A number of my fellow authors have serialised their stories and I've wondered about trying the odd chapter to try and gauge reaction so here is the first chapter of my first book.
Chapter
1
Ever since I was at primary
school there were indications of character traits that would shape my life.
When in bed if I turned over to the right I would have to turn to the left.
What a nutter - but I was only seven! I can remember asking my Dad why. He told
me that it was nothing and not to worry. This was his usual answer to the minor
stresses of life.
I was destined to develop a
career that requires attention to detail. I believe people who think they know
me would be surprised at what I do when they don’t know where I am. It pays to
be quiet and ‘shy’. So my day job is working with figures, amounts, balances
and transfers. A situation where I don’t have to relate to people! However, I
moonlight doing something completely different but needing every bit as much
care if for no other reason than my own personal safety. These were the
thoughts that were going through my mind while I sat in my car shivering.
The windows had started to steam
up! I looked at my cheap watch and its 05:32 on what promises to be a warm
early Spring Day. Just at the moment it is frosty as it often is in early
April. Dawn is breaking but it will be a while before there is any warmth in
the sun’s rays. I dare not risk drawing attention to my presence by starting
the car so for now I ease the front windows down a little and pull my padded
jacket round me a little tighter. It has taken too long to get here from
Yorkshire! It took long enough to find the house, in this enormous new build
estate on the edge of the city, once I arrived in Durham the land of the Prince
Bishops. A small but beautiful county with rolling hills and an interesting
coastline interspersed with the fossils of a bygone industrial age. No decent sleep and a long day ahead. I need
a good start to the day.
The red bricks of the houses glow
in the early dawn. They don’t have many stone built houses in this part of
England. The windows were all blind curtained against the wakening sun that
means another 8-hour shift. The neat and tidy lawns of the semis were
glistening with the dew and still no-one stirring.
It had taken a couple of days to
find my target. James Thompson, aged 45, married with three children. The
eldest two were at University at different ends of the UK. It must have cost
him a fortune keeping them there and doing all the visiting Janice, his wife,
demanded. My access to the banking system enabled me to find out quite a lot
about him once I had his address. God Bless the computerised world!
He seemed a surprising target. I
was often surprised at the direction my principals took and where they obtained
their information. They were meticulous in their preparation and demanded the
same from myself. I don’t find that a chore. A pillar of society our James
worked in the planning department of the City Council. They attended church a
couple of times a month, were members of the Rotary Club and holiday in Minorca
every year. I can never understand people who go to the same resort year in and
year out it wouldn’t do for me! I suppose it was the safe option going back to
what is familiar.
My instructions were to discover
why he had suddenly paid off his increasing debt on his credit cards; a
substantial lump sum to his mortgage and cleared his gambling debts. Oh yes my
search of his accounts came up with a habit. Internet gambling! Betting on
anything and everything from the comfort of his own study while Janice was fast
asleep. He was running up huge overdrafts on two accounts that were in his name
only. I didn’t think Janice had any idea, then about two weeks ago all gone, pure
as the driven snow, squeaky-clean! So where had the money come from? My job was
to chase the money and ‘fix’ the problem. That’s what I do I fix problems and
get paid for it. Anonymously! How I do the fixing depends on the nature of the
problem. I have developed a number of skills both legitimate and not so some
from a very interesting three weeks learning to be a bodyguard at Officer
Training School. Also my time at university in the gun, sailing and climbing clubs.
How I got a 2:1 in Maths I don’t know.
The courage to take action! I was
16 when my Uncle was killed. I had been a regular visitor, spending holidays.
He was an interesting man and I enjoyed his company. But one afternoon someone
walked into his house and robbed him of his wallet and frightened him so much
he had a stroke. He fell against an armchair, which was then pushed against the
gas fire and it started to smoulder. My Uncle died of smoke inhalation. To cut
a long story short I found out who he was and went after him with my Dad’s golf
club – the driver! I was young and got away with a non-custodial sentence, but
the dye was cast.
At 06:15 there were signs of life
in the form of lights on in some houses across from me. Parking on suburban
estate roads was difficult. Everyone knows all the cars. Mine was non-descript
but a vehicular stranger. I parked in a cul-de-sac out of direct sight of Jim’s
house about 50 yards from the door so that I could see but not easily be seen.
No
cars moving as yet.
It seems a long way from the
meeting in the country house on the outskirts of Yarm on the edge of the North
Yorkshire Moors. That was on a hot summer’s day in July two years ago.
Ostensibly to discuss investments with a Mr Sumisu! We did do some work and
then I was wined, dined and quizzed extensively. I never saw the honourable
gentleman again. I was told he had returned to his homeland, Japan. But it was
a few weeks after that I received a very unusual request in a rather unusual
way. If I hadn’t been bored and underpaid I probably would have thrown the
mobile phone away that arrived by parcel post at my flat in Mirfield it was of
good quality though!. There was a typewritten note that said simply – ‘Turn it
on’
I opened a bottle of claret and
drank a glass staring at the mobile sitting on my coffee table. It was small
neat and a high quality sort of model. I found the instruction manual and
turned it on. Nothing! I had another glass and turned on the TV and started
trawling for a film to watch. I found an old Clint Eastwood re-run and settled
down to watch it.
I jerked awake some time later.
The affect of the wine and a long day in the office in Leeds! An unfamiliar
noise! I glanced at the phone and the screen was lit up. There was a message. Hilton
Hotel, Leeds, Saturday – expenses paid. That was all.
What would you do? My initial
reaction was ‘What on Earth!’ So I rang the Hilton and asked if there was a
reservation in my name for this coming Saturday. There was and I was informed
that the room was already paid for. So what did I have to lose? In light of the
fact that I had nothing else to do! Why not? Nightlife in Leeds is good and I
would be able to enjoy it to the full. One or two from the office might be up
for a night on the town.
To cut a long story short that
was what happened. The only off beat occurrence was a large brown envelope that
appeared under my door during the night. Again there was a very cryptic
message. ‘Keep the phone. Thank you for your help. Your Swiss Bank Account
number is ……………….. We have deposited £10,000 please use the money, as you will.
Arigato
I didn’t understand or believe
what I was looking at. Japanese - it could only be Mr Sumisu; he is the only
Japanese person that I know. A gift out of all proportion to what I did for
him. It wasn’t a gift! That was the next surprise. There was another sheet of
paper in the envelope. It had a photograph of a man and a ‘thumbnail sketch’ of
someone who seemed to be a thoroughly bad character. But what was that to do
with me? That’s just me being my usual naïve self! Apparently he was causing a
problem for an associate of Mr Sumisu upsetting the family and threatening the
business. Did I have any ideas about fixing the problem? Could I use my
financial connections to offer a solution? Would any of my ‘other’ skills be of
value in this instance?
It was this last question that
stayed in my mind for the next few days. I kept going back to the envelope once
I was home. I took the name into work and did some research. On the face of it
there was no evidence of unsavoury activities that I could see. I also kept
going on to the Micheloud & Cie website to look at my £10,000. I still
couldn’t believe it. I dare not touch it. What do I do?
Nothing! So I thought, but then
another text on the mobile. ‘+£40,000 when
solved.’ What could I do? I found
out that the ‘villain’ lived in Osaka, Japan and worked in the city. He had
interests in different parts of the world including Europe. I took a few days
holiday and went to Japan flying to Schiphol and after about eleven hours
Osaka’s Kansai International Airport. I arrived not knowing what I was going to
do but that I needed to fix this guy and I was going to get paid for it. All I
was doing was helping an acquaintance. It’s amazing what you will convince
yourself of if the price is right. After some confusion and a couple of
frustrating days I ‘fixed’ the guy! He was a crook and got what he deserved and
ended up in the harbour. Careful when eating sushi in Osaka!
How on earth had I got into this?
Jim Thompson was hardly my usual type of target. A real Mr Suburbia with some
minor sins to his name. Not the same instructions and a higher price. I didn’t
like the fact he was a family man living on my own little island either. So far
I had straightforward cleaning up jobs. I have the impression that my employer
wasn’t sure. Who pays Johnson is my initial instruction? I wondered what would
follow up!
How am I going to find that out?
I would rather not have to beat it out of him but I have come against a
financial dead end. He must be getting his ‘second salary’ in cash. So I am sat
here in my car freezing my nuts off at 06:30 in a cul-de-sac in the north east
of England waiting to follow this guy to get a flavour of what he does. I am
not a sleuth so I don’t know whether this could be a pointless exercise. Still
I am here now.
Hello!! Here we go. The curtain
over the glass door was being pulled back. Ahhh!!! Trim little body our Janice
and jet black hair with a bit of a suntanned look about her! Possibly because
she went jogging every morning and maybe she had been on holiday. She was
wearing navy tracksuit with Nike trainers and standing about 5’ 3’’ and 8.5
stone nicely proportioned for a forty something mother. Hope hubby appreciates
her! Off she went down the road. There were loads of routes she could follow.
It would be interesting to see how long she was out for. I would guess about
half an hour, home for a shower and breakfast and then take the youngest off to
school. I didn’t know whether she worked. No sign of a wage in the joint
account. James was netting about £2500 a month.
Speak of the devil there was our
boy just pulling the curtain in the lounge in his bath robe and unshaven so far
today! Looks tall and thin! Go on get the breakfast made for the family instead
of standing there stretching. Good boy. Ok not long now.
Half an hour run I was right.
Good work out to she is sweating judging by the way her tracksuit is sticking
to her. She is stretching the lactic acid out of her muscles to prevent
stiffness and cramps. It’s as important to warm down as well as warm up. I
would reckon James would move in about three quarters of an hour. There are
quite a few signs that the day is beginning. Cars are starting, dogs are being
walked, and people are moving around inside their homes. Welcome to Friday
folks you have just won an eight-hour day – I wish! Mine is going to be twice
that length.
07:55 here we go! He was driving
a large Peugeot in the 400 series, dark blue with a 59 plate. They are not
cheap and just over 6 months old. It’s going to be hard not to be spotted until
we get on to busier roads. I had not done this often. Yet another new skill! No
problems if he kept moving at 25mph as he was presently. He was headed towards
the A19 north so I guessed that it would be Gateshead or Newcastle. It’s
getting busy now. His office was in the Town Hall in Sunderland it’s an eyesore
of a modern building which replaced a beautiful old edifice. Prince Charles
would not approve I felt sure but James wasn’t going straight there today. No
he was heading up north. I hope it’s not the big city because then parking and
following would be an issue. I would have to explore his home if I lost him. It
might come to that anyway!
We joined the A19 at New
Herrington and headed north crossing the A183 after ten minutes or so. So far
so good! He isn’t trying to break any speed records. He had no reason to
suspect that he was being followed. It was ok this tailing folk lark! Oops! Where
are we going now Jim? He had turned off at Junction 12 and was keeping left
towards Washington New Town. Well it was new in 1964!
I saw that this road was rather
grandly named ‘The Sunderland Highway’! It was still the A1231 to me! We went
over the A195 and continue towards the town centre. Aha! Jim was signalling to
come off into a minor road left into what looked like an estate. There was some
parkland about. If I remembered my reccy of the area it was Glebe Park. The
planners included lots of green areas in these new towns, which was just as
well because the housing is so regimented and boring the inmates, sorry
inhabitants, would go mad. We were on Parkway, an apt name! I had to drop back
as it’s quiet on this road. Jim Thompson is slowing down and indicating left. I
thought that he was stopping. I carried on and overtook him turned right on
Dryburgh and parked up, keeping an eye on Jim in my mirror. He was getting
something out of the boot it was a white hard hat, the type you see in
coalmines and on building sites. It won’t be the former; there haven’t been any
working pits in the area for many years. So what was being built round here? My
mark was carrying a laptop bag. I set off after him back along Parkway and then
right up Abbey Road, keeping my distance.
Looking round, the houses were
neat and tidy older than the one the Thompson’s lived in which was reflected in
the style. The gardens were bordered by walls not just spilling over on to the
footpaths, as is the modern trend. Borders filled with daffodils and crocuses
and forsythia, providing a glowing spring tribute to the steely blue early
morning sky. It was just before 08:30 and the Mums were beginning to walk and
drive the children to school although many kids were too old to be taken and
small groups were gathering to set off for their trudge to high school. A
visitor from outer space would think they were about to be executed from their
expressions! Not a happy sight.
On the right of Abbey Road is
Glebe Park, which is a mixture of rolling grassland and mature stands of trees.
All except for a building site of significant proportions, which I guessed, was
where we were heading. I thought that I would try leading from the front so
started looking for a way in. Jim will go through the site entrance. There was an
unofficial track that leads across the grass and I used that to get in and then
head across the park and to my left to take me round the back of the site where
there were some trees and undergrowth. There was a wire fence all round the
site with boards advertising the company who was doing the work. McSwann &
Son building a leisure centre to enhance the community. From what I could see
they were putting up a two-storey building with outdoor all-weather facilities
for different games. There are groups of workmen hanging around, chatting and
gathering equipment. I can hear them but not understand what they are saying
and it’s not because of the distance. They are not all speaking English I think
it is Italian with a mixture of Scottish! Very strange! I had come across
eastern Europeans on building sites and allied trades but not Italians! Well
anyone can get a job in this country except for the native English! Bless the
EEC!
I continued to stroll round the
perimeter getting closer to the trees where I intended to conceal myself from
prying eyes and take in more detail. I could hear voices in stereo, well
almost. Italian from my left and something similar tinged with Geordie in the
trees up ahead.
I caught a glimpse of James
talking to some ‘yellow hats’ I assume site managers. There were two of them.
One wearing a very expensive looking grey suit standing about 5’ 10’’ with
longish jet black hair protruding from the back of his hard hat; the other guy
taller and wearing a site yellow safety jacket. They are looking at plans. I
assume as a planner he is checking up that the job is on schedule and being
done properly. No clue as to where all the money he had made had come from here
unless of course he was taking backhanders for planning favours. That had
happened before in this region! It still struck me as odd that there was a
leisure centre being built in the park when the facilities in Washington were
relatively new and available. Also the fact that an ostensibly Scottish
building firm with predominantly Italian workers was doing the work! Could that
be a clue? Certainly worth looking into! This job was not as straight forward
as the others I had done. No quick visit some gentle persuasion; a financial
accident; maybe a more physical accident! In fact I think James Thompson is
only the blue touch paper and was probably safe from violent retribution. I knew
where to find him but McSwann & Son could warrant a closer look. I thought
that a return after dark was called for.
I found myself a comfortable spot
in the trees, as close to the perimeter fence as I dared, and decided to
observe for a while. After an hour of getting cramp and not really seeing
anything but what looked like normal work, I saw Jim packing up his plans and
shaking hands obviously preparing to leave. It was decision time. I thought
that I may have a look round his house while he set off to the office, I hoped.
I needed somewhere to stay as well and I wondered if Seaburn was still open!
Okay I set off to Doxford Park to have a look round chez Thompson then Seaburn
for a room and a meal and finally back here under the cover of darkness. No
point in wasting time. I set off straight across the park angling away from the
new construction and directly towards my car. Believe it or not it was still
only 10:15. I could be back at his house in half an hour then off to the coast
for lunch and a nap. It was like working a night shift.
The roads were a lot quieter
going back so I was there in a shorter time than planned. I parked in the small
shopping precinct car park and donned an anonymous blue overall with a photo ID
proclaiming that I was a representative of United Pipes and Wiring. I wasn’t
expecting to see or talk to anyone - but just in case! I can pass as an
electrician and carry a circuit tester and an electrical screwdriver as well as
an official looking clipboard.
I walked briskly into the estate
and straight to my target. There was a door at the front but as I am a
‘tradesman’ I walked down the drive to the door at the side. Fortunately, the
view from the back was obscured by the garage and from the front only the
neighbour directly opposite would be able to see, and of course anyone passing
by. The door was UPVC with a translucent glass panel in the middle. I would
guess the burglar alarm is in a cupboard or on the wall near this door.
Builders and installers are singularly devoid of imagination. Still the door
could be a problem. I knocked hard – no response. Right round the back and see
what’s possible. A conservatory and they provide good views and as this one was
built straight out from a window wall, no heavily bolted door. Also there was a
corner not observable by anyone! Double-glazing is very good unless you take
units out or have a glasscutter. I removed a side panel and eased my way in. I
heard the alarm beeping as soon as I set foot inside. I moved quickly inside,
made my way into the kitchen and took off the panel covering the switches. I
immobilised the alarm by disconnecting the power and back up battery and now to
have a twenty-minute look round. That would take me to 11:40 and I would be away
and on the coast for lunch. I went upstairs and looked for a study. Yes the 4th
bedroom. Nice house with quality fittings. I wondered what he told Janice! A desktop
computer but I hadn’t much time but there was a draw in the desk containing some
receipts, warranties and statements. I photographed relevant paperwork and went
to look in the master bedroom. The kid’s bedrooms were a luxury I hadn’t time
for. Planning and then sticking to your plan is essential. The bedroom yielded
little of interest except for very high quality everything and a tendency to
the Italian – Janice likes Italian shoes. Well she has several pairs. It was
time to work my way out downstairs and through the lounge. There were a bunch
of travel brochures by a well padded leather chair and you can guess where they
were looking to go. Yes Italy Florence in fact. Very nice!
I didn’t bother with the alarm or the window. It would
give them an adrenaline rush. LOL. Still. No mess or damage. I retraced my
tracks to the car and headed eastwards to the coast.
I hope you have enjoyed this and would appreciate the odd comment!
God Bless
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