A Shadowing of Angels: In the World of Intelligence. Nothing is Quite What it Seems. by W.T Delaney & W T Delaney

Author:W.T Delaney & W T Delaney [Delaney, W.T & Delaney, W T]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-06-01T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

London to Kurdistan

Danny boarded the small executive jet pulled up by the private terminal at Stansted. There was only time for brief greetings to be exchanged as the passengers strapped in, and Sir Ian’s personal Learjet 75 immediately rolled forward onto the runway. The two Pratt and Whitney engines purred powerfully, seemingly in a hurry to get airborne. The jet was like flying in a small living room, thought Danny. It smelt of opulence, that same mixture of fine leather and elegant wood trim that you would find in a Rolls-Royce.

There was room for eight passengers but only Sir Ian, Tim, and Danny were on board, as Sir Ian’s security team had flown ahead the day before. There was a nervous anticipation in the air, a need to know who knew what, and the trip was an ideal opportunity to find out. As the jet levelled out at 40,000 feet, Sir Ian pressed a button on the teak and beige leather cabinet next to his seat, and a tray with a decanter of whisky and three crystal glasses appeared.

“I seem to remember that a decent single malt is your favourite tipple, Danny. I always think that this is a civilised way to start an in-depth discussion.”

“There’s no better way,” Danny replied. He then spoke his mind. “I’m a wee bit concerned, as I do not think we’ve been told everything. This could have severe repercussions for my team on the ground, and I think that, as an ex-military man, you can appreciate my disquiet.”

Sir Ian poured the whisky and handed the glass to Danny. Both men looked towards Tim, who seemed pensive, almost pained, as he addressed Danny directly.

“I think my guys picked up the problem of the inconsistencies in David Slater’s online profile at about the same time as your people did. I double-checked some biographical data with Sir Ian and I think we came to the same conclusion - that his profile had been changed significantly to protect both his true identity and his employment. In other words, an online legend has been spun around his past, ‘a bodyguard of lies to protect the truth’, to use a Churchillian expression - a professionally invented past to safeguard his very perilous present. We therefore believe that he works for the US Government, although this has not been confirmed or denied by our friends from Langley.”

Tim paused for effect and sipped some single malt. “Now, Danny, the most important thing about this information is not whether it is true or not, it’s whether the terrorists think it’s true. We have picked up chatter from sources within the Arabic media, especially Al Jazeera, that says they are ready to ‘out’ our man as a CIA agent. Once that happens, he will be dead within hours and they will, of course, deny any responsibility for the disclosure.”

Danny immediately realised the implications: the deadline for extracting the client’s son had just tightened, and therefore the odds against a successful operation had just correspondingly lengthened.

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