“Yes. Ready.”
“Alright let’s get to Manchester, the quicker the better. Cobb could already be on a flight.”
The phone by the bed rang and Tony answered.
“Sure. No tell them to wait, just surround the hotel and area. Only make a move if he wakes and checks out. We’ve got a helicopter waiting and we’ll be there in about half an hour. If you do have to move try to take him alive.” He hung up with a smile creasing his handsome face.
“They found the Peugeot at the Bewley’s Hotel. A man fitting Cobb’s description checked in last night. He hasn’t checked out. Jaz e-mail the local DIC for that area and ask them to check CCTV for the airport car park, the hotel and roads in and out throughout the night. Armed police are there and waiting for us so we’ve got to move and fast.”
They quickly packed the last of their equipment and took a taxi to the airport. The helicopter was fuelled and waiting and they were in the air by seven-thirty am.
Chapter 49
Manchester
7-30 a.m.
April 18th
The barking of a dog woke Cobb from his uncomfortable sleep in the car at the Daisy Nook Country Park up the motorway from Manchester. He uncurled from his cramped position on the back seat and squinted through the leaves of the branches he had pulled down to cover the car, even then he had parked it off road amongst trees.
A thin a pinched looking woman was throwing a ball for a Great Dane, but she was a good distance away and passed him by pursuing her dog into the park.
Sure that she was gone, Cobb got out of the car and removed the branches. The car quickly started and he drove into the car park and pulled up. He put the heaters on and laid out his collection of ‘gathered’ items on the passenger seat. He had cards, cash and ID. He looked again at Wally’s picture.
It crossed his mind that he was going to need a wig and that would take some organising. He knew that he needed to change his appearance at least a little to get around Manchester so that he could shop the items. He wasn’t going to use Wally’s card to shop, but if the drunk didn’t rise until late he might well get his needs met before that stolen card was cancelled.
On a whim he checked the boot and found a small bag with a scarf and a rain coat folded in it. There was a hood on it which would cover his close shaved hair until he could get a hat. Too his delight he found a laptop in its case complete with connections to the cell phone.
Cobb lit a cigarette and fired up the laptop. The user profile was password protected, but a trawl through the phone found a ‘wallet’ file with passwords and to his delight the pin numbers for the two cards in the wallet and the verified by visa password. The phone was contract and the signal was strong enough for internet. Cobb logged on and searched for the Manchester Airport booking website.
There was a flight at ten-thirty and he bought a ticket in the card holder’s name. That gave him three hours to get ready and get the flight. He felt sure that disguised as Wally he’d pass through check in quickly and he could easily pass off the booking name as his boss buying the ticket last minute.
He smoked a second cigarette looking for a wig shop and shops with the clothing items he noted Wally had been wearing. Fifteen minutes saw him done and as two cars arrived, spilling dogs onto the tarmac and off into the woods, Cobb decided to make a move. He drove onto the 62 and headed back into Manchester.
Chapter 50
Perth
8 a.m.
April 18th
The smell of bacon woke David from his uncomfortable sleep on the sofa. Rising from dark dreams into unfamiliar surroundings he sat up suddenly. Beaumont appeared in the doorway fresh from the bathroom.
“What time is it?”
“It’s just after eight am.” Beaumont sat down in an armchair April rain spattering the glass behind him.
McFarlane entered carrying a plate of bacon sandwiches. David frowned at the greasy, smoky smell.
“Here a good solid breakfast. Set you up for the day. I figure you’ve got a long day ahead.”
Beaumont’s eyes lit up.
“Good man.” He took the plate and selected a thick doorstep of a sandwich, taking a sizeable bite.
“I was up early. I checked the e-mails and this came through from the centre.” McFarlane handed David sheets of paper, one with a passport photo. “That’s Trevor Stanton. He’s ex Foreign Legion and a freelance assassin.”
David read the file, extracted from MI6 system by DIC after a decryption department foray into their computer system.
“Nasty piece of work.” He handed the picture to Beaumont. “Do you think he’s in the area still?”
McFarlane rubbed his chin reflectively. “Well he got as far as Glasgow if he got to the motorway and hitched a lift.”
“We’re heading for Glasgow after interviews today.”
“Not Edinburgh?” Beaumont spoke through a mouthful of bacon sandwich.
“Why Edinburgh?”
“East coast get a boat head down and come up the Thames I thought.”
“Wheeler’s not out of Glasgow. We could tell local DIC to watch Edinburgh marinas and exits. If we’re in Glasgow it’s only a short trip, but I’m sure I’d head for Glasgow if I were him. Maybe we should decide after we’ve interviewed staff and spoken to the police.”
“Listen lads I’d let me do the interviews and you get to Glasgow. This guy will be on an early start and if you leave quickly enough you’ll get ahead. I can e-mail you the results of the interviews.”
Beaumont nodded. “Get Jack to book us hotel rooms and see if he can get us a helicopter to Glasgow.”
“I’ll go get washed and dressed.” David got up wrapping the blanket around his waist.
“Have a sandwich first.”
“No thanks. Could you find me some cereal?”
“I’ve got porridge.”
“That’d be grand.”
David left the room.
“Healthy man eh?” McFarlane raised an eye brow at Beaumont.
“He is that. I’ve not known him long, but I can tell you now I do feel safe near him. He’s big, fast strong, but happily a thoughtful and intelligent man. He’s not at all Gung Ho and he is a good listener. I’d like him healthy. I’ve a feeling I’m going to be safer if he’s on ball.”
“I’ll make that call to Jack and get the helicopter for you.”
When McFarlane had left the room Beaumont looked over at McKie’s Sig220 lying heavily on the sofa arm. He stopped mid bite of a sandwich and stared a moment. Either David was taking the threat very seriously or he was highly strung. Beaumont continued chewing and decided the former fitted the bill. He thought he himself had better try and do the same; with that in mind he picked up Stanton’s photo. Sure enough this man had killed a police dog handler without hesitating. On an impulse he put down the sandwich and the photo and wiped his hand. He drew out his own Sig 220 pistol and started checking it over.
Chapter 51
Glasgow
8-30 a.m.
April 18th
The sound of traffic on the Cowcaddens Road woke Wheeler from a heavy sleep. He checked his watch. It was eight- thirty. He was as stiff as a board, a little more wet than damp and his head ached. Camouflage leaves and sticks tumbled off him as he sat up. He quickly checked to see if he was visible to the building or the road and was sure that he wasn’t. Which given the nature of the occupations of the building’s residents was something of a shame.
He gathered up the white bin liner and brushing himself off he jumped down from the wall and grass bank and made his way to the bus station just up the road. He was overtly aware of the CCTV, but on finding that the first National Express coach had left for London at eight-fifteen and the next was at eleven am he decided to get into the city and get a disguise.
He stopped for a cup of tea in cafe, drawing no more attention than any other down and out at that time in the morning. A visit to the ticket office yielded the knowledge that the ticket to London was fifteen pounds and being happy with the cash he had to get to get a ticket, better clothes and items for changing his appearance, he bought it and with near enough two hours to be ready he left for the Sauchiehall Centre on the 88 bus, having asked where the nearest shopping centre was and had been told in detail with many sorry looks at his state of dress and appearance.