At two thirty, two huge men arrived, both dressed in the obligatory, long black full-length leather coats, a trademark of the Russian mafia. They looked over toward Thornton who nodded their presence, and they sat down at his table, refusing an offer of a drink from Thornton.
“You spoke to us about some information you may have for us”? inquired Michalov.
“You have all the money as was agreed”, said Thornton. “Show me, then I’ll give you what you came for”.
“At this moment in time, there is a Russian made pistol, with silencer, underneath this table, which incidentally, is pointing straight at your balls. Now either you play ball, or you will be minus two balls. Put the information on the table in front of you, and at the same time, place both your hands flat, palm downwards on the table in front of you”, said Michalov.
Thornton, on hearing those chilling words, broke out into a sweat, his perspiration running down his face and between his groin. God, I hope that I have not pissed myself he thought to himself.
He slowly placed the piece of paper on the table before him as instructed to by Michalov, who picked it up and read the contents slowly.
“Are you sure that this is the genuine article”? he asked. “You will not be given a second chance”.
Thornton nodded in agreement.
A manila envelope was passed onto the table and placed on the seat next to Thornton.
“Inside is the correct money. If you are wrong about this information, we will be back to retrieve the money, but at a price”! With that, the two Russians slowly got up, and walked out toward the door.
Their exit was prevented by the sudden appearance of five armed Policemen and two in civilian clothes. One went straight over to Thornton and retrieved the envelope, and fitting plasi-cuffs over his wrists. The two Russian were also plasi-cuffed, and the incriminating piece of paper was retrieved from one of the pockets of Michalov’s coat.
“My, my. What have we got here”? said one of the plainclothes officers. “Looks like it must be pay day for someone. Must be exactly £500,000 I bet. He must have done some big favour for you guys. Let us all go down to the station and we can all have a good talk about things over a nice cup of tea, or maybe you guys would prefer a glass of Vodka”?, sneered one of the arresting officers.
All three men were taken into custody for questioning about the money and the vehicle details which were already being double-checked by the Police against their files and those held on computer files with the D.V.L.C. Swansea.
Within seven hours of their arrest, a further arrest warrant had been issued and taken out against Mr. Stuart Watson who resides in Leicester, the legal owner of a silver, Ford Orion.
TWENTY FIVE
Stuart had been sitting in his garden, enjoying the sun as he poured himself an ice-cold beer.
Here it was time to relax after the past frantic eight weeks, and nothing could be better than to sip a cold beer slowly. He read one of the magazines that lay on the table before him, his Alsatian dog ‘Shadow’ sitting down close by his side.
Shadow’s posture suddenly changed from relaxed into immediate alert as he stood up, his ears bending and straining to pick up a new noise, his nose being raised up to catch this new scent that was invading his territory He growled quietly, looking toward the high wooden fence, and then walking toward the fence gate very slowly, his hackles up.
“What’s up Shadow”? whispered Stuart who inwardly knew that someone was outside who should not be there. Stuart slowly and quietly walked toward the gate, catching hold of Shadow’s collar and slipping a choke chain around his neck.
The stillness was suddenly broken by the sound of the front door bell, followed immediately by the unmistakable shout of “Police! Open up!”
Before Stuart could react, both the front door of his home and the wooden gate crashed open from the shout “Go, go, go”! Shadow’s immediate reaction was to protect his master, as he strained upon the choke chain trying to attack the two masked figures in dark blue uniform who came rushing through the garden gate armed with Heckler Koch weapons, his loud barking now increased as he had sensed immediate danger.
The same instant, three more figures had entered the garden via the house itself after breaking down the front door, two of them also in dark blue uniform and armed, while the other was a tall thin gentleman in civilian clothes.
“Mr. Stuart Watson. I have a warrant for your immediate arrest with regard to the abduction and possible murder of Mr.Serbio Volokovitch. You don’t have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned, something that you later rely on in court. Anything you do say can be given in evidence! Come along quietly now and let the dog be handed over to one of my Policemen for safety reason. He will be cared for while your house is searched until my team are completely satisfied”.
Stuart was quickly handcuffed, while his dog was led away to a Police dog van where he would be kept under excellent conditions. He never spoke, and allowed himself to be led away to the waiting Police car, where he was driven at speed across Leicester to Paddington Green central Police station where C.I. Arnold was waiting for him.
After the preliminaries at the Police station, Stuart was placed into an interrogation room where he was questioned about his relationship with the deceased, and specifically being asked as to where he was on specific dates prior to, during, and after, the discovery of Sergio’s body.
“I really do not know what you are on about regarding this Serbio character. I have never seen him, never met him and do not even know him. As for these dates that you want me to confirm my whereabouts. Well, I was on holiday in my mates caravan down in Penhale near Newquay, Cornwall for one week. Alone, no. Shadow was with me. If you want to check with my mate that I did have his caravan on those dates, go ahead and telephone him, and he will confirm just what I have already told you”!
C.I. Arnold who was conducting this interrogation, could not believe just how cool this character was, for Watson had shown none of the give-away signs of fear usually shown by criminals when they undergo interviews. He had already done a profile check upon the N.P.C. (National Police Computers), and Watson had no criminal record, not even a parking ticket.
Further checks only revealed that he had previously been a member of 1 Parachute Regiment, and had served a number of undisclosed years attached to 22 Regiment S.A.S. but there was absolutely nothing to link him with this crime. His car had been checked, but there was not a scrap of evidence in it or on it to relate him to this crime.
Arnold checked the number of Watson’s car again on the scrap of paper that had been previously retrieved from Michalov’s pocket. The number and letters of the registration plate did correspond, but maybe it was taken on the ‘off-chance’ by someone eager to get to the reward money. Watson had denied ever being at the Landsdowne Hotel, and mentioned that he did not even know where the hotel was, and no, he had not even been in London that week or any other week before or after this crime.
After four hours of intensive questioning, both the Police Officers that were conducting the interview called for a recess, and stepped outside to confirm their conclusion.
“This character is so laid back, I am content to believe every word that he has said, and at this moment in time, we have not one shred of any evidence to detain him or to even question any further. Do you agree”?
The other officers agreed, and they re-entered the interrogation room, sat down and spoke to Watson once again.
“We have conducted this interview, and everything you have told us bears out as your witness has confirmed your stay at his caravan. Your vehicle has been thoroughly checked, and it is also clean, so you can collect it from the Police pound when you collect your personal items from the front desk when you leave. You are released without charges, but we may want to interview you again at a later date? Your dog can be collected at the Police kennels”.
“Right”, said Stuart. “Now who is going to pay for a
new front and back door to my property when you broke it down”?
“You can collect the necessary forms from the desk Sergeant, and when you have filled in the details, take them to your nearest Police station where they will, eventually, get processed.
Usually, this takes about four weeks, so I suggest that you get new doors fitted and give the original paid receipt to the Police station near you attached to your claim for damages, and keep a copy for yourself”.
A constable was called in to escort Stuart from the interrogation and through to the front desk where he collected all his personal belongings, the claim forms and the keys to his car.
He reached the Police vehicle compound, provided the constable on duty with the vehicle release forms after having to show his identity, quickly checked his car over, and happily found no damage. He made his way across to the other side of the Police ground to where the dogs were kept, collected his faithful ‘Shadow’ who was once again, so happy to be with his master, then drove away, heading back for Leicester and home to survey the damage caused by the Police forced entries.
Once there, he quickly sorted out a makeshift door which he secured temporary, and then telephoned a carpenter in the Yellow Pages to get him to come out and replace the whole front door and also to replace the garden gate.
Fuck them, he thought. I’ll get the carpenter to write out a false invoice and up the price for the repairs. At least I will be able to have a few drinks on them without them ever knowing.
TWENTY SIX
A few days later after the incident concerning Stuart Watson, all three team members received a personal call from Code 306 for an extra special meeting at Room 306, The London Hilton hotel at 1400 hrs, 27th November.
Without question, they all arrived and entered room 306 where they were met by the same manservant who produced the video and meal trolley on their very first meeting. He smiled at them all as they passed him to enter the lounge. They sat down, and he politely offered them a drink from the large stocked drinks cabinet. After the drinks were served, he made his way across to the video, placed a tape inside, and switched it on.
“Gentlemen, your attention please”, he said and pointed toward the screen.
Once again, the screen showed a picture of a hooded man, who spoke softly.
“Gentlemen, I have decided to hold this unusual meeting owing to an incident regarding one of the team members who was arrested a few days ago in relation to our previous Target Profile. Fortunately, due to my contacts and favours, there will be no more heard about this incident, and Stuart, you can now feel free. Incidentally, I have heard that your claim for two new doors will be paid by the Police Claims Commission tomorrow without fail”!
“How the hell did he know that”? asked Stuart.
“You all have done exceptionally well, better than expected, and have been professional in every operation that you have undertaken. However, I feel that under these circumstances, we should discontinue our combined efforts for a month in which to allow things to cool down. This is not the end of our operations, and if any of you feel that they would like to resign from any further operational tasks, please speak up now. There will be no ill feeling toward you”.
No-one spoke.
“To continue, my assistant will provide each of you with an envelope, each envelope containing £2,000 which I deem to being a bonus to each of you. Also contained in the envelope are three separate first class tickets with Air France, made out to each of you. Destination, the south of France, namely Nice, where you are invited aboard my own private yacht where you can enjoy a Mediterranean cruise which will last for three weeks. This cruise is intended to allow you all to relax and unwind, and to prepare yourselves for further Target Profiles which will commence during January of next year.
Although we have reduced the list, unfortunately, even as we speak, elements of crime are already spreading their evil wings, and so, with your full cooperation, the fight for True Justice will continue after your well earned break. Gentlemen, I thank you”.
The video stopped, the tape ejected by the servant who then handed all three men a brown manila envelope each.
“Gentlemen, all the details for your flights etc are contained in the envelopes, and may I take this opportunity to wish you all bon-voyage on your holiday, which I know you all will thoroughly enjoy. By the way Mr. Watson, arrangements have also been made for your dog Shadow to also accompany you on your trip. I hope he likes the warm sun and sea”?
With those parting words, the manservant left the team to enjoy their good fortune.
“Well lads”, said Steve. “I don’t know about you lot, but let us raise our glass and toast this man who have certainly given us a grand opportunity to put something back into the country. Three cheers for 306”.
The team raised their glasses in respect, drank down the fiery liquid contents of the expensive brandy, and left room 306 into the throngs of people of central London, all looking forward to their holiday and rest, where they would all return, fresh, invigorated and ready to recommence their battle for True Justice once again.
Table of Contents
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY ONE
TWENTY TWO
TWENTY THREE
TWENTY FOUR
TWENTY FIVE
TWENTY SIX
Beyond Doubt: the ULTIMATE vigilante (legal thrillers) Page 9
