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  “Hello.”

  “Hello Frank.”

  “Bloody hell, I haven’t heard from you in a while.”

  “A year Frank, it’s been a year since Jane, the girls and me went into hiding.”

  “A year, what have you been doing?”

  “Nothing, watching the ocean and enjoying time with the girls.”

  “There’s no chatter this end about you or Jane. Her resignation as DI was accepted quietly after what happened with John Hartford.”

  “At least that’s a relief.”

  “Why are you calling? Problem? Or do you want something?”

  “I do need a favour, we want to come out of hiding... sort of. The girls need to go to school in September and they can’t do that without being legal or at least appear legal.”

  “And you want me to find someone to get you false documents.”

  “Yes please, they need to be good though.”

  “No problem, I know the perfect guy. He is a hacker that was arrested by the national crimes unit. I’ll get it sorted, he should be able to do as good a job as Drew.”

  “Great. Thank you.”

  “No problem, you keep safe.”

  “Bye Frank.”

  The line went dead, Frank put the phone back in his jacket and returned to the remainder of his meeting.

  Three

  Vladimir looked like a rabbit caught in headlights. Lyndsey watched as he kept scanning everything and everyone around him.

  “Mr Sokolov.”

  He turned to look at her. “Yes?”

  “You will be fine. I know it’s hard but you need to relax. My colleague and I will not let anything happen to you.”

  “How, they have tried once and they won’t give up. I knew this would happen eventually.”

  “What do you mean, you knew?”

  “It is my past. Something in my past.”

  “Do you know who they are, why they want you dead?”

  “They don’t want me dead they want me.”

  Lyndsey stopped talking as she caught movement towards them out the corner of her eye, it was the passenger from the Range Rover. She sat down at the table Lyndsey and Adrian had found in the middle of the food hall. They were surrounded by lots of people so it afforded them good cover.

  “Hello again,” Olivia said as she sat down.

  “What do you want,” replied Adrian.

  “All I want is Mr Sokolov. No one has to die today.”

  “You should have made that clear, shooting into our car gave me a whole different impression.”

  “Sorry about that, it was never my intention to kill you. I just needed you to stop so we could collect our package.”

  “Please, do not let them take me,” pleaded Vladimir. “I can no longer help you,” he said as he turned towards Olivia. “I had a deal with Mr Trent. I left, never to talk of the experiment and I have kept my word.”

  “Mr Trent is dead.”

  “How?”

  “Alexa Blake killed him.”

  “She knows?”

  “Knows what?” interjected Lyndsey.

  “I can not say,” replied Vladimir.

  “Yes you can and you will if you want to get out of here.”

  “Alexa Blake was an experiment that her father and myself carried out to create an agent that was physically stronger and fitter than normal but more importantly someone that healed quickly. A body that self healed without the need for medical intervention.”

  “An experiment?”

  “Yes, it killed her sister and then Giles Trent killed her father and made it look like suicide. One of the side effects we found was a very black and white sense of right and wrong. If she found out that Giles killed her father her programming would have taken over and she would have been compelled to kill Giles Trent.”

  “Enough of the chatter. Hand him over or we will have to take him by force.”

  Lyndsey smiled, she could hear the low hum of a helicopter over the noise of the motorway services.

  “Let’s take this outside. We shouldn’t involve any of the public.”

  “Good choice, after you,” Olivia said as she beckoned them from the table.”

  Lyndsey, Adrian and Vladimir stood from the table and walked towards the exit followed by Olivia and one other Soteria operative.

  “Mr Sokolov, stay close to me and do exactly as I tell you. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, you can not hand me over to them. I can not destroy life like last time.”

  “Your going nowhere, don’t worry.”

  * * *

  The rapid response team had been in the air for only twenty minutes as they reached their destination. The pilot had circled the services twice to find the best landing spot for the team to get to the main services building and exfiltrate the trapped team. He found a large area of grass at the back of the main building that afforded enough space to land. The electricity lines around the landing space would make it a challenging landing but he had no choice; he needed to get the team close.

  “Hold on everyone, going in steep to miss the cable. Sick bags at the ready.”

  The six rapid response team members grabbed hold of the hand hold straps hanging from the inside of the helicopter just as it took a steep dive forward and headed towards the ground. The auto warning systems started to scream and beep as the helicopter was flown to the edges of its capacity. The ground drew ever closer and as it seemed the pilot had forgotten about the ground he pulled back on the stick and the helicopters nose jerked forward and the pilot put it into a hover. Finally gently touching the ground.

  “In two’s. Go,” came the command from the team lead. “Towards the main entrance. Weapons hot. No attackers left.”

  The six team members paired as they left the aircraft and headed towards the main entrance.

  * * *

  Lyndsey was scanning the outside of the services food hall, she had heard the sound of the helicopter as it came in to land, she knew the rapid response team would be making their way to the main entrance. She knew there had been two Range Rovers, eight operatives. The rapid response team would be six plus Adrian and herself. It would be an even fight. She had to keep Vladimir safe. They exited the entrance. She couldn’t see the two Range Rovers or the rapid response team.

  “Turn right,” ordered Olivia.

  She was joined by a colleague that had been waiting outside the entrance as they turned right and headed towards a large car park to the right of the services food hall. Lyndsey could now see the two Range Rovers parked next to each other in an empty corner of the car park, there was no sign of the rapid response team. She started to go through scenarios in her head, handing over Sokolov wasn’t one of them.

  “Keep walking,” urged Olivia. “Slowing for time isn’t an option... you have no options.”

  “I wouldn’t be too sure of that.”

  To the left of Lyndsey was a smaller car park that led round the back of the food hall. Out of the corner of her eye she had seen the flash of movement. She knew the playbook that the rapid response team would use. She had to be ready. She hoped Adrian had seen the same movement.They were clearing the majority of the cars that had parked close to the food hall. The sound of the motorway alongside the food hall was loud and would stifle any sound from the suppressed weapons that the rapid response team favoured. They cleared the last line of cars, only space lay in front of them and the two Range Rovers in the distance. Lyndsey could now make out the drivers of each vehicle, the rear doors opened and two people from each vehicle exited; the drivers stayed put. They weren’t expecting any resistance, had they not noticed the helicopter.

  “On the ground. On the ground. NOW.”

  The sudden appearance of a six man team dressed all in black, brandishing suppressed Sig MCX rifles took Olivia and her colleague by surprise. Lyndsey and Adrian knew what would happen next. Lyndsey threw herself to the floor, pulling Sokolov with her. As soon as they had cleared the front of their attackers,
each member of the team fired a single shot into the forehead of Olivia and her colleague.

  “Are you alright Mr Sokolov?” asked Lyndsey.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “Lets get you out of here,” she said as she helped him up from the floor. “Just stay with me.”

  Three of the rapid response team ushered them towards their ex-filtration point while the remaining three headed towards the Range Rovers. The occupants had been taken by surprise and were still organising themselves as the now three man team raced across the space towards the vehicles. As soon as they were close they fired short bursts at the occupants while they took cover.

  “Red six. Blow the tanks.”

  Two of the team continued with short bursts of fire towards the Range Rovers. The third member of the team settled and took aim and fired a concentrated burst of shots at the filler cap for the Range Rover. The shots hit the fuel line and started a chain reaction ending in the rear Range Rover exploding. The vehicle launched into the air landing back on its four wheels in flames. He turned his attention to the front Range Rover with the same outcome. The three team members covered the remainder of the short distance to check for survivors. They circled the vehicles and found each of the Soteria team members, firing a single head shot into each. Once complete they raced back to the helicopter and exfiltration.

  Four

  Lyndsey had tried to reassure Vladimir during the short flight from the motorway services to their landing spot at a private helipad on the banks of the river Thames. Two standard black Range Rovers had been waiting for them. Vladimir, Lyndsey and two of the rapid response team were in the front vehicle followed by Adrian and the remaining four members of the team in the second vehicle. The vehicles raced through the London streets to the hotel that Vladimir was booked into. They stopped at the back entrance and escorted him directly to his room. He followed Lyndsey into the room to find a man waiting for him.

  “Hello Mr Sokolov, my name is Ian Monroe. I am the head of MI5 and I need to know exactly why a team was sent to kidnap you today.”

  “Find Alexa Blake.”

  “Mr Sokolov, I need answers. You are in no position to make demands.”

  “It is not a demand, Alexa is probably the reason for what happened today. Find her, bring her to me and I will explain everything to the both of you.”

  “How do you know Alexa?”

  “I worked for Soteria when her father was in charge. He was a great friend to me and now I must repay his loyalty and friendship.”

  “Alexa has disappeared. I have no way of finding her. I have tried. Lots of people have tried.”

  “If she doesn’t want to be found, she will not. She is programmed to hide when she feels threatened.”

  “Programmed?”

  “Find a friend, she will keep her friends close. That is the way to find her.”

  * * *

  Trainer parked his car in the underground car park for the supermarket store. He locked it and walked the short distance through the car park exit and into the main shopping centre. He walked along the rows of shops until he found the coffee shop managed by Terry.

  “Mr Trainer, your usual,” came the jovial tones of Terry as he entered the coffee shop door.

  “Yes please,”

  “Take a seat, I’ll bring it over.”

  A few minutes passed and Terry brought the flat black that Trainer always ordered. He had first arrested Terry for shoplifting when he started out as a police constable, Terry had been fourteen at the time. Over the years they crossed paths numerous times as Terry’s life of crime expanded.

  “There you are Mr Trainer, enjoy,” Terry said as he placed the coffee on the table.

  “Sit down Terry.”

  “Of course Mr Trainer.”

  “I need your help.”

  “Anything, you helped me in the past and I said I would always be in your debt.”

  Terry was talking about his grandson, Bradley. He had got involved with a local gang in Romford. The gang was involved in all manner of criminal activities ranging from drug distribution to protection rackets. Bradley had been arrested during a raid on a brothel by a task force that Trainer had been in charge of. Trainer had found Bradley in a room and had made sure he wasn’t arrested. He had turned his life around and was a successful business man, it was Bradley that owned the coffee shop.

  “I was hoping you would say that, what I need is a big ask.”

  “Ask away.”

  “I need your forgery skills, I need two sets of papers. Birth certificates, passports, the full works.”

  “I haven’t done that sort of thing in years.”

  “I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important.”

  “I can’t Mr Trainer. It would be too dangerous for me.”

  “I realise that Terry, but I really need them. No one will know and this wipes any debt you think you owe me.”

  After a long pause Terry nodded. “Okay Mr Trainer, give me a week. I will need photos and names.”

  “Great I will get you everything you need.”

  Trainer finished what was left of his coffee, stood and turned to walk out. He turned back to Terry. “Thanks Terry, I may owe you now.”

  He turned and walked out of the coffee shop and retraced his route back to his car.

  * * *

  Trainer opened the door to his flat, dialled the number for Alexa from the burner phone she had given him and waited for her to answer.

  “Hello.”

  “It’s Frank.”

  “Frank, I keep telling you. You’re the only one with this number so I know it’s you.”

  “Yeah... I spoke to my contact and he will get you passports for the girls. I just need names and photos.”

  “No problem. Rosarita and Sofia.”

  “Surnames?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Blake?” asked Trainer.

  “But that would...”

  “Make you Mum.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Well aren’t you that already, you have been for the last year.”

  “I suppose... okay, Blake it is.”

  “Good choice, I just need the photos.”

  “I’ll post them.”

  “I can collect them, it would be nice to see you all.”

  “Okay, I’ll text you the address. Memorise it and delete the text.”

  “Sure, I will drive over on Saturday.”

  “See you then Frank and thank you.”

  The line went dead as Alexa hung up. Trainer returned the phone to his jacket. He had continued his walk to the kitchen as he spoke on the phone. He lifted the kettle from its resting place, shook it to check if there was enough water, returned it to the work surface and flicked the switch to on. The kitchen wasn’t large. He turned to grab a cup out of the cupboard and caught the glimpse of movement in the lounge that connected to the kitchen through another door. He closed the cupboard without getting a cup, turned back to the work surface and grabbed a knife from the block next to the kettle. He knew this time it wasn’t going to be Alexa, he had just spoken to her on the phone. He edged towards the door and slowly pushed it open. The lounge, like the kitchen was small, a two seater sofa and a television the only items that filled the room. There would be nowhere for anyone to hide. The room was dark save for a sliver of moon light passing through the gap in the closed curtains. He scanned the room and could make out a figure sat on the sofa.

  “Mr Trainer, you won’t need the knife. I mean no harm to you. I just want to talk,” came a well spoken voice from the direction of the sofa.

  “Who are you?”

  “My name is Ian Monroe. We have already met.”

  Trainer moved around the door and flicked the light switch to turn the lights on. The room flooded with light. He could now see the man sat on his sofa, they had met before; at the police station when he came to talk to a prisoner. The man stood, he was slender but Trainer could tell there was more to him than the well fitt
ed suit and well spoken voice. His manner and stature said ex-army to Trainer. He beckoned Trainer to sit with him.

  “I’ll stand if you don’t mind,” said Trainer.

  “Probably a good idea, we would be a bit snug sat on here,” replied Ian as he sat back down.

  “Like I said, what do you want? And who are you?”

  “As I said my name is Ian Monroe, I am the head of MI5 and I need your help.”

  “You were with Jane at the police station.”

  “Yes, I needed help from your prisoner.”

  “You work with Alexa?” Trainer asked.

  “Sort of, it’s a long story and we haven’t got time to go into all of the detail. Suffice to say I have nothing against Alexa and if I didn’t need her help I would leave her to her life on the east coast with Jane and the two children.”

  “You seem to know a lot about her.”

  “It’s my job Frank. Now your help...”

  “Yes.”

  “I need to speak to Alexa.”

  “I don’t know where she is.”

  “That text you just received is her address. I would much rather do this with your help rather than the more painful way for you.”

  “How do I know you won’t hurt her and the kids?”

  “You have my word, I just need her to talk to a scientist from Russia.”

  “What...”

  “Yes I know, it’s a strange request,” Ian said as he stood. “We can discuss the detail on the way.”

  * * *

  Trainer and Ian reached the bottom of the stairs from the flat and walked out into the car park. There was a black Jaguar XJ parked in the middle of the car park. As they approached a man exited the drivers side and came around to open the rear passenger door. Trainer had never been in such an expensive and luxurious car.