Invasion Read Online Free PDF Page B

probably an ambulance.’
    Anna squeezed his fingers, then brought them up to her mouth and kissed them. ‘I know, I’m being stupid. Just spooked again, that’s all. A weekend in the country will do us both good.’
    ‘You bet.’
    ‘What’s on for the rest of the day?’
    ‘I’ve got that school thing in Greenwich, remember? The wing opening?’ Anna frowned. ‘I thought you were going to cancel? Because of the dinner tonight?’
    ‘I’d love to. But, as David rightly reminded me, I made a personal commitment. Besides, the developers are significant party donors.’
    ‘They’d understand, Harry. What’s more important – preparing for a dinner that may reap considerable rewards for the whole country, or a school wing opening?’
    Harry frowned. ‘You’re right, I know. It’s tricky, that’s all.’
    ‘Then cite security concerns, the march, whatever. Or s end someone else. What about Kay Fleming?’
    Harry thought about his barrel-figured Minister for Education, her negative reaction to an abrupt change in her schedule, her famously abrasive manner.
    ‘No, Kay’s all wrong for this. Like I said, it’s more of a personal commitment. I made a promise, when they broke ground, in front of the board, the parents and pupils. I went to school there, remember?’
    Anna laid her hands on the table. ‘In that case, I’ll go.’
    Harry shook his head. ‘No way.’
    ‘Yes,’ Anna insisted in a calm voice. ‘It’s only Greenwich, and it’ll be more personal if I go. Anyway, I’m beginning to feel like a prisoner here. It’ll be nice to do a bit of meet and greet, take my mind off things. Who knows, it might give the polls a little boost too.’
    Harry thought quickly. True, it was a short trip, made even shorter in a ministerial car that didn’t stop for anything across town. He’d insist on a larger police escort too, strong but subtle, just to keep Anna reassured. And maybe she was right , maybe the media would spin it in a positive light . ‘You’re sure?’ asked Harry, squeezing her shoulder.
    ‘Certain.’
    ‘You’ve saved my life,’ he smiled, scraping his chair back and kissing her cheek. ‘I’ll speak to David, get things organised with the Governors. Can you be ready by three? The unveiling’s supposed to take place after the final bell, give the kids and parents a chance to see the ceremony.’
    Anna nodded. ‘Sure.’
    ‘You’re an angel. Thanks.’
    He turned, closing the apartment door behind him, and headed downstairs.
     

Morden, South London : 3.03 pm
    Danesh Khan’s knees cracked painfully as he got to his feet and made his way stiffly out of the prayer hall and into the adjoining atrium. He took his trainers from the cubbyhole and slipped them on, continuing along the carpeted hallway to the busy entrance foyer. There he joined a throng of other worshippers browsing the trestle tables stacked with Islamic books and pamphlets. Feigning interest, he engaged one of the mosque workers in a brief conversation about the latest goings-on in Arabia, all the time keeping a watchful eye on the hallway.
    After a minute or so, the wait was over. There he was. Khan headed for the exit, keeping a small group of worshippers between himself and the object of his surveillance, the man known simply as Target One. He eyed the individual through the crowd as the target bid farewell to two other men, then made his way out into the street.
    The mosque was situated just off the A24 Morden Road in southwest London, a rather uninspiring structure as mosques went, but Khan thought it was one of the more interesting buildings in this drab suburb on the borders of London and Surrey. Target One walked out of the main gate and turned right towards Morden town centre, no doubt making for the bus stop that would take him home to Mitcham, assumed Khan.
    ‘Target One on the move,’ he mumbled into his tiny microphone secreted under his shirt collar. His hidden earpiece hissed in reply.
    ‘Copy that,