by Lee Wood
“Morning, all. Is there a problem I should know about?” I enquire.
“James! You’re alive!”
“Eh? Yes. I know I looked like death warmed up yesterday but I feel much better now.”
“No, I mean, we had the police here this morning. They told us you were dead. They said you jumped off a building – committed suicide.”
“I’m not sure what’s going on, but as you can clearly see I’m here and alive. Must be some sort of mistake. Why did they think it was me?”
Chapter Forty-Seven
GERRY PAYNE
Gerry Payne spent the last twelve of his thirty years in the police force working in the Drug Squad Division. Five years ago he’d gained promotion to the rank of DCI.
As the years had passed by, he noticed the job change from investigative work and good honest coppering to becoming more political, and increasing in paperwork and meeting targets and budgets. Some days he felt like a glorified accountant trying to balance the books rather than a detective.
He was one of the few officers he knew who was still happily married. His four children had now grown up and he and his wife Paddy had long been talking about him taking retirement when he reached fifty-two. Both of Gerry’s and Paddy’s parents had passed away in recent years and so they’d inherited their houses, which they have rented out.
Paddy had worked as a bookkeeper for a firm of accountants where one of their clients had successfully run the Milton Motel for the past twenty-two years and had decided to retire. Paddy knew from working on their accounts the business was highly profitable. She also knew as the owners were into their seventies, they had neglected parts of it, which meant it offered a lot of potential. She had discussed with them the possibility of Gerry and herself buying the business, and reached an agreement on the terms and price.
By selling their own house and the two houses left to them, Paddy and Gerry were able to buy the freehold of the business and still have over £150,000 in cash available and in the bank. Gerry could then retire. His pension was convenient to tide them over as they began to build the business up.
They are now in the process of spending £40,000 refurbishing the premises to look more modern, but they are still keeping it open so as not to lose goodwill and customers. After a lot of thought, they decided the sensible thing would be to retain the name that has built its reputation; the Milton Motel.
Gerry Payne, in his new career, loves using his detective skills on his hotel guests. He pretty much knows which couples are married, and which ones booking in as Mr and Mrs are married, but not to each other. When he serves in the lounge bar he knows which couples are meeting up because they are in love and which couples are here to not be seen by people who might know them. It keeps him amused as he and his wife build up the business.
The motel offers twelve rooms at between fifty-five and seventy pounds a night and most nights their occupancy rate is between fifty-five and seventy-five per cent. They have a large function room ideal for weddings or a business conference room. Gerry and Paddy both think the motel could also include a restaurant in the future.
Over the past few months since taking over the business, Gerry has noticed the four men who meet up in the coffee bar lounge every two weeks. What first came to his mind is the times they meet seems to vary rather than always being the same day and time. This, he knows, is a trait of those who don’t want to be followed or noticed by other people.
On one occasion he had been at the rear of the hotel discussing extending the living quarters with a potential builder when he had seen two of these men exchange something from the boot area of their cars which were parked closely together. But the main thing which makes him suspicious is the fact all four men are sitting drinking their coffees and when one of them spills hot black coffee on himself, he lets out a few words in Russian. His partner laughs and says something in the same language.
Gerry’s many years of experience in various situations tell him this has all the markings of a drugs exchange. This, and the fact he is pretty certain he recognises a face he last saw a couple of years after joining the drug squad.
Dave Rex.
Gerry decides he will have a word with one of his former colleagues and see what can be arranged. However, he is clear that any arrests should be done away from the motel to preserve its good reputation.
Gerry Payne calls his old boss and explains what he suspects is going on. He gives him the car registration numbers and descriptions of the men.
The last time they came in he had managed to secretly take photos of them and he promises to forward copies via email.
Gerry knows from the pattern he has observed over several of their meetings they always take place between eleven am and two pm and usually on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This would mean the next meet is likely to be either Tuesday eighteenth or Wednesday nineteenth.
His old boss informs him that they will put a female police officer into the motel to work undercover as a waitress and there will be a dozen plain-clothed officers in six cars. Two cars will follow the Russians, two will follow Dave and two will follow his associate.
The police helicopter, if available, might also be called in if as they suspect the Russians will be returning to London. The plan is to follow both Dave’s car and that of his associate and see where they go. Maybe they’ll discover where he stashes the drugs and then arrest him and see if they can find further evidence to use in court.
Chapter Forty-Eight
THE MILTON MOTEL
Two weeks later, everything is set up for the Tuesday and Wednesday at the Milton Motel. Undercover officer, Rachel Nason, has been at the motel since nine am on Monday learning the skills required to be a waitress as they don’t want her to look out of place and arouse suspicion. For the two days of this undercover operation, the usual waitress, Zoe Mullen, has been given paid leave.
Two of the unmarked police vehicles are in the car park on the opposite side of the hotel building to where Gerry has seen the suspect vehicles always parked. This is to prevent them from being noticed by the suspects. The other four unmarked cars are sitting in laybys. One is in the direction of London, the route they suspect the Russians will take, the other three towards Trentbridge, hoping to be in a position to join the other vehicle set to follow Dave. All vehicles will be updated by the undercover female police officer when the suspects leave the coffee lounge once it appears that the deal has been completed.
At 11.22am on Wednesday nineteenth, a roadside ANPR camera close to the Milton Motel flags up the number plate of a silver Volvo XC90 that has been tagged by the drug squad as being of interest to them. The details are duly sent to the head of what is being called ‘Operation Mandrake’.
The four men sit at one of the corner tables as they often do and order four coffees. After the drinks have been served and the waitress is out of earshot, one of the Russians asks if everything is okay. Receiving an affirmative answer, he stands up from his chair and gestures to his opposite number to do the same. This is the usual procedure.
They both make their way to the two cars in the car park and open the boot of their respective vehicles. One is the XC90 driven by the two Russians and the other is a black Audi A3 driven by Dave’s second-in-command – Dave arrived driving his black Mercedes AMG. One briefcase contains a large quantity of cocaine and an unregistered pay-as-you-go mobile phone. All fingerprints have earlier been wiped. The other briefcase contains £40,000 in cash plus the unregistered mobile from the previous drop. The men exchange briefcases and both items are then locked in the respective boots. The Russian sits in the car and waits for his colleague to join him. Dave’s second-in-command starts his car and drives off.
As he drives back into Trentbridge, he will be followed by two of the unmarked police cars taking it in turns to avoid being detected.
Five minutes later, the two men inside the café shake hands as if they are businessmen concluding a deal, which is indeed accurate. However, the goods be
ing traded are highly illegal class A drugs.
Once Dave has paid and collected the receipt, Rachel watches as they both walk out of the building. She then walks through to the hotel kitchen and uses her police radio to contact HQ and update them. These details are immediately passed onto all six unmarked police vehicles and DCI Andy Quinn who is the Senior Officer leading this case.
Dave gets into his black Mercedes and starts the journey to meet his associate at a small lock-up garage he rents in Trentbridge. The Volvo with the two Russians also leaves the car park. Neither of the undercover police vehicles in the motel car park moves. They will hang back and let their colleagues sitting in a layby about one mile along the road take the lead. They will follow up in a while and then will take it in turns to stay close to the target vehicles so as not to arouse suspicion.
A further two of the unmarked police vehicles are following Dave’s Mercedes on his six mile journey to a block of garages. The two police vehicles that have been following Dave’s assistant are parked out of sight.
Once Dave arrives and enters the lock-up, four officers make their way on foot to the corner of the block of units and with the aid of small mirrors on a stick they are able to peer around the corner. They can see which garage it looks like the drugs are being unloaded into.
The details of what they have seen are relayed to HQ, and DCI Quinn makes the decision and gives the order for the four undercover Officers to move in, arrest the suspects and take charge of any items which can be used as evidence.
Two of the four police officers on the scene are authorised to carry firearms and are indeed ‘tooled up’ for this operation. They take off their coats and put on flak jackets with the word ‘police’ written in large letters. They don’t anticipate any problems but you never can tell with ruthless criminals, especially where drugs are concerned.
All four quietly and carefully make their way along to the open garage and then make their presence felt with loud cries of “Armed police officers! Put your hands above your heads!”
Both men turn round ready for action but when they see guns being aimed directly at them they both comply with the command. They are immediately joined by a further four uniformed police officers and both men are placed in handcuffs and carefully read their rights. “You do not have to say anything. But it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something which you later rely on in Court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.”
Dave’s face drops. He’s going to need his lawyer if he’s got a chance to get out of this. If not, maybe he can cut a deal.
Chapter Forty-Nine
DAVE
After being arrested at the lock-up garage, and a large quantity of cocaine being found in his possession, Dave is not feeling very happy.
He has made the wise decision for his solicitor, Mark Jackson, to be present when he is questioned but the interview has taken over an hour. No matter how much he protests his innocence and tries to put the blame on his associate, the police are having none of it. It looks like he is in the frame and the sentence for such a large quantity of Class A drugs will see him being sent to prison for a very long time.
“Of course, if you can supply us with details of your suppliers and work with us, we can have a quiet word with the judge and let him know. Or if you have some really juicy stuff for us we could put you into the Witness Protection Programme. The people you’re involved with might not care if you’ve given us any information or not. They could decide to resolve the problem just to be on the safe side. And at the moment their biggest problem is you!”
Dave is chewing over all the options in his mind. For a lot of people who go into the Witness Protection Programme it can be difficult because they have a wife and kids, but Dave only has his dear old mum. Perhaps he can take her with him.
If he sells his apartment and the cash he has tucked away he’ll have about two million pounds. The villa in Spain will need to be sold as it’s in his name and anyone looking for him would soon find it. For around £10,000 he can have plastic surgery and look totally different, especially if he loses some weight and has a hair transplant which will dramatically change his appearance. No one will be able to find him. He will see to that…
The interview ends for Dave to have a break and think about his options. He is put back into the police cell to be held overnight. He is under arrest and the police are holding him while they look further into his affairs.
The first thing they will do is visit his apartment to see if they can find any evidence to strengthen their case and then they will look into his various business activities.
Just before he is taken down to the police cells, his solicitor tells the duty officer he needs to speak with his client in private as a matter of some urgency.
“Mr Rex, my secretary has just informed me we received a letter this morning regarding your claim over the Lotto ticket. It seems the other party has made you an offer. They say they reject your claim entirely and are prepared to let the matter go to court, which as they point out could drag on for years. Or, they propose, without accepting any liability, they would make an ‘out of court settlement’ with you. They are offering to pay you fifty million pounds with immediate effect.”
The solicitor pauses, then: “I think you probably know what I’m going to say in the light of your current predicament. Take what they’re offering you. But, of course, the final decision rests with you. I would add that they say the payment can be made within forty-eight hours if you decide to accept.”
Mark Jackson adds, “Mr Rex, perhaps the best thing would be to consider the offer until tomorrow and then if you want to go ahead I can contact Mr Clinton Palmer who is acting for the other party and make him aware of your decision.”
“Yes, that seems the best thing. I’m a bit riled up at the moment. I should be getting the whole amount. I think I’ll follow your advice. After all, one day won’t make much difference, will it?”
As he sits in his cell thoughts race through Dave’s head. For that kind of money I could buy myself an island and live a life of luxury. I could travel anywhere and never have to worry about money ever again. But in the back of his mind is the thought it was his Lotto ticket that had won and he deserves the whole £168 million. Perhaps he could accept the offer and then once safely abroad with his new identity, he could make sure James Sheldon came to some harm.
He’s got until tomorrow to decide and as there won’t be any entertainment in his cell, he’s got time to consider all his options. And right now, what he could really do with, is a large Jack Daniels.
Chapter Fifty
AFTER STEVIE
I must be King Midas in reverse. Everything I touch turns to death. First my wife and kids and now Stevie.
My lovely friend Stevie.
Tell me, God, what have I done to deserve this?
Susan has tried to help, but just like my friends after the hit and run, all I want is to be on my own. I’ve told her I’ll be back in a few days and I’ve driven up to North Wales, to a place close to Snowdonia where Miriam and I came on holiday. It’s a lovely remote hotel called Plas Maenan. I can hide away here and shut out the world. No TV, no newspapers, no awkward questions. I didn’t even bring my mobile phone.
I’ve transferred the fifty million pounds into a suspense account with my solicitors and given written instructions to pay the guy who claims he had the winning Lotto ticket if he agrees to drop the court action.
Just a couple of days ago, Stevie and I were looking forward to helping hundreds of deserving families start a new life and giving something back to the community of Trentbridge. Now I’m mourning the loss of my best friend. I’ve got no idea what’s going on in Trentbridge and for the next day or two I really don’t care.
The only reason I’m going ahead with our plans is because I know that’s what Stevie would have wanted. Since he became involved with the charity, his ideas and enthusiasm transformed it from an idea into a reality and eve
ryone became so much more fired up about what we are doing. I can’t let him down. I just need a couple of days on my own to grieve, remember the friendship he extended me when I needed it most. I need to cherish his memory and find the strength to carry on.
God bless you, Stevie, and I’ll do everything I can to make you proud.
Chapter Fifty-One
DAVE
The raid on Dave’s apartment is being undertaken by DS Will Underwood and DS Rachel Nason, together with two uniformed officers, on the evening of his arrest – just in case he has associates who might get into the apartment and remove any potential evidence.
The two PCs are told to check the bedrooms and kitchen while the two detectives start in the hall, then move through to the lounge and finally check Dave’s office. Armed with the set of keys taken when he was arrested, they unlock the drawers of his desk and also the filing cabinet he keeps next to his bookcase. After more than an hour of combing the apartment, they have found nothing incriminating.
DS Underwood phones DCI Andy Quinn with the news.
“Okay, it was worth a try. As you’re in the area I think you’d better call on Dave’s mum and break the news to her gently. She’s eighty and if she reads about it in the newspaper or she hears it from anyone else, it might come as a big shock. Just tell her we’re holding him for questioning at this stage.”
“Righty-ho boss.”
DS Underwood and DS Nason have her address; she only lives five minutes away from her son’s apartment in a luxury nursing home he has paid for.
