Chapter Fourteen – A Piece of the Action

PC Steve Crane willed for the police motorcycle to go faster over the moors. He still had trouble to connect all the dots in the case to each other but he knew enough to grow concerned. Jeremy Watson had somehow gotten involved with an underground organization down in Liverpool that hassled people for money after they'd given them a loan. They targeted people that played in the casinos for a little fun. When Watson had gotten deep enough in his gaming addiction he had been approached, just as one of the officers undercover had been, by one of the men with a promise to help him get out of trouble. Then everything got out of hand and the threats started to come. A lot of people had been arrested but the core of the underground organization still flourished according to DI Shiner.

Sgt. Merton seemed involved in the case as well but to a lesser extent, although enough to know a lot more than Steve and the rest of the boys back at Ashfordly station and that included the travel company the DI had brought.

Steve had locked the handle on full throttle as he literally flew over the hills as the wheels danced over the dwindling road. It was a short cut but he doubted it would be fast enough. The tip had been so sudden and unexpected that the force was scattered over the area. DI Shiner and DC Lucas was in Strensford to talk with the local officer there, Ventress was venting ideas with Oscar Blaketon over a fag at the Aidensfield Arms, Bellamy was working together with DC Travis back at the station while Merton was on his way back from a meeting with Doctor Craven and would meet him at the location. It was the recently arrived DC Thomas that had relieved him of his duty guarding the bedridden Charlie Carter back at the hospital figuring that since Steve knew the area he wouldn't waste precious time trying to find the right place.

At the same time Sgt. Dennis Merton narrowed his eyes as he placed the binoculars in front of him, looking down at the tree effectively cutting the road to the train station. Jonathan Forbes had been reported leaving Liverpool just a few hours before he'd spotted him outside the castle the day before. Dennis guessed that Forbes, who'd been out of sight for several years, had resurfaced only to look for the money Jeremy Watson had brought with him to Aidensfield. The same money Charlie Carter had ripped off him when taking his life. The money having been taken from Carter in his turn while running into Greg Nichols.

Merton knew of 'the man' down in Liverpool, John Lowey, and his shady business. He had in fact been hunting him for a year when he was a DC stationed in Liverpool for another crime. A lot of people in high places in the organization had been brought in and charged over the years but John Lowey and his closest circle had always managed to escape the long arm of the law. Although now it seemed, with everything going on, that he was going down too.

Before Dennis had headed over to Doctor Craven he'd run into DI Shiner who was still at the hospital. The DI had showed him a folder he'd taken with him from Liverpool. They went through the casino organization, both lost in memories for a while. Then he'd pulled a photograph of Greg Nichols and everything fell in place. Nichols had never been convicted due to circumstantial evidence only but everyone in the CID knew he was working with John Lowey. It had now been confirmed by an inside man that Jeremy Watson had been approached by Nichols a few months back. Watson's closest colleagues confirmed that he had seemed short on money. Everything seemed to be tied together.

Now it seemed that Nichols was leaving North Riding to get back with the money to Liverpool. However, Merton had been around long enough to know that the internal fights in the organization was slowly destabilizing it and the only reason for Jonathan Forbes to be in the region suddenly seemed crystal clear. Forbes was to get rid of Nichols and bring the money back himself.

It had been Bertha, unbeknownst to all of this, who had raised the alarm as she claimed an unknown man was cutting down a tree over the road. After trying to calm her down and convince her it was the council that had ordered the cut she'd spilled his height and his looks – it was a perfect match to Forbes.

OOOOOO

Steve looked grim as he flew over the last hillock with his motorcycle, his first thought was that he was being too late. As he closed in on Forbes the man already had Nichols in sight. However, acting on the moment of surprise he threw himself off of the motorcycle and lunged at Forbes. The gun went off in the air as they tangled with each other, both desperately fighting to get the upper hand.

Greg Nichols was thrown as he saw the men take a tumble and swiftly pulled in the reverse, the tires screeching.

Forbes managed a glancing blow to the young officer in that instance, rendering him unconscious and oblivious to the world, before aiming and firing after the green car. Seeing as he missed he took off leaving Crane on the ground.

Merton cursed under his breath at the events unfolding before him. He hastily got out of his hiding place and started running to aid his constable when Steve waved weakly in the air to get his attention.

"I'll be fine! Crane shouted. "Go after him, sarge!"

Dennis quickly nodded and backtracked easily, to where the car had been hidden away from sight, and speeded away.

"Delta-Alpha-Two-One to control," he said into the mike as he cast a cautious look at the road crossing ahead of him. "Alf, are you there?"

"Right, sarge, this is control receiving," the old copper drawled over the channel.

"Listen, I need you to get a hold on Doctor Merrick, Steve has been injured. I can't say how bad it is," he ordered urgently.

Alf nodded at Phil who'd stopped what he was doing and now listened in to the call. "She's up at the goat farm," he let on. "I'll call."

Alf shook his head. "Go to Steve, take the Panda car and stomp on the accelerator," he suggested. "I know the number to the farm, I'll fix everything from this end."

"Control, are you there?" Merton asked.

"Still here, sarge. I'll see to it. What is your position?" Alf asked curiously.

"The main road to the railway station. I'm giving chase to Nichols," he returned. Notify DI Shiner. He should already be on the train back from Strensford."

OOOOOO

Oscar Blaketon reached up with his hand to cover his nose discreetly as he walked onto the platform next to the train station. The railway delegation consisted of three people from the railway company. They were hardened men with profit and profit only on their agenda. Most of the small country stations cost more to maintain than to close down considering the rate of passengers where often low.

Oscar had a feeling that even the slightest complain or mark in the book at their visit would close down the station. However, Aidensfield was quite fond of its station and needed it for its survival. He supposed they could all go to the Ashfordly station but that would require taking a taxi or use some other sort of transportation to get there, means that some of the villagers didn't have.

Oscar was the Chairman of a local division of the council focusing on Aidensfield. The whole council was a group overseeing several of the villages nearby including Strensford and Pickering. They also had the power to put pressure on the larger Ashfordly committee as well in certain questions but as of this debacle with the railway station in Aidensfield they were on their own.

The station was impeccably taken care of and the railway master, Stevenson, had a good order of his books, keeping tabs of everything of importance. The only thing out of place seemed to be the smell and the two dirty looking men, namely Vernon Scripps and David Stockwell. Who were seated at a large flowerbed at the far end of the platform.

"That's all we need," Oscar muttered under his breath as he gently guided the railway delegation toward Stevenson's office.

"My goodness," Emile Nolan complained to Joyce Jowett as the delegation disappeared into the building housing the office. "See to it that those two clowns get away from here."

Jowett strode briskly toward the men, her stance rigid and tense like she was boiling with anger as she reached them. "I believe I told you before…" she began in a low clipped voice.

Vernon waved his hand lazily in the air. "There is no need for concern, Mrs. Jowett. The odor as you insist on calling it – although it's very natural I must say…"

"Scripps!" she admonished.

OOOOOO

Sgt. Dennis Merton literally had the accelerator floored, pushing the black Ford Anglia police car to the limit, as he tried to keep up with the much faster sports car ahead of him.

The Alfa Romeo easily speeded further away from the police car and, as it was, Merton had to guess several turns as of which turn Nichols had taken. He had guessed correctly when Nichols had tried to shake him off by running the smaller roads among the moors instead of taking the direct path to the train station.

After a while, Dennis had almost given up hope as the green sports car had disappeared from sight. Then as he turned over a hillock he spotted it just as it was being driven into a barn further down the road.

Wasting no time the sergeant quickly pulled up at the old abandoned barn and left the car to go around, hoping to catch the criminal.

An eerie silence spread over the area as he quietly jogged around the building and squeezed himself through an old unhinged door. Sunlight streamed through the wooden planks, creating enough light to see anyone inside but it also made him visible.

Merton crouched behind a stack of hay balls as the sound of a trunk being closed echoed through the barn. Nichols, thinking he was alone, grabbed the bag of money and headed for the entrance.

"Give it up, Nichols," Merton said sternly as he chose to walk out in the open just behind him.

The criminal whirled around in surprise at the voice and reached into the waistband of his trousers. Merton, having been in the business long enough, acted quickly realizing what was about to happen, he launched himself at the man before he could pull the gun out completely.

They took a tumble in the old hay covering the floor, both fighting to get the upper hand. It was an even struggle at first but Nichols had the advantage of being at least fifteen years younger. Dennis managed to slam the criminal's hand, in which he carried the gun, into a wooden crate causing him to let out a groan and then a hiss before the gun fell out of his grip. Merton rolled over and away from Nichols and got up on his knees opting to grab the gun but Nichols wouldn't have it. He launched himself at the police sergeant, effectively knocking him to the ground. The criminal then latched onto Merton's wrist with one hand and gripped the gun with the other one.

Just as the gun turned in his direction Dennis managed to kick out at Nichols, sending him down, but not before the tip of his index finger squeezed the trigger. The shot echoed through the empty barn despite the hay acting as a soundboard. However, the sound was lost to Merton because all he could focus on was the tremendous pain in his arm that seemed to assault his senses.

Nichols, uncertain as of what to do next considering the sergeant would be able to single him out to a jury, took a step away from Merton, securing the gun inside the waistband of his trousers. Then an expression of malice settled on his face and he retraced his steps but as he was about to do further harm to the police sergeant a car skidded to a halt outside. Nichols glanced toward the door anxiously, seeing the unmistakable painting of turquoise and white that marked the panda car, then quickly moved over to grab the bag of money and headed out through the unhinged door that Merton had come through earlier.

OOOOOO

Vernon Scripps looked over his shoulder as he saw Jowett walk out of the Railway Master's office, a look of contempt thrown their way before stomping off.

"Come on David," he urged.

His helper nodded with a satisfied smile on his face where he stood on his knees next to the large flowerbed. His hands and lower arms were covered in the mix they sold as fertilizer.

"I think this is it, Mr. Scripps," he said happily.

"Well, just get up and away from the flowerbed. Mr. Nolan is coming our way and he doesn't look happy at all. Jowett is up to something too. I don't want my taxi services being banned from this place – it's quite profitable," Vernon returned.

At the same time Bernie Scripps walked onto the platform dressed in smoking as the role of undertaker. It had been quite tricky to get a hold on Joshua Watson, the father of the deceased, but now he was finally arriving with the five o'clock train.

Blaketon chose that moment to head out of Stevenson's office with the delegation in tow.

"The forces are gathering," Vernon muttered under his breath as he put on a polite smile.

"What?" David asked as he got up and began to dust off the soil from his coveralls and hands.

"Never mind, David," Vernon chided.

As the delegation neared, led by Blaketon, their conversation filtered through the chatter of the people standing in wait for the train.

"And as you can see, gentlemen," Oscar said proudly. "The station has been impeccably cared for."

"Shouldn't we take the running solution with us back, Mr. Scripps?" David asked curiously as he grabbed the thin flask, accidentally putting a little too much pressure on it.

Vernon could only watch, as in slow motion, as the running solution of fertilizer streamed out of the flask and onto the last of the passing delegate's suit. He put up his hands to cover his mouth and nose, holding his breath as Blaketon fixed him with a glare.

"My sincerest apologies Mr. Parson," Blaketon said to the man who'd gotten a rather red shade on his face. "I'll see to it that these two clowns never set their foot here again. It's hard to get good people to do the job nowadays."

"David," Vernon whispered as the delegation turned in the other direction.

"Please, Vernon," Bernie said gloomily as he walked up to his half-brother. "I told you not to make a fool of yourself."

OOOOOO

To be continued

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