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Authors: James Becker
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Bronson.
“Listen,” he said, “I don’t mind painting slogans on walls and smashing up a few machines, but if you’re serious about having access to plastic explosives, that’s a whole new ball game. When I was in the army, I saw the damage that just a few ounces of explosive could do to a vehicle or even to a building. If you go that route, you’ll lose any public support you’ve got, and when the police come after you—which they will—they won’t be carrying truncheons. They’ll have Heckler & Koch MP5s and they’ll be happy to use them. That’s a dangerous game you’re playing.”
Mike looked at him for a few seconds, then smiled slowly.
“So you can talk,” he said, in a tone of mild surprise. “I didn’t say we had explosives. I didn’t even say we could get explosives. I just said we had contacts who could get us what we need. I’ve no idea if we’ll end up trying to bring down one of the buildings in theOlympic village using a few lumps of plastic—that won’t be our decision—but if we do go that route, it’s good that you know something about demolition.”
Eaton looked from Bronson to Mike and back again.
“I told you that we could use you, Alex. I just didn’t guess you knew anything about explosives.”
“Hang on a minute,” Bronson said. “I haven’t said anything about joining your group, and after what he”—he pointed at Mike—“has just said, I really don’t think I want to. Sounds to me like you’re getting into dark and dangerous territory.” Bronson switched his attention from Eaton back to Mike. “And what did you mean when you said that if you used explosives it wouldn’t be your decision? If you don’t decide things like that, just who is pulling your strings?”
Mike grinned at him. “We’re just a small part of a much bigger group, and they call the shots.”
“And they are…?” Bronson demanded.
Mike shook his head firmly. “You’ve just walked in off the street,” he said, “and we still know sod all about you, so there’s no chance of me saying anything else. You could be an undercover cop for all I know.”
“Do I look like a bloody cop?” Bronson demanded, feeling the first faint stirrings of unease. Did they know something about him? Had he said something to blow his cover?
“No, but you wouldn’t, would you? That’s what it means to go undercover. You try to blend in with your targets.” Mike took a step forward, moved closer to Bronson and stared straight into his face. “I don’t trustyou,” he said, “and I don’t think I’m going to like you. The only reason we’re here at all is that John reckoned you might be useful. In my book, there’s only one way to find out whether he’s right. Either you piss off out of it right now or you do something to prove who you are. We’re doing a job tonight, and you can tag along, if you want to. If you do, you’d better do exactly what we tell you, how we tell you, when we tell you. If you do okay, then we’ll think about letting you work with us. If you don’t, well”—he smiled unpleasantly—“let’s just say you won’t be seeing any of us ever again. In fact, you might not see anybody ever again.”
It was hardly a veiled threat.
“And if I don’t want to play your games?” Bronson asked.
“Like I said, you just turn around and walk away and hope that none of us see you again.”
For a few seconds the two men stared at each other in silence, the tension in the air almost palpable.
Finally Bronson nodded, because he had absolutely no option if he was to stand any chance of penetrating the group.
“Okay,
Mike
,” he said, “you’ve talked me into it. I’ll play your game. Where and when do I meet you?”
Mike shook his head. “It’s not quite that easy. We’ll be ready to roll at about seven, so John’ll call you at around six. He’ll give you the rendezvous position and tell you what we want you to do. After that, we’ll see what happens. If
“Listen,” he said, “I don’t mind painting slogans on walls and smashing up a few machines, but if you’re serious about having access to plastic explosives, that’s a whole new ball game. When I was in the army, I saw the damage that just a few ounces of explosive could do to a vehicle or even to a building. If you go that route, you’ll lose any public support you’ve got, and when the police come after you—which they will—they won’t be carrying truncheons. They’ll have Heckler & Koch MP5s and they’ll be happy to use them. That’s a dangerous game you’re playing.”
Mike looked at him for a few seconds, then smiled slowly.
“So you can talk,” he said, in a tone of mild surprise. “I didn’t say we had explosives. I didn’t even say we could get explosives. I just said we had contacts who could get us what we need. I’ve no idea if we’ll end up trying to bring down one of the buildings in theOlympic village using a few lumps of plastic—that won’t be our decision—but if we do go that route, it’s good that you know something about demolition.”
Eaton looked from Bronson to Mike and back again.
“I told you that we could use you, Alex. I just didn’t guess you knew anything about explosives.”
“Hang on a minute,” Bronson said. “I haven’t said anything about joining your group, and after what he”—he pointed at Mike—“has just said, I really don’t think I want to. Sounds to me like you’re getting into dark and dangerous territory.” Bronson switched his attention from Eaton back to Mike. “And what did you mean when you said that if you used explosives it wouldn’t be your decision? If you don’t decide things like that, just who is pulling your strings?”
Mike grinned at him. “We’re just a small part of a much bigger group, and they call the shots.”
“And they are…?” Bronson demanded.
Mike shook his head firmly. “You’ve just walked in off the street,” he said, “and we still know sod all about you, so there’s no chance of me saying anything else. You could be an undercover cop for all I know.”
“Do I look like a bloody cop?” Bronson demanded, feeling the first faint stirrings of unease. Did they know something about him? Had he said something to blow his cover?
“No, but you wouldn’t, would you? That’s what it means to go undercover. You try to blend in with your targets.” Mike took a step forward, moved closer to Bronson and stared straight into his face. “I don’t trustyou,” he said, “and I don’t think I’m going to like you. The only reason we’re here at all is that John reckoned you might be useful. In my book, there’s only one way to find out whether he’s right. Either you piss off out of it right now or you do something to prove who you are. We’re doing a job tonight, and you can tag along, if you want to. If you do, you’d better do exactly what we tell you, how we tell you, when we tell you. If you do okay, then we’ll think about letting you work with us. If you don’t, well”—he smiled unpleasantly—“let’s just say you won’t be seeing any of us ever again. In fact, you might not see anybody ever again.”
It was hardly a veiled threat.
“And if I don’t want to play your games?” Bronson asked.
“Like I said, you just turn around and walk away and hope that none of us see you again.”
For a few seconds the two men stared at each other in silence, the tension in the air almost palpable.
Finally Bronson nodded, because he had absolutely no option if he was to stand any chance of penetrating the group.
“Okay,
Mike
,” he said, “you’ve talked me into it. I’ll play your game. Where and when do I meet you?”
Mike shook his head. “It’s not quite that easy. We’ll be ready to roll at about seven, so John’ll call you at around six. He’ll give you the rendezvous position and tell you what we want you to do. After that, we’ll see what happens. If
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