‘We can try, though is there enough time to organise it?’ Billingham said.
McGowan stroked his moustache. ‘I could bring my mountain bike as well, guv.’
Grant nodded. ‘Great.’
‘Alice is going to be very exposed walking into the middle of that open area,’ Ruby said.
‘I’ve asked for sniper support. It’s the best we can do.’ Grant looked at his watch. ‘We’ve very little time to be in position. At the scene, Delaney and Ruby, I want you with Alice when she sets off from the car park. You’ll observe her from there and I’ll watch her from the trees. It means you and I must be in different places. We’ll keep contact with Alice via her earpiece. McGowan and Collins, you’ll be with the uniformed officers who’ll be spread out along the line of the woods. Communication has got to be slick. Everyone stay on their toes. Let’s get to it.’
36
Forty-five minutes before the exchange, Tom was in the car park near to the drop-off point. The area was teeming with officers. Brighton division had put together a team of six on bikes and McGowan joined them. They pedalled off towards the woods where they would hide amongst the trees, ready to give chase should the abductor flee the area by track or footpath.
The paramedics and an ambulance were on standby and the technical team were equipping Alice with her microphone and earpiece. Tom found himself alongside Chief Inspector Billingham who was giving final orders to his uniformed officers.
‘Spread out and keep your eyes open,’ Billingham said. ‘I’ll keep you updated as the situation evolves. Meanwhile, anyone and anything is to be treated as suspicious even if it’s a little old lady walking her dog.’
Billingham’s officers dispersed and he turned to Tom. ‘I’m guessing you’ve not been involved in a hostage exchange before.’
‘No, sir.’
‘I thought not. Grant speaks highly of you, though in my experience, young officers tend to fuck it up. Frankly, I’m astonished you’ve been given the lead with the mother.’
Tom didn’t know what to say. Apart from something rude and that wasn’t an option.
‘I follow DCI Grant’s orders, sir. I do my best and I’ve been working with the Glovers since the beginning.’
‘I think the best thing will be if you keep out of my way,’ Billingham said.
‘If it doesn’t conflict with our mission then I’ll try to.’
‘Perhaps I’m not making myself clear. I said I don’t want you near me and I don’t want your lack of judgement making a mess of this operation. Are we clear?’
‘Crystal.’
‘That’s Chief Inspector to you. I’m glad to hear it, Detective Sergeant.’
The tone of Billingham’s voice grated but Tom swallowed it down. There was no point retaliating against a senior officer, besides, he had every intention of focusing one hundred per cent on Alice. He’d leave getting twisted up by petty rivalries to Billingham. It simply wasn’t Tom’s bag.
Tom went to check in with Ruby.
‘Was Billingham giving you a hard time?’ she asked.
‘How did you know? Don’t tell me you can lip-read.’
‘Oh. No I can’t and I was too far away to hear. I could see it in his body posture and the way you reacted.’
‘Right. Yeah, Billingham’s behaving like an idiot. I hope it isn’t going to get in the way.’
‘It won’t if you don’t let it.’
Alice was talking to Grant and Tom could tell Grant was worried she might not be able to handle it. Once Grant moved away, Tom and Ruby took Alice aside.
‘My boss is having doubts,’ Tom said. ‘If you want to pull this off you’ve got to dig deep.’
‘Oh Tom, I want to do it but I can hardly function. It’s like my mind has turned off.’
Tom took a light hold of her elbow and her green eyes fixed on him.
‘It doesn’t matter. Let me and the chief do the thinking for you – that’s what we’re here for. All you need to do is follow our instructions. We’ll guide you every step of the way.’
Ruby nodded. ‘You can do this. You’re tougher than you think.’
‘Am I?’
‘Yes! You’ve changed, you’ve found strength you didn’t know you had,’ Ruby said.
‘Thank you. I couldn’t do it without you and I don’t want to let Jack take my place. He’s bursting to and I won’t let him. You’re right – I can do this as well as him. They’re my babies and I’m going to get them back.’
‘Good,’ Tom said. ‘You’ll hear my voice playing in your ear the whole time. I’m going to talk you through it. If for any reason you go out of my sight line DCI Grant will be the one who’ll be talking to you.’
‘Thank you. Oh God, please let me get through this.’
‘I know you will,’ Ruby said. ‘Believe in yourself.’
Grant came back. ‘Everyone is in position. This is a very difficult task, Alice, and whatever happens please do as we say. Are you ready?’
Alice lifted her chin. ‘Yes, Inspector. Is it time for me to start walking?’
Grant was staked out, hidden with the other officers amongst the trees. He didn’t like this one little bit. With everyone separated all it would take was an unexpected move on the part of the abductor, or a blip in the police communications, and the whole thing could become a disaster. He cracked his knuckles and cleared his mind, breathing steadily. ACC Treadgold was right, he might not have as much endurance as a younger DCI but one thing he did have was experience. And that’s what they were all relying on.
Diane had drawn a blank with local airfields and Grant didn’t know whether to feel relieved or not. It was always a possibility the abductor owned his own damn plane, but a flight schedule had not been registered.
Grant had chosen a spot at the far end of the woods because it gave the best visibility of the mother. McGowan and Diane were close by. The abductor had sent instructions for Alice to
