by PETE DAVIES
“Thanks Sam, that’s kind of you and you can call me John you know, it’s okay.” John paused before carrying on, “So what the hell has been going on Greg? You said there had been a couple of issues you were looking at, but then you tell me Anna was kidnapped?”
Sam smiled. John was not a man to mince his words and he was back focused on the response to his wife’s murder. 'Woe betide anyone who gets in his way,' thought Sam.
“Yes, on reflection I should have seen it, but we got lucky. Terri and I got tailed by a couple of the gang who turned out to be not that great in terms of surveillance skills. We got the better of them and to cut a long story short, they gave up some possible locations and we got the police involved, DI Lori Garcia?”
John nodded.
“And she had a team go in and recover Anna,” said Greg.
“Good. So presumably this was a response by the OCG boss? Where is he now?” said John.
“Yes, we called Sonny after we’d got Anna back and we’ve definitely got him spooked and he’s run for cover. We could spend time looking for him, but we don’t know if he might have already left the islands, but Sam has come up with a plan to tackle things by going to the head man out in Armenia,” said Greg who looked across at Sam.
“It’s something that’s unofficially recognised as a useful and sometimes very effective tactic back in London, John, for example, where a local gang boss steps over the line of let’s call it ‘normal activity’. So when something like a murder or some other serious offence occurs, this will then result in the police engaging more openly with the OCG, bringing with it a lot of unwanted attention. However, if it then becomes apparent that there’s little or no chance of a successful judicial outcome through the Court system, it has been known that a quiet word in the ear of the big boss can lead to the offending person being dealt with, shall we say, ‘internally’,” said Sam.
“Have you done this Sam?” said John, then stopped himself. “No, don’t answer that. Silly question, but I gather it works?”
“Yes. It’s a business proposition and they know we will then lay off with the more overt police attention. Obviously we’re still going after them for any criminal activity, but they aren’t stupid and they know our resources are limited and we have to focus on the most serious and pressing cases. So if they keep their heads down, they might just stay off our radar whilst we direct our efforts on other OCGs,” said Sam.
Chris said, “Armenia isn’t London though Sam. You won’t have a SWAT team, or whatever you call them, hanging around the corner will you?”
“No, you’re right, but we think we can cover our backs and get the message across. Lori Garcia isn’t going to stop her investigation, so she will be ruffling the feathers of the OCG on the island, so they will be feeling the heat that will cut down on their income, something the big boss over in Armenia is not going to want. Any sign of weakness and another OCG, probably over here we’re talking about the Russians, well they will step in and take over,” said Sam.
“Bloody hell, it’s just like in business,” said Jack, John’s youngest son.
“Yes Jack, it is,” said Sam. “And the big boss, a guy called Sergei Grigoryan apparently runs things just like a business, with weekly performance meetings and quarterly targets and so on.”
“And the best way to take a business down?” said John, who went on to answer his own question, “Is through hitting their cash flow. Now listen, I want this bastard sorted and let me tell you this, you now have access to a £2 million operating budget. We can also run this like a business, but Greg, you only have one performance target, no, make that two. Are you clear on that?” said John.
“Yes John, we are,” said Greg looking at Sam, who didn’t hesitate and gave a nod of his head.
Sam had now very firmly stepped over the line from law enforcement officer to ‘doing the right thing’. Anna, his mother, looked at him with questioning eyes. He looked back and smiled and mouthed the words ‘it’s okay’.
“Good that’s settled. Let’s have a drink and Anna and I can have a proper catch up,” said John.
TWENTY FIVE
Miquel had the table in the front window already prepared for them. Five glasses of chilled cava were waiting as they walked through the door and Sam took time to greet the rest of the team as well.
“Señora Martínez, welcome back. It is so good to see you again,” said Miquel.
“Gracias Miquel. It’s been too long,” said Anna.
She and Luis had been regular customers to Contrabando since it had opened, but she hadn’t been since Luis became too ill to make the journey out of Palma.
“So Miquel, let me introduce you to Señora Lori Garcia,” said Sam.
“Señora, es in placer conocerte,” said Miquel. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Lori, Miquel and Sam spoke quickly in Spanish going through brief introductions as to how they knew each other before reverting to English for Greg and Terri’s benefit.
“I am trying you guys,” said Terri. “As I really want to learn more of the language for when I am over here. So brother, will you teach me?”
“Of course little sister, I’d love to.”
Greg looked at Anna. They weren’t a real family. He knew that, but it felt good to see Sam and Terri getting on so well and she had taken to Anna like she was a long lost Aunt. His thoughts were interrupted by Miquel as he took them to their table.
“We have some fabulous specials tonight and Sam, I have a couple of bottles of one of your favourites, Ribas de Cabrera.” He then left them to look through the menu.
Greg raised his glass and said, “Here’s to love and friendship, family and someone I know you two miss very much. To Luis.”
As one they said, “Salud” and Anna looked across at Greg and quietly said, “Thank you.”
Miquel came back after a few minutes with the wine and six large red wine glasses.
“It’s too good for me not to taste some of this as well amigo,” said Miquel to his friend.
It was a 2014 wine and as usual, the Ribas de Cabrera didn’t disappoint. It was as good as Miquel said it would be. They had all looked through the menu and after talking through the specials with Miquel, they went with his recommendations and then spent the rest of the evening relaxing much more than they thought about planning what they were going to do next. Sam sat listening to the conversation going on around the table and realised he was feeling completely at ease with the world and most of all, himself. He wasn’t sure how it had taken the kidnap of his mother to help him get through the stress and pressure he had been feeling as a result of the PTSD, but somehow, he had made some giant steps forward. He knew it hadn’t all just suddenly gone. No, it was still there, but he was now able to manage it and he had made up his mind to try counselling again. He looked across at Lori who was sitting diagonally to him and saw she was looking at him.
“Are you okay Sam?” said Lori. “Greg tells me you have decided to stay here in Mallorca. So, you are resigning from the Met?”
“Yes, I’m feeling really good actually Lori and you’re right, I’ve decided to stay. It was something that I had pushed to the back of my mind, but knew that it was an issue I needed to consider. My parents have been great about it, with no pressure on me to come back, but I’ve given it a lot of thought and now is a good time. In fact, it’s a really good time to do this.”
“It’s a big step for sure,” she said, “but I get the feeling you will also be doing some work with Greg and Terri, yes?”
“Well, I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t something in that Lori. I’ve had a great career in the Met and have loved being there to make a difference, to help people. I hope that doesn’t sound too corny does it?” said Sam.
There was a chorus of, “No, it doesn’t.”
He looked around the table and saw they had all been listening.
Greg then said, “So on behalf of the shareholders of 3R, that’s me and Terri, I’d like to welco
me two new members of the team.”
“Two?” said Sam, looking at Greg, who then looked at Anna.
“Yes, two new members. I’m delighted that we have also managed to secure the services, when required, of a certain, highly valued former member of the British Intelligence Services,” said Greg.
Anna looked at Sam and grinned. “I couldn’t resist it when he asked me. After all, you’ll be looking after Sa Petita Llibreria and the rest of the company won’t you?” she teased.
Lori said, “You are a very formidable team. The bad guys had better beware I think.”
Miquel arrived at that moment with a tray of five glasses of Suau, with each brandy glass warming over a glass of hot water.
“I think I have come at a good time for another toast amigos,” said Miquel.
“Here’s to 3R,” said Greg.
“3R!”
*****
They finished the night debating on who should go to Yerevan. The key issue was whether Anna should stay behind and if so, should they leave Tommy or Simon? Lori was happy to provide a team at the house, but Sam felt they would be better used in Lori’s plan to hit the OCG businesses hard to try to flush Sonny out of hiding.
“Why don’t we all go?” said Anna. “We don’t know what we’ll be facing out there and anyway, if I’m supposed to be part of this team, then I bloody well want to come.”
Sam looked at his mother. He rarely heard her swear, so she obviously wanted to make her point. Greg didn’t even have to give it a second thought.
“Yes, of course you’re right Anna. We need lots of options to react to whatever happens out there. Terri, tell your pilot we’re all going and ask him to make the flight plans for tomorrow,” said Greg.
They finished outlining the plans and itemised the actions. Anna would make contact with Carruthers regarding logistics, visas and permissions. Terri would deal with all the resources they’d require and Sam would work on the intel for when they got there.
“Good. I think we have a plan. Now I think ladies and gentlemen, it is time we all got some rest,” said Greg.
They said their goodbyes to Miquel and the rest of the team and Simon and Tommy were waiting outside in their vehicles to collect them.
As Terri got in next to Tommy she said, “Get your stuff packed tonight mate, we’re all off to Armenia tomorrow.”
“A holiday at last,” said Tommy.
Terri grinned, “Not quite, but we should have fun, now don’t hold back, I need my bed.”
Tommy accelerated out of Llucmajor and headed for the motorway back towards the city.
TWENTY SIX
“Martin, good morning. I’ll get to straight to it. We need some help getting some weapons into Armenia,” said Anna.
“Okay Anna. Shouldn’t be a problem as long as you aren’t taking in enough for an army. Presumably you want this done soon?” said Carruthers.
“Yes please Martin, very soon. We take off today, so can you get it there late tonight or latest tomorrow morning.”
“Let me see what I can do Anna. Can’t promise tonight, but tomorrow is a distinct possibility. We’ll get what you need into the country, whether it’s through an official crossing point or if we have to smuggle it in, but it will get there. Send me a list of the equipment on this email. It’s encrypted and so it’s safe. I will have someone out there to meet you, but I’ll text you details on times and places.”
As Carruthers came off the phone he rang his contact in RAF Intelligence.
“Hello Peter, I’ve got a job for you. I need a package taking to Cyprus for an onward journey from there.”
*****
The following morning, as Terri got the KIA ready to go to Anna’s villa to collect Anna and Sam, Greg phoned Lori on the pretence of an update on Sonny. Tommy had given him a bit of friendly stick about being ‘loved up’ last night, after they had dropped her off at her apartment and he’d kissed her goodnight, so he knew in reality that he just wanted to hear her voice again.
“Hola Señor Chambers,” said Lori who was standing in the open office with her team.
“Hola Detective Inspectora Garcia. I guess you can’t talk then?” said Greg.
“Let me check those details for you. They’re in my office.”
Nino just looked at her and held his hands to make a heart between his thumbs and forefingers. She knew she wasn’t kidding anyone and anyway, who cares? She was working with detectives for God’s sake, so if they couldn’t spot there was something going on between her and Greg, then they shouldn’t be on her team, she smiled.
She got to her office and sat down and flipped off her shoes and put her feet up on the desk. They had agreed that it was probably better that she didn’t know some of the detail of what he had planned, just in case she was asked by her bosses.
“So to what do I owe for the pleasure of this phone call Señor?”
“Just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Señor, are you falling in love with me?”
“I think I might just be,” said Greg and felt himself blushing and waiting for her to say something.
“Well I hope so,” she said quietly, “because I think I’m falling for you.”
Silence hung in the air. He felt like a teenager again. Hanging on the phone to a sweetheart and then neither of them saying anything.
“Greg, whatever you are going to do over there, I want you, no, I need you to stay safe and to make sure you come back to me. Do you understand?” said Lori.
He heard the emotion in her voice, “Yes, I do understand my love and I will.”
“Good, that’s okay then.” He heard her breathe out with a rush, as though that had been something she had needed to say to him. “Now when you get back you can take me out for dinner, just the two of us.”
“I’d like that. I’d like that a lot,” said Greg.
He had no idea where this relationship might be going, but one thing was for sure. He liked it a lot. Was it love? It had been a long time since he had felt more than a strong affection for someone. He caught himself smiling. Maybe it was?
“What are you smiling for Dad?” said Terri, as she stopped the car where Greg was standing.
“Just thinking.”
“Hmm, is this love I see before me?” said Terri.
“I don’t know my darling daughter, but whatever it is, it feels…….nice, very nice,” said Greg.
“About time if you ask me, but lap it up Dad, she’s lovely, so she gets my vote.”
He reached out as she was driving and gently squeezed her hand.
“Thank you, that means a lot.”
She smiled and then said, “Right enough of this soppy stuff. 3R have got an Armenian gangster to sort out.”
*****
Terri dropped Sam, Greg and Anna at VIP Departures and went and parked the KIA in the multi-storey carpark. She waited at the carpark entrance for Tommy and Simon, who were in the Armenian Nissan hatchback, before heading for the airport cargo area. She followed the directions Carruthers had sent through and saw a tall man with wavy blonde hair holding a clipboard.
“That’s our man,” said Terri.
“You must be from 3R. I’m Michael,” said the man. “I think you have something you want transported?”
“Yes please Michael. Do we need to fill anything in?”
“No, we will handle all of that and someone will be there to meet you,” said Michael.
“So, how do you get this kit in?” said Tommy.
“Probably best if I don’t tell you that if you don’t mind. We have a number of ways and…”
“The less people know about it, the better,” said Tommy, finishing the sentence for him. “Sorry, it was a stupid bloody question, but a very polite way to answer it.”
“Quite,” said Michael as he smiled at him. “Okay, let’s get to Bay 43 and unload the kit over there. We’ve got some other crates over there that we can use to pack it in.”
It didn’t take long to unload
the equipment and they left Michael transferring the packages into the crates, together with another man who wasn’t introduced to them, but who presumably was also from the same outfit as Michael. They parked the Nissan in the carpark and then met up with the others in the private jet terminal where Terri saw the pilot.
“Daniel, so good to see you again.”
“Terri, you look gorgeous as always and it’s my pleasure, especially as you are paying me for once,” said Daniel with a smile.
“Ha!” said Terri, “I do sometimes pay you. It was only those trips back and forth to Palma where you helped me out.”