by Tony Jenkins
Chapter 13
Compromise
Relieved that the threat to his security men appeared to have gone away, Jack Randil flew to Budapest to attend the board meeting at the Hun-Al company. Demeter had already sent him a detailed account of the various problems and the recent stoppage in production due to the use of stolen explosives by the Roma people. Although he had met the Romanian Roma only once, Jack agreed with Demeter that the man was probably co-ordinating the attacks on the mining company. He was impressed with the way the Romanian had persuaded the entire Roma community to move out, which prevented the Hungarian authorities from arresting, or imprisoning them. If the dispute continued, then Jack knew that they faced a clever opponent.
Demeter met him at the airport and as they drove north to his house at Dunakeszi, he gave his friend more details of the succeeding incidents. He was disappointed that he had been unable to find any Roma on his extensive land holding. They agreed that the most sensible action would be to meet with Boldo to try to resolve their differences, but Commissar Radics was in no mood for compromise and would almost certainly make matters worse and provoke more serious attacks. So far no one had been killed, but this would change if they continued to provoke the Roma. The steam engine could have been blown up instead of derailed and the massive digger at the mine could have been destroyed, instead of buried.
Jack saw the attacks on Hun-Al as a campaign of growing resistance to mining company activity with the rail line threatening their village, but intended to send a message.
“Think about it Demeter, it began with a simple derailment, but we kept on building the line towards their village. They steal explosives and we step up security, but still build the line towards their village. They use the explosives on targets, which can be repaired. If we again continue with a line to destroy their village, they could shut down the mine for months. We must persuade Radics to change his attitude.”
“You are right Jack, and if we fail to change Radic’s attitude, I am going to ask Theresa to postpone her visit and instead, I will try to find the time to fly to the UK.”
After changing and eating a meal together, Jack asked if there were any detailed maps of the area and when Demeter had found him a selection, he settled down in the dining room to study them, while his friend worked on his report for the board meeting. An hour later, he asked Demeter if he could borrow the old Kawasaki quad bike he kept in the stables.
“Sure, Jack. I have been using it to look for our missing Roma people and the tank must be at least half full. Be warned though, the seat is splitting and you need to wrap some covering over it to protect your behind. Mine still has scars and I need to get a new seat for it.”
After thanking his host, Jack headed for the stables and his tour of the surrounding area. Two hours later, just as dusk was settling in, Demeter was relieved to hear the distinctive sound of the Kawasaki as Jack returned and minutes later, he watched the tall Liverpudlian walking slowly with stiff legs into the room. Although ideal for running up and down the grassy slopes, the vehicle was most uncomfortable and Jack had to sit on the edge of the seat to avoid injury by the exposed springs. After spending time touring the area, Jack now had a picture in his mind so that he was able to get the recent incidents in perspective.
The board meeting was held at an office at the refinery and the tense atmosphere was not helped by the sight and sound of the men working outside to repair the bases and erect the fallen towers. Once they were in position, work would begin to refit the metal chutes and conveyor belt, which would restart feeding ore into the refining process. Demeter made his report, which gave very satisfactory tonnage output prior to the current stoppage. Radics asked if those responsible for the damage had yet been arrested and his face coloured when he heard that no Roma people had been found anywhere in the area. He wanted someone punished for costing the company money through lost profit and repair costs. After a tense silence, Demeter tried to move the meeting forward.
“The area has been thoroughly searched and you have my assurance that there are definitely no Roma in Dunakeszi. They have probably scattered to other Roma communities and we cannot punish people we cannot find. Jack has a proposal I think we should consider.”
Jack had a small stack of papers and maps in front of him and began his proposals to the board.
“We have to accept that we have been outsmarted by the local Roma and if we do not reach an agreement with them, I believe they can and will destroy the mine equipment.”
Radics slammed his fist on the table as he rose to his feet and interrupted.
“Nonsense. Are we to be held to ransom by a bunch of illiterate Roma? I will bring in troops who will teach these peasants what happens when they interfere with a government operation.”
Waiting until the Hungarian had finished speaking and was silently glaring down at him, Jack continued with his proposal.
“However many security staff we bring in, determined men will still find a way to cause damage. As you know, I am ex-military myself and I assure you, saboteurs using small packs of explosives will always have the advantage. We can stop the problems now by moving the track just a half mile from their village.”
He handed around maps showing the route, which he had originally planned on one of Demeter’s maps and then covered on the quad bike survey. As they studied the maps, he continued with his proposal.
“Smashing our way through their village, which is in a shallow depression, will take us more time than using my route, which runs on flat, clear grassy land.”
Radics had listened with a frown on his face and made no effort to study the map Jack had provided and had more to say.
“How do you suggest we speak to these people when we have no idea where they are hiding Mr Randil?”
“We don’t need to find them since I am pretty sure they are watching our every move. When we alter the track route to bypass their village, my guess is they will slowly return and we will have no more problems. Our production will soon increase when we have the rail line to move our ore.”
Radics shook his head and was obviously not convinced by the Englishman’s recommendations.
“So, Mr Randil, we go to all the trouble and extra cost of moving our rail route away from the obvious and direct line in the hope that these missing people will notice and stop disrupting our operations.”
“It’s either that Commissar, or constant and growing attacks on our installations and a likely end to our export of aluminium ingots and foreign exchange earnings.”
There was a strained silence in the room as the two men faced each other and then Dorika Biro spoke. She had remained silent during the argument between the two men, but her voice was firm with authority. She was an experienced mining professional and a government appointee.
“We need the foreign earnings from this mine and we do not need an extended war with people we cannot see. I think the proposal to re-route our rail line is our best option and suggest we put it to a vote.”
With one exception, the entire board agreed to change the rail route to avoid the Roma village and wait to see if the attacks then stopped. Commissar Radics was determined to have the last word.
“We will wait to see if Mr Randil’s expert knowledge of Roma behaviour is correct. I just hope that we do not go to all the cost and trouble of changing our route for nothing. I can’t believe that we are allowing ourselves to be manipulated by these petty criminals.”
After the meeting ended, Demeter drove back to his house and congratulated Jack on convincing the board to make a sensible change in policy. Work on preparing the ground for the new route would begin immediately and it was then up to Boldo and his people to reciprocate by causing no more disruption. The giant digger had been put back to work at the mine face and the repairs at the refinery should be finished within days.
“I am so sure that you are right that I will book Theresa into one of the best hotels in Budapest to celebrate.”
“That may b
e fine for you and the love of your life Demeter, but what do I get for saving your mine, provided that I am right of course?”
“I will continue to tell everyone how smart you are and that I am lucky to have such a good friend.”
Nodding his head towards his companion Jack told him that he should wait to see if he was right first. After waiting for three days, he was ready to fly back to England. During that time, some of the Roma had returned to their village. His guess had been right, but what next? The Roma problem might now have been solved, but he had not really identified the people behind the attacks on his security men in Liverpool, or their intentions. Since the Roma people would not now have to relocate, there would not be a demand for cash, or help to compensate them for a forced move from their homes. Hoping that the problems in the Hun-Al operation were now resolved, he must concentrate his attention on the major threat to his business in Liverpool.
Chapter 14
Executions
Kirill rented a small building on a run-down industrial estate at Sefton Park, which was within easy access of the city centre. It had previously been used by a small engineering company, Cummings Bros, which had gone into bankruptcy. After making a deal with the owners, he took over the fitted workshop, two small furnished offices and a reception area. There were steel roller shutter doors in a side entrance and a small door at the front into a vestibule with a counter to deal with customers.
He bought a used white Ford Transit van, which would not look out of place on the estate and would provide concealment for those inside. The van would be used to pick up his men, so that it would be the only vehicle seen entering the building and create minimum interest. Its comings and goings, if noticed at all, would be seen as making deliveries, or providing service. As an added cover, he had the previous company name and a false telephone number painted on the sides of the van.
After keeping a close watch on two members of the Young Guns he blamed for killing Ahtoh, he had gathered a record of their regular movements and could predict where they were likely to be on a particular day and time. Tim Branton was in his mid-thirties, roughly six feet in height and had a muscular frame. Darrel Williams was slightly shorter and older, but with broad shoulders. Both kept themselves fit by working out in the evenings at Joe Devine’s gymnasium. It was Wednesday evening and the BMW 525 saloon drove into the car park, and the two Young Guns walked to the Devine Fitness Studio for their usual two-hour workout. Ten minutes later, a small blue van drove up and parked alongside the BMW. The two men inside remained in their seats as they waited for the Young Guns to complete their training session and return to the BMW.
Eventually, the two men walked through the studio entrance with their sports bags slung over their shoulders. Busy in conversation, they took no notice of the two men standing near the opened rear door of the blue van. Tim stopped near the driver’s side and was opening the door when he felt a pain in his head and then collapsed into the arms of his attacker. Darrel sensed that something was wrong and turned to help his friend before being clubbed down himself. Both unconscious men were quickly lifted into the rear of the van and tied up before it drove off. The BMW remote fob lay on the ground alongside the unlocked car, together with two sports bags.
Jack Randil had returned from his Hun-Al meeting in Hungary the previous day and was having coffee with Joe Devine when the two Young Guns passed their table after finishing their training. The two pairs nodded to each other, but did not speak.
Jack was giving Joe an account of the problems in Hungary and after finishing his coffee, glanced through the window and was surprised to see the BMW still in the car park.
“That’s strange Joe, it must be at least ten minutes since Branton and Williams walked out, but their BMW is still there.”
Joe turned to look through the window and around the car park.
“They usually drive straight off and there is no sign of them in the car park. Is that a bag on the ground near the car?”
Rising to his feet Jack walked out to check on the car and was followed by Joe. Finding the remote fob and bags beside an unlocked and empty car made it very likely that the gang members had been kidnapped. Jack rang the city police with full details of the likely abduction and the two men returned to the café area to wait for the arrival of the police. They were drinking more coffee when Inspector Peter Kilshaw arrived after joining the team sent to investigate.
“What is your take on this Jack?”
“My guess is that we are about to see the start of the next stage of Russian Mafia entry into the city crime world and we had better be prepared for some very nasty activity.”
“I hope you are wrong Jack, but abducting two tough gang members in daylight and full view of Joe’s place is bold and professional and it looks as if you are right. We could all be dragged into this.”
The evening edition of the Liverpool Echo gave details of the two missing men and the abandoned car, but at the request of the police, did not make any mention of a possible link with Russian Mafia. Geraint Davies was the same reporter who had written about Jack Randil’s letter to customers and he had immediately made the connection. Two days later, a small parcel was delivered to him personally at the paper. After removing the outer wrappings, he found a shoebox and instead of removing the lid, decided to contact the police.
Past warnings about shoebox bombs had flashed through his head and he decided that even if it was a hoax, he preferred to look a fool rather than risk being maimed. He had co-operated with the police over his description of the abandoned BMW and missing men and the box was taken to a safe area. It was opened by trained staff wearing protective clothing. The sight of a human hand and a penis covered in congealed blood, together with two gold rings and two expensive watches was such a shock, that even hardened police staff were affected. Geraint Davies was violently sick as he staggered away from the steel table on which the box had been opened.
After spending time in the toilet and cleaning himself up, Geraint re-joined the small group of policemen meeting in an adjoining room.
The general view was that the body parts had come from the two missing Young Guns men. Laboratory tests would show whether the parts were removed before, or after death. DNA tests should prove their identities, but the watches and rings had been included to show this and emphasise that the expensive jewellery was insignificant. The killers wanted to send a message and a warning. The abductions and the shoebox contents were a declaration of war.
After the identities had been proven, the families of the two men would be informed and together with the forensic reports, they might have some idea on how they had died. Geraint was asked to avoid mention of the shoebox issue until the police received the essential information. He would then be given clearance to print some of the facts. If the Russian Mafia was responsible, then by sending the gruesome remains to him, they would have expected him to go to print. The deaths and amputations would scare both members of the Young Guns and the general population. Inspector Kershaw thanked Geraint for his co-operation and as they were both friends of Jack Randil, he trusted the man to remain silent on the double atrocities.
Kirill was pleased that his planning was working out so well. The two men had been attacked and brought to the Sefton Park unit without a hitch. The van stolen the same morning for the abduction was driven to a deserted rubbish tip, doused with petrol and then set on fire. Both men were taken into the workshop, stripped and then tightly bound and gagged. Tim Branton was the first to regain consciousness and he was told that he would be expected to give Kirill full details of the Young Guns operation if he wanted to stay alive. He shook his head and was obviously determined to give them no information.
When Darrel was awake, the two men were laid side by side on a wide workbench covered by a heavy plastic sheet, with an industrial drill suspended over their heads. Both were asked if they were willing to provide the necessary information and both shook their heads. The drill was moved above their bodies an
d came to rest just inches above Tim’s knee. Once again, he was asked about giving the information on his gang’s activities and membership and again, he shook his head. The drill was switched on and slowly lowered. His screams were muffled by the gag in his mouth, but his body writhed with the pain.
Darrel was asked if he was ready to talk about the gang’s operations and he immediately nodded his head. His gag was removed and Kirill began asking about the names and addresses of gang members, their customers and operations, as well as the location of their records and bank details. Kirill then attached a clamp to Darrel’s penis before asking many of the same questions again to be sure that the previous answers were accurate. Finally, he was asked about the brawl in the Tropicana Bistro and the gang’s attack on Ahtoh. He claimed that he had not been in the Bistro that particular night.
Shaking his head, Kirill replaced Darrel’s gag and slowly turned the tightening screw, Darrel’s body arched with the pain, but he was tightly bound and could only make moaning noises as his head turned from side to side. Looking down at both men, Kirill told them his intentions.
“You both showed no mercy to my countryman when you beat him to death on the street of your city and I will show you none. You, Tim, are a man and will die quickly. Darrel is a coward and a liar and since I know he was at the Tropicana with the mob who killed Ahtoh, we will make him pay by removing his manhood.”
Kirill nodded to one of his men and Tim was stabbed through the heart and then the man used a pair of metal cutters to remove Darrel’s penis. They took a coffee break and sat around a desk while their victim bled out and placed a pile of old wadding alongside to absorb the blood. Kiril did not want any overflowing onto the floor as evidence of a crime. The same cutters were used to cut off Tim’s right hand. The bloodied body parts were put into a shoebox together with watches and rings removed from the bodies. Kirill had kept a copy of the Liverpool Echo with the article by the reporter with the strange name, who had written about a likely Russian Mafia presence in the city. The box was wrapped and addressed to him personally at the paper.