Jayne had been with BIB for five years now. Aged thirty-four, she was a highly qualified secondary school teacher with a Master’s degree in Physical Education and Coaching (on top of a Degree in Psychology). She’d come to Colonel Burke’s attention during a conference for senior public-sector teachers at Erdiston Teachers Training College. Jayne had spoken on the psychology of teaching secondary school and university students properly to help them to maximise their productivity in today’s fast-paced workforce. Colonel Burke was only there because Jeremie had asked him to fill in for him at short notice.
Jayne had impressed Colonel Burke with the way she had structured her presentation with visibly descriptive and helpful slides throughout and a two-way Q&A session to wrap things up. He’d decided on the spot to make it his business to find out as much as he could as soon as possible about this obviously sharp lady. His instinct told him she might be a great asset to BIB, not necessarily on its front line, but more-so behind the scenes undertaking varying types of analysis to enable BIB to solve its most challenging and complex cases more quickly. When he’d contacted her a week later (after checking her out with the Public Sector Oversight Committee or PSOC), Jayne had been surprised to hear from him. She’d agreed to consider his offer before, twenty-four hours later, calling to say that she’d be willing to accept it. The money would be more than that of a teacher. The dangers of the job were, strangely, not of concern to her, as Jayne was looking for something more interesting (if not exciting) than running secondary school classes. Being a keen markswoman and having represented Barbados at the Delhi 2010 Commonwealth and London 2012 Olympic Games, that part of her personality was also never going to be a problem for BIB.
As things worked out, when an opening came on JJ’s Gold team three years ago, she’d applied for it and was successful. Diversity in BIB was alive and well, as was evidenced by Joe’s appointment to lead BIB’s Black operational team nearly two years earlier.
Jayne was on the frontline after all! Colonel Burke had not been surprised at her rapid development in BIB, so was happy to sign off on her promotion.
***
As the Gold team departed BIB HQ, they met Colonel Burke driving in. He waved at them, as he knew where they were going and why. Should be a piece of cake, he thought to himself as he parked his vehicle in the space reserved for DIRECTOR in BIB’s car park at the back of the building.
For Colonel Burke’s part, he had argued against and still remained unconvinced of the need for BIB operatives to be utilised on PRs. But his political bosses had determined otherwise. His reservations had been noted. Either way, when asked he would ensure that one of BIB’s operational teams escort the weekly movement of prisoners between HMP Dodds and the courthouses in Barbados. He and his operatives were therefore fully committed to undertaking this new task once requested by Superintendent Innis. That call had been made to Colonel Burke on Monday morning, and so it was JJ’s Gold team that had then been tasked to undertake today’s PR.
But this morning, Colonel Burke had other things on his mind. A major one was to compile and deliver the security situation brief (SSB) to the Prime Minister following yesterday’s P.A.A.N.I. meeting.
***
Motby arrived at Government Headquarters just before 8:00 a.m. He knew that he had another long (but pleasant) day ahead of him. After work, he and his wife would attend a 6:30 p.m. reception at the British High Commissioner’s residence for the two visiting cricket teams and their officials but would leave after an hour to return to their official Ilaro Court residence for a private dinner engagement.
Over five hundred persons had been invited to High Commissioner Tullock’s reception. Less than eleven hours before it was due to start, how many of those invited would turn up remained unknown. Barbadians were notoriously bad at confirming (or not) their acceptance of invitations to evening events, especially receptions. Nevertheless, given past experiences, it was reasonable to expect that, with Barbados being a cricket loving nation and more importantly, with the past year’s exciting renaissance of the West Indies who were now consistently starting to win Test series again, at least four hundred of those invited could be expected to turn up.
This latter fact alarmed the Prime Minister’s two-member RBPF Close Protection Unit (CPU), Sergeant Peter Eversley and Constable Jack Marshall. They were uncomfortable, not because Motby had accepted the High Commissioner’s invitation to meet the members of both cricket teams, but about any potential harm that might befall him among so many people. They knew that Motby was not one to shy away from mingling.
Following the attempt to assassinate him, Motby had insisted on retaining the services of Eversley and Marshall, despite an attempt by Jeremie to replace them with a new two-member CPU team. Thereafter, Eversley and Marshall had been extremely careful about allowing ‘PRIM’ to be out in the open, i.e. in public places, for any length of time, just in case someone ever tried to physically harm Motby a second time.
With Eversley and Marshall expressing their concerns to him about crowded public appearances, Motby had sought to calm their fears the previous weekend by speaking with Jeremie. He had then requested that a third officer from the RBPF’s main CPU unit be also designated to attend the High Commissioner’s reception. Hence yesterday morning’s meeting between Sergeant Browne of the RBPF’s Visitors CPU unit and Motby at Government Headquarters. Browne was set to join Eversley and Marshall later.
Motby couldn’t get away from himself on media outlets that morning, participating in Petra’s retirement function. He had read the second lesson in the church and addressed guests at the reception.
Once in his office, he also observed that he was on the front cover of both local newspapers. Petra and Roger Carmichael were pictured with him. The headlines read I’ll Be Back…on one cover and Further Assignment for Former Top Civil Servant Expected on the other. Motby was always amazed how newspapers around the world were able to create catchy headlines to encourage potential patrons to purchase their rags.
In response to both headlines, he thought to himself, That’s for me to know and all of you to learn about in due course.
Motby turned to the newspapers’ back pages. Each carried pictures and reports of last night’s arrival of the two Test teams and their entourage in Barbados. The High Commissioner’s reception that evening for the teams, their support staff, media, supporters and locals alike was also mentioned. He would watch the first ball of the Test Match, having been invited to be the guest of honour for the day by Neal Butler, BCA President and WICB Director. He planned to spend most, if not all of Friday at the cricket because it was unlikely that he would get back to New Kensington Oval again before the match’s scheduled finish the following Tuesday.
Such was the lack of ‘down time’ for a Prime Minister charged with the responsibility of running any small Caribbean country.
***
Chief Superintendent Johnny Vickers, Head of Crime, Special Branch, RBPF parked his vehicle in the RBPF HQ car park. Another fine day in paradise, he thought to himself as he collected his briefcase and lunch bag from the back seat. Locking up the vehicle, he strode across the busy car park towards the main building. He had attended Carmichael’s reception at BDF HQ the previous evening, and planned today to catch up on some outstanding paperwork. The murder trial scheduled to start in the High Court next week Wednesday, in which he would be called as a witness, was on his mind as he entered his second-floor office, but he had decided to do his preparation for this case tomorrow when he expected to have a quiet day.
With the Test Match taking place from Friday for another five days, Vickers would not be at his desk much during that period. Tidying up his desk as much as he could of any pressing matters and getting an early night’s rest would set him up for the drudgery of the next week and a half.
***
The Central Bank of Barbados (CBOB) is housed in the Tom Adams Financial Centre in Church Village, central Bridgetown. Constructed back in the mid-1980’s,
it is an eleven-storeyed building. It’s one hundred and fifty employees and other renters of office space in the complex enjoy a panoramic view of Bridgetown, the Caribbean Sea or Barbados’ countryside from any work station, depending on where they sat anywhere from the fourth floor up. The higher one went the better, more beautiful and expansive became the view.
The office of the secretary to Dr Albert Lewis, Deputy Governor, CBOB was located on the eighth floor. She had just settled down at her desk for another day’s work, when the phone rang.
“Good morning, Central Bank of Barbados, Deputy Governor’s office. Marjorie Ruck speaking. How can I help you?”
“Oh, good morning, Marjorie, its Betty Lewis. Is Albert there please?”
“No, Mrs Lewis. I haven’t seen him yet, in fact, we haven’t seen him since yesterday afternoon when he left early. I assumed that the bug he’s been suffering from was getting the better of him. He said he would go home to rest up, but might also stop by his doctor on the way for some medication.”
There was a long pause.
“Mrs Lewis, are you there?” asked Ruck.
“Uh…yes, Marjorie. It’s just that Albert didn’t come home last night. I haven’t seen him since yesterday morning when he left for work. So that’s twenty-four hours ago! That’s not like him. I’m very worried. Has the Governor got him working on something new? A secret initiative for the Government perhaps where Albert has decided to bed himself down at the office or at some nearby hotel room? I’m at my wits end,” said Mrs Lewis.
Immediately alarmed, Ruck did not know what to say at first. Dr Lewis was at work for most of yesterday. He’d been coughing and blowing his nose throughout the day, in fact, since the back end of the previous week. When he’d told her that he was leaving early, around 3:00 p.m., she thought this a good idea as the air conditioning certainly was not helping his condition. He’d indicated that making a doctor’s visit on the way home was his intention. An early dinner, getting his wife to rub him up and down before going to bed in an effort to start throwing off his bad cold were his goals.
Dr Lewis normally got in before her, so when Ruck had not seen him, she’d not been too worried, assuming that he had not quite made the recovery he’d expected to overnight. Ruck was not one to call Dr Lewis’ home, unless it was work related and important.
“Well, Mrs Lewis, while I don’t know that we can say he’s gone ‘missing’, I’ll notify the Governor immediately. I’m sure Dr Lewis will turn up shortly, and that they’ll be a reasonable explanation for his overnight absence. I’ll get the ball rolling right away and call you right back,” said Ruck.
“Oh, thank you, Marjorie. It’s not like Albert not to keep in touch. I’m afraid something may have happened to him. Something’s very wrong,” responded Mrs Lewis.
“Alright, Mrs Lewis.” Ruck had never addressed her boss’ wife by her first name before and even now did not seem to be a good time to do so. “Please stay close to your phone. I’ll get back to you shortly.”
“Thank you so much, Marjorie. Goodbye.” Mrs Lewis hung up the phone.
Ruck did likewise and sat quietly at her desk for a moment. Then, rising quickly, she strode across the corridor to the outer domain of the Governor’s office.
As the Governor’s secretary was off for the day, she knocked on the Governor’s door and waited for an answer. Hearing “Come in”, she entered and informed Dr Rollerick Edwards, Governor, CBOB of the situation related to her missing boss, the Deputy Governor.
***
BIB’s Gold team arrived at HMP Dodds at 8:25 a.m. Their journey had been uneventful. They were ushered into the outer office of Superintendent Innis. JJ was presented with details related to the day’s PR by Melba Bodie. Details included the number of prisoners to be transported, who they were, what they were going to court for, their criminal activity records (as known) and the eight-member team (three RBPF, five BPS officers) who would be on today’s PR along with JJ’s Gold team.
The PR document provided brief details on the five prisoners to be transported:
PR 18 April – 5 inmates (HMP Dodds to District A court/return)
LYNCH, Jessica (Mrs): a 47-year-old Barbadian female accused of jewellery shoplifting one week earlier in a west coast duty-free shop. Lynch had a long history of shoplifting clothes, food and small electronic items, but had now graduated to jewellery, so this was new territory for her.
MORADI, Franchesca (Miss): aged 21. Moradi was an Italian female drug mule who had been caught at the country’s sole airport the previous Thursday attempting to smuggle cocaine into Barbados. She’d been charged with possession of cocaine, intent to supply, trafficking and importation of illegal drugs, specifically fifty-five kilograms of cocaine which had a street value of Bds$500,000. She was a first-time visitor to Barbados, was not a user so was simply a transporter.
FIELD, Warren (Mr): a 35-year-old unemployed Barbadian male had been sent to jail for repeated non-payment of child support. These offences related to his five children (three of which were from different women). Field’s long history of non-payment of child support had seemingly finally forced the court’s hand.
FOULKES, Orrin (Mr): a 67-year-old British male national on a day visit to Barbados via a cruise ship. Foulkes was caught trying to sell cannabis to locals on one of central Bridgetown’s back streets. He had brought the drug (50.2 kilograms with a street value of Bds$250,000) with him off the ship. He had therefore imported it. Prompt police investigations found that Foulkes had no record of any kind back in Britain, so this was out of character and perhaps a ‘spur of the moment’ action. Obviously, the cruise ship he had arrived on the previous Wednesday, had sailed without him that night.
POWER, Jasper ‘Stabs’ (Mr): a 38-year-old Barbadian on a variety of firearms, ammunition and drug charges: conspiring to import six firearms without a licence (two Smith & Wesson Model 60 pistols, two Glock 17 pistol, one Heckler & Koch USP .40 pistol, one Taurus pistol); attempted sale of unlicensed firearms); unlawful possession of the above six firearms; fifty rounds of ammunition; possession of apparatus; trafficking in cannabis; possession of cannabis with intent to supply; resisting lawful arrest; shooting at a police officer. Power’s past criminal activity also included wounding with intent and previous drug dealing activity. He is the most dangerous of the five prisoners being transported.
By order of/Signed: S Innis – 17/4/2018
Lt. Colonel Simon Innis, Head, Barbados Prison Service (BPS)/Superintendent, Her Majesty’s Prison (HMP) Dodds
***
Marjorie Ruck’s conversation with Governor Edwards prompted him to immediately call Commissioner Jeremie. He advised him that the Deputy Governor, CBOB had been missing for well over twelve hours – in fact his wife had not seen or heard from him for over twenty-four hours. Edwards requested that a senior RBPF officer – he mentioned one by name, be sent over to his office as soon as possible to initiate an investigation into the apparent disappearance.
Jeremie listened carefully, before agreeing to respond appropriately by sending over such an officer.
***
It was 8:40 a.m. when JJ, Mohammed and Jayne were shown into Superintendent Innis’ inner office.
Following the usual pleasantries, they got down to business. The final plans for the day’s operation were confirmed. All of the prisoners were scheduled to make their second appearances in Criminal ‘A’ Court at Station Hill, St Michael between 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. The PR expected to leave HMP Dodds no later than 9:15 a.m. to comfortably make the forty-minute journey and arrive at the courthouse’s holding point by at least the minimum fifteen minutes required before the first prisoner was due to appear before Barbados’ strict Chief Magistrate, His Honour Martin Taylor.
Innis spoke briefly about the first four prisoners. He then explained who Power was and why he was the most dangerous prisoner being transported in today’s PR.
“Power was remanded to HMP Dodds a week ago following a shootout with RBPF officers
after he was captured for unlicensed gun importation and possession of same. His police record is three pages long if you ever want to read his full criminal activity record.”
Mohammed put up his hand and asked a direct question.
“Given what you say Superintendent, have you requested any additional protection for today’s PR?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Well, I believe your team and the RBPF boys can adequately handle the usual escort duties. My BPS crew will also be there of course. They will directly handle the prisoners.”
Innis handed JJ a one-page document which was accepted. “This is a one-page summary of Power’s record. You guys can read it through before you leave. Among his previous arrests were charges for stabbing up people that he did not like. Happened in nightclubs and at house parties. The nickname ‘Stabs’ came from one of his early victims,” concluded Innis.
“Got it. Now, is there anything else you want to tell us about today’s PR before we get going?” asked JJ, glancing down at the document he held. He was not expecting an affirmative answer.
“Well, yes, there is…” Innis said reluctantly.
***
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