Chapter 19
24th July
They woke to rain but, by the time they'd made a joint effort which produced breakfast: fried eggs, compo sausage, beans with slices of baconburger and toast on the side, the sky was clearing.
The liaison arrived at eight-thirty and, in Gally's car, they followed him to a local garage where they stood and viewed Reddington-Taylour's blue rover.
The SB man waved them over. "Note the bullet holes. It looks like after forcing him off the road they got out and tried to finish him off. Probably disturbed by the army lads, I should think."
Gallagher bent down and poked his finger in one of the two holes in the rear door. "Did they recover the bullets?"
The SB man popped his head up from the front of the vehicle where he'd been pointing out damage to Clive. "Sorry, I should have said. The Lab boys say it's a .455 bullet and with there being no empty cases found at the scene it tells them the weapon was probably a Webley."
Sandy whispered to Gally, "Webley revolver chambered for that bullet? Bit of an old weapon. I think they stopped using it in forty-seven. The later ones were a different calibre."
Gally murmured back, "Yeah, I know."
Sandy thought it over. "Do you reckon they’re trying to make us think they're independent and struggling for resources when the reality is they're not?"
"Probably, Ginge. Nothing says 'spy' more than the likes of a PPK semi-automatic, so I think, by using the old Webley, they've attempted to distance themselves from any Eastern Bloc embassies. Commendable effort but it's only worth three stars."
Their liaison ambled over. "The forensic chaps believe they fired another through the driver's side window, that's what smashed it, not the crash. I mean, the windscreen's only damaged because he headbutted it. Shall we go?" He took them to the crash site where he made his excuses and left.
After wandering around, looking at it from all angles, they drove the route then returned to the scene. Gallagher stood off and surveyed the general area.
"What're you thinking, Gally?" Clive called to him.
He returned with a thoughtful look. "I'm thinking it's not what I would've done. Whoever did this is either incompetent or it was meant to not succeed."
Sandy joined them. "How come?"
Gally blew a breath out of the side of his mouth. "I'm no expert but why didn't they take him out further back down the road just before the hill. It's much better. There are two bends there and the army lads say they lost sight of them at that point. I mean, they could have forced him into the copse. Some nice sturdy trees there and his chances of missing all of them would have been almost impossible. But no, instead, they wait until they get here."
He walked to the bend and stood on the grass, calling back. "Gentle sloping bend. Good view for oncoming traffic. Little gravel lay-by leading to a slight slope and a bloody big hedge. Nice buffer. Good view back as well, they'd be able to see anything coming up behind them for quite a way." He rejoined them, hands in pockets. "No, I'm not buying it. It's not right for me. And then they've gone to the car to shoot him, only I don't think that's what they really tried to do."
Sandy interrupted. "You think it was just for show? I must admit I thought it odd myself. Didn't they say when they found him he was lying on his left side across the passenger seat?"
Clive nodded. "Yes, that's right. So you're saying they staged it? Why?"
Gally smiled. "Because without the bullet holes we might think it was just an unfortunate accident but with them, no chance of that happening. They had the opportunity to kill him but didn't? In my mind, that means he's not their real target. Come and take a look at this?"
They walked back to the Cambridge parked in the lay-by. "If they'd reversed to more or less where we are now it wouldn't have taken more than thirty seconds, at the most, to get up close and personal, do the business and get back in the car and be off. Meanwhile, they've a good view of what's coming back up the road, so there'd be no real surprises."
"And," Sandy enthused, "the back of the Rover poking out of the hedge would have gone unnoticed to the lead military vehicle anyway, what with it being shielded from this angle by our assassins motor. The blokes in the cab of the first three tonner might have caught a glimpse but they'd have to notify the commander in front if they'd wanted to stop which would've taken a little while of flashing headlights and horn sounding. Same if anyone in the back saw anything. Meanwhile, all our people had to do was get it done then sweep their car round on the bend and head off back towards Pewsey."
"Precisely, Ginge. They had more than enough time to finish the job but didn't. They're trying to distract us."
"Then," Clive interjected. "Who is the real target?"
Gally placed a hand on his shoulder. "That I can't answer but I think we need to go back to the project and take another look at those people you interviewed."
Just after midday, he called Reg from the phone box by the village shop to update him on the theory and their progress. Told to stay put and await a return call, he guarded the kiosk by bimbling to and fro kicking the gravel back and forth. Ten minutes later, the phone rang.
It was the Old Man. "Gallagher? Interesting theory but it's only that, a theory. Best to keep the protection on Reddington in case you've got it wrong, plus with having moved him somewhere more secure his isolation might make someone more inclined to talk freely. You and Sandy will not be participating in that however because I want you both to return to the office immediately. Leave Clive to deal with the follow up enquires. I've read his report and he's obviously got a finger on the pulse of things there and if anyone can make them feel at ease then it'll be Clive."
"May I ask what the urgency is, Sir?"
"All I can tell you is we need to take someone out."
"Would that be just for a walk or a full sit down meal, Sir?"
His reward was a terse, "Don't be flippant, Gallagher." The phone went dead.