Poseidon's Ransom

Chapter Thirteen

The subsequent forty-eight hours had been spent on damage control and containment.

HMS Poseidon had abandoned the short sea trial and returned to its base in Faslane. The crew to a man, had been de-briefed by Naval Security and, again to a man, had been reminded, they, as members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces, were subject to the stringent parameters of the Official Secrets Act.

Any breach of security and mention of recent events on Poseidon, by any member of its crew, would render said individual liable to a charge of treason, resulting in a minimum term of fourteen years imprisonment.

MI5, MI6, Special Branch and the National Counter Terrorism Office, had taken it in turn to interview the hostages. No real information, or intelligence had been forthcoming, other than; they all wore black coveralls and balaclavas. The leader spoke American and the others had East European accents.

After a rigorous twelve hours of questioning, Lady Grainger and her daughter Caroline, Kathy Dowling and her sons, along with the Pikes, were released, but not before they too had signed and been made aware of the consequences of breaching the Official Secrets Act.

Special Branch had taken over the investigation at the Welsh farmhouse, but the fire had, as was intended, destroyed anything that could offer a clue as to who the terrorists were. The four bodies were recovered but were burnt beyond recognition. DNA was extracted and sent for analysis, in the hope there may be a hit on the system to identify someone.

The van the hostages were given, had been dismantled and every inch of the vehicle had been inspected by the best forensic team in the country, resulting in absolutely nothing.

Nothing had appeared in the media… Yet.

Within an hour of the three billion pounds being paid, the Prime Minister had convened a meeting with the Director General of the Security Services. The meeting was brief.

The PM had stood in front of the big oak desk, her eyes narrowed, voice clear. ‘I want you to bring all our assets to bear and find the perpetrators of this attack on our country. I want them all brought to justice, in whatever shape or form that justice maybe. Do you understand?’

The Director General nodded and said, ‘Yes, ma’am, I…’

The PM raised her hand and continued. ‘And I want our money back.’