In Treacherous Waters

by Richard V Frankland

  “Well, they found mine and my nail file, which would have been useful after I broke this nail on that ape Gregorio’s face,” said Heathcote holding up the middle finger of her right hand. “When you’ve got that third strong drink in your hand you can tell me what happened.”

  Hurriedly, Anna-Maria dressed whilst Heathcote spoke loudly through the bedroom door to the brothers, “Push the key to your car under the door and I will go and get a doctor to deal with the bullet wound.”

  “You take him to doctor please, he loses much blood,” pleaded Bento.

  “Use the toilet paper and press it against the wounds, I will not be long.”

  “Please you take him, he will not harm you.”

  “I don’t believe you, so give me the key.”

  There was a short conversation between the brothers followed by some shuffling then the tip of the key appeared and was snatched up by Heathcote, “Wise move, I will be as quick as I can.”

  ***

  On the ridge above the house Ascensao had just finished the call to De Lacerda when they heard the shot. “Oh shit, that doesn’t sound good,” said Vaughan, “how long do you think before the cavalry arrives?”

  “Maybe half an hour.”

  “You said to meet with us here, right?”

  “Yes,” replied Ascensao, “I did not want them approaching up the trackway to the house.”

  “Right, we sit and wait then.”

  They scrambled up to the ridge and could hear shouting from inside the house then all went quiet again.

  “What was that all about, that sounded more like Portuguese to me and a woman’s voice,” said Vaughan.

  “This Ronaldo lady she is Portuguese is she not?”

  “Yes, of course you’re right, I hope to God that doesn’t mean they have killed Heathcote.”

  “It does not sound good whatever has happened in there.”

  “I presume you have some marksmen level guys in your armed support teams.”

  “Yes, normally two men who carry special rifles.”

  “Let’s hope that they will be given a clear shot.”

  Some five minutes passed during which voices could be heard but not identified then they saw a dishevelled Lieutenant Heathcote peering nervously out of the building’s front door.

  Vaughan leapt up and shouted, “It's all right, Lieutenant, there is no one else about,” as he broke cover to run down the slope towards the house gun in hand.

  As he got close to her he was shocked to see the state she was in. Her nose had been broken and her eyes were black, her wrists and ankles had sores and were bleeding and her right hand hung limply at her side. “Who was the bastard who did this to you?” said Vaughan, gently putting his arms around her. “Let’s get you sat down somewhere, more help is on its way.”

  “Anna-Maria is upstairs, go and see if she is all right, I can manage,” said Heathcote.

  Turning to Ascensao, as the man jogged across the level section towards the house, Vaughan said, “Agent Ascensao, can you take care of Lieutenant Heathcote here and tell your troops that it is safe to come straight in, and bring a good medic with them.”

  “Sure, Senhor Vaughan.”

  Carefully Vaughan climbed the stairs alert to any movement.

  “Who is that?” said a frightened voice on the landing.

  “It is me, Anna-Maria, Ian.”

  An ashen-faced Anna-Maria Ronaldo peered round the corner at the head of the stairs holding a gun very professionally, her expression of suspicion changing to joyous relief at the sight of Vaughan coming up the stairs towards her.

  “Thank God, it’s a miracle, how did you find us? I was so afraid that I was to die here,” she sobbed, her relief turning to tears.

  “Is there anyone else here?” Vaughan asked, “We heard a shot.”

  “I… I shot a man called Carlinhos in the leg, he is in the locked bedroom just along there,” she sobbed, pointing to a door along on the right of the landing.

  “Join Penny downstairs, I’ll take a look.”

  “He is in there with his brother so be careful please, Ian.”

  “Can you make it down the stairs on your own?”

  “I think so.”

  “You will find Penny and Agent Ascensao of the Portuguese SIS waiting down there. More help is on the way.”

  Vaughan waited until he was sure she was managing the stairs safely then went in search of the men that Anna-Maria had talked about. A bunch of keys hung from a door lock and taking them Vaughan worked his way along the landing opening each of the other doors and checking carefully inside each room until he came to the bathroom and saw Jacobs’ body sprawled on the floor and the nail scissors stuck in his throat. “Jesus wept, I bet that was Heathcote’s work, no way was this done by Anna-Maria?”

  Leaving the bathroom he went back to the door where he had found the keys and working his way through them found the one that fitted the lock. Taking his Glock from the trouser holster he readied himself to open the door.

  “Afasta-te da porta!” Vaughan said loudly.

  “Okay, Senhor,” came a rather nervous reply.

  Turning the key Vaughan threw open the door standing to one side before glancing in to see Bento Sousa standing in the middle of the room looking fearful and his brother sat in the corner, his left trouser leg rolled up and blood stained toilet paper bandaged round his calf.

  The door had swung right back against the wall but Vaughan was still cautious as he entered. In response to a flick of Vaughan’s pistol Bento backed off to the other side of the room where, after another signalled command, he turned to face the wall. Vaughan took a few moments looking at Carlinhos, assessing whether the man was capable of causing trouble, then considering it safe to do so stepped over and pushed Bento hard against the wall and padded him down for any possible weapon. Satisfied, he pulled the man round to face him and indicated for him to sit then turning to Carlinhos, Vaughan indicated that he should stand. Painfully, Carlinhos rose to his feet and without instruction turned and faced the wall, allowing Vaughan to search him. As Vaughan turned him back to face him Carlinhos said in English.

  “We are not the ones who hurt your friends, Senhor. That evil man in the bathroom did all of the hurt, please we were only here to build a compartment in the lorry, behind the driver’s, er cab, but then it all turned very bad when that man say Leonardo need us to clear away the plants from around the house and help him guard the women.”

  “Who is he, the man in the bathroom?” Vaughan asked.

  “He is Englishman called Jacobs. He was sent by Leonardo to transport the two ladies.”

  “What is his first name?”

  “I am sorry I do not know, Senhor. All I know is he is bad evil man even though he say he was some time in British Army. He tell us that many of his forefathers were British Army as well, and he knew much about British Army fighting together with Portuguese Army against the French.”

  “Who killed him?”

  “It was the one with the dark hair, Senhor.”

  Vaughan look surprised, “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. Jacobs, he tried I think to rape her, he is very bad like devil.”

  ‘And there was me thinking that she wouldn’t have the nerve, well Anna-Maria, hats off to you, young lady.’ He could hear a further commotion from downstairs as the backup arrived.

  “Where is this Leonardo?”

  “I am not sure, Senhor, the last time Jacobs spoke to Senhor Leonardo I think he say Leonardo was in London,” Carlinhos replied, now keen to give up all the information he could in the hope that it would make things easier for himself and his brother.

  “Do you know this man Leonardo?”

  “We meet him in Lisbon a few weeks back, he needed some boxes made for something he and Graciano plan.”

  “What is he, what does he do?”

  “He Galician Mafia I think, but I not really sure, please I am trying to help all I can, Senhor.”

  “Was he due to
come here?”

  “I do not think so. Jacobs he say that we were to leave here tomorrow morning and he take the women somewhere else.”

  “Do you know where they were going to?”

  “No, Senhor, I am sorry, but Jacobs he not tell me things like that, he only say they were leaving.”

  At that point Ascensao’s partner entered the room. “Ah, Senhor Vaughan, we can take over from here.”

  “All right, but I would like to sit in when this man here is questioned. Have you seen the dead guy in the bathroom?” Then pointing to Carlinhos said, “He says that he was an Englishman and his accomplice is believed to be in London at this time, so I could assist your investigation a great deal.”

  “Who are these two?”

  “I don’t know their names but this one told me that they were employed by a Senhor Leonardo.”

  “Who is he?”

  “Again, I don’t know, but whoever he is I get the impression that this guy is terrified of him and thinks he may be Galician Mafia.”

  “He could well be Mafia, this is their style.”

  “Well, organised crime then.”

  “We must continue this in Lagos, Senhor Vaughan. Our boss Senhor De Lacerda wishes to be there, he will be most interested in what these men have to say.”

  “The two ladies downstairs need to be safely returned to London as soon as possible, but first of all I need to make the arrangements with the head of my section,” said Vaughan, wondering how the hell he was going to make contact with Commodore Campbell. It was then that a thought struck him, Heathcote.

  “Excuse me er, sorry I didn’t get your name.”

  “Boquinhas, Agent Boquinhas,”

  “Excuse me, Agent Boquinhas, I must talk to Lieutenant Heathcote urgently.”

  Vaughan hurried from the room and threaded his way amongst the numerous policemen looking around the building. He found Heathcote in the kitchen having her ankles bandaged with a pale Anna-Maria sat alongside her.

  “How are you feeling?”

  “Not good at the moment, mainly because I was so bloody useless when the chips were down.”

  “Unarmed, what else could you do,” said Vaughan, “Look, I don’t want to rush you but do you have Lorna’s personal mobile number?”

  “It’s on my mobile. That bastard Jacobs put it somewhere. I know it’s still about as it kept on ringing until yesterday.”

  “I’ll be back in a jiffy,” said Vaughan, turning to hurry upstairs to the room where he had seen the single sleeping bag neatly laid out on the floor. The police were searching the room. “Has anyone found a mobile phone? Come on, quickly, has anyone found a mobile phone?”

  “Sim, Senhor there are three over there.”

  “Can I have some gloves?”

  A uniformed woman reached into her pocket and handed Vaughan a pair of latex gloves.

  “Obrigado,” said Vaughan, the woman gave a faint smile and returned to her work of searching Jacobs’ jacket.

  Rushing back down the stairs to where Heathcote was receiving attention to her face, Vaughan excused himself and asked, “Which one of these phones is yours, Lieutenant?”

  “This one,” she said, taking the one with the dark blue protective case. “Shall I give her a call?”

  “Yes if you would, and ask her to get permission from the Commodore for me to bring you both back to England by sea.”

  Heathcote gave Vaughan a hard look then nodded. “It probably would be safer,” she looked at her phone, “Damn, battery dead.”

  “I’ll hunt round and put it on charge for you,” said Vaughan, taking the phone back again.

  He found the correct type of charger almost immediately but before returning the other two phones to the police Vaughan went back to where the brothers were being held.

  “Sorry to interrupt, Agent Boquinhas, but I need to ask the brothers one more question.”

  “Go ahead, Senhor Vaughan.”

  Looking at Carlinhos, Vaughan asked, “Which of these phones belonged to Jacobs?”

  Carlinhos looked at both and pointed to the one in Vaughan’s left hand.

  “What about the other one?” Boquinhas asked.

  “It belong to the lady with the dark hair.”

  “Can I return it to her?” asked Vaughan. “And we need to know what earlier communications were made from this one.”

  “Yes okay, I think De Lacerda will be more interested in what these two have to say.”

  Back watching as Heathcote endured the painful process of having a gauze packing inserted into her nostrils. “Fortunately for you, Senhora, your nose was not pushed to one side so you keep this in place until you next see a doctor, maybe keep it there for three to four days, yes?”

  Heathcote nodded.

  “Once the bone starts to set I think maybe not much change to your lovely face, meantime, Senhora, you put colder padding gently on your nose to help the swelling and I give you some painkillers to help, eh?”

  “Thank you, Filipe, you have been very kind.”

  “My brave patient with the beautiful red hair, it has been a pleasure,” said the young medic, “I must now go and see this man with the wounded leg, excuse me please.”

  When the medic had left the room Vaughan asked, “Did he get your phone number?”

  “No, he did not, Vaughan,” Heathcote replied indignantly.

  Smiling to himself Vaughan switched on Jacobs’ phone, “Blast, it wants a password, any ideas?”

  “He was definitely ex-military so have a look on his body for any tattoos.”

  “Good idea, Lieutenant, I’ll be back shortly. Oh, Anna-Maria here’s your phone, if you ask round maybe someone has the right charging lead.”

  Anna-Maria took the phone and unsteadily getting to her feet approached two policemen stood in the hallway.

  They had covered Jacobs’ body with a curtain taken from one of the downstairs windows; lifting it off the torso Vaughan started to inspect the left arm. Rigor mortis had not yet set in making the corpse easy to manipulate. “Now let’s see what we can find. Um, signs that the tattoo on the forearm has been removed and the one on the upper arm. I’m beginning to think that you were SAS or one of us at one time.” Checking the other arm and chest revealed nothing more so Vaughan went through to where Jacobs had set himself up to see what the police had found.

  “Have you found anything to confirm the dead man’s identity?”

  “He had two passports, Senhor, one British and one Serbian.”

  “May I have a look?”

  “Sim, er of course, Senhor, here.”

  Vaughan opened the British passport, “Barry Michael Jacobs born Clacton-on Sea on the 12th August, 1980. The question is whether that is your real name.” Opening the Serbian passport he looked at the details, “Miroslave Nenadovic born Beograd 12th August, 1980 and the same passport picture. Interesting, I wonder what operation you were sent on to have this, or is this access to somewhere you can run and hide if the heat is turned up. Interesting that the next of kin is a firm of solicitors.”

  Photographing the pages on his mobile Vaughan returned both passports to the police and went back down to the kitchen.

  “Here is something that will interest you, Lieutenant, have a look at these pictures.”

  Heathcote took a couple of minutes studying the passport details, “Why do you think he is holding a Serbian passport?”

  “At first I thought he may have been working for us at some stage or SAS and been sent there on a mission but on second thoughts I think he has a bolthole there that he can run to if something went wrong with his smuggling activities.”

  “How do you know he was a smuggler?”

  “The Sousa brothers were employed to build a secret people smuggling compartment behind the driver’s cab of that lorry outside and I am betting that there are other compartments in which stuff can be hidden.”

  “Were there any tattoos of interest?”

  “No, they had been removed som
e time ago I would imagine.”

  “Making it more likely that at one time he was with SAS or us,” said Heathcote with a sigh. “We train people to do some pretty awful things hoping that they will only use those skills in defence of our country but we are never that sure they will stay clean.”

  “I’m going to try using his Serbian passport number to open his phone.”

  He tapped in the first six numbers only to see that they were rejected, then the last six numbers in reverse getting the same result. After the third try using numbers from Jacobs’ British passport were rejected the phone was locked.

  “Failure I’m afraid, we’ll have to get it sent to London via the Portuguese police.”

  “No, Vaughan, don’t do that, I’ll take it back with me. I don’t want to risk that being conveniently lost.”

  It took half an hour before Heathcote’s phone responded and a very long time before a reply came confirming Campbell’s agreement. In the meantime Vaughan, together with the two women, had been driven back to Lagos, and while Vaughan, assisted by a police constable, set about provisioning the yacht, Lieutenant Heathcote and Anna-Maria were being interviewed at the police station under armed guard; no one was taking any chances in view of the snatch operation that had been carried out in Gibraltar.

  Dropping the stores off at the yacht Vaughan got the constable to take him back to the police station, where he was asked to wait and meet Senhor De Lacerda. Blue flashing lights and something of a kerfuffle in the main entrance announced the arrival of De Lacerda who had flown down from Lisbon especially to interview the Sousa brothers. De Lacerda was short in stature and rather portly but very upright with dark and darting alert eyes that seemed to be hoovering up every visual detail he saw. After a greeting from the senior staff at the station he was introduced to Vaughan.

  “Ah, Senhor Vaughan, I understand from Agent Ascensao that you have been of great assistance, please be assured that I will pass on his praise to my old friend Alex Campbell when he contacts me later. I understand that this operation of yours is very, very delicate.”

  “Yes, it is, Senhor, very delicate indeed. May I ask if it would be possible for me to get a description of a man called Leonardo who the Sousa brothers seem to think is the mastermind behind the abduction of Lieutenant Heathcote and Senhora Ronaldo?”