First Response

LAMBETH CENTRAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMAND CENTRE (5.12 p.m.)

‘Duress? He definitely said he was under duress?’ Chief Superintendent Gillard stared at Kamran over the top of his glasses.

‘The boy heard it wrong. He thought Talpur said “Durex”. But I think he was getting a message to us through the boy. Duress. He’s being forced into this.’

‘But we ruled out a tiger kidnapping, didn’t we?’

Kamran nodded. ‘All his close relatives are accounted for. But they could be applying pressure in other ways. Threats, perhaps.’

‘They threaten to kill a family member unless he helps? Would he believe that? Wouldn’t he be more likely to ask for protection?’

‘I don’t know,’ said Kamran. ‘Maybe it’s something else. Maybe it’s not something we can protect him from.’

Gillard sighed. ‘Which doesn’t help us much, does it? Even if he’s acting under duress, it doesn’t change the situation we’re in, does it? The ISIS prisoners and the bombers are heading for the airport and nothing is going to change that.’

‘The fact that he tried to get a message to us suggests that he thinks there is something we can do,’ said Kamran. ‘But for the life of me I can’t think what that might be.’