‘Jack!’
‘Tony. Not seen you two at home before.’
‘Coffee all?’ Said Charlie, entering the reception room.
‘Thank you, my love. Some special occasion, is it?’
‘Indeed, it is. It’s time for you to go entirely legit.’
‘This wouldn’t be about the letter we received this morning, would it?’
‘Your noticed to quit. Four weeks.’
‘You think we should be thinking of disposal, rather than just moving on.’
‘Oh yes.’
‘Why?’
‘Because good things will happen. And with you going, others will be encouraged to pull their fingers out.’
‘What good things?’
‘I'll come to affairs of state in the fullness of time. First and foremost we are going to create a publicity stunt, a good old piece of street theatre. A few of the great British public may notice your departure Jack, along with associated criminal elements, but then we need something to put a rocket up the arse of all the others who may be reluctant to make the time and take the effort.’
‘You’re beginning to lose me mate.’
‘We of the ER, R, require the whole of the old goods yard to be cleared as soon as possible. But we, are also acutely aware that for most of the town, it is, in its current state, their principal eyesore! The sight of old shipping containers, converted into storage units, stacked three high and painted bright blue, being removed will be the first practical sign of the new railway’s good intentions.’
‘Well, I can see that would suit you, but shifting some dodgy stuff takes time...’
‘Precisely, and the only thing that would really speed that up would be the imminent arrival of a dawn raid by the police, with the media close on their heels. News of our good works could not fail to reach all corners of the county, perhaps even the nation.’
‘And you could guarantee you’d wait for the all-clear from me before you tipped them off?’
‘Absolutely. And I’m pretty sure the Chief Constable herself would lead the raid.’
‘You don’t what to embarrass her too much, causing her to move on, or be moved on. Right now, Wainwright is the Chief Constable of our dreams.’
‘Understood.’
‘So just what is in it for me?’
‘Well, as soon as the yard is cleared and the railway has its sidings back, they can become home to our new battery-powered commuter trains.’ I paused to let my announcement sink-in.
‘You cunning bastard! That is devious beyond words.’
‘How come?’ So asked Charlie in all innocence.
‘The council have recently realised I pulled a bit of a fast one with the new filling station.’ Continued Jack. ‘We set-up to have enough poke off the National Grid, to be a much larger consumer than we’re actually likely to be for the foreseeable. They, don’t have the capacity for any of their green schemes and have to wait in the Grids upgrade bottle-neck queue, along with the rest of the county. There’s been pressure on me to voluntarily give up capacity... But we’re less than a quarter of a mile from Tony’s yard.’ Now he was smiling. ‘Green trains across the Bay. Fuck me, we’ve got’em all!’
‘I wonder gentlemen, might I be permitted to be the one to grass you two up?’ Asserted Charlie.
‘Why, ever?’ I asked.
‘Captain Bob is anxious we should establish cooperative relations between Royal Oak and the police. This way I could go direct to Sonia herself.’
‘Oh, well! Carry-on Sparkwell.’
‘Get in.’ Were the Chief Constable’s first words, according to Charlie.
‘No, this has to be a confidential walk.’
‘Oh, very well.’
‘Who’s he?’ Was her first question.
‘Inspector Dobson, Informal Economy and Cyber Crime.’
‘Blimey.’ And after walking a few yards, she began; ‘I'm worried about Tony, he seems to be getting more and more involved with Jack, our iffy second-hand car dealer.’
‘Oh, yes?’
‘I don’t want him involved in the seamier side of things anymore. Anyway, I hear things. I know where Jack's so-called “lock-up” is and I know he has to move it all this week, he's had notice to quit.’
‘And you’re willing to volunteer this information?’
‘Yes, I know you can't offer me anything. But I needed to talk to you anyway, we, that’s Captain Bob and the committee at Royal Oak were hoping we could carry on the constructive relationship we had with you at the old homeless shelter?’
‘Ah. Now, tell me Charlotte, how is it whenever one talks to Anthony, he always manages to give the impression he's doing one a favour?’
‘Well, I don’t know...’
‘The last time we spoke he claimed Jack had good documentation to back up all the goods he has.’
‘Oh, it is good, but it is false. I’ve heard Jack say it’s okay at first sight, but wouldn’t stand up to proper investigation. And the goods themselves were nicked; they’ve just passed through a few hands since.’
‘Where is he moving everything to?’
‘Well, this is the thing, I don’t know, but Tony’s been urging him to dispose of everything, I was thinking it could be your last chance to nail him.’
‘Well, Inspector, what do you think?’
‘We have spent a lot of time and money on this guy, down the years, ma’am.’
‘Yes, so where is the lock-up?’
‘Its two of the old sea containers at the railway goods yard, 326 and 327.’
‘We need him there, in the act of moving goods.’
‘Could be any day in the next week, it might just be a couple of hours’ notice.’
‘That’ll be enough.’ Said the Chief Constable, with a faraway look in her eyes. Then, after a pause she began to wander away, saying over her shoulder; ‘Give my regards to Captain Forsyth when you see him next.’
‘She won’t sell many ice creams at that speed.’ I quipped without thinking.
‘Radio silence unless strictly necessary.’ Said Jack’s voice emanating from the dashboard.
I was watching Charlie with camera two, normally resident in the treatment room, but with the zoom lens added, recording the approaching motorcade. A moment later I said; ‘Three, two, one! The first vehicle has just turned off the main road.’
‘Okay. Wait for everyone to pass then get the hell out of there.’
‘Good luck Jack!’
Charlie was quiet until we were almost home; ‘Explain to me again why Wainwright won’t work out she’s been set up.’
‘Well, if you recall, at the time of the Great Crimean Gold Heist, she complained about having to deal with so much paperwork concerning our good selves. She said that you, despite having had a bit of a dodgy past, were nonetheless always trying to do the right thing! She believes you are acting in good faith; your information was good; you just couldn’t tip them off fast enough. I mean, if all’s going to plan right now, then Wainwright will believe herself to be but minutes too late. She’ll conclude you’re the innocent one, in all the whatever.’
Turning the station yard security cameras into a live feed had been a piece of cake for Fin Heptonstall. Arriving back in the Media room, I started viewing the recorded takeout. The fact that one of the cameras now pointed directly at Jack’s containers, with enhance-able audio was neither here nor there. It was all plain to see, Jack emerging from one of the now empty containers, the arrival of the police, much conversation, the insistence on viewing the contents of Jack’s van, even the revelation of the only item of note – the nineteen thirties petrol pump due to be delivered to the new, old garage at the Abbey Station this very a.m. The icing on the cake came at the very end, the arrival of our friends in the media. I packaged it all up, added Charlie’s footage and emailed it all off to Don Wooley.
My favourite moment had come at the very end, when an unseen media voice shouted; ‘Chief Constable! Would you care to explain why you are arresting one of the Bay Area’s most prominent businessmen?’
‘No comment.’
