Old Crackers

by Peter Bates

CHAPTER 71

  Frank Lloyd wasn’t in any hurry. He’d learned over the years that instant responses sometimes went wrong, especially when the adrenaline was running high. When he arrived home the first thing he did was to put on the kettle, and to stick a few slices of bread into his toaster. The lads were in his lounge and talking twenty to the dozen. A bit of thinking time on his own wouldn’t do any harm even though he doubted very much if he could add anything to what he had already learned. Sometime in the next ten minutes, he or one of the lads would need to make a call to Norman Pendleton. What they actually said could and would be crucial. After pouring the teas, and adding the milk, he wrote down several notes on a piece of A4 paper, and then placed the paper on the metal tray alongside the cups.

  “Here you go, lads,”

  “Cheers, Frank,” smiled Terry.

  “What’s the piece of paper for?” asked Reg.

  “Just a couple of notes I made. When we speak to Norman, we’ve got to get it right.”

  “He’s never changed,” commented Roy. “You could always rely on our Franky to be absolutely spot-on.”

  Frank grinned and returned to the kitchen. When he returned to the table just minutes later, he was carrying a plate of toast, each slice covered in butter and a thick layer of jam.

  “He knows what we like, as well,” said Reg.

  “What notes have you made?” asked Terry as Frank took a seat.

  “Just a summary of what we’ve learned, plus a few names that we know from the conversations that we have overheard.”

  “Makes sense,” agreed Roy.

  “What have you actually written, though?” persisted Terry.

  Frank sighed deeply and picked up the paper. Quickly he read aloud each brief note one by one, and then replaced the document on the table.”

  “Well done, Frank. That just about covers it,”

  Frank’s phone rang as he leaned forward to pick up his tea cup. He glanced at the display and whispered ‘Norman’ to each of his friends. Frank quickly clicked the ‘answer’ button and pressed another for the loudspeaker sound to come on.

  “Norman.”

  “Hi Frank. I’m just calling to update you on the body count in the wood. There were five of them in total.”

  “We guessed that there would be, give or take one or two that could have been absent. Are they all identified yet?”

  “Yes.”

  “That’s some sort of good news then.”

  “It is, Frank, but not for their families.”

  “I guess not. Even the worst criminals have families, and many of those people are totally innocent and have no idea what their relatives are up to.”

  “You’re right, Frank. We just have the massive job of finding out who did it now.”

  “I’m with the other old lads now, Norman, and we think that we can help you do just that.”

  “You’re not serious, are you?”

  “Yes, Norman, absolutely.”

  “Go on,”

  Frank paused for a moment, looking around his friends’ faces. All three were nodding their heads.

  “Have you got some paper, Norman?”

  “Go ahead, Frank.”

  “Well, we’re certain it was Mel Harrison and his gang that did it.”

  “I thought that, too, but there isn’t any evidence that would support that theory.”

  “We think that there is now. We know and have definite evidence that Harrison’s car was close to the scene on the day that it happened. That is totally irrefutable, so we’ve been doing a little digging ourselves.”

  “Go on.”

  “One of the gang members, a young man called Bob Stephenson, has the very same shovels in his garage that were used to dig the deep holes in the wood. You might well get some sort of forensic link from them. They’re there right now, but you’ll have to move really quickly to get them because they will no longer be there tomorrow.”

  “Bloody hell, Frank. That’s dynamite. We have Harrison’s whole gang listed on our computer records, so I can get some of the lads out to Stephenson’s place immediately.”

  “It gets better, Norman. Harrison has a secure flat in Leyton. It’ll be in his name so you should be able to trace it easily. Apart from some money that Harrison could have picked up from the drugs market, you’ll find in there several hand guns that he and his gang used on Jed Thomas and his crew in the wood. They will match up to the shells that were found on and around the site of the killings. I must warn you in advance that the safe itself will be probably extremely difficult to penetrate, but I’m sure that you have expert breakers that can gain entry.”

  “Thanks, that’s all amazing, Frank. I know that I’ve said it before, but I really wish that I could get you guys back on the job.”

  “And so do we, Norman, but age is age I’m afraid, and that’s it.”

  “I’d better get cracking straight away, mate. It looks like I’ve got a lot to do very quickly before anything gets moved. I’ll call you back later with the updates.”

  “Before you go, Norman, I can tell you that Harrison and gang were in the Pilgrim’s Arms in South Shore no more than half an hour or so ago. They may well still be there after you’ve done your searches. If not, you can pick them all up later, once you’ve got the evidence in place.”

  Frank switched off the phone.

  His three friends were smiling.

  *

  Although he was already inundated with numerous tasks and follow-ups to existing cases, Norman Pendleton pushed all the current files to the edge of his desk and began to make a number of urgent phone calls. The information from Frank Lloyd would now take absolute priority over everything else that was going on. In comparison to all of the other mishaps and crimes in his area, this case was certainly now at the very top of the pile.

  Within ten minutes, he had pulled several of his men off existing jobs and also located Harrison’s flat in Layton that Frank Lloyd had mentioned. It was on the third floor of a large block, and there was parking nearby for his men. Four of his officers and an expert lock-smith were already on their way to the building. If the locksmith failed, the others would have heavy duty rams with them to break the door down. He was taking a risk, but his trust in Frank was absolute. Norman had ensured also that the four officers were well armed. Better to be safe than sorry, particularly when it came to extreme criminals like Mel Harrison. If Harrison and his gang were still in the Pilgrim’s Arms as Frank had suggested, there should be no interference at the flat. If the gang suddenly left the pub and drove away, the whole picture could change very quickly, and would then be reliant on exactly where they were heading. If that happened, they would be followed in unmarked cars but not intercepted until he gave the go-ahead.

  Dependant on the call that would soon come in from his officers at the flat, he had three other men already in the South Shore area, already armed, standing by, and ready to go. Two more of his lads would drive to the area as soon they had returned from their visit to Bob Stephenson’s house. Finding the actual spades that were used to dig the burial holes in the wood would be a real bonus. Minor crimes would definitely go to the bottom of the pile at least for today.

  Norman leaned back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. His mind was turning over, and he did a quick mental check. Lives could be at considerable risk here, and there was no way he would want anything like that on his conscience. Every major case as bad as this one was different, and at the end of the day, the buck fell firmly on his shoulders. Had he planned everything correctly? Had he followed all of the procedures? There were so many traps to fall into and so many unknowns that could scupper him. Upholding the law these days was becoming increasingly difficult. After considering all the various options, Norman nodded his head slowly. He didn’t think that he had missed anything out, and now he would just have to wait and see. He wasn’t expected to attend, but a quick trip to South Shore was beckoning. Old habits were hard to break, and he had sufficient back-up he
re to leave his desk for a short time. He was always contactable by telephone, and after telling his number two that he was leaving the office for a short while, he pulled on his jacket and headed for the car park.

  CHAPTER 72

  “I wish we could get involved.” murmured Reg.

  “I think that we have been,” smiled Roy.

  “Yes, I know we have, but it’s good to see these things through to the very end.”

  “Believe me,” added Terry, “the end of this one might not be very nice. I think that I’d rather be here sitting in Frank’s house than to be facing down Harrison and his unruly crew.”

  “I wonder if Norman’s men have got into the flat yet?” asked Frank.

  “I would think so. These days the locksmiths can pick anything with all the gadgets they’ve got.”

  “And the safe?”

  “Probably, although that might be a lot of hard work.”

  “If Norman does actually pick Harrison up, he might even get the keys or combination from him.”

  “He might, but really he’ll want to see what’s in there before he picks up Harrison. Without that, he may not have any grounds for an arrest, and Harrison isn’t going to offer him access to the safe voluntarily. Harrison’s money will buy the best defence lawyer available, and the next minute he’ll be out on the street again.”

  “God forbid,” muttered Terry.

  “Well, I reckon if Norman doesn’t nail him for this, he’ll never get a better chance.”

  Reg leaned forward. “Don’t forget the dead blokes in the wood, you two. That should be enough on its own.”

  “You’re right Reg, assuming they can definitely tie him to it.”

  “Well, apart from likely forensics, there’s evidence to show he was close to the spot, and the shovels in Bob Stephenson’s garage must surely provide a very strong link.”

  “Norman’s a good lad. He’ll not slip up with this one.”

  “We know he is, Frank, but these days the law’s not on his side any more. If Harrison gets a top lawyer, like he will, it will be difficult, especially if there are no forensics to fall back on.”

  Frank’s phone rang.

  Frank stared at its face, and as before, nodded to each of his friends and mouthed ‘Norman’.

  “Hi Norman”

  “Frank, another update. We’ve got into the Layton flat, and also managed to open the safe. It was next to impossible, but my man is brilliant and finally cracked it.”

  “What was inside?”

  “Everything we wanted and expected to find. Big bags of dope, and equally big bags of cash.”

  “Brilliant.”

  “Yes, it was a perfect result, and even without anything else, it’ll put him away for a long time.”

  “Any luck with the spades?”

  “Yes. We’ve got them and the forensics lads are looking at them as we speak. I doubt if we’ll find any prints, but there could be DNA traces. There are traces of soil on them also, so there’s a chance that it will chemically match the soil in the wood. If the spades touched the bodies at all, there could well be an additional tie in.”

  “Very good. Anything else?”

  “Yes, as you said that there would be, there were several hand guns in the safe and you already know that we picked up a number of bullet cases in and around the burial area.”

  “Any match then?”

  “I can’t tell you yet, Frank. We’re working on that as we speak. Even so, it’s a virtual certainty that there will be a match. I’d be very surprised if there isn’t one.”

  “Looks like a closed case then?”

  “It does, Frank.”

  “Have you pulled in Harrison and his crew yet?”

  “We’re on that now, Frank. As far as we are aware, he’s still in the Pilgrim’s Arms, but we know for certain that we’ll need a very big presence. The last thing we want is a major shoot out in a pub, so we’ll be going in very heavy handed indeed. I have to wait patiently for the whole team. They’re being pulled in right now from all around the town, and will all be in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles.”

  “Thanks for all the info, Norman. I hope it all goes well, and I’m sure that it will.”

  “Cheers, Frank, and thanks again to you and the lads.”

  “You’re welcome, Norman. Keep in touch if you can.”

  Frank slipped the mobile into his jacket pocket, then looked into his friend’s faces.

  “It’s not over yet.”

  Terry smiled. “No, but it will be soon.”

  “I hope so,” commented Reg, with an uncertain tone.

  Roy glanced around the table, reading the doubt expressed in Frank and Reg’s faces.

  “Come on, lads, pile into the cars. Let’s go back to the Pilgrim’s Arms. We can see for ourselves what’s going on.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, Reg, dead sure. If nothing’s happened by the time that we get there, we’ll keep well out of the way. We can pick a table round the edge of the saloon somewhere.”

  Terry was already on his feet. It seemed like a good idea to him, and after all that he and the lads had done on the case, it only seemed fitting that they should be able to witness its conclusion. By the time they got there, it could well be too late anyway, but it was a chance worth taking.

  “Come on lads. We can all squeeze into my car, and pick up the other one later.”

  The journey from Frank’s house took a little less than ten minutes, and Terry slid his car into a vacant spot on the edge of the car park. Mel Harrison’s BMW was parked noticeably in its centre.

  “Just hang on a minute before you get out,” ordered Frank sharply, as he pulled on the handbrake. “Before we go in to the pub, let’s just have a quick scan of all the parked cars. If Norman’s full squad isn’t here yet, we may be able to spot a few that are.”

  “I can see at least six big looking guys parked up in three separate cars,” said Terry immediately, “and there may be two more vehicles parking up as we speak.”

  “How many do you think he’ll need?” asked Reg.

  “I think that Norman would want at least two for every one of Harrison’s gang, so I’d guess that there will be a minimum of ten arresting officers before he makes a move.”

  “Norman’s in the back of one of the new arrivals, along with two tall guys in the front. The other car has two more men in the front, so if they’re not visitors, that will probably be the whole of his team at a guess.”

  “What have we got here, then?” asked Frank suddenly, as a large, plain sided, white van rolled into the car park and halted close to the pub’s staff entrance at the side of the main building, and well away from any windows.

  “The lock-up van, I’d say,” offered Terry.

  “Let’s go, lads. The newcomers are still in their cars, but it can’t be long now before they make a move. They’ll be waiting for Norman’s instruction, and I’ll bet that he’s the first to go in.”

  Taking their time, the four elderly men stepped out of Terry’s car, walked steadily across the car park, and with lowered heads, entered through the pub’s main door. First to be inside the building, Roy halted and then casually pointed at a table, furthest away from the bar. With no more than a very brief glance on entry, Roy had immediately spotted Harrison and his four men seated at their usual table, at least twenty feet away from the one that he had chosen.

  The old lads sat down, two sets of their eyes fixed firmly on the table top, two others taking out reading glasses from jacket pockets and apparently scanning the food and drinks menu. Now it had simply become waiting time and remaining anonymous. The drinks would just have to wait.

  CHAPTER 73

  After five very slow minutes had passed by, Norman Pendleton unhurriedly walked in through the pub’s main door, halted for a moment as though he had forgotten something, and after gently patting his jacket pockets, stepped back outside.

  Less than a minute later, four tall young men stepp
ed in to the building, and headed directly towards the bar. Each one of them was wearing blue jeans, a variety of coloured T-shirts, a casual jacket and a golf cap. They were followed almost immediately by four others, similarly dressed. The first four men finally collected their drinks from the smiling landlord and took them to a table close to Harrison’s. The second group of four men ignored the bar and settled at another table on the opposite side.

  Norman Pendleton re-entered the pub, flanked by two very well-built plain clothes officers, each of them in their mid-thirties. He glanced sharply at the two new groups of his men now in place on either side of Harrison’s table, and at the same time spotted Frank Lloyd with his friends at another table, fortunately some distance from Harrison’s. Luckily, they were all reading newspapers and seemingly unaware of his presence. Norman ignored them, then faintly nodded his head to the seated officers, before heading with his colleagues directly to Harrison’s table.

  Three feet short of the group, Norman halted abruptly, and stared into Harrison’s face.

  “Mel Harrison, I’m arresting you and your men for a number of very serious crimes. You do not have to answer, but anything that you do say may be taken down and used in evidence.”

  Harrison jumped to his feet, his teeth bared in anger, his right arm raised and ready to strike the plain clothes officer.

  “You’re not fucking arresting me, you bastard.”

  The four younger men sitting at his table, glanced sharply at Harrison’s raging face, then quickly rose from their seats in support of him.

  They moved no further. In an instant, Bob, Alan, Gary and Kenny had at least one strong arm around their necks and were pulled quickly to the floor, each of them held to the ground by two men that had moved rapidly from the surrounding tables. Harrison reached a hand into his jacket pocket, but the hand never reached the knife that it was seeking. Two more young jeans clad officers fiercely pulled him to the floor and turned his body over until he was face down with his arms held tightly behind his back.

  “Cuff ’em all,” ordered Norman Pendleton, “then get them outside quickly. The lock-up van is right outside. Make sure, first, that they don’t have any weapons on them. I’ve a feeling that Harrison could well have a knife, but you’d better check the others too.”