A Strange Way to Find Out - Chapters 6 & 7

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A Strange Way to Find Out
May contain spoilers for Seasons 4, 7 & 8

CHAPTER 6

“May I have your attention please.” The Ringleader began. “You are perhaps wondering why we are here today. First, I would like to tell you” he paused, “that it is none of your business. However, saying that, I will need your cooperation.” He scanned the customers and employees lined up against the wall. “Lack of cooperation will simply not be tolerated. You” he pointed directly at Darrell, the unfortunate Assistant Manager. “Come here” the speaker gestured to his side.

Darrell looked up and fixed a panicked stare at the Ringleader. His feet seemed planted to the spot.

“You see now. That is what I am talking about.” He turned to one of his men, the one on whom Wes had desposited his lunch. “Tex, deal with this.”

Tex rose up behind the Assistant Manager and brought his gun down across the poor man’s shoulders. As Darrell collapsed, Tex grabbed him by the hair and threw him in the Ringleader’s direction. Darrell cried out and began to plead.

“Come here” the Ringleader called to him. As Tex advanced, Darrell scrambled to his feet and virtually ran to the Ringleader.

“Much better.” He looked at Darrell again. “Now, tell me who keeps the keys to the safety deposit boxes?”

Darrell stammered out his response, terrified of this cold blooded man in front of him. “Th-th-the Manager.”

“Now, wh-wh-who is that?” the man mocked Darrell’s fear.

“Him.” Darrell answered without hesitation, pointing to the Manager.

“Come here.” The ringleader fixed his gaze on his new victim. He turned to look at Darrell. “Get back in line.” His gaze flickered to Darrell then he immediately forgot him.

The Manager took a deep breath then walked confidently over to the speaker before stopping. He held out his hand and introduced himself, “I am Michael Dresdin, Manager of this bank.” The Ringleader’s eyes narrowed. He ignored the offered hand and Mr. Dresdin let it drop. “I am instructed to assist the criminals in any hostage situation. What can I do to help?”

The Ringleader studied him with an inscrutable stare.

Mr. Dresdin tried again, “If you tell me what you need, I will comply.”

“What I need from you sir, is the keys to the safety deposit boxes.”

“They’re in my office. This way, please.” Not waiting for permission, Mr. Dresdin turned and walked toward his office.

Brave man, Harry thought. Now maybe we’ll find out what this is all about. His attention shifted back to the men walking toward him. The office behind him must be the Manager’s office.

When they entered the office, Mr. Dresdin walked over to his desk and moved to open a drawer.

“Wait.” The Ringleader commanded. “Give me the keys to the drawer.” The Manager handed them over. “Which drawer?” The Manager pointed. Inside the box were several sets of golden keys, each coded with a tag. The Ringleader slammed his hand on the desk causing his henchmen to look over at him. Harry looked straight ahead grateful that they had left the office door open so he could hear what was going on.

Mr. Dresdin could feel the frustration coming off the previously calm exterior of the protagonist. “If you could tell me what you’re looking for, I could guide you.”

“I want a specific box, number 667255998.”

“We don’t code the keys by their numbers. To whom is the box registered?”

The Ringleader seemed to be considering his options before he responded. “Percy Rodman.”

Harry stiffened at the name. He glanced down to see if Ruth had heard. Her shocked expression told him she had. This isn’t about money or jewels. This is about terrorism, plain and simple. Percy Rodman was the alias for Rodan Marfor, an arms dealer suspected of being the conduit for almost every explosive device ignited in the U.K. and France for the past ten years. He had deep connections to the Algerians and the Sudanese. He was retired now, having never been apprehended on a charge that could be made to stick to his slippery hide but it was rumoured that he had stashed all his contact information in a safety deposit box somewhere in London. At the time, Harry had heard about the operation tasked to find out if this was true. They had never found the information and now, here it was, in his own bank.


CHAPTER 7

Lucas and Tariq hunched over the computer screen watching the events at the bank. The robbers had fiddled with the CCTV cameras but Tariq was able to bypass their bypass. Lucas was torn between the need to be on the Grid with Tariq and to be on the ground at the bank. Special Forces were on site but Lucas would have preferred to have a section D liaison among them. However, he was the only experienced MI-5 officer in Section D since the Nightingale explosion. Bram Wells and Sharon Fant were above competent but he just didn’t know them well enough to trust them. So far, it was just he and Tariq watching the drama unfold.

*****

Percy Rodman. “Ruth” Harry whispered, “How do we let them know?” Ruth understood that Harry was looking for a way to notify Lucas.

“Perhaps Morris could help.” She responded. He raised his eyebrow at her.

“Who?” He whispered back.

“You know, Morris…..Code.” Her voice rose at the end using her intonation to send him a message. Harry reached out and squeezed her arm.

“You are brilliant.”

*****

As Lucas pondered the relative benefits of calling in the rest of the team, Tariq noticed something on the screen.

“Lucas” The young man pointed at the picture of Harry on the screen. “What is Harry doing?” They both watched for a time as Harry beat an irregular pattern on Ruth’s shoulder with his finger.

“Why the sly devil!” Lucas exclaimed. “It’s Morse Code. Quick, Tariq, can you decipher it?”

“Let’s see Per see rod man. What’s that supposed to mean?” Tariq showed the page to Lucas.

“Not rod man. Rodman. Percy Rodman.” He paused. “Pull up everything we have on him. If Percy Rodman is involved, this isn’t about robbing a bank. This is something much more. Tariq…red flash the entire team.”

*****

Harry hoped that Tariq had gotten the morse message. They couldn’t let Rodman’s information get into the public domain. It would open up the country to a whole new wave of terrorism. BEEP. How am I going to intervene without putting Ruth and Wes in danger? BEEP. Harry looked over to locate the sound. Ruth had noticed it too and nodded in the direction of the rubbish bin.

“I’m going to murder Tariq.” Harry whispered. Ruth raised an eyebrow. “I told him those batteries weren’t lasting long enough.” Harry’s teeth were clenched as though he was biting out the young man’s heart.

Mr. Dresdin and the Ringleader exited the Manager’s office. BEEP. The Ringleader stilled. BEEP. He pointed to Tex.

“Find that sound immediately.”