Too Slow to Die

by Tony Jenkins

  As he returned to his house, he noticed the newly dug area near his barn and guessed that the work must have been done by his attacker. Perhaps the man had just wanted some exercise. Nothing appeared to have been planted and it never occurred to him that someone had been buried beneath. Deciding that he might as well benefit from the work and having a sack full of old potatoes, he planted them in the newly dug area.

  Chapter 9

  Assassination

  The Randil family enjoyed the holiday break and Jack spent much of the time in the pool teaching Leighton and Paul how to dive. The boys soon grew confident as they floated and swam in the water and Jack knew that he would have to make regular visits to the local swimming pool on their return home.

  There had been no further attacks on his security men as they completed their night rounds. Jack wondered if this was because the culprits had been caught and the attacks would resume when new men had been recruited. The respite allowed time for Greg to issue the new items. All security men were given colour sprays and plastic cuffs as well as protective helmets. By having them working in pairs, Greg believed he had taken the necessary precautions against more night attacks. There were no incidents during the following week and no attempts by competitive companies to poach Randil customers.

  A week later, Randil security men on their night rounds called at a large manufacturing company and parked their van at the rear entrance, before beginning their patrol of the buildings. Having completed their checks with no signs of any intruders, the two men were walking along the access corridor to their van when they heard a loud explosion. It seemed to come from the entrance area and they began running towards it. When they opened the outer door, they were faced with a wall of flames coming from their van. Although it was parked roughly eight feet from the building, they were concerned that with the intensity of the fire, it could spread to the building itself. After ringing the fire brigade and their supervisor, they collected fire extinguishers from inside the building and used another exit to approach their burning van from the outside.

  The heat of the fire prevented them from getting close enough to spray it and they were forced to stand aside as the vehicle burned. The fire brigade reached the scene within fifteen minutes and hosed down the vehicle and blistering entrance door and windows. Greg and their supervisor arrived at the same time and were followed by the factory safety officer, who had been called by Greg. The building door and windows nearest the fire would need repainting, or replacing, but the van itself with tools and equipment was a total write off.

  The attacks on Randil security staff and arrest of the four intruders had already been featured in the Liverpool Echo and was now followed by a report of the arson attack on a Randil van. The fire brigade had found that the petrol cap had been removed and they believed some sort of fuse had been used to ignite the fuel. The article implied that the attacks were directed against Randil Building Services and Jack was concerned that the bad publicity might have an adverse effect on the business.

  Jack and Greg met with their big friend Joe Devine, the next morning to discuss the situation, which was now becoming more serious. Not only were Jack’s employees being threatened, but there could also be concern by his customers that Jack’s company was not safe to employ. He realised that he must find the culprits quickly, or face losing a large part of his company security operations.

  Joe had already asked his citywide contacts to check on any newcomers who had been hiring muscle, or starting up new protection rackets, but so far, he had learned nothing. Jack was convinced that the attacks were being carried out by a foreign group, who had recently arrived in Liverpool. The four captured thugs had still not spoken and would shortly be transferred to the immigration authorities, who were unlikely to be able to keep them for long.

  Coffee was brought in for the men and Jack began the discussion.

  “We were able to put a stop to the attacks on our staff, but unless we also put guards on our vans, they will be vulnerable. Whoever these people are, they have already begun making us look helpless and hold the initiative. We have to wait for them to make a mistake, or show themselves before we can begin to retaliate.”

  As ever Joe Devine, his ex RSM Marine friend, was happy to do all he could to help.

  “That’s how I see it Jack, but when we do need to take them on, I can get you all the trained ex-military men you need. They are all keen to protect the colleagues you have working for you. What does your pal Peter Kershaw in the police think is happening?”

  “They are still sensitive about our involvement with the explosions at the Town Hall and Southport marsh area, but are as keen as we are to trace any more foreign visitors who might be here to cause trouble. Remember that some of their own people were murdered by those fanatics as well Joe.”

  Shaking his head as he remembered how he had been shot during the confrontation, Joe agreed.

  “Yes, it was a nasty business for us all and none of us wants to go through that again. What about that London crime boss who blew himself up, Marik was his name, wasn’t it?”

  “I wondered about that as well, but with Marik dead, I should think his business will probably be taken over by the other London gangs and since Marik had no number two, there is unlikely to be anyone to step into his shoes.”

  Listening to his friends speculating on possible groups who might want to attack the company, Greg remembered another killer who had hated Jack and his friends.

  “What about Roger Donnelly and his IRA contacts. He nearly blew up your warehouse after you shot his buddies. He has family back in Ireland and they may have decided to make you pay for interfering in their operations in the city?”

  Jack agreed that there could be retaliation from relatives back in Ireland, but he thought that the attacks would be made directly against him, rather than his business. Without more information they would just have to be on their guard and look for some sign of those behind the attacks.

  As the three men finished their discussion and went off to their respective offices, a tall, thickset man was making his way through passport control after his five-hour flight from Cyprus. He was in a bad mood after being told by his leaders in Larnaca to transfer his special talents to Merseyside, which he had heard was a big, noisy and cold area. For the past eight years he had enjoyed a warm Mediterranean climate and was shown respect wherever he went, as well as having access to dozens of attractive young women who were always eager to please him. After the biting cold and austerity of the Russian capital, it was like living in paradise. He had worked hard to help build the business from its early days and believed he had earned the right to enjoy the benefits. Instead, he was given the choice of working in Liverpool, or being sent back to Russia.

  After showing the taxi driver the hotel address written on some paper, he checked in and ate in the plain and dimly lit dining room. The food was tasteless and the waiter appeared to have little interest in him, or his order. Ahtoh Kovalik was forty-eight years old and realised that in spite of his years of service and experience, he was losing out to younger men who were desperate to prove themselves. Pushing aside his unfinished meal, he returned to his room to put on warm clothes for his first look around the city centre.

  After only a few minutes walking along the busy street, he found himself outside the Tropicana Bistro and looking through the plate glass windows with ornamental metal guards, it looked inviting. He pushed through the double doors and was impressed by the red leather seats on stools and booths, with chrome edgings. He used his bulk to get a seat at the very busy bar and was irritated that the barmaid did not immediately come to him for his order. Generally, people recognised who, or what he was and he was given space and first-class service. As the barmaid was passing him for the third time, he grabbed her arm and ordered whisky. The young woman was annoyed and turned to tell him to let go of her arm, but when she looked into the dark eyes and saw the broad face and thick black hair, she decided it was wiser to say nothing. T
he woman was popular and the regular drinkers stared at the stranger, and were annoyed by his bad behaviour and manners.

  Ahtoh was unaware of the disapproval his behaviour had caused and emptying his glass in one gulp, he held it out in front of the barmaid for a refill. When he had emptied his second glass, he turned to the man alongside and muttered, “Nipthras.” The man shrugged his shoulders and realising his mistake, Ahtoh said, “Want lavabo.” Recognising the words, the man pointed to the far corner of the room and Ahtoh patted the man on the shoulder before making his way to relieve himself. When he returned to the bar, a man was sitting on his stool and his empty glass had been removed. Furious to have his place taken by another and already in a bad mood because of his unjust transfer to Liverpool, he grabbed the man’s shoulder with one large hand and yanked him from the stool so that he sprawled on the floor.

  Quickly getting to his feet, the man shouted and threw a punch at Ahtoh, which he blocked automatically, before smashing his own large fist into the man’s stomach and then hitting him on the chin. The man collapsed on the floor and two of his friends then attacked Ahtoh, who absorbed their blows as he drove his fists into each and laid them out. The room fell silent and no one was prepared to attack the big angry man with black hair. Realising that he was drawing unwanted attention and could be in trouble with the police, he walked quickly from the bar. Once outside, he could not remember which direction to take to return to his hotel and mistakenly walked in the opposite direction. After twenty minutes, he found himself beyond the brightly lit city centre in a quiet part of Liverpool, with unlit buildings and few people. Realising his mistake, he turned back to retrace his steps.

  He then saw that there were four, or possibly five darkly dressed men moving towards him and knew that he would have to fight to survive. They had long sticks in their hands and it was only when the first blow landed on his shoulders, that he realised they were iron stakes. In the bar he had manhandled and shamed three members of the Croxteth Young Guns gang, and they had now come back with reinforcements to take their revenge. Ahtoh had no chance to strike more than a few blows before he was beaten down to the ground and kicked and hammered until his body was just a bloody heap on the pavement. The few people who saw the attack hurried to the other side of the road and took care to see nothing of the attackers.

  On Wednesday night after their regular squash game, Jack and Peter Kilshaw were sipping their beers in the Leisure Centre bar where they were joined by Greg Ridd. Peter told them about a foreigner who started a fight in a city centre bar with three members of a local gang the previous night. A passing police car had surprised the attackers, who quickly ran off as the two policemen tried to help the victim on the ground. An ambulance took the badly injured man to hospital, but he died before recovering consciousness. A boarding pass stub in his pocket showed that he had flown in from Cyprus. Surprisingly his passport was in an inside pocket of his coat and showed that the man was Russian.

  They were all aware that the Russian Mafia dominated crime in Cyprus and wondered if the dead man was connected to the four silent men who had attacked the Randil security teams. If the Cyprus criminals were now targeting Liverpool, it would be a major threat and the three men dreaded to think of the consequences. Whatever had led the Russian to brawl with the gang members in the city centre bar, it could have given them an early warning and the opportunity to concentrate their investigations on recent arrivals from Cyprus with Russian passports. It was possible that they would arrive illegally by boat, or use false passports, but the murdered man had flown in by Cyprus Air and perhaps other members of the gang would do the same. Now they knew what to look for and would make an immediate start.

  Jack told them that he would draft a letter, giving details of their suspicions and send it to their contact in each company where Randil provided security services. Peter was not happy about possibly alerting the Russians, but Jack convinced him that it could flush them out. There would certainly be details of the murder of a Russian national in the Liverpool Echo after starting a fight in the bar and he would simply draw a line to the four foreign thugs who were in detention. He needed to protect his business and keep his customers informed of the threat if the Russians were able to establish a major operation in the city.

  Still not happy, Peter persuaded Jack to wait until he had checked with the Cyprus police whether Ahtoh Kovalik was a member of the Russian Mafia in Cyprus. If he was, the link with the four thugs would be very much stronger. The following morning Peter rang to confirm that Ahtoh was a well-known and active member of the Mafia and had been for many years. Jack sent his letter to all his security customers and to his employees. Joe Devine’s contacts began searching for strangers in the crime world, in cooperation with the Merseyside police.

  With the very likely possibility that Russian Mafia were active in Liverpool, Jack and Greg arranged to meet for coffee at Joe Devine’s café in his Fitness Club to consider the threat. Having sent out his letter, Jack hoped it would alert people to the new dangers and also that Randils were seeking information, but Joe thought there was something he could do which would help to trace the foreign criminals.

  “Some of the Croxteth Young Guns use my gym to build their muscles and get together in the café afterwards. They are good customers; never give me any trouble and we sometimes pass the time of day together. Why don’t I mention the item in the paper about the Russian killed in the city and tell them my city contacts think he was part of the Russian Mafia moving in from Cyprus. They won’t want competition and if the two mobs take each other on, it makes it better for us.”

  Greg thought this would add more eyes and ears to locate the Russians, but could also lead to a turf war in the city. Jack had his own view of the idea.

  “The local boys are going to fight to hold on to their business against the Russians sooner, or later. All Joe would be doing is giving them an early warning of their new competitors. Go ahead Joe, but be very careful, we don’t want them shooting the messenger.”

  Chapter 10

  Sabotage

  The explosives, together with drills and other small tools were stored in a specially constructed building without windows and fitted with a steel door secured by a heavy padlock. The mine manager showed Demeter how the padlock had been ripped from the door for the thieves to gain access. Only the explosives and fuses had been taken, although tools and other items could have been sold if the break in was a normal robbery. The thieves had known exactly what they needed for their purposes.

  Demeter telephoned Radics with details of the break in. His fellow director was initially angry that there had been another attempt by locals to disrupt their mining operations. Then the full implications of explosives in the hands of those responsible dawned on him.

  “I will not allow these people to interfere in our plans and protection will be arranged for the rail line and mine, which could be targets. You persuaded me to let them work in the mine and this is the result. Anyone caught damaging our operation will spend many years in jail.”

  Having had his say, Radics slammed the phone down and Demeter thought about having another meeting with Boldo, but remembered the village was deserted. Frustrated by the continuing problems he vowed to find a new location for Boldo and his people. It was very likely that the silent companion was the real leader behind the attacks. It would be impossible to question him unless he could get help from someone who spoke Romanian. He knew he should have told Radics about the stranger in the Roma village who watched and listened, but said nothing. Unfortunately, the commissar had been so angry that Demeter was forced to hold the phone away from his ear during the tirade and had little chance to say very much. He knew he must do something to prevent further trouble, but even with security guards watching the vulnerable parts of their operations, the Roma could always find ways to avoid them. The Hun-Al company should be bringing prosperity and foreign exchange to his country, but instead it was creating trouble and possible deaths.

>   The next board meeting would be held in just over a week and he was sure Jack Randil would be able to advise him on convincing the Roma and Radics to find a compromise in their attitudes. When he returned to the refinery the crane had arrived and lifted the wheels of the engine back to the rail tracks. The boiler was fired up and the trucks loaded with rail track would soon be on the way to the railhead, which would then be moving nearer to the abandoned Roma village. Although there would now be no villagers to create harassment, Demeter was still worried that there was going to be more trouble.

  After repeated attempts on his life, his fiancée Theresa had made him promise to telephone her each evening at 8 pm so that they could exchange news on their day and she would be reassured that he was safe. On her next holiday from her studies at Durham University, they had arranged to meet in Budapest and he planned to show her the Pusztai mansion and explain his plan to restore it to its old glory. He made his regular telephone call.

  Hearing the strain in his voice, Theresa knew that all was not well with the mine.

  “You seem worried my love, are you having any problems?”

  Demeter briefly described the difficulties with the local Roma people, but failed to mention the theft of explosives. Theresa was sympathetic with the families being forced from their homes and urged Demeter to help them.

  “Hungary is struggling to recover from Russian dominance my darling and democracy is still in its infancy here, unlike in Britain. I will do what I can, but the government is making the major decisions in line with their policy. Also, Roma people are not considered full citizens because they wander from country to country and do not usually have permanent homes.”