Savage interrupted Storm by saying, “Wait just a minute, mate. You’re asking a lot of questions.”
Storm replied, “I know, so give me some answers.”
Savage went on, “Ok, Ok. First of all this sheik is very wealthy. He might want a fleet of speedboats. The lime could be a cheap way of painting the cell walls in Casemates. And no, there haven’t been any missing person reports filed in Bermuda for months. So, Storm, are you going to call in the cavalry now? ”
Storm snapped back, “Are you kidding? There’s no missing persons! It’s not a crime to purchase speedboats, and who knows what the lime is really for. On top of that, our informant is a ‘crack head’ from Jamaica.”
Savage stopped him saying, “Now wait a minute. He’s not a crack head: his name is Krack. I trust the man.”
Storm added, “Good for you, but I’m not ready to trust him yet. So, Savage, what do you think we should do?”
Savage replied, “It’s bloody simple to me, mate. First of all, we get back to St. George’s and wait at the ferry stop. Then we’ll follow those three Arabs when they arrive on the ferry tonight. It makes me wonder why these three are living in St. George’s when all the other foreign workers are living and working at the Dockyard.”
Storm added, “That’s a good point, what else?”
Savage continued, “Tomorrow after we find out where they live, I’ll follow them when they leave to go to the Dockyard, and you’ll sneak into their living quarters.”
Storm yelled back, “Wait a minute. Why am I breaking and entering? It’s your country, and you’re a cop here.”
Savage replied, “Calm down, mate. You’re right. I’m on holiday, and I can’t get caught doing something illegal. Whereas all that can happen to you is that you’ll get arrested. Then the US Consulate will bail your bony butt out of jail, and the Bermuda Government will kick you off the island. Now doesn’t that sound like a better plan to you?”
Storm laughed and said, “It’s a plan all right. Let’s get back to the car and to St. George’s before you really get me into trouble.” They both laughed and made their way to City Hall, then drove back to St. George’s to wait for their Arab friends.
The Stakeout
It was now late in the afternoon. Inspector Savage and Agent Storm had been milling around King’s Square for quite some time waiting for the three Arabs to return to St. George’s on the ferry from Dock Yard. Finally the high-speed ferry arrived and the Arabs made their way into the square. Savage noticed them first saying, “Look, Storm. Here they are. We’ll follow them at a safe distance to make sure they don’t see us.”
Storm replied, “Is there any chance we’ll lose them?”
Savage laughed and said, “Don’t worry mate, I know this end of the island like the back of my hand. There’s no way they’re going to lose us.” As he spoke, the trio walked up Kent Street. Savage and Storm were quick to follow at a safe distance. The trio walked by the old Unfinished Cathedral on their way up to Government Hill Road.
Storm finally asked, “Where in the world are these guys going? We’re leaving the village.”
Savage replied, “Not a clue. There’s not much past this point.” The trio continued on and after awhile they made a bee-line across the golf course and up the hill towards the old abandoned hotel. They made their way to an old trail that led around an old fort.
This was Fort Victoria which sits on one of the highest points in St. Georges. This massive hexagonal fort built in the 1820’s overlooks Tobacco Bay and Fort St. Catherine on the north east shore of Bermuda. The old abandoned hotel that was built just yards in front of Fort Victoria now conceals it from view. Most tourists have no idea that this fort even exists. If the truth were known, most Bermudians have long forgotten about the fort’s existence.
Storm asked Savage, “Are you going to tell me that this hotel was built around an old fort?”
Savage replied, “I guess so, mate. Bermuda has always tried to preserve its heritage.”
Storm quietly asked while he was laughing, “So are you going to tell me that you were preserving your heritage by building a swimming pool in the middle of that old fort?”
Savage chuckled and added, “Well, I never said we were perfect, mate.”
The Arabs were now across the property and were going down a hill out of sight.
Storm yelled out, “Where did they go?”
Savage looking a bit puzzled said, “Down there are several blocks of rooms of the old hotel. I know exactly where they went.” Savage took off at an amazing pace with Storm close behind him. The two cleared the hillside, and Savaged pointed down the hill towards a group of old pink buildings. From behind a group of trees and bushes Savage and Storm could see the Arabs climbing the stairs to the third level of the old building. Then they walked down the balcony to the third room from the end. They opened the door and were out of sight in seconds.
Storm commented, “This place looks deserted. Boy, does it smell! I wonder why people would choose to live in this dump?”
Savage replied, ‘This old hotel has been deserted for years. Only homeless people or people who can’t afford to pay rent live here. The Government just ignores the fact that they’re squatters. The Arabs must be staying here not wanting to draw any attention to themselves. These old hotel rooms have no utilities or locks on their doors. The homeless occupants have an honor system and leave each other belongings alone.”
Storm added, “Well, tomorrow I’ll be paying their room a little visit.”
Savage interrupted by saying, “Don’t be over dressed tomorrow or you might be noticed by the other occupants. You’ll get your scrawny butt kicked for trespassing.” The two left the old property and made their way back to King’s Square. They parted company and agreed to meet in the morning.
The next morning the two men caught up with each other in King’s Square. As Savage approached he flipped a small walkie talkie phone to Storm saying, “Here, mate, I borrowed these two phones from the Department. These phones also work like walkie talkies so we’re only a click away from each other.”
Storm replied, “I’m impressed. But I thought the police department had no knowledge of what the two of us are doing?”
Savage laughed and added, “I didn’t say I checked them out; I said I borrowed them.”
Storm smiled and replied, “Ok, then I’m on my way back to our friends living quarters, and you can tag along with them to work.” The two shook hands and departed on their separate ways.
Savage spotted the three foreigners as they entered the square. He followed them aboard the ferry for the long trip to Dockyard. Meanwhile, Storm was making his way back to the abandoned hotel and then up to the third floor. He was dressed in blue jeans and an old dirty t-shirt. Savage had been correct. Storm appeared to be just another one of the local inhabitants. To his pleasant surprise Storm found the door to the Arab’s room unlocked just as Savage had said it would be. He quietly entered the room closing the door behind himself. After looking around for a few minutes Storm called Savage on the walkie talkie. Storm said, “Savage, come in. Can you read me?”
Savage replied back, “Roger, I hear you loud and clear. What’s up?”
Storm added, “This may be a dead end. All I see here are mats on the floor, some bags of groceries in the corner, and backpacks of clothing. Other than that there’s not much of anything here.”
Savage responded, “Double check the backpacks and clear out. Have to go. We’re almost at the dockyard. I’ll check back with you later. Roger and out, mate.”
Storm replied, “Roger and out.” Storm went back over to the backpacks and started going through them again hoping to find some kind of lead. While he was searching through one of the bags, he stopped and listened. It sounded like a radio transmission from the bathroom. Storm dropped the backpack and walked into the bathroom. He could still hear the radio, but it sounded muffled like it was hidden somewhere. The bathroom only had a shower, a toilet and a vani
ty in it; so where in the world was the sound coming from? Storm opened the doors to the vanity; there was nothing inside. He then lifted the lid off the tank on the toilet, and it was empty. There wasn’t even water inside it. The sound was driving him crazy. Where was it coming from? When Storm looked closer at the vanity he noticed that the caulk that would normally seal the vanity to the wall was missing. There was a gap between the wall and the vanity. Storm leaned over and listened. The sound was coming from behind the vanity. He reached over grabbing the vanity with both hands and pulled it away from the wall. To his surprise the dead space in the wall was filled with radio equipment, small firearms and ammunition. Storm could hear the chatter on the radio, but he was having a hard time trying to understand it. It sounded like someone talking to boats off the coast of Bermuda. Storm pulled out his walkie talkie and said, “Savage, come in.”
Savage replied, “Roger mate.”
Storm said, “Listen to this, and tell me what it is.” He held the phone up to the radio and let Savage listen for a minute.
Savage spoke up, “That’s good, Storm. It’s Harbor Radio talking to boats entering and leaving Bermuda waters. I wonder why they would be listening to Harbour Radio?”
Storm replied, “Not a clue, but I also found enough firearms to rob a bank with.”
Savage added, “You better get your butt out of there before you’re seen.”
Storm responded, “Roger and out.” Storm put the phone back in his pocket. He shoved the vanity back in place. Just as he was turning around to leave the bathroom, he caught a glimpse of a huge blade coming right towards his head. Storm ducked and was only grazed as he fell against the vanity. Storm and Savage must have missed another Arab who had been watching the hotel. The Arab screamed out, “Infidel, why have you trespassed in this room?”
Storm was quick to gather his wits. Without hesitation he gave the Arab a karate kick that knocked him out of the bathroom and onto the floor. Storm said, “Sorry, mister, I’m just a lost tourist. I guess this is not my room.” Storm walked over to the Arab, but before he could get to him the Arab had gotten to his feet. Picking up his machete he began to swing it at Storm. Storm backed up to the wall across the room from the Arab. He instinctively reached behind his back for his pistol in his holster forgetting he had had lost it in the ocean. Then he said, “Oh crap.”
Before he could say anything else the Arab threw the machete at him. The machete caught the edge of Storm’s shirt pinning him against the wall. The Arab ripped open his shirt exposing two grenades secured to suspenders he was wearing. He reached up to each grenade pulling the pins and yelled out, “Paradise awaits me, infidel! The power of Cobra will send the West into extinction.” He charged at Storm with his arms out ready to grab Storm as the grenades were about to explode.
In an instant Storm tore his shirt free from the wall yelling back, “The only place you’re going is to hell and not with me.” He kicked his legs out causing the Arab to trip and then grabbed him by the shoulders and drove his head through the sheetrock wall causing the Arab to be hopelessly stuck. Storm then turned and ran towards the hotel room window crashing through the glass at the same moment the grenades exploded totally demolishing the old hotel room. Storm smashed against the metal railing on the walkway and ended up face down on the walkway as the explosion blew through the window above him. Within seconds only smoke was flowing out of the window. Storm stood up and looked back, but with all the smoke he could not see a thing in the room. He knew he had better clear the area before the Bermuda authorities arrived. He quickly ran down the walkway, down the stairs, and back up the hill through the bushes. As soon as he cleared the hotel property he called Savage on the phone. Storm clicked the phone and said, “Savage, this is Storm. Come in and make it fast.”
Savage replied, “Hey mate, come in. Did you find anything?”
Storm clicked back, “That’s an understatement. You better call the Commissioner and tell him that one of the foreign guests at the abandoned hotel got a bang out of his stay.”
Savage clicked back, “Are you kidding me?”
Storm clicked again, “No, in fact, our three friends don’t have a place to stay tonight. There was a fourth Arab left watching the room that we didn’t know about, but not to worry. He and his two grenades are now in paradise, and I don’t mean Bermuda.”
Savage clicked and said, “Roger that. I’ll alert the Commissioner. Go ahead and hop on a ferry; then catch up with me at the Dockyard. Meanwhile I’ll keep tabs on our friends. Roger and out mate.” Storm made his way back to King’s Square and waited to catch the next ferry to Dockyard.
Meanwhile the ferry that Savage was on had arrived at the Dockyard. Savage waited for the Arabs to exit the ferry then followed at a distance. The Arabs wasted very little time as they made their way around the dockyard and then by the clock tower and mall area. Savage was now very careful. He knew if they had left one terrorist back at the abandoned hotel to keep an eye on their room, then they must be on guard that they might be followed. Casemates prison was now in sight. This old Bermuda stone structure built in the 1830’s towers over the Dockyard like an impregnable medieval fortress. Casemates had been converted from a military barrack to a high security prison in 1961. The iron window cell bars were still as intimidating as they were years ago when the prison was occupied. The prison had been built as solid as any fort on the island. The building appeared to be a three story tall structure, but looks can be deceiving. It was actually a two story structure. What appeared to be the top floor was actually eight feet of concrete and brick. The barrack was built to withstand cannon balls and mortars fired from attacking ships off the coast of Bermuda. In its day, Casemates was considered impregnable. Savage was fairly sure that over the years there had never been a successful escape from Casemates. Savage closed the gap between himself and the Arabs, but there was a problem. He could only see two of them. Where was the other Arab? He stayed behind the stone entry wall of the Dockyard as the two approached the old iron gate to Casemates Prison. Once at the gate one of the Arabs pounded on it until it swung in about three feet. The two Arabs walked in without hesitation, and the gate slammed behind them. Savage looked around and walked through the stone archway. No sooner had he cleared the archway than someone from the other side of the wall jumped him from behind. Before Savage knew what hit him he was thrown against the stone wall cracking his forehead. His thin skin from past blows to his head during his boxing days ripped open, and blood began spewing down his face.
The Arab saw the blood and yelled, “You fool this is what happens when you play with fire. You end up with the blood of the world on your hands.” He then reached for Savage’s neck to finish him off.
Savage looked much worse than he really was, and by now his anger was at a boiling point after being cold cocked from behind. Before the Arab could grab his neck Savage threw up both of his arms blocking the Arab’s advance. He then went into boxing mode throwing two left jabs to the belly of the Arab. When the Arab bent over in pain, Savage threw a right uppercut fist landing in the middle of the Arab’s jaw sending him backwards to collapse on the pavement. Savage walked over to him and said, “Sorry mate, but this fight was stopped in the first round by a TKO”. He then bent over to pick up the Arab, but before he could he was rushed from the backside by several Arabs coming from Casemates to their comrade’s rescue. Before any more fighting could ensue Savage yelled, “Wait just a bloody minute. I’m just a passerby trying to help this poor soul who slipped and fell on the pavement.” The Arabs pushed Savage aside and helped their comrade into the prison. Savage took out a handkerchief from his back pocket and wiped away the blood from his face. He walked over to the prison gate and attempted to push it open. It was an exercise in futility. The gate was locked. Savage looked through the small crack between the two gates, but all he could see were piles of debris in the entry yard to the prison. They must have been cleaning out the prison cells to make living quarters for the occupants work
ing on the construction crews. There was no hope of getting into the prison, and even if he did his friends would be waiting for him. Savage went back to the mall and called Storm. Savage caught Storm before he boarded the ferry to the Dockyard and was able to divert him to the next ferry to Hamilton. The plan was to meet up at the Hamilton Police Station to brief the Commissioner.
The Isle of Devils HOLY WAR Page 3
