A Perfect Likeness (26 page)

The entry wound was small and in the centre of the forehead. All attachments had been removed and Alan Grimes did not look as though he had just been subjected to a violent assault that would have killed him… had he been alive.

‘Your husband is ready, Mrs Grimes. There is nothing to fear. He is still wearing the dressings following surgery and has a small plaster on his forehead. He looks peaceful.’

‘Oh, Alan, why didn’t we just disappear like we said we should. Anywhere, I wouldn’t have minded. At least I would still have you with me.’ Patricia Grimes, still with an arm across her husband’s chest, looked up at her sister. ‘He was a very good husband. Every day he told me how much he loved me. He was desperate to get out of this game, but frightened of the consequences. I think he’d been brainwashed into believing ‘
They’
would get him anywhere. When can we arrange the funeral, doctor?’

‘As soon as we have permission to release the body. When you are ready, Mrs Grimes, we’ll go back to my office. The police sergeant wishes to have a few more words with you.’

‘Mrs Grimes,’ said Fraser I’m sorry we need to continue questioning you so soon after your husband’s death but you have, by your own admission, played a significant role in the distribution of cocaine. You will be charged and released to appear in court at a later date.’

‘I understand that, Sergeant, it’s no more than I deserve.’

‘One more thing, Mrs Grimes and I don’t wish to alarm you, but we are more than a little concerned as to your safety. We have just seen what lengths these people are prepared to go to in order to ensure their identity is not discovered and they may consider that you pose a similar risk to them as your husband obviously did.’

‘Oh, my God. Do you really think it could happen?’ Patricia Grimes was horrified. She hadn’t considered the possibility of herself becoming a target.

Her sister placed a protecting arm around her shoulder. ‘She can come and stay with me.’

‘No, I don’t think that is a good idea, Ma’am. It places you and your family at an equal risk. We are going to place Mrs Grimes under house arrest and she will have an armed policewoman with her at all times until she appears in court or, until we are satisfied that she is no longer in danger.’

‘Right, in that case I would like to stay with her. I have spoken to my family and, whilst we are sickened at what she and Alan have been doing, she is my sister and needs family with her at this time.’

Patricia Grimes squeezed her sister’s hand. ‘Thanks, Sis, I know I don’t deserve it. I’ll be alright. I’m not putting you at risk. I’ve done enough damage as it is. I’ll phone you several times a day.’

‘You can go home now with WPC Chalmers and she will stay with you for the rest of the day. There will be a constable on duty outside the house at all times and you will be taken to the police station tomorrow morning for further questioning.’

*

Fraser inhaled deeply, closed his eyes and savoured the freshness of the newly cut grass outside the hospital. The chances are it would be the last cut, he thought, as work on the new maternity wing was due to begin in a few weeks time. He had a passion for grass, as a glance at the rear lawn of his terrace house would prove. Neither Wembley nor Lords, even on a good day, could match the standard of his turf. He reached down and stroked the grass. A reasonable quality, but poorly cut, he considered.

Fraser remembered why he had gone outside and phoned Deckman. ‘Guv, just checking that you are not getting over friendly with Rexton in my absence,’ he said and continued without waiting for a response. ‘I’ve got a bit of an update for you. Miss Page and Rawston have tried to gain access to the Grimes’s house. These guys don’t believe in taking chances do they? Even murdering dead men to make sure they don’t talk. I’ve heard it all now. This is going to make great headlines.’

‘I imagine they will be kicking themselves when they find out he was already dead,’ said Deckman. ‘One thing is for sure, Grimes was part of the group we’re after and that group is top league and very dangerous. But this set back for them is not going to help us one little bit, they will be much more careful from now on. They may even consider taking a rest for a while to let things quieten down, although that will bring on the pains for their ‘customers’ who will have to go elsewhere for their supply. Those who make the decisions have some hard thinking to do.’

‘There are two big things in our favour, Guv. Firstly, with a bit of luck the gang will believe the press reports that the police are looking towards London for the killers not realising we are already waiting to pounce.’ Fraser hesitated.

‘And the second?’ said Deckman, regretting the need to ask and expecting the worst.

‘That your mate Rexton is desk bound and unable to get involved.’

Chapter 20

‘
How is Tom reacting to all this?’ Edward Page asked his daughter.

‘No problems and no questions, but I’m sure he’s given it plenty of thought. Don’t you think it is time we told him a little more about the organisation he works for and ourselves. He’s worked his heart out without complaint and I would feel a lot more comfortable with him hearing the truth, or at least a little more of the truth.’

‘I agree and now seems a good time as the devil himself is about to arrive.’

‘Sorry I’m late, folks, but I’ve been trying to get Red Star sorted out. The part is being sent by courier and will be here by mid-afternoon’ said Rawston. ‘See your men did their work, Edward. Papers are full of it. Impressive stuff. Feel sorry for poor old Alan. A good guy but was a goner anyway. We all know the score, could easily have been any one of us. Right, now what’s all this about me being the devil?’

‘Tom, Sylvia and I have been talking about you this morning and we both feel you deserve to know more about the people you are working for.’

‘I reckon I’ve got a pretty good idea, but I would appreciate knowing if I’m thinking in the right direction.’

‘Our organisation is huge with an operations network spread throughout the world. We are controlled from
…
’

‘Moscow?’ interrupted Rawston.

Edward Page smiled. ‘Yes, Tom, from Moscow. You have been working for the Russian mafia. I trust it is not a problem for you?’

‘Christ, no. Why should I have a problem? My country let me down well and proper when I needed help most. I was the best bloody soldier they had, that’s why I was decorated and then the bastards got shot of me. Any way I can get back at Britain makes me happy. Enough of the past. Look, I guess I’ve known for quite a while who I’ve been working for and knew you’d tell me some time. When you felt I’d proved myself, I suppose. What I would have expected though is a Russian boss, not English.’

‘We
are
Russian, Tom. My real name is Yaroslav Andrekov and Sylvia was born Natasha Ramirova. And, of course, she is not my daughter.’

‘Bloody hell,’ said Rawston clasping both hands to his forehead. ‘I’m stunned, would never have guessed. You both speak perfect English, much better than me. It’s incredible.’

Sylvia Page moved close to Rawston and kissed him directly on his lips. He coloured.

‘I, er… I thought we were a secret,’ he stammered.

Although it hurt him to do so, Page smiled again. Whenever he saw two people, so obviously in love, his thoughts returned immediately to his precious Olga.
It still hurt, but at least,
he thought,
time was close to settling the score.

‘Don’t worry, Tom, Edward has known for some time and is happy for us as long as we continue to be careful. The business and its security come first, always. Thing is, Tom Rawston, now you know the truth, does it change the way you feel about me?’

‘No, not at all,’ he said cupping her head between his giant hands. ‘Nothing would change that. To be honest, I rather like the name, Natasha.’

‘Never to be used, Tom,’ warned Edward Page.

‘I understand, Edward. Don’t worry on that score, but all the same it’s a nice name.’

‘We’re not worried, otherwise we would not have told you. You proved yourself long ago. We trust you like you were one of our Russian colleagues. Just be careful, the pair of you. More so than you’ve ever been. The police will be after the ‘killers’ of Alan but they suspect they come from London. Let us hope they continue to think that way. We’ve just lost a good man, a lot of money and a great deal of cocaine. That should be enough to prove the need for the tightest security by all of us. In view of Alan’s death we may be halting all deliveries for a while, but I’ll confirm later after I’ve spoken with London.’

‘Don’t reckon there’s a problem, Edward,’ said Rawston. ‘As you said, all the reports indicate a London gang. The killers were caught on the hospital CCTV getting into the car which they’d nicked in London and the car was found abandoned outside Woking station.’

‘I agree with you, but we must wait for our chiefs to give the go-ahead. We have the replacement for Alan ready to go for the next trip. He was Alan’s number two. He met him during army service. Got discharged for drug abuse and spent a long time undergoing rehab. He’s clean now. Has been for eleven years. He reckons it was Alan who saved him during his bad days and says he will always owe him. He’s been with us ever since Alan started. His wife is an ex-user and they have no kids or family down here. They came down from Newcastle after being kicked out of the family circle because of the drug scandal. They know the risks but are prepared to take them. Tom, come over to the house this evening and I should be able to give you more information. Sylvia, I need to speak with you before you see your ladies.’

Sylvia Page waited for Rawston to leave before speaking. She had noticed that Edward Page seemed more preoccupied than usual and his reaction to the tragedy had not been as she expected. ‘What is the problem, Edward, I can see there is more on your mind than Alan’s death?’

‘Two days ago I was informed of who was driving the car that killed my wife.’

‘Who was it? Must have been someone pretty important to have had a car in those days.’

‘Then he was at the start of his career, now he is a senior member of the ruling party.’

‘What are you going to do?’

‘Moscow have said they will deal with him on my behalf, but I have to do it myself. For so many years this has been a daily promise I make to Olga. To avenge her death. I must go home, Sylvia, and confront this man. He ruined my life, now I will finish his. It doesn’t matter if I am killed in the process, I shall be at peace with myself and be with my beloved Olga once again.’

‘Edward, please don’t talk like that. Why not let Moscow deal with it?’

‘No, Sylvia, I will keep my promise to Olga. I will also be asking for a return to Moscow. I have had enough of England. My job is done and it’s time for younger blood to take over. It will take a while, maybe up to a year before I go.’

‘I have been dreading hearing this. I don’t think I could work with another person. You have been my assumed father for so long I have grown to believe that you really are. And Tom, he will be devastated.’

‘Sylvia, I’ve had enough and I need to be near Olga. I’ll make sure you get the right person to take over from me and there is no need to tell Tom anything at this stage. There is a major boat show in Moscow for the next ten days, at the Crocus Exhibition Centre. What better reason is there for me to go. I want you to book me a flight for the day after tomorrow. Earliest departure and only two nights there.’

*

Sylvia Page entered a house between Gloucester Road and North Road unaware that she had been followed since leaving the Star Boats’ office. The house was another owned by Blue Tree Properties. Her full movements logged and her meetings with four women ‘working’ in two sea-front hotels, photographed. As the investigation progressed Sylvia Page had become an easier target for the surveillance teams as her routine never changed and her attention to security had been forgotten, despite the warnings. Her unexpected deviation to the travel agent was a welcome change for her observer.

*

Edward Page left the office and walked across the road to the telephone booth next to the taxi rank. He was normally alert and his surveillance officers were on guard for his sudden changes of direction and apparent indecision as to where he was going. Today, he too, appeared less concerned about the possibility of being followed. He checked his watch and waited until the pre-arranged time before making his call to a London phone box. Even he did not know where it was located. ‘Pity I didn’t get you to wait another day before you sent the team to terminate Grimes,’ said Page to his senior colleague in London. ‘It would have avoided the press headlines. I am considering suspending the cocaine operations for a few weeks, until it quietens down. I don’t want to, but it may be sensible. What do you think?’

‘Don’t worry, Edward. It was a useful exercise for the two operatives. I thought they did very well and everything went as planned. It’s drawn attention away from Draycliffe which is what we wanted. In my opinion you should continue as normal, I’m sure you will not have any problems. Instruct your people to be even more vigilant than they already are, but I’m sure you’ve done that anyway. Have you decided what to do about Moscow?’

‘I have to do it myself. Sylvia is booking a flight for tomorrow.’