“Friday Fiction” series: “The Recruit,” Part Two…
[Note from Steve: This is the second story about the “Earl of Penrith.” There might be a third. Stay tuned.]
The Recruit
Copyright 2022, Steven M. Moore
They kept the investigation focused. Normally for a major case, Earl would get help from other stations in the Penrith Police District. His DCI agreed with the MI5 agent, though, so Earl and Sally had to make do with three of their station’s DCs along with a SOCOs’ unit if needed.
That was why Sally showed up alone to talk with Kathy Kilborn, Simon’s girlfriend who worked at a gift shop in a nearby village. After the usual introductions, Kathy invited the DS to a storeroom in the shop’s rear to get away from the worried looks of the storeowner who’d already told Sally that she loved Kathy as if she were her own daughter.
“She means well, sergeant, and she’s very nice to me, always saying that I should marry Simon.”
“When did you last see him?” Answer: The day before the shooting. Sally nodded. “The repair shop’s owner said Simon had decided to work late on some toff’s car.”
“Yes, I think the car’s owner promised him a nice bonus to finish the repairs ahead of schedule. Did the repair shop’s owner say anything else?”
Sally almost felt Kathy was running the interview. “He said Simon closed up things like he always does.”
Kathy nodded. “He often works late because he lives right above the shop. He says we can’t get married until we can manage a flat somewhere.”
“Did you try calling his mobile?”
“He doesn’t have one. He uses the phone in the repair shop, or my moby when he’s with me. My parents pay for mine as part of a family plan.”
Sally’s next question danced around the truth. She hadn’t provided the young girl with details about what had occurred at the farm. “Do you know if Simon has any enemies?”
“Heavens no! Even strangers like him, but, to be honest, he doesn’t have many friends. Me, my parents, his boss, my boss—that’s about it. He’s from down south. Cardiff area, I think. No family, though.”
“No violent pub barneys or drinking or drug problems? Other problems with the law?” Sally had already checked HOLMES. A negative shake of the head from Kathy confirmed the lack of a record on that police database, but the last question had also been a test to see if she knew about his past in Northumberland that had been erased when Simon went into witness protection.
“He’s a saint. I fell for him the day he came in here to buy his boss a pipe for his birthday.” She smiled. “My Pops smokes one, so I could make a few good recommendations. He didn’t want to go into Penrith because he doesn’t have a car.”
She’s quite smitten, thought Sally. “Has he met your parents?” The answer to that could indicate how serious the relationship really was.
“Two dinners. Pops was impressed, and Mum, who’s so protective of me and my little sister, told me he was a keeper.”
Would they still feel that way if they saw that video? “We might want to talk to your parents. Would that be possible?”
“I suppose. I don’t want them to think he’s in trouble with the law, though.”
“We’ll be clear about that and just say he’s missing, which he is, and we’re worried about him.”
“They will be too. So will my boss when I tell her why you’re here.”
“That’s all you can tell them for now. We’ll keep you informed.”
Sally didn’t want the worried young woman to know anything more. She was a complete innocent.
***
Earl had sent some SOCOs to the bedsit above the repair shop. After talking some more to Tim Dalton, Simon’s boss—he’d given the SOCOs a copy of the key—Earl climbed the stairs and stuck his head in the open door.
He saw that most of the SOCOs were still back at the farm. The newer building on the hill had been confirmed to be a drugs lab. Earl had informed the drugs unit but refrained from mentioning Simon’s history or the connection of the case to MI5 and NCA. That unit would be busy enough tracing that lab back to the two gangs because the ones on site hadn’t survived. Earl did want them all in jail, though.
Harry, the SOCOs’ leader, was in Simon’s bedsit, though, with one of his minions.
“Anything yet of note?” he said to the lead SOCO who waddled up to him looking like a NASA astronaut on a Mars mission. With the Yanks’ Artemis mission successes, one had to wonder when the first one might occur. Or would that jerk Elon Musk be successful with his own plans? Or the Chinese who still seemed to be chomping at the bit even though their economy was in a shambles now, something they caused themselves.
“Only that there seems to be a woman’s touch in play. Very neat and orderly. Two sets of fingerprints. Not much of anything else.”
“Easier to have a few trysts here with his girlfriend, I suppose, than at her parents’ house.”
“There’s a box of condoms. Is her name Kathy Kilborn?” Earl nodded. “That’s on several receipts we found in a bureau drawer. For the condoms and some takeaway, although there’s no rubbish corresponding to the latter. Clean place for a bachelor, I dare say.”
“A serious relationship then. Nothing wrong with that as long as the lad isn’t being abusive with the lass. No sign of drugs, weapons, or ammo?”
The SOCO waved a hand at the bedsit. “It seems there’s not enough space here to hide even that penknife. But we’ll keep looking, though.”
At that moment, Earl received a message. He checked his mobile and read it. Sally was meeting him at the parents’ house.
***
Kathy’s father was a handyman who worked in the area with the parents’ home as base; her mother was a seamstress who worked in the house. Sally could understand how Kathy had such a good disposition and seemed so nice because both parents were like that. She could see her Guv liked them too.
“Simon’s a good bloke,” Kevin Kilborn told them. “Fixed my truck for free, the lad did. Helped me load it for my next day’s work too, when he was here for dinner. Treats Kathy right too, he does.”
“Says we’re the family he never had,” Marsha Kilborn said with a smile.
“Marra, that lad has good son-in-law potential.” The father said that to Earl but flashed a wink at Sally afterward.
“Did he ever talk about his family?” Earl said, wondering if Simon had divulged anything about his troubles in Northumberland.
“Seems like he’d been in the foster system in Wales,” Kevin said. “Reading between the lines, as it were. That’s always tough. Young ones always do better in a loving family, even if it’s a poor one like ours.” He thought a moment, but Earl had learned patience. The man shook his head. “Can’t think of anything specific. Kept himself to himself a lot, so the missus and I think he’d just as soon forget about his early years.”
No surprise, thought Sally. She glanced at Earl to see if he wanted her to jump in. He nodded. “Do you think he’d be able to support your daughter?”
“Handy with his hands, he is,” Kevin said. “And he could help me a lot when he has time off at the repair shop, though I wouldn’t be surprised if his boss gives him more duties as well. He already closes up a lot. He’s a good worker, sergeant. So my answer is yes.” Martha nodded.
“Do you have any idea where we might find him?” Sally said.
Kevin glanced at this wife; she shook her head. “We’re worried. That repair shop’s in a seedy area. We’re afraid something has happened to that young man. He’s never disappeared before.”
“Couldn’t he just have taken some time off? Maybe he felt trapped in his relationship with Kathy?”
“Heavens no! They were already engaged in a sense,” Martha said. “But he couldn’t yet afford a ring. That’s why she invited him to dinner. He has plans, that young man. They revolved around Kathy, but he has ambition. Wants to open his own repair shop. Smart as a whip, he is. Not school smart, but practical.”
“Always knew what to do,” Kevin said. “Caught on to installing quarter-round right off, he did, just by watching me.”
“Excuse me?” Sally saw Earl smile.
“That’s tricky when going around corners,” Earl said.
“Aye, you have to miter it just right,” Kevin said. He sighed. “My old knees aren’t so good anymore, so he scooted along the floor and finished in a flash a task I had.”
“I gather those plans included marrying your daughter and staying in the area?” Earl said.
“Told us that,” Martha said. “We believed him. He wouldn’t just do a runner, not that lad.”
“Do you know about any pub brawls or other incidents? Did anyone have it in for him?”
Sally saw that Earl was dancing around the truth too.
“I don’t even think he drank all that much,” Kevin said. “We’d each do a pint, but that was about it. Not typical, I dare say—young lads these days like the drink too much—but I figured that maybe one or both of his birth parents could have been sots, and he hadn’t liked that. In any case, everyone he met seemed to like him. At least, that’s what Kathy has told us. She saw more of how he related to people, of course.” Kevin cleared his throat and Martha nodded. “He even had patience with toffs and their rich men’s cars at the repair shop. They can be…” He searched for the right words. “Rather demanding, let’s say. I see that in my own work as well. Bloke has to have patience when dealing with the rich snobs who think they’re better than common folk.”
***
The SOCOs found the gun. They’d spotted a loose ceiling tile above the bedsit’s counter and sink. Simon had expertly broken down the Chinese Uzi-copy.
Did that mean that Simon had done a runner despite what Kathy’s parents had said? Earl wouldn’t blame him if he had. Witness protection had failed to protect him. He was probably only alive because the two local gangs weren’t sure whether the Newcastle syndicate wanted him alive. But after Simon had killed eight gang members, they now probably wanted him dead no matter what that Newcastle gang wanted.
“Someone must know where he is if he stayed in the area, Guv,” Sally said. “He can’t be that familiar with the Lake District. There are places I don’t even know about, and I’ve been here a while, but how could he find them?”
“Aye, there be plenty of places out among our wonderful natural treasures. A fishing cabin on some secluded lake, a cave in the mountains. Who knows?”
“But he wouldn’t know about any of those. He had no time for tourism. He was working 24/7, it seems.”
Earl nodded. “I see your point.” He thought a moment. “There are two blokes who seem to have earned Simon’s trust, Tim Dalton, his boss at the repair shop, and Kevin Kilborn, Kathy’s father. He’s worked with both of them. Working men can become close mates.”
“Over pints at the pub,” Sally said with a smile. “As far as we know, Simon didn’t frequent them.”
“Um, no money, no time. But he’s still close to those men. Let’s visit Dalton first and then Kilborn, if only for lack of better ideas. The spooks at MI5 are depending on us.”
Sally saw his grimace. Her Guv didn’t like either MI5 or NCA. She was more ambivalent and liked Rick Barnes.
***
They found Tim Dalton hard at work on a van. He took a break to have a mash with them. They got no joy from him about where Simon might be hiding, but the mash came with biscuits that were good.
“Missus baked them just last night,” the big man had said, patting his large belly.
They moved on to find Kilborn in a similar situation. He dusted spackling dust from his overalls, shook hands, and then sat on a rock wall to answer their questions. Sally perched on the step up to his truck parked next to the wall, and Earl stood on either side.
“’Ave no idea where that lad might have gone, like I said before. ‘Tis very strange. Maybe the missus was a bit pushy ‘bout marriage. When we married, we lived in a bedsit smaller than Simon’s at first, poor as poor can be. Without the Council housing, we’d still be homeless. Them and the NHS, who saved Martha when she gave birth to Kathy, are services that will forever make me vote against the damned Tories. ‘Course the recent ones have carried on the Iron Lady’s policies without being half as smart as she were. We’d have lost World War Two if they’d been in charge instead of Winnie.”
Earl only half-listened to the workingman’s twisted version of English history that had a ring of truth to it. With only two dinners at the Kilborn house, could Kevin be that close to Simon? But factoring in the truck’s repair and that story about quarter-round, one had to consider that manly discussions might have occurred.
“Did you ever talk about the Lake District, Kevin? Things to do that don’t cost too much money?”
“Sure. I go fishing from time to time. We talked about that. Man talk. Women are generally bored with fishing.”
Bingo, thought Earl.
***
What was the Yanks’ adage about failures? thought Earl. Something related to their version of cricket. The answer came to him after they failed to find Simon at the first two fishing spots Kevin had recommended to the lad. Three strikes and you’re out! Earl turned to face the handyman in the backseat of the station’s pool car.
“Those two spots were a bit questionable, to say the least.”
“Aye, but those twitchers’ blinds still make good spots to seek refuge when the cold winds come roaring down from the mountains. Beats being out on the lakes in a rowboat.”
“You couldn’t start a fire in them for a mash or fish fry. They’d catch fire with one spark. All dead, dry wood.”
“I always have a thermos and packs me catch in wet moss, Inspector. ‘Tis easier to clean the fish at home.”
Earl bet Martha liked that.
“Do you ever run into twitchers?” Sally said without taking her eyes off the narrow and muddy road they were now on that was worse than the first two.
“They’re more common than the birds themselves during summer months, but not where I fish. And those two are old. Next one’s a bit newer, but more distant. We’ll have more of a hike too, so you’ll need your wellies back on, sergeant.”
Earl and Kevin still had theirs, but Sally had removed hers to drive.
Kevin told Sally to pull over when the road widened a bit. “‘Tis a walk from here.”
“And quite a walk from Simon’s bedsit,” Earl said.
“‘Member that wee café we passed?”
Earl nodded. “Looked cozy and inviting. I think I stopped there once.”
“Marra, ‘tis that. ‘Ave the best bacon roll you’ll ever taste. We can hit it on the way back to the village. Anyway, ‘tis a bus stop too. One can travel all the way to the North Sea if needs be.”
Northumberland, thought Earl. Simon wouldn’t have gone there even if he had the money for a ticket.
They followed Kevin to a smaller lake and then around it. Sally and Earl stopped when the handyman did. He cupped his hands around his mouth to create a megaphone as he’d done at the first two stops.
“Simon, me lad, are you somewhere about? It’s Kevin. Are you hidin’ here? Kathy’s worried, lad. We’re all worried.”
“Tell him Tim’s worried too,” Sally said in a whisper.
“Your boss is worried too, lad. What’s going on?”
They saw the young man rise from the reeds at the lake’s edge about fifty yards away.
“Who’s that with you, Kevin?”
Earl demurred, not knowing how Simon would react to Sally and his presence. Kevin solved the problem.
“They be two nice coppers. Martha and me called them for Kathy. They’ve been helping us.”
“Go away, sir. Go away, all of you. I’ll only put you all in danger.”
“Can’t stay here hiding forever, lad. What will you do when the snows come? Hereabouts isn’t like your warm Wales. Look, you don’t have to marry Kathy, if that be what’s worrin’ you.”
“I love Kathy, Mr. Kilborn, but I don’t want her to get killed. I don’t want anyone to get killed ‘cept me. I deserve it. None of you do.”
“I know what you’re scared of, Simon,” Earl said, mimicking Kevin’s megaphone. “We will keep everyone safe, don’t worry. I’m Detective Inspector Earl Wilson from Penrith District Police. No one will hurt you or those you love. I guarantee it.”
“I’m not convinced. Plods don’t even carry guns. You don’t know what you’re up against.”
“Yes we do. We saw all that went down at the farm on video. I’ll have an armed unit here shortly.”
Sally noted that Kevin was staring at Earl. “It’s okay, sir,” she whispered to him. “He’s still a good lad, but some bad people are after him.” The old man’s jaw dropped.
Earl continued the long-distance conversation. “Come back with us, Simon, back to our car. I’ll call for armed support now.”
“No way. Come here with Kevin and call them from here. But make sure you can trust who you call.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Kevin said.
Earl shrugged. “Simon’s directing this play.”
He moved off, and Sally and Kevin followed.
***
Kevin and Simon hugged like they were father and son. “You have to tell me about your troubles, lad. Should have done that earlier.”
Simon eyed Sally and Earl. They’d already introduced themselves and shown him their credentials—he seemed to warm more to Sally than Earl—but Earl wasn’t sure Simon trusted either one of them.
“I couldn’t, Mr. Kilborn. I made a promise to the government. It’s a long story. Did you make your call, Inspector?” Earl nodded. “Then we’ll wait.”
“The armed unit won’t be one of ours,” Earl said. “It will be an MI5 ARU.”
“Oh hell, more government types. Just what I need. They got me into this mess.”
“Somehow someone recognized you, lad. Perhaps someone from Newcastle negotiating with those at the farm?”
Simon nodded. “The locals wanted a twofer. Told me themselves. Business ties with Newcastle to distribute their product and the bounty on my head.” Simon noted Kevin’s expression. “Sorry, Kevin. My past is a lot messier than just being an orphan and foster child from Wales. I might as well tell you, seeing as how it will probably all come out: I was in witness protection because I testified against a Newcastle syndicate. Somehow that protection was blown. To survive, I had to kill eight local gang members who were going to turn me over to that Newcastle syndicate, if not kill me outright.”
“My Lord! I can’t believe it! You’re such a nice lad!”
“That he is, Kevin,” Sally said. The handyman probably felt betrayed. “It’s a complicated mess, but we have to end it now so you people can get on with your lives.”
“Does Kathy know all this?”
“No. I never told her or you and your wife, figuring that if you didn’t know, that would protect you. The last thing I wanted was for them to use you folks to get at me. That could get us all killed.”
Earl put a finger to his lips. “We have visitors,” he said in a whisper. “There’s someone out there besides us, and it’s too early for the ARU.”
***
Earl had a deja-vu moment peering between the tree trunks. The quartet had moved up the hill from the edge of the lake to the sparse forest, which reminded him of some of his Bosnian war experiences.
He’d called Rick Barnes again and learned the ARU was still ten minutes out. He’d told Rick where they now were hiding just above Simon’s original hideaway.
“They’ll have to neutralize the scrotes first. Our drugs unit from Penrith has the goods on them, so they’ll be in jail for a while.”
“NCA’s in on that now,” Rick said. “Stay down and wait for the ARU.”
For what? A quick death? Rick wasn’t on scene; neither was his ARU. Earl knew it was up to them. Gunfire interrupted his thoughts.
The gang—or gangs?—weren’t taking chances—fearing another encounter with Simon? They’d just destroyed the twitchers’ blind, probably thinking that he still had the Uzi copy at hand.
Both Sally and Kevin looked desperately at Earl. He smiled at Simon.
“Got any ideas, double-oh-seven?”
“What does that mean?” Simon whispered back. “You plods aren’t armed.”
Earl tapped his head. “But we’re smarter than those pillocks. You proved that back at the farm. Let’s spread out a bit and then follow my lead.”
Once sorted behind new trees each about fifteen yards apart, Earl used his hands to create his megaphone again. “We’ve got’em now!” he yelled. “They’ve told us where they are, the prats, shooting like that. They’re sitting ducks!”
“Shoot first and ask questions later,” Simon called out, joining in the charade.
Smart lad! Your turn, Kevin!
“I’ve got their leader in my sights, Commander!” Kevin called out.
Commander? Earl liked the sound of that. “Make sure they’re all covered,” he yelled.
By that time, all five scrotes were crouching and trying to determine where their adversaries were.
Coup de grace? thought Earl. “Twenty to five. They won’t have a chance. Fire on my count.”
With the perceived overwhelming force against them, the five bolted. Earl and the others waited a moment; then they heard gunfire followed by silence. Had the pillocks run into MI5’s ARU?
Kevin slapped Earl and Simon on their backs. “We’re quite the team! You too, sergeant.”
Earl dangled his cuffs in front of Simon. “I have to put these on you. Don’t worry. They won’t stay on for very long.”
***
Three weeks later, Sally and Earl had a visitor at the station. Rick Barnes entered Earl’s office once again and immediately sat down like he owned it, looking smug.
“You’re dying to tell us something,” Sally said.
“Three things. Because only MI5, NCA, and you two know about Simon’s past, he’ll be able to continue his life here.”
“What about the gangs?” Sally said.
“Those here are decimated and the leaders of that syndicate in Northumberland not already in jsil will soon be. The evidence in the drugs lab and testimony of some of those captured at the lake will sink the locals. The attempted murder of Simon Edgewood at the farm and the negotiations to move product to Newcastle will finish the job. They’ll all be in King Charlie’s boarding houses for quite a while. MI5 and NCA have been busy.” He paused as if he expected applause. Sally and Earl were smiling but remained silent. “Next piece of news: Kathy and Simon have set a wedding date. A small ceremony, honeymoon financed with our signing bonus, and I’m sure you two will be invited. Third point: In a few months, Simon will start his training. In three years, either MI5 or NCA will have an excellent, new agent. Probationary, of course.”
Earl winked at Sally and then stared down Rick who needed to be deflated a bit. “I might work on him, Agent Barnes, to convince him he’d be a lot happier having a more normal life here, just doing what he was doing. Let’s see which route the lad chooses.”
“He has an obligation.”
Earl thought. “Is it met if he joins the police force?”
Rick frowned. “It usually goes the other way. Police to MI5 or NCA.”
“There’s always a first time.”
Earl’s plan was a bit different, though. He would work on the lad just like he said, but encourage him to have a new life in the Lake District with his new bride. He knew Simon didn’t have to return the signing bonus. MI5 and NCA would probably just be giving the couple a wedding president!
***
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Around the world and to the stars! In libris libertas!
