The Isle of Devils HOLY WAR (2 page)

Today one of the local police inspectors was following up on a hot tip that a large drug sale was to take place in St. George’s after one of the weekly cruise ships docked. This was not just any police inspector, but Ian Savage, one of the most respected inspectors on the Bermuda Police Force. Savage, currently stationed at the St. George’s branch of the Bermuda Police Force, is Caucasian, six feet tall, medium build. At forty-six he’s very fit for his age with a past history of competing in the annual police boxing tournament. At the present time, Savage’s family was away for the summer visiting family in the UK.

St. George's, a small village at the east end of the Island, its hilly with small winding roads that remind you of a small European village. The village has forts, the historic Unfinished Cathedral, several beaches, and is the shopping district for this end of the island.

Inspector Savage had alerted the Bermuda Customs officers before today’s cruise ship arrived to be on the lookout for passengers trying to smuggle drugs into Bermuda. This was one of the most common ways during tourist season to smuggle illegal drugs into Bermuda. Drug dealers in the US and Bermuda would offer free trips to Bermuda. In return the cruise ship passenger would have to carry the drugs onboard the cruise ship and then make a delivery to another drug dealer in Bermuda.

Savage and two other plain clothed officers stayed a hundred yards back from the ship at the entrance to King’s Square. Savage hoped that the Customs officers would discover the drug dealers as they went through the customs check points. He and his officers were keeping a keen eye out for anything suspicious that the Custom officers might miss. All was too quiet. Savage was beginning to worry that the drug couriers might mix so well with the tourists that they might slip by the Customs officers. Then by chance Savage noticed out of the corner of his eye a small speed boat closing in on the cruise ship from across St. George’s Harbor. As the speed boat grew closer, Savage recognized one of the passengers. It was a suspected drug dealer known as Black Jack. Black Jack was high on the Bermuda Police departments list of wanted drug dealers, but to date he was like Teflon. Nothing would stick to him. He could now see that the speed boat was on a direct course for the water side of the ship. Savage pointed to the cruise ship and yelled out, “Both of you get aboard the ship and make your way to the main deck on the opposite side of the ship. The smugglers are going to drop the drugs overboard.”

The two officers quickly ran aboard the congested ship. Savage could see that with hundreds of tourists making their way off the ship they would not be able to catch the smugglers in time. Savage turned quickly trying to decide what to do, and then it hit him. Looking over at the tourist rental jet skis across the harbor he knew what to do. Savage ran back over the bridge connecting Ordinance Island and King's Square. Saving time from running around the square he turned and ran through a local pub that was on the harbor’s edge. Once through the pub he jumped over a rail and down on the jet ski dock. He quickly yelled at the attendant as he flashed his badge, “Son, this is police business. Which jet ski is ready to go?”

The attendant pointed to the silver one. Savage jumped on the jet ski, fired it up and was off and ripping across the harbour in seconds. As Savage rounded the stern of the ship he could see that his officers were on the upper deck scuffling with some passengers. He then looked down and saw a person fishing out a package floating in the water with a fish net. Within seconds the package was aboard the speed boat. Savage could now see that he had been spotted by one of the drug dealers onboard the speed boat. At the same moment as the speed boat was about to take off, Savage saw someone jump off the cruise ship and land in the back of the speed boat. Savage assumed this was one of the smugglers trying to escape capture. As the speed boat sped off across the harbor Savage spun about in the jet ski and was in their wake in no time. As Savage closed in on the speed boat he could see what appeared to be two men fighting on the boat. Savage turned his attention to the front of the speed boat just in time to see someone pointing a spear gun at him. Before he could react the man pulled the trigger, and the spear headed straight towards Savage. Savage made a hard right with the jet ski, but failed to avoid the spear as it grazed his leg. Then the spear ripped through the back of the jet ski. Savage guided the jet ski back towards the speed boat. He pulled alongside the speed boat maxing out the jet ski. Savage knew he had only one chance. He rammed the side of the speed boat with such impact that he flipped onto the speed boat. He landed right on top of the two men fighting, knocking both of them overboard. Savage found himself laying flat on his back looking up at one of the drug dealers who was pointing a spear gun at him. Savage knew this thug. He said, “Well, Black Jack, this is the end of the line for you, mate.”

Black Jack laughed and said, “You’re a bloody fool, Savage. This is the end of the line for you.” He pointed the spear gun at Savage and added, “See you in hell, flat foot.”

Before he could pull the trigger Savage rolled over, kicking a seat cushion at Black Jack’s face causing him to trip and fall forward. As he fell the spear gun flipped over and dropped to the deck of the boat. Upon impact the spear gun discharged, firing the spear through Black Jack’s neck. He coughed, choked, and fell over dead. Savage jumped up and grabbed the last thug who was driving the speed boat. He jerked him out from behind the wheel, and then busted his chops with his powerful right hand. The goon never knew what hit him. Savage took control of the speed boat turning it around to head back towards St. George’s. Within a hundred yards of the dock he was met by the St. George’s Harbor Patrol. The Harbor Patrol quickly boarded the speed boat, recovered the drugs and what was left of the drug dealers. Savage thanked the Harbor Patrol as they let him off on the dock in St. George’s. He also reminded them there were two drug smugglers floating in the harbor that needed to be picked up. He met up with his two officers who were waiting for him at Ordinance Island. Savage shook both of their hands and said, “Good job, mates! Let's go over to Shinbone Alley to the Shinbone Pub and celebrate with a cold one. The investigative reports can wait until tomorrow.” Although the Shinbone wasn't Savage's favorite pub in St. George's it was, in fact, a hangout for many of the bad elements on the east end of the island. The appearance of Savage in the pub would make the local criminals nervous. As the three walked through the double doors of the Shinbone Savage noticed a new sign on the door. He said, “Look, boys, the proprietor is expecting us.” The sign read “NO COPS”. Savage smiled and went over to the rail and said, “Bar keep, three of your best cold ones for me and my mates.” The bar keep grumbled, then went and got their beer. With one sip left in the mug Savage turned around to face the rest of the clientele. Raising his mug he said, “Cheers, mates! Tonight there are a few less drug dealers on the streets of Bermuda.” He swallowed the last of the beer and slammed it down on the bar saying, “Come on, mates. Let's leave these blokes staring into their suds.” All three left the bar and walked out the door. Luckily for Savage, firearms are banned in Bermuda. If not he would have been shot to pieces as he left the pub. The officers were off duty, and it was time to head home. Tomorrow would be a busy day filling out reports.

Hide and Seek in the Triangle

The next morning Savage was in his office at the St. George’s Police Station at the crack of dawn filling out the reports he so hated doing. He knew the sooner he finished the sooner he would get back on the streets where the action was. Several hours later as Savage was finishing his reports the desk sergeant entered his office and said, “Inspector, the Commissioner requests your presence.”

Savage looked up in disgust and replied, “Please inform our dear Commissioner that Inspector Savage is still working on reports and will be heading to Hamilton sometime after lunch.”

The sergeant smiled and added, “That won’t be necessary, Inspector. The Commissioner is waiting for you down the hall in the briefing room.”

Savage thought to himself, “What the hell is he doing here?” Savage said, “Now wait a minute. Black Jack killed himself with that spear gun. The Commissioner is surely not investigating me for that, is he?”

The sergeant laughed and said, “Come on, Inspector, you know you're his favourite inspector.”

Savage replied, “Thanks for the vote of confidence.” He walked down the hall to the briefing room and knocked on the door.

He soon heard a voice saying, “The door’s open, Inspector. Come on in.”

Savage opened the door and walked in. He saw the Commissioner standing by on of the windows smoking a Cuban cigar. The Commissioner turned from the glass and said, “Well, Savage, it's been a long time. You made quite a ruckus last night, Savage. What have you got to say for yourself?”

Savage looked the Commissioner straight in his eyes and said, “Sir, may I speak candidly?”

The Commissioner nodded his approval.

Savage continued, “Thank you, sir.” He walked over to the Commissioner and said, “What the bloody hell do you mean? Last night with the help of two fine officers we busted a group of drug dealers and drug smugglers. That’s what I’ve got to say for myself.”

The Commissioner yelled back, “And what about the fact you stole a jet ski and later sank it? Not to mention one of the suspects was killed.”

Savage turned beet red and fired back, “Suspect? Black Jack was one of the most vicious criminals Bermuda has seen in years. What do you want Commissioner? Do you want my bloody badge?”

The Commissioner smiled and replied, “What I want for you, Savage, is to shut up and meet my guest.”

Savage was stunned. He looked around, and in the corner of the room a figure stepped out of the shadows. The Commissioner added, “Savage, I want to introduce you to Special FBI Agent Derek Storm.” Storm was dark skinned, thirty five years old, six feet one inch tall with a medium large build. He also held a black belt in karate.

Savage reached out and shook Storm’s hand saying, “Good morning. It’s bloody good to meet you, Agent Storm.”

Storm replied, “Thank you, Inspector, but we’ve already met.”

Savage a bit puzzled said, “I don’t think so. I would have remembered you.”

Stormed smiled and said, “We met each other last night. In fact my jaw is still a little sore.”

Then it hit Savage like a ton of bricks. Agent Storm was one of the two men who were fighting on the speed boat, and both were knocked into the brink when Savage flew onto the speed boat. Savage added, “Please accept my apology, Agent Storm. I thought the drug dealers were fighting with each other.”

The Commissioner interrupted the conversation by saying, “Well, mates, we have quite a bit to discuss. First of all, Savage, Agent Storm is here unofficially and what is said in this room today is off the record and never happened. Do you understand?” Savage nodded his head. The Commissioner continued, “Good. Agent Storm is here investigating a terrorist plot against the United States.”

Savage interrupted by saying, “Excuse me, sir, but isn’t the FBI only U.S. domestic?”

The Commissioner turned a little red and replied, “Not always, Inspector, but hold your questions. We’ll try to bring you up to speed. Last month in Bagdad FBI agents discovered a plot with the code name ‘Devil’s Triangle’. One was killed, and the other one is here in the room with you right now. I’ll now turn the floor over to Agent Storm to fill us in on the rest.”

Storm stood up and walked over to a world map that was hung on the wall of the briefing room. He replied, “Thank you, Commissioner. I know this is the one place in the world that I don’t have to explain the Bermuda Triangle.”

Savage looked at him and smiled saying, “Yes, and you’re on the Isle of Devils, mate.”

Agent Storm continued. With his hand he drew an imaginary line from Bermuda to Miami to Puerto Rico. He said, “Savage, if you noticed two of the three points on the Bermuda Triangle are in the United States and United States Territories. That’s why I’m here. We’re trying to keep the investigation under one umbrella and not mix it between multiple U.S. government agencies. Although the FBI has no jurisdiction in Bermuda we have been informally invited by the Bermuda Government to investigate our leads on the island. So far we have picked up nothing in Puerto Rico and Miami.”

The Commissioner joined the conversation. “Savage, you’re the best investigator we have; although sometimes your means might be suspect, they might come in handy on this investigation. One other thing, Savage, this investigation is off the radar. As of this minute you’re on an extended holiday, and the department has no knowledge of what you’re up to. As far as I know one of your good police friends arrived on the island last night on a cruise ship, and you’re entertaining him with a sightseeing tour of Bermuda. If you get your stubborn butt into trouble, the Queen is the only one who can help you.”