Tested by Fire by David Costa (brene brown rising strong .txt) 📕

and to your team, David. The SAS can view the footage we have too and make any preparations they need, but the police and SAS will only move on my say so.’

Reece was pleased that Broad was now taking control as it would leave the SG9 team out on the ground where they would be more effective.

‘As for Mike,’ said Reece ‘We’ve brought her fully on-board now there’s a chance she was spotted so we’re doing away with code names. It’s Mary and David from now on. Boss, if you could arrange for a third vehicle for our use that would be helpful?’

‘No problem, I’ll arrange it when I have my little chat with Mr Lockwood. But now the bad news, people. I was contacted an hour ago by Tom Wilson from the PSNI. As you know, they’ve been working on their own operations against the dissident Republicans in Ireland, especially the ones in the north, and they’ve confirmed it’s him and he’s here. Costello knows we’re here and most likely looking for him. That’s why they were spooked and got out of the Hilton. With the BMW on the radar, we might just get lucky again so keep on your toes. Get out there and get the bastards. Realistically, David, now that Costello knows about Mary, we should keep her out of things; she’s blown. But I’ll leave that up to you.’

‘We will keep her on board for the time being she also knows Costello and he will be easier for her to spot him than us. She can look at the CCTV but I know she will only confirm it is Costello.’

After Broad left, the team waited for Reece’s instructions.

‘I really can’t say more than the boss. The next mistake they make will be their last. They have been spooked but I think they’ll continue with their plan as it’s too late in the day to change it now.

‘Tomorrow’s Saturday, let’s go over everything we know tonight: CCTV, maps, the buildings around the Conference area, then get a good night’s sleep because God knows when we’ll get another one.’

 

 

SATURDAY, 28 SEPTEMBER 2019

 

 

Chapter Thirty-nine

Just after midnight, Costello and the team sat around the table in the Irlam safe house. The plates on the van had been changed and they now watched Waheed expertly handle two small blocks of Semtex. He wore blue surgical gloves and from his rucksack he’d produced two sandwich-sized Tupperware boxes with small holes drilled in one end.

He handled and caressed the explosives as he would handle and caress the butt or stock of a gun he’d seen for the first time, thought Costello.

Waheed then removed two detonators from his bag. They were wired to a timer that looked like a buttonless mobile phone. Placing halve the Semtex in one of the boxes, he pushed the detonator through the hole and pressed it into the block of explosives. He placed the Semtex inside the Tupperware, accompanied by a bundle of five-inch nails secured together with Sellotape, closed the lid, and stuck the timer on the outside. Everyone held their breath as he repeated the process with the second Tupperware box.

When he’d finished, he produced two real mobile phones.

‘The devices are now ready,’ he said. ‘These mobile phones – the trigger devices – will initiate the explosive. When they are switched on, they’ll send a signal to here.’ He pointed to the timing device linked to the detonator. ‘Just switch it on, enter the code – which is 1,2,3,4 – and bang… off they go!’

‘How close do you have to be for the signal to connect?’ asked Lyndsey.

‘The signal will bounce off the normal phone masts in the area, so anywhere up to one mile away.’

‘I’m impressed, Waheed,’ said Costello. ‘I’ve seen and used explosives in Northern Ireland but usually with a line of sight on the target. This way you don’t have to.’

‘There will be large crowds at Piccadilly and around the Conference itself. Mohammad said there will be many left-wing agitators demonstrating there all week. Imtaz and I will place the devices near both locations, retreat to the safe zone, and then detonate for maximum effect. We are both prepared to die for Allah, and to take as many infidels with us as possible. If we are cornered, we just need to press the send button on the phone twice quickly.’

‘Mohammad, you’ll go on Wednesday morning,’ said Lyndsey, ‘and then stay with Sean until the mission is complete, I’ll be waiting for your call. Sean, you’ll leave the rifle behind. I’ll be in the van in the NCP car park and I’ll pick you both up when the job’s done. In the initial confusion, we should be able to get back here and lie low until things cool down. Mohammad, make sure the kitchen is well stocked with food. After you’ve dropped me at the hotel, I want you to take the BMW outside the city and burn it.’

‘Burn it?’ said Mohammad.

‘Yes, I’m sure the Hilton CCTV has you picking us up today and they’ll be looking for the car by now. We aren’t far from the airport, so you should be safe to drop me off then dispose of it. Waheed and Imtaz, you stay here until Wednesday morning and then take the train into Piccadilly. From the information Mohammed’s given us about the conference and the PM’s speech, we can expect him to walk out the rear door of the Midland between eleven and eleven thirty on Wednesday morning. Sean will be set up in the apartment ready and everyone needs to be in position for that time. It will be down to Sean to shoot the Prime Minister with the sniper rifle. Mohammad will send us all the text ONE DOWN confirming that Sean has completed his mission, that’s when you tap in the code on the