The Keepers of the Persian Gate (17 page)

“Is it something which you can tell all of us?” asked Morgan.

Maxwell surveyed the room, looking into the eyes of those in attendance. He then paused to look at Paddy, who provided a reassuring nod of support. “That unrest and rioting on the screen. This is part of an operation to cut off the government,” said Maxwell nervously.

It turned out that Colonel Maxwell had been privy to its planning. Withem was the giveaway. It was the public name for a secret operation called Cromwell. The operation was set up in such a way as to shut down London. It would achieve this through instigating civil disorder. It would also cut off Downing Street in the event of infiltration of the security services, while the army instigated marshal law. “It operates on the principle that you bury your bad news on big news days,” said Maxwell.

“So what happens next?” asked Dyke.

“Well, I’m not entirely sure. Whoever instigated it appears to be running an amended version of the plan. For instance, this place was to be utilised as a base for the operation. That has not happened, which suggests to me that your friends in MI5 are planning to use Withem as a means of getting to this committee,” explained Colonel Maxwell.

There was some dissent in the committee about how far-fetched this all sounded. However, Dyke explained that MI5 tried to do something similar to Harold Wilson’s government in the 1970s, in an operation known as Clockwork Orange. In the case of Clockwork Orange, the operation was run by MI5 and the Army Press Office in Northern Ireland. They managed to instigate basic civil disorder which then developed into a full scale revolt in Northern Ireland by the unionist community. It led to the Ulster Workers Strike in May 1974, in which Northern Ireland was brought to a standstill. The whole country was without power for several weeks.

“One thing is certain: Paddy needs to be allowed to commence his investigation without further delay. The security of the Atwah trial is the first important test of the new ISC,” said Morgan.

“We’ll need to find a way to get you off this base undetected,” said Dyke.

“I think I can help you with that,” replied Colonel Maxwell.

***

Meanwhile, back at Dunlop & McLaine, only a few miles from the civil disturbances, the staff were busy trying to deal the aftermath of recent events. Mark Glover had been attempting to steady the ship following the murder of Aamir Machete and the death of William Dunlop. Up until the civil disturbances in Tottenham, the murder at Doughty Street as well as the apparent suicide of Dunlop in Reading were making the headlines.

There was a knock on Mark’s door and in walked most of the firm’s Senior Partners, led by Adam Scott, the firm’s second in command.

“Mark. We need to talk.” Said Scott. He was an extremely tall, very skinny man with glasses and grey hair. “We need continuity, Mark, now that Will’s gone. It’s time to discuss it.”

“If it’s all the same to you, I’d like to bury my friend before we decide who the next Managing Partner is going to be…Also, given the circumstances, I’m very reluctant to paint a target on my back as well,” replied Mark.

“Have you heard anything more from our new Trainee?” asked Scott.

“No, God knows where he is,” said Mark.

“He’s experienced, though, isn’t he?” asked another Partner.

“Oh, yes, probably the most experienced we’ve ever had. I’m sure he can handle it,” said Mark.

At that, in walked the Head of Security, Major Howard. “Gentlemen, message received from Mr. Trimble via Morgan Wright MP.”

“Yes, well,” said Scott.

“I’ll put it up on screen.” Major Howard played the video message which had been transmitted from the conference room in Hyde Park Barracks. Morgan Wright appeared onscreen alongside Paddy.

The message was for Mark Glover. It stated that without prejudice to the ongoing tender process, Paddy Trimble had been selected as Temporary Emergency Counsel to the ISC in all current matters.

“Once his role is fulfilled he will of course return to Dunlop & McLaine to continue with his training. However, the nature of his role will remain entirely confidential,” said Morgan. Then the video message ended.

“Obviously, whatever Paddy has been privy to is too sensitive to risk disclosure to third parties, even to a firm as respectable as Dunlop & McLaine.” Observed Mark.

Scott walked over to the window and stared out of it pensively. As he stood there, he began to speak.

“Mark, this firm is in crisis, it needs leadership, perhaps now more than ever in its long history. It needs to regain its credibility.” Scott looked all of the Senior Partners in the room in the eye. “Gentlemen, I believe it is time that we vote for a new Managing Partner. In light of the death of Mr. William Dunlop, I hereby propose that Sir Mark Glover is appointed as new Managing Partner without delay.”

“No! Not yet,” protested Mark.

“As you form part of the subject matter of this proposal, I’m afraid you have no say in the voting or tabling of the motion, Mark,” replied Scott.

“I’ll refuse the appointment,” replied Mark.

“And disgrace the memory of William Dunlop, you’ll do no such thing,” said one of the older Partners.

“Gentlemen, I note there is a quorum of twelve of the fifteen Equity Partners in the room. All those in favour of my proposal to appoint Sir Mark as the Managing Partner, raise your hand,” said Scott.

Scott counted the hands in the air and it was a unanimous vote.

“Mark, my dear boy, you are the new Managing Partner. Congratulations. Now, get us out of this bloody mess…” said Scott.

“Hear, hear,” crowed several of the Partners.

Chapter 11

Lancelot

BACK IN HYDE PARK BARRACKS, preparations were being made for Paddy’s departure. Maxwell had called in a few favours from the Royal Air Force to get Paddy out of London as soon as possible. A Chinook helicopter was on route. However, as an independent investigator, Paddy would be given complete freedom to choose wherever his investigation would take him.

“The ISC will reconvene on Saturday morning, so we’ll need you back here to present your initial findings,” said Morgan.

Meanwhile, a member of the ISC technical support team handed Paddy a conference folder containing a unique touch pad for accessing the ISC server. All he had to do was turn it on and look into the webcam to verify his identity. Through the touchpad, Paddy would receive any updates from the ISC.

“Well, old boy, time to move again,” said Maxwell.

Suddenly, the room was filled with the deafening sound of a large Chinook helicopter, hovering over the top of the building. Members of the committee looked out the window as the helicopter steadily lowered its altitude onto the lawn. Maxwell walked Paddy down the stairs and out onto the grass.

“Where you off to?” asked Maxwell.

“Will had said something about going to meet a contact in Westbury…Any ideas who that might be?” asked Paddy.

“He must have been talking about the Brigadier at the Army Officer Selection Board,” replied Maxwell. He explained that there was a club in the Armed Forces which had been running for centuries, called the Round Table. The Brigadier was the Master of it. “My guess is that William Dunlop was also a member at some stage. Come to think of it, I have a feeling that William and the Brigadier went through Sandhurst at similar times,” said Maxwell.

The Round Table’s purpose was shrouded in secrecy. However, Colonel Maxwell did know that all the members swore an oath upon entry to help to look after the families of deceased members. When Colonel Maxwell was a young officer in the early 1990s, one of his men was killed during an operation in Northern Ireland. Maxwell had promised himself that he would see to it that the man’s family was taken care of. However, he later discovered that all was in hand. When he asked around, he discovered that it was being dealt with by the Round Table.

“I was told in no uncertain terms that I should not divulge the existence of the Round Table to anyone. The man that told me this was Brigadier James Lancelot,” said Maxwell.

The problem Paddy had was that if the Brigadier knew Will had been on his way to meet him, the news of Will’s death will have set the Brigadier on his guard. Maxwell also explained that the Brigadier was infamous for delegating. In fact, Lancelot was hardly ever seen around the barracks. However, his reputation was legendary. He had refused promotion after promotion in order to remain in control of the intake of British Army officers.

Paddy jogged over to the Chinook and was welcomed aboard by the airmen.

“Where are we going, sir?” asked the pilot.

“Westbury, Army Officer Selection Board; now, please,” said Paddy.

As the helicopter took off, the Committee gathered on the lawn. Several of its members who formerly served in the armed forces raised a salute to Paddy. The household cavalry who were patrolling the grounds at that moment also stopped to do the same as the Chinook turned westward over the streets of London.

***

It took about thirty minutes for the helicopter to get to the border of Westbury. Paddy could hear a commotion in the cockpit as the flight crew began radioing in to announce their arrival. Paddy stormed to the front.

“Stop what you’re doing,” said Paddy.

“Captain, with all due respect, I need to radio in,” replied the co-pilot.

“No, you don’t,” replied Paddy.

“Captain!” shouted the co-pilot.

“Flight Lieutenant. By orders of Colonel Maxwell of Hyde Park Barracks, this helicopter is under my command. Now, you will proceed to land this helicopter without notifying the base,” replied Paddy.

“We’ll be arrested. The base is in lock down. We need to have clearance to land,” said the co-pilot.

“It is my intention that we cause a scene,” said Paddy.

“Alright, sir, whatever you choose,” replied the co-pilot.

The helicopter descended to the landing pad. As it did, numerous military personnel surrounded it. When the helicopter landed the soldiers surrounding the aircraft remained still. Paddy turned to the rest of the crew. The back ramp of the Chinook lowered and Paddy walked onto the tarmac.

“Freeze!” shouted one of the soldiers.

Paddy put his hands up in the air. “My name is Captain Paddy Trimble of the Army Legal Service, and Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament. I am here to see Brigadier Lancelot on a matter of the utmost importance.”

“Who did you say you were?” said a voice.

A man walked through the soldiers, wearing what appeared to be a Brigadier’s uniform.

“I’m Paddy Trimble, sir. I apologise for the theatrics, sir, but I need to speak to you immediately. I work…I worked with William Dunlop. Is there somewhere we can talk, sir?” asked Paddy.

The Brigadier surveyed Paddy and the Chinook.

“Follow me.”

The soldiers immediately backed down as the Brigadier ordered them at ease. The Brigadier then led Paddy through the complex of buildings to the barracks headquarters near the main gate. They walked through the door and up the stairs into the Brigadier’s office. As Paddy walked in, the Brigadier shut the door behind him.

“Stop right there!” said the Brigadier.

Paddy turned to see a pistol pointed at him. He put his hands in the air slowly.

“There are strange things going on. I received a call from Will this morning telling me his life was in danger and that he was on his way to see me. Of course, we both know that Will never arrived, don’t we? Will didn’t commit suicide. I’ve known him over thirty years and suicide goes against everything Will was as a man, and a soldier,” said the Brigadier.

The Brigadier gestured for Paddy to turn around. “Hands on the table.”

The Brigadier frisked Paddy and removed his sidearm. Moving slowly backwards and sitting in a chair, the Brigadier continued to menacingly point the gun at Paddy.

“Sir, I am here to talk to you about just that. I knew that Will was on his way here; he informed me of this in the moments before he died,” said Paddy.

“You were with him?” asked the Brigadier.

“Yes, and I too know that this wasn’t a suicide. There was something he was coming here to speak to you about,” said Paddy.

“Maybe. What interest is it of yours?” asked the Brigadier.

“I believe that before he died, Will had uncovered something which made him a target for certain elements within the security services. We need to locate those elements as soon as possible,” said Paddy.

The Brigadier stared blankly at Paddy.

“You can come out now, James,” said the Brigadier.

Out of a side door, in walked another man in a Brigadier’s uniform.

“Hello, Mr. Trimble. My apologies for confusing you. But in light of recent events I, too, have been taking precautions. This is my adjutant, Colonel Stephens. We even look slightly alike, don’t you think? That will be all, Stephens,” said Brigadier Lancelot. Colonel Stephens got up and left the room.

“I was wondering when you were going to arrive. Will had mentioned you. I just couldn’t be sure whether it was going to be you or someone pretending to be you,” said Brigadier Lancelot.

“Pot, Kettle, Black, sir,” said Paddy.

“Indeed, Mr. Trimble,” said Brigadier Lancelot.

“What about Will’s family?”

“Will’s wife and children are safe, I made sure of that. They are staying in a house my organisation owns on the Island of Gigha in the West of Scotland,” said Brigadier Lancelot.

“Your organisation?” asked Paddy.

“All in good time, Mr. Trimble,” replied Lancelot.

The Brigadier then went on to explain that Will had mentioned a nuclear energy company in Houston, Texas, called Clarkson Nuclear. It turned out that Sefton & Grey had significant links to this company. Paddy thought this must be the transnational network which Will had been alluding to earlier in the day.

“The Central Intelligence Agency are guarding Will’s family on Gigha. Go to Gigha and speak to an agent called McGregor. He will be able to provide you with more information about this situation than I can,” said Brigadier Lancelot.

“Why is the CIA guarding Will’s family?” asked Paddy.

“You don’t know, do you?” asked Brigadier Lancelot.