Chapter 12
Having watched, from the front door of his pub, all the cars disperse, Charlie returned inside, and taking the stairs two at a time to the first floor, walked quickly to the corridor's end and the false wall.
Activating the hidden mechanism with his foot, the wall slid aside, revealing the two killers.
They stepped into the hallway.
"You can't stay 'ere any longer, lads." he announced. "The Old Bill might be back at any time. And this is a pub, we get all sorts in 'ere, so there's nothin' stopping undercover coppers minglin' with the regulars."
"So where we s'posed to go?" snarled Bobby, his mood black and his patience severely tested by being cooped up like an animal.
"Don't you take that attitude with me, son," Charlie warned him sharply, although still amazed at the transformation in his looks by way of his disguise. "I've just saved yer backside, an' nearly got meself roasted for aidin' and abettin' the attempted murders you've ballsed up!"
"Okay Charlie, yeah, thanks." said Mikey hurriedly, before Bobby could open his big mouth again. "What happens now?"
"I'm not gonna leave you high an' dry." replied Charlie, looking at each of them in turn as he spoke. "I've got contacts. I'll find yer both a new gaff and another motor. So stay outta sight in yer room 'till I've sorted it all out. Then yer on yer own. Understood?"
They both nodded, Bobby more imperceptively than his buddy.
"How'd they find us?" he asked, still struggling to keep his temper in check.
"Seems yer mate Gino's been singin' like a canary."
His face turned purple with rage and, despite the brown contact lenses, his eyes were blazing as he raised a tightly clenched fist and prepared to punch the wall.
It took the strength of Mikey to stop him.
"You need to control that temper of yours, boy." remarked Charlie. "It's gonna get you killed otherwise."
"Yeah, yeah." growled Bobby, his expression clearly indicating he'd heard it all before.
Holding it in check and just about keeping the anger out of his voice, he continued, " listen Charlie, I don't care what sorta place you get us to stay in, but we're gonna need speedy wheels. Those two mothers outran us last time and it ain't gonna happen again."
Charlie nodded. "Leave it to me." he assured them.
The Old Kent Road was busy at the best of times, but that was a boon to surveillance, because, rather than being in a quiet village, for instance, where everybody knew everyone else's business, undercover operatives could blend in much more surreptitiously.
'The Feathers' was flanked by an apartment block on one side and a parade of shops, including a cafe, on the other.
Opposite was a small, tree lined park with several benches scattered through it.
Having returned on Chas's orders and parked their grey Nissan on an inconspicuous side road, Josh and Terry, of SI-10, had waited until the morning traffic had thickened and then split up.
Josh had crossed the road and sat down in the park, ensuring he was furthest from the pub, but with a clear view of it through the trees.
After a while he saw a maroon Jaguar XJ6 emerge from the pub car park and radio'd his oppo.
Earlier, Terry had strolled over to a cafe, sat down, ordered a coffee and opened the newspaper he'd just bought from the shop next door.
He picked up the call from Josh and listened, his radio hidden behind the broadsheet.
He saw the car drive by, confirmed it was Charlie at the wheel and the fact it looked as though he was alone, but warned there was no telling if others were crouching unseen in it.
Josh acknowledged the reply, then made another call.
Five minutes later, a white 5 Series BMW patrol car with a wide red stripe running from nose to tail midway down its flanks, pulled in behind Charlie, roof lights spinning, siren blooping intermittently and with flashing headlamps, brought him to a halt.
Two uniformed officers approached the Jaguar and searched it thoroughly.
Satisfied, the coppers then let him go and radio'd back to Josh, confirming he was, indeed, the cars' only occupant.
Josh reported immediately into Chas back at base.
Spikings, Dempsey, Harry and the rest of the team were gathered together in a group in the main office, discussing the events of the morning's raid and brainstorming various ideas as to how to draw the hoods out, using Harry as bait.
Although in another life, Harry, given her stunning looks, could have graced the covers of 'Vogue', 'Harpers Bazaar' or any other of the worlds glossiest magazines, all the lads highly respected her for her grit and pluck, especially since she'd been teamed up with Dempsey.
Some of their successfully concluded assignments were becoming the stuff of legend within SI-10 and the entire team were determined that, if she was having to expose herself to acute danger in nabbing the two killers, then they must have her back covered at all times.
This was, naturally, of great comfort to her, but it was at times like this, all gathered in a group discussing her safety, when all Harry wanted to do was be next to Dempsey, her arm linked through his or her hand holding his hand, anything to be close and touching, the connection fuelling the confidence that his strength and protection gave her.
In fact, she knew now, that pretty much half way through their first ever job together, deep down, she'd recognised this connection but pride, caution and stubborness coupled with his apparent brash arrogance, had kept it locked up.
So, as in the past, here they were, sitting apart.
But now, since the barriers had been obliterated, they'd deliberately positioned themselves opposite each other, and were able to communicate their inner feelings to one another through their eyes - their unique telepathy doing the rest.
Chas had just taken the call from Josh.
"Dutton's gone out alone." he reported. "We've checked his car and he's definitely on his own."
"Hmmm, I wonder where he's off to." mused Spikings.
"Should we tail him, sir?" asked Chas.
"No." replied Spikings. "He's already been stopped. He'll expect a tail. Now there's something else that's relevant. Although I put a 'd' notice on the activities of the other night at the hotel, one thing did slip out into the media."
"What was that?" asked Dempsey.
"The receptionist gave descriptions of Tortini and Juliano to the police."
"So if they've been listening to the radio they'll know." remarked Harry, "and that means they're likely to be disguised from here on in."
"Well Tortinin will, that's for sure." said Dempsey, looking across at her. "But it won't be easy covering up that other ape!"
Suddenly Spikings office 'phone began ringing. He went to answer it.
"WHO'S THAT!" they heard him bellow upon answering. "Oh right, thank you for letting me know."
He returned to the meeting.
"That was the hospital. The couple who were shot have just died. Those two animals are now wanted for murder."
Harry caught her breath. This was the part of her job she hated - when innocent people died because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She could feel the emotion welling up, so excused herself for a moment.
Dempsey let her go.
He knew it would look a little suspicious if he suddenly followed her out since, although the team knew she was a compassionate girl, no-one felt the need to rush to her side.
Anyway, if she needed comforting later, he'd be there for her.
The meeting went quiet while they waited for her to return, which she did five minutes later, her eyes a little puffy.
Dempsey's heart went out to her.
She glanced at him in acknowledgement, her look said it all.
Once she'd taken her seat, Jamie offered an idea.
"What if one, or two of us, went to the pub pretending to be punters and took a sneaky look around the upstairs when no-one was looking. You know, catch them unawares like."
"Not a good idea, Jamie." responded Spikings. "For a start we aren't a hundred per cent certain they're there and even if they are, you can be sure the shooting would start. It's the weekend, so there could be people staying in the bedrooms and with a bar full downstairs, we'd be running the severe risk of adding to the body count of innocent bystanders. No, we need to isolate them."
The meeting continued well into late afternoon, by which time they'd finally come up with a plan.
. ...
Charlie got back to the pub a few minutes before he was due to open to the public.
Josh and Terry, who were still in their watching positions, noted his return.
As lunchtime approached, the car park began filling up rapidly with vehicles, one of which was a dark blue Audi 80 quattro.
The driver wandered into the pub, along with others, catching Charlie's eye when he approached the bar and ordered a pint of bitter.
Charlie had ensured that he, and not one of his bar staff, served the guy.
When the beer was delivered, he handed over payment, although it wasn't just coins he passed to Charlie - there were two sets of keys included too.
Charlie winked at him and quietly pocketed the keys. After an almost imperceptible nod, the driver found a vacant barstool and sat down to enjoy his drink.
Leaving it a few minutes and serving one or two more patrons, Charlie then slipped out the back of the bar and made his way to the family room, knocking the door three times.
Mikey answered.
"Oh, hello Charlie." he said, Bobby just staring over at them both.
"Right lads it's all sorted." Charlie said, "these are keys to a flat in Hackney. I've written down the address and directions on this piece of paper."
He handed the items over to Mikey, then continued, holding up a second set of keys.
"And these are to a motor. Its an Audi 80 quattro, so it's four wheel drive, handles great. It's also been breathed on, so it's got some grunt. It's in the car park, dark blue, reg number B394 ANC. It's not hot, so you got no worries on bein' stopped."
"Thanks Charlie." said Mikey.
Bobby then piped up.
"How d'you know this place ain't bein' watched, an' how d'you know you weren't tailed this mornin'?" he asked.
"In answer to the first, I don't." answered Charlie. " And in answer to the second, I've been in this game a long time, boy. I wasn't tailed. Now, the car came in along with a lot of others, the timing was deliberate. And if there's any filth in the bar, they wouldn't have seen anything suspicious. Trust me."
Bobby grunted. He trusted no-one, but he hadn't a choice right now.
Charlie continued. "My advice is to stay in here 'till closin' time, that'll be about three o'clock. That way you can leave with all the others. If Old Bill is out there watchin' he's not gonna cop sight of yer."
Sure enough, with Mikey lying across the back seat and Bobby in full disguise, the Audi slipped away unseen.
N.B. Can I just thank everyone who's so kindly taken the trouble to send reviews and messages. They are much appreciated. Since I finally sorted out the chapters though, many posts have been lost and several new chapters have now been published. If you have the time and inclination please let me know your thoughts. Thank you. Avoncliffe.
