‘They rough you up a bit, but it’s more psychological intimidation,’ said Malik.
‘Did they waterboard you?’ asked Faisal.
Malik laughed. ‘No, they didn’t. It was more about showing you the tricks that the interrogators would use.’
‘Anyway, brothers, we’re in England,’ said Khalid. ‘If ever you are arrested by the police you say nothing other than that you want a lawyer. That’s all you say. The British police are not allowed to hurt you or trick you or use any pressure at all. And once you ask for a lawyer they can’t ask you any more questions until the lawyer arrives.’ He sniggered. ‘The British are their own worst enemy.’
‘And bombs, did you learn about bombs?’ asked Lateef.
Malik nodded. ‘We spent a week being taught about explosives and IEDs,’ he said. ‘They showed us how to make explosives from raw materials, how to make detonators and timers — everything. From small bombs you can put in a can of Coke right up to car bombs that can take out a whole building.’
‘Awesome,’ said Faisal.
‘When are you guys going?’ asked Chaudhry.
‘Next week,’ said Faisal. ‘Wednesday.’
‘Both of you?’
The two men nodded. ‘We’re going to a wedding,’ said Lateef, making quote-mark gestures around ‘wedding’.
‘How long?’ asked Chaudhry.
‘Three months, maybe longer.’
‘Excellent,’ said Chaudhry. ‘You won’t regret it.’ He looked over at Khalid. ‘Are they going to the same camp we went to?’
Khalid shook his head. ‘A new one,’ he said. ‘Closer to the border.’ He waved at the food. ‘Let us eat while we talk, brothers. One thing I can tell you is that the food over there will not be as good as this, so enjoy it while you can.’
Sharpe was standing at the bar, halfway through a pint of lager, when Shepherd walked in. He raised his glass in salute and ordered a Jameson’s and soda from the blonde Polish barmaid. As soon as his drink arrived Shepherd took Sharpe over to a corner table, where they wouldn’t be overheard.
‘Charlie just stitched me up,’ said Shepherd as they sat down.
‘In what way?’
‘She told Hargrove that Five is going to be running Operation Excalibur.’
Sharpe’s eyebrows shot up. ‘I bet he was well pleased to hear that.’
‘Well, not running it, exactly. But I’m supposed to be filling her in on everything that happens. And she made a few suggestions as to how he should be handling things.’ He held up his hand. ‘And this is strictly between you and me. She made it clear that she doesn’t want you to know.’
‘What?’
‘She said that only Hargrove and I were to know what’s going on. Hargrove briefs me and I pass the intel on to her.’
‘So why are you telling me if she specifically told you not to?’
Shepherd grinned. ‘Because she was playing silly buggers. She said that she’d rather you didn’t know, which as far as I’m concerned isn’t a direct order. If she ever finds out we had this conversation I’ll just say that I misunderstood. Besides, what’s she going to do, sack me?’
‘Doubtful,’ said Sharpe. ‘Who else is going to get her tea whenever she wants it?’
‘Screw you,’ said Shepherd. ‘I wanted to fill you in because you need to know that anything you come up with from now on is going to be fed straight to Five.’
‘I appreciate the heads-up,’ said Sharpe. He sipped his lager. ‘So you’re now her man on the inside?’
Shepherd nodded. ‘I can’t believe she did that to me, Razor. How’s Hargrove going to trust me now? Why should he trust me? He knows that I’m going to be telling Button about every move he makes. And if he makes a mistake I’ll be the one dropping him in it.’
‘He won’t be making any mistakes,’ said Sharpe. ‘He knows what he’s doing.’
‘That’s not the point,’ said Shepherd. ‘The point is that at one fell swoop she’s pretty much trashed my relationship with Hargrove. He says it’s okay, but he would say that.’
Sharpe chuckled. ‘Maybe that’s what she wanted.’
‘What?’
‘Maybe she got the hump because Hargrove wanted you on his team. He goes above her head to get you seconded to COG; she thinks that he’s trying to steal you back so she plays her own little game to make Hargrove think that you’re now her puppy dog.’
‘Piss off, Razor.’
‘Hey, don’t shoot the messenger,’ said Sharpe. ‘Button’s as smart as they come, you know that. She’s going to protect her turf.’
‘I’m not her turf,’ said Shepherd.
‘Yeah, you’re more her bitch than her turf.’
‘Now you’re really starting to piss me off.’
‘You work for her. You moved with her from SOCA to Five; you’re part of her team. She sees Hargrove as a threat and Charlotte Button isn’t a woman you can threaten.’
‘Hell’s bells, Razor. Hargrove wanted me because he knows I can do the arms-dealer thing. He knows I’ve no interest in moving back to the Met.’
‘Yeah, well, maybe he’s sort of hoping that you might.’
Shepherd’s eyes narrowed. ‘Did he say something?’
Sharpe shook his head. ‘Not in so many words.’
‘What words, then? Come on, Razor, spit it out.’
Sharpe sipped his lager slowly, then put his glass down before answering. ‘Okay, he said it would be good to get the old team back together. He reckons that the pendulum is going to start swinging the other way and that we’re going to be given the go-ahead to start taking down the big guys.’
‘So what are you saying? He asked for me so that he could persuade me to leave Five?’
‘There you go, putting words into my mouth. No, of course he didn’t come straight out and say that. But he definitely wanted you on this operation.’
Shepherd sighed. ‘Why are people so bloody devious?’ he muttered. ‘Aren’t we supposed to be on the same side?’
‘If Hargrove does want you in COG he can’t come out and ask you, can he?’
‘Why not?’
‘Because then Button will accuse him of poaching her staff. He’s got to wait for you to ask him and this could be a way of him testing the water.’ He sipped his lager. ‘Have you thought about it? Coming back to the cops?’
Shepherd snorted dismissively. ‘And know that every move I made was being second-guessed by box-tickers and accountants? And everything I did could be splashed across the newspapers at any point? I don’t know why anyone would be a cop these days. Wouldn’t want to be in SOCA again either.’
‘Like I said, Hargrove says it’s going to change.’
‘Yeah, well, it’s not up to him, is it? But it’s not just the job, it’s the attitude. If a cop makes a mistake he gets hung out to dry. If you’re in CO19 and you fire your weapon you’re on automatic suspension until the shooting is investigated. And effectively you’re guilty until proven innocent. You make a decision in the heat of the moment because you think it’s the right thing to do, but you’re then judged by pricks who never leave their offices unless it’s to get into the back of a chauffeur-driven car. Five is totally different, Razor. Everything I do is covered by the Official Secrets Act. No newspaper is going to splash my picture across the front page; no MP is going to call for my head because he wants to appease his constituents. Five looks after its own.’
‘Hargrove always had our backs,’ said Sharpe.
Shepherd nodded. ‘Yeah, he’s old school. But he’s just one brick in the wall. Say this operation goes tits up. Say we end up putting a round in one of those guys. Do you think Hargrove will be able to protect us?’
‘You’re not planning on shooting anybody, are you?’ asked Sharpe. He grinned slyly.
‘Just you, you soft bastard.’
‘You think you could take me?’
‘One-handed,’ said Shepherd.
Shepherd was making himself a coffee when his John Whitehill phone rang. He had spent three hours drinking with Sharpe and while he was far from drunk he was still a little light-headed. It was Chaudhry.
‘Hey, Raj, how’re things?’ he said, speaking slightly slower than usual to make sure that he didn’t slur his words.