Chapter 13: Fall Out

The 13th of May changed everything for those in Government.

Julia was suddenly disturbed by the sound of police sirens and the squeal of tyres. She looked down into the street. A stream of police patrol cars went by her flat heading towards Westminster. The cars were followed minutes later by a series of police motorcycles. A short time later a van pulled up and four Male Control Force officers got out and started checking ident cards with more than their usual rigour. Police cars with lights flashing and sirens blaring continued to come and go.

The TV was saying nothing about any emergency but Julia knew that the level of activity from the police had to be the result of a serious incident, although whether it was a major crime or some sort of serious accident she couldn’t guess. She tried calling the office to discover what was going on but all the phones were engaged. Sylvia’s mobile was set to her messaging service too. Eventually she got a message that there was to be a briefing in the office at four o’clock and all senior staff needed to be there. Sponsored individuals, the message said ominously, should be in secure accommodation where possible.

Julia was glad that she’d had Raven’s advice as she encouraged Henry into his room and locked the door behind him. He had been reluctant but he could tell she was worried and had gone along with it to make things easier for her. She felt a bit guilty about locking him up when she didn’t know herself what the problem was. “I don’t know what it’s about but there’s obviously some sort of panic going on. Don’t worry, I’ll let you know what I can after the meeting,” she had said.

In the office, a sombre-faced Sylvia Atterbury spoke to her assembled team. “There was an assassination attempt on the Prime Minister at the Fordswell conference this morning. I’m relieved to be able to tell you that no one at the meeting was injured. The MCF and security services are following up a number of leads. I’m afraid that is all I can say officially. However, let me give you some unofficial advice. The Home Secretary is seriously pissed off at what she sees as a serious intelligence failure. I can’t say I disagree with her on that. So, she is leaning on the MCF for results. The force commander had her ears scorched for quite a while and she’s been gingering up her operational types. Some of them are likely to be over keen in the way that only they can be. I wouldn’t like to be a male and out on the streets at the moment. We all know that the MCF isn’t deliberately unbalanced in the way it deals with crack downs but I think it will certainly look that way. There aren’t any extensions to the curfew but I strongly suggest that those of you with a sponsored male keep them indoors until things quieten down. If they do need to be out make sure they have their idents with them or better still take them on a leash; that way there won’t be any confusion. We shouldn’t need any of them to come in to the office at the moment. It will be safer for them not to and there has been enough unfortunate male-dominated decision making for one day, I think you’ll agree.”

Julia looked around at the others in the room. They all shared the same ashen look at the news. None of them had expected anything like it.

Julia let Henry out of his room as soon as she got back to the flat. He was obviously relieved to see her. “Can I get you anything?” he asked. She could tell from his expression that he was genuinely concerned for her.

“Why don’t you get out some wine for both of us?” Julia suggested. “I think we could both use a drink.” Henry looked surprised but said nothing.

He brought a bottle and two glasses. He poured the wine and was about to return to his room when Julia said. “No, stay. I need to tell you about what happened today. I said I would.”

Henry looked around.

“Oh, just sit down here on the couch with me. Can we just relax for a bit?” Henry looked uncomfortable at the suggestion but did as she asked. “Someone tried to kill the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary with a bomb.”

Henry’s suddenly ashen face showed Julia how shocked he was.

“They were unsuccessful but you can imagine what the response of the MCF and the security services is going to be like.”

“These sort of things wouldn’t happen if more men had effective sponsors,” said Henry. “That’s why what you are doing with Mistress Courten is so important.”

“I’m glad you think so.”

“I’ve seen too much cruelty. Too many games played over serious decisions. And, yes, men were at the helm for most of them. Maybe there’s a better way of doing things and maybe the measures needed to make that happen are justified. I think the present incumbents of the seat of power need to be careful that they don’t find themselves making the same mistakes as their predecessors, though.”

“Is that your civil servant voice talking?”

“Advisers advise, but ministers decide, they say. Sometimes ministers are too ready to take action. And that is a condition that seems to affect ministers of either sex.”

“Henry, what I don’t want to do is to spend the evening in a tutorial on effective administration. Drink your wine.” Henry looked embarrassed. Julia decided to take pity on him. “Did Raven teach you any useful skills in your sessions or were you just indulging your enthusiasms?”