Murder at Canary Wharf (The Ralph Chalmers Mysteries Book 8)

by P. J. Thurbin

  He looked at the scene of devastation. Police in Gecko Helmets, MP5, A3, 9mm sub machine guns and with what he recognised as Sig Sauer P226 pistols. It looked like they were prepared for war.

  “M Squadron, sir. Commander Renton told us to be ready. We saw them come aboard last night, but decided to wait until daylight. It seems that you and these lads of yours managed to take care of things. I trust that the guy over there with the Very pistol has a license. If he’d hit him in the face he’d be dead. A wound in the leg means no paperwork,” he grinned. “Well done.”

  The tall officer moved off to check on the prisoners. The ones who needed medical attention were soon put on stretchers and lowered over the side to the waiting boats. A helicopter swung overhead and a crew member dropped a cable to pick up the man in the brown water.

  “We’ll leave two of our men on board, sir.” Ralph could hear the officer talking to Captain Koval. “We can get them ashore when you reach Margate. Best if you keep on sailing, sir. The less fuss we make of all this the better. That way the terrorists won’t get the media coverage they hoped for. I don’t expect their bosses will be best pleased.” He smiled.

  Ralph ordered the cadets back up the rigging and the Skipper resumed his position at the helm as the ship headed downstream. The crowds were still cheering.

  ________________________

  Chapter 10

  Getting the train back from Margate to London was a hassle as it was crowded with commuters. In their casual clothes somewhat rumpled from their trip, Ralph and Katie received a few stony stares. Ralph showered and changed at Katie’s house in Chelsea before catching a taxi to Waterloo and then the train back to Surbiton and home.

  He sank into his favourite leather chair in his tranquil apartment and psyched himself up for a return to the University and his job. There were some messages on his answer phone. One from Inspector Linham asked if he could arrange to come in for a debriefing with Commander Renton. Ralph and Katie had already made statements to the two officers who sailed with them on the Mlodziezy to Margate. He had hoped that would be the end of the whole affair, but obviously that was not the case. He resolved to be firm at the meeting and end this episode once and for all. He really had done enough. He sat back and listened to his favourite Mozart concerto and tried to blank out all that had happened in the past few weeks and simply lose himself in the music.

  Inspector Linham seemed unusually subdued as he welcomed Ralph and offered him a seat. Commander Renton stood by the grimy window that overlooked the small police yard. It was quite a contrast to his space age control room at Scotland Yard. Renton turned and gave him a vice like handshake. Ralph had a feeling that something was up.

  “It’s good to see you again, sir. I hope you and your wife have managed to recover from that unfortunate incident at Greenwich.” It was not a question, and Ralph noticed that Inspector Linham looked distinctly uncomfortable about his minor role at this meeting. The familiar banter and cups of tea while Sergeant Wilson took notes had to be put on hold. Renton was playing a game and Ralph had to just wait for the first move.

  “Things have progressed since we last spoke, Professor. Your ID of those two students who were murdered was correct. We’re grateful for your help in that. We’ve detained two men in connection with their deaths and we’ve made additional arrests in Falmouth, Exeter and Birmingham. Only yesterday morning, in fact.” He looked at Linham who was obviously unwilling to provide any positive feedback or congratulate his senior officer. “We will be charging the men we arrested in Falmouth in connection with the murders of Brandt Kessler and Owen James. Much of the evidence we’ve given to the Director of Public Prosecutions is thanks to the efforts of you and your wife. She’s a plucky lady, if you don’t mind my saying so.” Ralph caught Inspector Linham’s glance in his direction as he waited for the punch line.

  “One thing that still puzzles me, sir, is why you lied to us about your relationship with Alex Shevchenko?”

  Ralph could see the veins stick out on Linham’s forehead. It was a style that the Inspector would never use. The meeting had become more of an interrogation than a debriefing.

  “I object to that accusation, Commander Renton. I have cooperated fully with the police, at no small risk to myself and Katie, and if I gave the impression that I did not know Alex Shevchenko, then I’m sorry.” Ralph realised that he was still lying about his relationship with Shevchenko, but he rationalized that it was necessary if he hoped to change the tone of this interview. But Renton was a seasoned policeman and had seen people take that line before. He simply ignored it and moved on.

  “Be that as it may, sir, Interpol are in the process of investigating a syndicate and believe that Mr Shevchenko is their leader. We are currently assisting them with that investigation. We also have reason to believe that the Dar Mlodziezy is involved in some way. We are aware that you saw Shevchenko in Kiev, you were seen talking with him on board the ship when it was at Greenwich, and later that evening you and your wife dined with him and a woman we have identified as Marian Watts, in London.”

  “If you are accusing me of anything illegal, then please say so,” Ralph said. He felt his temper rising, in part because he had been caught in a lie and secondly because if Alex was involved in some shady dealings, then it all added up. The envelope he handed to those guards on the way to Chernobyl, his obvious wealth, and his high profile celebrity friends in Kiev. He also recalled that Alex had at least insinuated that he had business with Captain Koval when he came on board the Mlodziezy.

  “Shall we just agree to disagree on that issue for the moment, Professor, and concentrate on the problem at hand. The truth is that we still need your help.”

  “I think I’ve already gone way above and beyond my duty as an ordinary citizen,” Ralph replied testily.

  “And we do appreciate that, Professor Chalmers. But we know that Shevchenko sees you as a friend and we’d like you to keep close to him and let us know of anything suspicious that comes up.”

  Ralph just flipped. He was finished with this cat and mouse game. He wanted it to stop, and he wanted it to stop now.

  “Look Commander I know you have a job to do, but my job is to teach students. I’ve spent the last four weeks helping you to solve a crime and thwart terrorist attacks on Canary Wharf. I’ve been shot at, held one of your officers as he died, seen Brandt Kessler and Owen James killed, identified two young men who had been murdered and almost been blown up by a gang of hoodlums.” He paused. “And now you want me to help break a syndicate operating across Europe. I think I’ve done enough. More than enough.” He sat back and felt like some kid who had just thrown a tantrum. He was not sure if he had done the right thing in speaking his mind, but he had made his play, and even if it was 90 percent emotion, he felt better for having said it.

  There was a pause as Inspector Linham shuffled some papers on his desk. Renton stood up and walked over to the window.

  “You’re quite right of course, but I had to ask. As you pointed out, that’s my job. You and your wife have been a tremendous help to us and to the country, and in time I’m sure that you will receive an official recognition for your contributions.” He reached out and shook Ralph’s hand. “Best be getting along. And thank you once again for all you’ve done.”

  With that he turned to Inspector Linham.

  “I’ll show myself out Inspector, and thanks for your help as well.”

  With that he turned on his heel and left. As the door closed behind him, Inspector Linham sat down and gestured for Ralph to do the same.

  “I think we could do with some tea. I’ll get Wilson to fetch some, and something to eat from the canteen wouldn’t go amiss.”

  Ralph was about to say no he was fine and had to get back to college but he could see that the Inspector felt somewhat responsible for what had just happened. The Inspector sighed.

  “I’m sorry about that.”

  Wilson returned with the tea and some biscuits and Ralph made appropr
iate conversation as the tense atmosphere eased.

  “You know the Commander has a lot on his plate. Down here we are just doing conventional police work. A few burglaries, some drunks, and as you know, the occasional murder. But in London and in the other major cities, the police are effectively fighting a war. Terrorists, drug cartels, armed gangs, gambling syndicates, you name it and the Commander and his team have to face that every day.”

  “I can appreciate that Inspector, but I’m afraid that I had just about had enough.”

  “No, don’t get me wrong, Professor Chalmers, you did the right thing. And I know the Commander preferred that you came straight out with it.”

  They chatted on until the air had been cleared. They stood up and shook hands as Ralph took his leave.

  Ralph went to see the Dean as soon as he got back to Gypsy Hill. He was not quite sure how much Granger had been told about his absence. Their brief phone conversation a week earlier had been before the incident on the Mlodziezy but he had spoken with Peter since then and Peter had told him that the incident had been all over the papers. He thought it best if he were the first to open any discussions about Brandt Kessler and the terrorist attack.

  “Come in, Ralph.” Granger greeted him and came over and shook his hand. “It’s good to see you back all in one piece. And congratulations on that business at Greenwich.”

  Ralph was a bit taken aback. “Thanks, but the police soon sorted things out.”

  “That’s not what the papers said.” Ralph and Katie had not had sight of a paper since they left Falmouth. He knew from Peter that the events had been reported, but Peter hadn’t told him the details.

  “The headlines described how a University Professor from Kingston tackled the terrorists and saved Queen and country. It was probably a bit over the top, but it put us in a good light for once. The VC is delighted and wants to see you as soon as you’ve settled in a bit.”

  “Did it say anything about the two young men that were found drowned? They were our students, you know.”

  “I do recall something about that. The HR people are contacting the parents and I think the VC has plans to make some sort of announcement. It’s usual in a case where a student gets killed in a car accident or something. Nasty business. Let’s hope it serves as a warning to some of the others who might think it’s glamorous to go off to fight some cause, but somehow I doubt it.” Ralph noted that Granger did not seem to have much sympathy for the plight of the two dead boys. But that was typical Rupert and Ralph let it pass.

  “By the way, how is Sarah Kessler handling all of this?” Ralph asked.

  “She’s back at home now. Her sister came over from America and is staying with her for a while, or so Ruth tells me. I expect the police will catch his killers.”

  “Let’s hope so,” Ralph agreed.

  “Anyhow, now you’re back I want you to take over that agreement we have with the University of Greenwich. We need to build that up into a big money spinner, and you’re just the man for the job, Ralph. And we need all the publicity on it we can get. Let’s just hope it pushes us up the University league table. Between you and me, we need every bit of help we can get. Sometimes I regret we ever became a University. Back in the good old days when we were a polytechnic, we were number two in the country. We’ve slid steadily down the ladder since then.” Ralph wondered if Granger’s reference to the ‘good old days’ was a sign that he might be considering early retirement now that his chances of promotion had ended.

  They chatted on until Ralph made his apologies and said that he had to be off to a lecture.

  Back in his office, Janice told him that Marian Watts had telephoned. As he waited for her to come on the line his conversation with Commander Renton came flooding back and he wondered how close she had become to Alex Shevchenko.

  “Thanks for getting back to me, Ralph.”

  “That’s okay. How are things, anyhow?”

  “Not nearly as exciting as with you and Katie, by all accounts. The papers had a field day over Katie’s tackling those terrorists. Evidently someone snapped a photo from their cell phone of the whole thing. It all looked very frightening.”

  “We’re both fine. It seems ages ago now.”

  “Alex was as worried as I was, but I told him that knowing you and Katie, you’d be fine. Anyhow, I’m glad I was right about that, but that’s not why I called. There’s a job being advertised in the Times Ed. Supplement this Friday that I thought might interest you.”

  He was a bit surprised. Although he knew Marian reasonably well, they had never talked much about his work at Kingston.

  “The University are looking for someone to head up a group of programmes at our Streatham Campus at Northcote House. Rumour has it that it would probably warrant a position as Dean.”

  Ralph wished she hadn’t told him about it. The last time he had been asked to go through the interview process at Kingston for a promotion to Dean, he had effectively been dropped when the job got shelved. He had promised himself at the time that he would never put himself through that process again. But Marian was obviously enthusiastic, and he felt that at least he owed her the courtesy of listening to what she had to say.

  “It’s a very good job. They already have three MSc programmes in place here at Exeter, and they are all in your area of International Management. You could even bring Gypsy Lady around from Bridport and get a mooring down at Exmouth or Dawlish on the coast. It’s only about six or seven miles away. And there are a stack of great apartments overlooking the River Exe. And it’s less than a 3 hour train journey from Paddington, so Katie could easily get down for weekends.”

  Ralph was in a quandary. One part of him wanted to go for it and get out of Kingston while he still had a shot at a career move. The other part just wanted to relax and enjoy his apartment, his quiet life as a tutor, the occasional weekend at their cottage in Devon and the easy access to London and its vibrant culture.

  His curiosity or if he was honest, his ego, got the better of him. He still wanted to prove to himself that he could compete with people half his age who he knew would be attracted to the job. What Katie would call ‘a boy thing’; wanting to catch that lion and prove to the tribe that he was a man. But he was now in his mid-fifties, and his common sense made him question whether he had left it too late.

  “It does sound tempting, Marian. I’ll get online and have a look. You never know, we might finish up working in the same building.” He knew that he was starting to get what Katie called ‘chatty’.

  “”There might be opportunities here for Katie as well. Maybe we’ll all finish up at the same place. Wouldn’t that be something? All I have to do is persuade Alex to get a job here as well. By the way, he’s over this weekend. He has some business in London first and then he’s coming down. Why don’t you and Katie join us for the weekend? I’ve got a big house just outside town, so you could easily stay with us. Big English breakfast, the Sunday papers then down the pub for a few beers and a stroll by the river. We could even do a theatre on Saturday night. Simon Callow is on at the Northcott and they say it’s one of his best performances.”

  “Thanks Marian. I’d have to check with Katie first, but it sounds great. If we do manage to get down then I could take a look at the college while we’re there.”

  He suddenly realised that it would be a bit awkward talking to Alex after Renton had more or less accused him of being involved in some illegal activities. But then he thought, to hell with Renton, it’s my life and I can’t put everything on hold.

  “Look I’ll give Katie a call and see what we can do. I’ll get back to you first thing tomorrow if that’s okay?”

  “Great Ralph. Well must dash. Don’t forget to check out that job and get your application in.”

  He sat back. So much for a quiet life. Still, a weekend in Exeter would be fun and the prospect of getting a job near the sea certainly appealed. A new start, a new title, it sounded a perfect antidote to the recent chaos.

 
; ****

  The Great Western from Paddington to Exeter St. Davids was on time, and as it sped along through the countryside they looked out at fields where hundreds of bales of hay had been harvested for the coming winter.

  They sat back in their First Class seats. After roughing it on the ship and all the drama, he felt they deserved a bit of pampering. The steward brought them a light lunch and a pot of coffee. It was good to have a white linen tablecloth, silver cutlery and bone china cups.

  “How are you dealing with all that business on the ship and the murders of those two students, Ralph? Or are you still trying to figure it all out?”

  “You can’t just put things like that out of your mind. And when I think about poor Vadim and the bleak future he has to look forward to, I just hope that he can enjoy some sailing before he gets too ill to work.”

  “You’d really like to be out there with them wouldn’t you? Meeting new challenges every day? You could, you know. You’re fit and qualified and you’re comfortably well off, and with all that, early retirement’s possible.”

  He knew Katie was right, but there had been many times in his life when he had had the opportunity to change direction and follow his dream. But it sounded to him too much like a cliché.

  “Maybe someday. But right now we’re on our way to the seaside, and with the added prospect of my getting a job as Dean at a growing University full of enthusiastic young people. That sounds pretty challenging to me. And if it goes through we could get a place down here and you might even get a post as Head of Education.”

  “I don’t think so, Ralph. It looks as though UCL is my best hope for a top job.”

  Ralph was slightly disappointed that Katie hadn’t leapt at the possibility of their working together again. But he reminded himself that he hadn’t even applied for the job, much less been offered it, so any other projected benefits were premature. Besides, he’d be the one leaving the area, not Katie. At the moment they lived less than half hour apart. No, he could hardly blame her for not wanting to leave her home in Chelsea or the job she had fought so hard to get. He knew it was too much to ask.