Ken McClure - The Gulf Conspiracy

‘Search me,’ said Steven, returning to his screen as the computer beeped yet again.

This time the e-mail came from a man named John Curtis. Dorothy ran the cursor down the list on her screen. ‘Diamond Security,’ she said. ‘Scottish area supervisor.’

The message read, ‘Last message received 2 ndSeptember, requesting suspension 8 a.m. — 6 p.m., on day of exercise. Please confirm.’

Macmillan came back into the room saying, ‘Pope is a middle manager with Scottish Water. He has wide responsibilities for their operations. The Scots haven’t privatised water yet so we couldn’t narrow it down any further area-wise.’

‘Damnation,’ murmured Steven. ‘Where does that leave us? A water-board manager, a building society employee and an area supervisor with a security firm.’

‘Some kind of hit on a building society?’ suggested Hamilton without much conviction.

‘The water connection worries me,’ said Dorothy Jordan.

‘Me too,’ agreed Steven. ‘In spite of what you said about dilution problems with bugs.’

‘These people will be waiting for replies,’ Deans reminded them.

‘Can you deal with that?’ Macmillan asked Hamilton. ‘Simple confirmation, I think. We can’t risk asking questions at this stage.’

Hamilton nodded and took Steven’s place at the computer as a young woman came into the room and handed a piece of paper to Macmillan. Her body language suggested that she knew Macmillan was going to be pleased. Macmillan read it and raised his eyes briefly to the ceiling before saying, ‘Building Society Man, Innes, is actually Major David Innes: he’s an officer in the Territorial Army.’

‘Now the word “exercise” starts to make sense,’ said Steven.

‘Curtis mentioned “suspension” in his message,’ said Bristow. ‘He could be talking about suspension of security measures supplied by his firm...’

‘While Innes and his men carry out an exercise,’ said Steven.

‘In an area with some connection to Scottish Water if Pope is involved,’ said Macmillan.

‘It’s my bet that Innes has organised this as a genuine military exercise,’ said Steven after a few moments thought. ‘And if that’s the case, he would have to have filed details with his superiors. It’s the army way.’

‘That’s something we can check,’ said Macmillan, leaving the room again.

‘Contacts have been reassured,’ said Hamilton getting up from the computer.

‘You’re sure they’ll think the message came from the same source as the enquiry?’ asked Steven.

‘Trust me,’ smiled Hamilton. ‘God, I’m knackered.’ He stretched his arms in the air and let out a big yawn. It set everyone else off.

‘I could sleep for a week,’ said Dorothy, rubbing the back of her neck.

‘You’ve all done well,’ said Steven. ‘We’re almost there. Why don’t you take a break while John tackles the MOD.? I’ll monitor the screen in case any more messages come in.’

‘You must be just as tired,’ said Dorothy.

‘I’m carrying the can for this if it all goes belly-up,’ said Steven. ‘That gives me more adrenalin.’

Alone in the room, Steven swivelled round in his seat and put his feet up on the table. It was something he would not normally have done. His tie had long since been discarded and successive buttons on his shirt had been opened to allow the flat of his hand to rest on his chest. The stubble on his chin was beginning to itch and a shower was beginning to seem like the most desirable thing on the planet. For the moment he made do with yet more black coffee while he waited to see if anyone else on the database would make contact. His eyelids were starting to go together when Macmillan came back into the room.

‘Most unlike the MOD to be so efficient,’ he said. ‘Here it is.’ He waved a handful of paper in the air. ‘A summary of the entire exercise. Where is everyone?’

‘I suggested they take a break,’ said Steven.

‘Get them back, will you.’

Luckily only Dorothy Jordan had left the building. Steven found her outside, arms crossed, looking down at the pavement as she walked slowly up and down, apparently deep in thought. He apologised and told her that Macmillan needed everyone back.

She responded with a nod as if too tired to say anything and followed him back inside.

‘The exercise we’ve been hearing about is to take place in the Loch Ard Forest in Scotland,’ announced Macmillan when everyone had reassembled. ‘I think maybe we need maps...’

Hamilton took his cue and sat himself back down at a computer to start typing in instructions.

‘Loch Ard and its forest,’ continued Macmillan, ‘are part of the Forestry Commission’s Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, which comprises some 50,000 acres of mountains, lochs, forests and open rough country. For the purposes of the exercise, Major Innes and his men are charged with hunting down three armed and dangerous terrorists who will be on the loose in the forest, intent on damaging water board installations in the area.’

‘Maps for everyone,’ announced Hamilton, collecting several sheets of paper from the printer beside the computer and handing them around.

After a few moments study, Deans asked, ‘Is Loch Ard used as a reservoir?’

‘Looks too small,’ said Macmillan but we’ll check that out.

‘Maybe that’s what would make it attractive for a field trial,’ said Dorothy Jordan. ‘It would get round the dilution factor.’

‘Strange,’ said Steven. ‘There’s an aqueduct marked on the map but its position with regard to the contour lines suggests it isn’t carrying water from Loch Ard... I’m not sure I understand it. There’s no water to the north of it; in fact, the ground rises quite steeply to the hills north of Aberfoyle.’

‘Oh my God,’ said Dorothy Jordan, turning pale. ‘I think I know what that is.’

The ensuing silence was broken by Hamilton coming back from the computer and saying, ‘Loch Ard is not used as a reservoir... What’s wrong? Who’s seen a ghost?’

All eyes stayed on Dorothy Jordan as she said, ‘I remember reading about this in one of the medical journals. The aqueduct Steven has picked up on is part of a water supply system built in Victorian times by a man named Baleman, if my memory serves me right. It carries water taken from Loch Katrine, which certainly is a reservoir and, as you will see on the map, is well to the north of the area. Underground pipes are used to bring the water south except here where it flows for a short distance across an open aqueduct before going underground again.’

‘Where is it going to?’ asked Hamilton.

‘Glasgow,’ replied Dorothy. ‘This is the source of Glasgow’s water supply!’

‘They plan to attack... an entire city!’ exclaimed Hamilton, aghast at the very idea.

‘It’s ironic really,’ said Dorothy Jordan. ‘This water supply system is largely credited with wiping out cholera in Glasgow in the late eighteen hundreds. That was the substance of the article I remembered.’

‘That’s how they plan on getting round the dilution problem,’ said Steven who’d been staring at his map. ‘Instead of trying to contaminate the entire reservoir — Loch Katrine must be ten miles long — they’re making the hit downstream on water that’s already been taken from the loch and is on its way to the taps of the city — a tiny proportion of the volume.’

‘Clever.’

‘Very.’

‘Well done everyone,’ said Macmillan. ‘It is clever but you have proved equal to the task and beat them to it, I think you can all go home now and get some well-deserved rest. ‘We here will set the wheels in motion to make sure this doesn’t happen.’

When the last of team had left Steven turned to Macmillan and asked, ‘When is this scheduled to take place?’