Siege

Ninety-two

THE MOMENT ARLEY walked back in the room, everyone turned her way.

‘Ma’am, where the hell have you been?’ John Cheney asked incredulously. He was down to his shirtsleeves and looked more stressed than she’d seen him all night. ‘The SAS have gone in and we’ve got hostages coming out.’

‘Silver Commander’s on the line from 1600, ma’am,’ said Janine.

Riz Mohammed had the phone to his ear, but he was shaking his head. ‘I’m getting no answer at all. Right now, I have no idea what’s going on in the hotel.’

Arley looked around. She felt numb. She had her children back, and for that she was truly thankful in a way she couldn’t describe, but now that they were safe the enormity of her losses bore down on her like a lead weight.

She turned to Janine. ‘Can you tell Silver that I wish to be relieved of my post. I’d recommend that Chris Matthews take over for the duration. Thanks to each and every one of you for all your efforts tonight.’

There was a stunned silence lasting a good three seconds, before Cheney finally broke it. ‘Arley? Ma’am? You can’t just leave in the middle of a crisis like this. It’s bloody madness.’

Arley fixed him with a hard stare. ‘I’m sorry. There’s nothing else I can do.’

Cheney started to say something else, but she’d already turned her back and was walking out the door, knowing it was only a matter of time before her colleagues realized what she’d done, but knowing too that she had to see Oliver and India before she was arrested. Only then would she be able to prepare herself to face the consequences of her actions.

But she’d barely gone ten yards across the grass in the direction of the outer cordon when she heard footsteps behind her.

It was Cheney.

She stopped, facing him. ‘Leave me alone, John.’

‘At least tell me what’s going on, Arley. You’ve been behaving strangely all night. And who exactly was your mysterious source who knew that the SAS were walking into an ambush?’

‘You’ll find out soon enough.’

He took a step forward. ‘Come on. We go back a long way. I may be able to help.’

She didn’t know if he could or not, but before she had time to think about it, she was talking. ‘My children were kidnapped by the terrorists who organized this siege. They used me to tell them the plans for an assault on the building. I almost sent those SAS men to their deaths.’

‘Jesus. What stopped you?’

‘The kids escaped,’ lied Arley, knowing she had to be careful to protect Tina’s role.

‘So, there was no informant?’

‘No, there wasn’t.’

‘I’m sorry. If there’s anything I can do.’

‘You can cover my tracks, and give me some time. I need to go and see my children. I need to tell them about Howard.’

Cheney nodded. ‘I understand. And I’ll do what I can.’

Arley managed a tight smile. ‘Thanks, John.’

‘Good luck, Arley.’

They looked at each other for a long moment, and she wondered if he still felt something for her after all these years. If he did, it was way too late.

She turned away and started walking, her pace quickening on the wet grass.

And then, just as suddenly, she stopped, feeling a growing sense of dread.

She turned round and watched John Cheney walk back towards the incident room.

Which as far as Arley was concerned could only mean one thing.

He already knew.