Three Faces of West (2013) (41 page)

Instantly Harvey radioed his two men in the middle of it,

“Alphas 1 and 2 come in, this is control respond over.”

“Control this is Alpha 1, go ahead over.”

“What’s your status? What’s your location?”

“Top of River View, on the 19
th
floor, heading up to the 20
th
.” Replied Jack puzzlingly,

“We have a problem.” Said Harvey, “We think there may be more explosives in the building, it could be demolition stuff. If that’s true the whole building could come down!!”

West and Hudson froze, “Could be Bruenstein.” Said John,

“So he’s still here then.” Replied Jack, “Control is there any way to diffuse these bombs?”

“We think they are hidden but are set to remotely detonate from a mobile phone signal. Such a signal is coming from the floor directly above you.”

The way forward was clear to the two men, “We need to get to Bruenstein before he sends that signal.”

“Use extreme caution Alphas, he could set it off any time. An animal is most dangerous when it is cornered.”

“Acknowledged.” Replied John as they made their way cautiously upwards to the penthouse suites.

The conference floor on the 20
th
was all quiet as they entered. Only the sounds below them rang out, muffled but getting louder all the time. Only the sounds of police sirens on the ground and the humming drone of the helicopter above seemed to provide any form of distraction.

Silently and without pause both entered the conference room where West had eavesdropped on Bruenstein before, nothing had changed except for the lighting. No longer in the dark, a dim glow from the semi charged lighting flowed around the space, giving it a spooky atmosphere. Light underfoot, they probed forward, their bodies tense and weapons drawn waiting, almost expecting the anticipated resistance at any moment,

“That’s far enough.” Growled a voice from a somewhere, Jack and John paused on the spot, their eyes flinching all around the room, the American accent seemed familiar,

“Bruenstein.” Said Jack,

“That’s right Jack. Here I am.” He replied as he emerged from the shadows, his long dark coat flowing with his steady movement as he came into the light. His pistol pointed directly at the two men. With West and Hudson doing the same, a standoff emerged and neither side was going to back down,

“I’ve got you now, you bastard.” Said Jack,

“Oh you think? Why don’t you come get me?” Revealing a mobile phone in his left hand both men looked onwards as Bruenstein’s thumb touched the screen,

“This is my insurance policy. You got to everything else, you must have found out, but this is one thing you can’t stop.” He said chillingly. Shouting and shuffling sounds grew ever louder as the SAS teams were approaching fast,

“Give it up Bruenstein, you’ve no way out now.” Said Jack trying vainly to appeal to reason,

“We need to talk to you. We have the Health Secretary, we have everything, just put the gun down.” John added but the criminal was having none of it,

“This whole building is rigged to blow. Demolition explosives planted in the structure, one step closer and I press this to detonate!! Then we all go up in smoke!!!”

They froze, knowing that the threat was very real. Thames house was listening in,

“I want that signal shut down!” Said Harvey

“What, nothing to say?” Goaded Bruenstein, he knew he had both West and Hudson cornered,

“You knew we were onto you all along didn’t you?” Asked West, “I still bear the injuries of what you did to me, look at my face!!!”

“Yes, but you still ruined everything!! I stood here and watched as my stockpile of poison went up, those trucks seized!! I should have had you killed properly back in that tunnel. Now this time I really am going to make you pay!!! This is one assignment you won’t be returning from.”

With his gun raised, he tensed up as he squeezed the trigger. Jack in his sights first with John the next target, his forefinger applied pressure. Freezing, Jack looked on as he stared into the blackness of the gun barrel, expecting a flash any second but instead a deep male voice softly spoke out,

“Bruenstein.”

Looking furtively toward the shadows where he had himself emerged from, this was just the type of distraction needed. But West and Hudson themselves did the same thing; the moment was lost in the situation. A figure appeared shuffling slowly out of the shadows sporting clothes that looked nothing more than rags such was the extent of rips and burning. Even with his utterly distressed look all three men in the standoff recognised who he was,

“Maxwell Grey!” Said Jack,

“Oh yes Mr West. Nice job you made of it out there. Pleased with yourself?” He raised his pistol to equal the odds as the sounds of the SAS drew ever nearer,

“You’re out of time assholes.” Bruenstein warned, but John saw something odd about Grey, he looked rather dazed, Jack noticed it too,

“It looks like you’re suffering the effects of poisoning.”

“Shut up!!”

Knowing he was right, Jack held his tongue,

“Tell your guys to back off, the helicopter as well. You are going to arrange my escape otherwise….you know what’ll happen.” Holding the mobile phone up, Bruenstein held a joker up his sleeve; and there was nothing anyone could do,

“Max, keep them covered at least I can trust you. Now then Jack, tell your bosses to hold off….now!”

“Are you sure?” Replied Grey. Turning round, Bruenstein suddenly found himself staring at his partner who for no reason at all, turned his weapon onto him,

“What the hell?!…You’re one of them!!”

“No I’m not. I’m not one of MI5.”

The event puzzled West and Hudson as much as it did Bruenstein. With the commotion in the background, the penthouse suite and conference space was about to be infiltrated at any moment, but the situation was more confusing as ever,

“Who the hell are you then?” Demanded Jack,

“Bruenstein knows.” He replied, but the terrorist was in the dark. Vigorously pointing his gun, first at West, then at Grey he wanted answers,

“Know what?”

“Did you really think we would just give up on you? Even with this plot going on? We always pursue rogue agents in the National Clandestine Service.”

Suddenly the penny dropped, and it hit Bruenstein like a train,

“The National-…. You’re CIA!….you’re a CIA agent!!!”

“Specialising in covert operations. Both the CIA and the FBI want to interrogate you if captured alive. This was the only way to trap you sir, now lover your weapon.”

“What the hell is going on!!” Asked John,

“I assure you I knew nothing of this.” Said Jack, “Look I don’t know what’s going on here, but if he’s interrogated, then he’s in our custody.”

Without taking his eyes off his target, Grey responded,

“I appreciate that, but we have been tracking him for a lot longer, I’m authorised to take down the target by any means sir.”

But Victor Bruenstein was not going to have any of it,

“What you think I’m just going to give up like that?” He raised the mobile, immediately frightening Jack,

“PUT THE PHONE DOWN!” He shouted,

“See you in hell.”

The computers were working overtime in Thames House as Harvey presided over the operation,

“Come on we’re out of time!!” He shouted to the operatives,

“I’ve hacked into the network. I’m sending a remote text, ‘8878’, that’ll block the app functions.”

“Do it.”

“Sending now.” A few well timed clicks on the keyboard sent the text to the device that Bruenstein was holding. Now all they could do was wait.

Chapter 27:

With all four men on the top floor of River View pointing guns at each other, the plan had lost all clarity. Only one thing was clear, Bruenstein had control over the impending destruction of the building,

“Wait!!” Jack said trying to buy some time, a few desperate moments as he wondered where the SAS were. With Grey looking on, Bruenstein was not going to give up; he pressed the button on the phone. It beeped but did nothing, the code signal to detonation blocked from an outside source; Victor Bruenstein’s last gamble had failed,

“You’ve got nothing left.” Said Jack,

“Fuck you!!” Bruenstein raised his gun to fire as John lunged to his side in a split second reaction. Grabbing his partner, his arms wrapping around his chest, he pulled Jack to the ground with every inch of strength assisted by gravity. The high calibre pistol shot out an almighty bang as the terrorist fired, the bullet missing the two intelligence men by just centimetres to spare.

Hearing the shot at Thames House froze everyone. Had West or Hudson been hit? Harvey wanted to ascertain for sure,

“Alphas 1 and 2, report! Alphas come in!! If you can hear me, get rid of Bruenstein, take him out! Kill him!!”

Grey reacted himself, not by firing; his orders did not permit that. Forcing himself forward he lunged at the big man grabbing his arm vainly trying to wrench the pistol out of his hand. Recovering from their heap, both West and Hudson looked on as Grey and Bruenstein fought hand to hand in a vicious struggle, they both wanted to do something but what? The sounds of the SAS storming upwards to their location was now louder than ever, they must be on the same floor by now,

“Alphas 1 and 2, status?” Harvey barked across the airwaves desperate to find out what was going on. Attempting a response West tried to shout a reply,

“Control, Alpha 1 here, we-‘

He didn’t have time to finish, the SAS burst in, guns pointing at everyone,

“DON’T SHOOT!!!!” John shouted, putting his hands high in the air as the men stormed in guns pointed, itching to fire. Only the crucial training prevented the reflex from pulling the trigger.

With Grey on top of him, Bruenstein pointed his pistol at the SAS men as they came into the room instantly attracting a response. It was clear he was trying to fire as Grey grabbed his arm in a vain attempt to deter him from firing but the risk was too great, was his firearm still loaded? Nobody wanted to find out,

“CONTACT!!!!” One of the squad members shouted as at least three of them fired at close range into the two men. Bullets rattled out and spent cartridges clinked on the cold hard floor one after the other as the shooting persisted, both bodies flinching and shuddered under the impact of each entry wound. Blood spattered out and flew like spray in the massacre, only ceasing once the SAS had emptied their magazines.

The silence deafened everyone and for a second nobody dared flinch until John slowly got up to make the first move. Steadily walking over to the two men, each covered in blood, it was clear both Maxwell Grey and Victor Bruenstein were dead. The criminal’s eyes, still open stared out in a hypnotic lifeless gaze off to the left hand side, no longer a threat to anyone. Grey beside him, lay face down soaked in large pooling of blood and completely motionless,

“Alphas report, we’ve heard gunfire. What’s your status?” Asked Harvey

“Control this is Alpha 2. We’re fine; Bruenstein and Grey are both dead.”

Listening on in relief, Harvey and everyone else knew that thankfully the threat was now at last, finally over,

“Acknowledged Alpha 2. We’ve just had word the police and army are diffusing the remaining bombs now. Congratulations, and well done everybody.” Turning to the Home Secretary who had been here throughout the drama, he issued his final instruction,

“You can tell the Prime Minister to instruct the Palace. Evacuation Plan Teresa no longer needs to be implemented. Instruct them to stand down.”

Back in River View, John was still knelt over the two dead bodies. Turning partially to the lead SAS squad member, and no longer caring about confidentiality he revealed the truth,

“Congratulations, Grey wasn’t who he said he was. We’ve just killed an American agent.”

Epilogue

Victoria Park, Central London 19:00pm the next day seemed quiet on the small grassy hill overlooking the capital. Standing still in the orange glow of the evening light, Jack was the most immobile object there. Looking south the skyscrapers of the city, the financial hub of London stood tall, reflecting the last rays of a glimmering, but defiant sunset bursting low through the clouds on the horizon. He watched as they lit up, ready to define the night skyline as beacons of a capitalist Western world; at least that was how it seemed to him. He wasn’t concentrating, just staring into the middle distance as he soaked up the peacefulness; a welcome turnaround from the events of the last few days. Failing to notice a black car approaching, pulling up gently approximately one hundred yards away, Jack never turned round to see the black coated figure get out and walk toward him finally stopping side by side to admire the view,

“It’s always quiet up here.” He said, causing Jack to turn his head,

“Yes Harvey.”

“You OK?”

Jack wasn’t sure, “I was wondering. Why do we do this job?”

Harvey thought on philosophically, “It’s a thankless task I’m afraid. The public don’t know we exist, yet we save their lives more often than we care to mention.”

Jack agreed as Harvey continued, “The government have issued a statement acknowledging an incident, but they’re not going into details as well as refusing to link it to the Kings Cross bombing. They are saying they don’t comment on security matters.”

“A typical politician’s response.” Jack replied, Harvey continued,

“Look regarding Maxwell Grey-‘

“I thought you’d get to that.”

“Well….on Maxwell Grey, I want to assure you that I knew nothing of his true identity. Although I must admit I found out he was the source of most of the intelligence we received regarding this case. Part of our relationship with the Americans you see.”

“Grey? He was the source of everything?” West asked confusingly,

“Well most of it, apart from a few well-placed bugs and phone taps here and there….but essentially yes. Things we discussed in that meeting with John did come from Grey.”

Jack suddenly felt like it all made sense at last, although it was hard to be believed,

“I can’t believe Grey was one of us…. Maxwell Grey, a CIA agent!! But how the hell did he come to be in Bellmarsh?”