“No need to remind us,” commented Rob. “Anyway, where’s the hotel? I need a good dinner and proper rest!”
29
The next morning, while Laura, Rob, Nat and Cezar were having a leisurely breakfast, Burak was busy plotting with Gurning who listened intently while Burak briefed him, not daring to ask how Siggerty had obtained the information.
“So, Steven, it appears that whoever is after my man is getting close.”
“Yes, but don’t you think he’s safe where he is now?”
“Not entirely, no. It won’t be long before this American woman and her thugs catch an on-street dealer, make him talk and move on to someone much closer to Jim. The likelihood of those guys knowing Jim’s potential bolt holes is, I suspect, reasonably high.”
“Yes, I can see that. So what are you thinking?”
“Well, we could try to engineer both sides coming together.”
“I like that idea, but if that is to happen, I want this American woman flushed out as well. We think we know who she is, by the way. Also, it appears that she is linked to the other activity that Laura and Rob are pursuing. So, if we follow your idea, we must not force her to disappear.”
“Damn! Who is she? Maybe I can help.”
“You certainly can help by working on your idea. Names are unimportant for you, it’s the tactics. In any case, I don’t want you making enquiries.”
* * *
“So, what’s the betting that this is the place we’re looking for?” Rob asked brightly as Cezar waited to pull out onto the main road the next morning.
“Lunch, dinner and hotel lodgings on you if it isn’t,” suggested Nat.
“Deal!” Rob responded, cheerfully. “And if it is the place?”
“Protection from Nat and a celebratory dinner with us, all paid for by you!” Laura chipped in.
“Accepted!”
Less than ten minutes later Cezar turned into the yard of the second address to be investigated.
“Well no perimeter surveillance and no signs of activity that I can see,” Nat commented as they all clambered out of the car.
“Agreed,” Cezar said.
“But given yesterday’s experience, we still need to be careful,” Laura added, tugging on Rob’s arm as he started to head off towards the nearest and least dilapidated building.
A short while later, Laura summed-up their findings. “A well used drugs den.”
“Yes, it appears that way,” Cezar confirmed. “Given the amount of drug paraphernalia in the various buildings, I’m surprised we didn’t come across anyone.”
“Worth reporting all the same, but there’s nothing here for us,” Nat said, turning to head back to the car feeling a little dejected.
* * *
Gurning had been busy since his conversation with Burak, speaking with numerous people trying to figure out the best course of action. Finally, having spoken to Burak once again, Gurning was sitting in the DG’s office shortly after lunch.
“The plan is a good one, Steven. It’s a shame that Laura and Nat aren’t here to lead on the ground. I’ll leave it to you to decide who does take the lead, but make sure that Laura and Nat are fully aware and that David is involved from an analytics and research perspective.”
“Absolutely, sir. I will take care of that. As mentioned, my main concern relates to what happens after we take these people out – a void will be created and that situation has to be managed very carefully.”
“I agree, but other agencies will be able to control that. We can’t have these drug barons waltzing around freely. They have to be stopped. I will put in some calls and pave the way for a handover after the operation.”
When Gurning left his boss’ office he did so with a spring in his step. He had anticipated that this could have been one of the rare occasions when the DG would say no to one of his plans – all because no one trusted Burak anymore. However, the DG had approved the plan and now Gurning had to deliver on it.
Back in his office, Gurning picked up the phone to call Laura, marvelling at the different ring tones between countries. Naturally, he asked how their day was going and was briefed about their morning’s events. Cezar was now driving them to Arad, just a few hours away from Reşiţa.
“Ah! I thought you’d never ask,” Gurning replied, when Laura eventually asked how his investigations were proceeding. As the call concluded, he reminded her not to share the news of Demir’s arrest and incarceration with Cezar: it had been agreed to keep this a secret, even from their allies for fear of publicity, which would then result in the fracturing of Demir’s network and his loss of control.
After the call, Gurning sat back. Hmm. Laura seemed very upbeat. I wonder if it has anything to do with spending time with Rob? Those two!
* * *
For the rest of the day Gurning was busy facilitating arrangements for the planned interaction between Siggerty and Kamal’s people – hopefully involving Nikki Williamson. Somehow, or another, they had to agree a suitable location that both sides would consider neutral without giving the impression that the security services were involved and aware.
Burak was in his element, enjoying being central to the activities once again. He felt invigorated and needed. All the while, MI5 desperately tried to trace the calls and interactions that Siggerty had managed to establish with Kamal’s go-between, but the man was too skilled and allusive – the calls being short and the vague fixes they obtained covered far too large an area. What was worse, it was clear the man was moving about, making the situation doubly hard.
Unsurprising suspicion on both sides was evident, but, eventually, agreement emerged. A deserted and partially derelict office building in Leicester. Both sides knew that the other would be looking the place over, regardless of promising not to. The risk of bumping into each other ahead of time was therefore very real and concerning. Add the MI5 surveillance team into the mix as well, and Gurning really worried that the whole thing could back-fire.
“Make sure that our people are in-and-out very quickly and take up positions around the building,” Gurning ordered the commander in charge of the team assigned to the case. “There must be no risk of us being observed, or leaving tell-tale signs behind.”
“That’s understood, sir. The men are on their way already. We should have a good head start considering where we think both sides are currently.”
“Good. Keep me informed.”
