The Sleep of Reason by Mark Rowley

Author:Mark Rowley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Legend Press

DAY 11

Saturday

CTOC, St Pancras, London

Campbell was smouldering with indignation.

Gabriel started. ‘He said what?’

‘They said they didn’t have the manpower on a Saturday morning and we should call back after the weekend,’ said Campbell. ‘I pointed out that this was an urgent inquiry, and he said everything was, and I quote, “fucking urgent with you lot” and hung up. Rang back and no answer. Tempted to go over there and knock on a door, ma’am.’

‘Unbelievable,’ said Gabriel. ‘We’re in the middle of a major investigation and some idiot at the MOD doesn’t want to work weekends? I’ll sort this out.’

She ushered Campbell away and scrolled through the contacts book, muttering under her breath. What was the matter with these people? It was the same with the media – anyone looking at the news would be forgiven for thinking the whole NRF gang had been banged up and the case done and dusted. Had they no idea how much more there was to do?

She found the name. Lieutenant General Peter Holsworthy, head of Home Command, based in Aldershot. She’d met him at a counter terrorism exercise in Wiltshire four months ago and he was a nice guy, if a bit awkward with women in positions of authority. When in doubt, go to the top.

She rang his office and left details with his duty PA, stressing that it was urgent and linked to recent terror attacks. Eight minutes later, her phone rang.

‘Peter Holsworthy here.’

‘Thank you, General. One of my team has been attempting to identify a rifle found at the scene of yesterday’s terrorist attack in Leeds – which we believe is army issue – and has just been fobbed off by one of the junior weekend team at the Ministry of Defence.’

‘I’m sorry, but I’m not sure what this has to…’

‘Please let me finish. I’m sure this wasn’t the intention, but it did feel rather like the army obstructing the police investigating a major terrorism incident, which would be embarrassing if it became public, which neither of us want.’

There was a bristling silence at the other end. ‘Go on.’

‘What I need now is your best man, or woman, available for my team first thing to look into the source of this firearm. Would you be able to sort that out? Please.’

The second she dropped the handset onto the cradle, it chirruped again.

‘Sophie Gabriel?’ It was a man’s voice. ‘It’s Tom Crowther from the Herald. Sorry to bother you, but I wondered if I could have a quick word? Just two minutes.’

She swore in her head. That was stupid – answering without checking who it was. She knew Tom. A languid, floppy man with a public-school haircut and a taste for expensive, ill-fitting suits.

‘Sorry, Tom, you’ll need to speak to the press office.’

‘Actually, it’s something that you might want to deal with yourself, Sophie. We’re working on a story that your team had strong evidence of a second attack by the NRF after Chilton Park, but despite that, failed to put out more police to protect the marches.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.