CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
It was Wednesday the 6th of October 2010 10.00 am, 10 Downing Street, Westminster. Chancellor of the Exchequer Albert Hollis was at his desk sucking on his pipe. It filled the air with a calming waft of African tobacco that mixed with the tinge of brandy and leather polish and brought a sense of calm to him. He awaited Bruce Hurst and Roger Barkly who had requested a closed meeting with Hollis. They entered the room carrying nothing with them and sat down after greeting Hollis. Hurst started to explain.
"I have had explicit and concise information forwarded from Stanton through MI6 code channels. Roger and I have some more work to do on some of the information but we are the only recipients and it ties in with something we have been waiting to move on for quite a while. Stanton found a lead to Tali Mahir, Cleary denoting that the missing Australian small arms sale is tied in with him. He got the name direct from one of Mahir's henchmen who met with an unfortunate accident whilst visiting Australia.
The sale is a smoke screen by Mahir to draw resources away from the real issues. The real issues being the Pakistan nuclear arsenal. Mahir has been negotiating with his favourite kind of people - radicals. These things are fact and Mahir, formerly Kadeem Levi, has access to the strings that operate them. Stanton is going after Mahir and has requested we do the same. The CIA are also sending someone in; it is hoped one will succeed with gaining the information we need to pull this up. Kadeem Levi is a madman, has an axe to grind and we ask for permission to take up the mission. Stanton missed Levi when he was ousted in the late seventies; time has come to act."
Hollis looked down at the table and started to reload his pipe. He rolled his lips and blinked several times before speaking. "The question is does Mahir already have his hands on the strings of the nuclear arsenal. Stanton or anyone else could bring on the biggest catastrophe we’ve been trying to avoid. Do we have any information to indicate this?"
"No sources including the CIA and Stanton can preclude that,” said Barkly. “We have assessed the Defence Department's latest information that puts the nuclear arsenals squarely in the hands of a very complicated process involving the most trusted people in Pakistan. It is more complicated than ours; a real threat is if Pakistan goes on alert and India does the same thing. If we consider all these risks the bigger is to leave what we already know, we should not just stand back to see what happens. Too late in such a circumstance will be too late for anyone."
Hollis stood up and began to pace around as he listened. "If you go in what are the odds you will succeed in getting to Mahir?" asked Hollis.
"Thirty percent at best," said Hurst.
"Thirty percent, a little optimistic I feel but I admire your courage," said Hollis.
"It's the arms deal fiasco, they must be attempting something big to pull such a stunt. They have completely cocked it up; just one mistake over Stanton's wife took the lid off this. We don't have much time, three fronts of attack that's ninety percent if you add up the three at thirty percent. Stanton also made contact with a French member of the Secret Service, an x legionnaire called Louise Legrand. We are not sure if Stanton has asked for the person to get involved but it would improve the odds even more."
"Bruce I must say that your arithmetic leaves much to be desired. The fact that Stanton has contacted Louise Legrand is quite significant in itself and shows the urgency Stanton has assumed. Louise Legrand, a female French Secret Service agent, Stanton's eldest son saved her life, that's how he was captured in Libya in the first place. She was the one who personally took the information to Stanton; they have been quite close I hear ever since. This is extremely unexpected and of grave importance; I have never heard of Stanton asking for help before. If I let you go then I look upon you as if it be the last time I see you. However we have a duty to act on things we know about and can aspire to. It is with a heavy heart I agree with your deployment. The Americans as well… we can't all be wrong. You know that when you go we will vehemently deny any knowledge of you should you be apprehended in any official manner. If Stanton had not been the bearer of the news I would not agree, but he has no political or industrial motive nor does he have an axe to grind. Just the safety of us all and his family drive him. One day he may be left alone. Make every single resource you can available to Stanton and the Americans."
"We have the CIA operatives’ names involved; they look to be good men," said Hurst.
"A few good men or people in this case are always what it comes down to. Go before I change my mind and Godspeed. Should I hear you run into trouble I will have to inform the cabinet and we will have to apply far more serious means; I'm sure you understand. Until then we wait." Hurst and Barkly rose from their seats and moved towards the door.
"Give our regards to your good wife," said Hurst as he left.
"Indeed," replied Hollis.
The door closed and Hollis reloaded his pipe, fired it up and looked at the ceiling puffing away. Waiting. He had done it before.