Islamic State: England

by John Morris

  “Only that Ali Brothers appear to be money manipulators, and may be money laundering. There was limited information to support tax avoidance, but not enough for Inland Revenue to pursue, so the request was put on indefinite hold.

  “From what you have told me, these people and companies named on your list, are all working together. They are homing illegal immigrants, and giving them official sanction. The charity gives them a face of respectability, as do the councillors mentioned. This is a very serious matter.”

  “We have strong evidence to support money laundering, but it would hinder our investigation to act now.”

  “All right then, we’ll take a look at all of them for a few days, monitor text messages, phone conversations, and email. If nothing turns up, the matter will be quickly dropped, unless you discover specifics. If we find anything, we will continue, and focus on those elements of note.

  “I can offer you no more at this stage, than to pass you on to Colin here, who will monitor these events for you. We had better exchange direct contact information, and then you can talk to Colin at his desk.”

  “Thank you, it has been a pleasure, and I am sure you will find items of interest.”

  They left with Colin, who was chatty, if work orientated. “Any idea which language they may prefer?”

  “Yes Colin, the ringleaders all have their family roots in the tribal hinterlands of northern Pakistan. They are Pashtuns and speak Pashto. There will likely be some Arabic as well. Anything else?”

  Once business completed with Colin, Alison made contact with her friends in the building, while Dan found a discrete corner and updated his Director of recent events.

  Dan had only intimated the proof they had of false documents of sale regards Ali Bros and the large farms. He did not want the Inland Revenue, and other agencies, poking their noses in, until he was ready.

  They returned to the village before one o’clock, and found Percy in residence of the operations room. “I hope everything went well.”

  “Yes Percy, very well. What can you tell us?”

  “I never got the chance yesterday, but I can confirm the Surveyor found nothing major wrong with either house, except for the wiring, which we knew about. I left a list of the findings on your kitchen table. Indication of sales value was less than half a million for you, and three hundred and fifty thousand for me. Out here, they won’t sell quickly.

  “Done up to full specifications, with double-glazing, central heating, the works, then half again. Add in a large conservatory, heated swimming pool, double garage, and say stables in the field, then double the current value.”

  “Percy, that is some result. We’ll have to wait for the official surveyor’s documents to come through, but at least we can both get on with more serious renovations. An electrician first I think.”

  “I know of a good one, an old lad whose son has taken over the business, but he still dabbles. I’ll have a word. You are looking for quality workmanship, rather than strict adherence to the latest rules?”

  “Absolutely. Let’s leave this for later. We now have a small operation running with GCHQ, and will have to wait and see if they turn up anything. Stan is going to check out the Muslim community centres, and asked about transferring to you at Lower Meddlington. I’ll ask Ma’am later.”

  “He’d be an asset, and could take over from me in a few months time. He also understands his evidence, and we don’t. What’s next?”

  “I’m going to catch up with messages and information from this morning. Five minutes, and then we’ll have lunch.”

  During the meal, Stella said, “Percy, I like the idea of reopening the shop, and I know it would make money. I’d love to give it a try, as I did help the previous people out, but I can’t afford to start the business up again. Sorry.”

  Dan said, “Fill me in, I’m not aware of this.”

  He heard the proposal and deliberated, asking the occasional question. He knew Stella was capable of running the business side of it, so said, “Okay. I’ll put up one thousand to get you started, and maybe another if things sell. Have a word with the butchers in town, and the bakery, see if they’ll offer discount for bulk.”

  Percy added, “If I am based here, I could bring out fresh bread in the morning.”

  Dan spoke seriously. “Stella, I need you to canvass everyone in this village over the next few days, tell them what you are planning, and ask everyone what they would buy. Make it clear that things will be more expensive than the supermarket, but that it will save them more money in time and fuel. That is one of your key selling points.

  “I have a feeling a licence to sell alcohol should not be a problem, but do not go putting Brain’s nose out of joint. Speak to him first, he may well offer you a bulk deal, or regular sales at least. Put items of immediacy at the top of your list, you mentioned sugar and salt. Add milk, if UHT, light bulbs...”

  “Dan, thank you!” Stella was alive with the prospect, finished eating quickly, and went into the shop to begin planning. The counter and most fittings were still in place and serviceable.

  Once back upstairs, Dan showed Percy how to monitor the tracking devices and new drones, adding them it to his list of jobs. Dan started to follow up leads, and Alison was busy. She gave a squeal of delight. “Got them! Damn but that took some unearthing.

  “The charity, Asians in Need, is run by Sylvia Cartwright, a well respected do-gooder. She is married in Islam, but not in British law. Her husband, distantly related to Muhammad through marriage, is a turncoat British citizen called Ali ben Mohammad.

  “I also discovered his birth name was Norman Harper, radicalised in Luton, where he met Sylvia at college. Their only son’s birth name is Walter Harper-Cartwright. He goes by the name of Haraka, nowadays.”

  “Good work Alison, send it to me and I’ll … Begin again. You send it through to Colin as an update, additional request. Colin will need to find the private numbers of mobile phones and email addresses, before we can unlock this. Those publicised will likely be clean.”

  “Better I log additional mobile phones associated with the same account, it should be fairly easy to do. Then Colin will have something to work on.”

  Not long after they got back to work, Dan’s phone rang. “Hello Felicity. What’s up?”

  “Dan, can you meet me in Norwich tonight, say six-thirty at the main police station. Business and pleasure, plus a free meal at a top restaurant.”

  “My pleasure. I presume we will not be alone.”

  “Correct. The new Chief Super has taken great interest, and wants to meet all of us, including Alison. She needs to come with her laptop full of facts and figures, updated to the moment.”

  “Alison, we are in Norwich tonight. Get everything up to date on your laptop.

  “Felicity, we may as well spend the night there, as we are at RAF Trimingham for nine a.m.”

  “Good, I’ll make reservation for you, and I may well join you, so your room will be under my name. Alison’s surname?”

  “Porter. I’ll need Percy here to act as cover, as we need to monitor things, and he is up to speed.”

  “No problem.”

  “I’ll also need Percy for next week at least. He has a way with his peer police officers. It may be longer.”

  “I do need him back on the beat, Dan.”

  “I may just have the answer to that as well. I spoke to Stan Parfitt earlier, and he wants to transfer to your station. I told him to wait, but he’d be a shoe-in for Percy.”

  “He could also sort out his mess of archives.”

  “I could do with Percy on long term secondment.”

  “Under consideration.

  “Dan, wear your tuxedo tonight, I think it will make the right impression. Must go, Ciao. Mwah!”

  After the call finished, Dan took a moment to compartmentalise everything. “Percy, you will be here for this week and next, at least. This is what we need you to do…”

  Afterwards he checked with Alison. “You nee
d anything?”

  “No, just leave me alone. I’ve a lot to do.”

  “Okay. We leave just after five, and you better wear something formal, a business suit perhaps, we’ll dine posh later.”

  They arrived in Norwich ahead of time, and were shown to an internal waiting room. Time dragged, and the nearby vending machine produced foul liquids, none of which resembled either tea or coffee. Felicity called. “Dan, sorry, we’re running late, but it’s well worth it. I’ll be with you in five, anything you need?”

  “Two real coffees would be great, otherwise I only need you.”

  “Cut it out, well maybe later. In five.”

  Felicity joined them ten minutes later, with three coffees. “The Super will take the Office of Chief Superintendent on Monday. It seems another complaint came in against the one in situ, and the powers that be want him out of the way, quickly.

  “The domino effect is that on Monday my Chief becomes acting Superintendent, and I become acting Chief Inspector. We all officially move up next month.”

  “Congratulations!”

  “Well done!”

  Felicity acceded to their felicitations of the moment, but Dan asked, “What about your replacement? Any news.”

  “That is strange. We had an application from a Sergeant Karen Wheeler, of Kings Lynn. She’s a couple of years older than me, and well liked apparently. She had a problem with the promotion exams, it seems. The strange part is, her application came via the Chief Constable’s Office, and was approved by him. That means it will be hard for us to choose a different candidate. Fortunately there are none, except for one Inspector in his early fifties, and I doubt he is up for it.”

  “That is peculiar. See what you can dig up. And you, Alison.”

  Talk returned to the matter in hand, and Felicity said, “We will meet with the hierarchy in twenty minutes. Alison, the room has a computer-controlled screen. Can you show video, documents, and data in support of the presentation?”

  “It‘ll be a bit ad hoc, but shouldn’t be too bad.”

  “Do it. I’ll get someone to set you up. Dan?”

  “I’ll do this chronologically, from the beginning to where we are today. I’ll be brief, unless they ask for clarification. I’ll need ten minutes for notes, and copy them to Alison before we go in. What’s the new Chief Super’s main interest?”

  “Norfolk and East Anglia.”

  “So, Norwich leading the fight against the Islamification of the UK should be a good theme.”

  The meeting followed quickly, Dan projecting a larger than life persona, enhanced by his tuxedo and bow tie. He involved the attendees in the presentation, asking their opinions, and gentling them through the Islamic thinking behind what was occurring.

  Engendering a crowd participation atmosphere, Dan involved them with the local, regional, and greater whole. He dropped seeds of information he knew would grow, and hopefully flourish.

  He was applauded when he finished, something that almost unbalanced his equilibrium. Felicity whispered, “That was brilliant, Dan.”

  The new Chief Super called them to attend dinner, where they enjoyed a sumptuous feast in a nearby restaurant. Returning to HQ and the police club, the Chief later spoke privately to his inner group of Felicity, her immediate boss, and Dan.

  He approved Stan’s relocation to Lower Meddlington, but as a personnel requisition. He would move harshly against the Wymondham police station, and quickly.

  Stonehouse sent an urgent request to the Chief Constable, asking permission to ensure the home ownership of the long-term, established villagers currently living in tithe housing, across all of Norfolk.

  He was dismayed at what was occurring, and demanded that ‘Aunt Dotty’ be found a secure place to live, and means to support herself. Felicity said, “We will deal with it, although I will need Constable Parfitt to assist us.”

  After due consideration, the new Chief Superintendent, looked Dan squarely in the eye. “Here’s what I propose to do. We’re going to castle the keep. We lock down Norwich so our base of operations is not undermined from within. Registering the outlying villagers as owners of their property is our moat. We will work outwards.

  “It will take some doing, but we will also put a block on new Muslim housing developments, now we understand how they operate. Thank you Dan, Alison. There are two in process now, and I will find means to stall them. Health and Safety is always a good ruse.

  “We will also shine the spotlight on ‘Asian’ (I hate that PC word) community centres, and send officers into what are becoming no-go zones. If residents cause us trouble, they will be arrested.

  “Dan, I need your larger eyes on here. Can you support us with, say, drones? Do what you have already done with the Wymondham villages, but this time in the city. I need each community centre logged each day, and let me know if you spot signs of education. Follow the children. Find out where they go to school, because I have just been informed there are few new applications to state schools. Where are they being educated?”

  “Yes, we can do this. I may need a local base of operations.”

  “We have a few vacant offices, some high up. You will have what you need. When can you begin?”

  “Tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Let’s say early next week, I have to be officially appointed in my new role first.”

  “Okay, late Tuesday afternoon, for Wednesday morning.”

  “Agreed.”

  Dan sent a request for more drones to his Director, asking she bring them with her in the morning. He would position them, record from Thursday afternoon, and be ahead of the game.

  Dan escaped the expected drunkenness with Alison. He tried to take Felicity with them, but she said, “I’m in this for the long haul, and will probably be trashed by the time I get back. I don’t want to do this, but this is the way they are. I’ve got to show my man balls if I want to kick through this glass ceiling.”

  He gave her a more than collegial kiss. “Come back to the hotel, and I’ll look after you. Remember, lunch in the village tomorrow. Good luck.”

  Back at the hotel, Dan worked on several reports, and when done, got a beer from the mini-bar. Looking at the price, he put it back. He didn’t need it and made coffee instead.

  He sat back and contemplated the wider issues, and caught glimpses of a larger whole. He was deep in thought when Felicity stumbled into the room. “Dan…”

  He hurried to catch her, and gave her water. She threw up minutes later, but looked a lot more herself when she came out of the bathroom. “I hope I never have to do that again. It was worth it though. Now I’m an insider.”

  Dan wiped her face with a soft flannel, gave her a little more water, and carried her to bed. She became increasingly aware of his physical presence, and said something that rocked Dan sober. “Have you ever thought about having children?”

  “Yes, occasionally. Why do you ask?”

  “Well, confession time, but then you never bothered to ask. I am not using contraception, and we were lucky last month. You want to roll the dice, because it’s the wrong time of the month. And I need you to make mad, passionate love to me, fully knowing the consequen…”

  Her words were stifled by Dan’s ardent lips, and it was a while until they fell into mutually contented sleep.

  Chapter 26 ~ Leaders of Men

  The next morning Felicity returned to Lower Meddlington. “Dan. We did it last night, the beginning of my most fertile time. You better be prepared to man-up, deal with the consequences.”

  Worried, but altruistically intrigued, Dan shared breakfast with Alison, and soon they were headed east. They arrived early at RAF Trimingham, and were shown through to the Station Commander.

  They caught up personally with events of mutual interest, before the phone rang. “Yes, ideal.”

  Tom spoke to Dan and Alison. “Two helicopters requesting landing permission, about one minute apart. I’ll need a moment to prepare, if you will excuse me.”

 
Minutes later, they walked towards the landing pads, the Air Vice Marshall touching down first. The Air Commodore accompanied him, and greetings ensued. The Director, piloting her own chopper, landed moments afterwards, and after meeting Veronica, Dan officially introduced the Director to the military.

  The Station Commander said, “Would you like refreshments after you long journey Ma’am, Sirs?”

  The Director replied quickly. “No, I’d like to see the operation at hand with my own eyes, meet the staff, and be appraised of the new direction.”

  The Air Vice Marshall echoed, “Quite so. Let’s get down to business. Lead on, Station Commander.”

  In the radar room, the Sergeant explained to the group, but spoke mainly to the Director at first. “...Then Dan observed some of the aircraft were unknown to us, and we in turn started looking for other squawks, and we found three new ones. They blip up for a split second, as if they had been previously set. I think they show when the plane is fired up.”

  “This led us to widen the operation, include new destinations, and cross referenced aircraft are still being added to our observation schedule. We’ve also taken satellite close-ups of all planes in flight. We physically identify them, and by doing so, discovered two new ones yesterday.

  “We are doing the same across all Europe, and tracking to wherever in the world these aircraft go. We’ve added Sudan, Chad, and Nigeria to the list, and suspect Morocco also. That flight is in the air as we speak. Here, let me show you movements for yesterday on this console.”

  They watched the presentation, and the Air Vice Marshall became thoughtful, asking a couple of pointed questions. Finishing his thoughts he said, “Director, I need a word with you in private, we’ll use your office Tom.”

  The others continued to discuss the operation, until the Director rejoined them. She was looking quite pleased. “Station Commander, Air Commodore, the Air Vice Marshall is ready for you now. The rest of you, I think it is time for a cup of tea.”

  The Director was chatty, but apart from fully introducing Veronica, would say little on other matters. A few minutes later Tom ushered the Air Vice Marshal into the mess. “We can offer proper service, Sir.”