Power wanted to react but decided against doing so in such fruitless circumstances. He nodded.
“Mr Power, I need a verbal response from you please. Do you understand what I’ve just told you?” asked JJ again.
“Yeah. I hear you, man,” said Power, still groggy.
Power swore under his breath. Luckily for him, the Vincentian law enforcement personnel outside of the taxi did not hear what Power was saying. Just as well, for had they done so, it might have led them to drive some lashes into him to teach him some manners. He was not being kind to his Vincentian hosts.
Power was then removed from the taxi, handcuffed by a RSVGPF officer before being led to the first of the two four-wheeled drive RTF vehicles, and placed in the back seat to sit between two burly SVGDF soldiers. Conway slammed the vehicle’s door shut.
“Job done again, JJ,” said Gomez.
“Indeed, Terry. As always, a pleasure working with you in these parts, and I didn’t need this thank God,” responded JJ, holstering his Glock 19 weapon.
“I share your feeling. Now let’s get our guy back to RTF HQ. You should be able to get him back home sometime during the day.”
“I certainly hope so. I’ll get word to my chief but first, please get one of your guys to check Power over. I don’t like the look of his left hand,” answered JJ.
“Okay, JJ. I’ll see to it,” said Gomez.
Walking away, JJ heard him say, “Conway, get our first aider over to look at our prisoner’s left hand.”
“Yes, sir,” said Conway looking around to find the RFT officer with that skill and the first aid box of tricks.
***
It was very early morning in Barbados, but JJ knew that Colonel Burke was awaiting his further communication. He also knew that he would have gone into his study at home since JJ had sent the first message to him earlier in the night and that he’d stay there until JJ had accomplished his mission.
On nights like this, Diane simply closed their bedroom door.
***
JJ had left Gomez to go to the second four-wheeled drive RTF vehicle that had blocked the taxi.
On his own, JJ removed his secure BIB mini-computer and deftly sent his message to Colonel Burke. It stated: ‘Package secured minus excitement. Send collection unit and usual baggage ASAP’.
***
Once JJ had sent his message, Colonel Burke’s device whirred on its receipt. Although he anticipated the communication, he still jumped when his secure BIB mini-computer whirred into life.
Having read the message, he was satisfied and so sent an immediate response: ‘Congrats P3. Will arrange as requested. Expect this to happen this AM. Surprised no fireworks.’
JJ responded: ‘So were we, but grateful none realised.’
‘Good. Well done again. WTS.’
That meant ‘watch this space’. Colonel Burke’s concluding message ended their on-line communication. He now had some arrangements to make and would start by waking up some people.
To set matters in motion, he called Brigadier Tenton.
***
Twenty-five minutes later, everyone was back at RTF HQ. The roadblocks around Greater Kingstown had been removed. While Power had continued to receive medical attention as a result of his involvement from the road accident, Gomez was on the phone reporting to Commissioner Gaynor what had happened so far that night to enable him to fill in Prime Minister Toby Walker at their breakfast meeting.
Co-operation and collaboration between the two Caribbean countries had been successful. While all of this was going on, JJ had decided to take a nap on the sofa in Gomez’s office. He’d asked Gomez to ‘nudge’ him no later than 6:00 a.m.
***
Meanwhile, back in Barbados, two support patrol vehicles carrying police and soldier personnel arrived quietly on scene. One of the RBPF officers knew the house Rowe lived at. The house was in darkness. After it was surrounded, the senior RBPF officer from the three patrol vehicles approached the front door and knocked. No response and so he knocked again, this time more loudly.
After a while, a light went on before a sleepy-eyed Rowe answered the door. “Yes? Man, you know what time of night it is? Who are you and why you breaking down my house?” he asked frustratingly.
The RBPF officer introduced himself before asking if he could come inside to ask Rowe a few questions about an incident involving his vehicle. Now unflustered, because Rowe knew this must all be a big mistake as there had been no incident involving his vehicle over the past year that he was aware of.
Rowe agreed to allow the officer to enter his home. “Just you though,” was his condition.
Rowe led the way into the small living room, limping more than…in recent weeks he’d felt the need to limp more because of his leg injury from a car accident seven years earlier. As he got older, the injury had plagued him more and more but he’d accepted the need to just get on with what was left of his life. It’s better than being six feet under he’d thought to himself a few weeks earlier.
Rowe certainly did not imagine that his Thursday lunchtime sojourn into Bridgetown and then Fontabelle to purchase his new television would result in this visit from a team of RBPF officers in the dead of night. The interview lasted only five minutes before the RBPF officer invited Rowe to accompany him to RBPF HQ to answer a few more questions about the alleged incident. Rowe started to protest, but then decided to go along. He went and spoke with Iris McCarthy, his girlfriend before dressing and leaving his house alongside the officer. No handcuffs were used.
It was only after Rowe was outside that he noticed several RBPF vehicles with officers and BDF soldiers close by. It became clear to him that there was more to the officer’s visit than had been told to him. Do they know that I was involved in the Power escape was the questions in his head and if so, who or which of the other members of the Pressure Group gang had spilled the beans on him? Should he retaliate and do the same to them?
The garbage skip nearby was almost full, but lying near the top of it were the visible remnants of packaging and the protective moulding that was usually discarded after purchase of new electrical items, e.g. computers, DVDs and televisions. The packaging here had contained a large television, like the one that now sat in Rowe’s living room. One of the observant soldiers noticed the packaging and mentioned it to the officer who was in charge of the initial RBPF patrol vehicle on the scene. In turn, this officer mentioned it to the officer in charge of the Rowe operation. Having just been inside Rowe’s house prior to their departure for RBPF HQ, he put two and two together. It might be minor, but he would mention it to his superiors once back at RBPF HQ.
The RBPF officers and BDF soldiers in the three assembled patrol vehicles had all noticed Rowe’s limp as he made his way from his house before entering one of their patrol vehicles. The right leg seemed to be giving Rowe some trouble.
***
Captain George Collins, Head of the BDF’s Air Wing, was awakened at 3:55 a.m., approximately one hour ahead of his usual 5:00 a.m. wake-up time by Tenton who had just finished speaking with Colonel Burke.
“Good morning, Captain Collins. Sorry to wake you up extra early today, but I have a job for you. Please meet me at GAIA in an hour. You’ll need your co-pilot, but not the rest of your normal crew. I’ve lined up three other people you know to keep the two of you company on an urgent assignment.”
“Yes, sir. No problem, but with respect sir, what’s this all about?” asked Collins.
“Look, George… I’ll tell you everything you need to know when I see you. Right now, time to call your rostered co-pilot and then get going. See you both up the road shortly?”
“Very well, sir! I’m getting out of bed as I speak! I’ll make the call, hit the shower and then the road.”
“Good man! I’ll have some eats and coffee waiting for everyone. Bye for now.”
“Roger that.”
Tenton then made a second, but similar ‘wake-up’ call to Commander Bruce Alleyne of the B
DF’s Special Task Force unit. Same instruction, but Tenton would pick him up from his home on his way to GAIA in another forty minutes, to arrive there by 5:00 a.m. He was not to wear any military attire. He should travel with his usual operational equipment though in case it was needed.
He got a crisp, “Yes, sir, see you in forty,” from Alleyne in response to the orders he had just received.
Thirty minutes later, after taking a shower, dressing and collecting his equipment, Alleyne wrote and left a brief note for his wife before easing out of their Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church home to await Tenton’s arrival.
***
While Tenton was making his first call, Colonel Burke was calling a member of his RED team. Fred George was also to undertake the early-morning overseas assignment. Fred was instructed to get to GAIA as quickly as he could, by 5:00 a.m. latest. Colonel Burke would meet him there to provide briefing on the assignment that was ahead of him.
“Is this a solo operation?”
“No, it is not…but don’t worry about that now. I’ll fill you in when we meet up.”
“Right. Want me to bring anything specific with me?”
“Just yourself…and your regular gear.”
“Understood. See you shortly.”
“Right.”
***
Last, Colonel Burke called Commissioner Jeremie. Another early call, but this one was half-expected.
Colonel Burke requested the services of one of Jeremie’s senior RBPF CPU unit officers for a maximum six-hour overseas assignment related to the matter that both their agencies, along with the BDF, had together initiated on Friday afternoon.
Jeremie readily complied. Just the previous afternoon, Colonel Burke had briefed him on the assignment’s most recent development. He was therefore aware that there was a possibility that a ‘recovery assignment’ might be required at some time but to be honest, he hadn’t expected it to come this quickly.
Having already identified the officer he would call on to respond should Colonel Burke request RBPF assistance, Jeremie immediately called Sergeant Billy Browne and instructed him to make his way to GAIA by 5:00 a.m.
Browne obeyed the instruction. Luckily for everyone, he lived in Gemswick Development, St Philip, one of the neighbourhoods located within ten minutes of the airport, so his getting to the airport for the required time was not going to be a problem, although he had a few questions for his Commissioner.
“Should I be in uniform, sir? Can I carry my sidearm? Oh yes, do I need to travel with any special pieces or correspondence from you related to this assignment?”
“All good questions, Billy. No, yes and yes. You’ll get the last item from me just before you depart.”
“Right sir, I’ll get going. You’ll bring the correspondence with you, sir?” asked Browne.
“I’m not coming, Billy, but I’ve sent it over to Colonel Burke. He’ll deliver and explain a couple of things about your assignment before you depart. My authorising correspondence will be provided for your use,” explained Jeremie.
“Very well, sir. I understand.”
“Good. Bye. Have a good trip.”
“Will do, sir.”
***
Promptly at 5:00 a.m., Colonel Burke, with Tenton beside him, commenced the mission brief to the five assembled persons: Collins; first officer (FO) Annette Taitt, also of Air Wing, BDF; Alleyne, Special Task Force unit, BDF; Browne, CPO, RBPF; and Fred from BIB. Between them, they would complete the overseas portion of Operation ‘Fishhook’.
There were no questions when he’d finished. All five persons knew the dangers that this escaped Barbadian prisoner posed. The fact that JJ now had his Power in his custody in St Vincent and was awaiting their arrival to bring him back to Barbados made them feel comfortable that things were under control and would remain so. Their task was to ensure that nothing went wrong after all of the hard work that had been put in by Barbadian and Vincentian security personnel. They needed to complete Operation ‘Fishhook’ by going to St Vincent, collecting and bringing Power back to Barbados to his nice, comfortable bed inside HMP Dodds. Should be simple enough. What could go wrong?
***
Following a good ‘operational breakfast’ in the hanger after Colonel Burke’s briefing but before the team boarded the BDF1 aircraft, Colonel Burke pulled Browne aside and gave him two envelopes containing correspondence, one blue and the other red. He invited Browne to read the unsealed contents of the blue envelope as the red envelope was sealed.
DATE: Monday, 23 April 2018
FROM: Commissioner, Royal Barbados Police Force, Police Headquarters, Bridgetown, Barbados
TO: Mr Aubrey Gaynor, Commissioner, Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Police Headquarters, Kingstown, St Vincent
JASPER POWER, Barbadian prisoner #XFG18-215-07177-3 escaped legal custody on Wednesday, 18 April 2018. Sometime shortly thereafter, he is believed to have fled Barbados jurisdiction and entered St Vincent and the Grenadines where he has today been recaptured.
Under the established CARICOM Protocols where law enforcement and security agencies have committed to assist each other in cases where there is: (i) evidence of a crime having been committed; (ii) an arrest has been made; and or (iii) an arrest made against the said JASPER POWER in a CARICOM member state, I hereby request that JASPER POWER be handed over from the custody of a RSVGPF officer(s) to the custody of a RBPF officer(s) who will accept responsibility for his safe transportation and return to Barbados from the jurisdiction of St Vincent and The Grenadines.
Signed: WPJeremie COMMISSIONER, Royal Barbados Police Force
Correspondence Received / Prisoner Delivered by: ------------------------------------------ Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Officer; Date: Monday, 23 April 2018
Correspondence Delivered /Prisoner Received by: ------------------------------------------ Royal Barbados Police Force Officer; Date: Monday, Monday, 23 April 2018
Once Browne had read the correspondence, Colonel Burke gave him a specific instruction. “Give both envelopes to Inspector Gomez. He’ll be at the airport with JJ and will hand Power over to you. Both you and Gomez must sign the two copies of the memo in the blue envelope, okay? He’ll keep the original and you bring back the copy to us. Gomez will be responsible for passing the red envelope onto his Commissioner. Understood?”
“Got it, sir,” responded Browne.
“Then off you go, son. Good luck.”
***
The red envelope Browne held contained one copy of a memo of similar content to what was in the blue envelope, minus the last two items below Jeremie’s signature. In reality, the correspondence in the red envelope had already been transmitted by secure e-mail directly to Gaynor from Jeremie’s personal computer in the dead of night, but this was a hard copy with Jeremie’s signature. This action would close the official loop, ensure the delivery of Power and enable his return to Barbados.
This arrangement was nothing new. It enabled smooth working between neighbouring East Caribbean country police forces and their Barbadian counterpart. But established and agreed protocols and procedures required that this bureaucratic chain of events had to take place whenever such criminal or similar exchanges formally took place shall we say, ‘below the radar’.
This was something Caribbean Governments had learnt from the Brits. Always dot your I’s and cross your T’s, no matter what the circumstances were.
***
Prior to departure, the passengers had checked in their weapons with Collins. He locked them away in the special compartment built into the aircraft’s cargo section for such items to ensure safety during the flight before BDF1 left Barbados at 5:55 a.m. for the forty-minute journey to St Vincent.
Once airborne, neither Fred, Alleyne or Browne spoke about the assignment before them. The flasks of piping hot coffee placed on board for their use remained untouched. Their assignment was expected to be a simple and straightforward one but their experience made them wary as one coul
d never be 100 percent certain of any assignment’s success until it was safely completed.
After ten minutes of non-chatter it got boring, so the three-men not in the cockpit started small-talking amongst themselves. Their discussion revolved around the best or most memorable films they had seen recently.
Fred mentioned The November Man. “It is about an ex-CIA assassin who is drawn out of retirement to help get a double agent out of Russia, but there is a lot more going on behind the scenes than the ex-agent is told. His efforts to get to the truth and clean up the mess gets complicated after his daughter is kidnapped. I found it to be a fascinating film and so recommend it to you both.”
Neither Alleyne nor Browne had heard of the film, but expressed interest in seeing it sometime. Browne spoke about a comedy he had watched with his children the week before, but Alleyne had nothing to offer to their discussion.
Just prior to landing at Argyle International Airport, Fred shared something from the film he had mentioned which had registered with him ever since. “The ex-CIA assassin explained to his protégé what a single gunshot can do… ‘a bullet travels at over four thousand feet per second, four times faster than the speed of sound. The effect of that velocity is absolute. You just…cease to exist.’ That frightened me man. I mean, we work with firearms almost every day but I’d never thought about the effect a fired bullet would have on the human body when it hits like that, at least not in the way described by that character. It sent chills down my spine hence I now wear a bulletproof vest whenever I undertake any outdoor assignment. That includes overseas ones like this.”
“Makes sense,” said Browne.
“Are you wearing one now?” asked Alleyne.
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