A Servant of the Company

by Alan Cooke

  ‘Good idea, it is so easy to imagine things when you concentrate too hard. There’s no movement from Carol’s car yet. I can just see it through that Mini’s window.’ She pointed in the direction. Concentrating is the problem, and I’m getting to the stage where I don’t know whether the BMW has arrived or not.’ A note of panic was creeping into Sue’s voice and she was aware of it. “ I can just see Steve, I think he’s talking on his mobile. He’s either going to ring us or there has been another call from friend Charles.’

  Steve’s concentration was broken by the ringing of his mobile phone. ‘Ah! Steven, Charles here. Sorry I haven’t been able to get to the precinct, a bloody flat tyre, didn’t think that happened to BMWs. Anyway we can still meet, I think there is a road sign near the precinct for the M602. If you take that then join the M62 you will see me by the side of the road. Have you got that?’ He injected a note of urgency into his message.

  ‘I’ll just ask my driver if she knows the way Charles, hang on a second.’ Carol had the map in her hand and confirmed that she could find it. ‘No problem Charles, just hang on and we’ll be there as soon as possible. Traffic should be easing a bit by now.’ He received an acknowledgement from Charles then the phone went dead.

  Carol started the car and moved off towards the exit, passing Sue and Anthea as she went. ‘Don’t let anyone see you contacting them Steve, Carol stopped him as he was about to wave. ‘You just don’t know who’s watching.’

  Sue started her car, waiting until the VW was well ahead before moving off. Their cars interspersed with other vehicles followed the route Steve had been given. The chase was nearing its end, and soon they would come across the mysterious Charles. Ahead of them a car was being driven in an erratic manner, the noddy dog on the back window ledge nodding for all it was worth.

  ‘He shouldn’t be allowed on the road, nor should that bloody noddy dog, I can’t stand them, can you Steve?’ It was one of Carol’s pet hates and the sight of one would always get her going.

  They were nearing junction 11, the traffic was thinning out and Carol could just see Sue’s car in the distance behind her with just two or three cars in between.

  All was going well, his target was about a hundred yards in front, and Junction 11 was coming up. Turning off the motorway he counted to ten. ‘You shouldn’t have crossed me Henderson.’ The switch was in the ‘on’ position and smiling he pressed the button.

  ‘What the hell was that?’ The sound of the explosion was ringing in his ears. Turning around in his seat he saw a huge cloud of smoke with debris falling from the sky. ‘My God, I wouldn’t have liked to be in the way of that. Must be a gas leak or something. It‘s frightened that maniac in front, he’s behaving himself now.’ The car had moved to the inner lane and reduced speed. The noddy dog was calmer.

  When the explosion happened, Carol found herself gripping the steering wheel as though her life depended on it. It had shocked her, now things were back to normal. ‘I hope no-one was hurt, it did sound a bit fierce didn’t it?’

  ‘It scared that noddy dog in front, he’s barely moving now.’ They both laughed at the differing antics of the toy dog. ‘They are a bit ridiculous I must agree Carol.’

  ‘Still no sign of the BMW, don’t suppose he’s changed the wheel and gone ahead. What do you think? I should have asked him how far along the M62, my fault.’

  Carol tapped his arm gently. ‘Not your fault Steve, we’ll find him soon. Hang on, Sue’s flashing her lights. I wonder what’s wrong. I’ll slow down a bit and let her catch up.’ She checked her mirror and saw Sue’s indicator flashing. ‘She wants to overtake, I hope she knows what she’s doing. This wasn’t in the plan so it must be serious.’

  As Sue drew alongside the VW, a white faced Anthea opened her window indicating that Carol should do the same. ‘Get off at the next turning, we’ve got to talk. Put your foot down and we’ll be right behind you.’ Carol started to say something, but Anthea shouted ‘Go, go’ as she waved her arms in a shooing fashion.

  It took time to find a convenient exit and more to be able to park. Sue and Anthea were out of their car as soon as it stopped.

  ‘Steve, your girlfriend has just saved your life.’ Sue paused while the enormity of her statement sank in. ‘Did you hear an explosion back there, a very loud explosion?’ Never having to deliver a message like this before was frightening because she didn’t know where it was leading them. Trying to stay calm, she felt her lower lip quivering.

  ‘Not only hear the explosion, but I saw the result of it. There was smoke, flames and stuff falling from the sky. Did you see what happened? I just saw it through the back window.’ Sue was trying to tell him something but he had no idea what.

  ‘When you were in the car park, Anthea went into the supermarket for a couple of minutes. On the way back she spotted a man get out of a car, walk towards the V.W. and put something underneath it. He then went into the supermarket. She thought it might be one of those tracking devices, bugs I think you would call them. Well, brilliant girl that she is, she removed it and put it under the man’s car before he got back. Once you set off from the car park, he followed you. We followed him and saw him turn off the motorway just before the explosion. Putting two and two together, we believe it wasn’t a tracking device but some sort of bomb and he set it off.’ She put her hand on his arm and with tears in her eyes stammered, ‘We think it was meant for you.’ With that she burst into tears.

  ‘Jesus Christ, what have I let you girls in for? I’m so sorry, so sorry.’ He stayed holding Anthea close to him as he looked from Carol to Sue. This is so bloody serious, that’s three major incidents and I’m certain they are all linked. ‘The pub bombing is number one. The attacks on Carol number two, and now this. We still haven’t come across Charles yet, I’ll try to get him on the phone and see if I can get some information. He’s our only hope unless he’s been bluffing all along. Maybe the black BMW doesn’t exist, it’s anyone’s guess right now.’

  His mobile phone was in his hand and the call made. ‘There’s nothing, no ringing tone, just nothing.’ Now his only hope had failed.

  ‘What if Charles was the one who placed the bomb and the reason there’s no response from the phone is that it’s in a thousand pieces, fifteen miles back there.’ Sue’s hand waved in the direction of the explosion. ‘I suggest we all get into my car, sit quiet for five minutes and then come up with some plan of action. It has been truly scary and we don’t know if whoever did this was working alone or not. What do you think?’

  Steve responded. ‘Let’s do it, standing here is going to get us nowhere. It hadn’t taken them long to agree to a suggestion from Sue. Carol would continue with the agency as though nothing had happened, it was a legitimate business and a team of young women depended on it as a source of income. The drugs enterprise would be dropped completely, the young men recruited would not be contacted again. Steve would for the time being act as bodyguard for Carol at the agency office while assisting with the administrative work.

  ‘That should work out well as long as we don’t receive any more threats. I think you should continue trying to get Charles on the phone Steve. I have a hunch you won’t get him, but just in case, you had better give him the benefit of the doubt.’

  Carol thought the suggestions were excellent, the girls at the agency relied on her and she would feel much safer if Steve was around. ‘I had agreed with Clive or is it Charles, to employ someone for the office. So you will receive a good salary Steve. We have income on a weekly basis from clients but I suppose salaries being paid into our bank accounts might stop. Who knows, the whole set up is something of a nightmare? We’ll have to wait and see what the Company might do. It is a terrible risk but I don’t think we can just drop everything and run away from it. Can I make another suggestion?’ Sue didn’t wait for an answer. ‘Although neither of you has anything in writing from the Company, the agency that interviewed Steve must know the address of the Company that employed him, we might get a
lead from that.’

  Anthea would be returning home the following day and intended to continue researching the mysterious company. It was a role she wanted, otherwise she would feel helpless being so far away from Steve. ‘That’s a job for me,’ she said. ‘I need something to do while you’re all at the sharp end in Manchester.’

  Steve who had been deep in thought then said, ‘First, I think Sue is right about tracing the Company through the recruitment agency, why didn’t I think of that. I still have their letter inviting me for the interview. Second, it could be a major problem if they turned out to be part of the Company and I don’t want you putting yourself at risk Anthea.’ Steve looked worried, the idea was great but what might she be letting herself in for? ‘Has anyone any views?’

  ‘It’s the first positive step we have come up with and I reckon Anthea is dead right. I would suggest that everything is done by phone, keying in 141 first so that the call can’t be traced should you come up against something nasty.’ Sue gave Anthea a look which indicated, ‘Take care.’ ‘Another thing, I think you Steve should move out of that dreadful house today and find somewhere else to live. If the Company doesn’t start looking for you, those people you have recruited will, and the sooner you can leave that baggage behind, the better.’ She didn’t have a spare room but he could sleep in the sitting room. But then there was Greg. He would want to know the reason, then everything would come out and Greg would have to report it. She put the positive and negative sides of her thinking to the team hoping for guidance.

  They all agreed that the idea was good but Sue’s flat was not the place for Steve.

  Carol joined in the conversation, ‘There’s a very comfortable sofa in my flat, Steve could use that. It would solve two problems, first Steve could wipe the slate clean regarding his role in the Company, he has not been involved in anything illegal yet. Second I would feel a damned sight safer if he was around the flat. I hope you don’t mind me suggesting this Anthea.’

  Carol didn’t want to upset Anthea, who might think she had designs on her boyfriend.

  ‘Don’t worry Carol, I trust him and I know your intentions are...’ She smiled as she said ‘honourable. It’s a very good idea if we are to continue, the more united we are the better chance there is that we’ll solve this mystery. So let’s recap.’

  Following further discussion, Steve wanted to put their plans into operation as soon as possible, the time for talking was now ended. ‘If we take both cars to my pad, collect my things and head for Carol’s. I’ll dig out the agency letter so Anthea can check them out once she gets home.’ He paused. ‘From a very safe and secure distance Anthea, don’t forget you are the girl I love and I don’t want anything happening to you.’

  Carol put her hand on Anthea’s arm. ‘Steve and I can only play things by ear at this end. Unless something rears its ugly head, we will continue to run the business. It’s been successful so far and there’s still tremendous potential. Somehow I can’t see the Company abandoning such an obvious earner. Having said that, there is still a strong need to be aware that danger could be lurking around the corner. I think the crunch will come when we check our bank statements, it is almost the month end. If income has stopped, we know we’re in deep trouble and it’s time to get out, but what if that doesn’t happen. We have no idea of the internal politics of the organisation. I’m certain we are very small fish in their pond but they can’t do without us can they? What can the top people have against us, my Agency is going great guns and you Steve are still in the setting up process. This immediate boss of ours holds the key and we have to track him down, unless...’ Carol stopped, and looking from one to the other continued, ‘Unless he was on the receiving end of that explosion. It’s only speculation but we have very little else to go on. He must have set me up at the hotel, how else would those thugs know I was going to knock on their door. But why? He might have started to operate independently of the Company and he’s been found out and is trying to cover his tracks. At this stage we can only speculate, but I think we are all agreed there is a strong possibility of a Mafia type organisation behind this whole outfit. I’m certain we are right in avoiding Police involvement at this stage. Once tomorrow comes, our ideas might have changed.’

  ‘I have a strong suspicion that if we go back the same way, there’s going to be an almighty traffic jam. There will be police, ambulances and fire engines heading for that explosion so I suggest we take another route back. It would be a good idea to tune into local radio too, it might yield some clues on the explosion.’ Sue had been quiet for some time but her brain had been active and her suggestion was readily agreed.

  Had they taken the same route back, they would have joined a traffic jam which would have held them up for hours. It was time for the news on the local radio station and conversation ceased as they waited to hear anything which might affect them and their predicament.

  The news reader was in a hurry as she raced through the items appearing on her typed list. Little did she know the effect that one item would have on the four people parked in a lay-by south of Manchester. ‘Two men were today found dead in a city hotel. Details of the killing are not yet known but a man was arrested and has since been charged. On the travel scene, a suspicious explosion which caused the death of a car driver has brought traffic chaos to the M62 at Junction 11. Drivers are cautioned to avoid this area for some time as the emergency services continue their investigations.’

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  Driving home from Manchester, Anthea could think of nothing other than Steve’s welfare. They were in this together and she intended to play her part, there were answers somewhere to their problems and she intended to find them. Having set off at 6.30 a.m. she was heading straight to her father’s car showroom where she was expected to start work at nine o’clock. Her father would ask her questions about her weekend but would be thinking cars and would not hear her response. On this occasion she would not be irritated, the less she had to say the safer she would feel. Fortunately he was soon deep in thought and didn’t mention the subject again and Anthea was able to escape to her small office, deal quickly with routine matters before embarking on the phone call she had to make.

  Looking at the letter from the Recruitment Company addressed to Steve, she tried to read something into the content which might divulge a clue, but nothing about it indicated that it was anything other than an invitation to attend an interview. ‘Right,’ she said to herself as she picked up her telephone and keyed in the number shown on the letter.

  ‘Good morning, U.K. Executive Search, how can I help?’

  The voice was friendly and professional, there was not a hint of anything yet which caused Anthea any alarm. ‘Good morning, yes you can help me. I have been asked to contact you by my fiancé who had an interview with your Company a few weeks ago. I have your letter in front of me and there is a reference on it which might help. He wishes to contact the Company you represented but unfortunately does not have their details, I wonder if you would check them for me?’ Anthea held her breath as she awaited a response. She had done her best not to sound nervous but noticed her hand was shaking. Would the girl be aware of her nervousness and dismiss her out of hand?

  ‘We don’t normally give this sort of information about our clients and the Management Team is out interviewing so I can’t ask their permission. Would it be possible for you to call back after three this afternoon or if you leave me your number I could call you once I’ve spoken to one of the Managers.’

  The voice was reassuring but Anthea wanted immediate action, the thought of waiting for hours to either get the information she wanted or to be told she could not have it, was just too much. ‘Oh dear, that is such a pity, my fiancé is desperate to contact them as he has to make a decision by eleven o’clock this morning which could affect his future. Is there any chance that you could make the decision yourself, I would so much appreciate it? Certain decisions can be life changing, and today he has to take that step.�
�� She paused, held her breath willing the girl to get the information she wanted.

  ‘Well, as he has already had an interview it should be alright. I’m sorry to appear obstructive but the Company lays down certain rules and I was applying them. If you give me a minute, I’ll check the files and see if they are available.’

  It took just a minute for the girl to return with the information. ‘This is the address and telephone number.’ She spoke slowly and clearly giving Anthea time to write it down. ‘I hope your fiancé is able to make the right decision for the future.’

  ‘I can’t thank you enough, you have been a great help. Thanks again.’ Replacing the handset Anthea looked at the piece of paper in her hand, the name and address of her next target stared back at her. The agency she believed to be genuine, it was acting on behalf of someone for a fee, the address of that someone would be visited as soon as possible but first she must let Steve know of her discovery. She had only been back at work for two hours and she was pleased with herself. The Agency girl could have been awkward and waited for her Manager to return, and then she might not have received the information depending on his or her attitude. Things had started to move forward slowly but once she had spoken to Steve she would be on her way to South East London to check out the obscure company whose name didn’t appear in the telephone book.

  ‘Hi Steve, it’s me. Has anything happened there? Are you alright?’ Her concern for Steve was her first consideration. Once she was reassured then she would tell him her news.