The Karl Lehman Affair

by Jonathan R Hayes

  The police helicopter soon gave up the chase, returned and hovered over the cottage for some time before landing. The pilot was a fighter aircraft enthusiast and radioed back to police headquarters and briefed them on events unfolding and was able to provide full details of the Russian made gunship.

  ‘We’ve already requested immediate air support to intercept this aircraft,’ dispatched the radio operator.

  Within minutes RAF St. Mawgan scrambled two Eurofighter Typhoon Jet Fighters to intercept the chopper.

  Meyer and his police colleagues came out from under the tree when the police helicopter landed.

  The two police officers secured the area, now a crime scene. The WPC immediately contacted Devon and Cornwall Constabulary for back-up.

  Meyer could see spent bullet cases outside the cottage while he walked around looking for evidence. He entered the house and went upstairs to check out the bedrooms. One room had a woman's cardigan draped over the back of a chair and a bottle of expensive perfume on the dressing table. He saw large black footprints on the cream carpet. He left the bedroom, closing the door behind him to preserve evidence for the forensic team.

  Soon members of the media arrived and were told to remain outside the front gate. With the reported involvement of a Mil Mi-24 Russian made military helicopter, all sorts of conspiracy theories were starting to do the rounds.

  ‘We're terrorists responsible?’

  ‘We're the Russians involved?’

  These theories were played down by Meyer who had positioned himself at the entrance to Grasmere cottage surrounded by a media scrum, having now taken on the role of police spokesman to the media.

  ‘What is a Swiss police officer doing in Cornwall?’ asked one well informed reporter.

  He evaded the question.

  ‘How many people were killed?’ asked another.

  ‘There are no reports of any loss of life.’

  ‘Reports suggest three helicopters were involved. Can you confirm this?

  ‘I cannot.’

  ‘Is Nicole Lehman staying in the house and was she abducted?’

  ‘No comment.’

  ‘Is this the house of Dr. Harry Parker, special advisor to the Government?’

  ‘OK gentlemen I cannot take any more questions until the Devon & Cornwall Superintendent arrives. Thank you for your co-operation,’ asserted the Swiss CI while he pushed his way through the jostling media.

  The small crowd all at once looked up towards the sky as they heard the powerful roar of two Eurofighter Typhoon Jet Fighters of the RAF flying over the site at about 3000 feet.

  Fighter Control: ‘Fighter Control to Rockstar Sierra 29, Mil Mike India 24 on vector 195 heading out to sea at 3 angels (3000 feet) and 400 knots’

  Squadron Leader: ‘Roger that Fighter Control. In hot pursuit at 3 angels and 850 knots.’

  Wingman: ‘Cobra Sierra 29 to Fighter Control, Copy’

  Squadron Leader: ‘Have Mike India 24 on radar. Closing fast. No visual contact. Cobra, you see anything?’

  Wingman: ‘Negative.’

  Fighter Control: ‘Rockstar Sierra 29, Bandit radar contact lost.’

  Squadron Leader: ‘Roger, Fighter Control. We’re now feet wet (flying over water). Dropping to 1500, maintaining vector 195. Have eyes peeled.’

  Fighter Control: ‘Roger Rockstar Sierra 29 ‘

  Four minutes later…..

  Wingman: ‘Ship in site 3 o’clock.’

  Squadron Leader: ‘Good scouting Cobra. Break left and go down for a recce (reconnaissance) fly past. Approach from the pointy end (front of the ship). I’ll circle right and maintain circular holding pattern for mutual support. Looks like this could be a PLS (possible landing site) for the chopper.’

  Wingman: ‘Cobra Sierra 29 to Rockstar Sierra 29, Copy.’

  Back on the ground at Grasmere Cottage, the spectacle of two RAF Typhoon fighters flying overhead, gave rise to a whole raft of new questions amongst the media who had dramatically increased in number over the past twenty minutes. The WPC and the DC were now fully employed in ensuring the media kept their distance and the crime scene was preserved.

  70

  Parker was in a small park close to Obolensky’s apartment sitting on a bench reading an English newspaper when Nicole's frantic telephone call came through. When the call ended abruptly, he immediately rang Durand in Paris.

  ‘Nicole has been taken.’

  ‘What are you talking about Harry? ‘

  ‘Nicole may have been abducted.’

  ‘By whom?’

  ‘I don't know. I'm here in Moscow. She called me about two minutes ago in a state of panic. She said she could hear a helicopter outside the house and then I heard screams and the line went dead.’

  Durand did not immediately respond. He was in a daze. ‘I don't know what to think. I’ll inform Dieter immediately.’

  Ok! Now, can we meet up as soon as I get back? I’m taking the next flight to London.

  ‘Yes Harry. I’ll travel across to Grasmere Cottage this afternoon?’ suggested Durand half in a daze.

  ‘That would be the best meeting place. I should be there myself by eight o'clock this evening.’

  Parker hung up and rushed back to Obolensky’s apartment and told him about Nicole’s abduction.

  ‘Dmitri, you will have to come to London with me at once. It’s far too dangerous for you to stay here.’

  ‘What about my family? I can’t leave them here on their own.’

  ‘Ok ring and tell them to pack their suitcases. They're going on a site seeing tour of London.’

  ‘If you say so! When?’

  ‘In the next five minutes. We'll collect them in a taxi.’

  ‘Better make that a minibus. I have five children and a nanny.’

  Parker contacted the Foreign Office, explained the situation and gave Hadley’s secretary the travel details for himself and the Obolensky family. Dmitri phoned his wife and told her to prepare the family at once for a long journey.

  Parker and the Russian jumped into an eight-seater taxi and travelled to the address where Obolensky's family were hiding. Parker’s phone buzzed a few minutes later.

  ‘Sarah Stevens from the foreign office. I have organized nine tickets to London with visas and full diplomatic immunity for you. Tickets will be at the BA ticket desk at Domodedovo Airport. Embassy staff will meet you at Heathrow and take the family to safe accommodation.’

  ‘Thank you, Sarah.’

  ‘Have a safe trip Dr. Parker, bye’

  The taxi pulled up in front of a four storey residence in a leafy suburb of Moscow. Parker got out and looked nervously around the immediate neighborhood. All looked normal.

  ‘Ok Dmitri, make another call.’

  The Professor called his wife again and within two minutes a procession of little people, ranging in ages from three to eleven followed their mother out of the front door of a large imposing town house with the nanny following up at the rear. They all climbed one at a time into the minibus, each one carrying a case. The two youngest were girls and they clutched their dolls. The taxi man sensing a level of urgency about the situation, wasted no time in leaving the vicinity and heading for the Airport at a brisk but safe speed.

  The plane touched down at Heathrow bang on time at 6:10 pm. The children, who remained as good as gold throughout the flight, were shepherded off the plane by the nanny. Parker led the family to a special security gate, used by the Diplomatic Corps. A woman from the Foreign Office was waiting there for them. After a brief introduction, the woman led Professor Obolensky and his family to a waiting car and onwards to safe accommodation. Hadley had informed Parker earlier a helicopter would take him from Heathrow to his home in Cornwall. This was a welcome gesture and meant he could meet Durand earlier than planned.

  He arrived at Grasmere cottage at seven o'clock. By this time most of the media personnel had left. Just a handful remained with one Policeman standing guard at the entrance. Parker’s helicopter touc
hed down on the lawn in front of the house. No sooner had he disembarked and went inside when the PC came to the front door and rang the bell.

  ‘Sorry to bother you Dr. Parker. I would like to inform you the house has been checked over by forensics and they have completed their examination of the crime scene. You are free to go about your business.’

  ‘Did they find anything that might give us a lead?’

  ‘I'm afraid I can't confirm anything of that nature, Dr. Parker. You will have to contact Scotland Yard or the Assistant Chief Constable, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary.’

  His phone vibrated.

  ‘Thank you, Constable. Hello. Ah good! Raoul, perfect timing.’

  ‘Harry I'm stopped at a petrol station close to St. Austell. I'll be there in fifteen minutes.’

  When Durand arrived, Parker led him into the drawing room and handed him a stiff G&T.

  Both men said very little at first. Durand stared into space while Parker picked up the TV remote control and pressed the button. The News channels had blanket coverage of the kidnapping. They listened to the news reports for some sort of update but nothing new emerged, no breakthrough at all. They reported an abduction had taken place using a military aircraft.

  'A second light commercial helicopter arrived on the scene and tried to intervene but was fired upon by heavily armed personnel from a Russian military helicopter. They escaped from the scene by helicopter with one man shot and injured. No terrorist organization has claimed responsibility for the attack. The identity of the two aircraft involved remains a mystery. The woman abducted at the scene was named as Nicole Lehman, wife of the late Professor Karl Lehman who was murdered in the Gotthard tunnel in Switzerland two months ago. Police are investigating the connection between this murder and the abduction today by the gang who used a military helicopter to carry out this daring kidnap.......'

  Durand raised his mobile phone to his ear. ‘I'll contact Meyer.’ He dialed the number but only got his voice mail.

  ‘Have you any idea who is behind this, Harry’

  ‘Yes. I do,’ admitted Parker candidly.

  ‘Tell me.’

  ‘I believe it’s a highly secret organization. It’s classified information I’m afraid Raoul. The organization represents stakeholders who have a huge amount to lose if Karl's iDrug hits the street. They’ll do anything to stop its launch. Nicole knows too much. One way or another they’ll eliminate her and……’ Parker choked up with emotion.

  Durand stretched out a hand and placed it on Parker’s shoulder. He quickly regained his composure

  ‘They have Nicole. However, they need to silence me as well. They’ll use her as bait to trap me. I’m expecting some sort of contact from the kidnappers within the next twenty-four hours.’

  ‘Harry, I’ll work with you to get Nicole back alive. I’m prepared to put my life on the line if that’s what it takes. ‘

  ‘Unfortunately, Raoul, I don't think it's going to take any less of a commitment. How long they will keep her alive is anybody’s guess.’

  ‘I insist you tell me as much as you can about who or what is behind the kidnapping, Harry. The more I know, the more I can help.’

  ‘You must realize Raoul, this is highly classified information. I'm working for the British Foreign office on this. What I'm about to tell you must not be disclosed to anyone, even with a gun to your head, understood?’

  ‘Understood,’ nodded Durand affirmatively.

  Parker outlined what he could divulge about the KOO and how members of this organization were being preyed on by a mysterious Russian conglomerate whom Obolenky believes are responsible for Karl Lehman’s murder.

  ‘If nobody knows anything about them, can we be sure they exist?’

  ‘I can't answer that question Raoul. It’s classified information. Make no mistake, they exist alright, but the evidence is extremely scant. They never leave any clues lying around. That's what makes the whole business so difficult to deal with.’

  The house phone sounded in the hallway.

  ‘Dr. Parker. This is Police Superintendent Trevor Burke. I was hoping to call to your cottage first thing in the morning to open my investigation into the abduction of your associate, Ms. Nicole Lehman. We have carried out a full inspection of the crime scene and the forensic technicians have completed their work. Unfortunately, we have nothing to report on yet, but that could change at any time. Has Ms. Lehman got any next of kin?’

  ‘No, I don’t believe she has.’

  ‘Well if anybody should try to contact you or Durand, call us immediately.’

  ‘Like the abductors for instance, Superintendent?’

  ‘Precisely, Dr. Parker. We don’t want members of the public meddling in police business.’

  Parker found Burke extremely irritating but said nothing.

  ‘I will have inspector Meyer with me tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Yeah I‘ve heard of him. We’ve never met,’ replied Parker.

  ‘Yes, he has been telling me a good deal about you Dr. Parker.’

  ‘Now Superintendent, I’m extremely anxious to get the search for Nicole started as quickly as possible. I can meet you any time you are available. I’m deeply concerned for her safety.’

  ‘Understood! Shall we say nine o’clock in the morning?’

  ‘Good!’ replied Parker and put down the receiver.

  He went back into the living room and told Durand about the meeting with the police the following morning. He went to the drinks cabinet and poured two more depth charges.

  ‘Hopefully they'll have some leads by tomorrow morning.’

  ‘Hopefully,’ repeated Parker handing Durand another G&T and taking a deep slug from his own glass. ‘It's now a waiting game.’

  ‘When will the fuckin’ kidnappers make contact?’ pondered Durand.

  71

  The room was dark, small and dank. A constant drone of heavy engine noises resounded in the background. A strange salty smell permeated the air. Nicole opened her eyes, looked around the room and wondered where she was.

  Then it all came flooding back. The abduction, the gun to her head, being bundled into the helicopter, landing shortly afterwards on a large ship, descending below deck on a large platform, voices echoing in the large void below deck, one man shouting instructions, the tugging sensation when the aircraft was winched into a parking slot, the loud rumbling sound of the large platform as powerful motors raised it up again.

  She remembered being led off the aircraft by two men, descending further down into the hull of the ship and being brought to a holding cell.

  They quickly frisked her, found her mobile phone and promptly removed it. The men left the cell locking the door behind them, leaving Nicole alone with no further contact on that first day.

  She sat-up on the bed and looked around her. It was a small cabin, part of the sleeping quarters for the ship’s crew she guessed. A round porthole on one side illuminated the space. She leaned across the bed and looked out. The sea stretched for miles in front of her. She could not see land. The sea was ten feet below her cabin. At least she wasn’t below water, she consoled herself.

  'How can I get out of here?’

  Nicole tried the handle on the steel door but found it firmly locked.

  She wondered if she would be fed. What would they do to her? Where was the ship heading? She lay down on the bed again with great apprehension. Having suffered hours of inner turmoil, the French woman fell asleep from pure exhaustion.

  Early the next morning Nicole awoke and heard the jingling sound of keys. She sat up and heard the locking mechanism being turned and the door opening. She stood up to face off whoever was about to enter.

  A young sailor with dark skin and a tight haircut came into her room and quickly shut the door behind him.

  She stared at him warily never taking her eyes off him for a second. She maintained a calm exterior feeling absolutely terrified inside.

  He just stood there not saying a word, staring a
t her. She noticed a deep scar on the left side of his mouth. He looked about twenty-five years old.

  ‘I saw you on board yesterday evening, being taken off the helicopter.’

  Nicole kept staring at him. She couldn’t figure him out. His voice was soft, his accent sounded east European.

  ‘What do you want with me?

  ‘We need you as security Madame Lehman.’

  ‘Security for what’ demanded Nicole

  The sailor ignored the question. He knew nothing about why she was on board the ship.

  ‘You are a very attractive lady and I have been at sea for a very long time.’

  He moved closer to her. She was bracing herself for whatever might follow. He quickly stretched out his arms and placed his hands on her shoulders. Nicole instantly took one step back and the man moved towards her again, this time placing his hands around her neck. He pushed her back onto the bed, his hands still around her neck while he lay on top of her. He struggled with her on the bed and pressed his lips against hers. Nicole tried desperately to push him away while he continued to grip and wrestle with her. He released one hand from her neck and started to grope her breasts.