I shook my head. 'She's due to do one podium stint before half-eleven, then another an hour later. Hopefully it'll all be over by then.'
'It better be.' Eve's snarl was accompanied by the dirty look she threw at Winston and Chris. Neither offered any defence or denial. They just exchanged smirks and high-fives.
A minute later, Winston's phone rang and he rushed to answer it. 'Hey, Bro.' He listened intently, 'Uh-huhing' and nodding at intervals, before ending the call and turning to me. 'They're here. They've parked over on the Trading Estate and are walking in. They've rung Bergin and he said they'll be here in ten minutes. When Yashin's settled upstairs he'll come down and let them in the side door.'
The news seemed to excite Carver. 'Excellent.' He passed the information out to Jess and warned her to be ready with the camera. Jess had opted - wisely - to work the Obs Van with another DC. Marked to look like a private hire minibus but with blacked-out windows, it was parked up in the small drop-off car park at the front. From there they had a view of both the front and side entrances. Armed with night-scopes, cameras and video, their job was to capture anything that might come in useful later, as well as give a running commentary on comings and goings.
'How are things in there?' I heard her ask through Carver's ear-piece.
He turned to give me a wry look as he replied, 'Hot. And whiffy.'
'Tee-hee-hee,' she said, though not loud enough for Eve to hear, thankfully.
I settled back. Ten minutes to Yashin's arrival meant at least a further thirty or more of sweating.
Reaching into the ice-bag I took out another can of coke. Pulling the tab, I raised it towards Eve. 'Cheers.'
'Piss off.' she said, as if she'd had lessons from Eric.
Bergin was as good as his word. Ten minutes later, Carver held a hand up, listened then said, 'Yashin's limo's just pulled up out front.'
It got everyone stirring and prompted bursts of, 'About frigging time,' and 'Thank fuck.'
After another minute, Carver said, 'They're in. Yashin, Bergin, Alexei and the two women.'
Sitting next to Carver, Will had been quieter than most throughout, which made me realise how he probably had as much riding on the next hour as I did. Now he came alive as one of his inside team relayed Yashin's progress. 'They're heading upstairs. Bergin's carrying a black sports bag.' Then he smiled as he added, 'Looks like there's some weight in it.'
I raised an eyebrow at Carver. I'd never seen Eighty-thousand-quid cash, but had tried imagining it. A sports bag seemed about right.
My phone beeped a text from Vicki. 'She's about to go on the podium,' I said. 'Fifteen minutes then she'll be free.' I turned to Winston. 'Tell Anthony to be at the side door in five.'
'Right, Baaaz.'
Exactly five minutes later, Winston confirmed his brothers were at the side door. 'They've rung Bergin. He's coming down to let them in.' Carver passed it to Jess.
The next few minutes saw a stream of messages confirming the brothers were in and being escorted upstairs, one of them carrying a briefcase. Will was on his radio almost constantly now, marshalling his team. Through all of it, I was conscious that for all the police's readiness, everything still depended on us doing our bit.
Then everything went quiet.
The next thirty minutes felt like as many hours. During that time several people's nails got bitten even further down than they were. At one point my phone beeped and everyone jumped, but it was only Vicki letting me know she was off the podium and ready. I messaged back, 'Thnx.'
It was Will who got the first update. 'The brothers are in the lobby. Bergin's showing them out. Gabriel's carrying a sports bag.'
'Hot damn,' Winston said, and smacked Gol's knee.
I brought up Vicki's number, ready.
Two minutes passed. Winston's phone rang just as Carver was receiving Jess's confirmation that The Brothers were heading away from the club. He held the phone, tight, to his ear. The call lasted only seconds. 'Uh-huh. Right. Love you, Bro.' He rang off, then lifted his head to look at me. His eyes were wide with excitement. 'It's done.'
I checked with Carver and Will. They both nodded. I pressed my phone's green 'ring' button. Vicki answered at once. 'Soon as you can.'
'Two minutes,' she said, and rang off.
Carver and Will began speaking on their radios. They were using different channels so as not to cut across each other. Everyone eased themselves up, stretching cramped limbs. My phone rang. As I lifted it to my ear I noticed the time. Midnight.
'Ready,' Vicki said.
I nodded to Gol. He pulled the handle on the back door.
We all jumped out, and started running.
CHAPTER 56
Harry had parked the van on a spare piece of land just off Bold Street, less than a hundred metres from the club's back door. Twenty seconds later, we were lined up in the shadow to the right of it. I knocked, twice, then twice more. It opened. Vicki stood back as we all trooped inside.
'Okay?' I said to her and felt for her hand. It was clammy. She nodded, quickly, and tried a smile. I gave her hand a squeeze. Then I turned to the others, who were waiting for my lead. 'Let's go,' I said. I remember thinking how it felt a bit like we were in some SAS movie, about to take out a bunch of terrorists.
We jogged down the corridor. The busiest time of the night, I'd have been surprised if we'd come across anyone in that part of the club and we didn't. As we approached the main office I made sure Carver and Will were at the back, just in case there was any 'resistance' when we went in.' At the end of the day they were police and I didn't want to compromise them any more than necessary, especially considering what might happen later.
As we turned through the door, two of Charnley's guys were behind the desk. They were peering hard at the screens and playing about with the controls. Still trying to get their heads round the system's configuration, I guessed. We got to within a couple of yards of them before they even looked round, by which time it was too late. Not the best, I thought.
'What the fuck?' one of them managed before my team closed around them.
As the youngest's gaze flicked, just for a second, to the radio, Eric jabbed his finger in their faces. 'No fuss, and not a fucking word.' The look on Eric's face, they weren't about to argue. Zip ties and duct tape appeared. A few seconds later, they were tied, mouth-taped and sitting on the floor at the back of the office, Chris standing watch.
Eric sat at the desk and pulled the screens round to him. 'Right. Let's see where everyone is.'
But even as he rotated the cameras, Vicki popped her head round the door with what we needed. 'Charnley's in with Frank.' If the others hadn't been there I'd have gone over and kissed her. I looked at Will. 'Is your team ready?'
'All within striking distance of the stairs.'
'Right. Come with me.'
We left the office and made our way round to Frank's. The door was closed, I didn't knock.
As he saw me come in, Frank leaped out of his seat as if it was wired to the mains and someone had thrown a switch. Charnley was in the easy chair next to the desk but facing towards Frank. By the time he reacted and started to rise my hand was on his shoulder, pressing him back down into the cushion.
'Evening gents. Sorry to disturb.'
'DANNY, What the hell are you-?
Charnley said nothing, concentrating on weighing what was happening, like I'd have done.
'Easy Frank,' I said. These gentlemen just need a word.'
As I stepped back, Carver came forward. Reaching inside his jacket, he produced several sheets of paper. He put his 'official' face on.
'This is a Search Warrant issued to me under the Misuse of Drugs Act, Frank. It authorises us to search your premises for illegal substances that are banned under the act. Are you, or any persons on these premises in possession of any such substances?'
Frank's head was turning from Carver, to me, to Charnley and back again. He looked like he wasn't sure if he was dreaming. 'You've got to be joking.
This is a nightclub.' He turned to me again. 'What the fuck's going on Danny? What is all this?'
I said, 'You'll see,' and wondered how many more times I'd hear the same question before the night was over.
Carver said, 'I'll interpret that as a, 'Not to my knowledge.'' He turned to Will, and nodded. Will turned away and I heard him say into his radio, 'All Sierras, it's a golf-lima, repeat, a golf-lima.'
I hid a smile. Earlier I'd worked it out. G and L. Green Light. Cops love their code words.
Frank was becoming more agitated. I could imagine what he was thinking and, in truth, I felt for him. I hoped his heart was okay. He said to Carver. 'You're not going to search the whole fucking club. There's close to a thousand people out there.'
Carver said, 'Technically, we could. But I don't think that will be necessary.’
I could see Frank getting ready to try again. There wasn't time. I leaned forward and grabbed his arm and locked eyes on him. 'It'll be alright Frank. Stay calm and let them do their job.' His Adam's apple bobbed, like a cork on the tide.
Two minutes later, we were all back in the main office, Charnley on the floor next to his guys and Frank planted in one of the chairs where Eric could keep an eye on him.
The part of the script we'd played so far had been pretty tight, time-wise. The next part would be even tighter. I turned to find Chris and Gol by the door, waiting for the nod. I gave it. They disappeared.
As we waited, Frank said, 'What's happening now?'
'Just bear with us Frank.'
He lifted his head and gave me a hard look. Then he said. 'I hope you know what the fuck you're doing.'
I leaned down to whisper in his ear. 'So do I.'
Eric said, 'They're there.'
I moved round to the screens. One of them showed the main entrance. I could see Chris and Gol just outside the front doors. They'd already attracted the attention of one of the door team, his hand behind his back, signalling to his mates. Even as we watched, two more came into view, alerted to the danger. Can't fault their response, I thought. Charnley would have drummed into them what they were to do if I, or any of my team, showed up.
I turned to Carver. 'Now's the time.'
He nodded and turned to Frank. 'Come with us Frank.' Taking him by the upper arm, he eased him out of the chair. Frank looked scared to death.
'Where are we going?'
'We need you there,' Carver said.
As they dragged him out of the office I heard Frank squeak, 'Where's there?'
By now Eve had left to get ready. We were down to Eric, myself and Winston, keeping an eye on Charnley and his staff.
Eric brought up the camera covering the door that led upstairs to the private suites. Half a minute or so later, there was a sudden commotion out front as Chris and Gol kicked off right on cue, launching themselves at the two doormen they'd been talking to. Immediately several black shirted figures flashed across the cameras as every door supervisor in the vicinity responded to help deal with the incident. At the same time, the radio burst into life as those responding radioed 'control' to let Charnley know. As Eric pressed the mic button and gave out an acknowledgement in a way that was sufficiently garbled to disguise his voice, I held my breath and focused on the door to upstairs. Even at this point, if someone twigged and made a warning phone call, it could still ruin everything. There was a gap of only seconds, then bodies appeared from all directions, converging on the door and filing rapidly through. I just caught sight of the women going in front, followed closely by Will and his team, with Carver, towing Frank, bringing up the rear. I kept my eye on what I could see of the melee taking place in the foyer. No one broke off to deal with what was a significant breach of security. As the doors closed and stayed shut and there was still no response from any of Charnley's crew, I heaved a sigh of relief. Eric switched the cameras to seven and nine, which cover the top corridor from both ends.
Outside the Ten-To-Midnight Suite, Alexei stood, erect and relaxed. He was playing with his phone, either checking messages or playing some game. As Vicki, Eve and Eve's partner, Colleen appeared from round the top of the stairs, it disappeared into his pocket and he turned to meet them. Even knowing it was Eve, I was hard-pushed to recognise her in the long blond wig she was wearing. And I couldn't recall ever having seen her in a dress and heels before, certainly not like the one she had on now, with a split up the side that went nearly up to her waist. Colleen was dressed in similar, spectacular fashion, only hers was designed so that it pushed her ample bosoms up and out like twin Mount Vesuviuses. With Vicki in the middle, the three women approached Alexei like girls in nightclubs sometimes do when they bear down on doormen, all giggles, wiggles and sharing supposedly hidden-behind-the-back-of-a-hand comments about something that seemed to be catching their eye. Eve and Colleen were showing just enough wobble as they leaned into Vicki to suggest they were enjoying a really good night out. As Alexei drew himself up to his full height and clasped his hands behind his back, I even thought, 'You poor sap.'
Stopping far enough away to draw him a few feet further away from the door he was guarding, Vicki went through the motions of introducing him to her companions. At the same time she made sure he had plenty of time to note their respective attributes.
It happened regularly, though not often, that certain types of girls would ask about the possibility of being introduced to the, 'Rich Russian Upstairs.' And though these things were usually negotiated by way of calling Bergin down to peruse the merchandise and report back to his boss, there had been the odd occasion where Vicki had found herself getting involved, much to her distaste I knew. My hope was, therefore, that Alexei would see nothing alarming about her bringing up two, 'new girls' for an, 'on the spot’ inspection.
But as Vicki had indicated when I first broached it with her, she wasn't going to stay to witness the second act. Having facilitated introductions, she made her excuses and headed back the way she had come, leaving Alexei to decide on whether or how to take things a stage further. There followed a short play-act during which Eve and Colleen flirted away, making sure Alexei was properly disarmed, before making their move. For his part, Alexei played along. He seemed to be enjoying the attention. When he reached into his pocket and brought out his phone, I imagined him explaining how he, 'just needed to check if it was okay to show them in.'
As he turned away for the scrap of privacy he needed to make the call, Eve reached into the bag that had been hanging off her shoulder all the while, took out the Taser, pointed it at Alexei's broad back and pressed the button. As the barbs hit him square between the shoulders, he went instantly rigid, before collapsing to his knees.
I know from demonstrations I've seen that Tasers affect people in different ways. Some collapse at once into deep unconsciousness. Others seem able to resist the voltage for a short while, though it may only be for a few seconds. Very rarely, an individual will manage to shrug off the effects altogether, though it's usually where the subject is high on something.
Alexei was a big guy. By dropping to his knees, he showed he wasn't in the first category of Taser responder. And Eve and Colleen weren't about to wait to find out which of the others he might fall into. Like a pair of ballet dancers who had spent weeks choreographing it, Eve spun round and raised her right leg up and out between the split in her skirt. Then, in a twisting martial arts manoeuvre, swung her right foot round so it connected with the side of Alexei's head. At the exact same time as Eve's kick landed, Colleen drove her knuckles into the area just above his right kidney. He went down, and stayed down.
The moment he hit the floor, Will and his team appeared from round the top of the stairs and raced down to where Eve already had a pass-key in the door lock, just in case. Then, throwing the door to the suite open, she stood back as they all rushed passed her into the room and out of our view. Coming immediately after, though at a more leisurely pace, Carver dragged Frank around Alexei's prone figure, and followed through the door, which slammed shut behind them.
I put my head back and let out a long breath. We'd done as much as we could. It was a police matter now. Eric and I turned to each other, and slapped palms.
Behind us Winston called out, 'Fuckin' A.'
But Eve wasn't quite finished. As she bent to put her shoe back on, she twisted the barbs free from Alexei's back and stowed them and the taser back in her bag. Then, as she and Colleen turned away to return downstairs, she planted a kick, short but vicious, into Alexei's side. There was no sign he felt it.
I'd had some long waits recently. The next ten minutes were as long as any. I didn't dare move from the screens. Behind me, Charnley and his mates were beginning to get worked up. I left them to Winston, along with Chris and Gol, who had rejoined us. At one stage I turned and found Vicki at my elbow, also looking at the screens. My hand found hers and I gave her another squeeze, 'Well done,' I said. She just nodded.
Eventually the door opened and Carver stepped out. He didn't look up at the camera but took out his phone and punched a number. My phone rang and I snatched it up.
'Well?' I said, trying to keep my voice even.
It was only then that Carver turned to the camera, raised a fist so I could see his thumb, and said, 'Bingo.'
I was surprised. I'd never have credited Carver with a sense of drama.
CHAPTER 57
Alexei was beginning to stir just as Will's team started to bring out Yashin and the others - the women, Bergin, and two more of Yashin's goons. Two of the team helped Alexei up, cuffed him, like the rest, and added him onto the end of the line. I noticed that one of Will's men was carrying something square-shaped, wrapped in a black bin bag. They marched them down the corridor, round the corner to the stairs and out. By then Carver had radioed up for the uniforms and police vans he'd had on stand-by at Warrington Nick and they were all waiting, outside.
If I'd had my way, I'd have been there to see Yashin off the premises. But Carver didn't want to give him anything that might make him think he'd been victim of anything other than a tip-off. If he saw me he might start wondering about all sorts of things - some of which hadn't happened yet.
Midnight's Door Page 29
