Day of Reckoning (20 page)

son, I thought it was you.'
'My God, Harry, what are you doing here?'
'Looking for you, so get in the car.'
Amber, alarmed, tried to turn away, and Salter pushed the
muzzle of a gun he was carrying in his right-hand pocket
against Amber's back.
'Is that a gun, Harry?'
'Well, it's not my finger. Yes, it's a gun, and it's silenced,
so I could blow away your spine, leave you on the pave
ment and drive away and no one would hear a thing. Get
in the car.'
Amber did as he was told and Harry got in behind him and took out the gun. 'Listen, Amber, I know you like to
think you're some kind of Mike Tyson, and you've got big
muscles, but not with a bullet in your stomach. So do as
you're told.'
Billy said, 'Evening, Amber,' and drove away.
At the safe house, Amber sat wondering what the hell was
going on, Miller at the door. After a while, it opened, and
Dillon and Helen Black came in, followed by Harry Salter.
'Look, what's this about?' Amber stood up.
Dillon kicked him very hard in the right ankle. 'Sit
down.'
Helen Black said, 'Is this the man, Mr Salter?' 'Definitely. He's involved with a gang of known criminals: Charles Ford, Val French, Connie Briggs. I understand their intention is to rob the White Diamond Company tomorrow
night of a very large consignment from South Africa. I
also understand there's a Mafia connection, a man named
Jack Fox.'
Amber panicked. 'Here, what is this? I don't know what
you're talking about.'
Dillon said to Helen Black, 'Dear me, if this little caper
goes through, he'll still be legally a part of it, am I right?' 'Absolutely.'
'What kind of sentence would he pull?'
'Minimum of ten years.'
Amber was sweating now. 'Look, for God's sake.' 'No, for your sake,' Salter said.
There was a pause, and then Helen Black said, 'If you help
us in the matter, you'll be released within the next few days
and put on a plane back to Barbados.'
'And if you don't, it's back to the shower at Wandsworth,' Dillon said.
Frazer had done a particularly nasty stretch at Wandsworth a couple of years earlier, and he had no desire to repeat it. He loved Charlie, but ... Charlie could take care of himself.
'Okay.' Amber took out a handkerchief and wiped his face. 'Give me a drink.' Helen Black nodded to Miller, who went to the sideboard and poured a large Scotch. Amber swallowed it down. 'Okay, what do you want to know?'
On the other side of the mirror, Ferguson stood with
Hannah, Blake and Billy. A good start,' he said.
'Depends on your point of view, sir,' Hannah said.
'Well, my point is getting a result. I'm like a lot of people
these days, Superintendent, sick of the bad guys getting
away with it, as our American cousins would say. War is
war, and this is
a
kind of war. If you're not happy, go back
to the office.'
'There's no need for that, sir.'
'I hope not.'
In the interview room, Salter said, 'All right, Amber.
Manchester Charlie Ford, you, Connie and Val are going
to hit the White Diamond Company for Jack Fox. We know
you've already cut open the grille gate in the tunnel from
the river.'
Amber was shocked. 'How do you know that?'
'We know everything, old son.'
Dillon leaned against the wall and lit a cigarette. Helen took up the story. 'The gate is open, you go up the tunnel,
smash a hole through an old Victorian brick wall and you're into the basement of the White Diamond Company.'
'Only what we can't understand, old son, is how you're supposed to do the job,' Salter said. 'I mean, all that security, all those alarms.'
Amber didn't reply, and Dillon said, 'It's a waste of time,
Sergeant Major. Ship him up to Wandsworth and charge
him with conspiracy.'
As you say, sir,' Helen Black said.
Amber said, 'No, for God's sake, I'll tell you. Give me
another drink,' which Miller did. Amber swallowed it down
just like the other. 'Okay, what do you want to know?'
'First of all, the security man?'
'No problem. He takes over at six o'clock from the other
guy. Always gets coffee and a big box of sandwiches from
the takeaway at the end of the street. There's a girl there
who Charlie knows. She's going to put a couple of pills in
the coffee. They take a while to act, but when they do, he's
out for three or four hours.'
'But the security system?' Helen Black said.
'That's Connie Briggs. He's a genius at electronics. He's got hold of this thing called a Howler. When you switch it
on, it screws up all electronic systems in a given area. TV
video security, gate locks, vaults, the lot.'
'My God,' Helen Black said. 'I can't believe it.'
'Of course!' Dillon said. 'Oh, what an ass I am! I've seen
those things. They work, believe me.' He turned to Amber.
'So it is tomorrow night?'
Amber nodded. 'Seven o'clock. It's got to be early because
of the tide.'
'Will Fox be there?' Dillon asked.
'No way. It's all down to us and the Jagos.'
The door opened and Ferguson came in, trailed by Billy,
Hannah and Blake Johnson. 'Thank you, Sergeant Major,'
the Brigadier said. 'Take him out and keep him secure.'
Black and Miller took Amber Frazer between them, and
Blake said, 'Well, now we know.'
'The only trouble is, Fox isn't taking part,' Hannah said.
'Well, he wouldn't,' Dillon told her. 'He's too careful to
get directly involved in a caper like this. We have to settle for foiling the robbery and banging up the lot of them, including
the Jagos. The end result will still be that Fox loses his hope
of a big killing with those diamonds.'
'His last hope,' Blake said.
'Exactly.' Dillon nodded. 'So how do we handle it?'
Harry Salter said, 'I've been thinking. My Joe, Joe Baxter, when he was doing a five stretch at Armle
_t'
Prison in Leeds, did a learning programme. Did welding, all that stuff. You know, oxy-acetylene.'
'So what are you suggesting?' Ferguson asked.
'Well, it would run something like this, Brigadier,' and
Harry Salter told him.
They all listened, and Ferguson burst into laughter. 'My
God, that's the best thing I've heard in years.'

14

The following day, Fox was having a light lunch in the
Piano Bar at the Dorchester, tagliatelle alla panna, noodles
in a cream and ham sauce, just the way he liked it. The
waiter poured him a glass of Krug, and Falcone came down
the stairs.
'I've been to the Colosseum, Signore. Mori has laid off
most of the staff. He's kept on Rossi and Cameci.'
'I know. That damn Ferguson. Any word from Ford?'
'No, Signore.'
'Today's the day, Aldo. Make or break time.'
More than you know, Falcone thought.
Manchester Charlie Ford had expected Amber for lunch, and
when he failed to turn up he tried Amber's mobile. When
it rang at Holland Park, Helen Black nodded, Miller stood behind and Amber answered.
'Hey, where are you?' Charlie demanded.
'Sorry, Charlie,' Amber mumbled. 'I've got a terrible
toothache. I've only just managed to find a dentist who
could give me an appointment.'
'You poor sod. Okay, I'll see you this evening.'
'I don't know, Charlie. This thing could knock me out of commission.'
There was a brief silence. 'Well, I suppose we can manage
if we have to. Me, Tony and Harold. But be here if you can, okay, Amber?'
'I'll do my best, Charlie.'
'Well, you do that, darling. Stay well.'
Amber switched off the phone and looked at Helen Black. 'Was that okay?'
'You should be on stage, Amber.'
For some strange reason, he perked up. 'You really think
so?'
Absolutely. Much better than prison. Maybe you shouldn't
go back to Barbados. Maybe you should get an education
grant and try the London Theatre School.'
There was a final meeting at Fox's suite at the Dorchester:
the Jagos, Ford, Briggs and French. Falcone and Russo stood by, and Fox nodded to Russo, who got a bottle of champagne
from the basket and thumbed off the cork. He filled glasses
all around.
Fox raised his and toasted the others. 'To the big one.
They'll all have to sit up and take notice.' He turned to
Ford. 'Everything okay?'
'Amber isn't up to snuff. He's got some sort of tooth
infection. He rang me up from the dentist.'
'We don't need the black,' Tony Jago said. 'We can man
age. Enough of us as it is.'
'You know best.' Fox nodded.
Tony said, 'So you're sure you're not joining us?'
'Don't be silly. That tunnel would be rather crowded.'
'But you don't mind joining us to share out the loot.'
Falcone, leaning against the wall, straightened, but Harold
took charge. 'You shut your mouth,' he said to his brother,
'or I'll give you a slapping.' He turned to Fox. 'Look, I'm
sorry. He's young.'
'Well, we all were once,' Jack told him and smiled. 'Come
on, another glass of bubbly, and then, as I believe the Irish
say, "God bless the good work."'
It was six o'clock that evening when Hannah answered her doorbell and found Dillon on the step.
'Ferguson expects us at his place to wait out what's happening. I've got the Daimler.'
'I'll get my coat.'
She was out in a few minutes, he opened the rear door
for her, and she climbed in behind the driver. Dillon leaned in through the open window and tapped the driver on the shoulder.
'Take the Superintendent to Brigadier Ferguson.' He smiled at Hannah. 'I'll see you later. I've got things to do.'
Hannah opened her mouth in surprise, but the Daimler
moved away before she could reply.
Outside the Jagos' house in Wapping, a large white truck
bearing the sign ELITE CONSTRUCTION drew up.
Ford was at the wheel wearing overalls, Briggs beside him, French in the back. The door to the house opened, and Harold and Tony Jago emerged, came down the steps and also got in the back.
'The moment of truth, boys,' Harold said. 'Let's get to
it.'
At the same time, the night security guard at the White Dia
mond Company, having finished his sandwiches and coffee,
sat back to read the
Evening Standard.
He kept blinking his eyes, yawned a couple of times, put the newspaper down, and checked the multiple television security screens. Everything
looked normal. Suddenly, he leaned over the desk, put his
head on his arms, and was asleep.
In the tunnel, Ford and French, each wielding a sledge
hammer, attacked the wall at the right point. The old Victorian brickwork crumbled and fell backwards in large sections into the basement.
'Perfect,' Ford said. 'In we go, gents.'
They all scrambled through. 'Now what?' Harold Jago
asked.
'The tide started to come in downriver fifteen minutes ago. We're good for forty minutes. After that, the tunnel
entrance will be covered.'
'Then let's bleeding get on with it,' Harold said.
Connie Briggs took an object from one of the carrying bags that resembled a television remote control. 'The Howler,' he said, and pressed a button.
'Is that it?' Tony Jago asked.
'Well, if it isn't, all hell will break loose when we go
upstairs. If it works, the security system is fucked and all
the doors will be open. Let's go and see.'
Dillon, the Salters, Joe Baxter and Sam Hall got out of a
Transit. Baxter and Hall were carrying large canvas holdalls. Blake got out after them.
Harry Salter said, 'Look, old son, can't you stay in the
Transit? You're not up to it.'
'No, it's important to me. Fox had my wife killed, Harry.
I want to be there when he finally gets his. What happens
now, if we succeed, will finish him.'
Strange, it was Billy who said, 'He's entitled. Let him
be.'
'Well, you've changed, you young sod.'
'Damn right, Harry,' Dillon said. 'He's killed two men,
and on the side of right. No going back on that.'
Salter said, 'Okay, let's get going.'
He led the way down the steps and started along the
shingle to the tunnel entrance. When they got there, he
turned to Billy.
'You checked with Handy. How long have we got?' 'Thirty minutes, and don't forget, when that tide floods
in, it's what Handy means by St Richard's Force.' 'Right, let's get to it.'
As the Jagos and the others reached the entrance hall, they
paused, observing the security guard sprawled across the
desk, the security screens blank.
'There you go. Downstairs to the vault,' Connie Briggs
said.
Manchester Charlie Ford laughed. 'I told you he was a
genius,' and he led the way down a broad marble stairway
to the vaults below.
The others, in the tunnel, had reached the grille door. Harry Salter said, 'Right, let's get on with it.'
Billy said, 'We could clobber them on the way out, Harry.
I mean, twelve million.'
'Like I said, it's too much, Billy. They'd bring out the big
battalions. Now, we go with my suggestion. I've never liked
the Jagos, with their drugs, whores and pornography. Filth.'
He turned to Joe Baxter. 'So get your gear out and let's hope
the British prison system taught you a trade.'
Joe Baxter took out an oxy-acetylene welding torch from his holdall. From the other bag, Sam Hall produced an oxy
gen cylinder.
Baxter flared the torch and started to work.
The great vault doors opened, and the Jagos and their
friends were into an Aladdin's cave. They opened their
canvas holdalls, pulled out bags and poured in a stream
of diamonds.
'Jesus,' Harold said. 'I've never known the like.'
There was an atmosphere of hysteria, everyone laughing,
and finally, they were finished.
'Okay, let's be on our way,' Harold ordered and led the
way back upstairs.
They moved down to the basement to the exit hole they'd smashed, moved through one by one.
Tony said, 'Christ there's water in the tunnel.'
'Well, there would be,' Harold said. 'The tide's coming in. We've got time. Let's get moving.'
It was already a foot deep when they reached the gate, Manchester Charlie Ford in the lead. He tried to open it. 'What the hell is going on? It won't budge.'
Val French pushed him out of the way and checked it.
'Christ! Someone's welded it together.'
'That would be me and my friends.' Dillon sloshed forward in a foot of water, Blake at his side. 'Sean Dillon, and this is
Blake Johnson. I'm sure you've got a mobile. Call Jack Fox
and give him the bad news.'
The Jagos grabbed the bars of the grille and shook them. 'Fuck you!'
Dillon smiled. 'No, I'm afraid it's you who are fucked,
gentlemen. Now, if you'll excuse me, the water's getting a
bit high.'
Dillon and Blake turned and waded away, the water
already two feet deep and rising. They exited on to the
beach, which was already flooded. Harry Salter and the
other were at the steps, waiting.
Dillon took out his Codex Four mobile phone and called Scotland Yard, using the Special Branch number.
The officer who replied said, 'Special Branch. How can I
help you?'
'The Jago brothers and a hand-picked team are trapped in
the White Diamond Company building at St Richard's Dock.
They can't get out the way they got in underground, because
the tide's rising. If you get to the front entrance fast, you'll
catch them with twelve million in diamonds.'
'Who is this?'
'Don't be silly, get moving.'
In the tunnel, the Jagos and the others shook desperately at the grille together, but Joe Baxter had done too good a job,
and then the water rose and started to bore in very fast.
'Christ,' Harold said. 'It's that St Richard's Force thing.
Let's get out of here.'
They turned and scrambled along the tunnel, the water foaming around them, got through the hole, and scrambled upstairs to the foyer and the security office.
'Listen,' Harold said, 'if that Howler works, then the front door's open.'
'That's right,' Connie told him.
'Okay, let's get the hell out of here.'
He led the way to the door, and there was a squeal of
brakes as half a dozen police cars arrived outside.
Harold stood there, bitter and angry, and said to Connie,
'Close the door with your sodding Howler,' which Connie
did. 'Let them wait.'
The police bunched together outside the glass doors, and Tony Jago, gave them two fingers. Harold called through on the mobile to Fox at his suite at the Dorchester.
Fox said, 'Harold, how did it go?'
'Wonderful. I'm standing here at the White Diamond
Company holding a bag worth twelve million and there
must be at least twenty cops outside trying to get in at
US.
'What happened, for God's sake?'
Harold told him.
'Dillon?' Fox said. 'Are you sure?'
'And the American, Johnson. I think they've been on your
case more than you know, Jack. The trouble is it's put them
on my case.'
'I'll get you the best barrister in London.'
'Thanks very much. That's a great comfort, Fox. Sod you
and your barrister!'
He switched off the mobile. Tony said, 'What the hell do
we do, Harold?'
'Travel hopefully, Tony.' Harold turned to Connie Briggs.
'Go on, use that gadget and open the door.' Connie did, and
the police rushed in and surged all over them.
Fox said, 'That bastard Dillon. He and Johnson, they've
ruined the operation!'
'Signore?' Falcone said.
'God, I see it all now. It wasn't them just with the
Colosseum, but Al Shariz and Kilbeg, too. And now this!'
'But how, Signore? How would they know?'
'The Johnson woman, everything flows from that. Some
how she found out and told them. God knows how.'
'So what do we do now, Signore?'
Fox turned to him with a hard light in his eyes. 'We exact
revenge,' Fox said. 'That's what I want, revenge.'
'And how do we do that?'
'I'll tell you later. Right now, I want you and Russo to
get down to the Colosseum and pick up Rossi and Cameci.
Go on, do it now.' He was angry. 'And make it fast.'
'Signore.'
Falcone left, picked up Russo from his room, and filled
him in as they went down in the elevator to get the
car.
Russo said, 'He's too angry, and being too angry isn't
good.'
'You don't have to tell me,' Falcone said.
In the car on the way to the Colosseum, he phoned Don Marco in New York and brought him up to date.
'Ah God, Aldo, can't he see? They're
looking
for him to
come after them. He should just cut his losses, get out
of there.'
'He won't do that, Don Marco. He's an angry man.'
'And insane to go after them. But then, Jack was always headstrong.'
Falcone hesitated, then said the unthinkable. 'Do you wish me to take care of him, Don Marco?'
'No, Aldo. No matter what he's done, he's my nephew,
flesh of my flesh. I'm coming over there. I'll leave New York within the hour. You stay in dose touch.'
'Of course.'
'Aldo. I need your total loyalty in this.'
'You have it as always, Don Marco.'