by Alan Wade
“Try not to be too long you two, eh.”
“Just long enough,” she smirked as she walked away, “It’ll be just long enough.”
Quite some time later he looked at his watch, “Jesus how long do those two take to screw, no wonder she put you back to first reserve, we’ll miss the bloody plane if they take much longer and I’ll be stopping every 10 minutes for a piss if I drink much more of this Tuborg,” he thought. He put down his drink and saw the couple approach. “Aha, aha the 2 lovers return, about bloody time, welcome back to the real world you two,” he scolded.
“We had to say goodbye and Eral is so slow with his English.” Eral followed behind pulling her suitcase.
They quickly entered his car but they now had little time to sight see and the trip to the airport was fast and uneventful.
“Jesus,” hissed Alan as he entered the departure lounge at Dalaman, it’s like a bloody cattle market.” They pushed their way to the left end of the terminal building, where they dispensed pizzas, sandwiches burgers and drinks. A metal table was found with one chair and Alan said, “I’ll find another and get some drinks, Tuborg do?”
“Yes, a pint please,” replied Jacky. The sign said a pint of Tuborg and free nuts, the price for two was 20,000,000 lire.
“Bloody pirates,” he grumbled as he returned, “they’re charging nearly five pound a pint for this. I thought Manchester Airport was a rip off but this is bloody daylight robbery,” he found a chair, sat down and growled, “who gives a shit, it’s only money.”
She wanted to talk about her Turkish boyfriend but he wanted to drink. She asked for a pact about their 14 days, and asked him if anybody in the Brown Cow had to know about the first few days? Eventually the deal was made and it was agreed that he would not disclose to a soul what had happened between them; and she would not discuss his business meetings, but just state they went their separate ways. With himspending most of his time at the free bar and various other watering holes, while she met a gorgeous Turk who she planned to see again, soon.
The flight home was uneventful, the nothing to declare successful and inevitably the taxi driver talked about the weather. Jacky was dropped off first, then Alan who paid the bill, opened his front door and re-set the alarm.
“Am I lonely now or relieved, I’ve not been lonely for the past fourteen days, not when my mind was active, but I’ve been lonely for the past 5 years, lonely and bitter,” he told himself, “but I have to play the part.”
Aug 6th, Milton Keynes, England.
Major Rock’s office was situated in a smart new block to the right of the main line station. The journey time to London from here was 40 minutes on a fast train. He was also in close proximity to listening stations north of Milton Keynes and at Cheltenham. He also had weekly meetings with an American CIA advisor at the American airbase at Cottisford, which was an attempt at mutual benefit through cooperation and sharing of intelligence. At the last meeting the dominant subject had been the killing of Saddam Hussein’s 2 sons and grandson. The Americans were anxious to capture and kill the people named in their famous pack of cards and equally anxious to find the WMD which would prove their right for the conflict in the first place. On both counts the Brits were in agreement, pressure was on the government to prove the case therefore pressure was on all intelligence units to find proof. So Rock’s attempts to direct discussion to his concerns re a small holiday resort in Turkey named Olu Deniz proved fruitless. He did however gain one concession. The Americans would scan their intelligence listening records for any traffic into or calls from the Olu Deniz area. It would however be a further two days before they were able to do this. The Turks were very anxious not to be seen by the Arab world as in total support of the American and British position, however they did wish to join the EU and therefore had to play a very diplomatic hand. Even so the idea of American listening devices in their airspace and off their coast line in the Mediterranean and Black Sea would be frowned on.
Rock worried that he would report nothing unusual with regard to his general monitoring duties and specifically with regard to his Olu Deniz mission at his next meeting in London.
23rd August, American Airbase, Cottisford.
Major Rock and Colonel Walton studied their combined evidence. The post mortem on the dead man had indeed revealed that he was murdered. The three men who crossed the border from Syria into Turkey, one of whom was dead, all had aliases generated by a group with links to Al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein’s Baath party, and no electronic communication had ever taken place between any of them apart from the calls the dead man had made.
Rocks request for help from HQ with regard to money exchange had proved beneficial. The Guarantee Bank, linked to Barclays and conforming to the international banking code had filed a report of money exchanges in excess of £100,000. However the money had come from a reputable Swiss bank account and been placed in a company account in Fethiya to purchase a local business. A similar report had been filed by the ROC bank in Olu Deniz.
Finally one of the aliases used by the men who had crossed the border had been used by an ex junior finance minister in Saddam Hussein’s Baath party who had not been heard of for over 3 years, presumed dead.
However, no further evidence was available and therefore it was agreed that Rock’s team would visit Olu Deniz and make local enquiries. They would fly into Dalaman on August the 28th and be met by local police who would give them background information on the death of the man near the White Dolphin restaurant. The Brits were still perhaps the best when it came to putting men on the ground and gaining local knowledge.
Chapter 5
August 28th, The Airport Terminal, Dalaman, Turkey.
Major Rock was escorted through the VIP exit at Dalaman airport to be met by Inspector Farouk of the Turkish internal security bureau.
“Hello Major, my name is Inspector Farouk. I have been assigned to help you because I speak good English and know the area around Olu Deniz. I hope your flight went well.”
“Yes, no problems with the flight and obviously no problems here, getting through security.”
“We, like you, can help or hinder progress Major, now, what do you want to do?”
“I am here for only 3 days. I must fly back on September 1st, so if it’s OK with you I would like to travel to Olu Deniz straight away to see the crash site and this restaurant, the White Dolphin.”
Farouk nodded assent and escorted him to a waiting car where they exchanged information about the dead man and the circumstances of the death as they sped toward the restaurant.
One and a half hours later their car approached the White Dolphin restaurant. Farouk parked the car and turned to the Major, “we’re here, let’s go and see the place. The owner is German, he’s called Albert Holler and seems to be very cooperative.” They parked the car in the small car park above the restaurant facing the sea and walked down a slope to the restaurant.
“It’s absolutely gorgeous here, you can see why it draws the tourists, beautiful, absolutely beautiful,” Rock declared as he descended the steps into the bar. Inspector Farouk flashed his identity card at the waiter and asked to see Albert Holler. The waiter disappeared and returned quickly, “Mr Holler will be with you presently, he is on the telephone but he has asked if you would care for a drink on the house while you wait?”
“Thank you, that will be good, I’ll have a Becks please,” answered Rock, “and for you Inspector?”
“Tea please, Turkish.”
“Yes sir, if you’d like to sit in the shaded lounge I’ll bring them to you.”
The drinks were brought, not by the waiter but by Albert Holler, a small round man, not quite what Rock had been expecting of the German owner.
“I am Albert Holler, the owner, how can I help you?”
Inspector Farouk answered, “We are here with regard to the death of a man found in a car in the sea just behin
d your restaurant and Major Rock here with me is from England. He is very interested in this incident and would like to ask you some questions to help his investigation. Of course we know it has nothing directly to do with you but you may have seen or heard something and that is what interests Major Rock.”
“I will help in any way I can and if you would care to talk with my staff please do so.”
“Thank you Albert, may I call you Albert?”
“Oh please do.”
“My name by the way is Steve,” replied the Major, “it sounds less formal than Major Rock and may not arouse as much attention, please call me Steve.”
“OK Steve, how can I help?” he responded.
“Tell me generally about the incident from your point of view, when did you find out, how did you find out and what was happening at the time?”
His first knowledge of the incident was about the 27th or 28th of July when he had been made aware that divers and lifting equipment were in the bay to raise something from the sea bed. Rumours from many guests had then informed him, a car with a body in it had been found in the sea. Evidently it had careered off the road above the White Dolphin and plunged into the sea. That is all he knew. Rock listened intently and nodded frequently as Albert spoke then replied, “What was happening in your restaurant at this time, for example did anybody hear the car crash into the sea, were there any strange people or happenings around that time?”
“I didn’t hear a thing but maybe my staff did, please feel free to talk with them, they may help.”
“Thank you Albert,” Steve rose and looked at the view from the bar then continued, “this is quite stunning, people must come here to see this, especially when the sun sets. Can I return tomorrow and talk with you again, perhaps you can think about the days before and after the 27th of July to remember anything, anything at all that was out of the ordinary.” Major Rock and Inspector Farouk shook hands with Albert and left the White Dolphin.
“Can you drive me to my hotel,” asked Rock, “I have booked into the Karbel, the one our dead person stayed in along with his colleagues. Perhaps there may be something to be gained by staying there.”
“Perhaps, said Farouk, but we have interviewed all the staff there and they know very little, but please try, although they speak only basic English so it will be difficult for you. Would you like me to interpret?” he concluded.
“Not just yet, let’s see what happens first.”
The car pulled up outside the Karbel hotel, promises were made to meet again tomorrow at 10.00 and he found himself alone in a single room overlooking a swimming pool and an outside night club. “Sleep might be difficult tonight,” he thought.
On the early morning of the 29th of August the Major walked the streets of Olu Deniz to see the resort for himself, but was back at the Karbel hotel to meet Farouk for 10.00.
“Have you found anything out from the hotel Major?”
“No, as you said yesterday they speak little English and the staff seemed to know very little. Let’s hope Albert at the White Dolphin has thought about the situation a little more. Do you mind if we go straight there?”
“Not at all, although I thought you might like to see the place where the car left the road and plunged into the sea.”
“Good idea, let’s go there first before it gets too hot.”
The sun by now had risen over Father Mountain and the temperature was in the high twenties.
“Thank God for air conditioning,” said Farouk.
“Thank God,” he replied.
The drive to the place above the White Dolphin was uneventful, but cool. Farouk pulled the car into the side of the road in a place close to where he believed the crashed car had left the road and rolled down the cliff into the sea. They both vacated the car to assess the area.
“I believe it is possible the car could have come around this corner and left the road about here to crash into the sea, however if it had been travelling at any speed it would have taken off from this point, missed the first 50 metres of the hillside and crashed into the sea maybe farther out.”
“Then you think the car rolled slowly down the hill?” enquired Rock.
“Yes, we think it may have been pushed over the cliff top. That would fit in with the damage to the foliage at the top of the hill; it would account for the car’s position in the sea and would support your theory that the driver had been killed before the car crashed.” He paused for a moment then positioned himself close to the edge of the cliff. “Whoever killed this man then pushed the car over the cliff side to make us believe it was not murder.”
Rock nodded and surveyed the site, “Were there any footprints or other evidence to support the idea the car had been pushed?”
“We don’t know, at the time nobody thought it might be murder so very little evidence at the location was recorded and many investigating officers and sight seers have since used this area.”
“Yeah, I understand. There’s very little else we can gain from here, but thanks for bringing me. Now let’s go and see Albert at the White Dolphin. Normally I’d walk but it’s so damned hot here I think 5 minutes in your car will really help cool me down.”
They drove to the White Dolphin in silence, Rock being interested in the fabulous views out to sea and understanding the importance of the close proximity of the Middle East to this beautiful area of the world. They walked down the slope to the White Dolphin.
“Was there any evidence in the car that could tell us any more about how and when it got into the sea?” enquired the Major.
“No, we do not know exactly how long it had been in the sea, we think only a matter of days, but it must have somersaulted quite a few times before it hit the water and then the sea would have damaged anything inside and outside the car. So, we have no real evidence from the car other than there was no identification about the man whatsoever, which in itself is curious and seems to point toward murder. No wallet, no driving licence, no credit cards, a little money but nothing else. Very few people would drive around here like that.”
The two men entered the White Dolphin and asked for Albert who joined them a few minutes later and the three men sat in the shaded area, Farouk and Albert Holler drinking Turkish tea, Steve a glass of Becks beer.
“It really is a most beautiful place you have here, tourists must come from miles around to see the view of the bay, and of course the sunset.”
“Yes, nearly everybody wants to sit in the open veranda area and they all want to take pictures of their visit.”
“So, was there anything different about the situation around the 27th or the 28th of July that you can remember?”
“Nothing really that I can put my finger on, the only thing different, was a group of men who met here more than once around those dates.”
“What makes you think they were different?”
“Well, as I say, most people come here for the view, to take pictures, to drink and eat, and most are tourists with other tourists. They do stand out you know. But these gentlemen were different; they never ate here nor took pictures. They sat alone in this covered lounge and seemed to discuss business. One or two seemed to be from a boat, while others came by car. They all seemed to have different nationalities and always stopped talking when I or my staff approached. I know this because Nicha, my waiter commented on it and I also noticed the silence when I served them.”
“What do you think their nationalities were?”
“One or two may have been Turkish, one was definitely Arab and one definitely English.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“The Englishman did all the ordering, you can tell them from how they speak and what they order.”
“How did they pay?”
“Always in cash, I’m sorry, there’s no credit card detail at all.”
“Did you hear any names?”
&n
bsp; “No, as I said, they always became quiet when we approached. They always met mid afternoon when it was very quiet and seemed to like privacy. The only thing I can tell you is that when they left one or two of them went down the steps to a waiting motor boat while the others walked to Olu Deniz or went by car.”
“Can you remember what dates they were here?”
“Not really, the only date I can remember is when the Englishman was travelling home. I overheard that part of their discussion as I served them more drinks and he mentioned having to leave on August the third, which is my wife’s birthday. I remember saying to him that was my wife’s birthday and his response was; ‘Great, I hope you’ve bought her something nice.’ He seemed happy and relaxed when he answered but I don’t think they came back again after that visit which might have been close to the first or second of August.”
“Can you describe the Englishman?”
“Difficult to remember really, he was sort of average, you know, average age, average height, looked fit and weather beaten though.”
“Any rings or other jewellery?”
“Nothing I can remember, although it may have been the lack of them which made him different. One of the others though was quite striking, an Arab I would say, very smart, good looking, quite tall. I would recognise him again if I saw him, mid thirties I would guess.”
Steve Rock emptied his beer, motioned to Farouk to leave and said to Albert, “Thank you very much Mr Holler, you’ve been most helpful. If you think of anything else please call me on this number, any time,” He held out a business card which Albert accepted, then both shook hands with Albert and left the covered lounge. “Oh by the way Mr Holler, don’t give the information to any one else please,” asserted Rock.
“No, I won’t, I don’t see who else will be asking do you?”
“No I don’t but to be on the safe side let’s keep it to ourselves eh?”