TERRORIST TASK FORCE
Chen and David Bell were staring at the digital operations board on the wall in front of them. York Minster had been bombed the day before and it was almost certain that Yasser Ahmed was responsible. Forensics had identified the explosive used in the Minster bomb as Semtex, from a batch that was identical to some that was seized en-route to Ireland, from Libya in 1998. The suicide bomber had left no clues as to his identity, but strangely he had forced the visitors in the cathedral to leave before he blew himself to pieces.
“It looks like he may have had a change of heart at the last minute,” Chen said thoughtfully flicking through photographic evidence from the scene. The suicide vest had been packed with steel ball bearings, which had only one purpose. That purpose was to maim and kill as many human beings as possible. The bomb was not designed to destroy buildings, although the damage it had caused was extensive.
“If we are certain that this is an Ahmed sponsored attack, then we have a message of some kind beginning with the letter Y,” said the fat controller trying to get one-step ahead.
“Well I don’t believe that he is sending us anything Islamic, or in Arabic. His name starts with the letter Y, and so does his sister`s name Yasmine,” David Bell continued.
“If your theory is right then the next attack should be on a site beginning with the letter, A and the one after that should be the letter, S.”
Chen typed the letter A into the digital computer screen and pressed search. The screen came back with two hundred and fifty thousand places that began with the letter, A. He narrowed the search to the UK only and reduced the number to sixty two thousand. It was still like looking for a needle in a haystack. Chen tried several different searches. Cathedrals beginning with, A, produced just twelve possible targets countrywide. Churches or synagogues beginning with, A, increased the possible number to twelve thousand. It was all supposition and speculation, and they needed more information to narrow the search.
“We must have something else that we can use to cross reference this information with. What else did we really discover from the raids in Warrington?” Chen said thoughtfully, scratching his head.
“There was nothing that we can use here. The only information that we haven’t received yet is a report from uniform division. They were going door to door on the industrial parks checking out businesses to see if any of them were not legitimate. They were supposed to cross-reference all the vehicles that entered the park against their registered business addresses. I`ll give them a call now and see if anything jumps out as being useful to us,” David Bell said reaching for the telephone.
Chen radioed the Armed Response Unit that was tailing the Bosnian suspect Rasim Janet. He had shot Sian and everyone was keen to bring him down but they were also hoping that he would lead them to Yasser Ahmed. Chen was informed that the Bosnian was on a train heading for Chester. That made sense because he would have to change trains there to continue his journey north to Warrington. Alternatively, he could transfer to a train travelling east to Liverpool. He was being tailed by a very competent undercover agent named DC Ruth Walsh whom Chen was familiar with. There was a full surveillance team already assembled at Chester waiting for Rasim Janet to make a move.
David Bell tapped Chen on the shoulder making him jump with pain. His bullet wound was still fragile despite him no longer using the sling. He signed off with the Armed Response Unit and turned back to the intelligence gathering.
“This is very interesting. I can`t believe uniform haven’t spotted this and sent it on to us the bloody idiots,” Bell said taking off his round spectacles and wiping spittle from around his mouth. He always spat a little bit involuntarily when he became annoyed, and even more so if he was drunk.
“Calm down and tell me what you think it is that is so important,” Chen said hiding a smirk.
“We gave uniformed division the job of cross checking every vehicle that moved on and off that industrial park against the Companies House records in London. One company on the list did not exist as a legitimate business. They apparently buy and sell reconditioned vehicles from a unit not far from the cold room operation that we raided,” Bell stopped to take a drink.
“Have uniform been to the business in question to investigate?” Chen asked, not quite keeping up with conversation.
“Yes they have and the unit was empty. They cleared out a week ago according to their trading neighbours. It was completely scrubbed down and gutted apparently. Now here is the best bit, guess what type of vehicles they repaired?” Bell said dribbling a little again and waving his round spectacles about in frustration.
“I have no idea, please get to the point,” Chen encouraged.
“They repaired ice-cream vans and hot dog wagons. The neighbours saw several rundown machines being taken there and just assumed that`s what business they were in,” Bell stood up and kicked the desk.
“We need to get sniffer dogs into that building to see if there was ever any explosive in there. I mean right now, today,” Chen walked to the digital screen and typed in the word `events` beginning with, A. Nothing of any significance appeared.
“What are you looking for now?” Bell asked. He had just ordered the dog teams to the industrial unit to search for trace evidence.
“We must be able to use this ice-cream van information to narrow down the search. Ahmed will look for an event where there are large crowds of people if he is going to utilise this van theory,” Chen looked out of the window toward the River Mersey and watched six men cross the road all wearing red Liverpool football shirts.
“Oh my God, it`s the FA Cup-tie today. Liverpool will be playing Everton in the quarterfinal of the cup. There will be thousands of people there today. The game is being played at Anfield,” Chen spoke as if he was in a dream as the realisation of the horrific scenario hit home. It was twelve thirty pm and kick off was scheduled for three.