Part 3
Wednesday the 28th of August
“There’s been nothing on the news,” Dave said as sunny intervals were predicted for most of Britain. “No notice of any arrests, I’m worried that we’ve been too ambitious.”
“Or too cheeky. I’m still not sure bad poetry was the way to go,” Susan replied pointing the remote and turning the volume up.
Dave sat and thought, “Let’s do nothing for a while.”
“We could see where the most wanted are. It’s not as if they can hide their hiding places from us. Break out the road map again.”
Dave brought up the pictures of the most wanted on the computer screen. He concentrated on the first image and started flipping through the road map of Britain. “He’s still in the same place, so’s he and him. Do you think they’ve not received it?”
“Possible, but unlikely, we could always send a reminder, you know the same list and tell them to get their fingers out their arses.”
“He’s moved. Number five, he’s in a different place, I don’t like this at all,” Dave was worried.
“What do you think is happening?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t believe they’re just sitting idly by while someone sends them lots of info on their most serious cases. Let’s send a reminder but post it somewhere different.”
“Do you really think they’re watching every post-box in Newcastle?”
“Yes I do, call me paranoid, but there must be people wondering who I am.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“Thanks. Let’s nip down to Manchester to visit your parents at the weekend, we’ll post a reminder then, if they’re still in the same places and not been arrested. The ‘most wanted’ been arrested that is, not your parents. If your parents have been arrested then the shit has really hit the old fan.”
“I suppose we could.”
“I’m going to have a beer.”
“You look really worried love,”
“I am really worried, do you think people might be really interested in seeing how I do this?”
“Like what?”
“Want to cut up my brain.”
“They wouldn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Kill the goose that laid the golden egg, if anyone is interested in you then they’ll want you alive and happy.”
“Happy?”
“Well yes you can’t do the trick when you’re stressed.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Neither do they, anyway I’ve watched you, you need to concentrate, you can’t do that when worrying over other things.”
“Do you not worry about your safety?” Dave asked
“What do you mean?”
“Well people may use you to get to me.”
“You’re being paranoid again.”
“Perhaps, but first I’m going to write that new letter. Wait put gloves on when loading paper into the printer.”
“What?”
“Put your marigolds on, we don’t want fingerprints on the paper.”
Susan stared at Dave and then went through to the kitchen. She obviously thought he was being overly paranoid.
Saturday the 31st of August
Susan glanced around, was Dave’s paranoia rubbing off on her? No they’d be watching Newcastle post-boxes, if they were watching any of them not Manchester ones. She glanced around again. Damn, just post the damned letter. The letter dropped into the bottom of the post-box. Right back to see if Dave had killed her parents yet.
*
“Did you post your letter dear?” Dave asked as she returned.
“Yes, sorry, I meant to do it on the way here and we forgot.”
“Would like some tea Susan?” her mother asked.
“I’d love a cup.”
“You know your father and I were just saying that we haven’t seen much of you recently. We would come and visit you in Newcastle, but with your father’s hip it makes travelling so much harder for us.”
“You could get the train and we’d pick you up from the station.”
“But rail prices are so expensive these days.”
Yes perhaps we would visit, if you didn’t just complain as soon as we arrived, Susan thought.
“And we’re not getting any younger.”
Monday the 1st of September
Dave and Susan scanned the newspaper. There was nothing suitable, no missing children, no more missing paintings.
“Bugger,” Susan said.
“Are you wanting there to be major crimes?” Dave asked.
“Well no.”
“I’m off to work.”
“Have fun at the office,” Susan said as part of their morning ritual.
“Have fun in the shop.”
It was only a short walk from the bus stop to the office, but Dave was convinced he was being watched, nothing specific but a general feeling. Was this how madness started?
*
“A little boy has gone missing,” Susan said as Dave walked in the door. “It’s in the Chronicle.”
Dave didn’t reply. The feeling of being watched had followed him all day. Was this a side effect of being able to find things? Can a feeling of being followed, follow you about?
“You have to find him,” Susan continued.
How could he say no.
“Are you alright?” Susan asked.
“Actually, no. I’ve been feeling strange all day, like someone is watching me.”
“Well nobody is watching you.”
“How do you know?”
“Well I suppose I don’t. Sorry love.”
“Do they have a picture?”
“Picture?”
“Of the missing boy.”
“Oh yes.”
“I’ll get the street map out.”
Dave started reading the Chronicle. “You know after Alice, I read up on missing children and the quicker you find them the more likely you are to find them alive.” Dave scribbled down an address.
“What are you going to do?” Susan asked.
“Phone the local police from a phone-box, give them an Abba title, the address and tell them to get there.”
“I’ll do it.” Susan said, “Time for Ring Ring or S.O.S?”
“No make it an obvious Abba title. Have we used Chiquatita? And go to the city centre and get the bus.”
“Any other instructions oh paranoid one.”
“Stop it, I’m not in the mood.”
*
“Right I don’t have long, you may be tracing this call. Code word Chiquatita. The missing boy can be found…”
Susan only had to wait five minutes for the bus back.
*
“Come on into the car?” Dave said as Susan got off the bus.
“Why?”
“You were followed.”
“How can you tell?” Susan asked.
“I just know.”
Dave drove off into the night.
“Where are we going?” Susan asked.
“I don’t know yet. I packed a bag for you, I was sort of following you in my mind and then I got the feeling that you were followed back.”
“Why are you going this way?”
“They aren’t this way.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes I’m fine.”
“No you’re not. This is not the behaviour of a normal person.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed I’m not a normal person.”
That was a good answer but didn’t really address the issue, but Susan had had enough. For the first time, she regretted getting Dave to try and find things.
“Right Dave, stop the car. This has gone far enough. We are not being followed.”
“Yes we are, they are a couple of blocks behind us.”
“Dave you’re scaring me.”
“Sorry dear, but you were being followed all the way home.”
The traffic lights in front of Dave changed to red. As he stopped, Susan jumped out the car.
“Get back in,” Dave said winding the window down.
Susan backed away from the car. “No, we were not followed. I am going home and I’m going to stay there and tomorrow I am going to go to work as normal and so will you.”
“Shit, they’re coming, get back in the car.”
“No Dave, you’ve been acting strange ever since we first started doing this. There is no big conspiracy to get you.” Susan was almost crying now.
Dave was aware of a car closing in. “Right I’ll come and get you. Remember I’ll know where you are.”
“I’ll be at home you daft bugger.”
“Then I’ll come back. Got to go now.”
*
Susan had been too annoyed to notice the car draw up behind her.
“Susan Green?”
One of the men got out of the car.
“Yes.” Damn she should have said no. Dave had been right, she had been followed, who the fuck were they?
“Will you come with us?”
“No.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”
“Bugger off.”
“Will you get in the car? We only want to chat.”
“Help,” Susan screamed. She started to run.
*
South! There were more roads that way, no point going north, that way, there was only the A1 to Edinburgh.
Dave stopped at a cash machine, took out the £200 limit. Right he wasn’t going to touch that again until… when he had to, he supposed.
He was tired, but he had to keep on going. Did they have the car number? And who were they? Was there anyone who he could trust? Ultimately no, but there was always the detective from the press release, Billings that was his name. Better to trust someone you chose than chose you.
Tuesday the 2nd of September
It was early morning when Dave reached London, whoever had been following him, seemed to have either given up or he’d lost them. He got out the A-Z, He and Susan had got one of every major British city now. Where was Scotland Yard? And how did this boundary charge thing work?
*
“I wish to speak to a Sergeant Billings.”
“Who should I say is calling?”
Dave was too tired to be clever and give an actual Abba song title. Were there any with men’s names, he couldn’t think of any. “I’ve been in contact with him. I’ve been sending him useful info. They’ve all contained the names of Abba songs.”
The man on the desk looked at him. They must get all sorts of strange requests in here, Dave thought.
There was a brief phone-call. “He’s not in yet. Due in half an hour, can anyone else help?”
Dave shook his head.
“Well just take a seat.”
*
“You wanted to speak to me?” DS Billing said. Dave could detect the sound of slight boredom in his voice.
“Yes, I’m the one who has been sending you letters with where things are and signing them with Abba songs.”
DS Billings suddenly looked more interested.
“Can you give me anymore information?”
“Sorry about the poems, they were funny at the time.”
DS Billings began to stare at him. “Why are you here now?”
“Last night my wife phoned in the location of a missing boy.”
“David Cross?”
“Yes how is he?”
‘He’s safe and well with his parents.”
“Good.”
“So again, why are you here and why now?”
“Well my wife was followed back from where she phoned in the details, but she thought I was acting paranoid.”
“And where is she now?”
Dave had been too tired to think straight, he should have checked. He concentrated for a moment. She wasn’t home. “I don’t know, I’ll have to get a map out to locate her, she’s not home and she should be.”
“How do you know?”
“That’s it, I just know where anything is when I concentrate on it.”
“How long have you been able to do this?”
“All my life I think, but I just wasn’t really aware of it until a couple of months ago. I was doing it subconsciously. Why didn’t you arrest Britain’s most wanted?”
“We gave the information to MI5 or MI6, they’ve been looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? You can find anyone or anything you’re looking for.”
“Well I want to find my wife.”
“You realise I am going to have to contact Des. My secret service contact.”
Dave slowly nodded; it wasn’t as if he had much choice. “Oh can you do me one favour?”
“What?”
“I’ve sort of abandoned my car outside, can you make sure it’s not towed away or clamped.”
*
“So Mrs. Green, how did you know where these people are?”
Susan stared at the woman. If they realised that it was really Dave doing the finding, she was in deep shit. She would have to lie, make it unreliable.
*
“How do I know that you really are working for the government?”
“Trust me,” Des replied.
“He is,” DS Billings replied. “I checked.”
Des stared at DS Billing.
“What? I have friends in the secret services.”
“So now what?” Dave asked.
“We want you to work for her Majesty’s government,” Des said.
“Do you know where my wife is?” Dave asked.
“Can I point out that we do not have her, whoever was after her was not working for us. We were close to finding you but hadn’t got there yet.”
“So can you do your magic?” DS Billings asked.
Dave nodded.
“What do you need?”
“Maps and accurate ones. What do you want me to find?”
“A memory stick has gone missing…”
“Can’t do it. It has to be something unique, something I can picture in my head. So no gold bullion or such like. People yes, works of art, unique jewellery. Any others?”
“We arrested nine of the most wanted last night, can you tell us where the tenth went? He escaped.”
“Give me his photo and maps of the surrounding area, or even better Google Earth. I’ll locate him but then we go looking for my wife. I want DS Billings to come as well.”
Des turned to DS Billings, “Ever done firearm training?”
He shook his head.
“Pity an extra weapon would have been useful.”
Wednesday the 3rd of September
“Are you sure she’s on there?” Des asked staring at the ship on the horizon.
“Definitely,” Dave replied.
Des lowered his binoculars. “I’m taking a big risk.”
“Well I’ve not been wrong before.”
“And you’ll be able to find her?”
“I’m sure.”
“Well let’s go,” Des spoke into his radio and the boat accelerated over the North Sea towards the ferry.
“I know I’ve been acting paranoid,” Dave said, “but they, whoever they are, must know that I’ll be able to find her.”
“They won’t know the specifics of your gift.” Des remarked. “We didn’t.”
“They must know that I can find people, so they will know that once I’m on board that I can get her.”
“Are you suggesting it’s a trap?”
“No, I’m not sure what I’m suggesting, I’m just saying that this is almost too easy. Should we not wait until the ship docks in Amsterdam?”
“Foreign country, British ferry.”
“Kidnapping, I’m sure the Dutch…”
“Believe me when I say we need to do this now. We cannot give them the opportunity to get Susan into another country and we can’t let any other country get involved. So do you know how to use a weapon?”
Dave shook his head.
“We’re going to have to teach you but we’re going to have an armed guard for this little mission.”
The ferry grew larger as they sped towards it. Dave kept concentrating on Susan. She was still on the ship.
As they drew alongside Dave realised how their boat was dwarfed by the ferry.
“I suppose now’s not the time to say I don’t like ladders,” Dave said warily looking at the side of the boat.
“Just don’t look down,” Des said grabbing hold onto one of the rungs.
It took Dave three attempts to grab a rung. As he held on, he felt the boat move further away as his legs moved away from him. The North Sea looked cold. The boat bounced closer to the ship and Dave got a foot onto one of the rungs. He started to climb. He wished the ship would not move about so much.
He was aware of some people behind him, climbing up after him.
Dave was relieved when he got onto the deck; they were met by a man who Dave assumed would be the captain.
“Anything we can help with?” the captain asked.
“Just be ready to open any cabin doors we ask for.” Des replied. “and keep the rest of the passengers away, there might be some trouble.”
“This way,” Dave said walking towards the bow. He was aware of Des, the captain, DS Billings and four other people follow him. He paused, stopped and walked through a hatch and then down some stairs. He walked through the ferry until he finally stopped outside a small cabin.
“This is it?”
“Right Captain, can you get me in?” Des asked. “And how large are these cabins?”
The captain handed Des a key. “Master key for the cabins on this deck. Two rooms and a bathroom.”
Des quietly unlocked the door. The four guards pulled out small handguns, the Captain stepped back, a look of worry and surprise on his face.
Des pulled out his own gun, counted down on his fingers. Three, two, one. He kicked the door open. Two men were playing cards. They looked up in surprise and slowly raised their hands.
“Captain please prevent anyone else from coming down this corridor,” Des said entering the room.
Dave, DS Billings and the four agents followed Des. Des closed the door behind them.
Dave nodded towards the door to the other room.
Des and one of the agents covered the cabin door.
Two of the agents were now frisking the card-players while one stood back and covered them. Des slowly opened the remaining door. “Don’t even think about it darling,” he said.
Dave looked to see a red-eyed Susan and another woman.
“Dave,” Susan shouted. “I knew you’d find me. Who are these people?” she asked if only noticing Des for the first time. She ran over and hugged Dave. “Oh he was on the telly,” she said looking at DS Billings.
“This is Des and he’s a spy. Are you okay?”
“They kept questioning me about how I had known the answers to where things were.”
“And?”
“I said I dreamed the answers.”
“Smart girl.”
The woman suddenly opened her mouth.
“We were worried that it was a trap,” Dave said. “You were the bait to get me here.”
Susan looked into the room. “There’s one more of them.”
Des was speaking into a radio. “We’ll get a live link for when the ferry unloads. We’ll ID him from that. Meanwhile a chopper is on its way. To take us all back.”
Dave took Des to the back of the room, “I could find him.” He whispered. “All I need is a photograph. If he’s left his passport in this room…”
Des nodded to Dave. “Right, let’s get them out of here,” he turned to the other four agents. “Cuff ‘em Danno.”
“I thought it was “Book ‘em Danno,” DC Billings said.
Des ignored him as he started rifling through the room’s contents.
*
“That’s him,” Des said as they saw the other man coming down the corridor.
The fugitive started to run.
The two remaining agents started to chase after him.
“Don’t waste your time,” Des said. “Dave can find him.”
The two agents stopped and turned to look at Dave. It was a new way of thinking for them. A paradigm shift, that’s what it was called.
Dave strolled through the ferry towards the bow, he was quite enjoying himself now that Susan was safe. Their quarry was moving but he always closing in. All they had to do was corner him. Des was on the radio, directing two of the agents to where Dave thought the target was.
“I see him,” one of the agents said. “Shit he’s spotted me.”
“He’s coming towards us,” Dave said.
“Stay behind me,” Des said drawing his weapon. “Shit there are too many people about.” The orders to the captain to keep the passengers out of their way had not worked. Their quarry had actively been seeking out other passengers.
“He’s got a gun,” a woman shouted.
“Bugger,” Des said.
The fugitive turned the corner; he had grabbed a female passenger and was pointing a gun at her head. “Now don’t do anything hasty,” he said. There was screaming from further back down the corridor.
“Give it up.” Des said. “You can’t get away.”
Dave was too shocked to move, how did he think kidnapper was ever going to escape.
“You’ll bring my colleagues to me.”
“I’m afraid we can’t do that, they’ve been airlifted off the ship.”
“Well you’d better get them back.”
Dave was aware of one of the agents standing at a far corner of the passage.
“You can’t get away and even if we did we’d always know where you are.” Des explained.
“It’s not that powerful, she couldn’t do it.”
“That’s because you grabbed the wrong person.” Dave said. “I will know where you are anywhere in the world. No dreams needed.”
The fugitive stared at Dave and deftly threw the hostage to one side. Des threw Dave to one side. There was a shot from the far end of the passageway and a side of the kidnapper’s head exploded in red.
The hostage screamed, the two agents ran down the corridor and pointed their weapons at the lifeless body. The hostage continued screaming.
*
“Am I the only one?” Dave asked.
“The only what?” Des asked.
“Person working for HM government with a super-power?”
“’Fraid so, we have a think-tank, uber-intelligent people and the like. We’re going to put you in with them for a while. They might be annoying. Very clever people are very, how can I put it, idiosyncratic, not that’s not quite the word. Condescending? Anyway they will annoy you.”
“What’s the pay like?”
“Better than you were on.”
“Can I not stay in Newcastle?”
“Not for the moment.”
“Oh,” Dave didn’t want to move. But then what would he say to the people he knew. “It’s not a really great super-power is it?”
“It’s probably more powerful than you think, the paranoia and the fact that you knew you were being followed was probably another aspect of it. It seems to be stronger the more important something is to you.”
That sort of made sense. If he could control the paranoia then that would be quite good. “So who were the kidnappers?” he asked.
“Let us just say they were agents of a supposedly friendly government, we won’t be hiring out your services to them for a while and just be careful where you go on holiday in the future.”
“Will I be allowed to go holiday?”
“I hope so. But now I want you to concentrate really hard on this person,” he said holding up a picture.
“Who’s he?”
“Top Central American drug lord.”
“That’s a bit boring, no strange fish people or entities from other dimensions?” Dave asked going back to his original train of thought.
“Nope just you.”
“What about other governments?”
“The Americans are supposed to have an alien stashed away.”
“Really where do they keep it?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
Could he find an alien? Did he need a picture of one to start with? Was it a grey? The ones obsessed with bottoms? “Let’s do the drug lords first” he said. Then it would be time for aliens.
“There’s been nothing on the news,” Dave said as sunny intervals were predicted for most of Britain. “No notice of any arrests, I’m worried that we’ve been too ambitious.”
“Or too cheeky. I’m still not sure bad poetry was the way to go,” Susan replied pointing the remote and turning the volume up.
Dave sat and thought, “Let’s do nothing for a while.”
“We could see where the most wanted are. It’s not as if they can hide their hiding places from us. Break out the road map again.”
Dave brought up the pictures of the most wanted on the computer screen. He concentrated on the first image and started flipping through the road map of Britain. “He’s still in the same place, so’s he and him. Do you think they’ve not received it?”
“Possible, but unlikely, we could always send a reminder, you know the same list and tell them to get their fingers out their arses.”
“He’s moved. Number five, he’s in a different place, I don’t like this at all,” Dave was worried.
“What do you think is happening?”
“I don’t know, but I can’t believe they’re just sitting idly by while someone sends them lots of info on their most serious cases. Let’s send a reminder but post it somewhere different.”
“Do you really think they’re watching every post-box in Newcastle?”
“Yes I do, call me paranoid, but there must be people wondering who I am.”
“You’re paranoid.”
“Thanks. Let’s nip down to Manchester to visit your parents at the weekend, we’ll post a reminder then, if they’re still in the same places and not been arrested. The ‘most wanted’ been arrested that is, not your parents. If your parents have been arrested then the shit has really hit the old fan.”
“I suppose we could.”
“I’m going to have a beer.”
“You look really worried love,”
“I am really worried, do you think people might be really interested in seeing how I do this?”
“Like what?”
“Want to cut up my brain.”
“They wouldn’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Kill the goose that laid the golden egg, if anyone is interested in you then they’ll want you alive and happy.”
“Happy?”
“Well yes you can’t do the trick when you’re stressed.”
“We don’t know that.”
“Neither do they, anyway I’ve watched you, you need to concentrate, you can’t do that when worrying over other things.”
“Do you not worry about your safety?” Dave asked
“What do you mean?”
“Well people may use you to get to me.”
“You’re being paranoid again.”
“Perhaps, but first I’m going to write that new letter. Wait put gloves on when loading paper into the printer.”
“What?”
“Put your marigolds on, we don’t want fingerprints on the paper.”
Susan stared at Dave and then went through to the kitchen. She obviously thought he was being overly paranoid.
Saturday the 31st of August
Susan glanced around, was Dave’s paranoia rubbing off on her? No they’d be watching Newcastle post-boxes, if they were watching any of them not Manchester ones. She glanced around again. Damn, just post the damned letter. The letter dropped into the bottom of the post-box. Right back to see if Dave had killed her parents yet.
*
“Did you post your letter dear?” Dave asked as she returned.
“Yes, sorry, I meant to do it on the way here and we forgot.”
“Would like some tea Susan?” her mother asked.
“I’d love a cup.”
“You know your father and I were just saying that we haven’t seen much of you recently. We would come and visit you in Newcastle, but with your father’s hip it makes travelling so much harder for us.”
“You could get the train and we’d pick you up from the station.”
“But rail prices are so expensive these days.”
Yes perhaps we would visit, if you didn’t just complain as soon as we arrived, Susan thought.
“And we’re not getting any younger.”
Monday the 1st of September
Dave and Susan scanned the newspaper. There was nothing suitable, no missing children, no more missing paintings.
“Bugger,” Susan said.
“Are you wanting there to be major crimes?” Dave asked.
“Well no.”
“I’m off to work.”
“Have fun at the office,” Susan said as part of their morning ritual.
“Have fun in the shop.”
It was only a short walk from the bus stop to the office, but Dave was convinced he was being watched, nothing specific but a general feeling. Was this how madness started?
*
“A little boy has gone missing,” Susan said as Dave walked in the door. “It’s in the Chronicle.”
Dave didn’t reply. The feeling of being watched had followed him all day. Was this a side effect of being able to find things? Can a feeling of being followed, follow you about?
“You have to find him,” Susan continued.
How could he say no.
“Are you alright?” Susan asked.
“Actually, no. I’ve been feeling strange all day, like someone is watching me.”
“Well nobody is watching you.”
“How do you know?”
“Well I suppose I don’t. Sorry love.”
“Do they have a picture?”
“Picture?”
“Of the missing boy.”
“Oh yes.”
“I’ll get the street map out.”
Dave started reading the Chronicle. “You know after Alice, I read up on missing children and the quicker you find them the more likely you are to find them alive.” Dave scribbled down an address.
“What are you going to do?” Susan asked.
“Phone the local police from a phone-box, give them an Abba title, the address and tell them to get there.”
“I’ll do it.” Susan said, “Time for Ring Ring or S.O.S?”
“No make it an obvious Abba title. Have we used Chiquatita? And go to the city centre and get the bus.”
“Any other instructions oh paranoid one.”
“Stop it, I’m not in the mood.”
*
“Right I don’t have long, you may be tracing this call. Code word Chiquatita. The missing boy can be found…”
Susan only had to wait five minutes for the bus back.
*
“Come on into the car?” Dave said as Susan got off the bus.
“Why?”
“You were followed.”
“How can you tell?” Susan asked.
“I just know.”
Dave drove off into the night.
“Where are we going?” Susan asked.
“I don’t know yet. I packed a bag for you, I was sort of following you in my mind and then I got the feeling that you were followed back.”
“Why are you going this way?”
“They aren’t this way.”
“Are you okay?”
“Yes I’m fine.”
“No you’re not. This is not the behaviour of a normal person.”
“In case you hadn’t noticed I’m not a normal person.”
That was a good answer but didn’t really address the issue, but Susan had had enough. For the first time, she regretted getting Dave to try and find things.
“Right Dave, stop the car. This has gone far enough. We are not being followed.”
“Yes we are, they are a couple of blocks behind us.”
“Dave you’re scaring me.”
“Sorry dear, but you were being followed all the way home.”
The traffic lights in front of Dave changed to red. As he stopped, Susan jumped out the car.
“Get back in,” Dave said winding the window down.
Susan backed away from the car. “No, we were not followed. I am going home and I’m going to stay there and tomorrow I am going to go to work as normal and so will you.”
“Shit, they’re coming, get back in the car.”
“No Dave, you’ve been acting strange ever since we first started doing this. There is no big conspiracy to get you.” Susan was almost crying now.
Dave was aware of a car closing in. “Right I’ll come and get you. Remember I’ll know where you are.”
“I’ll be at home you daft bugger.”
“Then I’ll come back. Got to go now.”
*
Susan had been too annoyed to notice the car draw up behind her.
“Susan Green?”
One of the men got out of the car.
“Yes.” Damn she should have said no. Dave had been right, she had been followed, who the fuck were they?
“Will you come with us?”
“No.”
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.”
“Bugger off.”
“Will you get in the car? We only want to chat.”
“Help,” Susan screamed. She started to run.
*
South! There were more roads that way, no point going north, that way, there was only the A1 to Edinburgh.
Dave stopped at a cash machine, took out the £200 limit. Right he wasn’t going to touch that again until… when he had to, he supposed.
He was tired, but he had to keep on going. Did they have the car number? And who were they? Was there anyone who he could trust? Ultimately no, but there was always the detective from the press release, Billings that was his name. Better to trust someone you chose than chose you.
Tuesday the 2nd of September
It was early morning when Dave reached London, whoever had been following him, seemed to have either given up or he’d lost them. He got out the A-Z, He and Susan had got one of every major British city now. Where was Scotland Yard? And how did this boundary charge thing work?
*
“I wish to speak to a Sergeant Billings.”
“Who should I say is calling?”
Dave was too tired to be clever and give an actual Abba song title. Were there any with men’s names, he couldn’t think of any. “I’ve been in contact with him. I’ve been sending him useful info. They’ve all contained the names of Abba songs.”
The man on the desk looked at him. They must get all sorts of strange requests in here, Dave thought.
There was a brief phone-call. “He’s not in yet. Due in half an hour, can anyone else help?”
Dave shook his head.
“Well just take a seat.”
*
“You wanted to speak to me?” DS Billing said. Dave could detect the sound of slight boredom in his voice.
“Yes, I’m the one who has been sending you letters with where things are and signing them with Abba songs.”
DS Billings suddenly looked more interested.
“Can you give me anymore information?”
“Sorry about the poems, they were funny at the time.”
DS Billings began to stare at him. “Why are you here now?”
“Last night my wife phoned in the location of a missing boy.”
“David Cross?”
“Yes how is he?”
‘He’s safe and well with his parents.”
“Good.”
“So again, why are you here and why now?”
“Well my wife was followed back from where she phoned in the details, but she thought I was acting paranoid.”
“And where is she now?”
Dave had been too tired to think straight, he should have checked. He concentrated for a moment. She wasn’t home. “I don’t know, I’ll have to get a map out to locate her, she’s not home and she should be.”
“How do you know?”
“That’s it, I just know where anything is when I concentrate on it.”
“How long have you been able to do this?”
“All my life I think, but I just wasn’t really aware of it until a couple of months ago. I was doing it subconsciously. Why didn’t you arrest Britain’s most wanted?”
“We gave the information to MI5 or MI6, they’ve been looking for you.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think? You can find anyone or anything you’re looking for.”
“Well I want to find my wife.”
“You realise I am going to have to contact Des. My secret service contact.”
Dave slowly nodded; it wasn’t as if he had much choice. “Oh can you do me one favour?”
“What?”
“I’ve sort of abandoned my car outside, can you make sure it’s not towed away or clamped.”
*
“So Mrs. Green, how did you know where these people are?”
Susan stared at the woman. If they realised that it was really Dave doing the finding, she was in deep shit. She would have to lie, make it unreliable.
*
“How do I know that you really are working for the government?”
“Trust me,” Des replied.
“He is,” DS Billings replied. “I checked.”
Des stared at DS Billing.
“What? I have friends in the secret services.”
“So now what?” Dave asked.
“We want you to work for her Majesty’s government,” Des said.
“Do you know where my wife is?” Dave asked.
“Can I point out that we do not have her, whoever was after her was not working for us. We were close to finding you but hadn’t got there yet.”
“So can you do your magic?” DS Billings asked.
Dave nodded.
“What do you need?”
“Maps and accurate ones. What do you want me to find?”
“A memory stick has gone missing…”
“Can’t do it. It has to be something unique, something I can picture in my head. So no gold bullion or such like. People yes, works of art, unique jewellery. Any others?”
“We arrested nine of the most wanted last night, can you tell us where the tenth went? He escaped.”
“Give me his photo and maps of the surrounding area, or even better Google Earth. I’ll locate him but then we go looking for my wife. I want DS Billings to come as well.”
Des turned to DS Billings, “Ever done firearm training?”
He shook his head.
“Pity an extra weapon would have been useful.”
Wednesday the 3rd of September
“Are you sure she’s on there?” Des asked staring at the ship on the horizon.
“Definitely,” Dave replied.
Des lowered his binoculars. “I’m taking a big risk.”
“Well I’ve not been wrong before.”
“And you’ll be able to find her?”
“I’m sure.”
“Well let’s go,” Des spoke into his radio and the boat accelerated over the North Sea towards the ferry.
“I know I’ve been acting paranoid,” Dave said, “but they, whoever they are, must know that I’ll be able to find her.”
“They won’t know the specifics of your gift.” Des remarked. “We didn’t.”
“They must know that I can find people, so they will know that once I’m on board that I can get her.”
“Are you suggesting it’s a trap?”
“No, I’m not sure what I’m suggesting, I’m just saying that this is almost too easy. Should we not wait until the ship docks in Amsterdam?”
“Foreign country, British ferry.”
“Kidnapping, I’m sure the Dutch…”
“Believe me when I say we need to do this now. We cannot give them the opportunity to get Susan into another country and we can’t let any other country get involved. So do you know how to use a weapon?”
Dave shook his head.
“We’re going to have to teach you but we’re going to have an armed guard for this little mission.”
The ferry grew larger as they sped towards it. Dave kept concentrating on Susan. She was still on the ship.
As they drew alongside Dave realised how their boat was dwarfed by the ferry.
“I suppose now’s not the time to say I don’t like ladders,” Dave said warily looking at the side of the boat.
“Just don’t look down,” Des said grabbing hold onto one of the rungs.
It took Dave three attempts to grab a rung. As he held on, he felt the boat move further away as his legs moved away from him. The North Sea looked cold. The boat bounced closer to the ship and Dave got a foot onto one of the rungs. He started to climb. He wished the ship would not move about so much.
He was aware of some people behind him, climbing up after him.
Dave was relieved when he got onto the deck; they were met by a man who Dave assumed would be the captain.
“Anything we can help with?” the captain asked.
“Just be ready to open any cabin doors we ask for.” Des replied. “and keep the rest of the passengers away, there might be some trouble.”
“This way,” Dave said walking towards the bow. He was aware of Des, the captain, DS Billings and four other people follow him. He paused, stopped and walked through a hatch and then down some stairs. He walked through the ferry until he finally stopped outside a small cabin.
“This is it?”
“Right Captain, can you get me in?” Des asked. “And how large are these cabins?”
The captain handed Des a key. “Master key for the cabins on this deck. Two rooms and a bathroom.”
Des quietly unlocked the door. The four guards pulled out small handguns, the Captain stepped back, a look of worry and surprise on his face.
Des pulled out his own gun, counted down on his fingers. Three, two, one. He kicked the door open. Two men were playing cards. They looked up in surprise and slowly raised their hands.
“Captain please prevent anyone else from coming down this corridor,” Des said entering the room.
Dave, DS Billings and the four agents followed Des. Des closed the door behind them.
Dave nodded towards the door to the other room.
Des and one of the agents covered the cabin door.
Two of the agents were now frisking the card-players while one stood back and covered them. Des slowly opened the remaining door. “Don’t even think about it darling,” he said.
Dave looked to see a red-eyed Susan and another woman.
“Dave,” Susan shouted. “I knew you’d find me. Who are these people?” she asked if only noticing Des for the first time. She ran over and hugged Dave. “Oh he was on the telly,” she said looking at DS Billings.
“This is Des and he’s a spy. Are you okay?”
“They kept questioning me about how I had known the answers to where things were.”
“And?”
“I said I dreamed the answers.”
“Smart girl.”
The woman suddenly opened her mouth.
“We were worried that it was a trap,” Dave said. “You were the bait to get me here.”
Susan looked into the room. “There’s one more of them.”
Des was speaking into a radio. “We’ll get a live link for when the ferry unloads. We’ll ID him from that. Meanwhile a chopper is on its way. To take us all back.”
Dave took Des to the back of the room, “I could find him.” He whispered. “All I need is a photograph. If he’s left his passport in this room…”
Des nodded to Dave. “Right, let’s get them out of here,” he turned to the other four agents. “Cuff ‘em Danno.”
“I thought it was “Book ‘em Danno,” DC Billings said.
Des ignored him as he started rifling through the room’s contents.
*
“That’s him,” Des said as they saw the other man coming down the corridor.
The fugitive started to run.
The two remaining agents started to chase after him.
“Don’t waste your time,” Des said. “Dave can find him.”
The two agents stopped and turned to look at Dave. It was a new way of thinking for them. A paradigm shift, that’s what it was called.
Dave strolled through the ferry towards the bow, he was quite enjoying himself now that Susan was safe. Their quarry was moving but he always closing in. All they had to do was corner him. Des was on the radio, directing two of the agents to where Dave thought the target was.
“I see him,” one of the agents said. “Shit he’s spotted me.”
“He’s coming towards us,” Dave said.
“Stay behind me,” Des said drawing his weapon. “Shit there are too many people about.” The orders to the captain to keep the passengers out of their way had not worked. Their quarry had actively been seeking out other passengers.
“He’s got a gun,” a woman shouted.
“Bugger,” Des said.
The fugitive turned the corner; he had grabbed a female passenger and was pointing a gun at her head. “Now don’t do anything hasty,” he said. There was screaming from further back down the corridor.
“Give it up.” Des said. “You can’t get away.”
Dave was too shocked to move, how did he think kidnapper was ever going to escape.
“You’ll bring my colleagues to me.”
“I’m afraid we can’t do that, they’ve been airlifted off the ship.”
“Well you’d better get them back.”
Dave was aware of one of the agents standing at a far corner of the passage.
“You can’t get away and even if we did we’d always know where you are.” Des explained.
“It’s not that powerful, she couldn’t do it.”
“That’s because you grabbed the wrong person.” Dave said. “I will know where you are anywhere in the world. No dreams needed.”
The fugitive stared at Dave and deftly threw the hostage to one side. Des threw Dave to one side. There was a shot from the far end of the passageway and a side of the kidnapper’s head exploded in red.
The hostage screamed, the two agents ran down the corridor and pointed their weapons at the lifeless body. The hostage continued screaming.
*
“Am I the only one?” Dave asked.
“The only what?” Des asked.
“Person working for HM government with a super-power?”
“’Fraid so, we have a think-tank, uber-intelligent people and the like. We’re going to put you in with them for a while. They might be annoying. Very clever people are very, how can I put it, idiosyncratic, not that’s not quite the word. Condescending? Anyway they will annoy you.”
“What’s the pay like?”
“Better than you were on.”
“Can I not stay in Newcastle?”
“Not for the moment.”
“Oh,” Dave didn’t want to move. But then what would he say to the people he knew. “It’s not a really great super-power is it?”
“It’s probably more powerful than you think, the paranoia and the fact that you knew you were being followed was probably another aspect of it. It seems to be stronger the more important something is to you.”
That sort of made sense. If he could control the paranoia then that would be quite good. “So who were the kidnappers?” he asked.
“Let us just say they were agents of a supposedly friendly government, we won’t be hiring out your services to them for a while and just be careful where you go on holiday in the future.”
“Will I be allowed to go holiday?”
“I hope so. But now I want you to concentrate really hard on this person,” he said holding up a picture.
“Who’s he?”
“Top Central American drug lord.”
“That’s a bit boring, no strange fish people or entities from other dimensions?” Dave asked going back to his original train of thought.
“Nope just you.”
“What about other governments?”
“The Americans are supposed to have an alien stashed away.”
“Really where do they keep it?”
“I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
Could he find an alien? Did he need a picture of one to start with? Was it a grey? The ones obsessed with bottoms? “Let’s do the drug lords first” he said. Then it would be time for aliens.
