by Bill Ward
So much for the wedding vow about for richer, for poorer! Powell was amused and shocked by Charles’ logic. He couldn’t face asking his wife for money but it was okay to steal from his stepdaughter. His moral compass was really in a mess.
“I want you to tell Scott and his pit bull Tommy to leave me alone. If they don’t and anything happens to me, my friends will publish the truth about your financial situation and the walls of this beautiful home will come tumbling down real quick.”
“I’ll tell Scott to leave you alone,” Charles confirmed. “I don’t know anyone called Tommy.”
There was a sudden commotion at the door to the room. Hattie burst in, followed by Clara, who seemed to be unsuccessfully trying to hold her back.
“You fucking bastard,” Hattie shouted at her stepfather. “How could you betray your own daughter like that!”
Charles was shocked by the sudden appearance of Hattie and Clara.
Hattie was rushing at her stepfather, screaming obscenities. She had shaken loose of her mother.
Powell felt no urgency to intervene. After what he’d gone through, watching Hattie trying to claw at her stepfather’s face, while he fought her off, was not the worst entertainment. Charles had his arms in front of his face, trying to avoid Hattie’s blows. Hattie’s mother was desperately trying to pull her daughter away from her stepfather.
Powell did feel sorry for Clara, she was the innocent victim of her husband’s scheming. She had been horribly betrayed by her husband. His actions had destroyed her family.
They had been listening to everything said in the lounge from a bedroom upstairs. Clara had agreed the previous day to the planting of the listening device in the lounge. Powell had been nonspecific about what she would hear but insisted she and Hattie should listen in on the meeting as they would learn something of vital importance. Clara had been doubtful but agreed as she felt she owed Powell something. How Clara had managed to get Hattie to visit, he had no idea but she had obviously succeeded.
Powell leisurely stood up and grabbed Hattie by the collar and without letting go, dragged her away and forced her to sit on the sofa.
“That’s enough, Hattie,” Powell demanded, as she continued to struggle. She finally stopped and he let go of her collar.
“How could you stoop so low?” Clara asked her husband. “I can live with you lying to me but Hattie’s your daughter.” She flopped into one of the armchairs, obviously in shock. “I want you to leave,” she said firmly to Charles. “You disgust me. I want you to leave now.”
Charles seemed happy to leave. He hurried towards the door. “Actually she’s not my daughter. I’ll stay at the club,” he muttered, as he passed Clara.
“And don’t fucking come back,” Hattie shouted, as he went out the door.
Quiet descended on the room for a moment as both Clara and Hattie were lost in their thoughts.
“What happens next?” Clara asked after a minute, visibly in shock.
CHAPTER FORTY ONE
Powell, Clara and Hattie’s unexpected arrival at Haywards Heath police station, accompanied by a very expensive solicitor, provided by Clara Buckingham, had caused considerable consternation. It took some time for the man behind the desk to understand, their most sought after suspect was asking to speak with whoever was in charge of his case.
The solicitor was primarily present for the benefit of Hattie but she was determined to tell the police everything she knew about Scott and his involvement in drugs and violence. She was intent on seeing Scott go to prison for as long as possible and didn’t seem too bothered about the consequences of her revelations. It was up to her solicitor to make sure she didn’t incriminate herself and also end up behind bars.
Hattie seemed like a changed person in just a few short hours. Her ideal of the commune had been rent asunder as she realised how Scott and her stepfather had conspired to steal her inheritance.
She had also come to realise that the guns at the house weren’t just for protection. Someone at the house had almost certainly been responsible for Stuart’s death.
It was like all the rebellion and fight had drained away, leaving just the young girl behind. She had said sorry to Powell and he had been conciliatory. He recognised that while Hattie was fully cooperating with the police, she was in effect helping to clear his name.
After several hours of interrogation, Powell recognised a change in the attitudes of the detectives. They were coming around to the opinion, he was an innocent man. There were to be no new charges. Officially, he was still on bail for the drugs charges but it would be only a matter of time before the Crown Prosecution service dropped those charges.
Clara was interviewed and confirmed her reasons for hiring Powell. She was also able to describe how she met Hattie in the café and told her about Powell. Hattie then confirmed she told Scott about Powell. She couldn’t be sure Scott had acted on the information but what she did know for certain, was that Tommy had told her to take Powell shopping and she wasn’t to use the Land Rover. The implication for finding the drugs and gun in Powell’s car was circumstantial but pointed further suspicion at Tommy.
Tommy was arrested for kidnapping and shooting Powell in the leg. Hattie had been a witness and the police had found the weapon he used, when they raided Tintagel. Hattie and Powell’s evidence combined was enough for the police to get search warrants and they had run a forensic toothcomb over Tintagel. They had found drugs in the basement as well as blood spots matching Powell’s blood.
Hattie gave a detailed statement about Scott’s drug dealing. The police had promised her immunity from prosecution for any charges pertaining to drugs in return for her cooperation but if she was found to be involved in the murder of Stuart Brown, that would be a different matter.
They corroborated her story by interviewing Carol, who was also given a promise of no prosecution in return for her testimony. She was happy to confirm the details of the exchanges, although she stuck by the story that she didn’t know what was inside the bags. She refused to explain the bruises on her face and press any charges against Luigi. She knew his reputation.
The police were excited to have at least the beginnings of a case against Luigi Pesce’s son, if not the father. DNA and fingerprint tests of the shopping bags containing the drugs and money were carried out and prints on both bags matched those of Luigi’s son. The slippery Luigi couldn’t be charged but his son was definitely going to jail.
When Scott was arrested, he was found to be in good health so Luigi hadn’t yet paid him a visit and discovered the drugs in the rear of the Land Rover. Either that or Scott had convinced him they weren’t the same drugs, which had always been a possibility.
Powell realised he had to add Luigi to the long list of people who would be happy to see him dead. Luigi was a little different to most because he lived locally. Powell hoped Luigi would keep away now the police were more focused than usual on his activities. He could no longer recover any drugs or money from Powell. It was in his own self-interest to leave well alone but it wouldn’t stop Powell being extra cautious.
Hattie didn’t know for certain who had killed Stuart Brown, though she suspected it was Tommy. She didn’t believe Scott was capable of having pulled the trigger but he could have given the order. A view that was supported by Powell, without any actual proof.
Unfortunately, there was no evidence linking anyone to the gun found in Powel’s car. Tommy had used a different weapon when he shot Powell so he either owned two guns or the one that killed Stuart Brown, belonged to someone else. Any DNA evidence linking Stuart Brown to the house or anyone living at the house was irrelevant, given it wasn’t in dispute he had been living at Tintagel for several months. The murder investigation would be ongoing
What upset Hattie most was the fact, in the eyes of the law, her stepfather had committed no crime. Being a terrible father and betraying your stepdaughter’s trust, was not a crime. The business dealings were legitimate, if a little shady but nothing linked h
im to Scott’s various crimes. The police intended to investigate him further in case they could get him on a conspiracy charge but they hadn’t been confident about their chances.
Powell heard that Scott’s two corrupt police officer friends had been suspended. Powell had handed over the drugs and cash he discovered in the Inspector’s bathroom but having been obtained illegally, it was useless as evidence in a court case. However, it was admissible in an internal police enquiry and their careers were at an end.
Powell also gave a statement about what he had seen late at night in the car park on the top of Ditchling Beacon but he couldn’t say what was in the suitcase. Without additional evidence, they were unlikely to end up in court so Scott had been offered a deal to give evidence against them, in return for a lighter sentence but was so far saying nothing. Perhaps he still harboured hopes of escaping justice.
Powell had moved back into his house and was even happy to spend some time at the bar. He collected Afina from the airport and life was pretty much back to normal. Absence had definitely made the heart grow fonder, both for his bar and Afina.
Every so often, Powell thought about the kiss but tried not to dwell on the memory. He was looking forward to visiting Nottingham and taking Tina to dinner. He needed a distraction. If he could get through dinner with Tina without thinking about Afina, it would be revealing.
Powell believed the kiss had been the product of events as much as feelings. When he returned from Nottingham, he was going to look at holidays and keep his promise to Afina, to take her somewhere hot. Then perhaps their true feelings for each other would finally be resolved.
THE END
TRAFFICKING
Powell Book 1
Trafficking is big business and those involved show no remorse, have no mercy, only a deadly intent to protect their income.
Afina is a young Romanian girl with high expectations when she arrives in Brighton but she has been tricked and there is no job, only a life as a sex slave.
Facing a desperate future, Afina tries to escape and a young female police officer, who comes to her aid, is stabbed.
Powell’s life has been torn apart for the second time and he is determined to find the man responsible for his daughter’s death.
Action, violence and sex abound in this taut thriller about one of today’s worst crimes.
5* Reviews
“This book is not for the faint hearted but it is a brilliant read.”
“Keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout.”
“Exciting, terrifying, brilliant.”
“One of the best books I have read in a long time!”
“Will leave you breathless.”
ABDUCTED
Powell Book 2
Powell returns in an action packed novel of violence, sex and betrayal!
He is trying to recover two children from Saudi Arabia, who have been abducted by their father.
In a culture where women are second class citizens, a woman holds the key to the success or failure of his mission.
Meanwhile, back in Brighton, Afina is trying to deal with a new threat from Romanian gangsters.
From the streets of Brighton to Riyadh, Powell must take the law into his own hands, to help the innocent.
5* Reviews
“Trafficking was masterful and this one is even better.”
“Great thriller.”
"Fabulous twists and turns.”
"Strong, interesting characters.”
DECEPTION
Powell Book 3
POWELL IS BACK IN A HEART POUNDING STORY THAT WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS.
The Americans aren’t happy with the changing political climate in Britain. Elements of the CIA and MI6 enter into a conspiracy to help shape the thinking of the British public.
Meanwhile ISIS has a plan to bring terror to the streets of Britain.
Powell is caught in the middle when he offers help to a former lover, whose life is in danger. Soon it becomes evident, someone will stop at nothing to see them both silenced.
Unsure who can be trusted, Powell must act to save the lives of his friends and right a terrible wrong.
5* Reviews
“Couldn't put the book down it was so gripping.”
“Brilliant, like his other books, can't wait for his next book..”
“A thrill on every page.”
REVENGE.
There is no greater motivator for evil than a huge sense of injustice!
Tom Ashdown, an unlikely hero, owns a betting shop in Brighton and gambles with his life when he stumbles across an attempted kidnapping, which leaves him entangled in a dangerous chain of events involving the IRA, a sister seeking revenge for the death of her brother and an informer in MI5 with a secret in his past.
Revenge is a fast paced thriller, with twists and turns at every step.
In a thrilling and violent climax everyone is intent on some form of revenge.
5* Reviews
“Fast paced from the start and it only goes faster!”
“This novel is a real page turner!”
“It will keep you on the edge of your seat.”
“Revenge is an example of everything that I look for in an action thriller.”
ENCRYPTION.
In a small software engineering company in England, a game changing algorithm for encrypting data has been invented, which will have far reaching consequences for the fight against terrorism.
The Security Services of the UK, USA and China all want to control the new software.
The Financial Director has been murdered and his widow turns to her brother-in-law to help discover the truth. But he soon finds himself framed for his brother’s murder.
When the full force of government is brought to bear on one family, they seem to face impossible odds. Is it an abuse of power or does the end justify the means?
Only one man can find the answers but he is being hunted by the same people he once called friends and colleagues.
5* Reviews
“A Great English Spy Thriller.”
“This is a great story! Once I started reading it, I could not put it down.”
“Full of memorable characters and enough twists and turns to impress all diehard thriller junkies, it is a wonderful read”
“If you’re a fan of Ludlum, and love descriptive prose like that of Michener, you’ll be right at home.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Bill Ward lives in Brighton with his German partner Anja. He has retired from senior corporate roles in large IT companies and is now following a lifelong passion for writing! With 7 daughters, a son, stepson, 2 horses, a dog and 2 cats, life is always busy!
Bill’s other great passion is supporting West Bromwich Albion, which he has been doing for more than 50 years!
Connect with Bill online:
Twitter: http://twitter.com/billward10bill
Facebook: http://facebook.com/billwardbooks
