A Soldier's Honour Box Set 2 (Sgt Major Crane crime thrillers Box Set)

by Wendy Cartmell

  She watched as Padre Symmonds grabbed the phone on his desk, dropping it in his haste, before righting it and dialling a number from memory.

  “Ah, good morning,” he said when the phone must have been answered, “Padre Symmonds here. Yes, yes I am ringing with good news. Kerry is here already.” He paused listening to the person on the other end. “Yes, Tyler is with her, so can everyone come as soon as possible?”

  Kerry thought he seemed very grateful as he gabbled, “Oh good, thanks a lot, yes, yes, see you soon,” before putting the phone down. Maybe he was just excited for Julie and Bob, she decided.

  He got up from behind his desk and said, “Right, time for coffee I think. Um, before I make it, can I see the baby?”

  “Of course,” Kerry said, opening her coat a little to expose Tyler’s head with those beautiful brown curls in her hair. Tyler had her dummy in her mouth and her eyes were closed in sleep. “There she is. Isn’t she lovely?”

  “Beautiful,” agreed the Padre and put his hand out towards the baby.

  33

  Padre Symmonds was stunned when he realised his visitor was Kerry, who had arrived at 10.30 hours in the morning instead of 14:00 hours in the afternoon. Not wanting to take his attention from Kerry, he’d phoned Kim and trusted her to ring Crane, Anderson and the Wainwrights.

  He wasn’t at all sure what Kerry was on about, when she said wanted him to talk to the Wainwrights about parenting, but he’d do whatever he had to do to make sure the baby was returned to her parents. From what he could see, Tyler was fine. She appeared to be breathing, as the child’s chest was rising and falling. She had a dummy in her mouth and occasionally emitted a weak cry. When he’d reached out a hand to touch the child, though, Kerry had reacted as though she’d been stung and pushed back into her chair, moving the child out of his reach. So he’d had to let go of the idea of taking Tyler from Kerry and had no choice but to settle back and wait for help to arrive.

  ***

  Crane was pretty sure he had everything covered. Jones was watching Kerry’s flat. Anderson was watching Josip Anic and Crane was watching Bob Wainwright. He’d just spoken to Jones, who’d confirmed that Kerry was still in her flat.

  Last night, once Kerry’s lights had gone out, Jones had been relieved during midnight and 07:00 hours. It was a good job, Jones had told Crane, because he was beginning to see double, he was that tired. He’d spent the past couple of weeks organising the Army contingent part of the searches. Working 18 hour days. Seven days a week. No one had wanted to give up hope. No one had wanted to stop working, to stop looking. No one wanted Tyler found in a part of the search area they’d been responsible for and missed her. They’d beaten and bashed every tree, bush and plant they could find on Ash Ranges, around Farnborough airport and all other Army land between here and the coast. All to no avail.

  The trouble was, the relief they all felt with the realisation that the case could be coming to a successful conclusion, had hit home and they were beginning to relax. Which was a very dangerous thing to do. Relaxing made them realise how tired they were. The adrenaline leaving their bodies and leaving them all drained.

  So Crane was geeing up the troops this morning. Keeping everyone on their guard. Making sure they were wide awake and ready for anything. For anything could happen. Especially something they hadn’t prepared for.

  Crane himself was sat with Billy in a car, parked in a side road, from where they had a line of sight to the side of Wainwright’s house. They were to follow him wherever he went. Be it to work, out shopping or to take the drugs to Anic. Crane was hoping for the latter.

  Crane was looking down at the packet of cigarettes he was fumbling with, wondering how many he had left and whether he’d have enough to keep him going until he could get to the shop, when Billy said, “Something’s up, boss. Bob’s just come out of the house.”

  He watched as the man went to the garage, lifted the large metal door and disappeared inside. Billy made sure he was filming and a few minutes later Wainwright emerged with several boxes that he packed into the boot of his car. He did that three times. Then walked back into the house, after carefully locking his vehicle.

  Crane grabbed his phone and called Anderson, who was clearly pleased to hear that Wainwright was getting ready to move the drugs.

  “Looks like the hand over might be at the Body Shop, then,” he told Crane. “Anic’s on the move now and heading in that direction, so no doubt I’ll see you over there later on.”

  When they’d sketched out their plan of action last night, they’d decided to let Wainwright deliver the drugs, get paid and return home. Once Wainwright was out of the way, Anderson would arrest Anic. After the handover of baby Tyler, Wainwright would then be arrested for drug smuggling.

  It looked to Crane that this could be a very good day. A very good day indeed. And then his mobile rang.

  ***

  Bob Wainwright walked back into the house. He’d made three trips from the metal cabinet in the garage, to the boot of his car, and now all the drugs were stored safely in there.

  “Right, Julie,” he called from the hall. “I’m off now!”

  “Bob, Bob,” she called and ran out from the kitchen. “Where the hell are you going?” She had been wiping her hands on a towel and flicked it over her shoulder.

  “You know where. I told you last night.”

  “Oh yes, to see that gangster and give him your filthy drugs,” and she looked at him with scorn turning her face ugly.

  “Look, we’ve been through this before. I’ve tried to tell you we need the money, but you’re not taking it in.”

  “No, Bob, I’m not taking it in. I’m not taking anything else in other than what’s happening about Tyler.”

  “Well, that’s bloody obvious. Anyway you’re getting her back today, so what’s your problem?”

  “I’m getting her back? We’re getting her back. Or have you forgotten that you’re her father?”

  “For God’s sake, woman. What’s the matter with you? Of course I know she’s my daughter!”

  “Well you could show it. By staying home with me sometimes. Don’t you think I need you? I could do with some support here!”

  “You, you, you, that’s all I bloody hear in this house. I’m doing this for YOU, you stupid cow. You and our daughter. Now let me go and get rid of this lot, collect the money and then this afternoon we can both go and pick up Tyler. Think about it. Once she’s back we’ll have the police crawling all over us again. Surely you don’t want them to find the drugs in the garage.”

  His frustration with his mealy mouthed wife threatened to spill over into anger, so he took a step back from her before he did something he’d regret. Having had enough of trying to make Julie see sense, he turned to leave the house. And then his mobile phone rang.

  34

  It was Jones ringing Crane’s mobile, reporting that Kerry was on the move. She’d come out of the flats with what looked like a bundle strapped to her chest, partially covered by a coat. It looked as though it could be Tyler in a baby carrier.

  “So what are you doing?” Crane asked.

  “Following her taxi. I’m a few cars back, but to be honest she seems pretty oblivious to everything around her. She is keeping her attention focused on the child in the carrier, if that’s what it actually is.”

  “Which direction are you going in?”

  “Towards the Garrison, so maybe she’s heading for the church. Looks like she could have decided to turn up early.”

  “Early is an understatement, Jones. I’ll tell the others. Keep me posted,” said Crane and quickly ended the call, anxious to speak to Anderson, Padre Symmonds and the Wainwrights, to let them know Kerry was on the move and to insist they all stay in position for now, or at least until Jones reported back.

  Crane’s call had caught Wainwright leaving his house and he could see the man talking to him on his mobile. Crane was enjoying himself, finding it amusing that Wainwright had no idea Crane was watch
ing him.

  “What do you mean she’s on the move?” Wainwright demanded, in a tone Crane felt bordered on insubordination. After all Crane was of superior rank, being a Sgt Major whereas Wainwright was merely a Sergeant. But for the moment he let that pass.

  “All I know right now is that she’s in a taxi heading in the direction of the Garrison. Where are you?” Crane asked.

  “At home, but I was just going out. I was on my way to the car.” Crane could hear a petulant whine in Wainwright’s voice.

  “Well, as of now, you’re not going anywhere, so bloody well go back indoors and wait for my call.”

  Crane punched the call end button and watched Wainwright standing on his driveway. He looked at his phone as though he wanted to throw it far away, then clenched his jaw and put the phone back in his pocket. Shaking his head, he moved away from his car and back into the house.

  “I know how you feel, mate,” Crane said to Wainwright’s retreating back and proceeded to speak to Anderson, who Billy had just raised.

  “Jesus Christ,” blasphemed Anderson. “You can’t trust women. Looks like I’m going to be left out on a limb with Anic and his money, but no drugs.”

  “I know, Derek, but we have to be cautious and careful. Jones is following Kerry, but we don’t know if this is a ruse, if it’s real and she has the baby or if she’s on her way to collect her. I can’t authorise picking her up now. What if she’s not got the baby with her and won’t tell us where she is? Sorry, Derek, I just can’t risk it and you know it.”

  “Alright, alright, it’s just so bloody frustrating, that’s all. Let me know when you hear anything,” and Anderson cleared the line.

  Crane was just picking up his mobile to call Padre Symmonds when it rang. Looking at the display he saw it was Kim. At the same time the radio buzzed and Crane indicated that Billy should answer it.

  “Morning, sir,” Kim said in Crane’s ear. “The Padre has just called me to say Kerry is sat in his office and that they are both waiting for the Wainwrights to come and collect Tyler.”

  Despite the seriousness of the message, it still struck Crane as interesting that Kim had fallen back on her military training in a time of crisis. He opened his mouth to reply when Billy touched him on the arm and interrupted him. Asking Kim to hold on, he listened to Billy.

  “Boss, Jones has just said Kerry’s at the Garrison church.”

  “That’s just what Kim has told me, hang on, Billy, while I speak to Kim. Did he say anything about the baby, or Kerry?” he asked Kim, switching his attention back to her. “What’s her mood, do you know?”

  “Sorry, sir, he didn’t manage to give me any information other than she was there and waiting for the Wainwrights.”

  “Very well, thanks, Kim. You can call and tell him we’ll be there as soon as possible.”

  Turning to Billy he said, “Inform Anderson that it looks like he won’t get the drugs hand over he was so looking forward to after all. I’m going to tell Bob and Julie what’s happened and then I’ll go to the church in their car. I want the car with the drugs in where we can see it. You follow behind us. Oh, and you better let Draper know what’s going on as well.”

  “Okay, boss,” and Billy reached for the radio as Crane left the car and sprinted over to the Wainwright’s house, his coat billowing behind him in the wind.

  35

  Furious just didn’t cover the way Bob Wainwright was feeling right at that moment, after Crane told him over the phone that the stupid cow Kerry was at the Garrison Church with their daughter. Because mingled in with the fury was fear on two fronts. Fear that Anic would actually kill him if he didn’t get his drugs that morning and fear that if he wasn’t careful he wouldn’t get his daughter back.

  But to be honest on a scale of one to ten, he was more frightened of Anic than he was of his wife, or of not getting his daughter back. He knew he shouldn’t feel that way. Should be more concerned about the return of his daughter. But if he was honest with himself, the job had always come first for him. The job being the Army, his lads and his regiment. That had always come first before his family. And an extension of that job was his extracurricular activities, such as the drugs deal with Anic.

  But then he saw Julie’s face when he told her it appeared Kerry was on her way to the church with Tyler. Early. Julie literally collapsed in front of him. She crumpled to the floor and began sobbing.

  “Pull yourself together, Julie,” he said looming over her and reaching down to pull her onto her feet.

  “Oh, Bob, I can’t believe it,” she said, leaning against him and turning her tear stained face to his. “I’ve been so frightened. Frightened that we’d never find Tyler. Or if we did, that she’d be, she’d, be…”

  Bob didn’t give Julie a chance to complete her sentence. “Well it seems she’s alive, so you don’t need to worry anymore. But what about Anic?” he said. “What the fuck am I going to do about him? He’s the one we should be worried about now!”

  “Anic!” Julie screamed. “How can you think about Anic at a time like this? You fucking heartless bastard,” and she pulled away from him.

  “You don’t bloody understand, do you?” Now it was his turn to shout. “You have no idea what Anic is like and what he could do to me if he doesn’t get his drugs. I swear he’s one of the most dangerous men I’ve ever met.”

  “Here we go again,” she said. “Me, me, me. It’s always, me, with you, isn’t it Bob? Well for once this is about your family. About Tyler and me. And you better bloody put us first this time.”

  Bob knew she was right and was desperately trying to work out how to play this. He’d have to get hold of Anic right now. Before they left for the church.

  “Alright, alright,” he said to Julie. “Don’t go on. Of course we’ll go to the church. But first I’ve got to make a call,” and he pulled out his phone and speed dialled Anic’s number.

  As the man answered, Wainwright said without preamble, “I’m going to have to come later today. Something’s come up that I can’t get out of.”

  The roar of rage surging through the phone made Bob hold the mobile away from his ear. As he did so, he heard a voice behind him say, “I hope you don’t mind, but I let myself in.”

  Wainwright whirled around and saw Crane leaning against the door. He had no idea how long the investigator had been standing there. No idea how much Crane had heard of his conversation with Julie, or his phone call with Anic.

  “It’s just that Padre Symmonds’ wife has called,” Crane continued, shouting over the swearing coming out of Bob’s mobile. “Kerry has arrived at the church with Tyler and she’s insisting that you both meet her there. Apparently she has something she wants to say to you.”

  “What?” blustered Bob, quickly closing his mobile to cut Anic off and stuffing the phone in his pocket. “What does she want to say?”

  “Damned if I know, but that’s the message. Sorry to interrupt your phone call. Do you want to call whoever it was back?”

  As Bob shook his head, Crane smiled and said, “Alright then, shall we go? Oh, by the way, can we go in your car, Bob? Sgt Williams has mine.”

  Bob didn’t fall for the innocent look on Crane’s face. At that moment he knew he was finished. The realisation slammed into him, that the Branch had been watching him all along, and he took an involuntary step backwards. They hadn’t stood down as he originally thought. He saw the sly smile on Crane’s face and was convinced that Crane knew about the drugs in his car. Whichever way he looked at it he was royally fucked. He had no choice but to go to the church. In his own car. With the drugs in it. With Crane. Whatever happened, if they got Tyler back or not, he realised that he wouldn’t be returning home afterwards with Julie. Still, he supposed, at least in military police custody he’d be safe from Anic. Unless, of course, they released him to the Aldershot civilian police. At that thought a shudder ran down his back. He’d be close to Anic at the police station, for the police would surely be arresting Anic as well. To see w
hat they could get him for.

  “Ready?” Crane asked him, still holding his gaze.

  “Ready,” agreed Wainwright and he pulled his car keys out of his pocket, knowing that Crane must be able to see the culpability written all over his face.

  36

  “I should have bloody known something would go wrong,” said Anderson into his mobile phone. “Should have known catching Anic red handed was nothing more than a pipe dream.”

  “Come on, sir, it’s not that bad,” Billy’s voice sounded tinny over the mobile phone. “The boss said that if we work on Wainwright, we’ll get him to confirm that Anic was going to be the purchaser of his drugs from Afghanistan. I’m sure we can entice him to talk by cutting him a deal if he co-operates.”

  “You better be right,” Anderson sighed. “I’ll let you know what’s going on at this end, give you a shout when we’ve arrested Anic. Tell Crane the only thing I can think of is to arrest him for conspiracy to purchase and distribute a Class A drug. Which I guess could be a whole lot of nothing. Anic can afford the best solicitors and barristers, you know, so I wouldn’t hold your breath if I was you. I’m certainly not.”

  He cut the call and mumbled a few choice words to himself. After contacting his team by radio to advise them Wainwright wouldn’t be showing up, he told them to hold their positions while he worked out what to do.

  He swept his eyes over the industrial unit that housed Anic’s motor body repair shop. There was a large parking area in front of the unit which was clear of vehicles and there were two beefy looking minders positioned at either side of the large open door. He radioed to the team who had eyes on the unit and could see into the repair shop itself.

  “Can you see where Anic is?”