In the warehouse, in the Stand By Room and in the Depository, four pairs of eyes read every word.

For Fergus there was the first feeling of hope. At last. But it was guarded hope. ‘This is it. It’s what we want.’

‘It’s just like she told us,’ said Elena.

For Fincham there was an overwhelming feeling of horror. Primary target. It was him. His name was not mentioned as an added security measure. It didn’t need to be. For those who needed to know, it was obvious.

‘There’s more,’ said Fergus to Elena. ‘Go on to the second page.’

Elena scrolled through to the second page. Danny was doing the same thing. And so was Fincham.

SIT REP 2

MISSION: This is in three parts:

1. To locate and recover money (now estimated at around?15m). PRIMARY TARGET was paid by FARC while assisting them in trafficking cocaine into the UK.

2. On recovery of money, but before if recovery proves impossible, PRIMARY TARGET to be eliminated to avoid public revelation of treachery and corruption within SIS and subsequent embarrassment to SIS and government.