Smile of the Tiger.
9.
Saturday, November 28th.
By midday, Hani Ahmadi's two dead henchmen had been identified as Abdul Wahid, an Iraqi and Khashay Ashay, an Iranian, both on temporary British visas and of no fixed address.
Their's were the only fingerprints on record.
However, both Tony Hill and George Smith had been arrested following CCTV footage of their cars picking up five men from the Mayfair house.
Under interrogation they had admitted to the scam being set up to snare Jonas and had given Hani Ahmadi's name to Spikings, but had no idea who the other four were, except that they were Frenchmen. They'd also dobbed in Jonnie Jordan and Jeremy Dawkins, the other two in on the fraud, who had also been taken into custody.
In addition, they disclosed that they had taken Ahmadi and the other four to the Kensington Close Hotel but by the time Dempsey and Harry, together with the rest of the SI-10 team, had arrived to arrest them, all five men had checked out.
Having established that the suite had been paid for in cash, so no clues via credit cards or cheques could be gleaned, they took the five registration cards, that all hotels demand for completion, away for analysis.
"Who was on duty last night?" Dempsey asked the hotel manager.
"The night porter, sir." he replied. "I believe it was quite late when the gentlemen arrived."
"So why weren't they asked for a credit card number?" asked Dempsey. "That's usual, ain't it? Room charge and service, drinks, food, all that expenditure can be covered in case a guest does a runner?"
"I can't answer that, sir." replied the manager, sheepishly.
"I guess you need to have a serious word with ya night porter, chum." said Dempsey. "He didn't even wanna take their passports for security. Seems to me, he's taken a bung!"
"I'm sorry, but yes you could be right." replied the manager, taking a card from Dempsey and looking it over. "I will investigate the matter further and contact you at this number."
"Yeah, at the double, huh?" said Dempsey, disdain clear on his face.
The house in Mayfair was being privately leased by a wealthy Italian, who, along with his family, was currently on a world cruise, although just how Hani Ahmadi had gained access to it wasn't clear at first.
Later in the day however, following an internal investigation by the landlords, it was discovered that an employee had been paid five thousand pounds by Hani to supply a set of keys to the place.
All the newspapers had been contacted and told that any photographs they may have showing Lord Jonas Cosgrove-Hartley cavorting with two naked women were false and must be destroyed. Should any of them ignore that instruction, they would be comprehensibly sued.
Spikings also slapped a 'D' notice on any subsequent story being considered for publication and had pulled the whole team into SI-10 to discuss the next phase, when his office telephone rang.
"Who's that!?" he snapped.
"Cosgrove-Hartley, Chief Superintendent." replied Jonas, always taken aback by Spikings' abrupt manner when answering his calls. "I'm just ringing to thank you and your team for all you've done."
"Thank you, your lordship." replied Spikings, puffing out his chest in satisfaction. "But it isn't all over yet, sir. There are still five dangerous men at large."
"Yes." he agreed and related Hani's last words to him. "From the sound of that he's still determined to extort five million pounds from me."
"Indeed." agreed Spikings. "I will assign four of my team to shadow both Lady Annabel and Lady Arabella, two for each of them. I apologize in advance if that encroaches on their privacy but it has to be done whilst this Hani Ahmadi and his friends are still out there."
"I'm sure they'll understand, Chief Superintendent." replied Jonas. "Rather that, than re-live the nightmare of the last week or more!"
"Quite so, sir. I believe your daughter is getting married two weeks from now." said Spikings.
"Yes, it's common knowledge, I'm afraid. " replied Jonas. "I'm very worried the wedding may become a target. We're planning a whole weekends celebration."
"You're right to be concerned." agreed Spikings. "We're going to maintain a trace on your telephone, so as and when Ahmadi calls again, which he undoubtedly will, you must try and keep him talking. We nearly got his location last time."
"Understood. Have you identified any of them?" asked Jonas. "I believe you managed to acquire some fingerprints."
"Yes, to a degree." replied Spikings. "The two dead men were an Iranian and an Iraqi, but we have no record of the other prints. I can tell you that Ahmadi's four friends are French."
"French?" queried Jonas. "I thought I was dealing with Middle Easterners."
"We're currently awaiting more information about them from Interpol." said Spikings. "Their car was French registered so we're hoping something may come up to identify them further. I'll be in touch as soon as I know more, sir."
"Thank you Chief Superintendent." said Jonas and rang off.
Spikings resumed his meeting with the SI-10 team, confirming what was discussed with Jonas.
"Dempsey, Makepeace, Willows and Stroud. I've arranged with his lordship we'll provide cover for Lady Annabel and Lady Arabella until we've caught this lot." he announced. "So get yourselves over to Hartley Hall."
"How do I explain my presence, sir?" asked Harry.
"Just that you're a family friend and assisting Dempsey, Sergeant." replied Spikings. "No-one appears to have questioned your involvement so far, so unless it becomes untenable, I suggest you carry on as usual."
"Yeah, don' worry Harry." said Dempsey. "My guess is Arabella will want you with her anyways up."
"Yes I suppose so." agreed Harry, although not totally convinced.
"Now, I doubt it'll be long before we hear from Mr Ahmadi." said Spikings. "The suspicion is, he's going to focus his attention on Lady Arabella's forthcoming nuptuals."
"Do we know how?" asked Dempsey.
"Not yet." replied Spikings. "But I'm sure he'll tell us pretty soon."
The previous night, while Hani had been talking to Jonas from the suite in the hotel, Rene went down to the lobby and into a public telephone booth. He dialled Philipe de Cadenet in Paris and, conversing in French, explained what had transpired.
De Cadenet was savage.
"You bunch of worthless idiots!" he yelled, incandescent with rage. "Unless you get out of there quickly, the pigs will find you!"
"We are checking out first thing tomorrow morning and will find another place to stay." said Rene, calmly.
"Let me know where that is." demanded Philipe. "I will send a car for you. You're all going to come back here. We need to make new plans. Do not let that Syrian imbecile Ahmadi out of your sight!"
Now, having checked out of the Kensington Close Hotel, Hani, Rene and his three colleagues had moved to a small guest house in Hammersmith, Rene calling Philipe with their location.
Half an hour later, a Range Rover was heading out of Paris en route for the cross channel ferry at Calais, disembarking at Dover and making for Hammersmith.
Several hours later, with its five additional passengers, it made the return journey, arriving in Paris and met by a still disgruntled Philipe.
After he had spent the best part of an hour berating them for their incompetence, he calmed down and, sitting at a large circular table, began discussing various plans to extort five million pounds from Jonas.
On Sunday evening Hani put a call through to him. On a nod from Sergeant Baker, Jonas answered.
The trace commenced.
"Lord Jonas. How are you this evening?" he asked. "I trust you are well?"
"What do you want Ahmadi?" replied Jonas.
"So my friends have been talking eh?" he said. "You know my name. How nice for you."
"Cut the crap!" said Jonas, angrily. "What do you want?"
"You know full well what I want." replied Hani, smoothly. "Five million pounds."
"Nothing doing chum." replied Jonas.
"Then your stupidity will cost you the life of either your daughter or your wife!"
"What the hell do you mean?" hissed Jonas.
"If I don't have the money in my hand by Thursday of this week, then either your daughter or your wife will die!"
"They are under round the clock surveillance." replied Jonas. "You can't get near them!"
"Watch me!" snarled Hani, before slamming the 'phone down.
The entire call had only lasted thirty-six seconds.
"Sorry your lordship." said Sergeant Baker. "Not enough time to lock on to the location. But we didn't get anything at all, which leads me to believe the call wasn't being made from this country."
"Any clues at all?" asked Dempsey.
"Possibly France, Belgium or Holland." replied Baker. "Can't be any more specific than that."
"We know there are French guys involved." said Dempsey. "Does that help at all?"
"All depends upon how long you can keep him talking." said Baker.
"Did he say when he'd call back?" asked Harry.
"No, but I doubt it'll be long." replied Jonas. "I'll do my best next time."
He went into his office and called SI-10 on his secure line.
Spikings answered.
"Chief Superintendent, it's Cosgrove-Hartley."
"Yes your lordship."
"I've heard from our friend again." reported Jonas. "He's threatening the life of either my wife or Arabella if I don't stump up five million pounds by next Thursday."
"Did we manage a trace?" asked Spikings.
"No, there wasn't enough time." replied Jonas. "But your man here thinks it came from outside the UK. Possibly France, Belgium or Holland."
"I'd guess France then." said Spikings. "The car they used was on French plates, but we still haven't got an ID on the owner. Did Ahmadi give any other details?"
"No he didn't." replied Jonas. "But he'll be calling back soon, no doubt. I'll try and keep him on the line."
Half an hour later Hani rang again and this time he wasn't standing for any nonsense.
"I suspect you are trying to trace this call, Lord Jonas." he said. "So I'll come straight to the point. You've had time to digest our last conversation. I will call you on Wednesday next, by which time I expect you to confirm you have five million pounds in cash. I will then give you details as to how you hand it over. You know the penalty for failure."
He hung up before Jonas had uttered a single word.
"What did he say, Jonas?" asked Harry.
"If I fail to deliver five million pounds on Thursday, he'll kill either Annabel or Arabella."
"It won't come to that." said Dempsey, Harry looking quizzically at him. "We'll figure somethin' out."
"Right now, I'm sure I don't know how." said Jonas.
"Trust me." replied Dempsey, tapping his forehead. "I'm workin' on a plan."
"Do you want us to stay here tonight, Jonas?" asked Harry.
"No not at all." he replied. "I'll see you all tomorrow. And thank you."
On the way home, Harry turned to Dempsey.
"So what's this plan of yours?"
"I gotta run it past Spikings." he replied. "But I'm guessin' we can get our hands on five mill in forged notes?"
"You think?" said Harry, eyebrows raised. "I'd have thought any forged currency would be instantly destroyed, wouldn't you?"
"I dunno, princess." replied Dempsey. "In the States we hold on to counterfeit banknotes. The DEA guys often use it when gettin' close to exposin' drug dealers."
"Perhaps you're right then." said Harry. "I must say I've not heard of it, but it seems the obvious thing to do, I suppose."
"Yeah, there'll be a stash someplace, you can bet on it." said Dempsey, grinning across at her.
The weather had been cold and wet for the last couple of days, with snow showers forecast for the coming week.
"Hurry up Dempsey." said Harry, looking out of her window at the bleak wintry scene flashing by. "I'm looking forward to a cosy night in by the fire, some moody music, a juicy steak with all the trimmings, a glass or two of wine and you."
"Moody music, huh?" he teased. "Like who, honey?"
"Erm...Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand." she replied, playing along. "Take your pick."
"Yeah, sounds good to me." he said, taking her hand. "Any one of them puts me in the mood."
"Is that a fact?" she replied, glancing across at him, her eyes smiling, the look on her face unmistakeable in its message. "Me too."
Before they left for Hartley Hall the next morning, Dempsey called Spikings at home, Harry listening and waiting for the inevitable fireworks.
"Chief." he said, when Spikings came on the 'phone.
"Do you know what time it is, Dempsey!? he roared, clearly annoyed.
"Er. Yeah it's..."
"I know what the time is!" shouted Spikings. "I want to know if you do!"
"Chief, I know it's kinda early." replied Dempsey, glancing at Harry who'd put her hand to her mouth to stifle her amusement. "But I wanted to check somethin' out with ya before I got to Hartley Hall."
"What?" growled Spikings.
"Can we get the money his lordship needs in forged notes?"
"What!?" snorted Spikings.
"Chief, we must keep counterfeit notes to use in certain cases." said Dempsey. "Come on Chief, ya know what I'm sayin'!"
"We can't discuss this over the telephone, Dempsey." relented Spikings. "You and Makepeace cut along to Hartley Hall and I'll join you there in an hour."
"Okay." said Dempsey and hung up.
"Well?" asked Harry.
"Yeah, there's fake dough about, princess." said Dempsey. "Spikings'll tell us 'bout it at the Hall."
When Spikings arrived he asked Jonas if he could use his office for a private discussion with Dempsey. Harry slipped in unseen.
"Alright Lieutenant." said Spikings. "I've a canny idea what you're about to suggest but go ahead anyway."
"Simply this, Chief." replied Dempsey. "We use counterfeit money for the drop."
"And how does that help?" quizzed Spikings.
"First it takes the heat off of Arabella and Lady Annabel." replied Dempsey, Spikings visibly annoyed at the American habit of following an adverb with a preposition. "Second, it saves his lordship riskin' his own dough, third, if these smartasses don' notice the fakes we may be able to trace 'em if they start spendin' and four, it buys us some more time to track 'em down anyways."
Spikings considered this for a moment.
"I can see how that would work, Dempsey." he said finally. "But we'd be taking quite a risk. It's possible the first thing they will do is check the notes. And there's no telling how they might react to having suitcases full of duds."
"Chief." replied Dempsey. "They'll be pissed off, fo' sure, but they want the dough. All they'll do is get back on the blower an' make more threats. So long as we keep the two ladies close, they'll be okay. If Jonas hands over real money, then we have a very narrow window of opportunity to get 'em. An' if they slip through our nets, it's gonna get real tough to find 'em, 'cos they'll already have an exit strategy all set up."
"What's your view, Sergeant?"
"Dempsey's right, sir." said Harry. "If nothing else, it buys us more time to find them. And it won't matter too much if they burn the notes in anger. They are worthless anyway."
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt if we fitted tracking devices to the suitcases, either." mused Spikings. "They may suspect they are bugged, but they're not going to be able to empty the money into, say, bin bags, immediately. That would give us a chance at nabbing them."
"So, you wanna go with it, Chief?" asked Dempsey.
"Sergeant, ask his lordship to join us." instructed Spikings. "I suggest you remain outside while we explain this plan to him."
Jonas was all for it, not only because it saved him having to gather together, and risk, an enormous sum of money, but because he could immediately see how it acted as a stalling device, thus giving SI-10 a greater chance of bringing Ahmadi and his gang to book.
In Paris, Hani had been kept under lock and key, Philipe taking no chances with his slippery charge.
"This had better work, Ahmadi." he said. "For if it doesn't, you will pay your debt to me with your life!"