Everyone’s attention was now on Dexter.
‘OK — this is the possibility: the rucksack could have been a primary device intended to cause some damage and mass panic.’
Church was very tense. ‘If it had gone off it would have killed or maimed any of the receptionists standing near it.’
‘That’s not the point, a small explosion may kill one or two, but it makes everyone else retreat away from it and run straight into the path of a much bigger secondary device!’
Crowley grasped the enormity of Dexter’s point. ‘If the rucksack went off while we were in here, then everyone would have run out the front of the hotel into the concourse parking area.’
‘Exactly… so I need to examine that Triumph right now.’ Dexter shook the key in his hand.
The duty inspector braced himself. ‘Shouldn’t we take it to a safer place to examine?’
Dexter glared at him. ‘What’s your name?’
‘Inspector Brian Curtis.’
‘Well, Inspector Curtis, you let an IRA terrorist plant a bomb and then do parking duties! So excuse me if I don’t listen to your opinion this time.’
Although it was Jane who had given them the heads-up about the car, no one was paying her any attention. The men grouped together to discuss what to do. Inspector Curtis said that he would start organising the evacuation of the building.
Crowley interjected. ‘I am the DCI from the Bomb Squad. It’s too dangerous to evacuate. People will be seriously injured if a car bomb goes off.’
Dexter agreed and said that as the banqueting hall was at the back of the hotel it was the safest place to be at present time. Looking a bit put-upon, Curtis said he’d do his best to keep everyone in situ without causing alarm.
Dexter stubbed out his cigar, took off his jacket and once again handed it to Jane. She saw him exchange a glance with Stanley, who nodded back. They headed towards the hotel reception entrance, followed by Crowley and Jane.
The rows of parked cars in the hotel concourse were illuminated by the lights from the hotel, and there were three lamps positioned on the brick wall of the private marked-out areas. The pale blue two-seater Triumph Herald was instantly noticeable due to its age; it was not in good condition and parked right by the hotel entrance. Surveying the now full parking area Jane could see why Dexter was concerned the reaction to a smaller device would make everyone run into the path of another bigger bomb.
Crowley calmly told the reception staff to make their way up to the banqueting room and asked one of the porters to get him a torch. Dexter turned to everyone, instructed them to stay back and, holding the torch, calmly walked over to the car. He seemed relaxed but Jane’s heart was pounding. ‘The Long Walk’ seemed to be happening in slow motion.
No one spoke as they watched Dexter peering into the car. He didn’t attempt to open the doors as he moved around the car, which was parked with the boot facing the low brick wall. He crouched down by the driver’s door and shone the torch around the rim of the door and the rubber seals before peering into the door lock. Gently, he eased the key into the door and slowly turned it, causing the push button lock to pop up. It was as if he was counting down time to himself as he carefully opened the door two inches and again checked around it before opening it further.
Stanley whispered to Jane, ‘He’s got nerves of steel.’
Dexter adjusted the two front seats as far forward as possible so he could get better access to the small rear section of the vehicle.
‘What’s he doing?’ Jane asked.
Crowley whispered, ‘The car could be rigged to explode so he’s checking as he goes. The best way to examine the boot lock is to enter from the inside… If it’s rigged, he can detach any tripwires connected to the boot lock before opening it.’
Dexter leaned into the car and removed a travel rug that had been spread across the back. Under the rug there were sticks of TNT, cling film wrapped gelignite, nails and other bits of loose metal. The upright section to the boot had already been cut away to allow the rear area to be crammed with explosives. He gently moved some of the explosives so he could shine the torch onto the boot lock.
The tension was palpable. No one could see clearly what Dexter was doing as he was crouched down looking inside the boot for what seemed like ages. Eventually he reappeared, walked back towards them, wiping the dripping sweat from his forehead.
‘It’s a big bomb, at least fifty pounds of gelignite and sticks of TNT attached to a clock timer that’s ticking…’
‘How long have we got? Crowley asked.
‘Don’t know. I can hear the clock, but can’t see it. It’s inside a cigar box similar to the one I was testing at Woolwich. That helps in some ways, as at least I have an idea of its make-up. The back of the car is packed with nails and other lethal crap intended to cause as much injury as possible. The boot is booby-trapped from the inside so I can’t open it with the key until I disarm the wires leading to the lock.’
Crowley was badly shaken. He looked, almost helplessly, at Dexter. ‘Can you do this?’
‘Yes. Just keep everyone away,’ Dexter said. ‘And get me some small sharp knives from the kitchen and wire clippers as quick as you can… We don’t know when it’s been programmed to explode, so every second counts. Is DS Lawrence here?’
‘Not yet. He’s coming but got held up at the lab examining the stuff from Wilde’s flat.’
Dexter turned to Stanley as Crowley went back into the hotel to find the equipment Dexter had requested.
‘You OK to work with me… hand me what I need?’ Dexter asked.
‘Sure… of course. But will you get it done before they serve the cheese and biscuits? My wife will be going ballistic sitting next to an empty chair all night.’
Dexter laughed. ‘It shoudn’t take long.’ He turned to Jane. ‘Go back to the dining room, Jane, it’s too dangerous to be out here.’
‘No, I’ll stay here.’
‘It’s not necessary… go inside.’
‘No…’ she said, through gritted teeth, holding his jacket tightly.
Church pulled out his packet of cigarettes and lit one, passing it to Dexter who took it and gave him a smile of thanks. Church then shook a cigarette out for himself and Jane asked if she could have one. She took one and leaned towards him as he struck a match, using the same flame to light one for himself. Although the wait seemed interminable it was only five minutes before Crowley returned with some kitchen knives and a leather folding case full of tools.
‘Found the tools in the basement maintenance office… they OK?’ He handed Dexter the tools.
‘Under the circumstances, they’ll have to do.’
Jane watched as Dexter and Stanley conferred, checking over the tools together. Dexter looked round at the rest of them.
‘If you insist on staying in the foyer then you should position yourselves further inside the entrance behind the pillars for protection…’ He smiled. ‘Just in case I cock up and it goes off.’
Grim-faced, Stanley took the torch and followed Dexter to the Triumph. Dexter handed him the tools and told him to place them on the front passenger seat and shine the torch inside the boot area. Stanley could now see the explosives. He was sweating as he crouched down next to Dexter and leaned forward into the cramped space.
Dexter grinned. ‘Man, this bomb is a biggy… it would blow this car park and anyone standing in it to smithereens…’
‘Let’s hope not,’ Stanley replied nervously. He could hear the clock ticking.
There were six wires running between the cigar box to the explosives and the lock of the boot. Stanley shone the torch around the boot.