Torn Apart

by M A Comley

  “Not this minute, sir. Let’s see what we can dig up first,” Foxy said, already pulling her chair closer to her desk then attacking her keyboard.

  An hour or so later, Hero, Julie, and Foxy were gathered around the whiteboard, comparing notes and transferring the information onto the board, alongside the notes Hero had already made. Hero had expected more gangs to surface than they had managed to find. A total of four seemed too few for the size of the Manchester area.

  “Maybe the Krull Gang have driven a few of the other gangs out of business. Perhaps, knowing how violent the Krull Gang can be, the other gangs disbanded, thinking they couldn’t match the might of the Krulls,” Foxy stated thoughtfully.

  He liked the way Foxy was thinking and tended to agree with her. “Looking at this list and what we’ve found out about these gangs, I can’t see any one of them having the balls to stand up to the Krulls or trying to take over their turf. Something just doesn’t sit right for some reason, and I’ll be damned if I can lay a finger on why. Didn’t I hear that the Krull Gang were also in the protection game? Do we know anything about that?”

  “I think they’re just branching out into that, sir. I have nothing concrete other than a few pubs paying protection money in the other gang areas. The minute one of the other gangs start any trouble, the Krull Gang get a call to sort them out,” Julie told him, looking up from her notes.

  “In exchange for what, I wonder? Cash each week, do you reckon? What happens if these pubs don’t pay the protection money?” Hero asked.

  “When the issue first came up, I asked hubby if he’d heard anything about the protection side of things. He said that there had been a fire at one of the pubs,” Foxy said.

  “Yet another fire incident! You mean in the pub itself, in the car park, where, any idea?”

  “I think Frank said it was in the landlord’s flat above. I can check with him if you want me to?”

  Hero nodded. “Yes, do that, Foxy. The more evidence, stroke hearsay, we can gain on this gang, the better our case is going to be if the CPS ever get their arse into gear.”

  For the next few days, that’s what the team researched and gained snippets of evidence about the gang’s activities. Hero was pleased to see Friday evening, when it finally came around.

  Hero surprised Fay during the afternoon by insisting that he would pick up a curry on the way home to save her cooking an evening meal.

  “How’s the case coming along, Hero?” she asked once Louie was tucked up in bed. They made it a rule never to discuss his work while their son was around.

  “Which one? We have three or four on the go now. The whole thing is driving me insane because I know they’re connected. We simply can’t find the link to piece them all together.” They were sitting side by side on the couch, and he threw an arm around her shoulder and kissed the top of her head.

  “I thought you’d been a little distracted the last few days. Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Not really, and I apologise. I’ve never had a damn case consume me so much. I hate having my hands tied like this.”

  “Hands tied, how?” Fay pushed away from him and traced a finger down the side of his face. He shivered beneath her touch.

  “The CPS are dragging their feet. The quicker the government do away with these stupid ASBOs, the better. They’ve been a thorn in our bloody sides since they came into existence.”

  “I’m not sure of the ins and outs of the case, but surely you can bring this gang in for questioning, can’t you?”

  He snorted slightly. “Ah, if only it were that simple. If you remember, Julie and I went out to the Brickfields Estate, and they wrecked my car? We’re trying to think of ways to get the gang members by themselves, but that’s causing more hassle than it’s worth.”

  “Hoping one of them will spill the beans and dob the others in?”

  “That’s the plan, yes. In the meantime, more crimes have been committed that lead to the gang. They’re tearing up this town, and it sickens me. I went to the chief last week and asked if I could go in there with an armed response team. He virtually laughed in my face before he said he’d put forward my suggestion to the super,” Hero complained, taking a sip of brandy from his glass.

  “I’m not trying to do your job for you, Hero, but maybe it would be better if you thought outside the box on this one.”

  He contemplated Fay’s words for a second or two as he took another sip from his glass. “Outside the box, as in trying to set the gang up? Is that what you’re talking about?”

  “Maybe. Can you join forces with other departments? Vice, for instance?”

  Hero smiled at her. “When did you get police procedure savvy? I think you’ve missed your vocation, my dear.”

  Fay kissed his cheek. “It’s surprising what I pick up when you discuss your cases. That’s why I don’t like us talking about your work in front of Louie. He’s just as inquisitive, if not more so, than his mum.”

  “I’ll look into joining forces with vice when I get back to work on Monday. Boy, do I need the TA this weekend. Are you sure you’re okay with me going off in the morning?”

  “Of course, Louie and I are going over to Mum’s tomorrow afternoon and staying overnight. She rang up today, a bit tearful because it would have been dad’s sixty-fifth birthday.”

  Hero squeezed her to him when he saw her eyes mist up. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I had no idea. I’ve been so consumed with this case. Would you rather me postpone this weekend’s manoeuvres?”

  She smiled and brushed his lips with hers. “There’s no need for that. To be honest, I’d rather it was just the three of us anyway. Mum can open up properly then. She needs to do that now and again. Otherwise, her psoriasis flares up.”

  “I understand. What about Louie?”

  “He’ll be the distraction she needs to take her mind off things once she’s aired any concerns she has. She loves the bones of that child. Actually, she keeps pestering me to have another.”

  Hero turned his head sharply to look at her. “Wow, really? We’ve never discussed adding to our family, have we?”

  Fay shook her head shyly, but she didn’t reply.

  “What’s wrong? Is it something you want, Fay? Another child, I mean?”

  “Yes and no. I’ve not really thought about it. I suppose I have my hands full with Louie, and my job takes up a lot of my time at the moment.”

  “Well, when you feel the time is right, we’ll sit down and talk about it, agreed? I might add that I’m not opposed to the idea, though.”

  Her face brightened, and a huge smile appeared. “Just shows what I know. I thought you’d be dead set against having a child of your own.”

  “It proves you don’t know me as well as you think you do, doesn’t it? Come on, drink up. I think we better get some practice in before we both change our minds.” He searched for her hand and pulled her out of the chair. “You go up, and I’ll put Sammy out and lock up.”

  She looked up at him with a sparkle in her eyes and kissed his cheek. “Don’t be too long,” she said, her tone sultry and inviting. She turned to walk out of the room, and Hero slapped her on the backside before he beckoned the dog and walked through to the kitchen to open the back door.

  After he watched Sammy do his business, he called him in and settled him into his bed before climbing the stairs. All the stresses of the day seemed to disappear with every step he took. He pushed open the bedroom door to find Fay draped across the bed in the scarlet negligee he’d bought her for Christmas.

  “Come to momma, sweetie pie.”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Hero picked up his sister, Cara, from her flat in the centre of Manchester early Saturday morning.

  “You’re late,” she chastised him as she settled into the passenger’s seat.

  He gave her a smug grin. “I had a late night.”

  “Ew…too much information if that stupid look is anything to go by. You better put your foot down, or Sergeant Milton won�
�t be happy. What time are we due to leave the base?”

  “About nine. We’ve got bags of time. It’s only just turned ten to eight.”

  “You know what the sergeant is like. He likes everyone to be prompt, primed, and ready for action at all times. Hey, and you better get rid of that soppy grin you’re wearing before we get there, too.”

  “Christ, what’s rattled your cage today?” Hero asked, worried by his sister’s unusual negativity. Cara was usually the most positive person he knew.

  “Nothing.”

  By the abruptness of her tone, Hero knew she was lying. He folded his arms across his chest and refused to drive off. “Spill, or we stay right here in this spot all weekend.”

  “God, you can be a first class pain in the rear, at times.”

  He laughed. “Yeah, so I’ve been told on more than one occasion. Come on, Cara. What’s bugging you?”

  “All right. I’ll tell you on the way. Now drive!”

  Hero started the engine, slipped the car into gear and pulled out into the light traffic and headed towards Bolton.

  Cara sucked in and blew out a few quick breaths before she finally opened up to him. “I’m considering joining the police force.” She turned to look at him.

  Hero didn’t react. He could tell she was trying to gauge his reaction, and he refused to show any until she had finished.

  “Aggghh! Say something,” she cried out in frustration.

  “Why?”

  “Why what?”

  “Why do you want to join the force?”

  “Okay, let’s put it another way. I’m considering two options for a perceived career change. Those options are either join the police force or become a bodyguard.”

  Hero slammed on the brakes. Luckily, they were travelling along a country road on the outskirts of Manchester, and the road was clear behind them. “A bodyguard? For whom?”

  “I saw an ad in one of the national papers last week, asking for people to apply for the position. It’s with a firm who protect all the major pop stars.”

  “Really? You’d really want to do something like that?”

  “Why not, my training is top-notch. My CV is spot on for something like this. I’ve had enough of being a karate instructor, Hero. I need more excitement in my life. All I do all day is stare at the gym walls of the health club. There’s got to be more to life than that.”

  “Come on, Sis. That’s why we joined the TA together, wasn’t it?”

  Cara pouted and shrugged. “I suppose so. Maybe being in the TA has determined my change of heart.”

  “Well, if you’re serious about a career move, then I think you’d be wasted as a bodyguard. I’d willingly put in a good word for you at work. We’re crying out for bright people like you to join up.”

  “Let me think about it. I was leaning more towards being a bodyguard than a copper. I know how tough your job can be at times and how frustrated you are most of the time.”

  “You’re not kidding, especially with the case—or should I say cases—I’m working on right now.” Hero put the car into gear again and drove off.

  “What case is that?”

  He spent the next ten minutes going over what the Krull Gang had been up to during the past week or so, while Cara listened without interruption. At the end, she said, “See, that just proves my point about your career being a frustrating one. I’d go in there and string the bastards up by the balls. How the fuck are you supposed to combat a gang like that without proper backup from the CPS and your superiors? It’s crazy. What does Fay say about the situation?”

  “She says to think outside the box on this one.”

  “She’s right. I think you’re going to have to.”

  Hero expelled a deep breath. “She also says that maybe I should consider setting the gang up in some way. I’m going to think about doing that over the weekend if I get the chance.”

  Cara sniggered. “Hey, we could have a word with a few of the TA guys, get a kind of vigilante group together and go after the gang. My name would be the first to go on the list.”

  Hero shook his head at the idea. “Maybe you should consider going into the bodyguard side of things. Looks like it’s more suited to your talents.”

  “Seriously, though, why not discuss it with a few guys over the weekend. Between us, we might be able to come up with a plausible legal way of bringing this gang down. Our tactics training should come in useful somewhere along the line.”

  His sister had a valid point. Their TA division was filled with people from all walks of life—even a few solicitors that he knew, if only to say hello to. He could indeed get a consensus from various people once their manoeuvres were done with. He’d heard talk that this weekend, they were due out on some rescue-mission practice up on the Yorkshire Moors, but that was liable to change at the drop of a hat if an emergency cropped up in their area.

  Hero pulled the car to a stop at the entrance, showed his Territorial Army ID, and waited for the barrier to rise. He parked in the car park, and the pair of them swiftly made their way into the main hall, where the other team members had already assembled.

  “Nice of you to join us,” the sergeant said offhandedly. “Right, here’s the score. We were supposed to be heading for the Yorkshire Moors this weekend, as you know, but there’s been a change of plan. Several rivers have burst their banks due to the heavy rainfall we’ve been having this past week or so. No doubt you’ve seen all the devastation on the news. We’ve been asked to help out, to rescue people in the remotest areas where the rescuers on the ground have been unable to reach them.”

  “Excuse me for interrupting, sarge. But does that mean we’ll be going in by air?” Cara asked, trepidation making her vocal chords restrict slightly.

  Sergeant Milton approached and stood in front of her. She gulped as she stared into his broad chest. “You got a problem with that, Nelson?”

  “She cleared her throat. “Umm…I’m scared of flying, sir.”

  Hero winced because he knew damn well what was coming next, and he felt sorry for Cara on more than one level.

  “Scared of flying, you say? Well, there’s only one way to combat that, isn’t there, Nelson?”

  “Yes, sir,” Cara mumbled.

  “I can’t hear you, Nelson,” the sergeant bellowed back.

  “I have to throw myself into it in order to combat my fears, sir,” Cara replied loudly, pulling back her shoulders and straightening her back.

  The sergeant walked back to his position and surveyed the crowd before him. “Anyone else want to voice their fears with the group?” When no one responded, he clapped his hands and started issuing orders, loudly and quickly.

  The next ten minutes passed by in a whirlwind, and the group fetched supplies from the store—everything from tinned meats and sleeping bags to first-aid kits and tents. When everything was assembled and lined up outside, a coach came to a halt beside the equipment.

  “We’ll get as near as we can to the affected area by bus. The helicopter will meet us there and ferry us in a few at a time. Team up with a buddy. You know the drill. Take on your buddy’s life as if it were your own. Do not put each other’s lives in danger. Think, and more importantly, work as a team throughout. We’re heading out now, and we’re due to return here no later than six p.m. tomorrow. That’s eighteen hundred hours on Sunday,” the sergeant told them before he started packing the supplies away in the coach’s boot.

  Once they were settled in their seats on the coach, Hero whispered to Cara, “Are you sure you’re up to this? You could pull a sickie and go home.”

  “What? And have this lot talk about me for months, calling me a wimp? No chance. I’ll be relying on you to hold my hand up there. Planes scare me, but helicopters terrify the crap out of me.”

  “I know. I’ll be there right beside you, hon’. Don’t worry.” Hero squeezed her cold hand and released it quickly before the others could see. During the trip, the entire coach remained silent, except for the drone of
the engine as they motored up the motorway. Hero would have loved to have spent the time talking over his problems with the case with the people he felt could aid him, but he knew better than to interrupt the team at such an important time. Everyone was in “the zone,” trying to psyche themselves up for the rescue attempt that lay ahead of them. They had excellent training behind them. However, when people’s lives were at risk, an added danger was always thrust upon them.

  Two hours later, they pulled into a large car park that was usually used by sightseers on the edge of the pretty village called Appletreewick. “Let’s hope this place doesn’t get affected by the floods,” Hero said to Cara as they stepped off the coach and surveyed their surroundings.

  “It seems pretty risk free to me. Too high up, I think.” She tilted her head and glanced up into the distant sky as the thwack thwack of the copter blades drifted through the chilly air.

  “Here comes our next form of transport, people. Nelson, you okay with this?” the sergeant asked above the deafening noise as the copter hovered overhead and started its descent on the other side of the car park.

  She saluted the sergeant and shouted back, “Yes, sir. One hundred percent, sir.”

  The sergeant clapped his hands and ushered them to stand in line side by side as yet another copter came around the hill to the right of them and landed alongside the other one.

  Hero and Cara were the second pair in line. As the pair in front ran towards the first copter, Hero glanced at his sister to give her a reassuring smile. Cara returned a half-smile and shooed him into the copter. He held out his hand to help pull her aboard, but she ignored it, climbed in, and quickly strapped herself in. Hero noticed that his sister took three attempts to connect the belt into the clasp because her hands were shaking so much. Once Cara was secure, she and Hero both gave the pilot the thumbs-up. Then the copter lifted off the tarmac and into the air.

  This was Hero’s first time in a copter, too, and the excitement mixed with the trepidation of the rescue mission caused his stomach to twist and turn into large knots. He dreaded thinking what his sister’s insides felt like at that exact moment. As they dipped over the large hill, the unbelievable devastation confronted them. Water was everywhere, as far as the eye could see. Hero could make out only the odd rooftop in the ocean of muddy waters. Through the binoculars the pilot had given him, Hero searched the area, and far off in the distance, settled on one of the red-tiled roofs, was a family of five.