Century of Jihad (26 page)

The international search was still underway. Two individuals had been arrested in Egypt and extradition proceedings were underway. These two men had been rigorously questioned by the Egyptian authorities, but had either resisted their interrogators’ techniques or were unable to throw much light on the broader picture of the recent terrorist activity in the UK – perhaps a compliment to the terrorists’ effective use of the cell structure. However, it had been established that they were members of the planning cell which had collected the arms and ammunition used in the assault on the Oldbury nuclear power facility. A number of leads were being followed as a result of the arrests. Security Service officers had been involved in furnishing relevant questions to the Egyptians. Police Counter Terrorism officers had thus far been denied access to the two men.

At 1015am DI Ward approached Ed and, in a low voice, requested:

‘Would you come to my office?’ Ed was just about to say something when Ward raised his hand, indicating to stop. Ward continued, ‘I’ll answer any questions in my office.’

Ed got up to follow his DI, addressing the quizzical looks from his team members by raising his eyes to the ceiling.

When the two men had entered DI Ward’s compact office, Ward closed the door and indicated to Ed to take a seat. Only when they were both seated did he speak.

‘This morning two MI5 officers went to Fayez Dhavi’s apartment at Canary Wharf. He hadn’t turned up for an important meeting and wasn’t answering his phone. The two officers knocked on the door. There was no reply. They called it in and were instructed to enter the premises, which they duly did. On entering, they found Fayez hanging naked in the bathroom. The Director of Five contacted the Commissioner and the Commissioner informed DAC Braithwaite that Counter Terrorism should take the lead in the investigation. DAC Braithwaite has, in turn, issued orders that our team should undertake the investigation into Fayez’s death in case it is connected to his work.’

DI Ward did the driving to Canary Wharf. There was little conversation between the two men. This in itself was not unusual. Ed and Russ Ward always found conversation difficult. They came from completely different backgrounds. Ward, a university graduate and a bit of a high flyer; at least that’s how he saw himself. Ed had never had the benefit of a higher education. He’d never had any career ambitions, preferring to keep his feet firmly established on the ground where he felt the real police work was done. On this occasion, however, there was more to the silence. Russ Ward had been deeply affected by the news of Fayez’s death. At this moment in time even he could not explain why.

On arrival at the apartment block, Ward parked his car alongside the police vehicles already there and the two men entered the building. There were a number of uniform police officers standing around inside the entrance. A middle-aged concierge stood behind a desk, his face blank, watching the activity; the comings and goings. Ed and Russ entered the lift and Russ pressed the button for the sixth floor. Ed broke the silence. ‘Not the penthouse then?’ he said in a sarcastic tone.

Russ Ward looked at Ed but made no reply to the comment made by his subordinate. The two men got out of the lift and walked in silence – Ed all the while admiring the opulence surrounding him – down the carpeted corridor towards the door to Fayez’s apartment, where a young police constable in uniform stood. The constable checked the two detectives’ credentials then stood to the side, allowing them access to the apartment.

On entering the apartment, Ed and his DI observed the usual activity and personnel they would have expected to encounter at a crime scene. However, on this occasion they also came upon a couple of well dressed, middle-aged, men in smart suits. The two detectives immediately recognised the presence of Security Service officers. The two ‘men in suits’ approached the detectives and introduced themselves. As anticipated, they were from MI5. The taller of the two officers from Five spoke,

‘This is a sorry business. Straight forward from your point of view though, I should think. Obviously a funny game gone wrong, eh? Not the sort of image we at Five wish to portray, but then again it takes all sorts.’

Russ Ward responded, ‘Sorry business indeed.’

Ed commented, ‘Things are not always what they seem.’

The shorter MI5 officer spoke for the first time.

‘Of course, officers, it is your job to investigate this sad occurrence, but I have to agree with my colleague. The cause of death does seem cut and dried here.’

Fayez’s body was laid out inside an open body bag in the middle of the living room floor. Ed asked,

‘I understand two of your people found the body hanging in the bathroom?’

The tall suited man answered,

‘Yes, that’s correct. They instinctively cut him down in case he was still alive. Sorry if we messed up your crime scene.’

‘Can I have a word with your two men? I have a few questions to ask them, if you don’t mind,’ Ed requested firmly.

The shorter man responded,

‘Of course, officers. Go easy on them though. Unlike you people, they don’t encounter this sort of thing every day. They are downstairs. My colleague and I must be going now, we’ll send them up on our way out.’ The man handed Russ Ward a business card and said, ‘Call me on that number if you need to speak further.’ With that parting comment, the two men from Five left the crime scene.

DI Ward looked at Fayez’s body. The life force gone. A moment of deep and personal reflection. He had not gotten on well with Fayez. The problems in their relationship were both professional and personal. But at this moment a sensation of melancholy swept over Ward. An increased awareness of his own mortality. He turned to Ed Malone, who was standing quietly at his side, and, in a subdued tone, said to his subordinate,

‘As you know, I didn’t like the man but I am surprised at the manner of his death. I wouldn’t have thought Fayez was into this sort of thing. I guess you never can tell what goes on in people’s private lives or in the deepest recesses of their minds.’

A bemused Ed responded, ‘You certainly can’t.’

Ed hadn’t liked Fayez either, although his dealings with him had been less frequent than Russ Ward’s. Ed wasn’t inclined to change his opinion on a person just because they had died. He had found difficulty figuring out what lay behind the men’s mutual dislike of one another, especially as he didn’t like either one, and had concluded they both had similar characters which had caused a personality clash. They were both out for themselves and ‘sod anyone else!’.

Ed commented, ‘Can you believe this place? How could he afford it?’ Ed noted the Bang and Olufsen sound system and then strolled across to the large windows and stared out at the panoramic view.

DI Ward replied, ‘I didn’t talk much with Fayez about personal things, but I understand that his father was a wealthy Asian businessman.’

White-suited forensics officers were quietly and methodically going about their business as the two counter terrorism detectives looked on. The forensics officers were collecting material evidence. Every fibre, every hair and every drop of bodily fluid they found at the scene was bagged up and tagged for further analysis in the lab. The premises were gone over with a fine toothcomb for fingerprints. Police photographers took photographs of the scene. The building was comprehensively covered by CCTV and footage from this would be collected and scrutinised. Any individual identified in the footage would be interviewed as a possible witness or suspect during the investigation.

DI Ward asked the white-suited medical examiner,

‘Are there any indications on the body of a struggle? Can you tell at this stage if anyone else was involved?’

The Medical Examiner looked at Ward and responded,

‘I don’t see any sign of a struggle on the body of the deceased, either bruising or cuts. Still, as you know, bruising could show up later if any injury occurred just before death.’ The Medical Examiner continued modestly, ‘I know it’s not my area of expertise, but I note that there doesn’t appear to be any sign of a struggle in the apartment either.’

Ed interjected,

‘No, there doesn’t appear to have been a struggle, but then a forensically-savvy killer may have done a good job covering up. Do you have any idea of the time of death, Doctor?’

The Medical Examiner responded,

‘At this stage I would say death occurred within the last twenty-four to thirty-six hours. He’s still in full rigor.’

Two young men in plainclothes approached the detectives and introduced themselves as the officers from Five who had discovered the body of their colleague. The two MI5 officers appeared to Ed as nervous and inexperienced, and perhaps more than a little shocked at their earlier encounter with the body of the deceased. They explained that they had been instructed by their bosses to enter the premises, and how on entering the apartment they had come across Fayez’s naked body hanging from a fitting in the bathroom ceiling. They had instinctively cut him down in a futile attempt to save his life. They apologised to the detectives if they had damaged the crime scene. Ed noted the rehearsed manner of their statements.

After the two witnesses from Five had departed, Russ Ward announced,

‘I’ll be off now, Ed. Get your team to join you here. Do some door-to-door. Interview the concierge. You know the routine.’ The DI turned and left.

Ed nodded in acknowledgement, fished out his mobile, and dialed his office at the Yard. As he waited for the reply, he thought to himself, ‘Yes, Russ, I know the bloody routine alright.’

Thirty minutes later Ed’s team had assembled. Ed briefed them on the background to the investigation. Theo commented,

‘The kinky bastard certainly was living the dream.’

Lisa responded, ‘Show some respect, Theo.’

Theo replied, ‘I was only saying.’

Ed intervened. ‘OK. Let’s just deal with the job in hand. Keep an open mind.’

Theo couldn’t help himself. ‘You mean like Fayez?’

Lisa gave Theo a sharp look. Ed spoke before she could say anything:

‘OK, that’s enough. Lisa and Stuart, I want you two to start door-to-door enquiries. Start on this floor. See if any of the other residents saw or heard anything suspicious. You know what I mean. Was anyone observed hanging around?’ Ed smiled mischievously, then continued, ‘Theo, you’re with me. We’re going to speak to the concierge. See if anything unusual has taken place in the last forty-eight hours or so.’

Lisa and Stuart knocked on a number of doors before they encountered the bottle blonde a few doors down from Fayez’s apartment. Bottle blonde answered the door in an expensive and skimpy negligee. She had an aloof manner about her, which Stuart and Lisa both detected as soon as she came to the door. Lisa showed the woman her police badge. Stuart stood gawking at the view before him. He reckoned the woman to be in her early thirties. The blonde smiled at the two officers. Particularly at Stuart.

‘Come in, why don’t you?’ The woman gestured to them to follow as she turned to go back into the apartment. The two young detectives followed, Lisa giving Stuart a knowing look as they accompanied the woman deeper into the large, open plan room.

‘Would you like a drink?’ the woman asked.

Lisa answered, ‘No, thank you.’

The woman responded, ‘I suppose. Not while you’re on duty, eh?’ The woman giggled. She continued, ‘I think I’ll have one if you don’t mind.’

She turned, opened a well-stocked drinks cabinet and proceeded to pour herself a large whisky.

Lisa broke the silence,

‘I regret to inform you that one of your fellow residents has been found dead and we are making enquiries in to the circumstances of his death. Have you seen or heard anything unusual or anything that may have caused you concern in the last few days?’

‘Nothing that the police would be interested in, I can assure you, Officer.’ The woman giggled, then continued. ‘I thought he died while involved in some sexual experimentation, if you know what I mean.’ The woman laughed out loud.

Lisa thought to herself, ‘I don’t think that is your first drink today, dear!’

The woman then appeared to pull herself together and, addressing Stuart, she revealed,

‘Last night at about ten o’clock, I was just coming back from a night out. Alone!’ She looked straight at Stuart and giggled demurely. She continued, ‘I went into my apartment, but before I closed the door I sensed that somebody else had entered the corridor. I sneaked a discreet peek and saw two men going down the corridor towards the lifts.’

Stuart asked, ‘Can you describe these men? Did you see where they came from?’

The bottle blonde thought for a moment before responding,

‘I haven’t a clue where they appeared from. As they had their backs to me, all I can tell you is they looked like they were tall. I’d say both were over six feet. I couldn’t say what age they were. But they were probably no older than in their forties. They didn’t appear to have any grey hair. They both wore dark coats, dark trousers and dark caps. I don’t know about the shoes. Oh! And they were both quite well built, I would say. Is that any help, Officer?’ She smiled at Stuart as she asked the question.

Stuart responded, ‘Yes, it could be very useful. Thank you.’

Stuart looked at Lisa and then announced,

‘That will be all for now. If you think of anything else, you can contact me on this number.’ Stuart offered the woman his business card.

The woman took the card and spoke directly to Stuart,

‘I will certainly let you know if I can think of anything else. My husband’s away for a few weeks abroad on business and, as a woman alone, I feel a bit unnerved by all this. If you need to ask any more questions, don’t be afraid to call, Officer. I will make myself available to you at any time.’

Lisa and Stuart walked in silence down the hallway, stopping at the lifts. As they waited, both officers glanced back down the hallway towards the blonde’s apartment. The woman was still standing at her door and responded with an enthusiastic wave and a smile.