“Well, if Rob is involved, I will have to thank him. And thanks to you, as well. I don’t underestimate how challenging this must have been.”
“Tougher than even I expected! I will speak to you again after the operation.”
Having said their goodbyes, Gurning hung up and sat back, thinking. Interesting that Siggerty’s team hasn’t seen the other side, nor ours, which is encouraging. Hopefully, the other side hasn’t seen us either, or the game is over!
It was hard for Gurning to concentrate on other matters for the two hours before the call to say that he should go to the operations centre where they were monitoring the operation.
As requested, there was only a small group in the operations centre, perched on stools facing a series of screens, all of which, bar one, were turned off. Gurning took a stool at the front, shaking hands with Will, an imposing man on the stool next to him. He nodded an acknowledgement to David and other members of Laura’s team. He could sense that everyone’s adrenaline was pumping.
“Siggerty is approaching,” a faceless voice announced from the overhead speakers. “No more than two minutes away. No sign of the other side’s people – other than their spotters.”
“Okay. But stay alert for an early ambush,” commented Will who had coordinated and arranged the entire operation.
Everyone sat in silence, braced for something to happen, but not knowing what. A minute later, Siggerty marched into view on the screen, flanked by two of his henchmen.
“Looks like they’re armed,” the faceless voice commented moments later.
”As expected,” Gurning muttered quietly to himself, apprehension growing that things would turn nasty.
“They’ve been noticed, the other’s spotters are on their radios,” the faceless voice stated. “Siggerty appears to be jumpy, he’s looking every which way, as though expecting an ambush.”
A couple of minutes later the voice added, “Siggerty has entered the building, you should have him on your camera feed any moment.”
“We have a visual,” Will confirmed. Everyone in Thames House stared at the screen as Siggerty walked into the large open space of what was once a bustling office, but now a degrading, rubble-strewn building site. Siggerty and his men wandered around, looking about them, occasionally kicking lumps of brick to one side before moving apart, each to stand beside a column, behind which they could take cover if needed.
“Two cars pulling up,” the voice announced. “Five white males getting out… Three approaching the building, the other two standing guard.”
“Can you see how many others remain in the cars and who they are?” Will asked.
“Two drivers and one other in the front passenger seat. All male,” came the reply.
“Shame, but not surprising,” Gurning muttered, before turning to Will to add “Time to get our teams to move in.”
Will nodded and lifted his radio, “Readiness check, all teams.”
“Team 1, ready.”
“Team 2, in position and ready.”
“Team 3 ready.”
“Team 4 ready.”
“Good. Central Command is now handed over to Local,” Will said referring to the nameless, faceless voice.
“All teams move to operational positions,” the voice ordered. “Then hold until further instructions.”
The four teams moved out from their holding positions to strategic points surrounding the office building, but out of sight of the spotters. As the four teams approached their positions, three of the new arrivals pushed through the old, battered double doors and walked confidently into the desolate space where Siggerty was waiting.
“I don’t know why you are sheltering, Mr. Siggerty,” the central man of the three called loudly into the echoey space. “If you are planning on a fight, you’ve come to the right place, but it won’t do you any good!”
Gurning and his companions watched the large screen at Thames House. The anticipation of what may, or may not happen in the next few minutes was intense. Gurning could feel that every muscle in his body had unwittingly tightened and he just could not relax. Every instinct yelled that their teams should be going in, but they had agreed to wait in hope that the conversation would reveal something.
“A fight is in no one’s interests,” Siggerty responded viciously. “I’m merely taking precautions. If I’d wanted a fight, I would have taken it to you outside! So where is the American woman who has been so keen to track me down?”
“Ah, a man who speaks boldly,” the central man taunted. “We can take you to meet her, if that’s really what you want!”
“Yes, I want to meet her, but you aren’t taking me anywhere! We will have to rearrange. We meet on neutral ground.”
“No!” the central man responded sharply, his eyes focused on those of Siggerty, cold cruelty penetrating Siggerty’s strained face. “You’re coming now, willingly, or not!”
* * *
The man’s confidence was evident to those watching, whether at Thames House, or the local command centre. “All teams standby,” Will commanded sharply. “Control, scan the area again, I think we’re missing something!”
Gurning leaned over to Will, “I agree. I think we should be going in. That man’s too confident.”
* * *
“It will take quite something to achieve that – including you going to hell first!” Siggerty spat, trying to sound tougher than he felt.
His three adversaries looked at each other, the first sign of nerves creeping in. They had assumed Siggerty would shy away from a violent confrontation. This was unexpected. The central man’s accomplices started to edge away from him, spreading out, making it harder for Siggerty and his companions to target them. While Siggerty and his men were sheltering behind thick, concrete columns, they were standing in the open and felt very exposed.
* * *
“Shit!” Control exclaimed moments later. “Where are they?”
“Where’s who?” Will demanded. “What’s going on?”
