Chapter 4: Clearing Up Dealers

After reading it through, Andy said, ‘It’s worth having a look at. There should be enough here to find something, even if we can’t prove anything, at least they can be kept an eye on.’

‘Come with me,’ he said, ‘Let’s see what we can find.’ He led them into a room with a computer on a desk. He sat at the keyboard and signed in. He typed in a search for people reported missing in the area between five and seven years ago.

They sat watching the screen as lights blinked and little wheels spun. A few minutes later a list of over two hundred names appeared. As Andy scrolled down, he reached the third page. They all spotted it at once. Keto Umboto, age seventeen, reported missing by his parents six and a half years earlier.

Andy clicked on the file. It showed a picture of Keto, his home address, and his last place of work. The last entry said nothing had been found and all evidence suggested that Keto was a happy and popular boy with no apparent problems or reasons for going missing.’

Andy wrote down his home and works address, then went into maps. When he put them both into maps the shortest route it showed for walking between home and work passed the same field as Faisals attack. ‘It looks like your information is right.’ Andy said.

‘Well, I need to get back.’ Danny said, ‘Let me know how you get on.’ ‘Scott and I will go over to the nearest station and have a word with any bobbies who were there around six years ago.’ Andy promised. ‘We’ll see if we can identify any of the attackers.’

‘Just to let you know,’ Andy told him as he was about to leave, ‘I’ve got my inspectors exam a week on Tuesday. I’ve taken a week’s leave for some last-minute study. Sergeant Parry and PC Phillip are covering the desk in my absence. I’ve told them both to give you any help you need if you come in whilst I’m away.’

‘That’s great news,’ Danny said, ‘I wish you luck.’ ‘Me too,’ Scott told him. Andy thanked them both then they all shook hands. Danny left them to it. Andy and Scott stayed and planned what they would do to fit in with Andy’s time off.’

When he reached the desk, Phillip was looking after it. ‘Hi, Phillip.’ Danny said as he appeared from behind him behind the counter. Phillip beamed at him and said, ‘Hi.’ ‘How long have you been a policeman?’ Danny asked him.

‘I’ve just started my third year.’ Phillip told him, ‘But I’ve only been stationed here a year.’ ‘How are you liking it?’ Danny asked. ‘It’s great here,’ he said, ‘At my last station I was doing very little of what I considered police work. But here they involve you in everything.’

‘That’s good Danny,’ said, ‘Not only will you learn a lot, but it’ll keep you interested so you’re likely to stay. I often wonder how many people leave through bad management and waste all their training.’ ‘I don’t see you around very often.’ Phillip commented.

‘No, I’m training as a doctor at the university.’ Danny told him. ‘Seeing him looking very puzzled,’ he added, ‘Back at home whilst I was still at school, I used to do a lot of voluntary counselling. As a result, I built up a good relationship with the local police.’

‘From my information, they were able to arrest a number of rapists and others. Once someone found out I was up here, I’ve become involved in a couple of cases in this area so far and have also done some counselling. None of which I anticipated as going to be part of my university life.’ He added with a grin.’

‘I can’t imagine ever telling my troubles to a stranger.’ Phillip said musingly. Then thinking about what he’d said immediately added, ‘Sorry, no offence meant.’ Danny grinned at him. ‘None taken,’ he said. ‘Lots of people never need a counsellor for many reasons.’

‘But there are lots who have a problem that hangs over their head for years because they are unable to share it. I didn’t intend being a counsellor, it just seemed people found me easy to talk to. Then once they were sure that nothing that they told me would ever be repeated no matter what, they let it all out.’

‘Getting them to feel able to do that was probably harder than finding a solution. I was able to sort everyone out, not because I’m brilliant but because two heads are always better than one. Also, when you share a problem with someone you trust it always makes you feel easier. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression ‘A trouble shared is a trouble halved.’

‘Yes, I have.’ Phillip said, ‘But I’ve never really thought through what it meant before.’ ‘Have you got my phone number?’ Danny asked. When he said, ‘No.’ Danny gave it him and he put it in his phone. ‘If you come across someone you think needs help, either text me yourself or give them my number.’

‘Although I often work with the police,’ Danny told him, ‘And I would consider myself a law-abiding citizen, ‘I’m not a policeman. So, I don’t have to follow all the normal rules and restrictions that tie your hands. That can often he a big help in solving a problem.’ he grinned.’

‘I’ll bet you could tell some fascinating stories if you were able to.’ Phillip said. ‘Well, I’ve certainly had a few shocks.’ Danny said. ‘I once counselled someone who said her attacker had told her he had disposed of some previous girlfriends by dumping them down a well.’

‘Wow, what did you do?’ Phillip asked. ‘I checked where he lived and discovered there really was a well in his garden.’ Danny told him. ‘I made a light and a camera on a rope and pully. With a policeman friend waiting nearby, I went into his garden whilst he was out at work and lowered it down the well, let it swing round a bit, and then pulled it up again.’

‘Then I sat by the well and looked at the recording.’ ‘What did you see?’ Phillip asked agog. ‘A fresh-looking female body, lying on top of a few older bodies.’ Danny told him. ‘But then I nearly dropped the camera. The eyes opened and what I thought was a dead body said, ‘Help me, please help me.’

Phillip was frozen to the spot. ‘What happened?’ he asked. ‘I shouted down the well, ‘Help is coming, hang on.’ Then I called my pal, and he arranged for the fire brigade rescue to come. He also sent someone to arrest the owner of the house. The lady was rescued and is now a good friend.’

‘It took a week to recover all the other dead bodies.’ Danny told him as he flicked through his phone and showed him the picture of the lights and camera he had lowered down. Phillip was amazed.

As Danny left, Phillip watched him walk away. He started thinking hard, ‘Could I?’ he wondered. After not reaching any conclusion, he put it to the back of his mind. For now, at least.

SPECIAL GROUP – CLEARING UP DEALERS

Reg had been included in the plan to dispose of three drug dealers who had been caught doing serious dealing. At police request they had been released on bail pending their appearance at the next Crown Court for sentencing. Brians team had located a small row of shops in the area the dealers lived and phoned each dealer in turn, making each one believe they were coming to see a barrister who could get just one of them off all the charges.

The following morning at eight o’clock a truck arrived. Screens were all set up to mask the fact that the shops were derelict, generator and lights put in place. Warning signs and cones were set out and pedestrians diverted over to the other side of the street.

By half nine, Terry Dalton who was one of the Supers special group members, was parked alongside with his van’s side door by the screens. Alfie Connor had also been recalled and told to arrive at ten thirty. Reg, in old clothes was on the pavement outside the screens looking as if he was adjusting various bits of equipment. Aiden was poised behind the inner screens with a hypodermic at the ready. Tommy was further up behind the screens just in case. Brian was in his car down the road keeping an overall eye on things.

At five to ten Reg recognised Liam Lewis approaching. He kept his head down and didn’t look up until he was almost up to him. ‘Are you looking for the barrister?’ Reg asked. ‘Yeh,’ Liam answered. ‘Follow me, I’ll show you the way into his office.’ he told him.’

He took hold of the screen and pulled it to one side. Walking in he said, ‘Follow me, take care where you walk there’s lots of building bits about.’ Liam could see a passageway between the screen along the edge of the pavement and another screen almost against the buildings. At the far end he could see lights and assumed that was the office.