Free To Kill a Grey Man by D C Stansfield

a training exercise but if so I think we would
have been advised.   Let me talk to The
Grey Man and see if he can dig up the Who and the Why.”
    “Okay,” said Surge.   “I have CCTV behind the bar which is a little more high tech than the
norm.   It can take HD stills.   I will email you their photographs.   If you send them on, The Grey Man might be
able to get a match.”

 
    Collins waited for the photos to come through and then
called The Grey Man.   It took a few
seconds longer as The Grey Man liked to have anyone contacting him bounced from
server to server to ensure no one could trace where he was.
    “Hello,” said The Grey Man.   “Unusual for you to call me!”
    “Hi,” said Collins.   “Look I am sorry to bother you but is anyone trying to trail you?”
    “No,” replied The Grey Man confidently.   “If there was, I would know about it.   Why do you ask?”
    “Surge and I have two watchers.   I am emailing you their photographs.”
    “Okay.   “Give me 30
minutes and I will call you back.”

 
    As soon as he put down the phone The Grey Man ran through a
security protocol.   All sensors, CCTV and
microphones were checked.   He also ran
diagnostics on the sniffers placed on his computer.   They can check anyone trying to find him
electronically.   Lastly he sent a message
to The Firm to have a team come in within twenty four hours to sweep within
three miles of his base for any new or strange goings on.

 
    He fed the photographs into his system and then linked with
GCHQ, Interpol and a dozen other police and security databases.   Almost immediately, Ian Colley and Damien
Carr popped up.   Both had done small
stints at MI6, both had been washed out.   In the real world they had set themselves up as private detectives
taking on work which mainly involved divorces and bad bill payers.   No prison records but both were under
suspicion for dodgy work.   Most
interestingly they both now worked part time for John Sea.   He ran a search on John Sea and then called
Collins back.
    “We may have a problem.”
    “Oh, why? said Collins.
    “Your watchers work for John Sea.”
      “What have Surge and
I done to upset him?”
    “Nothing as far as I am can see,” said The Grey Man.   “And why would he go after you when he knows
I would rip him apart if you were attacked.”
    “Very strange.”
    “Well, here are some more bits of information to worry over,”
said The Grey Man.   “John Sea had a
meeting with Sir Thomas Robertson ten days ago in London that C did not declare
officially which is highly irregular and Sir Thomas gave John Sea a brief
case.   No one knows what it contained.”
    “How do you know that?” Collins asked.
    “Sir Thomas has been watched by me ever since he came onto
my radar.   A very dangerous man and here
is another thing.   One of John Sea’s men,
the one they call The Enforcer, is trying to hire mercenaries.”
    “ Merc’s to take Surge and me out would
be ridiculous.   A simple hit squad would
be much easier and Sir Thomas has more than enough clout to get that done
internally.”
    “The two things may have nothing to do with you being
watched but it all looks very odd.   Be
very careful,” said The Grey Man.   “Put
Surge on alert and I will keep digging.”
    “Okay, see you soon,” said Collins and rang off.

 
    Chapter 12
    Mercenaries

 
    Finally Keith Poole got a lead through some very heavy villains in Glasgow,
who told him there was a team of mercenaries that would also double as a hit
team for the right price.   He sent out a
message that he was interested in a meeting and within an hour he got a call on
his mobile.  

 
    A very dry voice obviously using a distortion machine said, “I hear
you want to talk to me.”
    “Yes I do,” said Keith.
    “Okay.   A meet will cost you
ten grand.   I will text you the bank
details.”
    “No problem,” said Keith.
    “One thing you need to get very clear in your mind,”