by Bill Ward
Having discovered an empty house, Crawford frantically racked his brain for what to do next. The simplest plans were usually the best. He urgently needed to get his hands on someone close to Powell. He needed a bargaining chip.
Crawford had thoroughly researched Powell after Brown’s failures, which was how he knew about the death of Powell’s daughter. He had read the police reports and hacked his emails. They revealed little of interest at the time but now he was recalling the email Powell sent to his lawyer telling him, in the event of his death, he wanted everything left to someone called Afina. She was the same girl who had cropped up in police reports. Powell obviously cared deeply for her and she worked in his bar. Powell must have sent her away for her own safety. He needed to find her and quickly.
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
Afina was looking forward to visiting her mother and sister. She had seen them at Christmas in Brighton but it had been more than six months since she was last in Bucharest. Her view of her homeland had changed since living in England. She could no longer see herself moving back to Romania to live permanently and had told her mother so at Christmas, which led to an argument and tears.
Previously, Afina had always told her mother she would just work in England for a couple of years, to make some money and then she would return to Romania. She tried to explain to her mother, there were few jobs in Bucharest and none of them paid a fraction of what she could earn in England.
Afina knew she was being selfish by remaining in Brighton when her mother wanted her to return to Bucharest but for the first time in her life, she had found her vocation. She liked running the bar and she loved Brighton. It wasn’t just for financial reasons she wanted to remain. Brighton was far more cosmopolitan than Bucharest. In Brighton you could be anyone and do anything without attracting adverse comments. She was sure she could have a great future in Brighton, which she didn’t feel about Bucharest. One day she would like to own a bar in Brighton.
Afina had always been close to her mother and there argument at Christmas had left her feeling guilty. What made matters worse was that Afina knew her sister planned to come to England as soon as she was eighteen, which was only a year away.
Afina wanted her mother to come and live in Brighton but she didn’t speak English and she had friends she had known all her life in Bucharest. She was adamant she didn’t want to live anywhere but Romania. Afina knew there was little chance of changing her mother’s mind.
Afina had enjoyed spending the previous night with Emma and Becky. They had been a lifeline when she was first in Brighton and she would never forget their kindness to a complete stranger. They had gone out for a meal at a Thai restaurant in Kemptown. Afina had become used to eating so many different types of food since being in Brighton. Before arriving in England she had never eaten any Asian food. After a great meal, they went to their favourite bar and Mara joined them for a couple of hours at the end of the evening. They all drank copious amounts of wine and ended the evening with shots, which had left Afina feeling a little delicate come the morning.
She arrived early at the airport for her afternoon flight. Having checked in online and taking only hand baggage for what she envisaged would be a short trip, she joined the queue at Departures, ready to show her boarding pass and passport. She smiled at the man seated at the desk and handed him her documents. She was thinking about the coffee she planned to get as soon as she was through the security checks.
The man held her passport face down on his screen and then looked up at her, before once again looking at his screen. He turned his head to the side and gave a small indication to two men standing nearby.
Afina was wondering why it was taking longer than usual when she noticed the two men approach. The man at the desk handed her passport to a man in a grey suit. The other man was more casually dressed in jeans and a shirt.
“Excuse me, Miss. Will you please come with us,” the man in the suit requested politely but firmly.
“What’s the problem?” Afina asked. “It’s not out of date.”
“Please just come with us,” the grey suit repeated.
Afina saw little point in arguing and was becoming conscious she was holding up the queue. “Okay,” she agreed.
The suit led the way to a small office. Afina noticed how the man in the jeans walked behind her as if blocking any attempt on her part to turn and run away.
“Please take a seat, Miss,” the suit directed. “I’m Inspector Davies. May I call you Afina?”
Afina nodded her agreement.
“Do you know someone called Stefan?” Davies continued.
“What is this about?”
“Please just answer the question.”
Afina shuddered at the memories. “Yes,” she answered simply. She was wondering where this questioning would lead.
“We have reason to believe you engaged with this Stefan in the trafficking of young girls for the purpose of prostitution.”
“Are you mad,” Afina exclaimed. “I was one of the girls trafficked. The police in Brighton know this.”
“I understand some new evidence has come to light. My colleague will be taking you to Brighton police station for further questioning.”
“But what about my flight?”
“I’m afraid you won’t be catching any flight today.”
“Can I make a phone call?” Afina asked.
“All in good time.”
“I want to make a call now,” Afina demanded. “I need to let my mother know I’m not on the flight.”
“That will be possible once we get you to the station,” the man in jeans replied, speaking for the first time.
“I’m going nowhere until I make a call,” Afina insisted. She sat back and crossed her arms.
“The sooner you go with my colleague, the sooner this can be sorted out and you can make your phone call,” Davies said pleasantly. “Otherwise, we will put you in the local cells until you agree to be more helpful. It’s your choice. We’re in no desperate hurry.”
Afina could see nothing she said would change their minds. She stood up and said, “Okay, let’s get on with it.”
The man in jeans, who still hadn’t given his name, escorted her through a part of the airport the public didn’t normally get to see. After a few minutes, they emerged on to a quiet road where a black car with tinted windows was waiting. She thought it was a BMW but wasn’t certain. Two men stepped out from the car.
One of the men opened the rear door for her to get in. She was reluctant for a second. Something didn’t seem right. For a start, it wasn’t a police car and the men weren’t wearing police uniforms. They were dressed in dark suits. They reminded her of the three men who came to the bar for Lara.
“Please get in the car,” one of the men said, seeing her hesitancy.
As soon as she heard the American accent, she instinctively started to run but the man in the jeans was too quick for her and grabbed her from behind. He pushed her towards the car.
Powell had taught her a few simple self-defence moves. She kicked backwards with all her strength, aiming for his knee but hitting him in the shin instead.
He swore and loosened his grip.
She pulled her arms free and was intending to run but the man who had opened the rear car door was now in front of her.
She saw the blow coming towards her but couldn’t get out of the way. She was stunned and fell backwards into the arms of the man in jeans. She didn’t resist further as the two men bundled her into the back of the car.
The man in jeans watched the car drive away, then turned and walked back inside the airport. He wondered what the girl had done to make such powerful enemies.
CHAPTER FIFTY TWO
Powell was shocked the second he heard Crawford’s voice calling from Afina’s phone. He was also immediately deeply concerned. It could only mean one thing and his mind immediately flashed back to thoughts of Lara. He could not allow the same end result.
“Powell, you will do ex
actly as I say or you won’t see your friend Afina again. Actually, that isn’t true. I’m going to give her to Brown as a gift, video their time together and send you a copy of the video as a present. It will be a lasting memory of your foolishness.”
“I want to speak to her,” Powell replied without emotion.
“Of course you do.”
There was a moment’s silence before Afina came on the line. “Powell, I’m okay. I’ve told them you will kill every one of them if they don’t let me go…”
Powell could hear the phone being snatched from Afina’s grasp and her being dragged away screaming obscenities.
“She has spirit. I will give her that,” Crawford said. “And she seems to have great belief in you. I don’t think she really appreciates the reality of the situation. But you do, don’t you Powell?”
“I understand that if you harm her, you are a dead man.” Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Brian and Tina attentively listening to his conversation. They realised there was a problem.
“I don’t think you are in a position to make threats,” Crawford said. “Not if you truly value Afina’s life.”
“You don’t hold all the cards,” Powell answered. “I have Al-Hashimi and Barnes. The only way you get them back is in exchange for a healthy Afina.”
“Afina has not been harmed. I believed her when she said she didn’t know where you are staying. You are too clever to tell her your plans so I have not wasted time on interrogating her.”
Powell remembered Afina asking about his plan and her not being convinced it was for her own good that she knew nothing. She had suggested he didn’t trust her and not been happy.
“Crawford, I warn you. Ignore the idea in your head that you are going to kill me at our rendezvous and walk away with what you want. It isn’t going to happen. It’s a fair exchange or nothing.”
“You aren’t very trusting, Powell. I need Al-Hashimi and Barnes back more than I need you dead. I also want the discs with the recordings of Al-Hashimi’s interrogation. I presume you have them?”
“I have them. They make interesting viewing.”
“You would be wise not to take copies.”
“I assure you, I have better things to watch in my spare time.”
“Good.”
“So where do you want the exchange to take place?”
“I was thinking somewhere convenient for us both. We’re quite close to Gatwick. I assume you are hiding out somewhere around Brighton. Do you want to make a suggestion?”
Powell was a little surprised Crawford was willing to let him choose a venue for the handover. He was probably trying to put Powell at ease, which he would have rightfully considered necessary after what happened at Leicester Square. It was also a touch of arrogance on Crawford’s part.
Powell was under no illusion Crawford would simply shake hands and walk away, once they made the exchange. He was certain Crawford would spring some form of trap. He obviously felt confident of being able to do so whichever location they met. Given the resources he had at his disposal, his confidence wasn’t really surprising.
Without Al-Hashimi and Barnes, plan A went down the drain. They would have none of the evidence the Director General needed before he was willing to act. He could copy the files but he doubted they would be enough to make the DG act? He needed to choose somewhere to meet where he had the advantage.
“Do you know the aptly named Devil’s Dyke?” Powell asked. It was somewhere he knew like the back of his hand. He had been running there hundreds of times. The hills presented a formidable challenge but were perfect for Kickboxing training.
“No but I can look it up. Where is it?”
“Ten minutes from Brighton. It’s a popular beauty spot with a great view. There’s a car park at the top beside the pub. We can make the exchange there. Let’s not pretend either of us is going to come alone. I will have two men with me as well as Al-Hashimi and Barnes. Make sure you only bring two men with you. You will need them because Al-Hashimi can’t walk unaided after what you did to him.”
“What time?”
“I need two hours to get there.”
“So you aren’t back in Brighton,” Crawford said. It was a statement not a question.
Powell glanced at his watch. “We’ll meet you there at Six.”
He ended the call and turned to Brian. “Forget plan A or plan B, we need to come up with something new in the next two hours.”
CHAPTER FIFTY THREE
Powell was the only person familiar with the location and had explained the layout and plan to the others. Brian drove up the narrow road leading to Devil’s Dyke, followed a little way back by O’Neill, who was driving Powell’s car. Powell had told Crawford he would have two men with him so was using O’Neill as an ace up his sleeve in case of trouble. That there would be some form of trouble Powell had little doubt.
Powell directed Brian not to park in the first car park by the pub but to drive past and park in the additional spaces past the pub. He had instructed O’Neill to park in the first car park, which was where he expected Crawford to park. There were plenty of other cars parked and quite a few people walking their dogs, buying ice creams from a van or just going for a drink in the pub. It was a renowned beauty spot and always busy with visitors
Powell stepped outside the car, telling the others to remain inside and surveyed the surrounding area. They were at the top and on one side of a very steep hill with commanding views of flat countryside, many miles into the distance. In front of them was the open, grass covered top of the hill where there was no place to hide. To his back but off to one side was the large pub.
There were a few bushes directly behind where he was standing but they afforded little cover for someone to hide and people were continually walking past. There could be some of Crawford’s men hidden amongst those out for a walk but they were in full view of a great many others and Powell couldn’t see them causing trouble somewhere so public.
Crawford would have studied the maps and be aware you could only reach the top by a single road. It was possible to walk up the Dyke itself but it was in open view and anyone trying to escape in that direction would make an easy target. Powell believed he had chosen a good location for the exchange.
Al-Hashmi was on the back seat with Jenkins and Barnes. Jenkins had his weapon aimed at both of them. Powell signalled to Brian for him to get out of the car.
“I’m going to go stand on the grass,” Powell said. “I’ll take Barnes with me so Crawford can identify us.”
“You’ll make an easy target,” Brian pointed out.
“He needs Al-Hashimi even more than Barnes so I don’t think he’ll just shoot the two of us. At least I hope not.” Powell managed a small smile.
“I’ll cover you as best I can from here.”
“Right, let’s get Barnes out of the car and get on with this.”
They returned to the car and Powell took Barnes by the arm as he pulled him from the back seat. He had his other hand inside his jacket pocket firmly gripping the handle of his gun. “No funny business,” Powell warned. “I will have no compunction about shooting you dead if you do anything to try and sabotage this exchange.”
“I’m sure you would and as I have spent far too much time in your company, I’m equally keen for the exchange to take place without incident.”
“We’re walking over there,” Powell said, pointing to the middle of the open grass area. “There’s no rush.”
Barnes did as instructed and walked slowly.
“This is far enough,” Powell said.
It was an area where at the weekend there would be many hang gliders jumping off the side of the hill. He had a good view towards the right where he expected to see Crawford emerge from the car park. To his left he could see Brian and behind him the car with Al-Hashimi inside.
Powell’s phone rang and identified Afina as the caller.
“Where are you?” Crawford asked.
“In the middl
e of the grassy area opposite the car park. You can’t miss me.”
Crawford disconnected the call without further comment. A moment later Powell saw him standing on the side of the road looking in his direction. Powell saw Crawford raise the phone to his ear so wasn’t surprised when his own phone rang again.
“Where’s Al-Hashimi?” Crawford asked.
“Nearby. Where’s Afina?”
“She’s here. How do you want to do this?”
“First let me see Afina is with you.”
Crawford looked back into the car park and gave a wave. After a minute two men appeared either side of Afina. She smiled when she recognised Powell. It was enough to confirm she was okay.
“I’ll get Al-Hashimi,” Powell said. He waved at Brian to bring him forward.
It took a couple of minutes for Jenkins and Brian to get Al-Hashimi out of the car and join Powell.
“He can’t walk by himself,” Powell explained to Crawford. “Send one of your men over here. Then he can help Barnes to bring him back to you. As they start walking towards you, send Afina to me.”
Powell watched as Crawford put the phone down and said something to one of the men, who then let go of Afina’s arm and started walking across the road in Powell’s direction. Powell stepped a pace away from the others so he could cover the man’s approach.
“You are sending me back to them?” Al-Hashimi queried, his eyes showing panic. “You know they will kill me?”
“You are like gold to them and they intend to mine you for a long time to come. If you tell them what they want to know, I’m sure there will be no more torture.”
“You are as bad as them,” Al-Hashimi spat out.
“What do you want me to say? Do you want my sympathy? I’ll save that for the innocent people you killed, who were enjoying a day out watching the marathon.”