Knowing the Sargent was only doing his duty didn’t make Robin feel any better, it had always been his intention to safely dispose of the chemicals he no longer required but right now was not a convenient time for him. So, he resigned himself to the possible disruption in his current busy schedule and simply said,
“Very well Peter, I can only hope that council bureaucracy will continue at its present pace and allow me to prepare for my trip to Canada in peace”
The Sargent gave him a little wink,
“Between you and me Robin the head of the Environment Department has just returned from sick leave and he has a mountain of cases to catch up on but I still have to file my observations Robin nodded in comprehension and Sargent Proudfoot left the pharmacist to continue his preparations for his trip abroad
Ernie sat in his office at the Leisure Centre waiting for the phone call that would hopefully, complete his plans for getting rid of someone.
The arranged time for the phone call had passed more than fifteen minutes ago and he was on the verge of going to check if he had been given the correct time when the call was to be made. He cursed under his breath and stood up to leave the office but as he put his hand on the door handle the phone rang. He turned around and picked up the receiver, the person on the other end of the line gave the correct coded message. He replied with the agreed response.
“I understand you know the nature of this arrangement and I think if you knew the true identity things would be much clearer. Does the name…”
And Ernie gave the real name of his victim. The man on the other end of the line let out a stream of obscenities.
“Too bloody right I know him, I’ve a few scores to settle with that slimy toad. Am I doing this on my own or does someone else have an interest in his disposal?”
Ernie thought for a moment before replying then decided to dangle a carrot before his caller,
“One other has a similar interest and another holds our target indirectly responsible for a relative’s death, and I’m sure I could persuade at least one to assist you”
The caller sneered,
“I don’t want any bloody amateurs getting in my way so tell the second one to stay well clear. Who’s the first one?”
“I thought you would have worked that one out Kevin, it’s your brother Mark”
Kevin gave a short laugh,
“Mark? Is he with you, I thought he had gone to Bristol or beyond? How come he hasn’t bumped into the target if he’s in your area?”
I’ll explain that once you’re down here. Now, Mark told me you wanted to get out of the country after doing the job. Would Canada interest you?”
“You get me a ticket and some Canadian money and that will suit me, my passport is all up to date. If you give me about two thousand in both UK and Canadian plus the ticket then we’ve got a deal”
This was more than Ernie had envisaged but as it would literally kill two birds with one stone he agreed to the price.
“Ok, it’s a deal. On condition that you get down here by next Thursday and we can make final arrangements”
Kevin agreed and the call was ended.
Ernie had decided it would be in his interest to make peace with Robin Stockwell in order for his plan to work. First he would have to tell Mark what was going to happen, but he would not tell Gerry until the last possible moment.
Ernie rang the doorbell to Robin’s flat for a second time and as there was no response he turned to leave. He was about to get into his car when the door to the flat opened and Robin peered around to see who had disturbed him in his task of sorting out the containers of chemicals. On seeing the ex-policeman he turned to close the door, He felt that there was nothing to be gained by talking to Ernie at this moment, he started to retreat back into the flat but he was not quick enough.
“Oh Robin, have you a few minutes to spare? I want to clear up our little misunderstanding from the other day”
“Can’t it wait Ernie? I’m rather busy sorting out my stock room before I go away”
Ceasing his opportunity Ernie walked up to him and said pleasantly,
“In that case, I’ll give you a hand. Three people will be able to do things a lot quicker and he tapped on the passenger window and signalled to Mark to come and join them.
Robin looked pensively at Mark, he wasn’t keen on letting him come in but Ernie told Mark to go back to the car to fetch some gloves for them to use.
While he was on the errand Ernie said,
“Robin, I’ve been thinking about our conversation the other day and I think you have a point. When we are both back from our respective trips abroad I will accompany you to the police station and we can clear the whole matter up, does that sound fair?”
Robin was very wary at this suggestion but he wanted to think things over first before responding.
“I’ll give it some thought” and as he finished speaking Mark returned and the two visitors encroached on his personal space and he was forced to take a step backwards. Ernie gently forced his way past and said,
“The storeroom is through here isn’t it Robin?”
The pharmacist had little choice but to turn and lead the way into the room behind the main shop area. Once in the store he said very seriously,
“You have to take extreme care when handling some of these chemicals, so please follow my instructions to the letter. You and I Ernie will move the more volatile items and you, young man, can stack those boxes in the corner to give us some space. Incidentally, I don’t know your name?”
“It’s Martin” Ernie said before his friend could speak, Mark took the hint and started to clear the area as requested but Stockwell put a hand on his shoulder.
“Martin, stack those boxes carefully as some still contain powders and other items that will cause burns if you get them on your skin. Incidentally, how is your friend, Gerry. Neither of you have mentioned him. I trust you took him to hospital for treatment?”
Mark’s anxious glance in the direction of his boss was not missed by the pharmacist even though Ernie spoke without stopping his work.
“I took him to a private clinic where he was treated by a burns specialist. He has some movement back in his hand but it will never be back to what it was before the accident”
On hearing the mention of a private clinic Stockwell couldn’t help wondering why Gerry hadn’t been taken to the hospital he had mentioned as it had a formidable reputation for treating severe burn cases. It sounded like Ernie had something to hide from any inquisitive authorities. But he kept his counsel, deciding instead to follow up his concerns after his return from Canada.
However, there was one important factor he didn’t notice at first as they continued working. As he moved each item Ernie asked if the container held any inflammable Liquids, deliberately alerting Mark to each item highlighted.
They continued working for nearly two hours before Stockwell was satisfied he had isolated the items he wanted to keep. Ernie casually asked a question as they finished,
“What’s so special about that group of containers we’ve put in the far corner, I notice some haven’t even been opened”
Not realising he was giving Ernie the vital information he was after Stockwell replied,
“Those are the ingredients for my new venture, I’ve developed a new perfume and I’m taking half a dozen miniature samples in my case to Canada for Natalie to test. If she approves, I will be able to produce enough to sell as my first batch”
Ernie looked impressed and asked,
“What exactly goes into making perfumes, is it the mixture of alcohol and the different aromas, or is there any other ingredients?”
Stockwell smiled,
“A small amount of Petro-chemicals is also included but the mixture of aromas and other items I cannot divulge and I can’t give you the relative quantities I’m afraid. Trade secrets and all that Ernie”
“I understand Robin. Have you received your passport yet?”
“No, it’
s being delivered by courier on Saturday morning. Then I will have to go and collect the air tickets and money from the travel agent. The Byewaters will come to drive me to Heathrow for my early morning flight on Sunday. It will be a bit of a rush I’m afraid but it can’t be helped”
Ernie suddenly realised that this change of events would not fit in with his plans so he casually remarked,
“Rather than you having to rush around on the morning of your flight, I could take you to the travel agents to collect your tickets and money on Friday. I don’t like the idea of you walking around with all that cash on you”
Stockwell was reluctant to accept any more favours from Newsham and he tried to decline the offer,
“Thank you for offering Ernie but I don’t want to put you to any extra trouble, I could always get a taxi back from the travel agent’s”
Ernie smiled and used his most persuasive tone and manner,
“After all you have done for me? It will be no trouble at all, and besides, I have to go there to finalise my own details anyway. Then I can bring you back here, collect my luggage and drive down to London. It’s just a pity our flights were not on the same night as we could have travelled down together”
Robin didn’t have any suitable argument to the offer and reluctantly agreed.
“Very well Ernie, thank you. I just hope Mr Phillips will let me have the tickets without showing my passport. I must admit that has worried me slightly”
“I’m sure we can convince Andrew that you will keep your word about bringing in your passport when it arrives. If you need someone to take the passport down to show him, I’ll give you Gerry’s number and you can ask him to run the errand”
Robin laughed and shook his head,
“I’m sure that won’t be necessary”
They shook hands and arranged a time on the coming Friday for Ernie to visit the travel agents.
As they drove away Ernie laughed for very different reasons, He had all the information he required and he knew Mark had been listening attentively. Without realising the true nature of Ernie and Mark’s visit the pharmacist had divulged enough information to sign his own death warrant.
As he drove away Ernie told Mark his expectations of how Stockwell was to meet his end, the problem would be convincing Gerry that they had little choice in the matter.
“Your brother is arriving on Thursday afternoon and I’m putting him up in a hotel in town, if there’s time I’ll arrange a meeting with him for you and he can tell you who the target is. There will be no Friday night patrol for you and Gerry, there’s other business to sort out instead.
“You didn’t hear me agreeing to go to the police with Stockwell after I return from my trip, I only told him as a stalling tactic as he was planning to go before his own visit to Canada and air his suspicions about the Fish Bar fire. If he did that then it would get the police re-investigating some of our other activities and my contact on the police authority committee would get nervous and start panicking. No Mark, even though he and his wife helped me in the past, Mr Stockwell will have to be silenced once and for all. Basically, it’s him or us! I want you to think a way of making a fire at his shop and flat look like a pure accident, are you game?”
Mark was quiet for several moments before he nodded and said,
“I reckon I could organise that, on my own or with Kevin?”
“Neither. Gerry has to be involved. If he is part of any incident we can incriminate him if he gets cold feet at a later date. I also want you to work on him by emphasising that if Stockwell gets a chance to talk we’ll all end up inside. I’m sure you are capable of painting a lurid enough picture of what he would face”
“Ok, but when do we do this, I thought I was going to help Kevin with his job”
“Both jobs are to take place late on Friday, you will be helping Kevin by relieving Stockwell of his Canadian money and air ticket before his accidental fire starts”
Mark said nothing, merely nodding. He had always dreamed of doing a spectacular job like the one Ernie had given him. I’ll show them what I can do he decided smugly.
23
“Graham, I know what I said, but I was relying on my contact to send me a deposit once he had seen the goods. I’m already out of pocket myself, what with paying for sending your stuff via a secure source and my own flight and accommodation costs”
Bishop was in no mood to compromise, he was certain this bent copper was trying to con him out of the remaining £2000 he had agreed to pay.
“I guessed you would pull a fast one Newsham so I took out some insurance in case you were fool enough to try. Get me my £2000 by midnight on Friday or I’ll tip off the customs people at Heathrow that you’ve smuggled some rare African artefacts out of the country with the help of that tight fisted fence Connelly”
There was only one option left for Ernie to attempt. Appeal to Bishop’s sense of greed!
“Unfortunately, Graham, I’m flying out just after midnight Friday. However, I will leave £3000 at the Leisure Centre for you to collect after ten o’clock that evening. If the money is not here you will still have time to stop me boarding my flight. The extra £1000 is a sign of my good will, do you accept my compromise offer?”
The trick worked, Ernie could see the look in Bishop’s eyes, how he was already thinking of what to spend the extra windfall on, Booze more than likely.
“Who will hand over the money if you’re not here?”
“Young Gerry, you know him of course, you stole the artefacts from his Gran but he won’t give you any bother. I’ll tell him to let you in through the car park entrance once all the patrons have gone. I will also make it clear to him that he must count out the money in front of you, He can do that in the swimming pool area as the cleaners will still be tidying up in the cafe”
“And nobody else will be there?” Bishop hadn’t forgotten the time Gerry and that woman, Sally, had challenged him in front of his boss. Time to settle a few old scores he hoped.
Ernie noticed the gleam in Bishop’s eyes and he wasn’t prepared to take any chances with Gerry’s well-being, but he simply replied,
“One of my security patrols may be around but I’ll tell them to stay clear of the pool area. If you like, he can give you a lift home after, you don’t want to be walking the streets with all that money on you. It would be a shame if you got mugged after we’ve taken all this trouble to finalise payment”
“I’d like to see anyone try!” Bishop sneered, don’t forget, tell your blokes, no funny business cos I can cut up rough if necessary”
After leaving Bishop, Ernie went to keep his next appointment and picked up Kevin from the train station and drove him to the hotel where his room had been booked.
“So, what’s the game plan regarding my dear old Dad? I’ve bought a couple of shooters I’m giving to Mark before I disappear”
Ernie was silent for a while, pretending to concentrate on his driving. Finally, he spoke,
“No guns for this job, it’s got to look like an accident. A tragic case of a drunkard falling into the river and drowning would be appropriate I think”
“Does the old bugger go anywhere near the river? As far as I know he stays well clear of water cos he can’t swim”
Ernie pulled into the hotel car park but made no attempt to get out of the car. Instead he said,
“Your Dad goes to the same pub every Friday night and his walk home takes him along by the river. He thinks he is collecting the balance of his money I owe him in the pool area of the Leisure Centre. He’s only expecting to see young Gerry and a security guard, you can finish him off in the pool and dump his body in the river. Make it look like he slipped and fell in. Go and book in to your room and I’ll pick you up later and show you some likely spots where someone could have an accident. But remember Kevin, no guns!”
Kevin nodded, retrieved his bag from the boot of the car and walked into the hotel.
Jenny Potter rang the doorbell of the Stockwell residence for
the second time and was getting slightly anxious at the non-appearance of Robin and was about to return to her home when the door opened.
“Oh, hello Jenny, sorry to keep you waiting, I was just doing some last minute packing for my trip, what can I do for you?”
“I’m sorry to disturb you at such a busy time robin, I just wanted to let you know I’m going to visit my sister in Ipswich tomorrow but I will not be back until after ten o’clock. I hope to see you before you leave on Saturday. Is there anything I can do to help?”
“I don’t think so Jenny, thank you for the offer. I won’t be leaving until just after lunch so I’m sure we will see each other before I go”
Jenny hesitated, clearly with something else on her mind,
“Very well. I noticed Mr Newsham was with you for some time yesterday morning, did you manage to talk to him about your concerns?”
Not wanting to continue the conversation on his doorstep, Robin invited his neighbour in for a few minutes. Once they were both in the flat he said,
“I still have some concerns about some of his associates but I’m sure our differences can be resolved after we have both come back from our trips abroad. Now if you will excuse me Jenny, I still have to find one or two items to pack”
“Oh, are you sure there’s nothing I can do to assist you?”
He smiled disarmingly,
“Thank you for your kind offer, it’s just a matter of choosing which item I will need most. However, there is one thing you could do for me when I see you before I leave. You remember I told you I was in the process of making up some perfume samples? I will leave a sample bottle of the perfume on the mantelpiece in the living room for you. If either of us forget, please feel free to pick it up when you call in to check all is well in the flat. I take it you still have a spare key?”
“Yes, I do, and thank you” she said beaming broadly. It was not often she was given a present by anyone.
He gently ushered her to the door and said,
“I must finish off my packing now Jenny, so, if for any reason I don’t see you before I leave for Canada, look after yourself and your cats and pass on my best wishes to your family in Ipswich” and he gave her a kiss on the forehead.
The Reluctant Villain Page 28