by Tony Jenkins
A week later, Bumbesco was at a meeting at Bucharest with the colonel in charge of his division, the major who was his commanding officer and an army major from Dinescu’s barracks. He had convinced the others that the man most likely to be responsible was Tigo, the leader of the tribe who was absent during both visits by the soldiers. Bumbesco had recently interviewed the soldier struck by a slingshot on the first visit, who was also present when the village was burned. He stated that the old woman who was shot was Tigo’s mother and the man had a reputation for violence and as a tyrant.
At this point the colonel could contain his anger no longer.
“We believed that someone who suffered when Dalca was working for the old regime had killed him, but we will not tolerate the Tigani torturing and killing a senior government official, as well as two of our soldiers. I want this man caught and punished and you have my full support with whatever you need to do it.”
“Thank you, sir. I would like to offer a reward for information leading to Tigo’s capture and have temporary leave to work in the Budestin area. If we can locate posters in the Tigani villages spread around there, we may tempt someone who has been beaten by Tigo to make contact and help us. I would also like an assistant, either from the police, or army, who has a Tigani background. He should be able to work in the area to find some of those who have left Budestin, but know what happened to our man Gunari. We all know that there is very little chance that the Tigani will talk to our own policemen, or soldiers.”
“Very good Bumbesco, you have my full support and your Major Chisca will make all the necessary arrangements. I hope you will find this Tigo, but be careful that he does not kill you too, or another of our Tigani volunteers.”
The meeting ended and the colonel left, but the others remained to work together on the details of the search for Tigo in Călărași County, where Budestin was located. Major Chisca had already been told that a Tigani would be needed to ferret out the information Bumbesco wanted and had two policemen in mind. He would arrange for interviews to choose the best man for the job. The reward offered would be set at 50,000,000 Leu, which should be very tempting to poor Tigani.
“I would like to start as soon as possible, if I may, sir. When can I interview the two Tigani policemen?”
Major Chisca told him that they worked near Bucharest and he could see them both tomorrow afternoon.
Bumbesco was amazed that all his suggestions had been accepted and that he would soon begin his hunt for the monster who had killed so ruthlessly. The following afternoon, he visited Police HQ to interview the Tigani policemen. The first man was nervous and seemed concerned about working out in the countryside on his own. The second was a big, chubby and lively candidate who seemed willing to tackle anything. He was also a martial arts fanatic and should be able to defend himself if he was attacked. His name was Rudari and his parents had taught him to speak the Romani language, as well as his normal Romanian. Bumbesco took an instant liking to the man and chose him for the walkabout in Călărași County. He gave Rudari, who asked to be called Rudi, full details of the murders and explained the search for the killer Tigo. Rudi was married with two children and although told about the possible danger in finding and arresting Tigo, the bearded Tigani was still keen to get involved. He was shocked to learn about the cruelty of the two killings and wanted Tigo to pay for his crimes.
Bumbesco arranged the placement of the reward notices with Major Chisca in villages where they would travel. Rudi agreed to begin his search in two days, after he had made sure his family would be cared for by nearby relatives while he was absent. Rudi’s family owned a Tigani wagon, or vardo, with tall wheels and a canvas roof hung on metal hoops. It was made from spruce wood for lightness and was at least fifty years old and drawn by one horse and he would use it for his journey through the area. Bumbesco would cover the same area, but avoid visiting the actual Tigani communities and instead arrange to meet Rudi at intervals for updates.
The search area would start around Bacău and the vardo was taken by lorry to the nearby town of Focșani for Rudi to begin moving north.
Bumbesco needed to keep in touch with Rudi and he carried a mobile phone and arranged to make a hunting trip in the area to be near at hand if Rudi found Tigo. Rudi would then find a public phone to contact him. They decided it was unsafe for Rudi to carry a mobile phone and risk having it found, since they were rarely used by Roma travellers. Bumbesco had often hunted with his father and with the wild life in the densely forested region, he should not raise suspicions if he travelled as a hunter and drove his father’s Suzuki off-roader. Experienced in the danger from brown bears, he packed a pepper spray as well as his hunting rifle and knife and also carried a small automatic pistol. Well aware of the brown bear’s incredible ability to smell food from a distance before making their way to the source, he packed mainly salad food and would start the day with a big breakfast and have dinner at his overnight location. It would be dangerous to stay overnight in the forest. He made sure that he had a good supply of drinking water to avoid dehydration in the hot sun.
Although he believed that Tigo would return to his own people, the man could have moved far away. However, since he had taken care to hide his identity and cover his tracks when carrying out the murders, he would assume he was safe. Bumbesco hoped that the search in the area would show results within two weeks, but knew that at most he could expect to continue the search for only four, or five weeks. After this, another meeting would be held to decide on further action.
Chapter 17
Extinction
Kirill had heard nothing from Gregor after the offshore bank account details were given to him over the phone and he had then transferred the information to his Moscow contact. The two men should have returned some time ago with yet another Young Guns member. He knew it would be dangerous to drive to the accountants’ house and unwise to ring Gregor. If they had walked into a trap, there was little he could do and he knew from his own treatment of the Young Guns captives that men can be made to talk.
As he was considering possible mishaps to his men, he received a terse message from his Moscow contacts. Despite three attempts to access the Young Guns account in the offshore bank, they had been unable to do so and told Kirill that his account number was false. It was another failure in his leadership and somehow the moneyman Dempsey had outwitted Gregor and risked his own and his family’s lives to protect the Young Guns bank account. Thinking over possibilities, he decided that it could have been an unlucky break and Gregor had run into a group of Young Guns, or his own attack had been anticipated and countered.
If he could still obtain the offshore account details and punish this man Dempsey at the same time, he would send the right messages to Moscow and the Young Guns. He knew that their leader was called Taylor and he needed to test how clever and resourceful the man was. He guessed that Dempsey would be careful and would probably be protected, but there was a young daughter who could be an easier target and bring Dempsey to him. He planned two separate attacks on his foes. The first was intended to distract them while he launched his main action.
Les Perrin took the phone call as he sat in his car in the car park off Victoria Street. One of his regular customers was waiting at the bottom of Water Street and Les drove down and picked him up. Money was exchanged for drugs and the satisfied customer was dropped off in Pall Mall and Les returned to his stand off Victoria Street. He was kept busy and when his stock was almost cleared, he made a phone call to have more brought to him. A motor cycle roared into the car park and stopped alongside Les’ car. The rider opened his side pannier to pass a package to Les. A dark figure suddenly appeared from behind the car and another from the front. The motor cyclist had his throat cut and Les was stabbed in the throat through the open car window.
A driver returning to his car parked alongside found the overturned motor cycle and body and hearing a car engine running, looked into the car and saw yet another body. He called the police and wa
s soon surrounded by flashing blue lights as another crime scene was investigated. Both men were known to be active in the drug trade and employed by the Young Guns. No cash or drugs were found and Peter Kershaw suspected that although it looked like a robbery, it was more likely to be another attack by the Russian Mafia. The battle for supremacy between the two gangs was raising the city murder rate to record levels and as yet he had found no information on the numbers, or possible location of the foreign criminals.
Don Taylor was protecting Gary Dempsey as he drove to and from his office and he was watched in his home, because Don expected the Russians to punish him for his part in the death of their colleagues. Unfortunately, he could not protect the dozens of dealers and members of his drug supply chain. Les Perrin had brought in a lot of money and he guessed the attacks had only just begun. He had offered a big reward for any information on the Russians and if he found them, they would be dead. They were probably set up within the city boundary and using a detached house with ample grounds, or an industrial building where their movement would not be noticed, nor any unusual noise from their torture and killing of captured colleagues.
Rosanne Dempsey was furious that her father would not allow her to go out in the evenings because of the men who had been killed at their house. She did not know that he was deeply involved with a criminal gang and had believed his explanation to the policeman that it was a case of mistaken identity. He was at a meeting tonight and she was nineteen years old and had to stay indoors whilst her friends went to a disco. She locked her bedroom door, put on some music and climbed out of her bedroom window onto the flat roof of the garage to step down on a water butt to reach the ground. She left by the garden gate and walked quickly down the road, passing one of Kirill’s watchers as she went.
The disco was hot, crowded and very noisy, and Rosanne was cooling off with a drink when one of the club employees approached her to tell her that her father was in hospital and her mother had sent a taxi to collect her. With guilt uppermost in her mind after disobeying her father’s request, she rushed to the club entrance and saw a taxi with a man alongside holding the door open for her. She jumped into the back, the door was closed and the taxi drove off. She knew Liverpool well and should have noticed that they were driving in the wrong direction. By the time she began to have worries about the route they were taking, they had almost reached the industrial area in Sefton Park where Kirill was waiting for her. The taxi stopped and a man opened the door and pulled her out of her seat. The stolen taxi was then driven away and abandoned in a side street.
Gary Dempsey returned home from his meeting, accompanied by his bodyguard and was told Rosanne was listening to music in her room. He was unhappy about having to restrict her movements and walked upstairs to speak to her. After knocking twice, he tried her door and was surprised that it was locked. He could hear the music and knocked much harder, with no response. Beginning to panic, he went to fetch a spare key and entered the bedroom. The window was open and Rosanne was not in her room. Guessing that she had gone to the disco he had told her not to visit, he began ringing her friends. They told him about the hospital message and the waiting taxi and his heart sank as he guessed who had taken her. He thought about calling Don Taylor, but knew the man would rather save his money than Rosanne.
His wife was distraught and blamed him for being involved with crooks and risking their lives. As he tried to console her, his phone rang and he was given instructions on what he should do to save his daughter. He was warned that if he contacted the police, he would never see his daughter again. Kirill wanted the full and accurate account numbers and when money had been taken from the offshore accounts, Rosanne would be freed unharmed. Gary had a difficult choice to make. If he gave the Russians the information they wanted, he would save Rosanne, but Don Taylor would certainly kill him. If he did not, Rosanne would be killed. He suddenly remembered the Liverpool city councillor who had exposed local corruption and helped the people in Seaforth to save their houses from demolition. The man also owned a large business, which provided security cover throughout the city.
Jack Randil was finishing off his beer with Peter Kershaw after their weekly squash game when his phone rang and an emotional Gary Dempsey told him about his daughter’s abduction. The two had spoken previously at business functions in the city, but Jack had not been aware of his connection with the Young Guns.
“I’m sorry to hear about your daughter Gary, and I will do all I can to help, but let me give this some thought first and I will ring you back.”
Peter guessed what the conversation was about from Jack’s questions and the overheard comments of the high-pitched voice of Dempsey. Jack explained the situation and the threat to kill the young girl if police were involved, as well as the likelihood of Dempsey being killed by Don Taylor. Dempsey had been told that he would be contacted again by phone and that he must have the information ready. Jack had a possible plan forming in his mind.
“If you can keep this quiet, I will suggest to Gary that he tells the Russians that he wants his daughter saved at all costs and to make sure there are no slipups, he will meet them and arrange the computer transfer himself. Can we put a small bug on him and then follow him to their hideout so that we save the girl and get the Russians? It will need an armed team of police because we know they are armed. As the Russians are watching Gary set up the computer transfer, your men will have to break in and use stun grenades, or tear gas to confuse them before they can kill Dempsey and his daughter. It will still be a high-risk situation, but at least the poor man will have an even chance to save his own and his daughter’s life and we get the Russians, whatever happens.”
“I knew Dempsey was lying about being attacked because of mistaken identity. The Russians were after the account details all along and got jumped by the Young Guns. It sounds possible Jack, but do you think Gary can convince them to let him go to them and what if the building they are using has no windows, which we need for the stun grenades?”
“I think it best to let Gary decide if he wants to take his chances Peter, since his alternatives are pretty grim.”
“This could back fire on us Jack, and end up with both Gary and Rosanne killed, but you are right, we would get the Russians and stop the war raging in the city. Rosanne’s chances of being released are also pretty slim, since I expect she has seen their faces and killing her is safer for them. I will have to clear this with my super.”
“Right, Peter. You ring your super and I will put it to Gary and let him decide.”
Gary listened as he was told about the plan and was silent for some time at the other end of the phone. As an accountant he was used to balancing facts and figures, but this time his judgement involved lives. He made his choice.
“I will try to talk them into letting me make the transfer and hope you can kill them all and end this. I know I have no chance at all if I trade the account details for Rosanne and then have to rely on their promise to let her go.”
Peter had made his call to his super who agreed to Jack’s proposal and suggested that Jack should visit Gary at his home to tape the small transmitter in his shoe and go over his intended offer to the Russians. Since the two men knew each other, his visit would be less suspicious if the house was watched. The police also planned to use their helicopter to shadow whatever vehicle the transmitter was moving in. Two armed police teams would be waiting at separate locations in case of unexpected mishaps. The transmitter would be delivered to Jack’s home later that night and he would call on Gary at 9 am the following morning, when the police would be ready to follow him. When Gary was told, he suggested that Jack should carry a briefcase to make it look as if it was calling on business.
A policewoman came to his home with the tracking device and showed Jack how it operated. Judy was not at all happy that once again her husband was involving himself in dangerous affairs and he had to reassure her that it was only a minor role. The following morning, Jack called at the Dempsey home and fitted
the transmitter. For the next twenty minutes, they discussed how Gary would respond when the Russians contacted him and then Jack left to drive to his office. As soon as Gary left the house, the police would know and begin to track him. The telephone call came at 10 am and as he pleaded with Kirill to let him make the transfer, the Russian decided that having Gary make the transfer would guarantee that the money would be accessed this time. It could well be his last chance to restore his reputation with his leaders and he dare not risk another failure. After the money transfer, he would kill Dempsey and his daughter.
Kirill was familiar with the city centre and chose Lime Street station as the safest meeting point. It would be busy and there were a number of exits to choose from. Gary was to wait near the Skelhorn Street exit at 11 am until he was contacted. His man would first check that Gary was alone and that there were no watchers and then lead him through the station, with another Russian checking that they were not followed. The waiting van would be in a side street and Kirill would be driving.
When told about Gary’s instructions, Superintendent Larry James decided it could jeopardise the operation to have men at the station and instead they would rely on the transmitter and helicopter. Gary was tracked up London Road and on to Brownlow Hill before stopping at a Sefton Park location. The two police vans moved towards the address using flashing lights, but with no sirens, which might alert the Russians. A car pulled out in front of one van and caused a minor collision. The stubborn driver would not move his car until he was threatened with arrest for obstruction and failing to give way to the police van.
The second police van drove into the small industrial estate and stopped near the Cummings Bros building, but could see no sign of the Cummings van. A call to the helicopter brought the report that it had driven inside the building. Knowing that they must gain access quickly, the policemen first blocked the roller shutter entrance with their van and then hurried to the windows. They were frustrated to find the windows too high and small to allow access without risking their lives. They decided instead to aim and if necessary, fire through the windows. One policeman saw a stack of wooden pallets near the building and as they were using them to build vantage platforms, the second police van arrived.