Chapter 7

I woke with an insistent bladder on Monday morning. I felt a lot better and hummed a bit as I showered and dressed. I ate well and went down to the office to see if we had any new emails. Then went to open up the street door for Lena. When she came in, she put a large bag on my desk.

“That’s your outfit for when we go to Epsom on Thursday. They had your sizes still on file.”

I looked in the bag and saw a WPC uniform, identical to hers, except in one detail. Mine had a sergeants’ stripes.

“The Inspector thought that you deserved to go up in the world, even if it is for one day. He is a lovely man, and we had a good talk in the car coming back. He’ll be playing the recording of Stan and Oliver to the AC, so that the operation can have some armed police on hand now that it’s been confirmed that they’re serial killers and packing weapons.”

I took the bag up to my quarters. Before I came down, she called up to me to bring my coat, as it was a cool morning, and we were going shopping. Intrigued, I put in my fleecy hoodie and went down. We locked up and she let me back towards Berwick Street.

“I noticed the Bangle Man was set up this morning. We need to get you some rings. A good set of rings can double as a knuckle duster, and it looks like we’ll need to take every precaution at Epsom.”

At the market, the stall was weighed down with gold rings and bangles at brass prices. Lena spoke to the man about any he might have that were gold plated steel, and he pointed to a section that were a bit dearer. We tried some on. Lena, who would be going to Epsom as a foppish Len, had four, one for each forefinger and one for each ring finger. I needed six, including the middle finger. We then went to the gym, where I was at the punching bag, hitting it with both hands adorned with the rings. When she was happy with me, we went back to the office.

For the rest of the day, and through to Wednesday afternoon, we worked on a shoplifting problem that had broken out along the Berwick Street market. It looked as if it was random and opportunistic, and we had set up cameras the week before. Lena had changed the chips before she came into the office on Monday, and we spent our time working through the footage. It was tedious work, but we finally tracked the person doing the stealing. It was an old bag-lady, who would shuffle along the street every day, from wherever she had dossed down. We would take it to the stallholders on Friday, to see what they wanted to do.

On Thursday morning, I was standing outside the office in my police uniform when a minibus pulled up and I joined Lena with the rest of the team. On the way to Epsom, the Inspector took the chance to give everyone an up-to-date briefing based on what was heard on Saturday. New to me was that they now had CCTV vision from last year, showing Stan leading a woman, now identified as the last victim, towards the exit gate. He then told us that Oliver had followed, ten minutes later, leading a man. Both punters were carrying shopping bags the same as the ones we had been given.

We met up with a team from the Epsom station and spent most of the day checking out the security to hide our true intent. The sergeant joined Lena and I as we followed the route that the victims had taken. I stood at the roadside and looked around.

“We know that the victims were led by the boys, so they must have had a good reason to come this way. Guns wouldn’t have been pulled, so they must have told them that they had pistols and weren’t afraid to use them and told them what to do.”

“What about those buildings, over the road?’

Lena strode across the road, and we followed her. There was a path which led to the entrance of a stable complex, now empty. The sergeant was puzzled.

“Surely this would be a hive of activity on race day?’

“Not after the last race. The horses are taken away after they’ve finished, and the only ones left would be the ones in the final event. They would still be over the road, being settled and hosed down before coming here. If Stan had his van just inside, the woman could be subdued quickly, and he would wait for Oliver to come around the corner with the man. They would be in the van before the horses were brought in.”

We went back to the rest of them and joined the security inspection. On the way back to London, the sergeant suggested that they have a drone up to watch the inside of the stable area. The van had to be put into position sometime during the afternoon. The Inspector told us that the bookie site the Joe usually used had been identified, and that the system they had used at Ascot was now in place. When I got out, with Lena, at Berwick Street, we were told to keep the uniforms, as they may come in handy for the detective work.

When I walked back towards the office, I smiled at the people now starting to crowd into Soho. It took my mind back to when I was in uniform, full of the desire to help people and right wrongs. I realised that I still had that desire and knew what it was that drove my father to take risks in doing his job. I could now understand my mother, who never had to put her life on the line.

On the Friday, we took our findings to the market management and left it to them. Most of them knew what it had been like scraping for a pound, and we left after they had decided to waylay the bag lady and offer her shared accommodation and a steady job helping on a stall.

We had two weeks before the final act, and spent it, and some money, looking at pant suits. Lena was now wearing long skirts as a matter of course, and we had a nice time looking through racks and trying things on. We both could afford to go high fashion, as I thought that Joe and the boys would expect us to be hooked on spending by now. I chose a pink outfit, with a silk blouse and flowery hat. Lena went for a bright green with a black blouse and scarf to use as a cravat.

She had the shoes that she had worn with the red suit, and I went for low heeled pink boots. On the Thursday before the meeting, we spent a few hours with Janine and her crew, with me getting totally glammed up and silky smooth. Lena was smoothed as well. We didn’t have anything done to our hair as Lena would be natural as Len, while I would have the blonde wig. On Friday, Hassam took us to Islington to get our comms and a final briefing.

On the day of the meeting, Hassam drove us to the track. I gave him his money and told him that we would likely get a lift back home. He knew that something was going on but didn’t know any details.

We got out of the car behind the stands and turned our comms on.

“Testing, testing. The fatted calves have arrived.”

“Welcome to the show. The techies have a camera and microphone on the bookie area and Joe is set up. They have been talking about what they were going to spend their money on, next week. They’ve hung themselves with all the detail they’re giving us. Let us know when you are in front of the stand so we can pick you up.”

I was to front up to Joe first, so Lena stood, fiddling with her phone, while I walked to the entrance, paying for my ticket, and onto the course. With the time we had spent here already, I could find the way around. At the front of the stand, I stopped.

“Maxie in pink, do you see me?”

“We see you, Maxie. Hubba, Hubba.”

“Down boys, we’re here to work.”

I wandered around until it was time for the horses in the first to be brought from the stables, then went to find Joe. He was in a good mood and took my hundred on his mystery accumulator, giving me a gold ticket. I took that and went off to the restaurant, to order a very expensive lunch. I sat there until the third race, when I moved to the stand.

I was giving my locations as I moved, and I heard Lena do the same. I suppose that she had learned all the tricks while on deployment. We stayed well away from each other, but we could have sat together. Stan and Oliver only left the bookie stand to fetch or deliver cash, until the horses in the last race were coming from the stables. Then Stan left them, and I heard the reports from the drone operator that he had gone to his van and driven it to the stable, immediately to the right of the vehicle entrance, and backed it up, leaving it with the back doors ajar.

When he was safely back on track, I heard the report from the armed officers that two of them had gone to the van, found a bottle of chloroform and a rag. They were now hidden in the stable and waiting for me to arrive.

I sat in the stand and started moving as the horses approached the finishing post. I was ten yards from Joe when the clear was called. I went up to him with my gold card.

“You’ll be the death of me, missy. Here’s your winnings.”

He gave me two paper shopping bags, with the weight about equal.

“How are you getting home, luv?”

“I’ll call an Uber when I’m outside.”

“Stan will escort you out. Stan! Help the lady. Bye luv.”

I started towards the door, following Stan. Outside of the course, he came and stood beside me.

“Cross the road, Debbie, and go left along that path. There’s a place where you can picked up without waiting out in the open.”

I crossed the road and when we got close to the stables entry, he spoke roughly.

“All right, bitch! I have a gun in my pocket and I’m not afraid to use it. Go in and turn right, I’ll be right behind you.”

I hesitated and then went as directed. As we turned right, I saw the van and hesitated to let him catch up. I dropped the bags and executed a spin to my left with my right fist aiming for his head. I saw how well the rings worked as his cheek caved in and his eyes rolled up in his head. He dropped like a tree. A low voice behind me spoke.

“Remind me never to make you mad, Maxie. Come on, help us drag him into the stable.”

We pulled him out of sight and the officer called for a paramedic to attend on his call. I retrieved my two bags and then we then stood and waited for Lena to arrive with Oliver in tow. When they turned the corner, Oliver had a big gun in his hand so got tasered, dropping to the ground in agony. The officer spoke into his microphone.

“Two down. Paramedic needed for one.”

Lena and I hugged in relief. She looked at Stan as the paramedic worked on his face.

“Looks like you learned your lessons well, Maxie.”

The inspector told us to sit in one of the police cars that were now crowding this part of the stable complex. We took our money and went and sat in the back seat as the forensic boys brought in a tray top to take away the van. Stan and Oliver were put into separate cars and were taken away.

We had to sit there until Joe had pulled down his stall and then he was arrested. The Inspector came on the radio.

“Operation complete. A good job, lads, and lasses. Maxie, the driver will take you home. There will be a debrief at the Yard on Tuesday afternoon, I’ll text the time. The AC has been advised of the success and wants to waft his praise over the masses. I’ll see you then. You can leave your comms with your driver.”

We were taken into London, our driver keen to talk about the day. We talked but I was just thinking of a long bath. He stopped outside the office, and I gave Lena a hug.

“See you Monday, Lena. I think we deserve a week off.”

“I’ll see you then, Maxie. This has been more than I expected when I first got given that tip. We’ll talk Monday. There’s something I want to ask you, then.”

I opened the door, taking my two shopping bags with me. I locked the door and put the bar across it. Upstairs I undressed completely and poured a bath, into which I submerged my body for nearly an hour. After I dried, I put on a nightie and gown, and went to make myself a pot of tea. As I drank the tea, I counted the money. The first bag yielded two hundred and sixty thousand. My hands were shaking when I worked on the second bag, which had exactly the same amount. I was sitting here with five hundred and twenty thousand pounds!

At no time did anyone take any notice of the bags. As far as the team was concerned, it was just part of the operation, with video taken of Joe handing us the bags. I had been told that whatever we won was ours, but this was well over the top. I got my mobile and rang Lena.

“Lena, it’s Maxie. Have you counted it?”

“Did that after I took off the glad rags, luv. I’m still trying to take it in. It makes what I want to talk to you about more important. What say we meet a Balans for lunch tomorrow, my treat. See you about noon, OK?”

I agreed and put the money in the bags again, going to the wardrobe and adding the bundles I already had there. Then I nuked an easy meal and sat to watch the evening news. There wasn’t a word about anything happening at the Epsom races. It looked like everything went down without anyone noticing.

When I got up on Sunday, I had a light breakfast and dressed neatly. I met Lena at Balans, and we ate well, without mentioning the operation, just agreeing that neither of us were interested in attending another race meeting. We were sitting with coffee and cake when she spoke about what she wanted to ask me.

“Maxie, what do you think the office and living quarters are worth?”

“About eight hundred thousand, I expect. There’s not a lot of square meters, and there’s no parking. Why?”

“Because we have enough to put in half each and own it. I’m happy to stay living where I am now. It will mean that the business won’t have to pay the lease, just the outgoings, rates, and taxes. You’ll feel safer if there’s no sword hanging over you, and it will give me something to live for. We can split the profits after taxes. We don’t need to agree to anything, I’m just asking you to consider it. I don’t want to stomp on your plans, but it’s one way forward.”

“I think it has merit, Lena. It’s just a shock that you want to tie yourself down like that.”

“If the future is as interesting as the last six months, I won’t be tied down. This sleuthing game is fascinating if a bit dangerous. It’s the danger that I miss, as long as I can lie in my own bed at night.”

“We’ll go and talk to Abdul on Monday. He might be happy to do a deal for cash, and cash is what we have. Then I want to go to a proper jeweller and swap those steel rings for real gold. I want to have them on hand should I need to lay a man out again. I can feel a bruise coming up on my knuckles, I didn’t hold back when I hit him.”

“That shows that you took in the lessons. It’s no good being picky when your life is on the line. Tell me, why didn’t you wait for the armed boys to take him?”

I giggled.

“I don’t know. Maybe I just wanted to release my tension that has held me for so long. Maybe it was for all the others that they had killed. Maybe I’m just violent, I don’t know.”

We walked up to the Soho Square and back to the office, talking about what we would do to the place if we owned it. Lena thought another split system on the roof, with an outlet in the office area, would be good. I thought a CCTV covering the front door and stairs would improve our security. I asked her about her flat and she said that when we talk to Abdul, she would ask if he had anything nearby that she could move into.

Going back towards the office, we stopped off at Canwood for coffee and cake. Relaxed in each other’s company. I said that if we co-owned the premises, we would need to have a contract written up to become business partners. I asked her what she wanted to be known as.

“I don’t intend to try to be a woman. I’ll keep my bits and still be Leonard Sergeant. I might wear a dress all the time but I’m not out to attract a man. Who knows, there may be a woman out there who will fancy a guy in a dress. With the sorts of things we’ve been involved in, it’s quite likely that one will turn up. I mean to say, if we can find a bookie who gives money away, anything is possible.

On Monday, we met and went to see Abdul. When we asked him what he would want for he office, if we paid cash. He surprised us by asking seven hundred thousand, as long as he could keep the remainder of the bond and lease money. We shook hands on it and promised to bring him the cash when he had the paperwork ready. He did have a property that was empty, the lease being a bit steep for the area at a thousand a month, with a couple of thousand off if paid yearly.

He gave us the address and the keys. It was very much like the office property, two floors above the Lipsync offices along Dean Street, with the lower floor for living and cooking, and the upper floor with two bedrooms, a bathroom, separate toilet, and a laundry / storage room. It already had split systems for both floors and was ready to move into. I loved it, as did Lena.

We went back to Abdul, and she told him she would take it. I asked him about a lawyer to write up partnership papers for Max Force. He said that he would give me a call when everything was ready.

We went to Little Italy for dinner, and hugged when we went our separate ways to find our beds. It was a massive day for both of us.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hassam took us to the Yard. There were smiles all round when we were shown into a conference room. The AC, the Chief Supers from the Islington and the Epsom stations were there, along with the whole team that were in the operation at the course. The AC took the lead, heaping praise on everyone who took part, telling them all that there would be commendations on their service records.

Then, I found out that the GPS on the van had been interrogated, with the trip to the cliffs last year clearly showing, along with another trip which turned out to be a forgotten quarry that everyone used as a tip. They had found three male bodies in the tip, so far, and were continuing to dig. This meant that there was compelling evidence of the pair murdering four women and three men, with who knew how many more men to be found.

The van had DNA traces of the last woman, and one of the men. Work was continuing to identify the new bodies, and the media would be brought in when the cases were watertight. I was told that Oliver refused to talk, and Stan couldn’t, because his jaw was wired. He was, however, happy to write his confession, laying all the blame on Oliver and Joe. Joe would be charged with conspiracy to murder, as well as tax fraud. He wouldn’t be at any races for a very long time.

We were told that we would be noted as members of the public who alerted the police. We wouldn’t be named in the official reports, but that our involvement and support was greatly appreciated, especially as we were both in line for being the next victims, and that we knew that and still carried on. The AC asked us to remain when he ended the meeting. When the others had left, he presented us each with a small case, containing the Police Medal for Bravery.

“This is the least we can give you two. It would never have been possible without you. This is very much on the hush hush. Leonard, you can hide this with the other medals that you weren’t supposed to have earned. Maxine, this is one you can have close, to honour you as well as bringing you closer to your father. It was sad that he had to die to get his.”

On the way out, that was ringing out in my head. I knew that my father had a police funeral, but never knew that he had a bravery medal. Mother had kept that one quiet.

Over the next few weeks, we signed the partnership papers, and each paid our half of the office payment, getting the official paperwork. Not only did I have an office in Soho, but my half, the upstairs, was all mine!

We made the changes to the office that we had spoken about, also going to a proper furniture store, and buying two comfortable office chairs to replace the flatpack ones, which went into the corner of the reception, near the window. It didn’t take long to move Lena into her new home, as she didn’t have a lot, other than clothes, to move. It took a lot longer to browse furniture shops and for her to pick what she wanted.

During that time, we worked when we had work, but didn’t stress on it. When the case hit the papers, it was front page news. They had found five bodies in the tip and had the DNA proof of two confirmed that were in the van. The previous van was traced to a wrecking yard, where it was removed and tested, finding traces of six others that matched DNA from six other bodies. That had the pair charged with eight murders. When the details of their methods were made public, there was many letters to the paper and posts on social media wondering where you can find a bookie who gives money away.

Lena and I stayed quiet. We knew that finding a bookie like that ended in death. Two days after the news broke, I got a call from David to go and see him in his office. He congratulated me on finding the criminals and taking it to the police. He had no idea that I had been in at the final act. He invited me to a small dinner at his place, asking if I still had the gate opener. I said I would be happy and asked if my business partner could come as well, as she had been part of the investigations.

We glammed up for a Sunday evening dinner, hired a Jaguar for the occasion, and attended the dinner. It was just the two of us, the two of them, and the Board of Governors from Ascot. We were feted for removing a cancer from the bookie area, and for it to be done without any mud thrown at both Ascot and Epsom. They gave me a cheque for ten thousand pounds, which I said would be paid into the business as payment for time spent over the six months that the case took. We had a nice meal, where they couldn’t quite get their heads around Lena looking like a fashion plate and talking with the voice of a boxer. At the end of the evening, we all shook hands and Dee asked me to put the gate opener in the box as we left, if I didn’t need it anymore.

On the drive back to London, Lena was behind the wheel and quiet for a while. Then she laughed.

“Don’t know about you, Maxie, luv. We just had a dinner with wall-to-wall toffs, and not one of them would unbend enough to give us a hug. Bloody upper crust. They’re like the Ruperts in the Regiment. All gung-ho and waiting for the battle to be over while they swigged their chardonnay. I can do without them!”

Marianne Gregory © 2024