by Alan Wade
“And that seems all you’re interested in, getting your cock in my arse!”
“I’ve never even tried that!” he snapped.
“You know what I mean. I suppose I was going too fast for you, but I actually thought we might have something a bit different together, a bit special,” she exclaimed.
“Maybe we do love, maybe we should continue this back in the Brown Cow, let’s wait and see eh, learn to walk before we run?”
She found her knickers and walked off with them in her hand toward the bathroom.He watched and put his hands between his legs squeezing himself and thought, “Bloody beautiful, even better naked than dressed. That’s right Alan, keep concentrating on the sex aspect, that’s all you’re in it for, don’t even begin to think that you’re falling for her. That’s just for kids, in any case you can’t get involved now, this identity won’t even exist in a year’s time and it won’t look good on her CV – ‘was courting a man who is now the most wanted in the world’.”
Dubrovnik then Venice completed their cruise and they found themselves once again at Manchester Airport. The taxi took them both to the Brown Cow as it had been agreed Alan would be dropped off there and Jacky taken to her flat. In the taxi he was charming and attentive but he made her aware he needed to go to York very soon; for some days on business and would see her again on his return.
She kissed him goodbye as he left the cab and eased her body deep into the rear cab seat.
“Maybe,” she thought, “this time, just maybe.”
She’d do anything to get out of the Brown Cow. That had been her intention in Turkey and this last week on the cruise. She hadn’t even felt guilty about using him because she knew it was reciprocal, but now she was beginning to quite like him.
He entered the snug and pulled a chair close to the bar, where he ordered and received his first good pint of beer for over a week. He was alone in the snug and pleased to be given time to reflect. He needed Jacky for an alibi both in Turkey and on the cruise and he needed that alibi for at least a few more months.
Neither of them were aware they had been shadowed since the evening in Rhodes harbour. Major Rock was excellent at his job however on this occasion he had found no real evidence that Johnson had met with any others. On the surface it seemed they were just a loving couple having a good time on a cruise. His only lead was the difference in time of the couple’s return to the ship when docked in Rhodes.
Chapter 9
December 3rd, Stockport Police Station.
Major Rock’s debrief of events from when he boarded the Costa Victoria gleaned little further evidence. He had observed both Alan Johnson and Jacky on the evening of the 30th and followed them on their visit to Dubrovnik on the last day of the cruise. He had found them to act like any normal couple and felt they had become very close. Indeed, they had left and returned to the ship together on every single occasion bar the time in Rhodes when Alan had returned later than Jacky.
“That will be worth following up,” interrupted Sergeant Lawrence, “it may well have been Rhodes where Alan met his group. Is there any way we can follow this up?”
Rock nodded in response, “If they were using the same aliases we may be able to check with the airlines and shipping companies, to see if anybody using those names landed in Rhodes that same day or perhaps one or two days before. I think it’s worth a try Sergeant, don’t you?”
“I think it’s worth starting the search for names with regard to Rhodes and then even widening it to the other destinations if we have no luck there.”
Chief Inspector Burrows noted a few points and agreed to provide the resources needed to talk with the airlines and the shipping companies.
Rock moved away from the window, turned to Lawrence and enquired, “What has Alan been up to since he landed, Sergeant?”
“Not a lot really, he was dropped off at the Brown Cow on his return to England and the taxi then took Jacky home. He spent a couple of hours in the pub and then went home to 78 Sandiway. He has had zero visitors and has made no phone calls or sent any messages by fax or email, he’s rather too quiet for my liking, but that seems to be his way.”
“Are we still on full surveillance?”
“24 hours, 7 days a week from 73 Sandiway, just as you ordered.”
“Good, then let’s get on with this search for names in Rhodes. How long do you think it will take Chief Inspector?”
“I don’t know, I estimate a few days, but first we have to find out all the airlines and boats that visit Rhodes. That may be tens or it may be hundreds and the higher the number then obviously the longer it will take.”
“Yes sir I understand it may take some time,” Rock paused then changed the subject, “it’s just so bloody frustrating. I mean, what was Johnson doing with these people. If my hunch is correct he was obviously plotting something with them. So, what is it, where is it and how long have we got. Is it now finalised or will there be more meetings? It’s so bloody frustrating, especially as Johnson never makes a mistake or gives any idea of his intentions.”
Burrows neatened his papers and stood up as he asserted, “Yes Major, this Johnson really is either very cool or perhaps even innocent of any wrong doing. Now, I have another meeting to attend and must go. I will call you when we have information regarding Rhodes, where will you be?”
“I’m staying at the Alma Lodge and will be at 73 Sandiway each day until you call sir.”
“Thanks,” he responded then turned to Lawrence, “Sergeant, will you please work with the Major and help in any way you can?”
“Yes sir.”
The meeting closed and Major Rock and Sergeant Lawrence drove to 73 Sandiway to debrief their colleagues. The debrief at 73 Sandiway proved to offer little help, the only occurrence was that Alan Johnson on his return from holiday had driven his car into the garage of the house, which seemed a little strange having left it on the drive for the duration of the holiday.
December 4th, 10.15, Sandiway, Bramhall.
John tapped Rock on the shoulder, “he’s moving sir, he’s moving, the garage doors have opened and he’s driven his car onto the drive.”
“OK John, have we got a tail ready?”
“Yes sir, there’s the car now, the white Rover 75 just on the left.”
“Have you alerted them?”
“Yes sir.”
“OK, let’s hope we find out something from this little episode.”
Just 50 minutes later the Rover was back at 73 Sandiway.
“We lost him sir, I’m sorry, but we couldn’t help it. He was three cars in front of us at the Pyramid roundabout in Stockport, in the outside lane sign posted for the city centre, when he jumped a red light and crossed over 3 lanes to join the M60 going clockwise. We were hemmed in on all sides, we just couldn’t keep up with him.”
“Did you follow him onto the M60?”
“Yes, eventually but we were then minutes behind and there are so many junctions close to Stockport, including the M56 motorway to the airport, so we decided to end the pursuit and return here.”
Rock grimaced and clenched his fists, “this guy is bloody good but perhaps the tracker in his car may help.”
“I’m sorry sir,” interrupted Lawrence, “but the tracking device has not moved, it’s still saying the car is located at 78 Sandiway. The bugger must have found it and taken it out when he garaged the car the other day.”
“So, he knows he has someone on his tail, which may result in him becoming even more cautious and make him run for safety,” declared the Major.
“I don’t think he’ll run, not if he’s the kind of guy you say he is.”
“No, perhaps not, we’ll see,” he pondered, “put out a nationwide description of Johnson and the car, but tell them to supply us only with information of the whereabouts. Place a not to be approached order on Johnson.”
“Yes sir,” replied Lawrence.
December 4th, York.
Theresa, the office manageress smiled as she took the cash from Alan Walsh, for the continued use of the serviced offices. Alan estimated it would take at least two weeks in negotiations with the companies who would eventually take his Turkish product samples. Then more time to arrange delivery of the products to all interested parties from the Kent import company. The delivery of sample products could begin in January of the second year and each company would receive, absolutely free of charge, sample products across the LOLTs range.
He hoped this would be the key to getting agreement from them to take the product but although each company had already received the portfolio he found his task daunting. People didn’t answer their phones and the faxes and emails he sent from the offices were ignored. The boss was out, on holiday, ill or not interested.
He sat in the small bar of the Ivy hotel and muttered to his friend, “I can’t give the bloody stuff away Tony, I’m amazed at British business, they don’t seem interested even when it’s free.”
Tony smiled, “We’re all too busy to change, that’s where your problem lies. Why should I or anybody else make the effort to change suppliers if there’s nothing in it for us?”
“But surely you’d accept a free sample of something?”
“Not necessarily, that’s no good if the back up deal isn’t very good, why should I change because you say so?”
He took another gulp of his Sam Smiths and replaced the pint on the bar.
“You’re a hard bastard Tony.”
“I’m a small businessman. I haven’t got time unless you make it good for me to make the time. Offer me a better margin, longer payment terms, a product that can’t fail etc and I’ll listen. If not, then you’re just another Joe Rep trying to make a buck, join the queue Joe,” he snarled.
“You’re right, thanks, you may have just helped.”
“Anything for an old comrade, he smiled in response then changed the subject, “what are you going to do tonight, meal then bed as usual?”
“Can I buy you a few pints and maybe talk?”
“In or out.”
“Out, I thought we’d try that new Chinese in Micklegate.”
“Yeah, OK, it’s a good place and I’ve got cover tonight, you’re on, but the meal’s on you.”
“The meal’s on me; but after a shower, say about 45 minutes,” He downed his pint and got up to leave.
“I’ll be here, just as usual.”
Alan’s observations in the restaurant led him to believe this really was Chinese fast food as everybody there seemed to choose some food then rush back to their tables, gobble it down then rush back again. The noise was incredible, coming from tiled floors, hard metal surfaces, plastic tables and chattering customers. Just forty minutes after they entered they found themselves in a quiet corner of the Mitre pub with 2 pints of draught Bass in front of them.
“Tony, we go back a long way, don’t we,” enquired Alan.
“Yes we do, yes we do,” he confirmed.
Alan smiled at his friend and continued, “I’ve just returned from a holiday and when I got home I knew the house had been professionally searched and bugged. They’d even put a tracker in my car.”
“Who are they,” he asked.
“The police or MI5 I think,” he responded.
“Wow, now who’s been a naughty boy then?”
“I’m not a fugitive just yet, but if they do find out where I am they may interview you, to find out what you know.”
“What’s going on then, what are they trying to find out?” He quizzed.
“The less you know the better, so will you let me interrogate you?”
“Fucking hell, are you serious?”
“I’m serious.”
“Then it will cost you a lot more drinks.”
He returned from the bar with two more beers and agreed with his friend to begin his interrogation, he looked Tony straight in the eyes and began. “Tony, you had a visitor here in December called Alan Johnson, I see he stayed in Room 7, but there doesn’t seem to be any record of his paying for the stay, why is that?”
“He’s an old friend of mine, we were in the Falklands together and friends don’t pay.”
“You were in the SAS with Alan.”
“Yes.”
“Why was he visiting York Tony, do you know?”
“He usually came for the races.”
“But not in December Tony, not in December, why was he here then?”
“I don’t know, he never told me.”
“What did he do each day then, because he was here for quite some time?”
“He got up in the morning at about eight, had breakfast and then left. He said he was working for a foreign company, one in Turkey I believe.”
“Turkey?”
“Yes, Turkey.”
“Doing what?”
“I don’t know, he never told me.”
“Where were his offices?”
“I don’t know, he never said, but he used to walk to them so I suppose they were quite close, maybe in the walls.”
“What makes you think that?”
“I think he rented them and may have mentioned they were inside the old city. I don’t know any more than that.”
“He never mentioned anything of what he did?”
“I know he came for the races in June because he spent every morning reading the Racing Post and then the afternoon at the races. I think he won a few bob.”
“Did he do anything else while he was here?”
“Not that I know of,” Tony paused and pondered for a while then continued, “OK he did get a phone call from somebody through the hotel switchboard because I took the call in the bar, but I have no idea who called him.”
“Can you remember what was said?”
“No, he just said OK, go ahead, or something like that,” Tony paused again then retorted, “look sir, we are old friends, we go back a long way, we’ve fought together and lost a lot of friends together, but I have no idea what he does now or why he was here.”
“Thank you, we may need to see you again.”
Alan smiled at him, downed his second pint then rose to get two more.” He returned with the beers and sat next to his friend who enquired, “how did I do?”
“OK Tony, OK, but did you hold anything back.”
“No, not a thing, that’s all I know.”
“Thanks.”
“You don’t need to thank me, that is all I know, now what’s this all about,” He quizzed.
“If I told you that; it wouldn’t be all you know would it?”
“You know what I mean, come on, are you in the shit?”
“No I’m not in the shit, not just yet.”
“If I was your friend you’d tell me.”
“It’s because you’re my friend that I won’t tell you, surely you know that; it’s basic training.”
“Yeah, yeah the good old days,” he snapped.
“The good old days are gone and now I don’t know what will happen and whether they will trace me here or not, but I will call to keep in touch,” he smiled at him then continued, “what do you think of a long holiday abroad , you and me chasing the ladies in the sun and the surf?”
“Who’s paying?” he enquired.
“Me, all expenses.”
“And what about my hotel; who runs it while I’m away?”
“I’ll pay for that too if you’ll come.”
“Wow, you’ll pay for everything, business must be good.”
“Business is good, now would you come if I arranged something?”
“It depends when,”he replied.
“I don’t know yet, I don’t know,” he responded, “how much notice will you need?”
“For me to get extra staff; at least a month.”
“I can give you a month’s notice and if it’s all expenses paid, will you come?”
“Yes, I suppose so,” he declared.
“Thanks, now let’s have another beer?”
“Yeah, that would be nice.”
Alan returned from the bar, Tony took his pint and smiled, “You’re slipping, what if they ask me about this offer?”
He smiled back and replied, “I am slipping, so you either tell them or you don’t, it’s your decision.”
“I won’t tell them will I, but you do intrigue me, what the hell are you up to?”
“Nothing Tony, nothing, it’s probably a case of mistaken identity. Let’s go and have a nightcap at the Ivy,” he said, trying to appease his friend and change the subject.
Two double brandies were dispensed to keep out the December chill and both men sat at the secluded bar of the Ivy.
“How long will you be staying?” enquired Tony.
He swirled the brandy in its glass, took a sniff and then a drink, then replied, “That depends on my customers, and my ability to persuade them to take my products. But it’s not been easy so far, so I guess a couple of weeks,” he replied, smiled at Tony then continued, “I do expect to pay this time; in fact I think it’s important that I do pay, I think it will help you in the long run if I do.”
“In the short run too, money’s money,” he laughed.
“Yeah, money is money, so book me in for at least another seven days and charge a sensible room rate.”
Alan downed his brandy and eased himself off the barstool saying, “goodnight my old friend, I’ve a lot of work to do tomorrow, see you at breakfast.”
“Good night, see you then.”
It took Alan a further eight days of intense telephone selling to get agreement with eighty companies to take his free samples. It was also agreed that if these samples proved to be acceptable, then further orders would be placed in March and April to meet demand. He made arrangements with the warehouse in Kent to supply the eighty companies, but knew he would have to return to York one last time, to finalise the contracts with companies who wished to place further orders.