As was Castille’s intention and practice, the discussion was not a lengthy one. He explained that he was The Organisation’s representative, to which Power owed a substantial sum of money. Power’s non-payment had prompted The Organisation to dispatch him to Barbados to recover the outstanding sum, with interest. He presented Power with a sheet of paper which itemised the items that had been supplied by The Organisation to Power over the past twelve months. Dates, specific items and the individual sums involved were shown, culminating with the total outstanding being shown at the foot of the A-4 page.
Power examined the itemised list carefully, a second Banks beer in his hand. He swallowed several times while he read.
What’s this? he wondered. Power knew that he owed The Organisation something but was not quite sure how it had gotten so high. This interest thing he’d never understood. It appeared to double what he thought was his debt to The Organisation. Anyway, he’d believed that it was one of his old collaborators, Wharton and his Pressure Group gang who had been responsible for breaking him free, simply as a favour because Wharton knew Power would reward him sometime later for his efforts. Perhaps as soon as a couple of weeks once Power was back on his feet and in full operation…
But this situation around his escape, was clearly something else! Power was now acutely conscious that his escape from the prisoner transport vehicle and by extension the confines of HMP Dodds, had been completed by Wharton’s Pressure Group. However, it had been done under the direction of and at the instigation of The Organisation. Power had only made a down-payment on the latest items he had acquired from The Organisation three months ago. He had not paid anything to The Organisation for two months, so he understood why a representative had been sent to directly collect in Barbados.
Castille’s task was to get Power to make the outstanding payment due to The Organisation quickly now that Power was out of HMP Dodds. Castille believed that Power only had to say the word and one of his runners would be able to make arrangements to gather the sum owed from either one of his major local bag-men (or a collection of them). With that in mind, payment should be possible within a twenty-four-hour period. Power also had the choice of transferring the sum owed to The Organisation from one of his overseas accounts directly into its offshore ‘client accounts’ in the Cayman Islands.
“Look man, I know I owe you guys some change, but with my being inside the can for the best part of a week, I’ve not been able to make any payment arrangements to settle up. I guess you know how it is once you go on the inside.”
Shaking his head slowly, Castille spoke coldly.
“Mr Power, I’ve never been on the inside, so don’t know what you mean. You haven’t paid us anything for a while now my friend, so I’m here to collect, one way or the other.”
“Alright. I’ll need some time, so give me say forty-eight, no seventy-two hours to secure your funds. I’ll pay everything I owe your people.”
“Mr Power, I want The Organisation’s money. I’m here to collect what you owe us in full. Not in seventy-two. Not in forty-eight hours. Now. It’s not the first time you’re not paid us promptly, or in the agreed way. I’m here to sort this out quickly, once and for all. Full payment, or you could find yourself six feet under. Get me? It’s your choice,” said Castille staring at Power.
Power had seldom felt threatened by man, woman, child or animal. Certainly not in the circles he operated in. He was therefore not a man easily frightened by anyone, at any time, in any situation, circumstance or location. Furthermore, he’d never backed down from anything in his life, not from school teachers, gang leaders or armed RBPF officers (as was evident from the week before in a St James seaside village when he had been engaged in a shoot-out which had ultimately resulted in his capture, arrest and being taken into custody).
But there was something about the man sitting across the table from him in this small room in a house on Barbados’ east coast which had him worried. It crossed Power’s mind that he might, at last have met his criminal match. Shorn of any weaponry, he didn’t think he would get the better of this man if they were in a physical contest. Even with a weapon of some kind, Power was uncertain that he would win the day against this man. Power realised that by having not paid The Organisation the overall US$1M he owed it, he was now in big trouble. The guns and ammunition recently acquired could not now be sold because of their capture by the RBPF. Also, the drugs that had earlier been provided to him for onward sale that he had sold but not yet repatriated the profits for after taking his cut, were also of concern.
Power decided to play ball with Castille.
“Twenty-four hours. Okay. Give me that time to get your money, man. Can we agree to meet back here tomorrow evening at this time? I promise I’ll have it all for you then,” said Power softly, trying not to show Castille his fear.
There was a minute’s silence, during which Castille considered Power’s offer. It was rare for Castille to make exceptions with debtors when demanding outstanding payments. He had only ever done this twice, the last time being earlier this week in Mexico.
Hat-trick, he thought.
After a minute’s silence, Castille took a deep breath and spoke. “Your last chance, Mr Power. Be here tomorrow at…” he looked at his watch “…5:30 p.m. with my money. If you’re not here, don’t have it or can’t show me that you’ve arranged to pay up from one of your two overseas accounts we know you to have access to, it’ll be game over.”
“Wait a minute –”
“No, you listen. Get this done, or we’ll dance in a way you won’t like. I’m advised that you’re a resourceful man, Mr Power. Make this happen and I’ll go away. You’re free, and sit here because we sprung you to pay us what you owe.”
“Ah –”
“Don’t let The Organisation down. Pay up and live. Don’t and die. Twenty-four hours. Clock’s ticking.”
With that, Castille rose from his chair, opened the door and left the room. He almost fell over Wharton who had obviously been eavesdropping just outside the door on Power/Castille’s conversation. The television that was on had the sound-level turned down. Castille knew Wharton had overheard his conversation with Power, but decided it didn’t matter if Wharton had heard even all that he had said.
“Here,” said Castille, pulling a brown envelope out from his jacket pocket and dropping it into Wharton’s lap.
“Your people did a nice job earlier today. I’ll be back here tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. Your friend inside will have something for me to collect,” he said.
Wharton stood up to shake Castille’s hand. “Thanks, man. Be jolly now.”
“Don’t you also have something for me?” Castille asked.
Smacking his forehead, Wharton said, “Oh, yes sorry, I nearly forgot.”
Wharton lumbered across the room to the food cupboard. He rummaged around for a while before handing Castille a brown paper bag. “Be careful with that thing, although I have a feeling you know how to use it. I don’t want it back. It’s got no prints, serial numbers or other markings on it. Silencer too. It’s clean, just as you asked for,” Wharton stressed.
“Thanks. Until tomorrow,” said Castille, moving towards the door.
“Sure thing. Be jolly now,” responded Wharton.
Once outside, Castille headed for his hired vehicle. He again wondered why, whenever he had a conversation with Wharton, he always ended their conversation with that stupid phrase. It annoyed Castille. Still, he hoped to converse with this idiot just one more time. Once he had what he’d come to Barbados for, he would not have to speak or deal with this man again.
Unless he had to return to Barbados for an as-yet unknown reason.
***
From the opened door, Wharton watched the vehicle disappear into the distance, before looking at the envelope. He knew what it contained. Wharton quickly placed it inside the Bible which lay on the stand beneath the large colour television that hung from the wall. He kept a couple of Bibles around his house and on
e at Spend Big’s Bar & Grocery (SBB&G), his main place of business. Anyone hoping to read a passage of scripture in any of his Bibles would have been sorely disappointed – distressed might be a better description. For, once his Bibles were opened, there were only a few pages at the front and back. Everyone, except his Pressure Group friends, would have been surprised to learn what else he kept there.
Wharton would give what was due to the other three members of his Pressure Group for the work they had done earlier that day when they later met him that evening in SBB&G’s back office.
***
Power sat quietly for another five minutes following Castille’s departure from the room. He had now worked out what he could and would not do. He had no intention of being recaptured by Barbados’ law enforcement agencies who were already hard at work seeking out his location. A quick return to HMP Dodds was not on his agenda. Though he felt inclined to find a way to pay off The Organisation within the twenty-four hours allotted by Castille for him to do so, he decided that he would not go that route. Yes, Power had always paid his debts – eventually, but to find a way to pay up by tomorrow would be very difficult. His alternative plan was therefore to run away, meaning that he would not pay up on this occasion. The question was how to get himself off Barbados before 6:00 p.m. the following day?
Power was honest enough to admit to himself that he had not fully comprehended one thing until his meeting with Castille had started. He had felt safe inside Wharton’s ‘safe house’ earlier that afternoon, but the reality that Wharton was really working for The Organisation had hit him hard. Wharton’s insistence on Power’s arrival at the house that someone wanted to meet with Power “later this afternoon” had made no sense at the time, so he was not unduly worried.
He was now.
He could not blame The Organisation, but now knew for sure that Wharton had sold him out. The message he’d received a few days earlier in HMP Dodds was that ‘his’ associates would help him see true daylight on Wednesday. Power would not provide Wharton with any expected reward because he suspected that Wharton had already received such from The Organisation.
Power’s earlier thought about seeing Marcie Leach, ideally sometime tonight, had deserted him. In his rationalisation, he had clean forgotten about her. Once he was safe and away from Barbados, Marcie’s image might return to him again.
Survival, avoiding capture from the search by local law enforcement agencies and escaping The Organisation’s clutches now pre-occupied him. Arranging repayment to the Organisation would be difficult anyway, if not impossible within twenty-four hours. Recapture and a return to HMP Dodds, not exactly a hospitable place, would almost be un-bearable to him. Death by The Organisation’s man Castille would be worse and so was unacceptable.
Power felt out of options and so decided to call in a favour tonight, as death didn’t appeal to him, certainly not this early in his life. Being found somewhere in Barbados, be it at the bottom of a well, in a cane field, burnt in a house fire, or dying in a car accident. With payment out of the question, he needed to fashion a novel way out of his predicament by calling a former business associate.
Power worked out a tentative plan on how and who he would ask to help make his plan become reality. He could no longer trust Wharton as he was clearly no longer in Power’s corner like when they had worked together six months earlier.
Power decided to rest up for the next few hours before making his move. As Wharton had earlier indicated that he would go to SBB&G for the evening and would not return to his house before morning, Power would use the night hours to firm up his moves for the next day. The fridge was well stocked with food and drinks, so after he had gotten some sleep, he would take a shower, get himself something to eat before initiating his plan.
***
Chapter Eleven
Reception, Dinners, After-Party
Promptly at 6:00 p.m., Sergeant Billy Browne arrived at the gates of Ben Mar ahead of the night’s reception. His task was to be two-fold. He made himself known to the High Commission staff on duty. Initially, he would help protect the Prime Minister. Thereafter, he would help his fellow Visitors CPU unit colleagues who would also attend the reception offering protection to the cricketing VIPs from the ICC once the Prime Minister had departed.
At 6:15 p.m., the two coaches bearing both teams and their support staff arrived outside the residence. The teams had been asked to be inside the residence ahead of the first guests’ arrival. They would not be part of the official receiving line, but would be visible to arriving guests.
Prime Minister and Mrs Motby were originally scheduled to arrive at 6:30 p.m., but this was adjusted on the morning of the reception to 6:40 p.m., just in case the teams arrived late for some reason, e.g. due to traffic congestion. No one wanted the PM’s entry to clash with the first guests to arrive. As a result, Constable Marshall, with Sergeant Eversley beside him, drove the Prime Minister’s vehicle through the opened gates of the residence and stopped just before the front door. Marshall and Eversley quickly exited the vehicle and opened the vehicle’s rear doors to enable the Prime Minister and his wife to exit. While the flow of guests was temporarily halted by High Commission and security staff, Prime Minister and Mrs Motby were greeted by the High Commissioner and his wife Andrea. Browne had stationed himself just inside the doorway before the four principal personalities at the evening’s reception spoke before quickly entering the residence’s hallway and headed towards the High Commissioner’s spacious downstairs study where they would receive both teams.
Five minutes later, after drinking a glass of refreshing coconut water which was awaiting their arrival in the study, the players of both teams, led by their captains, began their procession into the study for their moment in time with the four dignitaries. Team management followed them. This process was marshalled by two senior High Commission staffers. During the presentations and picture-taking exercise, Browne stood in the hallway outside of the study door’s exit. Eversley was already in the study, standing just behind Motby. Meanwhile, Marshall reconnoitred persons standing closest to the podium from where Tullock and Motby would later address the assembled guests.
***
Once Wharton had left the house, Power had the place to himself. He set an alarm on the old clock he found on the kitchen table for 10:15 p.m. His plan on waking up would be to make a call, shower, change and eat before making his way on foot to the individual he had decided to approach and ask, no demand, help from.
This individual was one of society’s most respected and apparently upstanding personalities. But unknown to the vast majority of Barbadians, this individual had been a collaborator/co-ordinator of activities related to Barbados’ underworld for over ten years. As it happened, the individual also lived on Barbados’ east coast, not that far from Wharton’s home. Luckily, they lived alone, so Power felt that making an approach to this individual under the cover of darkness should not be difficult. Securing their assistance might be trickier, even though he believed they owed him a favour.
So, given the circumstances, Power felt it was the right time for him to ‘cash in’ on the owed favour. Power knew exactly how he would endeavour to secure what he wanted.
***
Colonel Burke left JJ, Mohammed and Jayne at BIB HQ around 7:15 p.m. to go home and help host Sir Thadeus Thomas and Cindy Lady Thomas over dinner. He instructed JJ not to hesitate to call him during the evening should anything break on the prisoners’ escape case.
The missing CBOB Deputy Governor’s case was of less concern. RBPF was on that, with Vickers as lead officer. Colonel Burke knew Vickers well, so felt quietly confident that he might be able to solve and wrap up that case within another twenty-four hours or so. Colonel Burke promised to return to BIB HQ around 11:00 p.m. by which time his guests were sure to have left his house for their west coast hideaway. At that time, he would review any new leads that would have come in since his departure regarding the escape itself and any new developments on the searc
h to recover the missing prisoners, with all available BIB operatives.
***
Around the same time, with presentations to the players and team management completed and photographs having been taken, High Commissioner Tullock and Prime Minister Motby headed off towards the podium and microphone located on a raised platform to deliver their speeches. As they arrived, Constable Marshall took up a position at the back of the platform. Sergeants Eversley and Browne stood alongside Motby at one end of the platform as Tullock started to address his guests by welcoming everyone to his official residence. The assembled throng, except for those who were standing at or near to the five bars, appeared to cut their chatter to listen to what he was saying. The music had been killed to facilitate the speeches.
Tullock broke the agreed protocol timelines by speaking for five minutes instead of two, rambling on about all sorts of things. No one stopped him from doing so. He was, after all, the evening’s host and was at his house, as he and Andrea affectionately saw Ben Mar as their ‘home away from home’.
Once it was the Prime Minister’s turn to speak at the podium, Eversley and Browne adjusted their positions to stand at opposite ends of the raised platform facing and studying the large crowd. Motby also welcomed the guests to Barbados on behalf of himself, his family, Government and all Barbadians, particularly to overseas guests who were visiting the country for the first time. He encouraged everyone to enjoy the Tullocks’ party and all the various attractions Barbados had to offer. He felt certain of the high level of cricket that would be played at New Kensington Oval between two of the world’s top Test teams. Motby concluded his remarks by apologising for having to leave the party early because he’d somehow double-booked himself that evening, so had to ‘show his face’ at a second function.
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