The Hunt For Rose Read online

CHAPTER TWO

  Stanton's wrist watch alarm had alerted him several times to pressing information coming in via satellite, as soon as he got to his car he opened the computer dropping it from the roof cavity in the centre of the roof trim hard against the windscreen. He had fitted a new computer recently with a swivel joint on the retaining bracket that could be turned toward the driver or passenger, a logistic improvement compared to the previous fixed bracket. As he read the list of incoming alerts his satellite phone rang, he answered it immediately fumbling the cumbersome hand piece in the confines of his car. "John its Bruce."

  "This better be good every time you call we compromise stealth."

  "Elderslie dropped Hans Reichmann off to me minutes ago."

  "Elderslie." Stanton hesitated. "Explain."

  "He was at Heathrow airport processing paperwork for Wilson and Bartholomew's horses and recognised Reichmann from dealings at Flemington. He knew we were interested in Reichmann's movements and thought it odd he should be entering the UK just before Flaxmead, no one has seen him there for two years."

  "Brilliant, we can't let that man loose under the circumstances, if anyone has the contacts to noble Flaxmead it would be Reichmann. You have him."

  "Yes, Elderslie convinced Reichmann he had been sent to pick him up and take him to a hotel, on the way he contacted Vauxhall Cross and luckily the switchboard patched it through to me when he mentioned my name."

  "Bullshit, he doesn't know of you, never has."

  "He rang Cadiche first, Cadiche thought it important enough to give him my middle name, I'm the only one in the building with such a middle name, the switch operator thought it was odd and patched me in. One problem the call was monitored."

  Stanton hesitated in thought. "Get what you can out of Reichmann, isolate him, where no one even the elite can find him."

  "I thought the same thing, already done."

  "A big break but sounds just too convenient could be a set up."

  "Mmmm, or incredible luck."

  "Reichmann has a tattoo on his upper left arm, the eagle crest of the Third Reich."

  Stanton could hear a scuffle in the background, shouting, more than two voices. "Hang on John I and Bella are checking."

  "Bella, she's with you."

  Stanton could hear a further ruckus, then silence. "This man has no tattoo on his upper arm, either of them."

  "Reichmann is loose in the UK, find him, put Bella on."

  "John."

  "This will be hard Bell, I will be in the UK tomorrow." Stanton coughed. "We should avoid each other."

  "No chance, I want you."

  "Find Reichmann and sanction him."

  "John, he's a civilian."

  "Wrong."

  Bella squinted with a frown. "What's the connection?"

  "You don't need to know princess, you have about twenty hours before Flaxmead arrives in the UK."

  "You have a lead for me to start."

  "No, get yourself into the Ascot members club and find one."

  "Too much risk, someone may recognise me, I'll use Rose."

  "Okay, let's not loose focus here, we are looking for Rose Blake, using Rose Fleming may bring some unexpected advantages, two Roses may confuse. Pick on the wrong one and they play into our hands. Find Reichmann petal, anything happens to Flaxmead I would never forgive myself. Remember two children own that horse."

  "John.......when are you coming home."

  "I'm already home petal, love you."

  "John, don't hang up, if I have Reichmann will you see me?"

  "No need to blackmail me Bell, if you have Reichmann I need to know exactly why he is in the UK and what plans he has that will affect Flaxmead, simple as that."

  Bella's face lit up with a warm smile and her voice echoed resolve. "Ill have Reichmann."

  "Bell, leak the capture of Reichmann to the media, trump up some kind of charge, Interpol are after him and his brother over shady money deals implicating the IMF. If Reichmann believes you have fallen for the decoy he'll move around with far more confidence, probably right where you plan to start looking, he has many friends there."

  "I'm way ahead of you."

  "I have to go princess, take care." Stanton hung up. He rang Jodi on his mobile.

  "John, I just got to the office."

  "Whistler that sports journo, is he still around."

  "Yes, he's in London covering the Flaxmead story."

  "What hotel is he staying in?"

  "I'm not sure why."

  "I want to talk to him."

  "You have reservations about Whistlers ability."

  "Yeah, his ability to fabricate stories, he just writes what he finds, that's a plus. He may be of assistance; I just have a couple of questions."

  "I'll text his mobile number to you."

  "Great, Ill wait on it you little cherub."

  There was warmth in Stanton's voice and Jodi hesitated with a stern look. "You've spoken to Bella."

  "I spoke to Bruce, she was there."

  "Why?"

  "That would be a need to know on a mobile poppet."

  Jodi drew a big breath and exhaled. "Mmm, I talk to you soon." She hung up.

  Stanton pushed the computer back up into its roof cavity, he caught a glimpse of his head in the rear vision mirror, he had just had his standard flat cropped haircut and tried a dark colour in his hair to mask the grey, he ran his fingers through from front to back. It was false, he didn't like it but he thought Bella would. He Looked away and started his car and the muscle bound V8 rumbled into life with a sharp bark, he engaged the supercharger. He shook his head looking down at the horse in the centre of the steering wheel. "This is bullshit," he mumbled. "I need to stay focused." he looked at the horse in the centre of the steering wheel again, then up and out the window as he pulled away from his parking spot, tyres smoking in a resounding roar. "Six black horses, that's why I'm here." He roared on up the road but pulled up in haste, he thought deeply after coming to a stop. He rang Cadiche on his satellite phone, he had to wait ten seconds or so before Cadiche responded. "Arrest Neville Creighton."

  "What, what for."

  "I don't care why you arrest him and find out where Gustav Fleming is, Rose Flemings father."

  "Why don't you ask her yourself?"

  "He steers well clear of Rose since she became involved with Bella, he'd never tell Rose where he is and Rose is no longer keen on her father."

  "Creighton's a hard bloke to nail, especially for nothing."

  Stanton dropped his computer from the roof cavity; he began to log in as he spoke fumbling with the phone. "I have some gaff on Creighton, been saving it for a rainy day, just about to drop it on David Stokes desk in five, four, three, two, one, gone. Stokes will ring you in about thirty seconds and ask you to arrest Creighton."

  Cadiche rolled his eyes and sat back in his office chair looked at the ceiling and shook his head. "Unreal." Stanton disengaged contact with the satellite. Cadiche tossed the satellite phone onto his desk then looked out the window with his arms folded, he watched a coal ship being mothered into Newcastle port by tug boats, he waited in silence. His phone rang. "Page speaking."

  "Cadiche, this report and supporting documents regarding Creighton, brilliant piece of police work. Arrest Creighton immediately."

  Cadiche went fishing. "Based on the facts what charges do you suggest?"

  "Well, attempted murder, conspiracy to murder, uttering false witness."

  "Fine, could you send the email back to me with your recommendations and Ill see to it immediately."

  "Absolutely, this needs to be acted on, will take a few minutes to return, see if you can find out where Creighton is and I'll arrange a warrant."

  "Excellent idea sir, I'll err, get on to that straight away."

  "Good man, chow." Cadiche put his phone down slowly.