The Gruinard Project Chapter 32

[khandy]

Chapter 32

Number Ten Downing Street 16.00hrs
The Rolls Royce pulled up outside the elaborate gates that guarded the entrance to Downing Street. The chauffeur waited sixty seconds, which was exactly as his employer required, before he got out and opened the door. His employer was elegantly attired, as was befitting a reception at Number ten. It was not a black tie event but his dinner suit was still expertly tailored at Thomas Mahon on Savile Row; his shirt made of the finest linen and his tie a patterned silk which perfectly matched the handkerchief in the breast pocket. He looked what he was, a very successful businessman.

He passed through the security checks and into the street beyond the barriers. The steel gates and security, a necessity since the late 1980’s, the terrorists might be different but the threat remained. He smiled secure in the knowledge that nobody realised just how big a threat he was to the PM.

The press were gathered to watch the rich and honoured arrive and never slow to show his attractive public persona he smiled and joked with the journalists gathered opposite the entrance to number ten. A footman opened the door and he passed by the policeman on the doorstep into the famous entrance hall.

Climbing the stairs it was impossible not to be reminded of the history of the British government, every Prime Minister’s portrait hung on the wall. He wondered as he often did when he visited number ten if any of the earlier prime ministers had a fixer like him. Some anonymous person who was prepared to do their dirty work.

Drinks were being served in the Pillared Room. He accepted a glass of perfectly chilled champagne and mingled with the other invited guests; all industry leaders meeting ahead of next week’s Commonwealth summit. He smiled, attending these functions at number ten was a akin to a school reunion, the faces were familiar and some of the people you had a lot of time and respect for, whereas others you couldn’t stand.

The PM was circulating, chatting to the people who he needed to get on side if the various trade agreements with the Commonwealth States were going to be successful. He watched his progress around the room knowing that if he bided his time, his turn to talk with the PM would come.

While he waited he half listened to the conversations around him as he went over the plans for Wednesday. Michael Sands had been in touch, it seemed that Dr Ross’ widow’s disappearance was innocent she was staying with her family. Henry James’ and that stupid woman’s murder had not been linked to MI5. He had been told that Lucas North appeared to be spending a weekend with his brother. He scanned the room; security arrangements around the PM seemed to be the same but then he expected nothing different at number ten. No it would be when he travelled to Scotland that the changes would be obvious besides the usual SO15 officers protecting him, Lucas North would be at his side. He wondered what if anything MI5 had worked out.

The PM came over smiling, his Scottish accent more pronounced in private than in public.

“Good to see you again; you seem to dine here as much I do recently.”

“I know Prime Minister; my wife’s beginning to think we are having an affair.”

“Don’t say that too loud, you know the press they’d have a field day with a rumour like that and I am not the most popular person in the country at the moment.”

“Are you ready for the conference sir?”

“Yes I will fly up tomorrow; Her Majesty is opening the conference and hosting a gala dinner. Prince Andrew will be around all week in his role as Special Representative for Trade and Investment.”

“And for the golf as well I expect.”

The PM smiled.

“Well it is a wonderful course. Everything seems in order but I would like more support from Anthony Watson and Miles Anderson. I was hoping to enlist your help there.”

“I’ll have a word sir, explain the advantages of your proposals. It will be a chance for me to try out the content of my speech.”

“Oh yes of course you’re the keynote speaker on Wednesday. The delegates will be interested in what you have to say.”

“You are too generous Prime Minister; I think all eyes will be on the guest from Zimbabwe.”

“Yes unfortunately we will have to re open talks with him. Though I think we know little has changed.”

“Quite, his country suffers as a result of his actions in leaving as a member state, but it is The Commonwealth who have to offer the olive branch. Do you think he will ask for readmission?”

“I would say he has little choice but our decision would be easier were he not in power.”

“No doubt Prime Minister, I mustn’t delay you further.”

He turned away smiling to himself, the PM’s little problem would be history by Wednesday.

Thames House 4pm

Harry stood staring out of the window. His office overlooked the embankment and the river. His eyes were drawn to the tourists who were strolling along the riverside. He envied them and their seemingly carefree existence. He couldn’t remember the last time that he had just strolled in the sunshine and watched life pass him by. The public were only aware of a fraction of the country’s security issues and by and large went about their lives oblivious to the constant terrorist threats. Obviously he conceded that there were occasions when terrorism took centre stage, days like 7/7. Days that shocked the country almost to a standstill, when people felt that their world would never be the same. Yet within days the country returned to normal and the fear of terrorism faded to the backs of people’s minds. There were days when Harry wished he had the luxury of ignorance.

His gaze fell on a couple who had stopped and were standing arm in arm looking out over the river towards the London Eye. Did he want that? His marriage, to Jane, had not been a success. If he were honest he shouldn’t have married; he had already been married to MI5. He wasn’t a bad husband, rather he was indifferent which was probably worse. The marriage hadn’t died because he had cheated or hit his wife. It had died from neglect; like a plant that had not been watered it had withered and died.

He was older now and recognised he was lonely, Ruth had implied as much last night. He had wanted to deny his feelings for her, his brain telling him that not only was he too old for her but that it was unwise given their working relationship to act on their mutual attraction. He sighed, the problem was he had been unable to deny his feelings and inhibitions loosened by the excellent wine that Ruth had brought had meant they had spent the night together. He had loved Ruth for the longest time without acting on his feelings. Letting her go to save her life three years ago had been the most difficult thing he had ever done. He had grieved for her as if she really had died. Her tentative approach last night from the first hesitant kiss had destroyed his resistance and their coupling had been joyous. She had risen early, leaving the space she had occupied in his bed cold and empty.

Making love to Ruth while wonderful was a complication at a time when he didn’t need any complications. The knock on the door interrupted his thoughts and had him reluctantly turning away from the window. Ros’ head appeared around the door.

“Everybody is here Harry.”

“Thanks Ros, I will be through directly.”

Pushing his personal thoughts aside Harry did what he’d always done, put MI5 first. He walked slowly across the reception area towards the conference room, Lucas’ empty tidy desk a reminder of his absence. Harry couldn’t help but feel Lucas was paying a terrible price for his loyalty to MI5, worse maybe than death.

Ros, Jo and Malcolm were waiting for him. His team was certainly depleted.

“Thank you for coming everybody. Firstly just to bring you up to date with the Lucas situation. He has suffered a breakdown as a result of post traumatic stress disorder. However he has recognised this and is working with Dr Roberts. He has begun talking of his experiences in Russia so that is a good thing. The bad news is he will be off The Grid for the foreseeable future.”

“What about the threat, do we still believe it is aimed at Lucas?” Ros asked.

“Well if it is, then they will either have to attack him at home or not attack at all.”

“What about Kate, how is she? Malcolm asked.

“She’s ok no lasting physical damage. She is tougher than she looks but also not as tough as she thinks she is. I have asked the psychologist to keep an eye on her, let’s face it ten days ago she was just an anonymous scientist and now she is involved in a serious terrorist threat. Jo any news from the hotel?”

“Sands has not been near the hotel. His men are being very careful; neither have made any phone calls from the hotel on mobiles or land line telephones. A couple of calls have been made to them both on stolen mobiles. Just none descript calls no information. The hotel bill is paid up until tomorrow evening. I have entered the room once posing as a cleaner but have been unable to search it as they never leave.”

“Ok, Ros you are taking Lucas’ place at the PM’s side; be at number ten at 06.00hrs tomorrow. Malcolm I want a tracking device for both Ros and the PM. Ros you had a face to face meeting with Sands so be vigilant. If he is at Gleneagles you will probably be the first to see him.”

“Does the PM know why I am replacing Lucas?” Ros asked Harry.

“No, all I have said is Lucas is working on different angle for the case.”

Ros nodded.

“Jo stick with the two blokes in London wherever they go you follow. I have a feeling they will turn up in Scotland at some point this week,” Ros told her.

“Will do Ros, I best head back to the hotel.” She stood to leave.

“Malcolm can you fit me out with a tracker device and let me have one for the PM?” Ros asked.

Malcolm nodded and the team left the room, leaving Harry alone with his thoughts once more.

USSA Military Base Nr Brighton 18.00hrs

A wall of protective glass separated Ruth from the level four lab. She watched as the figure covered in PPE moved about the laboratory. Ruth knew it was Kate but it was impossible to tell that, covered as she was from head to foot. Ruth recognised the easy confidence in the way Kate moved about; she saw it everyday it was the manner of somebody who excelled at their job. Kate had spent the afternoon observing some guinea pigs that she had infected with the virus taking different readings and checking blood samples. The animal lover in her was finding hard to watch as one by one the tiny animals died. Kate had explained that biologically guinea pigs had a similar structure to humans which was why they were used in drug testing. They had been crucial to the development of vaccines for diphtheria, TB, replacement heart valves, blood transfusion, kidney dialysis antibiotics, anticoagulants and asthma medicines.

Seeing how uneasy she was about this Kate had gently pointed out she had to find out whether the vaccine they already had would be of any use in stopping the disease process and that she could hardly do this on human volunteers at this stage. It had impressed Ruth how gentle Kate was with the little animals, she certainly treated them with the respect all life deserved.

Ruth sighed she felt a little superfluous. She had wanted to help but Kate had been adamant that she couldn’t, it was far too dangerous for anybody not properly trained in lab safety. The problem was standing this side of the glass left her with too much time to think about what had happened with Harry last night. She was unsure what had possessed her, the wine probably. One minute she had been sat listening to him talk about Lucas and the responsibility he felt towards the younger man and the next seized by some sudden impulse she had brushed her lips against his. He had tried to speak words of protest; of how he was too old and how a relationship with her would compromise him because of his job. There had been something in his eyes though that told her these were half hearted excuses at best. She had boldly ignored his protests and kissed him again, deeper than the first time leaving him in no doubt as to what she thought of his objection. He had stood and for a moment she thought she had misread the situation but then he had reached for her hand and led her through to his bedroom. What had followed had been the most beautiful experience of her life. She was worried though that in the cold light of day Harry’s objections to them having a relationship would cause him to back away.

Kate’s voice over the intercom broke into her thoughts.

“Ruth I am finished here for this afternoon. While I clean away and decontaminate why don’t you make a coffee, I would kill for a shot of caffeine.” She sounded weary.

“Ok Kate I will see you down in my office.”

Harry followed the American airman down the long corridor like all military bases it was cold and impersonal. Ruth’s office seemed to be in the bowels of the earth. The door was open and Ruth was making coffee.

“I wonder if you remember, I have mine white with two sugars,” he said from the doorway.

Ruth turned slowly giving herself time to regain her composure.

“Thank you sergeant that will be all,” Harry dismissed the man quietly.

“There isn’t anything that I have forgotten about you Harry,” she told him smiling.

“Ruth about last night…” Harry started to speak but before he could finish Ruth interrupted.

“If you are going to tell me it was mistake then I would rather not hear it, just leave me with the illusion that it was as wonderful for you as it was for me.”

“It would be a lie for me to say that it was mistake,” Harry said simply as he moved to Ruth’s side and kissed her. “But we need to figure out how this is going to work.”

“Well don’t let me stop you,” Kate said from the doorway.

Ruth and Harry jumped apart like two teenagers caught necking on the doorstep.

Kate laughed as both of them blushed. She was going to tease them but then she noticed the look in Harry’s eyes and took pity on them.

“Don’t worry your secret is safe with me so long as you bribe me with a cup of coffee,” she told them.

“Thank you Kate,” Harry said quietly, smiling like a bashful school boy. “I came to see if you have made any progress?”

Kate sighed.

“It’s not progress, the bacterium is resistant to the current vaccine, which is not a surprise. The time between exposure and death was the same in both the guinea pig groups whether they had the vaccine or not. The Guinea pigs all showed signs of respiratory distress, cyanosis, shivering, pain and bleeding, death occurred within five hours. The group treated with antibiotics and respiratory support doubled the length of time they survived. So it is possible to hold it at bay for a while but what I really need is a survivor of the infection so I can use their antibodies to develop a vaccine.”

“According to the records nobody has survived though,” Harry said.

“No Harry they haven’t and that is why this summit needs halting. If they release this, thousands of people could die.”

“I can’t halt the conference Kate, the Queen and PM would never give into terrorists. All I can ask you to do is keep looking for a solution. I have agents looking for the other supplies of the virus but so far nothing.

“How in the world are you going to protect the people in the conference?”

“Ros is there with the PM, if Sands is there Ros will spot him. It’s slim I know but it is all we have to go on.”

Ok if you won't call it off then you need tell them to keep the delegates inside as much as possible. They will need to disperse the bacteria and the obvious choice is by plane, like crop spraying. If the delegates are inside there is less chance of exposure."

Harry nodded.

Kate finished her coffee.

“Well I need some sleep, so I can focus again tomorrow on finding a vaccine. Is one of you able to give me a lift back? ”

“Ruth will do that, Malcolm and I have to get up to Scotland,” Harry said.

“Right, in that case give me the keys Ruth, I’ll wait in the car while you say goodbye to Harry,” Kate said with a smile.

[HellsBells]

Lovely detailed writing. A very good chapter.