Tammy: Flying High Part 2: Custody Shiraz Turvey & Alecia Snowfall

 
This story follows on from Tammy: Rank Stupidity and Snowfall's Butterflies, Asphalt & Insanity

Part 2 - Custody

They landed almost two hours later, having had to give London Stansted a wide swerve. It was getting light as they taxied, unsurprisingly Tammy couldn’t see many staff. She taxied towards the fuel stand but stopped short so an ambulance could meet them.

Maisie dropped the steps whilst Tammy put another shot into Burgess, sensing that he was more awake than he showed.

Two paramedics approached the plane with a wheeled stretcher.

“We understand you have a casualty?”

“Yes, he’s unconscious but otherwise uninjured. Where will you be taking him?”

“The Abigail Adams Nursing Home, Miss Smart.”

Tammy took a good look at the paramedic, recognising him as one of the security team at Abigail Adams House.

“I see, thank you for your prompt attendance.”

She stepped back as the uniformed pair pulled Burgess onto the stretcher then wheeled him away.

“What was that about, Tammy, and how did he know your name?”

“That paramedic works at AA House and was wearing a firearm, beyond that I don’t know. Let’s get refuelled and on our way.”

Her secure mobile rang before she could move the plane.

“Yes Colonel?”

“I’ve had a call from our American friends, apparently you were to deliver Burgess into custody?”

“That’s what they intended, but I’d rather not be arrested for inter-judicial kidnapping, assault and probably a few dozen other crimes. That may be justifiable for our American friends, but as a civilian I can’t take that chance and I suspect that even a special warrant wouldn’t be much help right now?”

“I guessed as much, and told them you probably had a good reason.”

“I did. Right now, only the tower at North Weald knows that we diverted here with a medical emergency. I recognised one of the paramedics?”

“Ah, are you aware of the new facility that the Security Service have? Actually it’s a combined services facility.”

“A secure nursing home in the grounds of AA House, Sir?”

“Exactly. AA House itself is now making money and isn’t normally suitable for ad-hoc residents.”

“Fancy that, MI5 making money?”

“Apparently it helps justify other items in the budget, I’m told. What’s your aim from this morning’s affair?”

“That Burgess doesn’t have cause to persuade anyone that he’s been kidnapped – that keeps the fan and the bucket of manure away from me, Sir.”

“Understood.”

“I half think, Sir, that I was being made to look like the fall guy for this operation whilst our friends will try to make it look like they delivered Burgess on a plate. He may be Britain’s most-wanted but he walks if there’s a hint of anything smelly.”

“I wouldn’t want to jump to conclusions, but it seems you were right to take a step back. What’s your plan?”

“To fly North. I need to check my flying hours. We then need to speak to our respective parental units about a family matter.”

“I see. If it affects either of you then I want it in writing, regardless.”

“Of course.”

Once they were fuelled Tammy made a decision.

“I’m going to take a break, we can fly this evening or in the morning.”

“What day is it, Tammy? I’ve lost track.”

“Saturday, that means Suzie should be at home. Let’s park up and get a taxi, I fancy the rest of the day off!”

Before they locked the plane up, Tammy spotted a case that had been lodged out of reach of their guest, in case he had woken. She debated taking it with her but decided it was more secure where it was.

Suzie was still her PJs when the girls arrived, nearly an hour later.

“Hey, some warning? I might have had company?”

“Sorry Suzie, but you do now. We were diverted here, I hadn’t planned to even be in England!”

“Weren’t you on the Isle of Man?”

“Yes, plane trouble and I ran out of flying hours.

“No bags? Where’s the luggage for a week?”

“We left it on the plane, we just need a bed for a few hours.”

“You should have called, regardless.”

“Yeah, but it was real early, and I know you like your beauty sleep. Sorry, Suzie but we need a bed and a shower and then we’ll be on our way North.”

“Well, I don’t want to hear any indication you’re having fun?”

Maisie took offence. “If you must know, I’m pregnant and it’s Tammy’s baby.”

Suzie screamed. “How long?”

“A few weeks, like when we were last here.”

“I’ve got to tell mum!”

“NO!”

“But ….?”

“No Suzie, that’s down to us. If you decide to spill the beans then don’t be surprised if there are consequences? What did Kate say to you?”

“The Duchess? Hmmm.”

“Remember, there are people out to get me, to get us. If news about the baby leaks then that puts all of us at risk, you could very well end all our careers.”

“By calling mum?”

“Yes.”

Suzie started to cry, “s’not fair!”

Tammy and Maisie waited then decided to head for the stairs to the guest room.

“Wait!”

Maisie kept going, Tammy waited.

”Okay, what is it Suzie?”

“Mum told me off, she’s never done that before, but I’m her natural child – it’s not supposed to be like that?”

“Oh dear, hadn’t you considered that you’re an adult who placed us at risk rather than trying to hang onto her apron claiming to be the best daughter?”

“I was never allowed to have a relationship with her. That’s one reason why I left as soon as I could, one of the reasons.”

“So you thought you could now be the best daughter, regardless?”

“Yeah.”

“Life isn’t like that, dear sister, unless you live in a fantasy world. Unfortunately you have a job in the intelligence community and that requires that you don’t start inventing stories to satisfy your need for motherly comfort. My advice is to keep your mouth closed and to stop showing off, it doesn’t suit you. We’ll see you in a few hours, if you’re still here.”

Tammy now joined Maisie who was sat on the bed.

“What do we do about clothes?”

“There’s an emergency pack of nightwear and undies in the drawers for each of us.”

They were changed a few minutes later, made certain the curtains were drawn and the door was firmly closed.

“Hold me Tammy, please don’t let anyone harm our baby!”

She did as asked. “I’ll protect all of us.”

“Even Suzie?”

“Yes, not that she deserves it nor understands what’s at stake.”

“Silly girl.”

“Yes.”

- o -

The girls awoke a few hours later to the sound of Tammy’s phone with a secure call.

“Yes?”

“Reports from AA House are that Burgess has woken up and is very unhappy, claiming he was kidnapped.”

“No great surprise there, Sir.”

“He claims to have been on the Isle of Man for the TT races but no-one can verify this so the nursing staff are considering psychosis, induced by severe stress.”

“That will keep him out of the way for now, but means that there won’t be any court appearances in the near future?”

“Correct, but that may be the best approach?”

“I think, Sir, we had best leave this to the medical staff to resolve.”

“That is best. 1900 No Name.”

The line went dead.

“Damn.”

“What’s up, Tammy?”

“We have a summons to the No Name Club at 7pm.”

“What do we wear?”

“Not uniforms, even if I had one with me, so it’ll be evening frocks. We’ll be at a disadvantage.”

“Why?”

“They know we’ll be there, we don’t know who ‘they’ are.”

“Okay Tammy, but what about a frock? Are there any here we can use?”

“There are a few here but we’ve worn them, and the ones in our cases, on the plane, will be creased.”

“So we need to go shopping?”

“Yes, but shower first.”

They met Suzie in the kitchen.

“There’s sandwiches in the fridge, I bagged them so you can eat them on the plane.”

“Thanks for preparing them, but we’ve been called to a meeting in the West End this evening.”

“Who calls a meeting on a Saturday night, Tammy?”

“Some strange people. Anyway, Maisie and I need to get something to wear for tonight.”

“You know that you fit my dresses, most of them.”

“Yes, Suzie, but Maisie wouldn’t.”

“She’s not showing already?”

Tammy laughed, mostly out of desperation.

“Don’t you know anything about pregnancy?”

“Why should I?”

“Didn’t you have sex education classes at school?”

“All my class was off with the flu, it wasn’t repeated.”

“Can I suggest you have a look at the basics, so that you don’t embarrass yourself? You might even get pregnant yourself one day?”

“Come on Tammy, there’s more chance of that happening to you! I’d make an awful mother.”

“Maisie and I had best head into town now.”

“What about lunch?”

“Breakfast didn’t happen, so we’ll get a full meal to tide us over. Keep the sandwiches, we’ll take them on the plane in the morning.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, I know that wasn’t the plan but my life isn’t straightforward.”

The doorbell rang, Tammy was closest.

“Miss Smart, fancy meeting you here?”

“Kevin … I hope you’re hungry, and got here by tube?”

“Sure?”

“Maisie, let’s go.”

They were outside before DI Kevin Edmunds said anything else.

“Where are we going?”

“Dress hunting and a decent hot lunch in the pub that we’ve used before. Now, who suggested you paid us a visit?”

“A social call?”

“I wasn’t supposed to be here, and until 5am I was in the air heading to Wick. So, scrub the social excuse. Who was it?”

“Five. You were recognised.”

“I know, the clue was when the so-called paramedic called me by my name.”

“Okay, they want the back story.”

“There isn’t one as I don’t know who is actually cleared? Why not run with what we have?”

“Why not call us and have Burgess collected?”

“It wasn’t that simple, Kevin, what we have is currently the least worst result. If Burgess walks from there then he walks. There is nothing that I can say that will change that,”

“This doesn’t fill me with confidence, Tammy, and sounds like you messed up?”

“Not me, Kevin, someone much much higher up the food chain set a sequence of events running and this is the result, there were very few sensible, and legal, outcomes.”

“Ah, legal. Was it legal? Tammy?”

“I really don’t know, Kevin, it probably was but please don’t ask me to quote Acts of Parliament.”

“At least you didn’t offer the Ways & Means Act?”

“That doesn’t exist!”

“Correct, Tammy.”

They had stopped outside a boutique.

“Come on Maisie, let’s find a frock. Kevin, head to the pub, find a table and order yourself a beer. We may be some time.”

The girls stood in the doorway.

“Tammy, I’m not clear on what we need to get?”

“We need to represent our brand, and be prepared for anything.”

“New undies then?”

“Exactly!”

They met with Kevin nearly an hour later and immediately ordered food. Judging by the empties, Kevin was on his third pint.

“I’m on duty!”

“I’m sure you are duty bound to report everything, including your state of inebriation?”

“Only if I do a report.”
“I see, so are you writing a report?”

“I don’t think there’s anything to write?”

“That’s an excellent solution, Kevin.”

“So, Tammy, Maisie, why did you need dresses?”

“That’s a silly question, but as you’re not married I may forgive you. Do you have a sister?”

“No.”

“Well, well, what you seem to be suffering is limited female exposure outside of the work environment.”

“I do, Tammy?”

“Indeed, this was made very clear when you asked why we needed new dresses.”

“Don’t you buy because you need something?”

“Not necessarily.”

“That doesn’t make sense.”

“Kevin, to us it makes perfect sense. At least your condition isn’t as bad as how my sister doesn’t understand pregnancy. You have an excuse, barely, she doesn’t.”

“Pregnancy? Suzie isn’t pregnant is she?”

“No, in her case that would require some decision making.”

“So who, Tammy? Not you? Surely?”

“Regrettably no. Maisie?”

“It’s me, but it’s not official yet so no reporting please.”

Their food arrived, and this took priority.

Maisie waited until Kevin had to dash to the little boys room.

“Tammy, how are we getting to the club tonight?”

“I suspect it’ll be the Central Line, Maisie.”

“The Tube? I guess that’ll work, but will we be safe?”

“Of that I’m sure, after all we won’t have Suzie or Lizzie with us.”

They had finished eating by the time Kevin returned.

“I had a message whilst I was in the loo, apparently I am your security escort tonight.”

“Really?”

“Yes. Feel free to check?”

“Kevin, please don’t take this the wrong way but I have limited knowledge of what’s happening later today and I still don’t know who is cleared. Oh.”

She turned to Maisie.

“Heels and tights, or stockings?”

“Stockings, naughty!”

“Bye Kevin, we’ll see you at six if you are indeed our escort.”

Somehow the girls were ready by six, having also bought themselves a light jacket before returning to the house.

“Don’t I get an invite?”

“For what, Suzie? As far as I know this is a business meeting.”

“I never get invited to anything.”

“Believe me, this isn’t going to be a social affair tonight, and I‘m not looking forward to it – in fact Maisie and I could be in trouble. The difference is that we’re meeting in an old club and not a manager’s office.”

“But new dresses, new everything, Tammy?”

“I could have worn my uniform but it’s in Scotland, so classy evening-wear was the alternative.”

“You look like you’re going to a posh restaurant and nightclub?”

“Maybe that, Suzie, or perhaps the army cell house in Colchester. I’m a little unclear what is supposed to happen once we arrive. You’re welcome to take our place but you aren’t in the military.”

“So you aren’t going to meet the Queen again?”

“I would think that is extremely unlikely, but if tonight goes wrong then the courtroom will have a portrait of her.”

“Could it go wrong, Tammy?”

“It already did, it just depends whether anyone thinks that the ends outweighed the means.”

“What did you do?”

“I flew a plane.”

“That’s it?”

“Yes Suzie, that’s it.”

They were interrupted by the doorbell, a London cab sat outside and Kevin was nowhere to be seen.

“The No Name club, Miss Smart?”

“Thank you. Suzie, we may be late.”

The girls were met inside the No Name Club by Colonel MacTaggart and Dave Brown.

“Out of retirement again, Dave?”

“Unfortunately, Tammy, yes. Once again you have given us a conundrum that none of the new staff can handle effectively.”

“I guess you are hoping that I can give you what you don’t have?”

“In an ideal world, yes, but Burgess’ lawyer has already discovered that he’s in the UK although not where he is.”

“So you don’t know how long you can hold him on medical terms?”

“Indeed, a lawyer could insist on transfer to another facility and might question who is paying for his care as it isn’t an NHS facility.”

“What are you looking for?”

“A chain of events that places him in lawful custody, now or in the future?”

“Unfortunately no, he was put on my plane in the very early hours of today and I had to leave immediately. Naturally I believed that medical care might be appropriate hence my request.”

“Very astute but it puts us at risk if questions are asked?” Suggested the Colonel.

“I’m sorry that I can’t give you what you want.”

“How did you capture him?”

“Sorry, not me, I was the courier.”

“Who then?”

“I didn’t take names.”

“Damn you, Tammy, you’re not helping?”

“Sorry Colonel but I am also on administrative leave, unless somewhere there’s a letter releasing me back to full duty – in which case I was also on annual leave.”

Dave Brown resumed. “He’s mentioned some papers?”

“I have a briefcase, but I didn’t know what to do with it. You can collect it at ten in the morning at North Weald.”

“Do you know what’s in the briefcase, Tammy?”

“No, I didn’t open it and was wearing gloves when I stowed it.”

“Something to be grateful for. Tell me, Tammy, where is your special warrant?”

“In my safe, several hundred miles away. And no, we can’t use it.”

“Why not?”

“If I start waving that around then its very existence will be public. My entire career could be exposed, along with Sir Thomas potentially. This isn’t one of those occasions when my actions can be swept under the rug. This has to be handled a different way.”

“I see.”

“Mr Brown, do you have what you need?”

“Yes, Colonel, many thanks for this opportunity.”

They waited until the MI5 inquisitor had left the bar.

“Tammy, it’s a mess.”

“I know, Colonel, and I have to thank our friends for that, especially Krystel. I was setup to be their saviour, they will leave the island unblemished whilst I get all the trouble.”

“I will have to remind them of their agreement to work together, so I do sympathise to a point Tammy but how the hell did you end up in this position?”

“By not being able to say ‘no’. I had no military rank, and they knew it. I was played.”

“My apologies but things were taken out of my hands, and the timing stank. Nevertheless, your rank had been fully restored and you are not under any suspension.”

“A text message and a telephone call don’t give me a legal document I can rely on unfortunately. Please don’t surprise me with a training exercise or random recall to base, Sir, I need a week or two without any nasty surprises.”

“Understood, but some matters are out of my hands. I would, however, like an update on Lieutenant Harrison’s training, and please check on her personal life as I don’t think we can handle a security breach right now.”

“Of course Sir, I’ll attend to that this week. Has there been any movement on Project Spinnaker?”

“None that I’m aware of, you should do some research and report back with potential solutions.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“How is your sister?”

“I have two, but I assume you are referring to Suzie?”

“Yes.”

“She is still a liability. We fed her the news of Maisie’s pregnancy and barred her from phoning home. If she keeps her promise then that will help my assessment of her.”

“Is her liability a danger to her employment or to yourself and our operations?”

“In short, I don’t think so but it should be kept under review. It seems clear that she rarely talks to any of her colleagues and has almost zero social life but craves personal attention. Perhaps some time with the in-house counsellor might be useful?”

“Good idea, I’ll pass that on. Now, congratulations you two. That brings us to two matters.”

“Yes, Colonel, I know that you would like confirmation in writing. Maisie?”

“I have made an appointment to see my GP in the next few days, I will notify everyone when I have that appointment done.”

“Good, thank you Maisie. Now, I understand that you plan to get married?”

“Yes.”

“Are you aware that you Tammy can no longer be Maisie’s line manager when you are married, and are probably breaking that rule by being in a common law relationship, or whatever the appropriate term is in Scotland these days!”

“I had considered that, Sir, but I don’t have a suitable plan that might stop any disruption to our lives.”

“When will this wedding be?”

“Maybe later this year but it could be next Spring, after our babe is born.”

“It needs to be a consideration.”

“So we have until then so sort this out.”

“Correct, Captain Smart. Now, I have a table booked in the restaurant above us, would you care to join us?”

“Us?”

“Commander Traeger is up there, please play nicely.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Tammy took a deep breath as they climbed the staircase; her relationship with her line manager was a fraught one, Commander Geoff Traeger was a career officer in the British Army whilst Tammy had been appointed a lieutenant as a convenience to Captain Marcus Wade two years earlier without formal officer training. Then, contrary to his wishes, she had been given a field promotion.

Her opinion of Traeger was that he wouldn’t be satisfied until she was marching and farting to order on the parade ground.

Tammy forced a smile as she took her seat, it was probably going to be a long evening.