The Gruinard Project Chapter 43

[khandy]

Chapter 43

The Blue Tower Suite Gleneagles Hotel 22.30

Philip Russell turned away from the television; the news from Welchem more evidence of how much Michael Sands had screwed up. It was a pity that the man was dead, as for the first time in years he would have enjoyed personally killing somebody. It certainly wouldn’t have been quick and decisive like Lucas North’s bullet had been. No it would have been slow and torturous, the man would have been begging for death by the time he had finished.

He poured himself a large measure of brandy in an attempt to get his anger under control. The op had been far from a success. Sands had been right Harry Pearce and Lucas North had proved themselves cleverer than he thought. But at what cost? The fact that Lucas North and Robert Mugabe had been admitted to the Western General Infectious Diseases Unit, evidence enough that they had been infected with Anthrax.

He took little pleasure out of this information; partial success was never enough for him and although two of the operation’s aims had been achieved, the closure of Welchem was a huge failure. He would have to go to the time and expense of setting up again elsewhere to maintain production. At least the main store of the bacteria was not at the Welchem site. He had to acknowledge that Sands had been right to move most of the supplies when they had found out about Dr Ross.

News had yet to break about what was exactly wrong with Mugabe. When he had spoken to the PM earlier it was being referred to as a viral infection. Not even the Zimbabwean officials had been told the nature of the infection. That needed to be addressed and as all his operatives were either dead or in custody he would have to do it himself.

He headed to the bar which as he had suspected was busy, the police and secret service not allowing people to leave the hotel as of yet. He bought a drink and then mingled around. MI5 were no doubt tracking all communication to and from Gleneagles so he would have to be subtle.

It was a long time since he had been involved in an operation at hands on level but they did say that if want a job doing well do it yourself. Stealing the mobile was easy, the young waiter was so busy that the phone would be replaced before he even realised it had gone. Time being of the essence he sent a text message to the BBC news 24 team. It was just 12 characters long.

It was anthrax.

Satisfied that the BBC, who appeared to have no love for the current party in power, would see it as their duty to inform the public of this development, waited for the opportunity to return the phone. Calling the waiter over he ordered another drink and slipped the phone back into his jacket pocket. Once done he finished his drink and returned to his room.

MI5 Communication Suite Gleneagles.22.45

Malcolm looked at his computer screen.

“Harry we are tracking a mobile signal from here to the BBC. It does not appear to have been sent from any of the BBC employees who are covering this story”

“Find out who the phone is registered to.”

Harry returned to the television monitors. As of yet nothing new was being mentioned by the news team.

“Harry the phone is registered to Jamie Fergusson. He is on the staff list as a waiter.”

Harry turned to one of the other agents in the room.

“Find out where he is in this hotel and detain him for questioning.”

“Sir Harry, Sir Richard Dolby is on his way up. He has had been asked for a response by the BBC’s chief political editor Nick Robinson as to the rumours that this was an Anthrax attack.” The room was buzzing with activity

“Shit”

“Harry I am getting first indications on the net that this may have been an Anthrax attack,” Malcolm confirmed.

“Get me the Home Secretary I need to know if he has received any requests for comments from the media.”

Jo walked in through the door.

“Harry something is happening downstairs, has there been a new development? It’s not Lucas is it?”

“No Jo, Lucas remains critical and on life support as does Mugabe. We think the anthrax news is about to break. Did Ros get away?”

“Yes, do you want my report?”

“I do but let’s see if the BBC is going to think of the country or themselves.”

“You don’t think they will think of the good of the country?” Malcolm snorted.

“No unfortunately I don’t.”

“Harry,” Richard Dolby spoke has he entered the room.

“One minute Richard. The BBC are about to announce that we are dealing with Anthrax”

BBC NEWS 24 Studios 23.00

Ben Brown was an experienced journalist. He was used to huge news stories breaking so he looked calm and unflustered as he listened to the information being relayed to him via his ear piece and his director telling him to go.

“Now we return to the main story today for some breaking news from the Commonwealth summit in Gleneagles. The BBC has learned in the last few minutes that the infection that has struck down delegates may well have been Anthrax. Although there has been no official response from either the British or Zimbabwean governments, speculation is continuing to mount that this was a biological attack. Anthrax has long been recognised as suitable agent to use in biological weapons. CBERN has been at Gleneagles but early today Nicholas Blake said that there was no evidence of a biological attack and that CBERN’s presence was just following standard procedure.

“If this information turns out to be correct it will be the first biological attack on British soil. Experts have been saying for several months that this type of attack was rapidly becoming a possibility.

“We are going to head over to our correspondent at Gleneagles for the latest on this story. And later in the programme I will be talking to a microbiologist from the Health Protection Agency.”

The camera left the studio and Nick Robinson appeared on the screen.

“Nick has there been any official comment from either the government or the police into the rumours that are circulating?”

“No nothing official yet but they are going to have say something to quell the fears of local people. The village of Gleneagles is only a mile away from here and there are going to be a lot of worried people there.”

“How likely is it that this information is correct?”

“Well whatever has happened here is certainly serious. Robert Mugabe has been transferred to a specialist infection control unit which would indicate a significant problem. His condition is being described as stable.”

“Is Mr Mugabe the only person who still remains in hospital?”

“No several other delegates remain in hospital. All are reported as being in a stable condition.”

“Any reaction from the Zimbabwean government?”

“No but this news is only just breaking, we expect more official comments shortly.”

MI5 Communication suite Gleneagles Hotel 23.15hrs

Harry turned away from the screen.

“Ok everybody we knew this would happen.”

Nicholas Blake walked into the room.

“Home Secretary what is the government’s position on this?”

“The PM thinks we need to come clean and explain that it was Anthrax.”

“Not a good idea. It would cause widespread panic. That has to be avoided at all costs.”

“Harry there is always going to panic in a situation like this and when will you learn that the Government tells you what to do?” Dolby said

Harry looked at Dolby; it was amazing that the man thought that the government tell MI5 what to do.

“We have to cut down on that panic,” Harry said.

“What do you suggest Harry?” Nicholas Blake asked.

“Well continue along the lines of this being an assassination attempt explain how there is as of yet nothing to suggest that this is Anthrax. Point out that everybody else is recovering and that there is nothing to suggest that the general is in any way at risk. Get CBERN to issue a statement saying the same thing.”

“Ok but what about the Zimbabwean officials?”

“Tell them the same. Malcolm will come up with a diversion for them a possible lead as to who is behind the attack. You need to distance the PM and Britain from any speculation that a British citizen is responsible.”

“Ok Harry but if it breaks that you knew this was an Anthrax attack you are on your own. The government will insist on complete deniability.”

“Don’t you always? Jo please give me some good news.”

“I’m not sure there is any good news Harry. The man who I questioned, his name is Mark Barns he is MI6; one of Sands team. I am certain that he does not know who the head man is. It seems only Sands knew and he kept the information to himself.

“However he could tell me that Sands had a couple of meetings with the man in the last two weeks. The second of which meant that Sands left the capital as he received a call from a railway station. He could hear a loud speaker in the background.”

“Ok Jo, get on to Ruth we have to find out which station he left from and his destination. All the stations have CCTV I wanted it checked. Find Sands for me I want to know his movements.”

42 The Calls Boutique Hotel Leeds. 00.30hrs

Ros climbed the steps and held open the door.

“I don’t know about you Kate but I am running on adrenaline now.”

“Yeah I’m surviving minute by minute. I can’t even allow myself to think hour by hour.”

“You’re doing really well,” Ros said. “Now do you think you will recognise this man?”

“Yeah he scared the shit out of me I’m not likely to forget him.”

They entered the lobby and crossed to the bar. Kate pointed out Mike Williams.

“You had better speak to him first as he knows you,” Ros said.

She moved to his side.

“Hi Mike do you remember me?”

“Yeah DS Saunders.” He looked around. “Where is DCI Wellings?”

“He is indisposed at the moment.” Kate noticed the look of disappointment. “But he said he is to tell you how impressed he is and that this information you have is vital to the case.”

He smiled.

Ros walked over

“Mike this is DCI Thomas she is heading up the case with DCI Wellings.”

“Mike sorry no time for pleasantries, where is this man who was claiming that Welchem is a death camp. Is he here?”

“No, in a place like this he would stand out. He’s meeting us in a bar down the road. It’s a bit common, not the kind of place two smart birds like you would go.”

“Please, our patch is in Soho, I think we will cope.” Ros said.

The bar was about five minutes walk away. It was one of many Vodka bars in the area and popular with the Polish community.

The man was in the corner.

“Pavel these are the people I told you about. They want to know about the lab.”

“How do I know you not gangsters who kill me?”

Kate spoke before Ros could.

“Because if we were you’d be dead already. We don’t have time to mess about. I know that 15 Polish immigrants were contaminated with some kind of gas but I only have 14 names. Mike heard you say one person had survived. I need to know where he is.”

“Why so important you find him?”

“Because if I do we can develop a cure. So where is he?”

“He is in hiding I take you to him.”

[HellsBells]

Love the way you use real BBC reporters, very much like Spooks.
Is this a break through, have they found someone who survived? Please you have to save Lucas!