Page 136 of Everything That Kills Me
He wasn’t the only one looking. The man was a credible threat to British security so others were searching too. He’d been seen entering the country on the Eurostar from Brussels, then disappeared, much to the irritation of senior figures in the security services and government. MI5 were blaming MI6 and vice versa. But coming through UK passport control had at least given them an up-to-date photo to work with. Al-Talib wasn’t the name on the passport he’d entered under but Zeph’s system had identified him.
When his program kicked in with a match on Oxford Street CCTV from yesterday, he almost fell off his chair. He quickly passed details to the others.
Robert Allen, Zeph’s boss, came over. “Well done, Zeph. Evan and Dora, you trace Al-Talib going forwards from Oxford Street. Matthew and Ben, you work back from there.” Robert turned to Zeph. “Any thoughts?”
“I could use the software to check out those in his vicinity and compare to the Eurostar footage. There might be other members of his network around him.”
“Good. Stay on that. The rest of you send Zeph details of Al-Talib’s route. And when you’ve gone as far as you can, do the same as Zeph and check those surrounding him.”
The computer program would do the work for him once Zeph set the parameters. As he waited, he scanned the Oxford Street crowds and felt his jaw drop. Was that…? Zeph zoomed in. Thomas? So was Jack there too? He couldn’t see him. Nor could he look for him with the computer. He had no photos. Though now he had one of Thomas. Thomas’s image matched to nothing in the system, which was a relief. Zeph saved the image, but to a special file, hidden well enough that it wasn’t obvious, and was immediately wracked with guilt.
By the end of the day, Al-Talib was under physical surveillance by a team of agents. He’d been traced to a hotel by CCTV and Zeph’s system would pick him up whenever he was in range of a camera. A job well done, but all Zeph could think about was Thomas. He’d located him twice more in the same area as Al-Talib. Coincidence or was Thomas following him? He wondered if anyone else had picked up on Thomas, so he asked.
“Did anyone get anywhere with the people in Al-Talib’s vicinity?”
Negative answers from all but Evan. Though maybe it was someone else and not Thomas he’d spotted.
Unfortunately, it was Thomas. Zeph knew he shouldn’t feel protective of him. He wasn’t. But he was of Jack.
“What do you think?” Evan asked. “Suspicious?”
“How many cameras picked up Al-Talib? How many picked up this guy? He was only seen three times on the same street.Oxford Street is insanely busy. They were probably just walking the same way, checking out the same shops.”
Evan sighed. “Yeah, you’re right. Coincidence. Plus, he’s not Asian and the wrong profile. Middle-aged Brit in a suit and tie.”
Much as it killed him to say it, Zeph pointed out, “They aren’t reasons to dismiss him. And we can’t be sure he’s a Brit.”
Evan blushed. “You’re right. So…we ignore him?”
“Yes, but we’ll keep looking.”
Zeph didn’t know what to do. He’d already misdirected Evan. Itmightbe coincidence but Zeph didn’t think so. The correct thing would be to inform Robert of what he and Evan had noticed, but was it therightthing to do? He was still dithering when everyone started to pack up and leave for the day. His theories about witness protection had crumbled after what happened in Middleton. Now they had a different focus. What was Thomas up to?
“Coming for a drink?” Evan called across the partition.
“Can’t, sorry.”
“I’m going to keep asking until you say yes.”
Zeph shot Evan a smile, hopefully not one of encouragement.
“We’re meeting at The Dog and Partridge if you change your mind.”
When everyone around him had gone, Zeph kept looking for Thomas. If he extended the parameters…
“What are you up to?” Robert asked.
It was all Zeph could do not to close the screen he was looking at. Guilt made him flame even though he was doing nothing wrong. Luckily the light level was low. If his face was flushed, Robert wouldn’t be able to tell.
“Still double-checking on anyone around Al-Talib on his route to the hotel. Vehicles and people.”
“Seen anything to worry about?”
“No.”Oh God.
“Don’t work too hard. We’ve found him now. We just need to not lose him again.”
Once Robert had moved off, Zeph kept looking, but he was tracking Thomas. His throat went dry when another camera showed him getting in a cab shortly after Al-Talib had done so. Thomas’s cab carried on once Al-Talib reached his hotel. Zeph kept following Thomas.
