The man arrived early and started pacing the square outside the small, top station, making a series of phone calls as he did. “Come on, we need to move,” Rob commented, taking Alexandra by the arm. “We’re too close, we may be recognised.”
They walked off to a nearby viewing point and stood admiring the view over the river below and city opposite.
“This is simply stunning,” Alexandra commented, pulling her smart phone out to take a photograph. With a flick of a finger, she then switched the direction of the camera to monitor the engineer’s pacing. “I hope his contact arrives soon, my arms will tire out and it will start to look a little odd doing this for too long!”
When the contact arrived, the two men headed off, walking within a couple of metres of Rob and Alexandra, paying them no attention.
Mingling with the groups of tourists and locals milling about in the early evening, they followed the two men. When the men turned a corner Rob cautioned, “We need to take this slowly. That looks like a narrow street, probably not well used so we could stand out.”
They paused at the corner and glanced round. “Damn! We’ve lost them,” Alexandra cursed bitterly.
“Let’s wander down as though a short cut. We can use this map to make it look like we are tourists, in case anyone is watching,” Rob said, taking a map out of the small backpack he was carrying. “Have a look at each door to see if anything stands out. Otherwise, we will have to call it a day and find some dinner.”
As they made their way down the quiet street a door was suddenly flung open in front of them and the engineer and his companion stepped out, each waving a gun. Rob and Alexandra were directed to enter the dim interior, hearts pumping as they wondered what they had got themselves into. Furtive glances were shared, but there was nothing they could do.
A light was shining through an open doorway to their right and straight ahead a bare wooden staircase led up to the dark interior above. Rob hesitated, not sure where to go. “Into the room,” the engineer snarled.
Rob led the way with Alexandra following. This could be a chance, Rob thought. If we can slam the door on the guys we could get the upper hand. Blast! Upon entering, they were confronted by another man, sitting on a small stool also pointing a gun at them. The man waggled his gun motioning them to move to one side.
When the engineer entered behind Alexandra, Rob noticed his swaggering complacency, thinking that his captives were under the watchful gaze of his accomplice. Rob shoved Alexandra hard, crashing her into the engineer. Using his training in martial arts and unarmed combat, he simultaneously dropped to the floor and, using his hands as though doing push-ups, thrust himself towards the seated gunman, kicking out. The man, over confident from holding a gun, was taken by surprise and hurriedly squeezed off a wild shot.
Rob leaped up and quickly batted the previously seated gunman’s hand from taking aim. Using his gun as a club, the man tried once more to bring the gun round and hit Rob in the face. Rob ducked and blocked the attack with one arm while he struck out with the other, hitting the man on the side of the neck. The man backed off a step, trying to find space to aim and fire, but Rob was too quick and followed, keeping close, hoping all the while that Alexandra was somehow doing something about the other two gunmen – there was plenty of noise, but what it meant, he had no idea.
When Rob had shoved Alexandra into the engineer he had done so with such force that both had toppled over a nearby chair, ending up sprawled on the floor with Alexandra on top. Alexandra had tried pinning the engineer’s gun arm to the floor with one knee as she thumped the man as hard as she could. However, he was far too strong and she too light. In no time, he had arched his back and thrown her off. Meanwhile, the third man had entered the room and watched the close combat in total bewilderment, unsure what to do other than move his gun back and forth trying to shoot either Rob or Alexandra, but failing dismally.
Alexandra rolled as she landed and threw the chair at the man’s face, making him duck. She then threw a light at the third man. Having glimpsed Rob battling away with his combatant, she knew she was on her own! So, with nothing to lose, she put her head down and charged!
Both men were taken by surprise as the apparently crazed woman smashed her head into the engineer’s belly. The force pushed him back into his accomplice and, losing balance, all three collapsed onto a side table which crumpled at their weight.
Rob was in the midst of struggling with his man, both were ducking and hitting in equal measure. When yet another swing of the gun butt targeted his head, Rob managed to grab the man’s arm, twist and throw him. Both tumbled on to the dusty wood floor, the man’s gun arm pinned between them. As they landed with a heavy thud, a muffled explosion preceded the man’s eyes opening wide in pain and terror – he had just shot himself!
Rob rolled off the man, grabbing the gun as he did so. Rolling once more onto his back, Rob looked up, straightened his arms in front of him and watched as Alexandra and her two combatants scrambled to their feet. The engineer was the slowest, resulting in a momentary stand-off between Alexandra and the third man who raised his gun, pointing it at Alexandra who looked blankly at him, knowing that she could do no more other than wait to die. Rob squeezed off two shots sending Alexandra’s would-be killer lurching back against the wall before sliding onto the floor.
Rob immediately switched his aim to cover the engineer who was still staggering to his feet, looking completely bemused at how the situation had turned so suddenly against him.
“Drop your gun,” Rob ordered. Silently, the man obliged. “Alexandra, call the police.” Then, turning to the engineer, “And while we wait, you can tell us exactly what’s going on, including why so many drivers have taken holiday at the same time! We know about the illicit pick-ups and drop-offs by the drivers and how you falsify the added mileage by adjusting the vehicles’ instruments.”
The man looked stunned that Rob was aware of his work.
“Come on, we don’t have time to waste. If you don’t tell us before the police arrive, I will make sure it is far worse for you than it needs to be!”
After a few seconds’ thought, the engineer started to talk and kept doing so until the police arrived.
Having confirmed their identity, the Hungarian police allowed Rob and Alexandra to leave. “I expect Steven will want to be briefed. Shame the engineer couldn’t, or didn’t give us any names” Rob commented as they walked down the narrow street away from the blue police lights flickering off the walls and reflected from the windows. “After we’ve spoken to Steven, we should find something to eat, because I don’t know about you, but I need it!”
“And I need more than one very stiff drink!” They looked at each other and laughed.
* * *
Police cars rushed to converge on the shopping parade where Alan had been hit by the van. The three assailants who had followed him were about to approach him when the first two police cars slid to a halt, so they quietly melted away through the growing crowds.
Meadow’s car soon screeched to a halt, alongside an assortment of emergency vehicles.
Laura looked on as paramedics cared for Alan until an ambulance arrived. I really hope he survives, remembering the man she had interviewed. A few minutes later, following some frenetic activity by the ambulance crew and paramedics, Alan was whisked off to hospital. Laura walked over to one paramedic, “Hi, Laura Harding from MI5, do you have a moment?”
“MI5, huh? Yes, sure.”
“How serious is he?”
The man laughed. “You mean, how soon will you be able to speak to him?” He paused and looked at Laura. He had expected a reaction from his attempt at being light-hearted, but all he saw was a pair of tired eyes in an otherwise expressionless face. Laura remained silent and waited – this was a good man who helped people, but she was hardly in a good frame of mind.
“He was exceptionally lucky and should be dead. Somehow, he survived and should pull through. The main risk is brain damage.”
“Up until your comment about possible brain damage, I was feeling quite encouraged. You are right that I need to speak to him. How long do you think until I can?” Laura asked, walking with the man back to his car.
“You’ll have to ask the doctors at the hospital – they will be able to give you a far better idea.”
“Okay. And thank you – not only for letting me know, but also for all that you do. I think what you do is amazing.”
Seeing that the man was embarrassed at her compliment, Laura turned and left.
23
Early the next morning Steven arranged a conference call with Laura, Rob, Alexandra, Nat, and David.
“Morning all. So, you’ve all been having an eventful time. Rob, why don’t you start?”
Steven could imagine Laura’s concern as they listened to Rob’s briefing, detailing how close both he and Alexandra had been to death.
