A Servant of the Company (26 page)

They were nearing junction 11, the traffic was thinning out and Carol could just see Sue’s car in the distance behind her with just two or three cars in between.

All was going well, his target was about a hundred yards in front, and Junction 11 was coming up. Turning off the motorway he counted to ten. ‘You shouldn’t have crossed me Henderson.’ The switch was in the ‘on’ position and smiling he pressed the button.

‘What the hell was that?’ The sound of the explosion was ringing in his ears. Turning around in his seat he saw a huge cloud of smoke with debris falling from the sky. ‘My God, I wouldn’t have liked to be in the way of that. Must be a gas leak or something. It‘s frightened that maniac in front, he’s behaving himself now.’ The car had moved to the inner lane and reduced speed. The noddy dog was calmer.

When the explosion happened, Carol found herself gripping the steering wheel as though her life depended on it. It had shocked her, now things were back to normal. ‘I hope no-one was hurt, it did sound a bit fierce didn’t it?’

‘It scared that noddy dog in front, he’s barely moving now.’ They both laughed at the differing antics of the toy dog. ‘They are a bit ridiculous I must agree Carol.’

‘Still no sign of the BMW, don’t suppose he’s changed the wheel and gone ahead. What do you think? I should have asked him how far along the M62, my fault.’

Carol tapped his arm gently. ‘Not your fault Steve, we’ll find him soon. Hang on, Sue’s flashing her lights. I wonder what’s wrong. I’ll slow down a bit and let her catch up.’ She checked her mirror and saw Sue’s indicator flashing. ‘She wants to overtake, I hope she knows what she’s doing. This wasn’t in the plan so it must be serious.’

As Sue drew alongside the VW, a white faced Anthea opened her window indicating that Carol should do the same. ‘Get off at the next turning, we’ve got to talk. Put your foot down and we’ll be right behind you.’ Carol started to say something, but Anthea shouted ‘Go, go’ as she waved her arms in a shooing fashion.

It took time to find a convenient exit and more to be able to park. Sue and Anthea were out of their car as soon as it stopped.

‘Steve, your girlfriend has just saved your life.’ Sue paused while the enormity of her statement sank in. ‘Did you hear an explosion back there, a very loud explosion?’ Never having to deliver a message like this before was frightening because she didn’t know where it was leading them. Trying to stay calm, she felt her lower lip quivering.

‘Not only hear the explosion, but I saw the result of it. There was smoke, flames and stuff falling from the sky. Did you see what happened? I just saw it through the back window.’ Sue was trying to tell him something but he had no idea what.

‘When you were in the car park, Anthea went into the supermarket for a couple of minutes. On the way back she spotted a man get out of a car, walk towards the V.W. and put something underneath it. He then went into the supermarket. She thought it might be one of those tracking devices, bugs I think you would call them. Well, brilliant girl that she is, she removed it and put it under the man’s car before he got back. Once you set off from the car park, he followed you. We followed him and saw him turn off the motorway just before the explosion. Putting two and two together, we believe it wasn’t a tracking device but some sort of bomb and he set it off.’ She put her hand on his arm and with tears in her eyes stammered, ‘We think it was meant for you.’ With that she burst into tears.

‘Jesus Christ, what have I let you girls in for? I’m so sorry, so sorry.’ He stayed holding Anthea close to him as he looked from Carol to Sue. This is so bloody serious, that’s three major incidents and I’m certain they are all linked. ‘The pub bombing is number one. The attacks on Carol number two, and now this. We still haven’t come across Charles yet, I’ll try to get him on the phone and see if I can get some information. He’s our only hope unless he’s been bluffing all along. Maybe the black BMW doesn’t exist, it’s anyone’s guess right now.’

His mobile phone was in his hand and the call made. ‘There’s nothing, no ringing tone, just nothing.’ Now his only hope had failed.

‘What if Charles was the one who placed the bomb and the reason there’s no response from the phone is that it’s in a thousand pieces, fifteen miles back there.’ Sue’s hand waved in the direction of the explosion. ‘I suggest we all get into my car, sit quiet for five minutes and then come up with some plan of action. It has been truly scary and we don’t know if whoever did this was working alone or not. What do you think?’

Steve responded. ‘Let’s do it, standing here is going to get us nowhere. It hadn’t taken them long to agree to a suggestion from Sue. Carol would continue with the agency as though nothing had happened, it was a legitimate business and a team of young women depended on it as a source of income. The drugs enterprise would be dropped completely, the young men recruited would not be contacted again. Steve would for the time being act as bodyguard for Carol at the agency office while assisting with the administrative work.

‘That should work out well as long as we don’t receive any more threats. I think you should continue trying to get Charles on the phone Steve. I have a hunch you won’t get him, but just in case, you had better give him the benefit of the doubt.’

Carol thought the suggestions were excellent, the girls at the agency relied on her and she would feel much safer if Steve was around. ‘I had agreed with Clive or is it Charles, to employ someone for the office. So you will receive a good salary Steve. We have income on a weekly basis from clients but I suppose salaries being paid into our bank accounts might stop. Who knows, the whole set up is something of a nightmare? We’ll have to wait and see what the Company might do. It is a terrible risk but I don’t think we can just drop everything and run away from it. Can I make another suggestion?’ Sue didn’t wait for an answer. ‘Although neither of you has anything in writing from the Company, the agency that interviewed Steve must know the address of the Company that employed him, we might get a lead from that.’

Anthea would be returning home the following day and intended to continue researching the mysterious company. It was a role she wanted, otherwise she would feel helpless being so far away from Steve. ‘That’s a job for me,’ she said. ‘I need something to do while you’re all at the sharp end in Manchester.’

Steve who had been deep in thought then said, ‘First, I think Sue is right about tracing the Company through the recruitment agency, why didn’t I think of that. I still have their letter inviting me for the interview. Second, it could be a major problem if they turned out to be part of the Company and I don’t want you putting yourself at risk Anthea.’ Steve looked worried, the idea was great but what might she be letting herself in for? ‘Has anyone any views?’

‘It’s the first positive step we have come up with and I reckon Anthea is dead right. I would suggest that everything is done by phone, keying in 141 first so that the call can’t be traced should you come up against something nasty.’ Sue gave Anthea a look which indicated, ‘Take care.’ ‘Another thing, I think you Steve should move out of that dreadful house today and find somewhere else to live. If the Company doesn’t start looking for you, those people you have recruited will, and the sooner you can leave that baggage behind, the better.’ She didn’t have a spare room but he could sleep in the sitting room. But then there was Greg. He would want to know the reason, then everything would come out and Greg would have to report it. She put the positive and negative sides of her thinking to the team hoping for guidance.

They all agreed that the idea was good but Sue’s flat was not the place for Steve.

Carol joined in the conversation, ‘There’s a very comfortable sofa in my flat, Steve could use that. It would solve two problems, first Steve could wipe the slate clean regarding his role in the Company, he has not been involved in anything illegal yet. Second I would feel a damned sight safer if he was around the flat. I hope you don’t mind me suggesting this Anthea.’

Carol didn’t want to upset Anthea, who might think she had designs on her boyfriend.

‘Don’t worry Carol, I trust him and I know your intentions are...’ She smiled as she said ‘honourable. It’s a very good idea if we are to continue, the more united we are the better chance there is that we’ll solve this mystery. So let’s recap.’

Following further discussion, Steve wanted to put their plans into operation as soon as possible, the time for talking was now ended. ‘If we take both cars to my pad, collect my things and head for Carol’s. I’ll dig out the agency letter so Anthea can check them out once she gets home.’ He paused. ‘From a very safe and secure distance Anthea, don’t forget you are the girl I love and I don’t want anything happening to you.’

Carol put her hand on Anthea’s arm. ‘Steve and I can only play things by ear at this end. Unless something rears its ugly head, we will continue to run the business. It’s been successful so far and there’s still tremendous potential. Somehow I can’t see the Company abandoning such an obvious earner. Having said that, there is still a strong need to be aware that danger could be lurking around the corner. I think the crunch will come when we check our bank statements, it is almost the month end. If income has stopped, we know we’re in deep trouble and it’s time to get out, but what if that doesn’t happen. We have no idea of the internal politics of the organisation. I’m certain we are very small fish in their pond but they can’t do without us can they? What can the top people have against us, my Agency is going great guns and you Steve are still in the setting up process. This immediate boss of ours holds the key and we have to track him down, unless...’ Carol stopped, and looking from one to the other continued, ‘Unless he was on the receiving end of that explosion. It’s only speculation but we have very little else to go on. He must have set me up at the hotel, how else would those thugs know I was going to knock on their door. But why? He might have started to operate independently of the Company and he’s been found out and is trying to cover his tracks. At this stage we can only speculate, but I think we are all agreed there is a strong possibility of a Mafia type organisation behind this whole outfit. I’m certain we are right in avoiding Police involvement at this stage. Once tomorrow comes, our ideas might have changed.’

‘I have a strong suspicion that if we go back the same way, there’s going to be an almighty traffic jam. There will be police, ambulances and fire engines heading for that explosion so I suggest we take another route back. It would be a good idea to tune into local radio too, it might yield some clues on the explosion.’ Sue had been quiet for some time but her brain had been active and her suggestion was readily agreed.

Had they taken the same route back, they would have joined a traffic jam which would have held them up for hours. It was time for the news on the local radio station and conversation ceased as they waited to hear anything which might affect them and their predicament.

The news reader was in a hurry as she raced through the items appearing on her typed list. Little did she know the effect that one item would have on the four people parked in a lay-by south of Manchester. ‘Two men were today found dead in a city hotel. Details of the killing are not yet known but a man was arrested and has since been charged. On the travel scene, a suspicious explosion which caused the death of a car driver has brought traffic chaos to the M62 at Junction 11. Drivers are cautioned to avoid this area for some time as the emergency services continue their investigations.’

Driving home from Manchester, Anthea could think of nothing other than Steve’s welfare. They were in this together and she intended to play her part, there were answers somewhere to their problems and she intended to find them. Having set off at 6.30 a.m. she was heading straight to her father’s car showroom where she was expected to start work at nine o’clock. Her father would ask her questions about her weekend but would be thinking cars and would not hear her response. On this occasion she would not be irritated, the less she had to say the safer she would feel. Fortunately he was soon deep in thought and didn’t mention the subject again and Anthea was able to escape to her small office, deal quickly with routine matters before embarking on the phone call she had to make.

Looking at the letter from the Recruitment Company addressed to Steve, she tried to read something into the content which might divulge a clue, but nothing about it indicated that it was anything other than an invitation to attend an interview. ‘Right,’ she said to herself as she picked up her telephone and keyed in the number shown on the letter.

‘Good morning, U.K. Executive Search, how can I help?’

The voice was friendly and professional, there was not a hint of anything yet which caused Anthea any alarm. ‘Good morning, yes you can help me. I have been asked to contact you by my fiancé who had an interview with your Company a few weeks ago. I have your letter in front of me and there is a reference on it which might help. He wishes to contact the Company you represented but unfortunately does not have their details, I wonder if you would check them for me?’ Anthea held her breath as she awaited a response. She had done her best not to sound nervous but noticed her hand was shaking. Would the girl be aware of her nervousness and dismiss her out of hand?

‘We don’t normally give this sort of information about our clients and the Management Team is out interviewing so I can’t ask their permission. Would it be possible for you to call back after three this afternoon or if you leave me your number I could call you once I’ve spoken to one of the Managers.’

The voice was reassuring but Anthea wanted immediate action, the thought of waiting for hours to either get the information she wanted or to be told she could not have it, was just too much. ‘Oh dear, that is such a pity, my fiancé is desperate to contact them as he has to make a decision by eleven o’clock this morning which could affect his future. Is there any chance that you could make the decision yourself, I would so much appreciate it? Certain decisions can be life changing, and today he has to take that step.’ She paused, held her breath willing the girl to get the information she wanted.

‘Well, as he has already had an interview it should be alright. I’m sorry to appear obstructive but the Company lays down certain rules and I was applying them. If you give me a minute, I’ll check the files and see if they are available.’

It took just a minute for the girl to return with the information. ‘This is the address and telephone number.’ She spoke slowly and clearly giving Anthea time to write it down. ‘I hope your fiancé is able to make the right decision for the future.’

‘I can’t thank you enough, you have been a great help. Thanks again.’ Replacing the handset Anthea looked at the piece of paper in her hand, the name and address of her next target stared back at her. The agency she believed to be genuine, it was acting on behalf of someone for a fee, the address of that someone would be visited as soon as possible but first she must let Steve know of her discovery. She had only been back at work for two hours and she was pleased with herself. The Agency girl could have been awkward and waited for her Manager to return, and then she might not have received the information depending on his or her attitude. Things had started to move forward slowly but once she had spoken to Steve she would be on her way to South East London to check out the obscure company whose name didn’t appear in the telephone book.

‘Hi Steve, it’s me. Has anything happened there? Are you alright?’ Her concern for Steve was her first consideration. Once she was reassured then she would tell him her news.

‘Great to hear you Anthea, did you have a good journey?’ He had been worried about her since she left Manchester. Her determination to continue investigating the Company worried him. So much had happened in such a short space of time that the possibility of being overtaken by events could put them all in danger. The threat came from not only the Company but from the forces of law and order. He tried to sound cheerful hoping Anthea would not detect his concern.

‘No problems at all getting here, but even better news, I’ve found the Company address.’ Reading from her piece of paper she spelled out the address while Steve wrote it down. ‘Now don’t start getting excited but I’m going to have a look at this address this afternoon. I’m not going in, just checking what they are about.’ She knew Steve would try to stop her but her mind was made up.

‘You can’t do that Anthea, please don’t. It’s just not safe, you have no idea what’s going on there.’

Anthea had not heard him raise his voice before, she knew it was out of love for her that he was trying to stop what she intended doing. It was out of love for him that she had to do it. ‘Steve all I am going to do is walk past the building to get a feel for the place. Then I’ll ring you and tell you what it’s like. There’s no danger in that is there?’ Her voice was low, almost seductive as she tried to put Steve at ease over her plan for the afternoon.

‘I’m not trying to be heavy handed Anth you know that, it’s just that I love you and don’t want you near any sort of danger. I believe there is plenty of that somewhere in this Company, just think of what has happened already. I’ll get a train down in the morning and meet you then we can both check it out. How about that?’ In the short time he had known her, he soon recognised her stubborn streak and determination. If she decided she was going to do something then there would be little he could do to deter her.

‘We’ll see. I’ll give you a ring this evening and you can let me know any developments at your end. I don’t suppose you have checked your bank statement yet? The result will give us another clue. Only another hundred to go and we’ll have solved this mystery.’

Steve heard the chuckle in her voice as she said this and felt an overwhelming love for Anthea. ‘Is that all, only a hundred. We’re almost there then.’ He just wished that this was the case.

‘I must go now Steve, I’m still at work you know and Dad is on the prowl. I’ll ring tonight. I love you. Bye for now.’ He wouldn’t relax until she spoke to him again, he would be worrying about her until then.

‘Perhaps,’ she thought, ‘I shouldn’t have told him my intentions.’

The train to the city was late, the tables in the carriages covered with half eaten food and empty drinks cans. When she left the train and headed for the underground she couldn’t help but reflect that we were a very dirty nation. It needed someone like Steve to sort them out she thought. The tube journey took eight minutes, time she spent considering her actions for the next half hour. It was time completely wasted, what could she do? Walk into the offices, hold up her hand and advise those present that she was making a citizen’s arrest, hardly.

No, she had to do this in a practical way. The offices could be on several floors and some of the employees might be totally unaware that their employer was engaged in criminal activities. Play it by ear that’s all she could do.

Walking purposefully down the road, her eyes were checking the property numbers. 37 was her target, but it couldn’t be. The building boasting number 37 had a blacked out shop front with accommodation above. Anthea looked up and down the road and could not see any building that would house a multinational corporation, or even a small business.

There was only one thing for it, check out this number 37 and see if they knew anything about the Company. A light was shining inside the building on the ground floor as Anthea tried the door handle. She was unable to turn it so she pushed the door with her shoulder but it remained a defiant defence against anyone trying to gain entry. There were no sounds coming from within so she knocked sharply on the glass hoping to arouse someone who might direct her to the mysterious Company. It was then she noticed a card with a list of Company names as being resident in the building.

Arif Rahman had finished bundling the postal deliveries addressed to several companies into a large envelope and was busy writing the name and address of the new recipient when he heard someone try the door handle. By the time the knock sounded on the glass, he was peering through a crack in the paintwork on the front window to check out the caller. This was most unusual. Apart from family and friends only the postman and gas and electric meter readers had ever called. It was like living on a distant island, just one family with visits three times a year from passing ships. There was just one young girl now trying to attract his attention. He did not feel any sort of threat so he opened the door to face his visitor.

‘Good afternoon, I was searching for a Company and thought I must have the wrong address but I see it’s here on the list.’ Anthea pointed to the card, I was hoping to speak to someone, can you help me?’ Had she noticed the card before trying the door and attracting attention, perhaps she would have avoided attempting to contact someone inside.

Arif was confused. This sort of thing just did not happen and now it had. He was unsure, how should he deal with it? Would Mr. Crichton be displeased with him? ‘Well,’ he thought, ‘the situation is here, I must deal with it.’

‘I’m afraid I only deal with the mail for the Companies on that list so I can’t possibly help.’ Somehow he knew that this girl was not going to be put off so easily and it made him feel very uneasy. His life had changed so much since taking on this job, he must not do anything which would risk losing it.

Although he didn’t make her feel at risk, she was certain he was being protective towards his employers whoever they were. The first name she had was that given to Carol, she would start there. ‘Do you have a Mr. Crichton with one of these Companies, I just have to contact him.’ Bingo. This was it, as soon as she mentioned the name Crichton he had shuffled and looked away. It was a nervous movement and Anthea decided to keep him nervous. ‘I usually contact him on my mobile but it’s on the blink and his mobile number is in the memory. Now at the time it’s imperative I can’t get hold of him. The Directors need some information from me today if they don’t get it, my job is on the line.’ She looked straight at the person who she thought would have the answer and looked as sorrowful as she could. A bit of play acting might help.

‘Sorry I didn’t know you were with the Organisation. I’ll just get my phone and try to get hold of him. It is a bit unusual but I don’t want you to lose your job. Excuse me a minute, I’ll just go upstairs and get it.’

Now what should she do? Anthea was worried, what if this man called Mr. Crichton answered the phone. The phone would be passed to her and she would have to talk. About what she didn’t know. Her thoughts were interrupted when the man returned.

‘That’s odd, I’ve tried twice but the connection is dead. There is no response at all, that’s never happened before. I hope it hasn’t been stolen or dropped and broken. It’s the only way I have of talking to him.’ Arif was worried, first this girl creating a situation which had never happened before and now his boss suddenly unavailable.

‘Look, write down the mobile number and I’ll try myself later. I have so much to do, it’s all very worrying.’ Anthea was beginning to enjoy her acting performance so decided to follow through her questioning. She decided on the fellow employee tack, giving praise to the Company but also criticising its secrecy policy when all the employees were known to be trustworthy.

‘Have you actually met Mr. Crichton?’ Arif was now more relaxed, there were things he would like to know about his employers but with Mr. Crichton he had been too afraid to ask. This might be the opportunity to see a bigger picture, if he could help this girl, she might help him.

‘Only once or twice, he’s a very busy man but always very charming.’ It was Steve’s and Carol’s boss, of this she was certain. Another question would confirm it. ‘By the way I’m Anthea.’ She held out her hand to greet the giver of information.

‘Well, hello Anthea, my name is Arif. I’ve been with the Company for almost a year now and you are the first person I‘ve met who works for them.’ He smiled as he shook her hand and relaxed for the first time since she had entered the doorway. ‘Could I introduce you to my wife Sumi, she doesn’t understand how they work and I can’t tell her because I don’t know either.’ Arif was laughing now, a door was opening and she might just get a glimpse of one of the Companies operations. ‘I’ll just run up and get Sumi, please excuse me again.’

She was safe, no-one was going to come in and become a threat, Arif was just another one of the team of puppets and it was Mr. Crichton who pulled his strings. She must get as much information from him as possible before ringing Steve. Mr. Crichton could well have been in the car which blew up outside Manchester, his disconnected telephone indicated something and her gut feeling lead her to believe that the disconnection would remain permanently.

Footsteps on the stairs heralded the arrival of Arif and Sumi. Anthea was immediately aware that this young woman was an exceptional beauty. Her facial bone structure was superb and her waist length hair was tied in a pony tail, but there was also an inner beauty which projected itself in her movements and serenity.