El Pantera: No-one said it would be easy. Read online

  Steve was shaking his head, “She doesn’t know you are coming.” He said quietly.

  Trigger closed his eyes, his head dropped, his hands were over his face and tears started to roll, he took a handkerchief out of his pocket, he wiped his eyes and looked out of the window to regain his composure. He placed his left hand on the right thigh of Steve, “Thanks mate.” was said quietly.

  After landing, Steve was one of the first passengers to leave the aircraft, he was fast tracked through passport control, he collected the firm’s car that had been designated for him, then waited.

  Trigger, to his annoyance had to wait for assistance to get into the terminal, it helped in a way, as the other, more mobile passengers had already left the arrivals hall. He thanked the porter for the wheelchair push and gave him a five Euro note, the only currency he had. He carried his plastic holdall through the terminal, the taxi stopped next to him, a shiny black Audi A5, looking at the driver it was Steve, he threw his bag into the back and sat in the front passenger seat. Steve drove the few miles into Kegworth, Trigger was starving, he wanted fish and chips, they were not going to be eaten inside the prized Audi, Steve parked the car and removed the taxi sign. They each had a large cod and chips, they sat on a bench in the car park, Trigger was savouring the cod, the batter, salty with plenty of vinegar, “real food” he kept saying. Trigger had to be debriefed but that could wait until tomorrow or Thursday, today was celebration time, and as yet no alcohol. He was determined to be sober to enjoy the time when he saw Laura, Chelsea and Frank then he would have a drink, or two. Steve pushed on there was still a 3-hour drive.

  Laura had been told to expect a visit from an agent who would give an update on the court appearance of Trigger, plus a routine welfare check, it was usually on an evening so as not to draw attention. She was watching the news, the kids were in their bedrooms, supposedly going to sleep, “Why is it always bad news nowadays, what’s wrong with the world?” She got out of her chair to pour a cold glass of white wine, her only enjoyment these days. She opened the fridge as the doorbell rang, “Shit, he picks his moments.” Closing the fridge door, she walked the few paces to the front door, remembering what she had been told, she looked through the spy hole in the solid reinforced door. Laura began to shake and struggled to get the key into the lock, she was shouting, “Chelsea, Frank, come here.”

  The door was opened, and she threw herself into the open arms of Trigger, nearly knocking him off his balance, they hugged tightly together, crying, smiling, laughing, shaking, they were joined by the two kids who had run down the stairs screaming, “Daddy, daddy”, they both grabbed a metal leg each, hugging their daddy who had been gone a long time.

  They were still standing in the doorway, “How, how are you here, I’m so, so happy and the kids, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, yes, yes, are you stopping here daddy?” Chelsea asked.

  “Yes, I am, all together again.”

  Frank asked, “Can we go back to Spain now daddy?”

  “Maybe in a little while, lets enjoy it here first.”

  “Laura again asked, “How did you do it, how are you here?”

  Trigger moved to the side of the door, pointing to the car, “That man, he did it.” He waved to Steve who got out of the car.

  Laura saw Steve, she ran down the garden path and hugged him, “Thank you, thank you, thank you. You fucking bastard, why did you not tell me. I owe you and Sarah a massive apology, I’m really sorry Steve. Come on, let’s get in the house, I’ll try and get the kids to bed and the three of us can have a drink, something to celebrate at last.”

  Wednesday 3rd May

  Laura was still sleeping, it had been a late night, Chelsea and Frank were awake but playing in their own bedrooms. Steve was sat at a table outside in the garden looking out over the North Sea. Trigger brought out the tea pot, milk, sugar, two large mugs and a packet of ginger snap biscuits on a tray. “I like it here, should have stopped, I just wanted a better life for her and the kids.”

  “In the words of Ragnar Lothbrok, ‘Don’t waste time looking back, you’re not going that way’.”

  Trigger was impressed, “That’s good that, since when have you started quoting politicians, you were a thick Geordie when I first knew you, mind sometimes, I think you still are, some of the shite you come out with.”

  “He’s not a politician, he’s a Viking.”

  Trigger was taking the piss, as he would say, “A Viking, a real fucking Viking said that.”

  “No man, he’s not real, well sort of real but, did you not watch The Vikings, you can get it on box set.”

  “See what I mean, he’s a fucking actor, not real. You should have told me when I was in my cell, I could have asked the guards for a Sky card. Sometimes you talk some real shite, I’ll ask you again, how the fuck are you old bill?”

  They were both laughing again, Trigger was spilling the tea on the table, missing the large mugs, “I’ll tell you why you’re a good copper, you’re a genuine lad, a generous lad, sensitive at times, you generally have your head screwed on but you do say some stupid things. I owe you a lot, all of us do, thanks mate.”

  “You have to stop thanking me, I was just a part, Sarah, Ivan, the biggest player was someone you don’t know, Brigada Cuéllar. You made it possible by saying what you did.”

  “Well, I thank the lot of them, I did thank Ivan in Malaga, he’s another good bloke, I like him. Not looking back but I’ve lost a lot, I’ll just have to start again.”

  “I know what you have been through, but I know how you can make some cash, maybe quite a bit.”

  “Is it legal?”

  “Of course, kind of. You will have to tell a lie or two”

  Trigger was interested, “Does this involve you?”

  “Yes, it does, I’ll tell you what it is and you can think about it.”

  “I’m in mate if it involves you, could it involve jail time?”

  “For me, yes. For you, no.”

  “Tell me what you can, if you don’t trust me, don’t tell me stuff. I’ll say fuck all but I’m not doing time.”

  They both took a drink of their tea, Steve started, “I know someone, who I should not speak to, not a friend. They’ve contacted me and want to give me information about drugs, as you would imagine, lots of drugs and other stuff. No-one, and I mean no-one, can know who this person is but the information is really good.”

  “So, you want me to go and speak to this geezer?”

  “No, nothing as difficult as that. Listen, you are like a go between, this person tells you stuff then you tell me, except I already know and you don’t need to talk to anyone.”

  “Like I said, sometimes you talk real shit.”

  “No, no, it’s not that. Basically, we’re keeping the other person’s identity unknown.”

  “But that’s what you’re supposed to do, you wouldn’t have many grasses if you told the fucking world who they were, would you?”

  “The information that the other person gives me, when it leads to seizures of cocaine and arrests, you will get paid handsomely”

  Trigger was smiling, “Now you see, talk simple and I understand, I could go for that. So, when do I start talking to the geezer, is it by phone?”

  “No.” Steve had the conversation planned but it wasn’t going the way he had planned it. They both drank some tea, “The story would be, you met someone in prison who mentioned a person who was active in bringing drugs in, he trusted you because you were in for the same thing. He was annoyed that those outside, they were not looking after his family as they promised, so he was a bit loose tongued. He told you the names of those involved, where they were based and some other stuff that I don’t know about as yet, I will tell you when I know. I’ll start up another operation, like the one you instigated.”

  “Wait one sec, can I get paid for that then?”

  “What, after they’ve dropped charges and saved you from at least 15 years inside?”

  “I see what you mean. Go on then.”

  “Where was I? Yes, the operation starts and I introduce someone, another police officer, who infiltrates the group and we eventually get the arrests and recovery.”

  “How can you introduce a UC guy to someone you don’t want anyone to know about?”

  “You don’t have to worry about that. You just have to do that bit that I’ve told you, a few calls to me, I can start it off after what you’ve told me this morning about the group.”

  “I haven’t told you anything yet, oh yes, yes, I’ve got you.”

  “You call me thick: you Cockney legless dimwit, how the fuck did you run a business?” They started throwing ginger snaps at each other, laughing uncontrollably, that’s what friends do.

  Trigger raised his arm in the air and shouted “Freedom!”, he had never felt this good in years, happiness.

  Later that afternoon Steve dropped his bag into the Audi, he hugged and kissed them all, including Trigger. He tried his Arnie impersonation, “I’ll be back.”

  Trigger, “That was shit mate, stick to policing. Really, thanks mate, pass on all our love and thanks to Sarah. I’m in. Keep me updated.”

  “I will do, enjoy life, it’s great here, settle down, look to the future.”

  He was in the car, he gave one more wave to them all, Trigger was holding his thumb up as he drove off to catch his flight.

  chapter 4

  Friday 5th May

  Gabriella was sitting in her small villa overlooking the Atlantic. It was a dark cloudy morning, the distant thunder could be heard as it was getting closer, the lightning flashes quickly followed with a piercing cracking sound, the shroud of grey falling rain was moving towards her from the horizon. It would not be pleasant on the ocean, even close to shore it would be
uncomfortable riding the increasing swell in her small boat. She received a message on the encro phone from her associate Lucas, ‘Delivery on schedule’.

  She typed her reply, ‘When is the slaughter?’

  A few seconds passed, ‘Monday’.

  The news from Lucas brightened up a very dull, boring day. She picked up her ‘Steve’ mobile and sent a message.

  He was in the office talking to Ken, one of the intelligence officers. He could feel his personal phone vibrating next to his right hip, it was a short activation, a message. He finished the conversation and walked back to his desk, he glanced at the wall clock 10:59. He read the message ‘need to speak today 12:20’.

  It was a bright, warm day in Madrid, Steve had a coffee in a polystyrene cup and a ham salad bocadillo from the local café. He headed to a seat on the park bench and had his lunch while he waited. The call was on time, 12:20. “Hi Gabi.”

  “Hi, there is an incoming shipment on Monday.”

  “Is it a large shipment?”

  “Yes, well the shipment will be in today but it will be getting slaughtered on Monday.”

  “Will there be many big players at the slaughter?”

  “Yes of course, but I will be there.”

  “I have no intention of raiding the slaughter, well not yet. Will you meet someone else, a great guy, a big friend of mine. I cannot have anything to do with you in a way.”

  Gabi interrupted him, “So I have to trust another man, a policeman, undercover man I can guess, look what happened to Filipe when they thought he was an undercover cop.”

  “Gabi, you killed him if you forgot.”

  “Yes, yes I did, but if I didn’t someone else would have.”

  “I know you would like him; you can trust him.”

  “I like your friend, she’s nice.”

  “No way, I can read minds as well, I saw the look, when you were looking at her photograph.”

  “She reminds me of me, that is good.”

  “Gabi, no fucking way, you keep well away from her, I have already lost Jessica because of you.”

  “That was not my fault, I have told you.”

  Steve was firm in his tone, “You keep away from her. There is only one way to do this without you and me ending up in jail or worse.”

  “If I meet this man, he will know who I am, it’s crazy.”

  “Listen to me, I’ll explain. You do have Spanish I.D. another name, a home somewhere, as long as you do nothing that gets you arrested you will be safe, no fingerprints, no DNA samples. This man will know you by the name you have now, you can trust him. You make an introduction to the other people and you move away, he will look after your interest. The Spanish police will not be aware of you.”

  “Is he a good-looking man, a fun man?”

  “Yes, I promise you will like him, he will like you, do not kill him, he is my friend.”

  Gabi was laughing for a change, “I promise, I will not kill him. I have told you, I didn’t want to kill anyone, well apart from Borja.”

  “Will you meet him, maybe next week, somewhere you suggest, you will know what he is like then?”

  Gabi was thinking, “You could be setting me up to be arrested and sent back to jail.”

  “Yes, I could be, but I’m not, I’m trying to keep you out of jail. I want to know who killed Jessica and the police officer.”

  “I will tell you; I think he is coming to Spain. I am hearing things even now.”

  “When, do you know when?”

  “No, not yet, he is coming to ask some questions, he usually gets the answers.”

  “He’s coming to torture I take it, then kill. Do you know who his target is?”

  “Me”

  “What! Why? I thought Manolo gave you the money and got you out of jail.”

  “He did, to keep Carmen happy, my sister.”

  “So why the change?”

  “No change, do you think he would be happy with me, I’ve cost him millions of dollars, I killed Borja? He has kept Carmen happy; he did what she asked, now who cares, she will never hear from me again, she will think I’m living in paradise somewhere. I love her, she loves me. He still loves her, at the moment.”

  “How do you know this?”

  “I have my assets; how do you think I was well looked after in that shitty jail? I made friends, use your imagination, men and women, they still think I’m their friend, they are also afraid of me because I am out of jail, I could say things, I can use a little pleasure or pain in my talks.”

  “Why has he not come then?”

  “He doesn’t know where I am, like you, Spain is a big country. When the time is right, I will tell someone and they will tell him where I am. That is when I will tell you, who he is and where he is.”

  “Fucking hell, this is getting more and more crazy.”

  “Steve, you say fucking a lot but it is crazy.”

  “Gabi, I apologise for using the word, I don’t usually say it. We both have to trust each other as you keep saying, we could both go to jail if this isn’t worked out alright, for all I know, you could be setting me up, so I’m trusting you. I need you to meet this man to get the action moving. I’m not in Spain next week, I will not have this phone with me. Please give me a day and location you will meet him and get to know him.”

  “I will meet him, okay, I’m thinking,” there was a silence, “Okay, Wednesday, in Segovia next to the viaduct, the Bar El Desvan at 3.”

  Steve, “Wait I’m writing that down. Okay, got that, he will recognise you, you look like someone as you said. He’s a good-looking man, brown skin.”

  “Okay, tell him to go in, I will follow, if I do not feel safe, I will leave.”

  “It will be okay, he will not be followed, I promise. I will tell him. He will explain in more detail what we have planned, to keep us all safe.”

  “Okay, I will trust you, I will meet him.”

  The call was closed, Steve made a call to Leon. Leon agreed to travel, he would stay in Steve’s apartment and take the train to meet up with Gabi. Steve now started thinking about Sarah, the course she was on and the impending holiday, Sarah would soon know if she had passed the assessment. As he was waiting for her call, he walked back to the office.

  His mobile was vibrating in his pocket as he walked into the office, it was a call, he took the mobile from his pocket and sat at his chair. “Well then, tell me?” he asked.

  Sarah took a little time to answer, “It was tough, very tough, I’m not going to say it, but you told me.”

  Steve was impatient, “Sarah it’s okay, whatever, what did they say in your assessment?”

  “They were concerned about the lack of my police experience, I hadn’t worked the streets, my ability to defend myself if attacked.”