Authors: George McCartney
Two weeks later, back in the JD Investigations office in Glasgow, the two partners were going through their normal morning routine. This entailed Jack staring out of the window, whistling tunelessly and scratching, while Annie got on with the work.
When the phone rang Annie looked up and glared, prompting Jack to scuttle across the room and pick up.
'Hi there, Jack, it's Andy Walsh. I’ve got an update on that tasty file you asked me to pass on to the NCA. If you're near a television, I think you’ll be
very
interested in a news item just starting on BBC Scotland.'
'Annie, quick … switch on the television. BBC Scotland news.'
Jack continued his conversation with Andy, as Annie watched dramatic pictures appear on the screen showing the culmination of a tense standoff between armed police and members of the Glenn gang at the garage in Leith. In the background the brief crackle of gunshots could clearly be heard, then silence.
'Bloody hell,' said Annie. 'How good is this? I hope Henry has a television on, wherever he ended up. Although, I suppose if he did have a television, he'd be watching the horse racing.’
A breathless female reporter then continued with her report. ‘In related news I understand that up to one hundred police officers are currently involved in an ongoing operation to smash a major drug gang, suspected of being involved in the sale and distribution of Class A drugs, including cocaine and Ecstasy tablets, throughout Edinburgh.’
The camera then panned to the right of the reporter, who continued, ‘I have with me here Chief Superintendent Daniel Mullen from Police Scotland, who can tell us more about today's dramatic events.’
Holding a prepared statement, the tall cop licked his lips and began reading. ‘This is an intelligence led operation, the culmination of eighteen months of painstaking surveillance and intelligence gathering, by a large dedicated team of police officers, which today resulted in a series of co-ordinated raids on premises across the Capital.’
‘Our intention is to send out a loud clear message, to anyone involved in the supply and distribution of illegal drugs. No matter how sophisticated and well organised these gangs become, we retain the ability to track them down and destroy their distribution networks, which blight the communities where they operate. It's important to understand that this is an ongoing, wide-ranging investigation taking in the UK, the European mainland and beyond. We will in due course be seeking the co-operation of the courts to obtain exemplary sentences, reflecting the seriousness of the offences, for all of those involved in this evil trade. Further information will be released later in the day and I will be in a position to update you then.’
The reporter then wrapped up her piece by saying, 'just to re-cap, Police Scotland claim to have smashed a major drug ring operating here in Edinburgh. One man is understood to have been shot dead, following a dramatic stand-off with police at a garage in Leith. Four other men are in custody and arrest warrants have been issued for a further six suspects. I understand that this is an ongoing operation, with a number of other premises in Edinburgh still to be searched.’
Annie muted the sound on the office television and turned round to see Jack pouring two large measures of whisky into coffee cups.
Offering one to Annie, he raised his cup in a toast and said with a grin, 'we did it, kiddo. According to Andy, the guy who did the money run was followed south, in a joint operation with the National Crime Agency, and observed making large cash deposits at six different banks in and around Birmingham. The banks are co-operating fully and report that all of the cash, totalling two hundred and twenty thousand pounds, was transferred within two hours of being deposited, to a foreign currency exchange in London.'
'They didn't manage to seize the cash?'
'No, the cops decided on balance that it was better to let it go into the system, to establish how the Glenn brothers were getting the money out of the country. But the owner of the currency exchange has been arrested and the cops down south are optimistic that he’ll flip soon and give a statement about where exactly the cash went after leaving London. If he’s smart and co-operates with the police, he'll probably get a reduced sentence. So watch this space.'
‘It’s completely amazing,’ said Annie. ‘But I don’t understand what all the shooting at the garage was about.’
'Apparently the gang broke through the rear wall of the garage and tried to escape through somebody's back garden. They nearly got away with it but, for once, the cops were ahead of the game and had the rear of the building covered. When Maxie led the charge and loosed off a couple of shots at the police, they returned fire immediately and killed him. So I'm afraid he won't be getting up from the canvas this time.'
'But I don't get it, why didn't he just surrender to the police?’ asked Annie. ‘I mean if all of the drug money was off the premises at that point, he could have just denied everything and got lawyered up. Why get involved in a shoot-out?'
'That was my first thought as well. But when the cops examined Maxie's mobile phone, they found he’d received two phone calls just before he died. Police were simultaneously raiding all of the gang's drug distribution houses in Edinburgh and a couple of gang members were obviously trying to give him a heads-up. Maxie immediately phoned his brother afterwards to share the good news and then he used a Stihl saw to cut a hole in the back wall of the garage.'
'He knew the raid was a really big deal and that he would be facing some serious jail time. Apparently, he served a couple of jail sentences back in his twenties and swore that he was never ever going back inside.
Andy was told that at the other locations the police raided, they seized three hand guns, a sawn-off shotgun, six stun guns and three machetes. They also found a large quantity of Class A drugs, mainly cocaine and Ecstasy tablets, with an estimated street value of five million pounds. It just shows the scale of the operation the Glenn brothers were running.'
'Maxie's no great loss to the world, but what about his brother, Raymond? Did the cops manage to arrest him as well?'
'It was probably always at the back of his mind that this day might come, Annie. He's a smart guy and a lawyer, remember, so presumably he could have denied everything and waited to see what the strength of evidence was against him, and tried to brass it out.'
'But he didn't do that. He obviously got the phone call from Maxie and realised that, with their entire drug operation being dismantled before their eyes, there was a shitload of trouble heading his way, regardless of what he did. So he's weighed it all up and made the decision to go on the run.'
'But surely he can’t have just disappeared into thin air.'
'The cops had cars sitting outside Raymond’s office as well as his home, ready to pick him up at exactly the same moment as they raided the garage. But whether it was just dumb luck or, who knows, maybe even a tip-off from inside the police, he was nowhere to be found. His office staff are in complete shock and his wife was actually in the middle of doing her ironing when the cops broke the news that an arrest warrant has been issued for her husband.'
'There's an unconfirmed report that an Edinburgh private hire taxi dropped off a man answering Raymond Glenn's description at a small private airfield in East Lothian. The pilot filed a flight plan showing Manchester Barton airport as the intended destination. But, big surprise, the plane doesn't seem to have arrived there. It’s anyone's guess where he is right now, but there is some speculation on where he might be heading.'
‘I don’t believe it,’ said Annie shaking her head in disappointment.
'The NCA guys told Andy that the electronic money trail shows most of the ‘investment’ cash that poured into East Coast Ventures over the last five years was channelled through a small Russian owned bank, located in Northern Cyprus. Their working theory at the moment is that the lawyer has a rainy day fund stashed away there, so that's where he's probably headed. You also won't be astonished to learn that the UK currently has no extradition treaty with Northern Cyprus.'
'So the bum's got away with it?' sighed Annie.
'It depends how you look at it, I suppose. Okay, he's still got his freedom, for the moment, and no doubt the wife and the kids will join him in the sun at some point. But you never know how that might play out. She might not want to give up her nice life in Edinburgh. But, either way, even if he does manage to stay on the loose, he'll be looking over his shoulder until the day he dies. The Russian mob are also big in Cyprus so there’s a good chance they might want a share of the loot, or all of it.’
'What about the seizure of assets powers that Jamie was telling us about the other day?'
'Good point, Annie. If the Glenn brothers are both found guilty, Andy's been told it could be the biggest ever seizure of assets in Scotland, using the Proceeds of Crime Acts. What makes this case so different is the huge amount of property they own. So far the police have found records indicating that, in the UK alone, East Coast Ventures owns four hundred and twenty flats, which are all let out, plus three hotels and a small shopping centre somewhere in Midlothian. There may own other properties abroad, because they were both frequent visitors to the Canary Islands and Cyprus for holidays, but there isn't any information on that yet.'
'The NCA guys and the local Edinburgh cops are well chuffed, to put it mildly. As we suspected, the Glenn brothers were already on their radar and they knew some of the locations the gang were using to distribute drugs around the city. So they could have lifted the lower tier of the organisation at any time. But what they didn't know was how the cash from the drug sales was being collected and where it went after that. That was the solid evidence they were waiting for, so they could smash the whole organisation from top to bottom.'
'So our contribution was crucial in bringing them down?' said Annie, with a satisfied smile.
'Absolutely, and having Maxie on video, right there at the garage with the week's takings from drug sales in his hands, was a huge bonus. Once we marked their card, they were ready to green light the operation at the garage and all the other raids around Edinburgh. I'm reliably informed that they’re so pleased with the information supplied by the JD Investigations crew, that the awarding of a modest Crime Stoppers reward has been mentioned.'
'Really … how modest?’ asked Annie.
'I believe it's around ten thousand pounds.'
'Fantastic. So when do we get it?' said Annie enthusiastically. 'Obviously we’ve got to include Jamie, so split three ways that would be about …'
'Sorry,
we
don't get it. I told them to give all of the reward money to Henry's sister.'
Annie looked incredulously
at her partner.
'Wait, let me explain. Guy offered to pay for Henry's funeral, but his sister wouldn't hear of it. You didn't meet her, but she's definitely from the old school, Annie. She's one of those proud but poor people, who don't like charity and just take care of their family's business, regardless of the circumstances. I think that she's the real victim in this whole affair, because of all the grief Henry put her through over the years. So a ten grand reward might ease the pain a little bit and, after all, she was the one who came forward with the crucial letter that broke the case wide open. I reckon, once she pays for the funeral, there might be enough left over for a nice holiday.'
'You did absolutely the right thing, boss,' said Annie, giving her partner a rare and unexpected hug.
‘Hey … but wait a minute. With all the excitement about the raid on the garage and the other drug busts, I’d almost forgotten about Henry’s murder. Did Andy say if the police are going to bring any charges against the Glenn gang for that?’
‘That’s a tricky one, Annie. I think everyone’s fairly certain that Maxie Glenn was heavily involved in Henry’s death, but he’s dead and beyond the reach of the law. And we just don’t know at this stage if any of the other gang members will start talking about how Henry’s murder was actually organised. It’s unlikely that Raymond was present when Henry was thrown off the Dean Bridge. But, if the cops could prove that he knew about it in advance, they might get a conspiracy to commit murder charge to stick. But realistically, I think he would need to be brought back to Scotland before any prosecution could go ahead.’
‘So the creep might get away with that as well?’
‘We have to be realistic, Annie. Yes, there’s a good chance he might never face justice for what he’s done. But he’s still going to pay a heavy price, because he can’t ever come back to Britain and he’s probably going to lose his entire property empire. All things considered, I think we did the best we could for poor old Henry. We helped take down his killers and I hope now he can rest in peace.’
A week later, Jack and Annie invited Jamie along to the Royal Bar for an after work drink.
‘So how are things with you, young man?’ asked Jack as the trio settled into a corner booth.
‘I’m good, thanks,’ replied Jamie. ‘Although I must admit life seems pretty dull, after the excitement of the Edinburgh job. Have you got anything else lined up that I can maybe help you with?’
‘We’ve only got a couple of routine inquiry jobs on the go at the moment, but I’ll definitely be in touch if something more interesting comes along. Meantime, I’m sure this will help to cheer you up.’ Jack handed Jamie an envelope.
‘What’s this, my P45?’
‘Not quite, open it and see.’
Jamie tore open the envelope and gasped in surprise as he pulled out a cheque for five thousand pounds. ‘I don’t understand … what’s this for? Who do you want killed?’
Jack smiled and said, ‘relax buddy, it’s a bonus for the great work you did with the drone in Edinburgh.’
‘But that wasn’t work, it was fun and I enjoyed helping you both. Honestly I can’t take this, Jack, it’s far too much.’
‘Wait, let me explain. Guy Brodie settled our Invoice promptly, which was great because I was worried he’d run out of money. But just yesterday he also made an ex gratia payment into our business account, specifically for services rendered in helping to nail the Glenn brothers. And we simply couldn’t have done that without you, Jamie. So we both agreed that the bonus money from Guy should be split three ways. So that’s your share. Enjoy.’
‘I don’t know what to say.’
‘I have a suggestion, why don’t you try saying …
what would you like to drink?
’ said Annie with a smile, turning her empty glass upside down.
As Jamie went to the bar to buy another round, Annie’s aunt Peggie, the formidable landlady of the Royal Bar, came across and sat down beside them.
‘Ah, so the wanderers have returned,’ she said, with a slight edge to her voice. ‘I thought maybe you weren’t speaking, because it’s been so long since you’ve been to see me. I was starting to think you prefer life with the toffs, over in the so-called capital city.’
‘You’re absolutely right,’ joked Jack. ‘We just popped back to see how the other half lives.’
‘Actually, quite a few of the people we met in Edinburgh were definitely
not
toffs,’ said Annie. ‘But I am heading back there on Saturday night, for a dinner date.’
‘Ooh, a dinner date is it? Get
her
,’ said auntie Peg. ‘And dare we ask who your dining companion might be?
‘Of course, it’s Guy Brodie. You know, the client we were working for in Edinburgh. Oh, and his friend Danni will be there as well. A lot has happened since I last saw them both and they just want to catch up.’
Jack butted in at that point. ‘To avoid any confusion here, Peggie, I should explain that Danni is a woman.’
‘Ah, so it’s a
threesome
. Very nice, I like
them
.’
‘No, it’s just a nice meal and a chat, that’s all. Believe it or not, auntie, it’s quite possible to meet up with two interesting and attractive people, without immediately jumping into bed with them.’
‘If you say so,’ said an unconvinced Peggie. ‘But don’t rule anything out and remember what I told you the last time we had a chat. Use it or lose it.’
‘But you were kidding, right? You know … about the threesomes,’ said Jack, his curiosity piqued.
‘Oh, don’t be so shocked, I’ve only had a couple,’ said Peggie nonchalantly, as a deathly hush suddenly descended on the Royal Bar, with all ears straining to catch more details of the mature landlady’s lurid love life.
Jack and Annie stared open-mouthed and Jamie blushed furiously as aunt Peggie enthusiastically filled in the details. ‘The first one was okay, quite hard work but still great fun as long as you remember to pace yourself. And much better than going to the gym. But the really good thing, Annie, is that you have a back-up.’
‘Sorry? What do you mean?’
‘Well if they’re both older guys and one of them is a one-minute wonder, or maybe has brewer’s droop.’
‘Come on, why were you staring at me when you said that?’ said Jack defensively.
‘I wasn’t staring,’ continued Peggie, with a twinkle in her eye.
‘Anyway, I’m just pointing out that, if one guy can’t rise to the occasion, his mate can jump into the saddle and finish the job off properly. So it’s a kind of insurance, like having a spare wheel in the boot of your car.’
‘Thanks for the tip,’ said Annie uncertainly. ‘I’ll try and remember that.’
‘But all things considered,’ continued Peggie, now in full flow. ‘If I have a choice, I do prefer to go for younger men these days.’
Jamie nervously edged his stool further away from Peggie at that point and appeared to be calculating if it was possible to clear the intervening horseshoe bar, with a back somersault. From a seated position.
‘But, although the young guys are usually pretty fit, because of all the time they spend in the gym, they do tend to be a bit on the thick side. So don’t be expecting any stimulating conversation, either before or after.’
‘Auntie please, that’s a bit strong.’
A grudging apology was then offered up by Peggie, as she reached across to pat Jamie’s thigh and said condescendingly, ‘sorry, son,
present
company excepted. I know you’re a bit
different
… a weedy wee brain box, at least according to Annie. Anyway, as I was saying,
most
of the young team haven’t got a clue about what’s happening in the wider world. In fact, some of them I’ve been out with were so dim they couldn’t find their arse in a darkened room. But hey, that doesn’t matter as long as they can find
my
arse in a darkened room,
right
?’
A brief pause for a burst of filthy cackling and thigh slapping. ‘Because I’m not hooking up with them to chat about the migrant crisis in Europe, or what can be done about the nuclear threat from North Korea. Isn’t that right, Annie?’
‘Well, yes. I suppose so, auntie,’ said Annie who was by this point squirming with embarrassment and praying the ground would open up and swallow her.
Jack, by contrast, was enjoying himself hugely. He leant towards Annie and whispered, ‘I really enjoyed our spell in Edinburgh, Annie, but you must admit you would never find this kind of entertainment in an Edinburgh pub.’
‘I think, on balance, that’s probably a good thing, boss,’ said Annie, gulping down her vodka and Red Bull.
Jack then prompted Peggie to continue with her ribald tales. ‘You said before that you’ve had two threesomes. Dare I ask about … you know? The
other
one.’
‘Christ, what a night
that
was, Jack. I’m sure I’ve still got traces of bite marks on my arse. One of the guys was an amateur gymnast and I think his mate was a professional scuba diver. Talk about being fit, those two guys were some tag team and I was a total grease spot by the time we were finished. Actually, one of them had the video camera on his phone running in the hotel room and I’m pretty sure you can still see the highlights for yourself, if anyone’s interested. I think he put the video up on the
Clyde Banger Babes
website.’
The Royal Bar’s free Wi-Fi service immediately went into meltdown, with wisps of smoke appearing from the router, as twenty-eight drinkers in the bar simultaneously attempted Google searches on their smartphones for
Clyde Banger Babes.
‘Just kidding,’ said Peggie slapping her thigh once more and roaring with laughter, as she stood up and glared around the bar. ‘That was a test. I just wanted to see how many of the pathetic losers who drink in here would stoop so low as to listen in on a lady’s private and personal conversation. And now I know. All of you.’
Jack hooted with laughter again, before succumbing to a violent choking fit.
However, when he recovered his composure, he found that he was now the subject of Peggie’s steely gaze. ‘So, Mr Davidson, now that I’ve brought you fully up to date on the state of
my
love-life. I think it’s only fair that you do the same for
yours
. A little bird told me recently that, when you finally emerged from your man-cave and re-joined the world, you started to dip your toe in the on-line dating scene. So it’s time for you to share some of juicy bits.
Now
.’
Another deathly hush descended on the crowded Royal Bar, as all eyes once again focused on the corner booth.
Jack looked around and coughed nervously before saying, ‘you’re a pretty tough act to follow, Peggie, and I’m afraid that my modest efforts pale into insignificance compared to your, er … adventures.’
‘I’ll be the judge of that, Jack, thank you. Please continue.’
‘Okay, but I’ve been pretty busy working, remember. So I’ve only been out with two women, so far.’
‘Was that separately or together?’
‘Separately.’
‘Any men?’
‘Nope, no men. And, before you ask, no threesomes, mixed foursomes or farm animals either. So far.’
‘I’m really disappointed in you, Jack Davidson. I honestly thought you were a bit more adventurous than that. So it’s just been dead straight vanilla action. Huh …
dullsville
.’
‘I’m afraid so, and actually not very much action either, now I come to think about it. But, remember I’m just getting started.’
‘Ah, that reminds me,’ said Peggie with a wicked grin. ‘Could one of you dozy buggers sitting at the bar, stop playing pocket billiards for a minute and reach under the counter. My iPad is in the drawer right below the till. Bring it over.’
One of Peggie’s slaves did as requested and obediently trotted across the bar to deliver the device, which sprang to life at a dating website page.
‘Okay, listen up everyone because we’re going to play a little game now. I’m going to read out a profile of one of the men on this dating website, and you have to try and guess who it is. I know you all have limited attention spans so, to keep you interested, the winner gets free beer until chucking out time tonight.’
‘Ready? Here goes … ‘
I’m fit for my age and a moderate social drinker.’
‘Well that rules out everyone in here for a start,’ said one of the wags at the bar, sparking general hilarity.
Peggie continued reading. ‘
I am a solvent home owner, with my own business. I’ve been married before and I’d now like to meet an attractive younger woman, who likes popular music and takes an interest in world news.’
‘I’ve got it. It must be Rupert Murdoch?’ opined another toper. Cue more guffaws of laughter.
‘That’s a very good answer, but it’s not the
right
answer,’ said Peggie, smiling broadly.
‘Okay then, settle down … here’s another clue from this likely lad’s profile and I think it’s
probably best if you all have your sick bags ready. ‘
I love long walks, visits to the theatre and romantic candlelit dinners, followed by rose petals, chocolates and champagne.’
Amid all of the groans and raspberries, one of Peggie’s excited regulars shouted, ‘I’ve got it … this profile. It must be Graham Norton, right?’
Shaking her head in frustration, Peggie replied, ‘no wait, I’m going to give you a really strong clue. The person described in this profile is actually right
here
in the bar tonight.’
The patrons of the Royal Bar looked around at each other in complete bewilderment, before shaking their heads and staring blankly at Peggie.
‘Okay, I can’t make it any bloody easier for you. Pass the sodding iPad around and check out his picture for yourself.’
As a huddle of customers immediately gathered around the iPad, Jack glared at Annie and hissed angrily, ‘did you set this up with her?’
‘No, of course not. She trawls all of the dating sites every day, using her iPad, and she must have come across your profile by accident. You know what she’s like.’
‘I didn’t before, but I do now.’
Five minutes of fevered scrutiny of the iPad passed, without yielding a positive ID. Then one of the older regulars sitting at the bar finished polishing his reading glasses, before taking a really close second look at the profile picture.
‘I know this will sound totally mad, guys, but I think this picture looks a bit like Jack.’
‘Who? Jack Davidson?’
‘Yeah, Jack. He’s sitting at the corner table over there.’
The patrons of the Royal Bar turned as one to stare at a mortified, red faced Jack Davidson.
Annie leant towards Jack and whispered, ‘what was it you were saying a minute ago, about not being able to find
this
kind of entertainment in an Edinburgh pub?’
However, if Jack thought his embarrassing ordeal was over, he was sadly mistaken. A scrum immediately developed around the iPad as the profile picture was re-examined. The upshot of this impromptu steward’s inquiry was a loud chorus of complaints and boos emanating from the disgruntled regulars of the Royal Bar.