Birmingham
What it is
The city where Zafar Jaffrey is standing for mayor, and the second stage of the book’s political plot. C07 takes Louisa Guy and Shirley Dander there to watch a library meeting while the cell’s van waits outside, and C10 has the cell leave the city by road after the day’s news.
It is the book’s demonstration that the provinces are in the same story: the attacks are national, the candidate is local, and the Service’s reach runs out at the ring road.
Book 5 — London Rules
- C05 — Jaffrey’s mayoralty and the West Midlands are the background to the accusation against him.
- C06 — Louisa and Shirley are sent to Birmingham; the drive and the Yellow Car game fill the wait.
- C07 — The library meeting: Louisa studies the audience, Shirley keeps the car and the monkey wrench, and the van arrives.
- C11 — The cell leaves Birmingham in the van, An working the radio.