The Gruinard Project Chapter 34

[khandy]

Chapter 34

Gleneagles Hotel Scotland 12.00hrs.

Ros Myers glanced out of the car window as it made its way up the drive to the entrance of the hotel. One thing that had to be said for these international summits was that they were always held in magnificent venues. The sprawling Edwardian Hotel was set in the most stunning Scottish countryside. Mountains towered around them and everywhere was an intense fresh green. That’s because it rains a lot Ros thought waspishly; a city girl at heart Ros would have preferred the conference to be held in the smog of the city rather than in clean fresh air of the Perthshire glens and lochs.

She glanced at her watch, they had made good time since landing at Edinburgh Airport. They had passed through the arrival lounge with practised efficiency. Once clear of the ancient city there had been no delays. They would be returning to the city this evening for the state dinner at Holyrood Palace, where the Queen would officially welcome the heads of state and open the conference.

Besides herself in the car was the Prime Minister’s usual protection officer from SO15, he was seated in the back next to the man whose job it was to protect. Like Ros he was looking at the venue as they approached it and listening to radio messages from the team already at the hotel. He had not been surprised when his boss had told him that Ros Myers from five would be detailed to the Prime Minister’s protection team. The various law enforcement agencies often worked together at international meetings.

The driver glanced at Ros before he spoke. She hadn’t spoken much on the journey which was probably just as well, the Prime Minister seemed pre-occupied and he could be tetchy if disturbed when in this mood.

“We will be arriving at the hotel entrance in five minutes sir.” He had driven the Prime Minster since he had taken office and was highly trained police driver. Like any politician, the Prime Minister had his way of doing things and he liked the five minute warning of the arrival at his destination. It allowed him to clear away whatever he was doing.

The Prime Minister had spent the journey from Edinburgh reading through some official documents which he now replaced in his briefcase. Ros smiled to herself, it was a good job that reading in the car didn’t make him car sick. As she had expected he had questioned why Lucas North was not going to be with him. Ros had followed the line that Harry had advised explaining that he was following up some other leads.


“Sir, Miss Watson advises that the press are waiting and that a microphone has been set up for you take a few questions. She feels you should greet the hotel staff first. Let the press wait. The Staff are lined up for that purpose.” The protection officer smiled as he spoke.

“Thank you Bryan. Where would I be without the redoubtable Miss Watson?”

The car swept round in front of the entrance and came to a halt.

The Prime Minister waited for instructions from his SO15 officers; the days when he just alighted from a car were long gone.

“The area is clear Dave, we are ok to move,” Bryan confirmed for the driver Are you ready Prime Minister?”

“Yes let’s get this show on the road,”

“Paddington’s friend is mobile,” Bryan confirmed. Dave got out of the car and opened the rear door so the Prime Minister could step out, a smile on his face.

Ros stepped out of the vehicle at the same time and carefully scanned the area for signs of Sands. The hotel employees were lined up to be introduced to the PM, Ros’ eyes moved along the receiving line observing the faces intently but none were familiar.

She turned slightly and shifted her gaze to the throng of waiting journalists. It was the usual mixture of TV crews with impossibly good looking presenters and newspaper journalists who were less spruced up, not as polished. Ros could not see Sands among their numbers either.

The Prime Minister had finished greeting the hotel staff and was being led to a lectern that had been set up so he could answer questions from the press. So far nothing seemed out of the ordinary but Ros was not about to let down her guard. She listened carefully to the questions the journalists threw at the Prime Minister; they mostly seemed to centre on the Zimbabwean president attending the conference. Ros detected a tension about the Prime Minister, she suspected that he would rather Robert Mugabe was not attending.

The Press Conference lasted 15 minutes and then they headed into the PM’s suite.

Gleneagles The Queens Course 13.30

The Tycoon stood watching as his golf partner took his putt. The Pint Stoup, was the tenth hole on the Queen’s course. Like all the courses at Gleneagles it was very picturesque, possibly not as challenging as the King’s course or the PGA but he had chosen it for its seclusion, not to test his golf skills.

“Oh lovely shot your Royal Highness,” he remarked as the Prince’s ball dropped into the hole. “You are certainly at the top of your game today.”

“This is more than can be said for you.” The Prince laughed as The Tycoon missed his simple shot.

“No you may be right there sir.”

The Prince smiled and the two men headed off to the Halfway ouse for their mid round lunch snack.

The Prince was right about one thing, he was not at the top of his game he had been distracted by the Prime Minister’s arrival.

His room overlooked the main entrance of the hotel, so it afforded an uninterrupted view of the Prime Minister’s press conference. He was watching, half hidden behind the vertical blinds which he had left partially open. Not that he was hiding, nobody suspected him and he had no reason to hide.

The annoyance he had felt when he watched the tall cool blonde step out of the car was threatening to become real anger. Where was Lucas North? The clues he had left should have meant that North would be here. MI5’s activities had indicated that North would be on the Prime Ministers protection detail. Instead Ros Myers was here in Scotland.

He disliked surprises even pleasant ones and this was far from pleasant. He had a plan, that plan involved Mr North. Did Harry Pearce believe he could be taken for a fool? If he did he was about to realise his mistake. MI5 were not about to upset his well laid plans.

He excused himself as they walked through the doors and headed to the bathroom. As he expected Sands was waiting just inside.

“Where is Lucas North?”

“He is at his flat in London.”

“Why is he not here?”

“This man,” Sands showed The Tycoon a picture, “has been seen coming and going, he is a psychologist by the name of Matthew Roberts. It would seem that Mr North has suffered some sort of breakdown,” Sands said.

“Or it is a ruse? Have five have decided Mr North is the target? We need to force their hand. We have to get North here. Tell me what do we have in the way of leverage with Harry Pearce or Lucas North?”

“Until yesterday I would have said nothing, however we now have this.” Sands showed the Tycoon another picture.

The Tycoon studied the picture.

“Do we know who she is?”

Sands nodded.

“You have a plan?” The Tycoon asked.

“I do.”

“Good. I want Lucas North here tomorrow. Now I must get back to His Royal Highness.” He turned to leave, “Michael failure is not option.”


The A23 just outside Brighton 21.00hrs

The weather was appalling, dark grey clouds hung heavy in the sky. The rain that had fallen in a steady stream all day was now much heavier, making visibility on the road poor. In parts the road was awash with water. The lateness of the day and bad weather meant that the traffic on the road was light. Ruth had turned the windscreen wipers on to the maximum speed setting to cope with the deluge of water. Conversation between her and Kate was almost nonexistent as she concentrated on the road ahead. The country’s weather was so strange here; the torrential rain in the south of Britain a direct contrast to where Harry was in Scotland where it was bathed in bright sunshine. She had spoken to him earlier, updating him on the day’s developments or actually the lack of developments seeing as there had not been any.

She glanced briefly at Kate, she knew the young woman was frustrated by the lack of progress and now the conference had begun, the virus was like a time bomb ticking.

“God forsaken night isn’t it?” she commented.

“Yeah, do you want to pull over for a bit, see if it clears?” said Kate.

“No to be honest with you I just want to get home. Although I wish the idiot behind would back off and dip his lights.” Ruth put her foot on the accelerator and pulled away from the car behind slightly. She frowned as the driver behind did exactly the same thing.

“What the hell is he doing?” Ruth sped up again and put a little space between them.

Kate turned slightly in her seat as the car following them once again closed the gap between them.

“Jesus why doesn’t he just overtake? I have had enough of this. I’m going to annoy the hell out of him.” She eased off the accelerator and slowed right down. The car behind did the same and for a couple of miles they drove along at twenty five miles an hour. After this the car behind seemed to grow tired of the game and eased of to allow them to put a little distance between them.

Ruth smiled pleased her plan had seemed to work. They were approaching the turn off for Horsham and after that they would join up with the M3. The car behind seem to have tired of its cat and mouse game as it signalled to overtake. It passed and Ruth tried to get a look at the idiot driving but the rain made it difficult. All she could make out was that it was a man. She expected him to pull away once he was past her but he didn’t, he just dropped in front of her.

“What the hell is he doing? Can’t he get his jollies elsewhere?” Ruth said breaking gently.

Kate glanced behind, a sense of real unease gripping her.

“Ruth there’s another car behind us closing fast. I don’t think this is a coincident.”

The car behind was inches from the rear bumper and the car in front had slowed so it was inches from the front. Ruth tried to overtake but there was no room. At the turning to Horsham the car behind pulled alongside so she was forced to turn left to avoid running into the car in front.

The road was quiet and the car behind nudged the bumper of their car twice.

“Christ he’s trying to run us off the road.” Ruth’s hands gripped the steering wheel tightly as she fought to control the car. “Kate have you got your seat belt on?”

“Yes.” The car jolted from the back again causing the car to slide about on the wet road service.

Once again the car behind pulled in beside them but this time it connected with the front wing of the car forcing Ruth to swerve into the side of the road. Kate watched in horror as they headed into the hedge, the impact causing the air bags to be deployed. She shot forward into the cushioned bag as the car came to a sudden halt and the world went black.


Gleneagles 22.30hrs.

The young field officer approached where Sir Harry Pearce was sat.

“Sir the reception desk have just delivered this.”

Harry slid open the envelope. Besides the usual white paper with type written message there was a photograph. Harry felt a sudden chill sweep over him as if somebody had walked on his grave. In the centre of the paper was the beginning of the message.


LUCAS NORTH GLENEAGLES TOMORROW
.

Across the face in the centre of the photograph was the end of the message.


OR ELSE RIP

[HellsBells]

Oh no, don't let anything happen to Kate and Ruth!!

[khandy]

(04-12-2010 07:21 PM)HellsBells Wrote:  Oh no, don't let anything happen to Kate and Ruth!!

I want to thank you fo the commentsit means a lot