The Hunt For Rose

by Brian Cain

CHAPTER SEVEN

  Bruce Hurst woke Stanton in the early hours of the morning. "Sorry John, I know it's early but I came straight from London soon as Bella called me."

  Stanton sat up on the side of his bed, he turned on the light standing on the bedside table. The dull concrete walls of the underground complex soaked up what little light there was. He looked at his watch. "We are up in half an hour anyway, run the horses before loading them and heading for Ascot. I imagine its something important or you wouldn't be here."

  "Reichmann took the bait, Rose found him strutting around the ballroom dinner last night at Ascot." Stanton looked up, he stood grabbing his clothes from a chair beside the bed, he walked towards the kitchen area followed by Hurst. "And what has Rose found out that's so important?"

  They got to the kitchen turned on the light and Stanton began to make coffee. "Bella was with her, they gave Reichmann the full works and he busted."

  "Go on."

  "He couldn't get anyone to tackle taking care of Flaxmead so he was going to do it himself."

  "I was sure of that."

  "How's this, Stillwell is pulling the strings with the Ascot board."

  Stanton stopped what he was doing and looked sternly at Hurst. "He's Hollis's right hand man, this will devastate Albert if it's true."

  "There's been a lot of money spent on Ascot of late, millions of pounds. Reichmann claims the money is coming in from the Middle East and somehow being laundered at Ascot."

  "I find that hard to believe but keep going."

  "Idris Nasih has a brother, Abdullah Nasih." Stanton finished making coffee handing one to Hurst, he put it on the table.

  "If that's true he is very good at being invisible. I'm not buying it."

  "Another name was mentioned. Karl Spencer."

  "I'm listening, Reichmann would have no idea Spencer existed unless he had first hand information." Stanton began to dress.

  "Masses of money are being transferred from Kuwait, Reichmann claims Abdullah Nasih operates from Al Asimah Kuwait. He also claims he also goes by the name of Hadar Mukum a hit man that had a nasty accident at Canberra airport, he has stolen his identity."

  "That's it, get Hollis on the phone, no way could Reichmann have winged that."

  "Wow, wow, now for the main event."

  Stanton looked at Hurst with a face etched with tension. "And."

  "Rose Blake walked into a police station in Lexington Kentucky about two hours ago."

  Stanton sat down in shock. "What. Did Reichmann tell you this?"

  "No, the information was sent to an FBI agent at Ascot, came from the desk sergeant at Lexington police station. Someone in the FBI contacted this agent McCrae, told him to make sure the right people got the news."

  "Bret McCrea, well that's incredible. Where's McCrea."

  "You know him."

  "It's a long story, sort of."

  "He's in a hotel near Ascot."

  "How do you know its Rose Blake?"

  "I rang Lexington police station, they are holding her till someone can pick her up. I spoke to her, she told me all about her father, it's her."

  "I'm going to ask a lot of you."

  "That's unusual."

  "Find McCrea, pick up Winston Blake and head for Lexington."

  "What if McCrea won't cooperate."

  "Tell him it's Rose Fleming or Wilson or whatever Rose is calling herself today."

  "You think that will work."

  "I know it will."

  Hurst shook his head. "I'm puzzled."

  "It's a long story, McCrea will tell you more about Rose than I can. Now get going."

  "Paperwork, I'll need acquisition papers to pick up Rose Blake."

  "I'll arrange for some, they'll be in your email inbox, I will have to ask Albert Hollis for a favour."

  Hurst stood to leave, he walked toward the exit tunnel, he turned nervously back to Stanton. "Ahhh, one more thing."

  Stanton stood up and sighed. "Bruce I know you very well, you set it up, out with it."

  Bob Fields and his family rolled up at Heathrow airport last night."

  Stanton closed his eyes and shook his head. "Oh crap, I asked them to stay home, the children are too venerable, and we don't have the back up to support such risk."

  "You do remember Anna and Dylan own Flaxmead."

  Stanton sat down looking dejected. "I have that many things tugging at my heart strings it hurts Bruce. I wouldn't let Jodi come for the same reason. Do you have someone you can put on them?"

  "Bella asked for the job."

  Stanton held his face in his hands, his elbows on his knees. "Bella." he muttered and let out a heavy sigh.

  "She did find and successfully do a stand over on Reichmann just as you asked."

  "Bella can stand over any man and make them talk and that's all she has to do."

  "If you want it hush hush she's the only one."

  Stanton nodded slowly and slightly. "Ask Bella to hook up with the Fields immediately and never leave their side."

  "What about Rose, she'll want to be with Bella."

  "Send Rose to meet the desk sergeant in Lexington and have him under control when McCrea gets there."

  "Why, what if she doesn't want to go."

  "Tell her McCrae will be picking her up after her assignment."

  "Will that make a difference?"

  "Try it."

  "Ohh, that sure ah. I still don't understand, we are going to get Rose Blake."

  "McCrea is our creed Bruce, if we tell him Rose Fleming needs his help I wouldn't bullshit, Rose Fleming will be there, he deserves the truth. We may need far more from McCrea in the near future. My guess is he's in Ascot looking for someone, he's been on a case for a couple of years now. Do you know how many names I have spinning round in my head. I'll tell you one thing, Jean Forbes husband has an alias and is tied up in this somehow. He's operating out of Germany and has been in contact with Stillwell, that you need to know, download the latest picture of a one Lincoln Forbes, I believe he is using Karl Spencer's identity at times."

  "Are you sure."

  "If I wasn't sure I wouldn't have told you."

  "I'll dispatch Bella immediately and get going."

  "We need remember our focus is on getting Flaxmead into the starting gate this morning."

  The air was quiet for a few seconds and Hurst read Stanton's face. "I've known you for a long time John, that look, something else is driving your thoughts."

  "Ever since my boy was killed in Libya, I've been looking for the person who sent him on the suicidal mission; I think I have a lead."

  "God help them should you find the person."

  "I need six cherries lined up before I act Bruce you know that, I don't think Louise Legrande will be as meticulous."

  "So I ass......."

  "I've told you more than you need know Bruce for a reason."

  Hurst pouted with a nod leading to a warm smile. Hurst faded in the dim light of the passageway.