Faulkner nodded. “Your sister has been very naughty, Danny. She’s a proper little villain. Doesn’t know much though, unfortunately. Otherwise the Kelleys would have never turned her over.” He extracted another cigarette and tapped it on the pack, thinking. “By rights, we should bang her up in Holloway nick for a nice long stretch.”
Danny didn’t reply. Faulkner nodded again, as if Danny had done something right. “I’m still mulling on it, me. But you’re bound for great things, my lad. Keep your nose clean, and who knows what the future holds?” He lit a second cigarette and held out the pack. “Sure you won’t have one, Danny boy? Helps calm the nerves.”
26: Aftermath
Hannah was in a café, grabbing lunch for herself and Sarah, when the news broke. GBB footage rolled across her display and she froze, unable to do anything but watch. She’d only been to the DedSec hideout in Tower Hamlets once, but she knew it well enough to recognise the building Albion had raided. And if there had been any doubt in her mind, the moment a handcuffed Krish was dragged into view, face bloodied, and unceremoniously tossed into the back of a waiting van would have made clear what had happened.
A sudden panic gripped her. She looked around, expecting to see the police or worse, Albion, coming for her. Her order hadn’t arrived yet, so she hurried to the toilets. The ladies was empty so she locked herself in. Her heart was beating too fast, and for a moment, she feared she was having a serious panic attack.
This wasn’t the first time a cell had been raided. There were procedures in place for this eventuality. DedSec operations were vaporous by design. Each cell in a given borough had their own way of doing things. And when one went down, the others went black until the danger passed. Forcing herself to calm down, she activated her Optik’s encrypted communications app. First things first – a status report. “Bagley?”
Silence. A crackle of white noise. Then: Hannah, I’m pleased to hear you are in one piece. That’s more than I can say for some of the others.
“That’s not funny, Bagley,” she hissed, pitching her voice low. “What happened?”
Albion happened. There was no warning.
“How is that possible?”
You’re asking the wrong person. Actually, do I count as a person?
“Bagley!” She flinched as her own voice echoed back at her.
I don’t know how it happened. All I know is that it’s not an isolated incident. It’s happening at various sites over the city.
“Show me.”
Snippets of drone feeds peppered her display: a gang of graffiti artists in Walker’s Court were rounded up by armed Albion operatives; Albion pursuit drones swept over Camden Market in pursuit of a hooded cyclist; mass arrests in Leake Street, at the Barbican Centre and the Brixton Barrier block estate.
“Enough,” she said. “What now?”
I would recommend you leave the capital immediately.
“I can’t.” Hannah closed her eyes and bowed her head. “I can’t.” She felt as if the world were coming apart around her. “Sarah would wonder where I went. People would get suspicious.”
By the time they figured it out, you could have a new name, a new life.
“No. My life is here. What about the others?”
Mostly keeping quiet. You know the drill – complete comms black out.
“Am I in danger?” she asked, softly.
I wouldn’t have recommended that you leave if you weren’t.
“How much time do I have?”
Unknown. If you’re careful, they might never find you at all.
“Comforting,” Hannah muttered. “Why is all this happening now? What’s going on?”
Unknown. Again, I recommend you go to ground, post haste.
“I’ll take it under advisement.” She paused. “That information we got from Holden… has it come to anything yet?”
Ah. Now there, I might have better news for you. The man in the photo is named Art Coyle – though that’s an alias. I traced the number to an obvious shell corporation with offices in a certain infamous building at the heart of the financial district.
Hannah thought quickly, as the data downloaded to her Optik. “Is… is Olly still alive?” She knew Liz was dead. Krish had told her that much, the last time they’d spoken. But if Olly was still out there…
Oliver is in Albion custody, much like Krish and the others.
“Shit. Shit, shit, shit.” She sat for a moment. Then, in a small voice, “Is anyone left?”
A few. Enough. Bagley paused. Hannah, I’m patching you through to the café’s security feed. An Albion APV just pulled up. Make yourself scarce.
Hannah was out of the bathroom moments later. She paused in the corridor. There was a service entrance – but what if they were waiting? What if they weren’t here for her at all? Options and outcomes flooded her mind. One stood out, something her father had often said: the police only chase those who run.
She took a deep breath and went back out into the café. She would pick up her order and go, as if nothing at all were out of the ordinary. Then she would go back to the office and try to come up with a plan. Maybe if she were to alert Sarah as to the arrests – no. There was nothing Sarah could do about that. Nor was she likely to stick her neck out in such a fashion.
There were other ways, though. If Sarah managed to pull off her rebellion, Albion might well be pressured into releasing those it had taken into custody. She felt a flush of renewed confidence. DedSec might be down, but it wasn’t out. Not yet.
Her order was waiting for her at the counter when she got back. She smiled at the barista and picked up the bag and Sarah’s coffee. It was only as she was heading for the door that she realised that the server hadn’t smiled back – and how quiet the café had fallen.
“I’ll take that, thank you, Ms
