Chapter 16

Powering up the notebook, Dan sits down with a coffee, clicks and enters the web site. What he needs is not a common piece of kit but he knows that you can find anything on internet auctions.

Clicking in the search bar, he enters what he is looking for, telephone call diverter systems, and within seconds a list is produced.

Scrolling through the list, he passes most without a second glance. Hitting the next button, he begins to scroll through page two of the list. Stopping on one about half way down the page, he clicks to open the description.

Although he doesn't know exactly how they work, he does know what they do and what he needs.

The description on the item says it all in plain English. With this device placed on an incoming telephone line, the incoming call will be diverted to a predetermined remote telephone station. Once the alternative telephone number has been programmed, the device can be remotely activated using the stored number.

Now that is exactly what I need he thinks

Pleased with himself how quick he found the little piece of tech, he taps the buy it now button.

As usual, he opts to pay with a postal order and have the item delivered, adding a note asking to be informed of the delivery date.

The delivery address he uses is only about ten minute walk through the woods, along a rambler's path, and out the other side. An abandoned house, although looking at it you wouldn't think so, is his choice of address. With curtains still hung in every window, most people would think it's occupied. It has served its purpose well over the past few months and this time should not be any different. It was always the same. On the day of delivery have a wander down to the house. Walk around the neighbouring streets and locate the postal worker. Once they get close to the house, it's a case of standing near the front door with door keys in hand. Walking down to the gate to meet the postie and put on the "oh you have just caught me on the way out, that's handy" routine. A quick illegible scribble for a signature and it's over a done with.

It took over a week for the device to be delivered and as usual the collection went without a hitch. Taking it out of the packaging, Dan was pleased to see how small it was. The main component comprised of a little black square box that must have held the tech, a USB connecter on one end for programming, and two wires on the other for connection to the incoming phone line.

Plugging the USB into his notebook, Dan stares at the screen hoping it will explain word for word how to set it up. The words Thank You for choosing this item flash up on the screen, please follow the instructions and click next.

Hitting the next button, he eagerly waits. A square box appears and the words please enter the required telephone number to be diverted to were splayed on the screen.

Pulling a brand new sim card packet from his pocket, he puts it into a cheap pay as you go phone. Finding the new number on the backing card, he enters the eleven-digit number and hits enter.

As the little device starts to flash, the screen turns blank for a second and then comes alive again.

Your designated telephone number has now been stored. The ten-digit number displayed below is required to activate the call diverter device. Please keep this number safe.

Jotting down the number, he disconnects the USB from his notebook. Feeling like a tech geek for setting it up, it was now time to do his part of the physical work for this job.

These days it was not unusual to see somebody walking down the street wearing a hi-viz. Wherever you looked there were some kind of repairs happening, and Dan knew that nobody would pay any attention to him. The telephone exchange box that SecuRight used was located a few hundred yards at the end of the street. This was an ideal place as it kept him well away from, and out of sight, of the security cameras in the yard.

Sitting on his toolbox, he opens the junction box to find a mess of wires. Wires, all colours of the rainbow, were wrapped around each other and going in all directions. Locating the correct terminal for the security firm was not hard. Each line had its own number. The number used was the building number on the street.

SecuRight had two separate lines. One was the normal line and the other was the emergency line. Not knowing which was which, it was going to be a fifty fifty chance.

Removing the wire out of the junction box to attach the device wire would cut the phone line in the building. It would only be for a second so hopefully they would not think too much of it. Taking out the wire insertion tool that he had purchased from a pound store, he pulls on the first wire from the junction. Tying the wire together with the wire from the device, he puts both of them onto the end of the insertion tool and prods it into the junction socket. Doing the same for the second wire, his hands fumbling with the tiny lines, he pops it into place.