Retribution by Michael Bates (best novels ever TXT) 📖

out too early, it could send big waves through the stock exchange and some markets could begin to tumble before the government has time to step in and shore them up."

I Leaned forward with my head in my hands. "Fuck! So how in the hell am I going to find out who these bastards are?"

"Look Jack, let me have a snoop around and see what I can come up with. I can't promise anything, I mean we're talking MI6 here, trying to get info about these guys; well, I might as well try breaking into the Royal Mint."

"I know, but anything you can find will be really appreciated."

"Hey, if I can't help out an old army buddy, then I wouldn't be much of a friend, would I?"

I stood up and shook his hand. "Cheers Spud, I can't thank you enough."

"No problem, I have your number and will be in touch as soon as I get something Okay?"

"Okay, and thanks again. I turned and left his office for my hotel. I need to go through my computer records; this has to be one of my clients, so there has to be a clue in there somewhere.

Sitting on the bed I had been going through all the records on my laptop for what must have been hours, searching for anything that could lead me to these bastards, but to no avail. I picked up a glass half full of whisky from the bedside table, swigged it back, and threw the glass across the room hitting the door with a smash. I fell back onto the pillow covering my face with my hands. God! There has to be a way of finding these fuckers.

I moved over to the window, looked out, and watched the suns reflection shimmering on the water below. The alternative was just too much to contemplate, killing the head of MI6. Nevertheless, I have to be realistic; because that's exactly what it might come down to, if I want to see Claire alive again. With only a month to play with, I need to formulate a plan for the contract, while also trying to locate the kidnappers and free Claire; this is a race against time with no clear favourite. I thought.

I can't do anything about finding Claire until I get an update from Spud, so I need to use the time to start planning for the contract. I know that the mark works out of the MI6 building in Vauxhall Cross, but no idea where the press conference is going to be held. I know there is no way I will be able to do anything near the MI6 building, that place has more surveillance than the White House. Therefore, I need to look at the likely route the mark will take, or in and around the area of the conference. However, there may be an opportunity to take her out before the day of the conference. It's time to start tailing the mark, and try to establish some kind of routine. I thought. I don't know her home address, so I will have to try and pick her up leaving the MI6 building.

I left the hotel got into my Range Rover and headed for the arch lock up in southeast London to pick up some surveillance equipment. Entering the lock up I turned on the light, the old brickwork of the original arch reflected its one time use as a thoroughfare allowing people to pass through under the original bridge that still stands above. This is in complete contrast to the new brick used to block up one end of the arch, and the metal gate I had fixed to the other end for security. I went over to the metal racks where all my equipment is stored; I chose a pair of binoculars, a set of night vision goggles, a thermal imager, and a camera with a long-range lens.

In the middle of the lock up, I knelt down and moving a large wooden panel covered in sawdust from the floor revealed a thick metal door. I keyed a number into the combination lock, lifted the door, and walked down the metal staircase. I hit the light switch revealing an array of weapons, both on the walls and on metal racks all around me. I picked up my trusted Glock 9mm pistol checked it was loaded, and placed it down the back of my jeans; turned out the light and locked up the armoury. I packed all the gear into a small rucksack locked the gate, got back into my car, and headed back to the hotel.

In my room, I fired up my laptop and opened the Google Earth programme. I find this to be a very useful tool went it comes to choosing a spot from where I can overlook a specific area. I typed in MI6 building London and within a minute, a perfect satellite picture of the whole area around the building, along with a computer generated 3D image of the building appeared. However, from this information I can see straight away that trying to overlook this place is going to be a waste of time, I need to see people entering and leaving the building, unfortunately the car park area is underground and I will never be able to tell who is coming and going. Especially as most of the people of any importance, use cars with tinted windows; Shit! I need to come up with a different plan. I thought.

No matter how much I thought, I couldn't come up with any plan other than hitting the target on the day of the conference. Because of her high profile and the fact, she is MI6 made it impossible to gain any form of information on her, and therefore tracking her whereabouts at any given time, would be impossible. Having accepted the hit would have to be on the day of the conference, I needed to know ASAP where the conference is taking place. I decided to give Spud a call, he probably won't have any info on the kidnappers yet, but should be able to tell me the location and hopefully the time of the conference.

I telephoned his mobile but it was switched off, so I called his office, a woman answered,

"Hello, you have reached Global Securities, how can I help you?"

"Hi, my name is Mr. Spader. Can you put me through to Mr. Davies please?"

"One moment please Sir." The phone went quiet, and then music began to play.

Suddenly the music stopped. "Hello, Jack, it's Spud;
I'm going to need a little more time before my sources get back to me with any info I'm afraid."

"Hi Spud. I understand that; No, I'm phoning to see if you have any idea where and when Rebecca Sykes is holding her conference?"

"Sure, it's at the Savoy hotel, at 1400 hours on the 30th. Is that where you plan to do the job?"

"I'm not exactly sure yet, but thanks for the info."

"No problem, like I said I'll be in touch as soon as I know anything, Okay?"

"Okay, thanks, chat to you soon, bye mate."

Putting the phone down I immediately went to Google Earth on my laptop. I typed in Savoy hotel London. Again, within a minute I had a clear satellite image of the whole area around the Savoy. The entrance to the Savoy is at the bottom of a short hill and surrounded by the building itself, which meant that the entrance could only be seen from the North. Looking at the image, I could see that the Strand Palace Hotel looked to have a direct line of sight down Savoy Court and onto the Savoy's entrance, and was only 100 meters away, the ideal distance for a sniper rifle. I closed down my laptop, grabbed my gear, and headed downstairs to hail a taxi. I try never to use my own car to carry out a recce, there are so many security cameras dotted all around London that it is inevitable one of them will catch sight of my number plate.

I entered the hotel and asked the girl at the front desk if it would be possible to look at a corner room overlooking the Strand, with a view to reserving it later. She agreed and called for a pageboy who took me to an unoccupied room. On entering, I was amazed at how bright the room was, compared to the one I am living in now. I ignored the layout of the room and walked immediately over to the window; pulling back the curtains I saw I had a clear view of the entrance to the Savoy. I gave the pageboy a tip and headed back to the foyer. At the front desk, I thanked the girl and informed her I would be in touch. This for now was just another option; I didn't want to commit myself just yet by booking the room there and then.

The problem with this idea is, trying to hit the target as she enters the building leaves a very small window of opportunity, and if anything goes wrong, it will be too late to do anything about it. However, I still have to count it as an option; but for me this has to be a last resort. Back at my room, I tried to see if I could come up with some other more viable options. Sitting on the bed racking my brains for an idea, but my mind just wouldn't focus. Shit! I don't want to kill this woman, she's fighting for this country just as I did throughout my whole military career. I know I don't have high moral standards, but Jesus, I have to know where to draw the line. I thought.

******

Two days later, I was again going through my laptop looking for clues to who might be doing this, when I received a phone call from Spud.

"Hi Jack, how's it going?"

"Not good." I replied.

"Really, what seems to be the problem?"

"Well, apart from the fact I still have no idea who is doing this shit, and I'm beginning to develop a conscience, I'm fine."

"What do you mean developing a conscience?"

"I mean, I'm not quite sure killing this Rebecca Sykes is a good idea."

"Well, I phoned to let you know that as much as I tried, I could not come up with any real info that would be of any great help to you. I'm sorry Jack, but like I said she is MI6 and as far as those guys go, it's a closed book. I'm sorry mate."

"No problem, I understand, but it didn't stop me from getting my hopes up."

"I know; look Jack, if I can be of any help at all, please don't hesitate to give me a call, no matter what, I'm here if you need me, Okay."

"I know, and thanks, if I need you I'll call, I promise."

"Seems to me, the way things stand at the moment, you only have one option."

"I know; I don't like it, but what else can I do?"

"Not a lot I'm afraid, buddy. But hay; please keep me up to date on events, Okay?"

"Sure, thanks anyway Spud, for all your help and I'll speak to you later,