Capital Punishment by Robert Wilson

Author:Robert Wilson [Wilson, Robert]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Published: 2013-03-25T18:30:00+00:00

17

10.30 P.M., MONDAY 12TH MARCH 2012

London

‘What did he make of it?’ asked Boxer.

Conference call: DCS Peter Makepeace and Martin Fox in Pavis operations room, Charles Boxer from the house in Aubrey Walk. They were talking about the DVD of the mock execution, which Fox had shown to the MI5 psychologist that Pavis used to assess new recruits.

‘Professional, not amateur,’ said Fox. ‘Devastating shock tactic in order to prepare hostage for more intrusive grilling, or the family for a heavy demand. He believes that the shooter was military trained, just in the way he held himself and his weapon, which was a Sig Sauer P220. He’s undecided about their nature: criminal or terrorist. That will become clear only with a demand. If they are terrorists, there’s also the possibility that they’re being coy about demands because they don’t want to unleash the Counter Terrorism Command, which would certainly turn the heat up.’

‘And what do the two of you think?’

‘It looks criminal to me, but with a highly trained group used to military-style assignments, with powerful research and psychological backing, looking to squeeze the maximum out of a wealthy man,’ said Fox. ‘They don’t seem to be in a hurry, but they’re ramping up the violence with this extreme demonstration in the DVD. I think the teasing will stop and we’ll get a big money demand in the end.’

‘Has someone been sent to investigate the pizza delivery boy?’

‘George Papadopoulos is dealing with that,’ said Makepeace.

‘And you, sir? How do you feel about the kidnappers?’

‘My major concern, as we close in on one hundred days to go before the Olympics’ opening ceremony, is a terrorist attack,’ said Makepeace. ‘My analysis tends to come with that bias. There is nothing we’ve seen so far from these people that overtly indicates that they have terrorist intentions. I am uneasy about the apparent level of training. But, then again, if you’re looking for a big pay-off, then this may be a necessary level of investment and professionalism. I’m unhappy at their insistence that this is not about money. I’m as concerned as D’Cruz is about the “demonstration of sincerity”, because I don’t know what it means. I’m worried that, despite their declared intention only to talk to Isabel Marks, they might confuse the issue by starting direct talks with Frank D’Cruz, who is their ultimate target. Having made their emotional point through his ex-wife, they’re going to get down to the real business with him and exclude us. If they’re terrorists, they’ll know about you as a consultant and they’ll probably assume our involvement and they won’t want to trigger a major counter terrorism operation. What’s Frank D’Cruz said about it all?’

This is where it started, thought Boxer, to lie for Frank ... or not.

‘I’ve had a theoretical conversation with him about the possibility of the kidnappers being terrorists.’

‘So he does suspect their involvement?’ said Makepeace.

‘That means he’s not unaware that in his past he has been involved with people who’ve gone on to develop terrorist

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