2250 Thursday, Waterloo Station, London
Mitch steadied his breathing as the train pulled into the station. He stood and saw in his peripheral vision that Nick did the same as a handful of people got off the train and less got on. Mitch, Nick and Officer Skinner boarded the last carriage. They made brief eye contact before Mitch looked past them, observing Officer Watson enter the second last train carriage. Mitch took a seat near the door, his eyes taking in everyone on the carriage; the Italian sat at the far end of the carriage; a smattering of other passengers were on board; Nick tapped along to imaginary music through his headset.
He’s nervous, Mitch thought watching Nick fidget. He studied Nick’s habit of continuously checking gear and instruments and even now, Nick’s arm continued to stray to the comfort of his hip where the gun was concealed.
Nick, relax, don’t give away the game, Mitch willed him.
He counted it down; the train had four stops before Canary Wharf.
Mitch ran his tongue over his teeth. My nervous gesture.
The train halted at London Bridge and three people exited.
That leaves me, Nick, Skinner, the Italian, two girls around eighteen years of age sitting in the corner of the carriage and two heavy-set men – one in a Nirvana T-shirt and the ex-military looking guy from the platform, Mitch summarized. Like to know how many are waiting on the platform at Canary Wharf. Is that Nirvana T-shirt guy one of Lawrence’s men?
He glanced towards Nick, hoping he had it under control. Nick looked straight at him, their eyes locked for a few seconds and then Mitch looked away with indifference, but read the fear in Nick’s face.
The train pulled in one stop from Canary Wharf and the man in the Nirvana T-shirt stood and exited through the center carriage.
OK, one down. I wonder if we’re too prepared for what’s going to happen. No, can you ever be too prepared?
As the train moved out of the station on its way to the final stop at Canary Wharf, Mitch saw one of the young girls approaching.
“Have you got the time please?” she flirted.
“No, sorry,” he dismissed her, not wanting to take his eyes off the play.
“Are you American?” she asked.
Get the hell out of my line of vision!
“Five to eleven,” Officer Skinner said behind the girl.
“Oh, thanks,” she turned and smiled at Skinner before walking back to her seat. Mitch heard her friend giggle as she sat down.
The train pulled into Canary Wharf.
Here we go! Mitch scanned the station platform as the train passed along to the end. He counted about half a dozen people including Adam and Ellen. Then he saw Lawrence and recognized Andrew Kenny from the annual report photo. He observed a man in a red tracksuit next to Andrew, and another large man in a Jack Daniels T-shirt sitting several seats apart, trying to appear unconnected.
A tough feat on a station platform at eleven at night.
The train doors opened.
2300 Thursday, Canary Wharf Station, London
Adam watched the platform traffic, studying who was coming in and out. He noted half-a-dozen passengers made their way to the exit and disappeared up the stairs. He saw Mitch at the door of the carriage and two young girls brush past, vying for attention.
Move it girls! Stop flirting and get out of there, he thought watching them. Adam kept Lawrence in sight.
Wearing a baseball cap and scarf, Lawrence moved across the platform towards the last carriage. He was now no more than six feet from the carriage entry, walking purposefully.
Mitch watched him and stepped forward, noting no one else alighted beside him; those left on the carriage were there for a purpose – Nick, Skinner, the Italian, the ex-military man and Watson in the next carriage.
Here we go, thought Mitch with a quick and subtle glance around at his people.
He stepped from the train, the black folder under his arm, not taking his eyes off Lawrence. In two strides he was right in front of him. He felt his team’s eyes trained on him. Behind Lawrence, Mitch saw a large man in a red tracksuit stand and stretch. Mitch’s eyes found Adam who nodded at him.
It’s under control, Mitch assured himself as he stood eye-to-eye with Lawrence.
“Your money,” Lawrence said passing him the brief case. Mitch took it from him, still holding the folder.
“Check it if you like,” Lawrence offered.
Mitch was about to flip the silver latches open when Lawrence spoke again.
“Before you open it, you might want to consider this,” Lawrence was holding his phone and Mitch could see a stopwatch on the face of the phone. A stopwatch counting down! Lawrence wanted him to see it. It was counting minutes and seconds.
With sudden clarity, Mitch realized … the briefcase was a bomb!
Shit! Mitch felt bile rising in his throat. I didn’t see the minutes for long enough … how long do I have? How many minutes left?
His eyes flicked back to the phone, Lawrence had turned it away and was looking at him, an amused expression on his face.
A thousand thoughts ran through Mitch’s mind.
Is everything a sport with this guy?
This is going to blow everyone sky high.
This means Lawrence doesn’t care about the file going to the cops or media.
Should I give him the file and get on the train, let Adam’s team pick him up?
Should I get everyone off the train?
Drag him on the train with me?
Shit, shit, shit! Must be C-4, or some kind of bomb that can be detonated by a cell phone.
Damn it.
“What’s wrong?” Lawrence asked.
The platform was still and silent as Lawrence and Mitch stood facing each other, both in perfect control on the surface.
Mitch smiled at Lawrence. A cool smile.
“Nice touch,” he said.
Lawrence smiled, maintaining Mitch’s steady glare.
“Thank you, I’m glad it wasn’t wasted on you. It’s my swansong,” Lawrence told him.
“How long do I have?” Mitch asked.
“You missed that, huh? Can’t tell you. That would be giving everything away now, wouldn’t it?” Lawrence raised an eyebrow.
Mitch’s eyes narrowed with fury.
Lawrence snatched the black folder from Mitch’s hands. “Thank you, it’s been a pleasure.”
“The fun’s not over yet,” Mitch assured him in a controlled voice. He saw the surprise on Lawrence’s face as he calmly began to turn and walk back towards the carriage doors, knowing he had a bomb in his hand.
When is this thing going to blow and am I going to get a bullet in the back now as well?
Mitch’s body tensed as he waited for the bullet, the burn, the sensation of pain; the expectation was almost paralyzing.
Get a grip, he told himself. Nothing happened. In fact, nothing was happening at all.
Mitch saw Nick’s perplexed look. He saw him mouth the words “What the hell is Mitch doing?” to Adam through the headset.
Now, now, now! Make the announcement. What the hell is going on? Mitch’s mind was racing ahead. I need that person-under-train announcement as a diversion.
Mitch squinted at Nick hoping he could read his mind, just as the announcement came over the station P.A. system.
“Due to person under train, your service will be delayed. We apologize for the inconvenience.”
Mitch turned to see Lawrence looking around quickly, his eyes finding Andrew on the platform.
“Is this a trick?” Lawrence hissed at Andrew.
Mitch grabbed Nick, pulling him close and whispered one word, hoping it would explain his actions.
“Bomb!”
“Got you covered,” Nick said.
With split second timing, Nick moved into the doorway not letting anyone out of the carriage. Mitch’s mind was in overload as he turned and ran for the stairs taking them two at a time, steadying the briefcase under his arm.
Got to get the bomb out of here.
Where to?
The water. Run the bomb to the water.
He heard Lawrence yell: “Get him!”
The last thing Mitch heard as he left the Underground was the station erupting in noise.
Adam picked up Mitch’s one word through the watch microphone.
“We’ve got a bomb situation people, stay alert,” Adam announced calmly over their wires as though this was part of a normal day.
He turned to see the ex-military man in the carriage pull his gun and decide to clear Nick out of the way of the door, firing at him at close range.
Adam yelled a warning but it was too late; Nick never saw it coming. One minute he was blocking the entrance to the carriage, the next, he was falling forward with the force of the bullet, hitting the concrete platform hard. He was out cold.
“Take him, Sam,” Adam ordered through the headset.
Samantha fired from her sniper’s position, taking Lawrence’s ex-military man out with one clear shot. He collapsed into the aisle of the train carriage.
Adam could see Nick was breathing but not moving; he was lying right in the doorway of the train, in the open.
Lawrence drew a handgun. Adam saw it and moved in tackling Lawrence to the ground. Within seconds, he had Lawrence’s arms back behind his back and cuffed.
Bullets were flying throughout the station, the air rancid and the noise deafening. Shots were fired inside the carriage; the Italian shooting at Officer Skinner.
Adam was within reach of Nick, still lying face down on the concrete. With his foot, Adam pushed Nick over the platform down onto the rails, out of the line of fire.
The man in the Jack Daniel’s T-shirt took a shot at Adam from behind a concrete pylon. Adam grabbed his .224 Boz and returned fire. He heard Lawrence laugh through the noise of the gunfire.
“What’s so bloody funny?” Adam pulled Lawrence’s head up from behind, as a bullet whistled past him.
“Your friend, he’s never going to make it.”
“How long?”
Lawrence smirked. Adam pushed him away. He saw the large guy in the tracksuit draw a gun and head towards him, intent on rescuing Lawrence.
“Stop!” Ellen yelled loud enough to get tracksuit-man’s attention.
Good on you, Ellie, Adam thought, relieved.
She had drawn her L85 and had it pointed at Andrew who cowered under a timber bench. The tracksuit-clad man stopped and looked back, debating whether to save Andrew or help Lawrence. The man in the Jack Daniel’s T-shirt kept firing at Adam from behind his concrete barrier. Adam was firing back, shielding Lawrence – he wanted him alive. The air was full of smoke making it impossible to see.
“Sam, you and Kent hold off until it’s clear. Don’t fire unless it’s critical,” Adam ordered over their headsets.
“Roger,” he heard Samantha’s confirmation.
Adam saw Skinner and the Italian exchange rapid fire on the carriage. Officer Skinner darting between seats to get closer to the Italian.
“Ellie, report?” Adam requested.
Ellen didn’t answer and Adam shot a round at Jack Daniels man before turning to check on her. He saw tracksuit-man’s eyes run over Ellen’s weapon as she pointed at Andrew’s head; weighing up the potential damage. Suddenly, tracksuit-man turned his gun on Ellen. A bullet rang out from the sniper’s position. Tracksuit-man collapsed right in front of Ellen, eyes wide open, staring blankly.
“Hesitation kills,” Ellen told the dead man, as she dragged Andrew to his feet and cuffed him. “Thanks snipers!” she said looking skywards.
“Sorry, Adam, that was critical,” Samantha said via her microphone.
“Agreed,” he said.
All of a sudden, Adam noticed the two girls from the train cowering in the corner.
For chrissake! I thought this platform was clear.
Pushing Lawrence aside, he ran towards the screaming girls, firing back at the Jack Daniel’s man, as he shielded them to the opposite exit. He pushed them up the stairs.
I don’t have time for this shit. I’ve got to get the timing of the bomb out of Lawrence. Nick, I need you!
Adam turned to find Harley had given up on him and was turning his attention to Ellen, intent on freeing Andrew nearby. Harley tackled Ellen, his fifteen-stone frame knocking her off her feet. The two of them hit the floor.
“Can’t risk a shot,” Samantha said.
Adam could barely hear her above the roar of gunfire in the carriage. Everything was happening in fast motion.
“Need help back here,” he indicated Ellen who didn’t stand a chance against the bulk of Harley, unless she could get her gun arm free.
Officer Skinner was still exchanging rounds with the Italian. Officer Watson ran out of the second carriage and with his L85, fired towards the Jack Daniel’s guy trying to make his way to Ellen and Harley. Adam looked up in time to see Watson take a bullet and fall off the platform edge.
Damn! I hope that Kevlar vest works.
Adam turned and fired a round at Harley who fell injured and screaming on top of Ellen. Adam raced over, pulled him off and secured his hands with plasticuffs. He ran back to Lawrence.
“OK, enough crap. How long have we got?”
Nick regained consciousness, the blackness lifting. He felt the tracks beneath him and a wave of panic passed over him. He tried to pull himself up and couldn’t. He tried again, and got up on his elbows. He looked down to gauge the extent of his injuries. The vest had saved him, but the close range had drawn blood. He struggled up, blinking, trying to clear his vision.
Hell, my head’s thumping! He gritted his teeth as his skin burned where the bullet fragments had scraped him.
Nick pulled himself over to the edge of the platform. He could see Adam threatening Lawrence. Behind him, Nick could hear the gunfire in the carriage and Ellen was over on the far side of the platform pushing some huge guy off the top of her. His mind snapped into gear.
Mitch’s got the bomb.
“How long?” he yelled at Adam. He saw the look of relief that swept over Adam’s face at the sight of him.
“Don’t know!” Adam yelled back.
Nick spotted Lawrence’s mobile. It had fallen a few feet from Lawrence’s body. He grabbed it. “One and half minutes!”
“Go!” Adam shouted.
Nick ran, falling over at the foot of the stairs as the grogginess hit him. He pulled himself up on hands and knees, gripping the rail.
Adam ran across the platform firing at the Jack Daniel’s man who returned fire with vengeance. Taking cover, Adam risked a quick look around. Officer Watson was lying on the tracks not moving; Ellen was heading to the carriage where Skinner and the Italian were battling it out; Andrew—Lawrence’s right-hand man—had pushed himself, cuffs and all behind the huge deceased bulk of Harley; and Lawrence lay bound on the platform watching it all with a satisfied look. The Jack Daniel’s guy was … Adam hit him with a volley of bullets … dead.
Adam turned to see Andrew Kenny, hands bound, reaching for Harley’s gun.
Samantha leapt down from her position in the ceiling, calling for Officer Kent to cover her. She landed and raced towards Andrew.
“Drop it!” She yelled.
Andrew froze and Samantha kicked the gun away from him. Adam joined her, pulling Andrew up and yanking him over next to Lawrence. Adam saw Lawrence’s eyes widen at the sight of Samantha.
“Sam, get your butt off this platform,” Adam glared at her. “Check on Watson and stay down there with him.” He indicated Officer Watson lying on the track.
Mitch sprinted as fast as he could.
OK, he thought, Lawrence probably planned the bomb to go off between stations. That gives me about five minutes … at least two minutes have gone.
The pain from his ribs and ankle made itself known to him. His chest heaved with the effort. The river came into view and he pushed himself harder.
Got to get there in less than two minutes.
His breathing was loud and labored, each step like a knife in his ribs. He clutched the briefcase tightly under one arm and held his ribs with the other.
Unbeknown to Mitch, he had less than a minute left.
The sound of gunshots continued to explode in the carriage as Ellen, Skinner and the Italian exchanged fire. Bullets passed through chairs and struck metal. Adam jumped down onto the rails and pulled himself up on the back of the train and onto the carriage roof. He saw Ellen sidle along to the entrance of the carriage. Skinner was firing from behind the seats. The Italian was surrounded, but still he wouldn’t surrender.
Adam needed to speak with Officer Kent in the sniper position, but Samantha had the intercom and had left her position. He looked up from the roof of the carriage, trying to get Kent’s attention. He made hand signs asking if Kent could get a clear shot. Kent responded in the negative. Adam looked around.
Too much smoke, fair enough.
Adam moved along the carriage roof. Leaning slightly forward, he got Skinner’s attention through the window. He drew his finger across his throat, ordering a ceasefire.
Don’t need to be shot by my own team, he thought.
Skinner nodded and Adam watched him pass the message to Ellen. Seconds later, only the sound of the Italian firing could be heard. Instantly, Adam swung in through the broken window, and landed right behind the Italian. With two swift moves, Adam had the Italian around the neck and on the floor. The Italian was bleeding from an arm wound.
“You made contact, but he’ll live,” Adam told Skinner, handing over the offender.
“It’s your lucky day, buddy,” Skinner smirked taking the Italian and cuffing him. “All clear in the carriage now,” Skinner confirmed.
“Clear on the platform,” Ellen added.
Adam strode out of the carriage. He saw Samantha attending to Officer Watson lying on the track injured, but alive.
“OK?”
“Yep, he’ll live,” Samantha answered.
Adam looked around.
“Looks like a battlefield; blood, bullets, men down and the carriage is a write-off,” he muttered.
He put his hands on his hips and did a quick check, securing the area; everyone was dead or accounted for. He looked to the stairs.
Where are you, Mitch? Did you make it?
Suddenly, he heard a sound and froze. He looked from Samantha to Ellen.
“Train!” he exclaimed. “It’s supposed to be a secure area. What the hell is happening?”
He turned towards the sound of an engine roaring towards them down the tunnel.