Incident AT York Manor (F/FM)
Posted: Sun Jan 02, 2022 8:02 pm
Chapter 1
“Is that her?” Elliot Cleaver asked as he sat in the driver seat of the van tapping out a rhythm on the steering wheel. In the passenger seat Colton Spencer scrolled through the photographs on the tablet sitting on his lap and nodded.
“Yes, that is her. Photograph matches.” They were sitting in a public car park near the centre of Royston Castle, which was a small market town in the English countryside. Picturesque. Some would say. The town was split into four sections, almost quarters. There was the original town with its defensive walls, narrow streets and stone buildings. Then there was a part that had been constructed in the late fifties or sixties, a commercial bit with an industrial estate, small supermarket and local services and then the new, modern houses. Colton could tell the locals would have had the pitchforks out when that went through planning. Of more concern to him was that his team would stand out, draw attention but there wasn’t much that he could do about that now. The operation had started and there was nothing further that could be done. Picking up the walkie-talkie from the dashboard he depressed the talk button. “Danny, that is her. Follow her and make it subtle.”
“Sure thing,” Danny replied. Colton scanned the car park and found the blue hatchback that Danny and Jimmy were in and watched as Danny climbed out and headed off in the direction that the maid had went. It was handy that the car park only had one entrance or exit that should be used by pedestrians. Two sides had high walls, the far side fell away to a river and the fourth was the vehicle entry and exit for vehicles onto the main road. The car park was sparsely populated as it was probably every Friday afternoon, never mind on a Bank Holiday weekend, only people making a last dash for forgotten items on the high street would be about. That was good for Colton and his team. Less people meant less pairs of eyes, even better if they were just focused on picking up some carrots or a pint of milk. This hadn’t been part of the plan. When Josh had called from his surveillance position to let him know that someone was leaving the location they had to scramble and improvise. Packing up the vehicles with the equipment from their own base and then moving into position. The direction the maid had taken when leaving the target had given only one real destination, Royston Castle. They had played the odds and won. Colton relaxed a little. This endeavour had been a long time in the planning, almost six months. Colton had to put together a team that had the specific skills required for this job. It wasn’t the standard job that Colton would normally take on, but it was a new challenge and Colton was always up for one of those. Although, the benefits should the job have a successful outcome were also welcome. Finding the team was only the first part of the process, then you had to work on the planning, getting the correct equipment, getting the lay of the land, gathering intelligence on the players involved and then surveillance. “Perfect Planning Prevent Piss Poor Performance”, his instructor in the army had said. The man was not wrong.
“What do we do now?” Elliot asked from the seat next to Colton.
“Place the van between the entrance and the maid’s car,” Colton replied, “on the path that she will take to get back to the car.” Elliot nodded and turned the key in the ignition, bringing the vehicle to life. Elliot slowly moved the van to where Colton had said. “Now, we wait.” Colton turned around to look into the rear of the van where three women sat on a bench seat. “Are you ladies ready for this?”
“Why would you ask that?” Hannah Anderson asked. Colton shrugged a response. “You hired us for crowd control and that is what we are good at. So, you take care of your part of the job and don’t worry. We will take care of our part.” Hannah said confidently. Colton tilted his head and turned back, satisfied with the answer. This job had required people with skills sets that he didn’t know. So, in order to recruit people for this job he had asked around the fraternity for recommendations. It meant working with people that he hadn’t before, which on a job like this wasn’t ideal. What he required Hannah and her operatives for was a bit unusual, however they been very highly recommended by two people that he trusted so he had brought them on board. Their equipment was stacked at the back of the van. Various bags, blocky packages and a lot of compressions sacks. Colton hadn’t asked any questions, trusting them to take care of their end without interfering. Also, it didn’t hurt having some female members on the team. Made a change from a bunch of hairy, smelly guys. In addition to herself Hannah had brought three other women along, Michelle, Stephanie and Amanda. Colton had been impressed with what he had seen so far. Michelle was with Josh at the moment that left Stephanie and Amanda in the back on the van.
“Where are we Danny?” Colton’s voice bounced straight into his head from the earbuds that Danny had in.
“Picking up some food and drink by the looks of it,” Danny replied knowing the microphone would pick up his voice. Glancing at the reflection of the view across the road in the window and saw the door open and the maid exit the sommeliers with a selection of wine bottles in a carrier. Hands now completely full as she headed back the way she had walked previously, heading back toward where she had parked her car. “Looks like we are coming back your way.”
“Are you the man Mister Courtenay arranged for me to meet?” Colton thought the answer to that question was obvious but nodded anyway. Stafford looked around the pub.
“Is this place not a bot public for discussing such a topic?” Colton looked around the pub. It was the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday. Apart from the cheerful Harry tending bar the only other people in there were Monkey Harris and Paddy the Greek playing dominos with Estelle sitting at the bar sipping a gin and tonic.
“Nobody will bother us or overhear anything if that is what you are worried about.” It was just that kind of place. Everyone was left to their own devices and nobody got involved in anybody else’s business. “Relax and start from the beginning. What is it you need taken care of?” Stafford took time to consider this and after taking a mouthful of beer seemed ready to begin.
“It, is well, sort of a recover operation.”
“Recovery of what exactly?” Colton asked. His mind immediately moved to trying to locate Stafford’s wife wedding ring that had been stolen in a burglary.
“Now, I wouldn’t normally be involved in this sort of thing,” Stafford said from across the table, “but, it is a lot of money.” That wasn’t what Colton had been expecting.
“As I said, take your time and start at the beginning.”
“Do you know anything about Operation Fish?” Colton raised an eyebrow and gave the man a look that told him that he did not know anything about Operation Fish. “Well, back at the beginning of the Second World War, in September 1939, the British government decreed that all people living in the UK had to declare their securities with the Treasury. Just remember that for a minute.” The Professor began. Colton could tell by the look on his face that the man was enjoying dispensing this little know titbit of history. “With the war kicking into gear on mainland Europe, Britain had to make sure that it had the funds available to pay for the war effort. Buying planes, guns and other such essential supplies. So, in 1939 it was decided to transfer the reserves of cash, bullion and other securities to Canada to secure them. This was the Governments funds.” The Professor took off his glasses, gave them a wipe with a handkerchief before putting them back on his nose. “Where was I? Oh, yes. “When Winston Churchill formed his government in 1940 the war was going badly for the Allies. As a guarantee that Britain and the Empire could continue the fight if the UK was overrun, Churchill devised a plan to ship more British wealth to the safety of Canada. Using their wartime powers the Churchill government confiscated the securities that the British people were forced to register at the beginning of the year. Hundreds of accountants and bankers worked tirelessly to catalogue the contents of thousands of crates that were filled up and then shipped. When they were finished it was determined that $2.5 billion had been shipped from the UK to Canada.” Now the man had Colton’s full attention.
“2.5 billion US,” Colton stated, shocked by the figure.
“Yes, the Professor replied, “at 1940 prices. Around 45 billion US in today’s money I believe.” Colton blew out his cheeks. “Now, it was claimed that nothing went missing during transit.” The Professor paused for effect and Colton couldn’t resist.
“This is where you tell me that isn’t true?” Colton asked. The Professor nodded.
“Well, it wouldn’t look good if the loss of even a small amount of these funds got…erm…misplaced.”
“This is getting interesting Professor.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, my father was involved with the cataloguing and transportation from London to Montreal via truck to the port in Greenock and then onto boats and escorted by Royal Navy vessels across the Atlantic. At some point he received the report from Montreal confirming what has arrived. It didn’t match with the report from his end on what had been sent. There was a discrepancy.”
“Was there now,” Colton commented.
“He was told that it was a clerical error.”
“I guess that wasn’t the case.”
“My father didn’t make mistakes and he kept meticulous records.”
“One of the trucks went missing.” The Professor nodded. “And you think you know what happened to it?” Colton smiled.
“My father wouldn’t let it rest. He took this as a stain on his reputation that it had been classed as a clerical error and wanted to prove that it wasn’t. Spent years making enquiries and looking into the matter. He never really talked about it. Then when he passed away, I was going through his papers and came across the file. I was absorbed and bitten by the bug so to speak. I took up the cause.” By now Colton was leaning forward hanging on almost every word. The Professor could tell that he had the man’s interest. “Let me tell you a tale Mister Spencer,” the Professor said with a warm smile.
“Jimmy, time to move. Let’s get this show on the road.” There was the sound of action in the rear of the van as preparations were made. Colton looked through the windscreen and watched Jimmy lumber into position in front of the van. The large man, almost six and a half feet tall and almost as broad across the shoulders leaned on the bonnet and waved.
“Getting closer,” Danny said. “Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…” Colton looked in the wing mirror and saw the young woman approaching with Danny making an effort to get closer.
“Ready ladies?” Colton asked and turned around to look into the back on the van. Hannah gave him the thumbs up.
“Three…two…” Jimmy stepped out and blocked the path.
“Get in the van Marissa,” one of the women said.
“What?” Marissa replied confused. “No…why…look I can call for help…” Marissa looked around but her view was blocked and she knew from experience that at this time of day that there wouldn’t be many people around.
“The hard way then,” the woman said and sighed taking a step toward Marissa who started to fumble with her phone.
“Everyone ready?” Colton’s voice came over the communications channel.
“Ready,” Jimmy said.
“Here as well,” Danny said as he manoeuvred the car out of it’s parking space, out of the car park and onto the main road. The slight drizzle and returned and Danny activated the windscreen wipers, hoping that it wasn’t an omen for the operation. Checking the rear-view mirror, he saw that Elliot and the rest were just behind him in the van. Jimmy would wait five minutes and then follow on. Well, Danny thought, no turning back now.
“Is that her?” Elliot Cleaver asked as he sat in the driver seat of the van tapping out a rhythm on the steering wheel. In the passenger seat Colton Spencer scrolled through the photographs on the tablet sitting on his lap and nodded.
“Yes, that is her. Photograph matches.” They were sitting in a public car park near the centre of Royston Castle, which was a small market town in the English countryside. Picturesque. Some would say. The town was split into four sections, almost quarters. There was the original town with its defensive walls, narrow streets and stone buildings. Then there was a part that had been constructed in the late fifties or sixties, a commercial bit with an industrial estate, small supermarket and local services and then the new, modern houses. Colton could tell the locals would have had the pitchforks out when that went through planning. Of more concern to him was that his team would stand out, draw attention but there wasn’t much that he could do about that now. The operation had started and there was nothing further that could be done. Picking up the walkie-talkie from the dashboard he depressed the talk button. “Danny, that is her. Follow her and make it subtle.”
“Sure thing,” Danny replied. Colton scanned the car park and found the blue hatchback that Danny and Jimmy were in and watched as Danny climbed out and headed off in the direction that the maid had went. It was handy that the car park only had one entrance or exit that should be used by pedestrians. Two sides had high walls, the far side fell away to a river and the fourth was the vehicle entry and exit for vehicles onto the main road. The car park was sparsely populated as it was probably every Friday afternoon, never mind on a Bank Holiday weekend, only people making a last dash for forgotten items on the high street would be about. That was good for Colton and his team. Less people meant less pairs of eyes, even better if they were just focused on picking up some carrots or a pint of milk. This hadn’t been part of the plan. When Josh had called from his surveillance position to let him know that someone was leaving the location they had to scramble and improvise. Packing up the vehicles with the equipment from their own base and then moving into position. The direction the maid had taken when leaving the target had given only one real destination, Royston Castle. They had played the odds and won. Colton relaxed a little. This endeavour had been a long time in the planning, almost six months. Colton had to put together a team that had the specific skills required for this job. It wasn’t the standard job that Colton would normally take on, but it was a new challenge and Colton was always up for one of those. Although, the benefits should the job have a successful outcome were also welcome. Finding the team was only the first part of the process, then you had to work on the planning, getting the correct equipment, getting the lay of the land, gathering intelligence on the players involved and then surveillance. “Perfect Planning Prevent Piss Poor Performance”, his instructor in the army had said. The man was not wrong.
“What do we do now?” Elliot asked from the seat next to Colton.
“Place the van between the entrance and the maid’s car,” Colton replied, “on the path that she will take to get back to the car.” Elliot nodded and turned the key in the ignition, bringing the vehicle to life. Elliot slowly moved the van to where Colton had said. “Now, we wait.” Colton turned around to look into the rear of the van where three women sat on a bench seat. “Are you ladies ready for this?”
“Why would you ask that?” Hannah Anderson asked. Colton shrugged a response. “You hired us for crowd control and that is what we are good at. So, you take care of your part of the job and don’t worry. We will take care of our part.” Hannah said confidently. Colton tilted his head and turned back, satisfied with the answer. This job had required people with skills sets that he didn’t know. So, in order to recruit people for this job he had asked around the fraternity for recommendations. It meant working with people that he hadn’t before, which on a job like this wasn’t ideal. What he required Hannah and her operatives for was a bit unusual, however they been very highly recommended by two people that he trusted so he had brought them on board. Their equipment was stacked at the back of the van. Various bags, blocky packages and a lot of compressions sacks. Colton hadn’t asked any questions, trusting them to take care of their end without interfering. Also, it didn’t hurt having some female members on the team. Made a change from a bunch of hairy, smelly guys. In addition to herself Hannah had brought three other women along, Michelle, Stephanie and Amanda. Colton had been impressed with what he had seen so far. Michelle was with Josh at the moment that left Stephanie and Amanda in the back on the van.
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Danny followed the maid closely but at a safe distance. He was on the other side of the street but there wasn’t any chance of losing her. Although there wasn’t a lot of cover or a crowd to lose himself in Danny didn’t see the maid check for anybody following her once. Then, why would she? This was what he was good at, he was non-descripted. Average height, average build, brown hair no distinguishing features. It was Ellioty autumn and there was a drizzle in the air coming from the low-level dark clouds. Despite that it wasn’t cold but Danny turned up the collar of his coat to fend off the drizzle and continued walking along the street like he did it every day of the week. Glancing across he saw the maid reach into the basket that she was carrying and pull out a small umbrella and put it up to shelter from the drizzle. The maid tuned onto the main street an went into a deli. Came back out five minutes later with some packages in the basket. “Last minute shopping.” The maid seemed to be in a hurry, harassed almost, scurrying along the narrow pavement. But Danny didn’t have to work that hard to keep her in sight. Then she went into off license, sorry sommelier and disappeared from view. There weren’t any back doors to the shops, the benefit of thorough planning and getting to know the area, so Danny wasn’t worried about losing her. Danny held back and turned and looked in a shop window, pretending to be surveying what was on offer. It was a second hand book store and Danny looked at the dusty hardbacks in the window whilst using the window to keep an eye for the maid exiting the shop across the road. As he pretended to be interested in the shops wares Danny’s mind drifted back. Danny had known Colton for years. It was a cliché but Danny had got into criminality young, stealing cars and breaking into houses. He had gotten good at it quickly. They he got caught breaking into the wrong house. Not by the police but by Colton. The older man had given him some options, well only one really, join the army. So, that’s what Danny had done. He had actually enjoyed his five years but was glad to leave. During his time in the army, Danny had kept in contact with Colton and when he stepped off the train back home Colton was there to buy him a pint in the Red Lion. The rest as they say is history. They had worked together ever since. If you were going to get into a life of crime work with someone who knew what they were doing. Colton was certainly that. Even better Colton had said that this job could be the last one that they would have to pull. Colton wouldn’t give Danny the full details but if Colton was saying that the pay off could be bigger than Danny could imagine.“Where are we Danny?” Colton’s voice bounced straight into his head from the earbuds that Danny had in.
“Picking up some food and drink by the looks of it,” Danny replied knowing the microphone would pick up his voice. Glancing at the reflection of the view across the road in the window and saw the door open and the maid exit the sommeliers with a selection of wine bottles in a carrier. Hands now completely full as she headed back the way she had walked previously, heading back toward where she had parked her car. “Looks like we are coming back your way.”
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As they waited Colton’s mind drifted to when he had original been approached about this job. It was certainly not how it usually happened. As usual her had received a telephone call from Courtenay telling him about a potential job. Courtenay was a middle man or fixer. He put people in contact with each other for a fee. An Oxford graduate that had worked in finance, Courtenay had ended up involved with the criminal world. Colton never found out what had happened but now referred to him as a ‘respectable criminal’. The comment was always received a rude hand gesture in reply. Courtenay’s accent, manners and education gave him an ayre of respectability and competence. That helped in this game, especially with people who didn’t normally move in those circles. Enter Professor Montague Stafford, a white-haired gentleman in his late sixties. He entered the Red Lion wearing a tweed jacket with elbow patches, trousers, brown brogues and a hat. Colton had given him instructions and the man followed them. Stafford approached the bar and ordered a pint of beer from Harry the barman who grunted. After getting the drink Stafford retreated to a booth at the rear of the pub. Colton waited ten minutes as man shifted uncomfortably before getting up from his own table and taking his drink slipped into the booth across from Stafford. “Hello, Professor Stafford.” The older man looked at Colton for a couple of seconds.“Are you the man Mister Courtenay arranged for me to meet?” Colton thought the answer to that question was obvious but nodded anyway. Stafford looked around the pub.
“Is this place not a bot public for discussing such a topic?” Colton looked around the pub. It was the middle of the afternoon on a Tuesday. Apart from the cheerful Harry tending bar the only other people in there were Monkey Harris and Paddy the Greek playing dominos with Estelle sitting at the bar sipping a gin and tonic.
“Nobody will bother us or overhear anything if that is what you are worried about.” It was just that kind of place. Everyone was left to their own devices and nobody got involved in anybody else’s business. “Relax and start from the beginning. What is it you need taken care of?” Stafford took time to consider this and after taking a mouthful of beer seemed ready to begin.
“It, is well, sort of a recover operation.”
“Recovery of what exactly?” Colton asked. His mind immediately moved to trying to locate Stafford’s wife wedding ring that had been stolen in a burglary.
“Now, I wouldn’t normally be involved in this sort of thing,” Stafford said from across the table, “but, it is a lot of money.” That wasn’t what Colton had been expecting.
“As I said, take your time and start at the beginning.”
“Do you know anything about Operation Fish?” Colton raised an eyebrow and gave the man a look that told him that he did not know anything about Operation Fish. “Well, back at the beginning of the Second World War, in September 1939, the British government decreed that all people living in the UK had to declare their securities with the Treasury. Just remember that for a minute.” The Professor began. Colton could tell by the look on his face that the man was enjoying dispensing this little know titbit of history. “With the war kicking into gear on mainland Europe, Britain had to make sure that it had the funds available to pay for the war effort. Buying planes, guns and other such essential supplies. So, in 1939 it was decided to transfer the reserves of cash, bullion and other securities to Canada to secure them. This was the Governments funds.” The Professor took off his glasses, gave them a wipe with a handkerchief before putting them back on his nose. “Where was I? Oh, yes. “When Winston Churchill formed his government in 1940 the war was going badly for the Allies. As a guarantee that Britain and the Empire could continue the fight if the UK was overrun, Churchill devised a plan to ship more British wealth to the safety of Canada. Using their wartime powers the Churchill government confiscated the securities that the British people were forced to register at the beginning of the year. Hundreds of accountants and bankers worked tirelessly to catalogue the contents of thousands of crates that were filled up and then shipped. When they were finished it was determined that $2.5 billion had been shipped from the UK to Canada.” Now the man had Colton’s full attention.
“2.5 billion US,” Colton stated, shocked by the figure.
“Yes, the Professor replied, “at 1940 prices. Around 45 billion US in today’s money I believe.” Colton blew out his cheeks. “Now, it was claimed that nothing went missing during transit.” The Professor paused for effect and Colton couldn’t resist.
“This is where you tell me that isn’t true?” Colton asked. The Professor nodded.
“Well, it wouldn’t look good if the loss of even a small amount of these funds got…erm…misplaced.”
“This is getting interesting Professor.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, my father was involved with the cataloguing and transportation from London to Montreal via truck to the port in Greenock and then onto boats and escorted by Royal Navy vessels across the Atlantic. At some point he received the report from Montreal confirming what has arrived. It didn’t match with the report from his end on what had been sent. There was a discrepancy.”
“Was there now,” Colton commented.
“He was told that it was a clerical error.”
“I guess that wasn’t the case.”
“My father didn’t make mistakes and he kept meticulous records.”
“One of the trucks went missing.” The Professor nodded. “And you think you know what happened to it?” Colton smiled.
“My father wouldn’t let it rest. He took this as a stain on his reputation that it had been classed as a clerical error and wanted to prove that it wasn’t. Spent years making enquiries and looking into the matter. He never really talked about it. Then when he passed away, I was going through his papers and came across the file. I was absorbed and bitten by the bug so to speak. I took up the cause.” By now Colton was leaning forward hanging on almost every word. The Professor could tell that he had the man’s interest. “Let me tell you a tale Mister Spencer,” the Professor said with a warm smile.
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“Just turning into the car park now.” Danny’s voice echoed around the van as Colton had the phone on speaker. It was decision time.“Jimmy, time to move. Let’s get this show on the road.” There was the sound of action in the rear of the van as preparations were made. Colton looked through the windscreen and watched Jimmy lumber into position in front of the van. The large man, almost six and a half feet tall and almost as broad across the shoulders leaned on the bonnet and waved.
“Getting closer,” Danny said. “Ten…nine…eight…seven…six…” Colton looked in the wing mirror and saw the young woman approaching with Danny making an effort to get closer.
“Ready ladies?” Colton asked and turned around to look into the back on the van. Hannah gave him the thumbs up.
“Three…two…” Jimmy stepped out and blocked the path.
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The sound of the mobile ringing caused her to jump. “You really must calm down girl, there aren’t evil men lurking in the shadows.” With one hand occupied with a basket of chasse and hams and the other a carrier of wine plus an umbrella hooked over an elbow it took her too long to dig out the phone and it stopped ringing just before it answered. Pausing to look at the screen she clocked the number and shrugged. “I am going as fast as I can! Now, if Madam had made up her mind earlier…” She looked up to find a man blocking her path. Well, it was a man but he was built like a wardrobe. The wall to the left and van to the right meant that she couldn’t go around him. Looking at his large bald head with deep set eyes and flat nose she guessed he boxed a bit. The man wore black boots, blue jeans and a black bomber jacket. Not the typical dress code of people around here, so not a local. “Eh, could you please move.” The man just looked at her and smiled. An uneasy feeling began to creep up her neck. “Look, I don’t know what you think that you are doing but…” she looked around again and then noticed that a man was also on the path behind her, blocking her retreat. “What is going on here?” she asked just as the door to the van slid open and two women got out and stood either side or her.“Get in the van Marissa,” one of the women said.
“What?” Marissa replied confused. “No…why…look I can call for help…” Marissa looked around but her view was blocked and she knew from experience that at this time of day that there wouldn’t be many people around.
“The hard way then,” the woman said and sighed taking a step toward Marissa who started to fumble with her phone.
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There was a keyring on the car keys that Hannah had handed Danny, it was a picture of a German Shephard dog. “Well, hopefully you aren’t where we are going pal.” After getting into Marissa’s small car, he adjusted the seat and mirrors so that he could drive comfortably and started the engine. “Everyone ready?” Colton’s voice came over the communications channel.
“Ready,” Jimmy said.
“Here as well,” Danny said as he manoeuvred the car out of it’s parking space, out of the car park and onto the main road. The slight drizzle and returned and Danny activated the windscreen wipers, hoping that it wasn’t an omen for the operation. Checking the rear-view mirror, he saw that Elliot and the rest were just behind him in the van. Jimmy would wait five minutes and then follow on. Well, Danny thought, no turning back now.