Cell

40

Before beginning, Tweed apologized to Sarge, told him he had brief vital instructions to give, left the office. He ran down and entered the visitors' room. Paula, Marler and Monica were seated at the bare wooden table, drinking coffee. Tweed spoke rapidly.

'You both heard the orders I gave to Newman to drive to Carpford, to check who is there. Since Newman is occupied upstairs I want you, Marler, to take his place. Paula, go with him. Don't forget to check the rooftops for an elevated aerial or mast. Then get back to report to me. Urgently…'

He returned to his office, sat down behind his desk. He began explaining the situation. Sarge listened without saying a word. Tweed showed him a detailed map of the Thames area, pointed out the power station, St Jude's Hospital.

He showed Sarge Beaurain's drawing of the device, then the photo from Mayor Giuliani Buchanan had left with him, the photos Newman had taken from the hospital of the wharf. Mackie, the most brilliant boffin in the basement, had since provided blow-ups of Newman's photos. Sarge was most interested in the pic Newman had taken looking down inside the main hatch.

'Took that one,' Newman said, speaking for the first time, 'as the barge tilted towards me. A big police launch moving upriver had sent out a large bow wave, causing the tilt. The device you can now see clearly placed below the hatch is like the photo Giuliani sent from New York.'

Sarge nodded his agreement. Tweed explained the measures being taken by Buchanan along the Embankment later. He covered all the information they had obtained, his plan for eliminating the al-Qa'eda cell. Sarge nodded again. He had taken no notes.

When the time came for him to leave he asked for all the photos and Beaurain's drawing, together with Tweed's map. He put them inside the briefcase he'd been carrying – more cover as a businessman. He told them the SAS unit would number about thirty, got up to leave. 'We should meet here again. Midday? Good.' Then he left, after shaking hands.