Every Second Counts (19 page)

‘May I suggest each team includes one of my men?’ Latimer pointed to the two beefy bodyguards, still waiting by the door. ‘They’re not trained, but they are
strong.’

‘Sounds good,’ Parveen said. ‘I’ll take one of them. Nat can take the other.’

I nodded. Latimer frowned. ‘ No,’ he said. ‘This isn’t a job for chil—’ He stopped himself. ‘What I mean is, it’s wrong to put so much
responsibility on your shoulders.’

‘But we’re trained for this,’ Parveen argued.

‘And we know Charlie,’ I added. ‘She’ll react quicker if she sees us. If it’s a bunch of strangers she won’t know that she can trust them.’

‘Quite,’ Parveen said. ‘Plus Charlie’s trained like we are, so she’ll get what we’re trying to do straight away.’

‘Trained for what, exactly?’ Latimer asked, still looking sceptical.

‘Combat, stealth . . .’ Parveen said.

‘Exit strategies,’ I added.

Latimer raised his eyebrows.

‘That’s getting out of places,’ I explained. ‘Charlie was always the best at opening locked doors with a credit card and—’

‘Come on, Nat, being able to open a locked door won’t help Charlie or any of you if you’re up against men with guns.’

I exchanged a look with Parveen.

‘We know how to use guns,’ I said. ‘Riley trained us in that too.’

Latimer looked shocked.

‘It’s true,’ Parveen said. ‘He trained us so he could use us, then he tried to throw us away.’

Latimer blew out his breath. There was a tense silence.

‘None of us want to put them at risk,’ Julius ventured timidly. ‘But Nat and Parveen aren’t exactly ordinary teenagers, are they?’

‘No.’ Latimer said, tight-lipped. ‘Well, perhaps if the teams going into the hotel are bigger, that will offer you more protection?’

‘No,’ I said, firmly. ‘If we go in too heavy we’ll be stopped by hotel security. If anyone thinks we look suspicious the whole thing will fall apart. I say we sneak in
through front and back entrances – two pairs. And it really has to be only people with stealth training –’ I glanced at the two bodyguards, ‘– or brute strength. We
don’t want to be thrown out before we’ve even found the bomb. And we don’t want anyone at the hotel tipping off Riley so he can abort the mission at the last minute. He’s
got spies everywhere.’

‘But won’t you need more than four people to overpower whoever’s bringing in the bomb?’ Latimer persisted.

‘It’s just Riley’s son, Spider, and Charlie,’ I persisted. ‘Charlie said so. And remember she’ll be there to help us too.’

Latimer fell silent.

‘That’s the one bit of Riley’s plan I don’t understand,’ Julius said quietly. ‘I mean I get him sending kids through the pipes – adults would be too
big, so I can see why he’s using his son. But why Charlie? He can’t really trust her after everything she’s done, despite her wanting to know about her dad.’

‘What’s her dad got to do with it?’ Parveen asked. ‘I thought he was dead.’

I explained reluctantly about Riley telling Charlie her father was still alive. I felt bad doing so, I knew Charlie would hate everyone finding out, but Julius already knew and anyway there
wasn’t much choice. Despite the circumstances, it was good to know I would see her in just a few hours’ time.

‘How are you going to get past hotel security and down to the basement?’ Latimer asked, a worried frown creasing his forehead.

‘I don’t know,’ I said. I checked the time. ‘But it’s four-thirty, which gives us three hours to work it out before the bomb goes off.’

It was finally happening. I still hadn’t seen the bomb itself, but Spider and I were all set to plant it in the hotel basement. I didn’t know much more than I had
before, though from various hints Taylor had dropped it was obvious the pipes we would be swimming through were narrow – which was why Spider and I had been picked for the mission. We were
slimmer than any of the older EFA soldiers.

Taylor had assured us that the route through the pipes was straightforward and that, though there wasn’t room in the pipes for breathing equipment, we would only have to hold our breath
underwater for just over a minute. I was a lot more worried about how I was going to stop the bomb than I was about the swim into the building. I just had to trust that once I was alone with Spider
I would find a way.

Right now the three of us – and Uchi – were waiting for the go-ahead in an apartment near the docks just a couple of streets away from the hotel. Everyone was tense with
anticipation. My mind kept flickering back to Nat. Was he here somewhere? Was the rest of the resistance? Did they have a plan of their own for sabotaging Riley’s attack? Taylor slipped
outside, leaving Spider at one end of the room watching TV and me curled up on a sofa at the other end. Uchi turned away from the window, where he’d been standing, and limped across the room
leaning heavily on his stick. He reached me and bent down so that he could speak in a whisper.

‘Please be careful on this mission, Charlie,’ he said, his voice low and gruff. ‘Now that I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you again.’

I stared up at him, surprised. There was real emotion in his eyes. Something twisted uncomfortably in my guts. In spite of my hatred of everything Uchi stood for, he was still my father. I
sighed. Why did it all have to be so complicated? I sat back, wondering just for a moment if it might be possible to change the way Uchi saw things so that the two of us could somehow end up on the
same side, against Riley. He patted my arm, then hobbled off again.

Who was I kidding? Uchi would never change his views. And I would never support Riley. We might be father and daughter but, on this, our attitudes were polar opposites.

I checked the time on the waterproof watch Taylor had just given me. Spider had one exactly the same. Both watches were set with the exact time and synchronised with Taylor’s own
timepiece, so that we could all operate as one unit. It was six-thirty p.m. I hadn’t been left alone for a second since I’d made my phone call to Nat. Spider had given no indication
that he’d seen I’d used his mobile. I was sure that he had been too busy receiving Taylor’s last-minute instructions to check his call log. I tried to focus on how I could get the
bomb away from him once we were underway. He might be slim, but he was wiry and muscular too. At least he didn’t seem to be armed, as far as I could tell.

Riley’s overheard words about the effects of the bomb being ‘extreme’ echoed through my head. What did ‘extreme’ mean? How many people was Riley hoping would die? I
shivered. Nat had said he and Parveen were with the resistance, which was good, except that I had little faith the resistance would really be able to make a stand against Riley. There was Mayor
Latimer, of course; Nat had seemed convinced that Aaron’s dad was genuinely on our side. At the time I’d been sceptical, but Nat wasn’t stupid. Maybe if he trusted Latimer, I
should too.

At that moment Taylor came back into the room, two tote bags in his hand. ‘It’s time,’ he said. He dropped one of the bags next to Spider, then crossed the room and handed me
the other. ‘Spider will change in this room,’ he said. ‘You can use the bathroom next door.’

‘Sure.’ I took the bag and went into the bathroom. This was it. I squatted down and unzipped the bag. I’d expected to find a wet suit and mask inside, but instead found myself
pulling out a summery, strappy green dress, a grey silk cardigan and a pair of grey pumps. I stared at each one in turn.

Why the hell did Taylor want me to wear these?

We travelled in the back of a van to the road nearest the hotel. I had to admit that Latimer’s contribution of both men and technology had made a massive difference. The
two men he’d sent over – Sean and Simon – were fit, muscular and definitely up for a fight, and we were all fitted out with tiny earpieces and microphones so we could keep in
touch with each other.

Latimer had gone to get changed, ready for the party. He’d told us that he would see us there and that Aaron would be with him.

‘I’d rather he wasn’t, but I just rang him to tell him he should stay at home and he’s insisting that if he doesn’t come along it will look suspicious,’
Latimer had confided in me shortly before leaving the safe house. ‘I don’t want Aaron anywhere near a bomb, but he wants to help. And he’ll be useful – he can keep a look
out for you while I’m busy.’

‘If you’re sure,’ I’d said, privately hoping Aaron wasn’t going to get in our way.

And then the Mayor had paused and said something extraordinary. ‘To be honest, once I told him you’d be there, Nat, wild horses weren’t going to keep him away. He thinks
you’re about the bravest, coolest person he’s ever met, a real hero.’

‘That’s stupid,’ I said, feeling my cheeks burn.

Latimer raised his eyebrows. ‘Actually, I think the same thing.’

I turned away covered in embarrassment.

‘I’m not perfect, Nat,’ Latimer went on, lowering his voice so none of the other resistance members could hear. ‘I’m ambitious and I’ve embellished and fudged
and spun like all politicians do, but I believe in democracy. And when I look at someone like you, fighting back in spite of all you’ve been through, I believe in this country’s future
too.’

The van stopped with a jolt, bringing me back to the present moment. Aaron and his dad were both wrong. I was no hero. Even now, armed with a taser, I was scared witless.

The others looked over. I checked the time. It was quarter to seven.

‘Time to go,’ I said to Parveen.

She nodded, her face serious and determined. Outside the van, she set off with Simon towards the back of the hotel. I headed to the front entrance with Sean. Cars were already pulling up outside
the hotel, depositing a series of leading politicians. After a few minutes, Riley and a woman with long blonde hair emerged from a black Bentley. Riley turned and waved to the small crowd that had
gathered. He was laughing, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. As I watched, Riley put his arm around the woman’s shoulders and ushered her into the hotel.

‘We’ve just seen Riley,’ I whispered into my mike. ‘No sign of Latimer. Maybe he’s inside already. We’re heading in now.’

Static fizzed in my earpiece. ‘Hearing you loud and clear. We’re already past the fire door and hotel rear security, heading down to the basement.’ That was Parveen.

‘Well done.’ I whispered into my mouthpiece. ‘Over.’

Sean and I followed the crowd of politicians to the hotel main entrance – just past the door shrouded by the canopy – and slipped inside, our baseball caps pulled low over our faces.
I looked around. A trickle of guests were coming through. No one I recognised, but it was obvious they were all following the same sign:

Future Party reception Churchill Room

Sean and I walked along the corridor. As we drew close to the Churchill Room, a queue of people were lining up to have their bags searched. The Mayor and Aaron were at the head
of the queue, intent on the first security guard as he explained something I couldn’t hear. Riley and the blonde woman were just behind them, chatting with the second security guard. I
grimaced. Riley was unbelievable: smiling like that while all the time he knew a bomb was going off here in just over half an hour. Some of the kids here were really little, dressed up in smart
shirts and dresses, clutching their parents’ hands.

I glanced at Sean. It was time to find a route down into the basement. Presumably the bomb was going to be set to go off immediately under this room.

‘How you doing, Par?’ I whispered. ‘We’ve found the venue.’

I listened attentively.

There was no reply. I gulped. Perhaps now she was in the basement, Parveen was out of range. Or perhaps the earpieces didn’t work as well as they were supposed to. I hesitated.
‘Parveen, come in,’ I hissed. ‘Simon?’

Sean and I exchanged anxious glances, then Sean also spoke into his mike.

Nothing.

It was eight minutes to seven. Most of the guests must be here by now. Blood thundered in my ears. Sean made a circular motion with his finger – the sign to carry on moving. He was right.
There wasn’t time to worry about Parveen and Simon right now. We needed to keep going.

I glanced at the security queue again. The Latimers and Riley and his girlfriend had disappeared. The party must surely be well underway by now. I crept along the corridor, searching for the
stairs I knew led down to the basement. Sean sped silently alongside me. As we turned the corner, I checked the time again: 18:54. My heart thudded. I had to make every second that followed
count.

Sean nudged me. He pointed to a door up ahead marked
Churchill Room
. The stairs down to the basement were opposite. Sean headed towards them. I was about to follow, when I noticed that
the door into the Churchill Room was ajar. No guard stood outside. That was odd, wasn’t it? Riley posted security guards everywhere. And he certainly didn’t leave vulnerable entry
points unlocked.

I turned to call Sean back, but he had already disappeared down the stairs. Heart thudding against my ribs, I pressed my ear against the door. No sound came from the other side. Surely a room
full of people would make more noise? I eased the door open and peered inside.

The room was empty – just a few tables and chairs stacked in the corner and a sideboard along the nearest wall. The door opposite, out to the corridor where the security guards had been
checking bags, was open.

I stood, bewildered, looking around the room. There was only one other exit, an open fire door which led directly outside the building.

I frowned. This didn’t make sense. There was no sign that anyone had ever been here and yet I’d seen crowds of people – including Riley and Latimer – heading this way
just a few minutes ago.

So where had everyone gone?

The dress and the shoes fitted perfectly. I picked up the handbag and cardigan and went back to Uchi, Taylor and Spider – who was now dressed smartly himself, in a
skinny-fit grey suit.

‘Why am I wearing this?’ I demanded. ‘Where’s the wet suit?’