by Alan Wade
September 9th ,10.00, Bramhall Cheshire.
A police car stopped outside Alan’s house and two uniformed officers walked to the front door. After 4 rings of the bell and knocks it was evident the house was empty so they pushed a card through the door requesting that Alan call the police station urgently.
September 9th,11.00, Brown Cow, Stockport.
Alan opened the gates in the passage of the Brown Cow to gain access to the rear of the pub, knowing the back door to the kitchen would be open even though the pub did not officially open until 12 noon. He was greeted by jovial shouts of, “What the hell do you want we’re not open yet,” which he ignored and found his way to the snug.
Jacky was busily polishing glasses and table mats for the 12 noon opening but saw him, smiled and enquired, “Hello love, it’s a little early for you isn’t it.”
“Now you mention it I will have a pint,” he responded.
She picked up a glass grabbed the bitter pump handle and expertly creamed a pint into the glass, “Bloody silly of me to think you could come in here and not drink,” she grumbled as she placed the pint in front of him, “and here I was thinking you’d come to see me.”
He took a sip of the beer, wiped his mouth, replaced the glass on the bar and whispered, “Actually I have come to see you, I’ve just returned home and found a note from the police saying I need to contact them urgently.”
“Well what’s that got to do with me?”
“I don’t know love, I wondered if they’d spoken to you at all.”
“Why would they want to do that? I don’t understand. You’ve done nothing wrong have you, so why the guilty conscience?”
“I haven’t done a thing, I just don’t like the police buzzing about, that’s all,” he grumbled.
“Then go and see them or call them from here.”
“I’ll go now and come back for lunch; save me some lamb chops,” he replied.
He finished his pint and left the bar to walk the couple of hundred yards to the police station. He rang the bell on the enquiry desk and after showing the note left by the police was ushered into an interview room. Ten minutes later Sergeant Lawrence sat opposite him and read out the list of questions requested from Major Rock’s questionnaire and received the following information.
He had indeed stayed in Olu Deniz at the Sun City resort, he had visited the White Dolphin he thought, but not the Secret Garden. He had been on a 14 day package holiday with a girl friend. He had seen nothing suspicious. He probably had some travel documents or advice notes at home and had booked the holiday in London when working down there. He returned on the 3rd of August and would be happy to ask his girlfriend Jacky to answer questions. He would ask her to call the station today.
“Did they want to see her?” he enquired.
Lawrence like all policemen was busy and didn’t need too many more interviews with regard to a subject he knew little about.
“Just ask her to telephone in before five pm today and I can ask her the questions over the telephone, then I’ll make a decision whether I need to see her or not. Thank you for your time Mr Johnson.”
He left the police station, his inner nervousness hidden; his first instinct was to return to the Brown Cow and brief Jacky but he needed time and space to think and decided a walk to the bank might help. He walked down Hillgate, passing the Brown Cow and continued past mainly tatty looking shops, until he reached the main banking area of Stockport. “They had made a connection,” he mused, “between Olu Deniz and me. That fucking idiot with the phone calls, if only he’d not made them. They’ve obviously found the body and I’ve made a few errors myself, because stripping him of all identity was probably seen by the police as illogical if it were only an accident. But there were thousands of people there in Olu Deniz and the dead man couldn’t be linked to me and with a little luck to anyone else. Also, the body would have been in the water for some time before being discovered so time of death would be difficult to ascertain.” He continued walking and with his thoughts, “they probably would know how he was killed though because there would be bruising. Why the hell didn’t the car explode, it must have somersaulted three or four times. Still, we are where we are,” he mused. “The questions were very general therefore they probably did not know time or day of death. Could they trace the car, obviously, but back to another dead end. What about my meetings with the others at the White Dolphin and the Secret Garden? What would I do in their shoes? I’d visit Olu Deniz, get co-operation with the local police and ask questions. Two of their questions to me had been specific about the White Dolphin and the Secret Garden. Why? They must have interviewed the staff there. They would have asked for descriptions of people who were there.”
He walked on still thinking the situation through, “I will have been videoed entering the police station and in the interview room. That picture could now be finding its way back to Turkey. Could they match me? Maybe or maybe not,” he argued with himself. “Most CCTV footage was still vague and not good as evidence, but were the police serious, maybe, maybe not,” he continued, “how many people will have been in Olu Deniz around that time? Thousands I’ll bet, but I’ve asked myself that question before, so move on,” he told himself.
“But are they serious? They have requested that Jacky call them, but only call them. I haven’t been followed at all since my return. No one has entered my house. My phone has not been tapped. No covert listening has taken place. My identity in York has not been compromised and finally, what have I actually done wrong in Turkey. Apart from the death, where all evidence must now be circumstantial? I have done nothing wrong,” he concluded. “Even if they find out about the meetings no one can be traced. I only have to be adamant that the person wasn’t me, and stick to my story. If Jacky now stands by our agreement to say we were together nearly all the time I’ll be OK. She may even tell them we went to the White Dolphin and the Secret Garden, therefore if identification is matched it may be understood to be because we both had visited those places at about the same time.”
He continued querying himself, “Am I thinking logically or illogically,” and knew he didn’t know therefore decided to take to the next step which was to go back to the Brown Cow, talk to Jacky, ask her to call the police and see the outcome of that telephone call.
Thirty minutes later he re-entered the Brown Cow breathing slightly more heavily due to the steep walk back which gave Hillgate its name. He acknowledged other regulars with a nod and was pleased to see the corner of the bar called the snug was empty. Jacky pulled him a pint and asked about the police interview. Her response was frighteningly close to the truth.
“You knew before you went, they would be asking about our holiday, what the hell were you up to out there?”
“Nothing love, nothing but business.”
“This’ll cost you,” she smiled, “maybe another trip, a really expensive one.”
“I have nothing to hide, from you or the police, but I thought you didn’t want everyone to know about your little Turkish affair.”
Blushing she replied, “Alright, let’s talk about it later when it’s not so crowded.”
“Yes, I agree although I did say you’d call the police today before five pm.”
“Well whatever you did, it can’t be that serious if all I have to do is call.”
Minutes later she had agreed to phone the police and in a quiet moment she made the telephone call.
“Yes she had gone to Olu Deniz with Alan for a holiday on July the 21st and had returned on August the 3rd. They had a great time and had visited many bars and cafes including she thought both the ones mentioned. She could remember the White Dolphin because of the fabulous views. She had not seen anything suspicious or any fights. She had a damn good time and enjoyed the holiday. However she wanted to know what all these questions were about and that her answers would be confidential, because she knew man
y police came into the Brown Cow, and she didn’t want them to know about her private life.”
She put the phone down and smiled. Sergeant Lawrence did the same and completed his report. In essence, it stated that Alan Johnson had been on holiday with a girlfriend in Olu Deniz. They were a normal couple. They had both been interviewed. They had visited the White Dolphin and many more restaurants and bars, doing normal things a normal couple do. The report concluded, please find photograph attached.
September 10th, Milton Keynes, England.
Ken and Major Rock had spent four hours sifting through the police reports already received.
They were quite quickly able to sort through the identikit questionnaire and eliminate men who did not fit the description, especially those who were over weight, showed tattoos, wore copious amounts of jewellery and did not speak with a northern accent.
By mid September 390 reports had been received and 210 men had been eliminated from further enquiries, however this still left a total of 90 men to follow up. By mid October the list had been further reduced to 60.
October 30th
Ken walked into Rocks office smiling and holding a print out;
“We may have a small breakthrough, do you remember Mrs Jean Takrit who you interviewed at the Secret Garden restaurant?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Well she was interviewed again by Inspector Farouk and she remembers one detail about the Englishman which may be interesting. You remember we did not know if he wore glasses, well she is now certain he did because when he went into her bar he was wearing what she thought were sunglasses. However when he sat in the shade, he unclipped his sunglasses from the glasses on his face and placed them on the table. She remembers this because so very few people wear clip on sunglasses and when she served drinks at their table he moved them out of her way.”
Ken looked up, “What do you think?”
Rock stood and laughed out loud for the first time in many days.
“I think we may have the beginning of a breakthrough Ken, surely of the 60 remaining men there can’t be too many who wear clip on sunglasses. Send a thank you to Farouk and to Mrs Takrit and then email all police forces who are involved with the 60 men as follows:
As a matter of urgency please re-interview Mr (space here for their names Ken) at their homes and ask the following:
Do you wear glasses all the time?
Do you wear glasses to read?
Do you wear sunglasses?
If the answers to the above are “Yes,” then ask to see the glasses.
When shown the sunglasses please observe whether they are the clip on type which attach to normal glasses, but make no comment. If they do not present a pair of clip on sunglasses then ask them all if they own a pair of these, again making no comment. Please report this information back a.s.a.p. It is of the utmost importance.
Thank you for your time with regard to this matter.
Chapter 6
November 1st, Stockport Police Station.
The email, one of 60 sent out to UK police forces was placed in Sergeant Lawrence’s in tray and added to the already formidable pile awaiting his return from holiday on November the 10th.
November 12th, Stockport Police Station.
By mid morning Lawrence had finally checked his emails and prioritised his mail into red, amber, green and bin. The email from Major Rock was answered by noon, as follows:
“Sorry for late response have been on leave until now, will interview Mr Johnson as top priority and respond asap.”
November 12th, The Brown Cow, Stockport.
Alan downed his second pint of Robinsons and replaced the glass on the bar, “It’s on good form today Jacky,” he looked around the empty pub and smiled, he liked the peace and quiet of the late afternoon in the Brown Cow and with few people about, it was a good time to talk to her. He needed another holiday abroad; a final meeting with Onar the chemist to ensure measured distribution of the products would take place over the coming months. He also had to check that the outers and packaging had been collected and ensure Onar knew exactly in which products to place the Anthrax. He also needed money and therefore Shan must be seen. These were the meetings which worried him, because they exposed the key players together and were against all the rules of small unit operation, however he was the one who had banned all forms of electronic or telephonic communication and therefore he had no choice. But this should be the last meeting and if it could be arranged within a holiday then all the better. He had already decided a venue for the meeting, it would be the island of Rhodes easily accessed by all who should attend. If he could persuade her to go with him again it would provide the ideal cover. He had already researched the best way to gain maximum secrecy and security combined with perhaps most appeal to her and there was no time like the present to test the water.
As she placed his next pint on the bar he firmly held her wrist, smiled and said, “Jacky how many cruises have you been on in the past ten years?”
“Oh fuck off,” she exploded, “I get six pound an hour, what do you get for that, half an hour rowing a boat in the fucking park.”
“Wow love I obviously hit a nerve there.”
“Well what do you expect,” she glowered and retorted; “how many cruises; one would have been bloody marvellous wouldn’t it?”
“Sorry, sorry I asked,” he pleaded.
“Well why the hell did you ask, are you going to take me on one then?”
“That’s the general idea,” he said apologetically.
“She smiled at him pulled her arm away and stepped back, “you need another bloody alibi don’t you?”
“Maybe, maybe not,” he explained, “this is the deal, we go together on a seven day Mediterranean cruise, all expenses paid and all you have to do is come along.”
“And sleep with you I suppose until you have to go to a meeting or get bored with me.”
“I never got bloody bored with you, I didn’t get the fucking chance, you were off with that bloody Turkish delight as soon as my back was turned; you even had to screw him while Joe Muggins here waited patiently for a lift to the airport.”
“Now you make me sound like a bloody tart,” she hissed.
“Sorry Jacky, sorry, but I do need you to come.”
“It’ll cost you at least five hundred in new clothes alone and there’s no guarantee I’ll sleep with you,” she sneered.
“Will you stop going on about bloody sleeping with me. We’ve decided you’re not a tart and that you choose who and what you do, so will you come?” he replied, trying to calm her down.
She smiled at him and pursed her lips while tilting her head to one side.
“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t, maybe you’ll have to wait and see.”
He knew the game but needed an answer, “Love I need you on this trip, it’s all expenses paid, a chance to see the world, or at least the Med, plus if you say yes, I’ll double the dress allowance to a grand, but I need to know.”
“What if I said no, what would you do then?”
“Look for somebody else to take, wouldn’t I.”
“Well there’re plenty of ladies out there who’d snap your hand off.”
“Yeah but they haven’t got your style Jacky.”
“Thank you.”
“Or your arse.”
She feigned annoyance but then shaking her head smiled and said, “You really are full of bullshit, but I like it,” she rubbed her thumb and first finger together and continued, “When do I get my money for the shops?”
“Mercenary sod, aren’t you.”
“Yep, now when?”
He pulled from his pocket a travel brochure opened at a page showing a Mediterranean cruise and pointed to one he had selected saying, “I need to be on this cruise on November the 25th, so you get to do your shopping asap.”<
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“What about Donald I’ll need to get time off?”
“I think so,” he quipped.
“It’s OK for you to be so laid back about it but what if he says no?”
“How can he say no, he has to give you holidays.”
She looked over his shoulder at a car pulling into the back of the pub from which two men alighted.
“We’ll have to discuss the details later, I have customers and they’re bobbies, who you may know.”
Alan looked around at the men, “Oh yeah, we both know these guys but before they come in, are we on?”
“I suppose so, I’ll ask Donald tomorrow.”
“Good, ask him for a week off starting on the 25th, you’ll have your money in two days.”
She was already moving away towards the two men who had now positioned themselves at the bar near the pit.
“Two pints of bitter please Jacky in straight glasses,” one of them demanded.
She creamed the beer around each glass filling one to half full then letting it settle, doing the same with the second glass and then filling them both to leave the half inch creamy head the regulars of the Brown Cow desired.
“Take one for yourself Jacky,” said Sergeant Lawrence then nodded to the corner where Alan sat on a bar stool, “I see Alan’s in, is he taking you away again soon?”
She dropped the change in his hand, “That’s none of your business is it nosey sod.”
“I’m only asking love.”
“I know you are,” she responded, “and thanks for the beer,” she smiled at them both and walked back around the bar to where Alan was seated. “They’ve just asked if you’re taking me away again,” she whispered.
“Well tell them we are going away, they’ll find out soon enough,” he shrugged.
“But it’s none of their business what we do.”
“They’re the same bobbies who interviewed us, so they’re nosey, tell them, but tell them no more.”
“If they ask again I might, but I still think it’s none of their business.”