Dead if You Don’t

106

Sunday 13 August

17.00–18.00

‘Target’s on the move,’ Pip Edwards informed Oscar-1. ‘He’s leaving the industrial estate via the exit road — he has no alternative route.’

Keith Ellis well knew from his earlier days as a traffic officer the difficulties involved in following a target without being observed — especially motorbikes — and the dangers if it later turned into a pursuit. A couple of years ago an RPU officer had entered into pursuit with a motorcyclist who was weaving recklessly through traffic on a motorway. A short while later it had ended in tragedy when the biker turned off at an exit, lost control a few minutes later and hit a petrol tanker head-on.

Since then, and after a number of other motorcycle fatalities during pursuits, policy dictated that motorcycle pursuits should only be authorized in exceptional circumstances. As part of a kidnap in progress, this qualified.

‘Hotel Tango Two-Eight-One, do you have visual contact?’ Ellis asked.

‘Not at this moment — we will shortly.’

‘Follow at a discreet distance when you do.’

‘Yes, yes.’