The Isle of Devils HOLY WAR

by R. C. Farrington

  Martyrdom

  On the way back to the ferry terminal at the dockyard Savage noticed about six of Hooda’s speed boats docked in the harbour area. From a distance he could see one of the Arabs yelling at another Arab who was in a much more submissive state. The Arab that was yelling handed the other Arab a bandana which he tied around his forehead. He turned and pointed to the west. The other Arab nodded his head and jumped into one of the speedboats.

  Savage pulled out his walkie talkie and said, “Storm, come in.”

  Storm replied, “Roger, what’s up?”

  Savage replied, “One of those Arabs just tied a bandana around his forehead and appears to be heading out to sea on one of the speedboats. What do you think he’s up to?”

  Storm added, “It’s just a guess, but it sounds like a suicide mission to me.”

  Savage snapped back, “But the bloody bloke is going out into the middle of the ocean.”

  Storm snapped back, ‘Buddy, I’m just calling it like I see it.”

  Savage was now pissed. He said, “Alright, it’s already been a bad day. I’ll follow the bloody Arab. You wait for me at the ferry terminal on Front Street.”

  Storm replied, “OK, go get him tiger.”

  Savage snapped the cell phone shut and began walking at a fast pace towards the speedboats. The Arab in the speedboat had already left the harbour and his mate had walked back to Casemates. Savage casually walked up to one of the other speedboats checking to see if keys had been left in any of the speedboats. To his luck he found a set of keys in the boats cup holder. Savage said to himself, “Hot damn! This must be my lucky day. Savage jumped into the speedboat. He untied the ropes from the dock and before he knew it he was cruising out of the harbour.

  Savage clicked his walkie talkie and said, “Storm come in.”

  Storm replied, “Roger, come back.”

  Savage said, ‘I’ve got a speedboat and once I clear the harbour I’ll be hot on his trail.”

  Storm added, “Keep me posted.”

  Savage replied, “Roger and out.”

  Savage was now clear of the harbour and throttled the speedboat wide open. He was totally focused on catching up with the other speedboat. What he failed to notice was that someone was watching him through a pair of binoculars at Casemates. The watcher at Casemates reached into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone and made a hurried call. The call only lasted a few seconds, and he flipped the phone shut. He continued to watch the two speedboats as they headed off towards the horizon. Savage was giving a valiant chase closing the gap slowly between him and the other speedboat. As the view of the island was lost to their backs Savage noticed the Arab and his speedboat slowed down and then whipped around in the water and was now facing him.

  Savage called Storm and said, “Mate, I’m in the middle of nowhere now and the bloody Arab has stopped dead in the water like he’s waiting for me. What do you think he’s up to?”

  Storm clicked back and said, “Not sure, but whatever you do don’t motor up next to him. He might just have a surprise waiting for you.”

  Savage replied, “Well, if that’s the bloody case then I’m going to give him something to remember. Over and out.”

  Storm yelled back, “Be careful.” But it was too late; Savage had already put the phone back in his pocket.

  Savage jammed open the throttle. He was on a bee-line course towards the other speedboat. As he got closer he called Storm once again, “Hey mate this bloke is wearing the craziest looking life preserver I’ve ever seen. It’s got lots of heavy ribs on it.”

  Storm yelled back, “Get the hell out of there, Savage! He’s wired with dynamite.”

  Savage yelled back, “Oh bloody hell.” He swerved the speedboat to the right. The wake he created almost flooded the terrorist speedboat. Just as Savage was about to give the speedboat the full throttle, the other speedboat exploded into a million pieces. As soon as Savage knew he was out of danger he turned the speedboat back towards the explosion.

  Storm clicked on the walkie talkie yelling, “What the hell happened? I see the smoke cloud. Are you alright, Savage?”

  Savage replied, “Yeah, I’m Ok, but I think the hair on my butt got singed. That was one hell of an explosion.”

  Storm added, “Sounds like that was one terrorist that made his way to paradise.”

  Savage asked, “But why the bloody hell did he do it? When he left the island he didn’t even know I was following him.”

  Storm responded, “It was a test to make sure these terrorists are really committed to the cause. So now we know we’re dealing with some very committed terrorists. By the way, what kind of evidence is left for us to pickup? ”

  All was quiet for a moment then Savage said, “We got a bunch of nothing. There is absolutely nothing left of this speedboat. We’ve got absolutely nothing to show to the Commissioner. I’m going to head back to the Dockyard right now and catch the ferry back.”

  Storm added, “Make sure none of our friends are there waiting for you.”

  Savage laughed and ran the speedboat wide open on his way back to the dockyard. As he neared the Dockyard, he could see several of the Arabs down on the dock. Savage out of spite turned the speedboat around and went back to the opposite side of the Dockyard to a small tourist beach. After he ran up on the beach he turned the speedboat back around and locked the throttle into a low idle and pointed it out to sea. Within minutes the speedboat was slowly heading for the horizon. Savage called Storm and said, “Storm, I’m on the next ferry. I’ll see you soon in Hamilton. Oh, by the way, the Arabs just lost another very expensive speedboat today.”

  Storm laughed and added, “Roger that, see you soon.”

  The Heat is on

  Storm and Savage met up at the ferry terminal on Front Street. Storm was a bit dirty and was feeling some muscle pain from his acrobatics through the hotel window. As soon as he saw Savage he forgot about his pains and said to Savage, “What in blue blazes hit you, a freight train?”

  Savage smiled and put his arm on Storm’s shoulder and said, “Well, mate, first of all there’s not been a train in Bermuda for over fifty years. Secondly, if you think I look bad, you should see what that bloody terrorist looks like.”

  Storm laughed and added, “Well, brother, I think we now know the ‘who.’ Now all we have to do is figure out the ‘how’ and ‘when’ and ‘where’.”

  Savage replied, “Let’s go try to convince the Commissioner we’ve got a terrorist cell in Bermuda.”

  The two wounded men slowly walked down Front Street making their way to the Hamilton Police Station.

  The Commissioner was waiting for the dangerous duo in the briefing room. He was nervously chewing on the end of his cigar and pacing back and forth across the room. Storm and Savage entered the room, but before they could say anything the Commissioner turned and yelled, “Close that damn door behind you; then sit down and keep your mouths shut.” Savage and Storm were a bit surprised. They entered the room thinking they were about to bust a terrorist cell wide open. The Commissioner went on to say, “I specifically told both of you to keep this investigation low key and keep under the radar screen. So what happened on your first day on the investigation?”

  Savage replied, “Sir, I can explain.”

  Before he could continue the Commissioner yelled again, “I said shut up! In one day you two have managed to disrupt both ends of the Island. First of all, you try to blow up St. George’s. Then at the Dockyard you create a bloody riot. You two are the ones who need to be arrested.” He then stomped around the room pointing at Storm and said, “Ok, Storm. Tell me what the hell happened at the old hotel, and it better be good or your butt is on the next flight out of here.”

  Storm stood up, but before he could speak the Commissioner yelled, “Sit your butt back down, and tell me from your chair.”

  Storm replied, “Yes, sir. I was searching one of the Arabs rooms at the abandoned hotel and discovered explosives, weapons and a radio monitoring
the harbour radio channel. I believe this man was a terrorist. In fact he tried to kill me with grenades.”

  The Commissioner added, “I see. I did spend about an hour at the crime scene, and the only problem with your story is that there’s so little left of the human remains, we can’t tell if he was black, white, green, or blue much less if he was an Expat Arab worker. Plus with the explosion and the fire that ensued there is zero evidence left in the room. Not even a finger print.”

  Storm added, “The damage and loss of evidence was unavoidable, but I’m now sure there is a terrorist cell in Bermuda called Cobra.” They’re keeping their guard up. They’re waiting for us to make a move.”

  The Commission replied, “Is that so? Well, I’ve got news for you. Not even an hour ago the office of Hooda Oil called the Governor to complain that one of their employees had been brutally attacked by what appeared to be a plain clothes Bermuda police officer. Now, Savage, who in the hell do you think that was?”

  Savage replied, “Well, sir, look at my head. I was attacked first. I only defended myself.”

  The Commissioner smiled and said, “I thought you got hit by a train, Savage.”

  Savage looked over at Storm, thinking to himself, “Where in the hell did I hear that comment before?”

  The Commissioner then added, “Savage, I know you. That poor Arab probably looked at you cross-eyed, and you hit him with a round-house right.”

  Savage replied, “I did hit him with a hard right, but not until he attacked me first. It was self defense sir.”

  The Commissioner went on to say, “Enough is enough. Hooda Oil has invested millions of dollars in Bermuda and is adding millions of dollars to our economy; so I’m not about to cry wolf just because you two cowboys are out of control. You two get your butts back out there, and I don’t want to hear from either of you again unless you have some undisputable evidence about a terrorist cell. Is this understood, gentlemen, or do I need to say more?”

  Storm spoke up first, “We get the message loud and clear, sir.”

  Savage added, “Don’t worry, sir. I’ll keep my mate on the straight and narrow.”

  The Commissioner replied, “You’re full of bull, Savage. Get the hell out of my sight before I change my mind and lock the both of you up at Westgate’s.”

  The duo quickly left the Hamilton Police Station and made their way back down to Front Street where they dropped into one of the local pubs.

  While they were having a beer Storm asked Savage, “What’s Westgate’s?”

  Savage took another drink of beer and laughed, ‘You bloody idiot, Westgate is the new prison in Bermuda. Just so happens it’s next door to Casemates at the Dockyard. So when we bust those terrorists we just have to throw what’s left of them over the fence into Westgate.”

  Storm then asked Savage, “How quickly can we get a helicopter and fly over Casemates to see what the hell’s going on in there?’

  Savage took another gulp of beer and said, “How about never.”

  Storm looked puzzled and asked, “What do you mean never?”

  Savage laughed and said, “There hasn’t been a bloody whirlybird in Bermuda for years. Not since the last sightseeing company went belly up.”

  Storm replied, “You mean the police department or the military don’t have a chopper? What about search and rescue?”

  Savage added, “Welcome to my island, mate. If we need a chopper or a small plane we do what you would do.”

  Storm asked, “What the hell is that?”

  Savage laughed again and replied, “We call the bloody United States Coast Guard.”

  Storm sat there for a few minutes taking a couple of drinks and said, “OK then, I’ll just call in a favor with a buddy back at headquarters and see if I can get a satellite picture of Casemates.”

  Savage replied, “Now you’re thinking, Yank. How long will that take?”

  Storm replied, “It just depends when the satellite passes over Bermuda. No matter what, we should have it by tomorrow.”

  Savage then said, “That’s great. Tomorrow night is ‘Destination Dockyard Night’ at the Dockyard. We will be able to nose around without being noticed.”

  Storm asked, “What’s ‘Destination Dockyard Night’?”

  Savage replied, “One night a week when there’s a cruise ship docked at the Dockyard street vendors and entertainers all show up for an evening of fun for the tourists. All the stores and pubs also stay open. There will be thousands of people all over the Dockyard so no one will notice us. Who knows? Maybe we’ll find a way into the old prison.”

  Storm raised his mug and said, “Cheers! If we get caught breaking into Casemates I’m sure the Commissioner will make sure we find our way into Westgate’s next door.”

  Savage smiled and raised his mug adding, “Cheers! You got that right, mate.”

  Here we go Again

  The duo left the pub ready to call it a day. As the two walked down Front Street, a long black limousine with Saudi flags on each front fender whisked by them leaving town in a rush.

  Storm turned to Savage and said, “Did you see the limo that just went by? Where in the hell do you think they’re going?”

  Savage threw up his arms and yelled as he stepped out into Front Street, “Oh bloody hell. We’re out of the frying pan and into the fire.” He then stepped in front of a pair of tourists on a rental scooter signaling them to stop as he showed them his badge.

  Storm laughed and said, “I thought you were on holiday?”

  Savage replied, “Shut up, mate.” He turned back to the tourists and said, “Sorry folks, but this is police business. I need to borrow your scooter. Oh, I also need your helmets.”

  The nervous tourists parked their scooter next to the curb and gave Savage and Storm their helmets. Storm thanked them, pulled out his wallet and gave them twenty dollars to pay for a taxi.

  Savage added, “When you get back to your scooter rental shop tell them Officer Smith borrowed your scooter and will return it tomorrow.” The tourists, still a bit confused, nodded their heads and walked away very quickly.

  Storm stood there scratching his head and said, ”Why the hell did you tell them you were Officer Smith?”

  Savage laughed and replied, “Do you know how many Officer Smith’s there are on the police force? By the time the Commissioner ties this back to us, the case will be over.”

  Storm yelled, “Give me five you, sly old dog.” Both slapped their hands together and put their helmets on.

  Storm sat down on the scooter first leaving room for Savage to sit as passenger.

  Savage snapped, “What the bloody hell do you think you’re doing?”

  Storm replied, “I’m driving dude. If you don’t like it, Officer Flat Foot, you better get walking.”

  Savage turned blood red and said, “Alright, alright.” He climbed on the back of the scooter and said, “Let’s get after these Arabs before they lose us.”

  Storm replied as he hit the gas, “Roger that.” They shot out on to Front Street as fast as the little fifty cc scooter would take them.

  Savage started screaming, “You bloody idiot! You’re going to get us killed. You’ve got us on the wrong side of the street.”

  Storm swerved the scooter over to the left side of the street and said, “Sorry, I forgot you Bermudians drive on the left hand side of the road.” After getting the scooter back under control the duo zoomed down the street after the limo.