Who the F*ck Am I?
Page 13
“Fucking A!” Regan and Red hugged again.
Chapter Thirty
REGAN, RED AND JOHN Barnard met in one of the rooms used as an office at the new team HQ. By now Graham had found a name for the team - DOCS. Red had asked what the acronym stood for so Graham replied, “Destroy Organised Crime Syndicates.”
The men made final arrangements to sort out the necessary paperwork. To Regan’s relief, it was far less of a bureaucratic machination than anything the police could throw at him. New but false documents were provided for all three men. This was a new adventure with a new identity. A short time before business was concluded for the day, the phone rang. Regan answered it, “Yes?”
Jack’s by now familiar voice was on the end of the line, “You and Red have an appointment with the DEA tomorrow at 10 am. Don’t be late. Oh, and produce your new ID papers to security.”
“Grosvenor Square?” Regan queried.
“Of course, where else? I forgot to tell you. Keep the Bonnie. Just take care of her.”
It was 10 am exactly when Regan and Red were ushered inside the US Embassy by a uniformed Marine guard. He did not say one single word after inspecting their documents and checking the manifest affixed to a clipboard. A tall man approached them. He was wearing a long mackintosh. Regan was reminded of the Peter Sellers character Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther movie. ‘Clouseau’ hailed them in cheery fashion then ushered them into a suite of offices. The entrance door marked with a sign saying, ‘Drug Enforcement Agency.’
There was a little small talk between the three men before ‘Clouseau’ left Regan and Red alone in a small office containing a table and three chairs. A brown folder, marked ‘Top Secret’, was lying on the table. Regan opened the document folder which contained fifteen pages of official federal reports. He started to flick through them with Red alongside him as a second pair of eyes. Regan’s eyes opened wide as the contents sank in.
Memories of Miami flooded back. He saw photographs of Enrico, Bill and Carlo. Regan scanned the text in a hurry. He let out a low whistle and said, “Enrico was an employee of Bill! Bill was the real boss.”
Red looked puzzled. Regan carried on as if it was a running commentary, “Bill Morris, aka Guglielmo Di Maria, was a Mafia plant inside Customs with a view to infiltrating the DEA.
“Not only that but his real father was Don Galletti! He told me at Blue’s cottage he’d only recently found out who his real father was.”
Red asked, “What does it all mean?”
Regan replied, “It means it’s outstanding they had the balls to infiltrate Customs. I’ll tell you the whole story on the way to Boston. We have eight hours to kill on the flight.”
Chapter Thirty-One
REGAN AND RED SAT NEXT to each other on the flight from Heathrow to Boston. Red’s mother and John Barnard sat two rows behind. Red listened as Regan poured out the story. Once Regan had finished, Red said, “I missed it all because of my carelessness. You know what, Steve? I’m never going to touch a chainsaw again.” The close friends laughed.
Red spoke again, “I need to ask you this, Steve.”
Regan said, “Shoot! Whatever you want to know.”
“About Caroline.”
“What about her?”
“What on earth possessed you to stay with her after you found out what she was up to? Found out what she was really like.”
“Man! I thought you knew me.”
“That’s no answer. Give!”
“I like danger. She was great in the sack. What else is there to know?”
“Yeah, okay, I know you well enough to buy that but...”
“But what? Buddy... ”
“That last night. With her, I mean. For fuck’s sake, Steve, you knew she was a crazy.”
“Thought you knew me. I always see the best in people.”
Regan smirked at Red. Red, using his remaining whole arm punched hard on Regan’s shoulder.
The flight attendant saw the punch. She admonished Red and could not understand why his companion was laughing so loudly. Regan laughed more after Red told the attendant, “Don’t mind me. I’m ‘armless.”
Regan sat sniggering with his hand covering his mouth. He gathered himself enough to say, “Guess that’s your new punch line.”
THE GROUP OF BRITISH subjects of Regan, his mother, Red, John Barnard plus three ‘minders’ who were special ops contractors vetted and hired by DCS Graham, settled into a pleasant Boston hotel for the third night of the trip. It was convenient to both hospitals scheduled to operate on Regan’s mother’s tumour and Red’s arm. One of the minders took charge of driving the rented SUV as he was a trained escape driver. Regan and Red had given him a name – McQueen, owing to his expertise in driving.
McQueen parked the large red Chevrolet SUV on the side street next to the main entrance of the hospital where Red was to be operated on. Red had an appointment to meet his surgeon for a pre-operative check-up. Regan opened the front passenger door and placed both feet on the ground. He looked up at an approaching pick-up truck as it sounded its horn. The driver’s window of the black truck powered down as it came level with Regan. The truck slowed so Regan was able to see the driver.
Regan heard the “whoop whoop” of a siren. It was a black and white Boston P.D. patrol car. A police officer hollered through a loudspeaker, “Sir, please move the car. You’re in a tow-away zone.” The black-and-white parked behind the Chevrolet SUV.
Regan blocked out the noise and kept looking at the driver of the black pick-up truck. The driver’s arm extended from the open window. Regan saw it belonged to Carlo Vitale. He also saw the gun in Carlo’s left hand. Carlo heard the cop too. He tossed the gun across to the front seat passenger. Carlo then pointed two fingers of his left hand at Regan. The undercover cop saw Carlo’s mouth open and heard the sound, “Pop! Pop!”
As the black truck picked up speed, Regan heard Carlo shout, “You know who the fuck I am. Next time, Regan ... next time ...”
Regan turned to Red and said, “Get better soon buddy. We have work to do.”
The End
Updates From The Author
THIS BOOK IS THE FIRST in a trilogy featuring Steve Regan, undercover cop. Follow me on my website at www.stephenbentley.info for updates on the publication dates of the second and third books in the series.
I do hope you enjoyed this novella. My plan was to entertain you and set the scene for more danger and drama in the rest of the series. Perhaps Regan will find love to replace the wife and child he lost so tragically?
There are exciting times ahead for Regan, Red, and John Barnard. Don’t miss the action!
Please consider leaving a review on your favourite book store site. It need not be an essay! Just a few words will do. Think of it as a “tip” to an author in appreciation of his/her effort to entertain you.
By following me you will also keep up to date on my other works in progress including a forthcoming frank autobiography covering my many experiences and extraordinary careers.
Follow on Twitter as @StephenBentley8
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
STEPHEN BENTLEY IS a former police Detective Sergeant and barrister (trial attorney) from the UK. He is now a freelance writer and HuffPost UK blogger. His memoir Undercover: Operation Julie - The Inside Story is a frank account of his undercover detective experiences during Operation Julie - an elite group of detectives who in the 1970’s successfully investigated one of the world's largest drugs rings. It has been said by the BBC that Operation Julie was the “start of the war on drugs.” Another commentator called it “the spark that lit the war on drugs.”
It was an early undercover police operation that is still unique in the annals of crime investigation in the UK and serves as a reference point for covert police activities to this day. Stephen was a pioneer and forced to deal with the psychological impact of deep undercover work with no back-up or help. Though a UK-based story, it has received numerous plaudits and five star reviews o
n both sides of “the pond.’
His writing draws upon his many life experiences including those as an undercover cop and trial lawyer. He spent a combined total of almost 30 years in those careers but has also worked in such diverse jobs as sales management, and as a truck driver, London motorcycle courier, hospital porter and operating industrial plant machinery for one of the world’s largest water companies.
He has travelled extensively particularly throughout S.E. Asia, including Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Stephen has also travelled throughout the United States and Australia where he indulges his love of riding motorcycles. His first book, 'How to Drive Like an Idiot in Bacolod: An Expat’s Experiences of Driving in the Philippines and How to Survive', deals with the road culture shock he endured in that country. It is written in his usual no-nonsense style with an infusion of humour. Stephen was born in Accrington, Lancashire, England but raised from an early age in Huyton, Liverpool. He is proud of his East Lancashire roots and equally proud to be considered as an “honorary Scouser.”
The author donates a portion of his royalties to the James Bulger Memorial Trust, a U.K. Registered Charity.
www.stephenbentley.info
A Selection Of Reviews – Undercover: Operation Julie – The Inside Story
Just knowing that the author, Stephen Bentley, was one of the two detectives assigned to go undercover in an operation which not only spanned the globe, but put his life in peril on a minute-by-minute and day-to-day basis as he infiltrated a drug cartel.
'Undercover: Operation Julie - The Inside Story' is a thriller of epic proportions. I highly recommend it, not only for the thrill of Bentley's dangerous assignment, but as a history lesson in international drug culture.
- Anne Carmichael
Great read really insightful really written well
- Philip Danaher
Brilliant book, I couldn't put it down and was gutted to finish it last night. Wonderfully written. It provides an insight into life in the late 70s and the expectations placed on undercover officers at the time. A must-read, you won't be disappointed.
- Liz
This is the stuff of legend , a blinding good read ! Highly recommended, funny, witty as well as serious & insightful a real page turner ! Thanks !
- Emma J.
3rd time reading this and still find it fascinating . What a brilliantly written book by a brilliant author can’t wait to read the next one.
- Debbie
... Overall, it is a story of humanity. Stephen doesn’t judge but tells it like it is, and still has a deep affection for Smiles, one of those jailed as the result of his actions. I highly recommend this book to those who wish to read about the UK’s equivalent to Donny Brasco.
- Nicholas Rippington
What a fascinating book! Totally compelling read ...
- Pat MacDonald, British Crime Author
Masterfully told by undercover officer Stephen Bentley, this isn't a run of the mill sensationalist true crime book. Dive underneath the visible parts of the water and into the murky depths as you are pulled along through not just the operation but the aftermath, both personal and public. A must read for true crime lovers and historians alike. I cannot recommend this book enough. It was a very enjoyable read.
- Liliyana
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Also by Stephen Bentley
Steve Regan Undercover Cop
Who The F*ck Am I?
Dilemma
Standalone
Undercover: Operation Julie - The Inside Story
How To Drive Like An Idiot In Bacolod: An Expat's Experiences of Driving in the Philippines and How to Survive
Watch for more at Stephen Bentley’s site.
About the Author
Stephen Bentley is a former police Detective Sergeant and barrister (trial attorney) from the UK. He is now a freelance writer and HuffPost UK blogger. His memoir 'Undercover: Operation Julie - The Inside Story' is a frank account of his undercover detective experiences during Operation Julie - an elite group of detectives who successfully investigated one of the world's largest drugs rings. Stephen also writes fiction including the Steve Regan Undercover Cop series.When he isn't writing, Stephen follows the (mis)fortunes of Liverpool Football Club from afar and relaxes on the beaches of the Philippines with his family where he now lives.
Read more at Stephen Bentley’s site.