The Keepers of the Persian Gate (24 page)

“Yes, but they were interested in peace, as were the Keepers,” replied the Mechanic.

“And now?” asked Paddy.

“And now, they want war. Total war. They have decided they can no longer control the Middle East without it. That’s why the Keepers of the Persian Gate broke away. This doctrinal shift had been on the cards from as far back as 9/11,” replied the Mechanic.

“Turning back to Atwah. If there was a trial. Could you stop the Keepers of the Persian Gate from trying to retrieve him?”

“Yes, I could,” said the Mechanic.

“How can you be so sure?” asked Paddy.

“Because I was the leader of the Keepers of the Persian Gate until my capture,” replied the Mechanic.

“Did you know that the Keepers of the Persian Gate tried to kill me and my colleagues?” asked Paddy.

“No. But I am sure they had reason to believe you were bad people. But I know you’re not, Paddy Irishman. You’re just doing your job, aren’t you?” replied the Mechanic.

Paddy gave the Mechanic a blank stare and after a few moments walked out of the interview and back into the viewing room.

“We have to ask him to be a witness in the trial,” said Paddy.

“No, it’s too great a risk. How do we know he won’t communicate with the Keepers of the Persian Gate. And in any event, it’s the defence counsel’s call,” replied Scott.

“He’ll listen to me,” replied Paddy.

“Maybe, but do you even know who the defence counsel is?” asked Scott.

“No, but I can find out. Through the ISC, I should be able to gain full access to the Privy Court and the prosecutor. That way I should be able to discover the identity of the defence counsel,” replied Paddy.

After several minutes of discussion, the group agreed a way forward. As Paddy returned into the interview room, Williamson disabled the camera and tape which was recording the interview.

“If I were to tell you that Abdullah Atwah is being held in London and is due to stand trial within the next few days, would you act to prevent the Keepers of the Persian Gate from trying to retrieve him, and would you act as a witness in that trial?” asked Paddy.

For the first time the Mechanic seemed taken aback. “Well, what’s in it for me, Paddy Irishman?”

Paddy outlined a deal in principle to the Mechanic. He had no authority to offer it, but he was gambling that the ISC would be able to pull the necessary strings in order to bring it fruition. If not, he was in trouble. The Mechanic would come to London where he would be housed in a maximum security prison, under a different name, in total isolation prior to the trial. At the end of the trial, MI6 would move the Mechanic to Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. There he would be permitted to live out his days in comfort and in favourable climates, but under the guard of the significant British military presence on the island. The ICC would be made to believe that the Mechanic escaped on route back to the Hague.

The Mechanic pondered the deal for quite some time. He even asked Paddy to leave the room for a short while. In the meantime, the group went to a waiting area for some coffee. Meanwhile, Paddy logged onto the secure ISC system to communicate with Morgan. After about an hour, he had managed to get in contact with the SPS in the UK and a meeting was arranged; Paddy was to convene with the senior barrister for the prosecution at midnight in Middle Temple Hall. Paddy looked at his watch. Although they were an hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time in Holland, it was approaching 2000 hours on the Friday night. The trial was taking place on Sunday morning, less than two days away. Furthermore, Paddy still had to brief the ISC on the new situation.

Paddy decided to say yes to the meeting with the prosecution barrister and returned to the interview room. Unbeknownst to the others, he went in and told the Mechanic very bluntly that he had five minutes to make his decision, or the window would close and he would lose his chance. The Mechanic agreed to the terms, but on one condition: that a wire transfer payment be made to his bank account in Luxembourg in the amount of €20 million. Running out of time, Paddy agreed to the terms.

“There you go, Paddy Irishman. Now I know you make promises you can’t keep,” replied the Mechanic.

“I’m not sure I follow you,” replied Paddy.

“How can you, a trainee, have the authority to grant such things? Especially on behalf of the British government?” replied the Mechanic.

The Mechanic had him right there and Paddy was really clutching at straws. However, the Mechanic didn’t know that Paddy was a member of the ISC at this stage. The only way for Paddy to give the Mechanic confidence would be to come clean to him about his role. Paddy decided that it would be worth the risk. “I have recently joined an elite intelligence committee which oversees the work of the security services in the UK. It answers to no one, not even the Prime Minister. Our recommendations go without question.”

“And you’re confident that you can achieve this?” replied the Mechanic.

“Yes,” said Paddy.

“Well, then. When I have confirmation that the €20 million has been transferred, I will be your witness, not before,” stated the Mechanic.

“Done. I would shake your hand, but it’s cuffed to the chair,” said Paddy.

“You’re so funny, Paddy Irishman,” replied the Mechanic.

Paddy returned to the waiting area. He didn’t tell the others about the full nature of the deal with the Mechanic. He thought that one would best be kept quiet. The group left the prison and returned to the airport to board yet another plane. They would fly into the London City Airport, right in the heart of London on the Thames. In order to arrive in the UK under the radar of MI5, all of the group had been supplied with fake passports by a local CIA asset and were posing as Dutch businessmen.

Chapter 15

Queen’s Counsel

ON THE FLIGHT Paddy and Adam Scott continued to ponder the damning evidence regarding Mark Glover, both the tracking device located in Paddy’s watch and the evidence supplied by the Mechanic about Mark being linked to Robert Jackson. Paddy decided to look up the chambers of Mark’s girlfriend, Catherine. Vault Chambers was a civil set of barristers. Paddy decided to call from the plane.

“Catherine. It’s Paddy, how are you?”

“Paddy Trimble. Oh my, what a surprise. Mark tells me you’ve been getting up to all sorts,” replied Catherine.

“Yes, well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Look, it is of the utmost importance that you do not mention the content of this conversation to Mark. Your life might be in danger if you do,” said Paddy.

“What’s going on, Paddy? Why are you talking about Mark like this? What has he done?” Catherine sounded distraught.

“You’re just going to have to trust me on this, Catherine. Please, it’s life and death,” replied Paddy.

Catherine sighed. “Ok.” Now she sounded as though she was weeping.

“Is there anything I should know about Mark?” asked Paddy.

“I’m not sure what you mean,” said Catherine.

“I’m going to ask this directly. Have you ever heard Mark refer to a man called Robert Jackson?” asked Paddy.

“No,” said Catherine.

“Right, listen to me very carefully. Can you get access to Mark’s apartment?”

“Yes.”

“Do you know if he’s in or out?”

“Out I think…”

“Go there, and search for any papers which you can find referring to Clarkson Nuclear. If you find those, call me straight away, ok? My mobile number is…,” Paddy read it out.

“I will.”

“Thanks, and watch your back. Good luck,” said Paddy.

It was a clear night in London when the plane landed. Despite Paddy being wanted by MI5, the team managed to get through passport control without a single hitch. Bowers had arranged MI6 transports to collect them and take Paddy to Middle Temple. In the meantime, Craig, McGregor and Williamson proceeded to the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square in Westminster. It was only a short distance away from where Paddy would be meeting the senior barrister for the prosecution of Abdullah Atwah.

Scott, on the other hand, found an urgent email in his inbox, instructing him to come to Doughty Street for a debriefing. Paddy and Jeff were reluctant to allow Scott to go. In order to divert their attention from the subject, Scott told them that he would go to a flat he owned in the City and wait until their meeting with the prosecutor had finished before going to see Mark the next day.

In reality, Scott had every intention of ignoring their advice, and underneath his calm exterior, he was fuming. His plan was to go to Doughty Street and confront Mark. If he didn’t like the answers to his questions, then he would kill Mark. What Paddy and Jeff did not know was that, despite being a tall weedy sort of man, Adam Scott had a past history with MI6 before he joined Dunlop & McLaine. He was an assassin for MI6 during the Cold War, and specialised in making deaths look like suicides. His favoured method of assassination was in the use of an untraceable version of the poison called dimethylmercury.

***

Paddy and Jeff pulled into Inner Temple at about 2345 hours. They were met at the security gates by a guard who asked whether they were barristers. Paddy explained it away, stating that they were there for a late night consultation with their barrister at a reputable set close to the Temple. Although the guard was suspicious, he eventually let them through. Middle Temple was connected to Inner Temple via several back alleys. Paddy and Jeff followed these alleys in the dead of the night to the door of Middle Temple.

When they got to the grand doors at the front of the Middle Temple, everything appeared quiet. The doors also seemed to be locked and all of the lights were off. After a few moments of waiting, Paddy decided to knock on the doors. When he did, the men could hear the echoes bellowing down the grand corridors. A wicket gate opened and out stepped a man dressed in robes and holding a gas lamp. He was quite obviously a barrister.

“Hello, are you Patrick Trimble?”

“Yes,” replied Paddy.

“Quickly, follow me inside,” said the barrister. With Paddy and Jeff inside, the barrister locked the wicket gate. Then he proceeded to lead the pair down the corridors towards the main hall. As they moved through the building, the place was almost pitch black with the exception of the barrister’s gas lamp.

“Are you the prosecutor?” asked Paddy.

“Yes. The name’s Tony Morley QC,” replied Tony.

“Why are you in your robes? Isn’t it a little late for court?” asked Jeff.

“Twenty-four hour magistrates courts have been running all week because of the bloody riots. I’ve been in court for the last forty-eight hours contesting the bail applications. Haven’t seen my wife in days,” replied Tony.

When they entered the Middle Temple Hall, Tony set down his gas lamp and grabbed a few chairs that were stacked up over in the corner. Paddy went to find a light switch.

“What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?” said Tony.

“I was…looking for the light switch,” said Paddy.

“Don’t do that. I’m not even supposed to be in here. Still got the keys from my days on the executive committee of Middle Temple. That was ten years ago. But I enjoy coming along here to work late in the evenings. Peace and quiet is a rare commodity in my line of work,” said Tony.

“I can relate to that,” said Paddy.

“So, Morgan Wright tells me you need some information from me,” said Tony.

“Yes, well. Without giving too much of the game away, I need you to set me up a meeting with the defence barrister in this case against Abdullah Atwah,” said Paddy.

“Abdullah Atwah? I’m not sure what you’re on about,” replied Tony.

“Tony, I’m on the ISC. We know all about this. Now give me the name,” said Paddy.

“I’d be breaking the Official Secrets Act if I did,” replied Tony.

“If you don’t give me the name of the defence counsel, you’ll be doing a lot worse. Now, the name, please,” said Paddy.

“Alright, alright. His name is Colin Hall QC. I can ring him and see if he’s available. Chances are he’ll be awake. The trial is on Sunday morning if I’m not mistaken?” replied Tony.

When Tony tried Colin the first time, his chambers line went straight to voicemail; however when he tried one of the three mobile numbers he had for Colin, eventually the other barrister picked up. Tony stressed to Colin that it was essential he come to Middle Temple as a matter of urgency. Within five minutes, Colin was knocking at the door, and Tony went down to let him in. When Colin entered the hall, Paddy introduced himself.

“Mr. Hall. I presume.”

“Yes. Who are you?” replied Colin.

“My name is Paddy Trimble of the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament and the law firm Dunlop & McLaine. This man beside me is Jeff Bowers of MI6. We have information which is of the utmost importance to your defence of Abdullah Atwah. Mr. Morley, if you don’t mind, we need to have this conversation in private.”

“Very well,” said Morley, leaving the room.

Colin grabbed a chair and sat down beside Paddy and Jeff. He leaned forward, ready to listen attentively. “So…What do you have for me?”

“Firstly, has your client mentioned anything in consultation about an organisation called the Keepers of the Persian Gate?” asked Paddy.

“No,” replied Colin.

“Ok, well, he is a member of this organisation,” explained Paddy. “It is a transnational cabal of men in positions of power across the Middle East whose main goal is to maintain peace between East and West. When he was captured by the SAS, your client was actually on an intelligence mission for the Keepers, and he was trying to ascertain the key players in Al Qaeda at that time by selling them faulty devices and false information. They would then follow a set trail of breadcrumbs which would lead to their capture by other members of the Keepers.”

“You have my attention,” replied Colin, pulling out his notepad.

“We have recently been in contact with a man called Ludwig Von Gunten. You may have read about him in the news. He’s more commonly known as the Mechanic,” explained Paddy.

“Ah yes, he’s due to stand trial in the Hague, isn’t he?” asked Colin.

“Yes. However, he too is a member of the Keepers of the Persian Gate. Sir, it is essential that the Mechanic is called as a witness for the defence,” said Paddy.