The Big Breach - Index of

The Big Breach; From Top Secret to Maximum SecurityCompliments of http://www.192.com`They appear to be detailed descriptions of a shoulder-launched antihelicopterweapon, which we know the mafia have just acquired fromLibya.'I faked an innocent expression. `I've never seen them before,' Ireplied, shrugging my shoulders. `They must have been left in the carby the previous hirer.'It was a plausible explanation. The captain had not uncovered even atiny chink in my cover story, but I knew he would not release me yet asthe DS would want to hold me until my cover was broken. The captain gotup and left.Half an hour later, he returned. His mood was more hostile. `Dr Noonan,I do not believe your story. I am arresting you under Italian antiterroristlaws. You do not have the right to call a lawyer.' He snappedhis fingers. Two of the four guards handcuffed me and frogmarched meback outside. Their grip on me was vice-like. If these guys wereacting, they were doing a good job. As they pushed me towards the twoAlfa-Romeo patrol cars, I caught a glimpse of the Fiat. The wheels wereoff, both front seats and all the carpets were stripped out and thebonnet insulation had been pulled away. Foolishly, I couldn't hold backa smirk. One of the guards noticed and, as he bundled me into the backof the Alfa, he gave my head a stealthy bash against the door pillar.Armed carabinieri climbed in on either side. One of them blindfoldedme, then thrust my head down between my knees, viciously tightening thehandcuffs a couple of notches so they bit into my wrists.They dragged me from the car, stiff, aching and still blindfolded some40 minutes later, and escorted me indoors. I didn't know it, but I wasat the main carabinieri HQ just outside Rome. The blindfold was pulledaway and I found myself in a small cell, no more than ten feet by tenfeet, furnished with a simple iron bed with a mattress and one pillow.In the corner was a continental-style hole-in-the-floor toilet, with ashower rose above it.One of the guards released the handcuffs, letting blood flow back intomy numbed hands, and ordered me to strip. As I removed each garment, heshook them and examined them carefully for hidden objects. The scrap ofpaper bearing the details of the ship and end user certificates wasstill in my right sock. Steadying myself by leaning on the mattress, Ipulled off the sock, secreting the wedge of paper between thumb andpalm. Handing the sock to him with my left hand, I steadied myself withmy right hand as I pulled off my left sock. As he examined and shookit, I slipped the incriminating evidence under the pillow.My clothes were stuffed into a black bin liner and the carabinierihanded me a pair of grey overalls a size too small, blindfolded meagain, then handcuffed me face downwards to the bed. The heavy doorclanged shut so probably the guards were gone, but I waited for fiveminutes, listening carefully, before moving. There wasn't much slack onthe chain of the handcuffs but by sliding them along the rail of thebedstead I groped for the scrap of paper under the pillow, transferredit to my mouth and swallowed it.Lying chained to the bed felt isolated and slightly humiliating, but itwas just an exercise. I tried to imagine what it would really be likepage- 60 - To purchase the original limited edition hardback version of this bookplease call 08000 192 192 or go to http://www.192.com