Robinson rose from his seat.
“I must protest Gary…”
“Sit down!” It was Diane’s voice.
Robinson suddenly bidden by her voice did sit down glowering and was beginning to feel warm and uncomfortable.
“Stanton told me about the plot to discredit DIC and he told me about this cell phone. It was in Sternway’s jacket. I checked the locations of phone calls.”
David moved around the desk and put the papers by the Prime Minister. Then he reached into his pocket and took out two lime green cell phones.
“These link Stanton and Sternway. The orange ones link Robinson here and Sternway. That’s the chain. There are two dead bodies, Stanton’s work, at an MI6 safe house. Sternway was there earlier this evening and he took a call from that phone whilst he was there. The whole plot was to discredit and disband the Department for Internal Concerns. Stanton told me that Sternway had Cole killed, by Marco Spencer, the man who died at Perth, no less. Della Sternway is a witness to everything Stanton said. Sternway himself is in hospital with a police guard, shot in the shoulder.” David looked at Jack. Jack gave a grim smile.
The Prime Minister looked at Robinson, who was no longer protesting then he looked at McKie.
“Good work McKie. Now call a police officer and have Mr Robinson arrested.”
“Gary really?”
“Robert Cole was a friend of mine. I always wondered about his death. You’ll answer for all of this.”
“I’ll go public.”
“You think MI6 will want the scandal?”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Think about it.”
McKie re-entered with two police officers and Robinson was taken away.
“Take him out the back please.” The PM called out.
Mr Braine turned to Jack and Diane and said “Sorry Jack I should have trusted you.”
Jack got up and went to gather the evidence.
“Leave it there Jack." The prime minister said and Jack nodded in answer.
“Consider DIC back to full operational duties.” He added. Again Jack nodded.
Moments later Jack, Diane and David stood in Downing Street as the black door of number ten closed behind them.
All three cast large shadows as they walked towards the exit of the famous street.
Chapter 109
St Albans
5pm
April 20th
Tony opened the front door of Ellie’s house to find Jack Fulton standing there holding a casserole dish.
“I thought I’d find you here Tony. I brought dinner. Good choice of woman. Great cook by the smell of it.”
“Come on in Jack. The proof of the pudding is the eating anyway.” Tony added.
“Spare me the intimate details, Ellie my dear!”
Ellie stood in the hall with her arm in a sling children running around her.
“Look honey Jack brought dinner.”
They went into the lounge. Tony went and put the kettle on.
“I’ve had conformation that you’re to get the George Cross Ellie.” Jack beamed.
“Why me? There’s David and Beaumont and well why me?”
“You showed real courage. In the words of Atticus Finch, to misquote I might add, ‘true courage is not a man with a gun in his hands’.” Ellie flushed. Tony came in with the tea.
“What’s that did I hear you quoting the great literature of my homeland?”
“Ellie’s going to get the George Cross Tony.”
“Wow” Oh sweetie that’s so well deserved.” Tony kissed her head.
Ellie’s son said ‘Yuck’ and ran from the room.
“What’s the situation anyway?” Tony asked sipping his tea.
“Sternway and Robinson are to face trial, but they’re being silenced by the secrets act and they know they won’t live if they make a scene in the media, at least that’s what I hear. Telford woke in hospital shouting that he had to get to the Priory Arms in Vauxhall, very confused. He’s been sacked by MI6. Sternway’s department has been disbanded. Oh and the Prime Minister called today to say that he wants a DIC operative as permanent secretary at the Home Office, sort of insider. I’ve suggested Diane.”
“Who’ll replace her?” Tony asked.
“Beaumont’s my choice.”
“What do I get?” Tony mockingly whined.
“You get me.” Ellie laughed.
“That’ll do me.” Tony replied.
“I heard David said he was going to leave DIC. Thought that killing would rot his soul, so he said.” Ellie looked at Tony when she said it.
“Yes he did say that. I told him to think about it. I know he’ll stay on, he’s a natural for it and nothing can taint the soul of people like the ones I choose for DIC.” Jack said and beamed at them.
“How can you be sure he’ll stay on?” Tony asked.
“I arranged for someone to talk him into staying, now how about that dinner?” Jack said with finality.
Dover Harbour Front
6 p.m.
April 20th
Mary McKie sat uncomfortably on the wooden bench by the swimmer statues on Dover harbour front. Conor was wrapped in a puffy coat dancing around to the tune that only every child knows and hears in their head. Beside her David’s father looked as she did to the two figures at the water’s edge.
“She’s a lovely old lady. Her husband was in Ireland bomb disposal. She’s very sweet looking for an old widow that woman.”
“Do I detect a hint of romance in the air you old widower man?” Mary laughed.
“Don’t be daft Mary.” The old man blushed.
At the shore the tall man and the small old lady stood looking out into the channel.
“So you see David it’s always a matter of needing people with a good soul. You naturally want to protect. You’re a good soul. From what you told me, Sternway pushed his family away to protect them. You would have stood in front of them and shielded them. You’re a natural protector” They both looked back at the family on the bench then back out to sea.
“I suppose if you put it that way I should stay on.”
“You should David. As is always said in times of war and don’t forget we are at war ‘your country needs you’ and your country does need you David. Good men are hard to find especially those who in service of their country are willing to kill or be killed.”
EPILOGUE
Shores Of Loch Carron Scotland
April 20th
Sunset
At the very edge of the Atlantic coast of Scotland, near Port an Eorna, a black and white border collie snuffling the deep green bumpy ground looked up and barked at his master.
Michael Dewey stood watching MOD officials and divers drag dumped diving gear from the water near the shore. There were four official Land Rovers, Highland police men in black uniforms, plain clothes men and two men in Navy uniforms. Half a mile away off the shore a Navy Corvette sat rocking on the swell and five metres off shore a hard shell dinghy sat anchored with a diver and his support colleague looking to a small marker buoy with a red flag on it. The stark primary crimson seemed unnatural against the blue green of the water. Two divers surfaced, their masks catching the blood orange light of sunset, and together they held up a black bag, which was dragged into the dirigible.
Suddenly bored by the scene that had held his attention for an hour Michael looked over at Paddy. He took one last look to the setting sun on the western horizon and turned to the dog.
“Come on boy let’s go home.”
They got back in Land Rover and drove back to the house in Drumbuie with the large white satellite dish on; the house that was an electronic ‘pin’ on the DIC map of England, one amongst hundreds of ‘pins’, each one representing a dedicated watcher.
Night and day the watchers of DIC scan the electronic and digital networks for any signs of plots against the stability of the society they serve. Unallied to governments, security services or military forces, beholden to no group of officials the Department for Internal Concerns continues it’s work dedicated to protecting the way of life and values of the United Kingdom. Since 1940 to the present day they ‘stand to’ with teams ready to eradicate threats against the lives of the citizens and the stability of the government. Patiently they wait and always they watch.