The Layered World - Part 11 - Return of the Elusive Mr. Manco
Chapter 44 - London Finally
Two weeks after the decision at the Provence villa to create a new nonprofit Institute, Jay and Mark were taking turns driving the armored van to England. There were several reasons for this. One was to give the vehicle a good shakedown, another was to test the ability of the agencies to track him, and a third was to obtain registration and license plates in the UK.
The scheme to hold more client meetings in European centers was on hold. Everyone was occupied with fashioning new directions and associated logistics. With Anthony's blessing, it had been agreed that all traces of Orange and its convoluted finances would be wiped clean. It was a successful onetime effort and would be treated as such. The Four had met with Hugh and Anthony and come to that conclusion. The Jihadis undoubtedly now had all of their own finances under intense surveillance, and an attempt to try another Orange had a much reduced chance of success.
There was also the challenge of creating a public financial structure for the Institute, and a private structure for covert work.
Jay was torn between the need to maintain his current invisibility versus the desire to get back to London and get his hands dirty with resurrecting his insurance and investment empire. Of course, he had no assurance that he was indeed invisible, and from a long term point of view, it made no sense to continue. His physical presence at the head of Manco Enterprises was essential.
Having thought about it, Jay decided to use his British passport to enter the country. This would amuse Anthony, when he learned of it, and possibly irritate the CIA when he showed up in London without having appeared on their radar. Anthony had mentioned early on that one of the privileges of the passport he now held was that his comings and goings on it would be known only to a few high ranking officials.
The queue for transiting the Channel Tunnel was lengthy, but moved quickly toward the ramp on which they would enter the transit railcar. The official who took their passports and vehicle papers returned with a few questions about the van and showed them a stamp which allowed operation in the UK for ten days without a completed registration. He ended with a brief sentence, "Mr. Manco, it is a pleasure to have you home with us."
Just that. A few words to acknowledge his arrival. He wondered if Anthony would be alerted and if that would alert Hugh. They had hardly left Folkestone an hour later when his cell chimed and it was Hugh.
"You are making good progress. I had a call from Anthony himself. He would like to see you soonest."
"Yes. Not surprising. I have no idea what is on my calendar, but perhaps you can run interference and arrange something tomorrow?"
"Yes. Would you like to arrive at Investment Management?"
"In two hours or so."
Jay was thinking about a larger group at the Wiltshire cottage, but decided not to mention that on an open line. In the meantime, he was coaching Mark about driving on the lefthand side of the road, which was an entirely new experience for the American.
***
The armored van was warmly welcomed by Hugh and his helpers in the underground garage work area.
"Well now, isn't that a fancy rig. You are traveling in style, Jay."
"Yes. Has run like a top so far. Our new first line of defense."
"We will take a closer look while you ride the elevator to third floor. There is a welcoming committee."
He wasn't jumped this time. The space was tight with more than a dozen bodies clustered around a catered buffet. Jay worked slowly around the room with hugs and kisses. He mentally divided them into his A and B teams. It was really a false division, since they were all one fine team that had pulled off Jennifer's Mediterranean caper with military precision. Aided by allies like Avi, of course. It still amazed and puzzled him that both the Jihadi and Western government sides had successfully suppressed the sinking of the mosquito boat.
A voice close by said, "You are saying one thing and thinking another. I can tell." It was Kelly, who was much closer to him now than before the trip.
"You are as surprised as I am at the lack of media attention to any of our doings?"
"You need to give Tricia a special thank you for her good work. Her mantra is that Manco suffered losses after the plane crash but is recovering. Not much media interest in that."
He whispered quietly in her ear, "She needs a recovery screw?"
She turned and gave him a hot kiss. "You are very bad!"
A loud voice said, "What's this? I thought we were having a meeting?"
As Kelly backed away, Jay smiled and raised his voice in order to be heard, "Thank you for the introduction. I am here to express my great appreciation, and that of several others who can't be named, for your superlative performance in recent weeks. We have seriously damaged the financial side of radical Islam, and taken only minor losses ourselves. While in the field, we have been supported as never before by Tricia, whose wordsmanship has held the obnoxious side of media to a minimum. Let's have food and I will continue with some thoughts about the immediate future after that."
Low female voices followed him down the line. "Kissing PA's in public is not allowed!" When his gaze stared them down, blushes were quick to emerge.
He deliberately sat with Allan. For once, the eight females were quiet, making low grumpy remarks to themselves.
His protégé was looking relaxed. "You are too comfortable by far."
"It is all your fault, sir. You have surrounded me with beautiful and dangerous women. You have connected me with not only one, but two intelligence agencies. The most intensive check on me will find only a Yale degree and a disappearance as a very junior agent into the domestic side of the CIA. Recently, you have assigned me to work with Hugh and others to construct a tidy little covert cell for missions yet to be designed."
"I assume you are finding this agreeable. Tell me about Tim."
"Yes. I can't imagine a more challenging and more satisfying two months of work than the recent past. As for Tim, that is a first order of business. He has prepared retirement papers and has been awaiting your return to have a face to face session on future employment possibilities."
Jay's quick mind was racing ahead. "Perhaps under cover of Purple days, the four of us can use Wiltshire for a very private discussion?"
"Your calendar is vastly overcommitted, but that is a possibility. There is one complication, which we need Lisa to join for discussion."
Allan had a smile, almost a smirk, and Jay knew he was being set up.
"This is a secret matter to which I am not privy?"
Allan had his arm and finger pointing at their Israeli agent, who frowned and wandered over.
"You look like foxes eyeing the henhouse."
"Suspicious as always? It has kept you alive so far?" Jay was smiling.
Allan said, "He needs to know about Allyson. Sit down here between us and try not to look like you are discussing important work matters."
"This is entirely not fair, but I suppose you need to talk to Tim soonest...?"
"Yes, this is on Jay's hot list of catchup items."
