Remember Remember (18 page)

Ken looked up, “What do you think?”

Rock stood and laughed out loud for the first time in many days.

“I think we may have the beginning of a breakthrough Ken, surely of the 60 remaining men there can’t be too many who wear clip on sunglasses. Send a thank you to Farouk and to Mrs Takrit and then email all police forces who are involved with the 60 men as follows:

As a matter of urgency please re-interview Mr (space here for their names Ken) at their homes and ask the following:

Do you wear glasses all the time?

Do you wear glasses to read?

Do you wear sunglasses?

If the answers to the above are “Yes,” then ask to see the glasses.

When shown the sunglasses please observe whether they are the clip on type which attach to normal glasses, but make no comment. If they do not present a pair of clip on sunglasses then ask them all if they own a pair of these, again making no comment. Please report this information back a.s.a.p. It is of the utmost importance.

Thank you for your time with regard to this matter.

November 1
st
, Stockport Police Station.

The email, one of 60 sent out to UK police forces was placed in Sergeant Lawrence’s in tray and added to the already formidable pile awaiting his return from holiday on November the 10
th
.

November 12
th
, Stockport Police Station.

By mid morning Lawrence had finally checked his emails and prioritised his mail into red, amber, green and bin. The email from Major Rock was answered by noon, as follows:

“Sorry for late response have been on leave until now, will interview Mr Johnson as top priority and respond asap.”

November 12
th
, The Brown Cow, Stockport.

Alan downed his second pint of Robinsons and replaced the glass on the bar, “It’s on good form today Jacky,” he looked around the empty pub and smiled, he liked the peace and quiet of the late afternoon in the Brown Cow and with few people about, it was a good time to talk to her. He needed another holiday abroad; a final meeting with Onar the chemist to ensure measured distribution of the products would take place over the coming months. He also had to check that the outers and packaging had been collected and ensure Onar knew exactly in which products to place the Anthrax. He also needed money and therefore Shan must be seen. These were the meetings which worried him, because they exposed the key players together and were against all the rules of small unit operation, however he was the one who had banned all forms of electronic or telephonic communication and therefore he had no choice. But this should be the last meeting and if it could be arranged within a holiday then all the better. He had already decided a venue for the meeting, it would be the island of Rhodes easily accessed by all who should attend. If he could persuade her to go with him again it would provide the ideal cover. He had already researched the best way to gain maximum secrecy and security combined with perhaps most appeal to her and there was no time like the present to test the water.

As she placed his next pint on the bar he firmly held her wrist, smiled and said, “Jacky how many cruises have you been on in the past ten years?”

“Oh fuck off,” she exploded, “I get six pound an hour, what do you get for that, half an hour rowing a boat in the fucking park.”

“Wow love I obviously hit a nerve there.”

“Well what do you expect,” she glowered and retorted; “how many cruises; one would have been bloody marvellous wouldn’t it?”

“Sorry, sorry I asked,” he pleaded.

“Well why the hell did you ask, are you going to take me on one then?”

“That’s the general idea,” he said apologetically.

“She smiled at him pulled her arm away and stepped back, “you need another bloody alibi don’t you?”

“Maybe, maybe not,” he explained, “this is the deal, we go together on a seven day Mediterranean cruise, all expenses paid and all you have to do is come along.”

“And sleep with you I suppose until you have to go to a meeting or get bored with me.”

“I never got bloody bored with you, I didn’t get the fucking chance, you were off with that bloody Turkish delight as soon as my back was turned; you even had to screw him while Joe Muggins here waited patiently for a lift to the airport.”

“Now you make me sound like a bloody tart,” she hissed.

“Sorry Jacky, sorry, but I do need you to come.”

“It’ll cost you at least five hundred in new clothes alone and there’s no guarantee I’ll sleep with you,” she sneered.

“Will you stop going on about bloody sleeping with me. We’ve decided you’re not a tart and that you choose who and what you do, so will you come?” he replied, trying to calm her down.

She smiled at him and pursed her lips while tilting her head to one side.

“Maybe I will, maybe I won’t, maybe you’ll have to wait and see.”

He knew the game but needed an answer, “Love I need you on this trip, it’s all expenses paid, a chance to see the world, or at least the Med, plus if you say yes, I’ll double the dress allowance to a grand, but I need to know.”

“What if I said no, what would you do then?”

“Look for somebody else to take, wouldn’t I.”

“Well there’re plenty of ladies out there who’d snap your hand off.”

“Yeah but they haven’t got your style Jacky.”

“Thank you.”

“Or your arse.”

She feigned annoyance but then shaking her head smiled and said, “You really are full of bullshit, but I like it,” she rubbed her thumb and first finger together and continued, “When do I get my money for the shops?”

“Mercenary sod, aren’t you.”

“Yep, now when?”

He pulled from his pocket a travel brochure opened at a page showing a Mediterranean cruise and pointed to one he had selected saying, “I need to be on this cruise on November the 25th, so you get to do your shopping asap.”

“What about Donald I’ll need to get time off?”

“I think so,” he quipped.

“It’s OK for you to be so laid back about it but what if he says no?”

“How can he say no, he has to give you holidays.”

She looked over his shoulder at a car pulling into the back of the pub from which two men alighted.

“We’ll have to discuss the details later, I have customers and they’re bobbies, who you may know.”

Alan looked around at the men, “Oh yeah, we both know these guys but before they come in, are we on?”

“I suppose so, I’ll ask Donald tomorrow.”

“Good, ask him for a week off starting on the 25
th
, you’ll have your money in two days.”

She was already moving away towards the two men who had now positioned themselves at the bar near the pit.

“Two pints of bitter please Jacky in straight glasses,” one of them demanded.

She creamed the beer around each glass filling one to half full then letting it settle, doing the same with the second glass and then filling them both to leave the half inch creamy head the regulars of the Brown Cow desired.

“Take one for yourself Jacky,” said Sergeant Lawrence then nodded to the corner where Alan sat on a bar stool, “I see Alan’s in, is he taking you away again soon?”

She dropped the change in his hand, “That’s none of your business is it nosey sod.”

“I’m only asking love.”

“I know you are,” she responded, “and thanks for the beer,” she smiled at them both and walked back around the bar to where Alan was seated. “They’ve just asked if you’re taking me away again,” she whispered.

“Well tell them we are going away, they’ll find out soon enough,” he shrugged.

“But it’s none of their business what we do.”

“They’re the same bobbies who interviewed us, so they’re nosey, tell them, but tell them no more.”

“If they ask again I might, but I still think it’s none of their business.”

“Jacky, look at it from their point of view, if you tell them; it’s an innocent holiday we’re going on; if you don’t tell them they may begin to wonder why such an innocent question was not answered truthfully. So just bloody well tell them,” he snapped.

“OK, OK, don’t get your knickers in a twist, I’ll tell them, you get me my dress allowance.”

He finished his beer, downed the pint mug on the bar, picked up his glasses and slid from the bar stool. “You’ll have it in two days Jacky, see you soon.” He walked around the bar and passed the two policemen.

“Bye fellas, look after Jacky while I’m gone.”

Lawrence turned as Alan walked past. “Yeah, see you Alan, oh by the way, do you wear those glasses with shades?”

“Yeah, clip ons, why are you asking?”

“Oh, no reason, I think I might buy some that’s all, better for reading in the sun. Goodbye Alan, see you soon.”

Lawrence’s companion John turned to him, “what was all that about, the bit with the sunglasses?”

“Something that task force guy Rock has asked me to find out. Evidently he’s looking for a guy who wears clip on sunglasses.” He looked around the empty bar to see if they were being overheard by Jacky, then continued “Now let’s change the subject eh, barmaids have big ears and friends. I’ll send Rock an email tomorrow afternoon; I’m on late turn so he’ll have to wait till then. Cheers John.” Lawrence downed his beer and John ordered two more pints.

November 15
th
, Milton Keynes.

Major Rock had received only two positive responses with regard to the wearing of clip on sunglasses from the 60 men still on his list. He had already interviewed one man in Stoke and had eliminated him from his enquiries. This left Sergeant Lawrence’s email regarding Alan Johnson, who seemed to fit the profile very well.

Ken had been asked to work on a full profile of Johnson and the results now read by the Major were startling. He picked up the phone, dialled SBCT11 Headquarters and requested to speak with Commander Bagshaw. A female voice informed him that Bagshaw was out of the country until November the 19
th
but would be able to see the Major on the 22
nd
at 2.30 pm. The meeting was agreed and Rock decided to wait until that meeting before attempting to interview or begin surveillance operations on Alan Johnson.

In the meantime a small task force would be brought together to work on the case, permission would be gained to tap phones and emails, plus search warrants obtained to enable covert examination and bugging of Johnson’s house. If possible a local house would be seconded to enable observation of the comings and goings from the suspect’s home.

November 22
nd
, 14.30, SBCT11 HQ, London.

After the quick pleasantries of welcome between the Commander and Rock, the Major was asked to present his reasons for requesting the urgent meeting.

“I think I’ve got my man sir, the man in the Olu Deniz case and I would like 30 minutes of your time to give you an overview of this man and to enable us to decide, if appropriate, a plan of action.”

Major Rock placed his briefcase on the polished mahogany desk, unzipped the pocket and extracted a sheaf of papers. He looked at the Commander who nodded for him to continue. Rock opened his papers and read the details;

“Alan Leonard Johnson, born July the 17
th
1958, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, mother Mary Johnson, housewife; father Leonard Johnson, electrician. Born at Wakefield General Hospital, first known address 59 Friargate, Alverthorpe, Wakefield. Religion C of E, working class background, some family history in the armed forces. Won scholarship to Wakefield Grammar school and left at 16 with 8 ‘O’ levels to join the Yorkshire Light Infantry. Selected for parachute regiment and later enlisted into Special Forces. Passed all fitness training and became eighth fastest completer of the 45 mile cross country endurance march carrying a full 50lb pack, belt kit and hand held weaponry. The time taken was 16 hours, 3 minutes in freezing snow conditions. Also successfully completed all behavioural skills training, especially self motivation and self reliance. The Major looked at Commander Bagshaw and continued, “After spending his initial training in the Brecon Beacons he specialised in the tactical skills of unarmed combat and explosives. Operations include SAS work in Italy in the NOCS team, (Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza) helping rescue General James Dozier. In May 1980 he took part in the Iranian embassy siege in London and operated throughout the early eighties in Belfast, but we have little record of what he did there. In March 1982 the Argentinean government invaded the Falkland Islands and you know we declared war on them shortly afterwards. Alan, along with the 21
st
SAS and 22
nd
SAS was again in action initially as a spotter for aircraft, ships, landing zones and Argentinean military activity. In a spectacular raid on Pebble Island in May, he and his group destroyed 11 Pucara ground attack aircraft and all operations to that date were successful. However, the admiral in charge of the conflict wanted the SAS to work in far larger numbers in co-ordinated attacks. We know from reports at the time that the SAS were against this, suffice it to say the admiral won this battle. An operation including 100’s of SAS members was to prepare for D-day landings from the assault ship Intrepid and Sea King helicopters were to land the SAS at San Carlos. The operation was a disaster and 2 helicopters were shot down killing 56 men, which was the greatest loss of life the SAS suffered since the Second World War.