Christy's - Fine Tea and Delicious Pastries

[pbrione]

About a minute after the last of the men had passed him, the man in the grey suit sitting in the front of the cafe neatly folded his newspaper, stood up, picking up a black briefcase, and carried his empty teacup over to where Christy herself stood, nervously, behind the counter. He handed her the cup and saucer and thanked her politely before making to leave. He opened the front door, but as Christy dissappeared briefly into the kitchen to wash out the cup, he allowed the door to slam closed again in front of him. He turned, and walked purposefully through into the backroom where the assembled constables sat. He opened the door, walked straight in amid startled faces and placed his briefcase firmly on the table.

"Good evening gentlemen."

Before M'guire could utter the threat or demand he was clearly preparing, the man drew a datacard from his inside pocket and threw it to the table before them.

"Agent Tebbit. MI5."

eyebrows raised around the room. Joshua Cooper leaned forwards, "How did you -"

He was cut off "I have been sent by Sir Christopher Wren to meet with you. We have been investigating the death of Commissioner Thorn and the Home Secretary's meddling in the BAF. We beleive these incidents to be linked. You are right to suspect Greene. We have reasons to beleive he may be a traitor. Grenville perhaps too. Gentlemen, this is extremely serious. We are in perhaps more danger than you think. We are facing a subversive group, an enemy to which even the most loyal of us can be turned. You need to act carefully."

Brian McNabb spoke up, "are you suggesting that Greene had a hand in Abigail's death?"

Tebbit pasued for a moment, "...perhaps. Dr Blunt, we read your autopsy files. And we managed to gain some additional data of our own. Our beleif is that Commissioner Thorn was poisoned with minute traces of a deadly hemotoxin from a rare Gaian viper snake."

"It is possible," replied the Doctor, "death over several hours, I did notice severe damage to the red blood cells. But how was it aministered? And by who?"

"There is cirumstantial evidence that points to Gaian involvement. No doubt Greene will eventually attempt to pin the blame on the gaian movement. But we have uncovered further evidence, since destroyed or covered up, suggesting that this is a deliberate setup. The gaians are being framed for a political murder. One way or the other, Greene is implicated. However, do not think you can simply act to have him removed or arrested. The situation is, I as said, more delicate than you may think. The Queen is ill, we do not know whether by design or coincidence, and the Prime Minister's position is in jeapordy. As for the BPA, there is a danger you may not even have full control over them. Our intelligence suggests Greene is planning to create a new National Security Division under his personal command and with authority over and above that of yourselves. He may try to pre-empt any move we make. I am afraid MI5 cannot afford to be seen to be conspiring openly with you - we will have to follow our separate paths. Though I shall make arrangements to leave open a line of communication. For now, I am afraid I cannot remain here long. I had to kill one man who tried to follow me here. There may be others. Watch your backs. I have a few minutes for any things you wish to discuss, but make it quick..."

He glanced over his shoulder and turned back to look at the 7 men assembled in the room, his face blank and passive.

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Sir Stanley Nelson




<span style="color:#000066">Charles Canning </span><span style="color:#000066"> Foreign Secretary</span>