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

Gold Commander and Chief Constable in Manchester to let them know what’s happened. In the meantime, you can keep me up to date and I’ll get their Gold Commander to speak with you,’ said the Chief Constable.

‘I look forward to hearing from him.’

‘Call me at any time you need to, Kevin.’

‘Will do, sir.’

The call came from the Gold Commander at 10 p.m. ‘Usual commands keep me informed.’ Lockwood came across to Connor as snappy and demanding.

‘We need all the information we can extract from this scene, Chief Inspector, and we need it as soon as possible.’

When the phone went dead, Connor could only smile to himself as he thought, You will get it when I have it and not before.

His mobile phone buzzed on the desk, he didn’t recognise the number or the voice when he answered it.

‘Hello?’

‘Hello, Chief Inspector Connor?’

‘Yes, speaking, who is this?’

‘My name is David Reece and I’m leading a team working on the people who burnt the car on your patch. I would like to visit the scene and maybe meet you there for a chat.’

‘Are you police, Mr Reece?’

‘No, I work for the Secret Intelligence Service and as I say, we’re after the people who burnt out that car. I’m not far away, I can be there in twenty minutes.’

‘Well, we have floodlights and officers at the scene and you’re welcome to visit it and I’ll meet you there, but I don’t think you’ll get much from it.’

‘I would still like to have a look for myself.’

‘That should be OK, wait for me if you’re there first, how will I recognise you?’

‘I’ll be in a black Range Rover. I’ll stay in the vehicle until you knock on the window.’

Reece had been called to the comms room by April to be told they’d found the black BMW burnt out. The comms team had been monitoring the police networks, and it was just as well because they’d received nothing from Lockwood. Although just what Reece had expected, he was furious.

Reece found Mary still sitting in the canteen with a cold coffee.

‘Sorry, but something’s come up. Do you mind waiting here a little longer or if you want, I’ll get someone to drop you back at the hotel?’  After Mary had told him about the phone call from Costello and the confirmation of what they already knew. Baseball Cap man was Costello and he knew Mary was working with the security forces, Reece was taking no chances with Mary’s safety.

‘No problem, I’m happy enough here. You take care.’

Reece could see the blue and white tape sealing off the approach to the car which was lit up with the bull lights making it look like a beached whale in the dark. He parked the car on the main road and waited for Connor.

He sat in silence watching the traffic go by and the police vehicles park up then leave after a while taking the evidence with them.

After ten minutes, a blue Renault Megane parked just short of the entrance and a large man in a grey overcoat got out and spoke to the officer at the field entrance. The man then turned to walk towards the Range Rover., Reece stepped out to meet the man halfway.

‘DCI Connor?’

‘Yes, Mr Reece, I don’t wish to be formal but have you any identification?’

Reece produced his SIS Identity Wallet.

Connor was in his late fifties around six feet tall with receding grey hair and light blue eyes. He looked fit and spoke with a north-west accent but with a hint of Irish.

‘Good to meet you. Now, how can I help?’

‘To put it simply, sir, this car has been used by what we believe to be a terrorist cell operating in the north-west. We’re on their tail and the car is just one more piece in the jigsaw to helping us catch them. We think they’re in the final stages of a terrorist attack, so the quicker we can get the forensic information from this car the better.’

‘Well, it would appear that when the car exploded after the petrol tank was lit the damage was mainly to the rear of the vehicle. These BMWs have a strong chassis, so I’m told. So, despite their best efforts to destroy any evidence, the front of the car is still intact, even the built-in satnav. Our technicians are working on it as we speak, and I hope to have the results within the hour. Hopefully we’ll know where the car has been for the last few days.’

‘You’ll know the car was hired from a local Hertz dealer, we’ve already looked for the tracker they sometimes fit, but this one didn’t have one – just so your guys don’t waste their time looking for it. We need the info off that satnav.’

‘I see that you’ve been working with Graham Lockwood the Manchester Gold Commander for the Conservative Conference, has this anything to do with that?’

‘Yes, but I would appreciate you giving me a heads up on anything you get as time is of the essence.’

‘Are you ex police by any chance?’

‘Yes, RUC twenty years.’

‘I thought so. My parents were from Northern Ireland. I have a lot of time for you guys. You held the line when some would jump ship.’

‘I thought I could hear a bit of Irish accent.’

‘Listen, between you and me, I know Lockwood and he’s an ass of a paperclip pusher and I know he always wants to be the big boy claiming all the glory to himself. So, anything I get you’ll be the first to know.’

‘I know from experience how things can get bogged down in little kingdom battles at senior level. No pressure, but whatever you get I get before anyone else including your Chief Constable and I need it in a hurry.