“Anyway, the idea is to break out as many as we can. A couple of hundred would be good. Enough so there will be so much fuss about recapturing them that they won’t be able to hush it up. Get it all over the press and TV and the government is going to have to start explaining why they are keeping so many people locked up. We’ll leave ‘ECR’ stuff at the scene just to keep the red flaps on their toes.”
“What makes you think the press will be interested?”
Gerry pulled out another sheet and tossed it onto the table. “Because they’ll be covering this at the same time Docklands will be chock-full of blue lights and sirens hunting our runaways.”
The sheet was headed up “Press Release, Government Announces Major Investment In Financial Services Sector.” It went on to explain how New Order was establishing a ‘Centre for Banking Excellence’ on Canary Wharf, with the remit of providing training for the women that would make up the ever growing proportion of decision-making staff within the financial sector. It looked like it was going to be a big deal, with representatives from the Treasury, Department of Education & Skills, and Department for Work & Enterprise as well as the Cabinet Office. Jack could see how Gerry might think there would be plenty of media on hand to cover it.
“So, there will be a group of four that will cut the perimeter wire and break open the doors to the back of the canteen while they’re at lunch. There’s usually only a couple of guards on during meal times. It’s all run a bit casually if you ask me. We’ll get word inside so they’re ready when the doors are sprung. I reckon half the canteen will be out before the guards wake up to what’s happening. The deal is we’re going to give each of the guys that makes it out a new ID card. That’s where our this bundle of cards comes in. What they do with them will be down to them.” Norm smiled. He wasn’t sure if Danny knew what was being planned for the forged ident cards but he guessed he didn’t care.
“Now,” Gerry said turning to Norm, “I’d like you to hang on to your bag until Thursday. Then you can bring it over to an address in Docklands that I’ll let you have. I’d rather not have these hanging around for a couple of days and you’re much less likely to attract attention at the moment. I assume you don’t have to be back in Ireland right away.”
Norm put his case up on the table. “Suppose I just left these here and pissed off?”
“Then I think you’d make me unhappy, and that will make Danny unhappy and shortly after that I think you’ll be unhappy too. So be a good bloke and oblige me, will you.” The menace in Gerry’s voice was clear. Norm found it easy to back down.
“Fair enough. I wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.”
Chapter 19: Raid
Norm was optimistic that he’d be able to make the afternoon flight to Dublin. He aimed to drop off the ident cards at Docklands first thing, then head round to Victoria to pick up the train to Gatwick.
He’d be glad to get back to Ireland. He hadn’t enjoyed returning to the world of New Order and he’d enjoyed the experience of operating under cover even less. The fact that Gerry’s group didn’t seem that well organised didn’t give him a lot of confidence but at least it didn’t look like they weren’t planning anything violent.
The address Gerry had given him was close to the northern end of Mudchute Park. It was a part of London he knew. He’d grown up in Stratford. He felt uneasy about the cards he was carrying but at least he knew the ground, he told himself. He kept looking for any MCF presence but he guessed that most of them would be on security detail over at Canary Wharf. He managed to find the address without a problem.
Jack was already there with Gerry and three others.
“Can I give you these now?” Norm asked, handing over the ident cards.
Gerry took them and looked them over. “Why not. I’ll let Danny know how helpful you’ve been. These look pretty good.”
“I’ll tell Danny. Hopefully the MCF will agree.”
“Well, in twenty minutes or so there will be a couple of hundred blokes hoping the same thing.” Jack stuffed the cards in his back pack. He and the others and headed out. Gerry stayed. He looked at his watch. “We’ll see how young Jack gets on with this.”
“Has he not done much of this sort of thing?”
“About as much as you, I would think. And you’re as Irish as my ma’s Yorkshire pudding.”
“Does that worry you?”
“Nah. I’m guessing you’ve jumped from a sponsorship here and made the crossing. If you’ve got the nerve to come back, fair play to you. Jack’s proving something to himself. He’s just not sure what yet.”
“Well, if you’re happy, I’m going to head off. Irish or not, I’m on a flight to Dublin later and I’d hate to miss it.”
“Well, I’m not sure I’d be trying that today. I’m going to hang on here for a while and see how the break works out.” He looked at his watch again. “They’ll have clipped the fence now and then broken through the back wall of the canteen. Our friends on the inside will be making their way out. There’s a boat waiting in the Gallions Point Marina that will get them across to the south of the river and then they’ll be on their own.”
“Do you know what. I think I’m about changing my travel plans. Life’s going to hectic everywhere for a bit with that lot running around.”
“You could be wise.”
There was a crash from the front door as Jack half fell through it. “Gerry,” he called, “get the fuck out of here!”
He was obviously distressed. He dumped the back pack with its load of ident cards on the table. Gerry tried to calm him. “What happened?”
“I don’t know. We got about twenty out, I reckon, but then a whole bunch of MCF turned up, body protectors, riot shields, helmets, dogs, the whole bit. Terry took a tasering and Greg got clubbed down. I didn’t see what happened to Jim.”
“Do you think you were followed back?”
Jack shook his head. “I don’t know, I don’t think so, but once those girls start in on Terry and Greg I wouldn’t rate their ability to keep a secret. So we’re not safe here.”
“They know fuck all about the organisation apart from knowing about this place.” Gerry looked around at the room, apparently thinking. He came to a conclusion quickly. “Someone’s blown the whistle on this but I’m fucked if I know who. Inky Skin and Mudchute will stay off limits until we work out if they are secure or not. This place too, obviously. Our best bet now is to split up. Good luck you two.” He grabbed the bag of cards and headed for the door without looking back to Jack and Norm.
“Thanks a bunch,” said Norm as Gerry disappeared out into the back yard of the house. Norm looked at Jack. He was obviously scared and without the least idea where to go. At least Norm had the benefit of knowing the area. “Come on,” he said, “I know where we can hide out for a while at least.”
Jack looked relieved. He was only too happy to follow him.
They found their way to the back of an old factory building. It was disused now and there were store rooms set around a courtyard. Norm broke open a rotting wooden door and got them inside. The two men had found somewhere for a while at least They waited until dusk. The police activity seemed to have died down. They had seen the last lot of blue flashing lights and heard the last sirens over an hour ago.