Gerry Dawson, a balding middle-aged, anonymous looking and apparently innocuous civil servant has had a bad day. Beneath his calm exterior he is absolutely bristling with rage. The target had nearly been killed and then he had disappeared and there was no clue as to his whereabouts. An icy call a few minutes ago had made it clear that they did not approve of failures like that and he felt worried!
Earlier he had learnt that Martin Lever had been in a car smash the previous night; the vehicles had caught fire and the police and ambulance called. One man was dead, (possibly his contractor), and Lever in hospital. The police involvement would make things difficult. Now he had just heard that before they could get to him, Lever had disappeared from the hospital. It seemed he might have stolen a visitor’s car.
His PA knocked on the door and entered with a sheaf of papers and photos. Included are Images of a shadowy figure, (presumably Lever), outside the hospital. Pity that security staff were not looking at the monitors! He told Anne to find out where Naismith was and tell him to get in as soon as possible. In the meantime leave him and close the door. His demeanour made it clear that despite the hour she should stay until he said she could go.
He took a ‘‘‘phone out of his pocket and sent off a text message. Five minutes later and his ‘‘‘phone buzzed with the reply. He closed the Lever file he was reviewing, grabbed his jacket, and left.
Down stairs in the car park he got in to his car and drove out in to the evening gloom. It was raining, and the reflection of the street lights gleamed from the wet road surface. In 10 minutes he was down at the city wharf and in to an open space used as a car park. At this time of the day it was nearly empty with one car at the far end and another standing isolated in the centre.
He drove over to o ne end that overlooked where a lock linked the canal to the harbour, and got out. It had stopped raining and it felt fresh. He took a deep breath and looked at his watch, 10.30pm. As he looked up a set of headlights entered the other end of the car park and moved towards him, pulling up next to his car. He got in to the passenger seat. The car was full of cigarette smoke and he coughed violently before getting the window open and cursing the driver
The driver looked like your typical 1950's East End villain stereotype. Late forties early fifties, thin faced and balding with his remaining hair left long and plastered across to conceal it, oversize jacket hanging on a spare frame, and a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth. Could have been one of the Krays! “For gods sake put that out!” and, “what the hell went wrong Reg,” said Dawson in a raised voice. “This was a simple straight forward job. You were to hurt him a little as a warning, not try and kill him!”
Reg wound down his window and threw his cigarette out. “Don't know what happened Guv. Haven't got to the bottom of it yet.”
“Well you need to get a grip on this. First you need to find him and keep track of him and it needs to happen quickly! If we find him first I will let you know but keep me updated. Don't touch him unless I say so.”
“OK Guv.”
With that, Dawson got out of the car slamming the door, and drove off in his own car, tyres screeching.
Back at the office, Naismith had returned as ordered and sat talking to Anne while waiting for Dawson to return. “Watch out, he is in one hell of a mood” said Anne. “Something seems to have gone wrong. After he had a call this evening I thought he was going to implode! I have never seen him so angry. He thinks he hides it, but after 5 years I know all the signs, and he was looking as mean as I have ever seen him.”
“He's always mean and nasty,” said Naismith. I don't know how you could have stayed with him so long, and working these hours!”
“Money's good!” she replied.
At that point Dawson walked in and called Naismith to follow him in to his office and shut the door. He threw a set of photo's and background notes on to the desk in front of Naismith and said. “Drop everything else. Whatever it takes we have to find this man and quickly, so tell your team no more lazing around and get to work. When you've found him, don't go near him, just set up a tail and let me know immediately.” Dawson filled in the details of the last known location of Martin Lever and without another glance started working on his computer. Naismith picked up the papers and left, shrugging his shoulders as he passed Anne.