Chapter Twenty Five

 

Gus McCreed had heard all about it from Ardez. The raid had been successful, but to sour the good news, Bendoo had escaped with the help of Rattigan’s woman. He had cursed Rattigan and the man who had been guarding Bendoo. He should have killed Bendoo when he found out that he was a traitor. Damn Rattigan for bringing that love crazy woman to the camp and that fool of a guard for leaving his post. Well, he had suffered for it, being shot up by Bendoo and the policeman who had rescued him. The guard was not expected to live. Two other fighters had gotten bullet wounds and were in hospital.

He had gotten to K and would be reactivating all the other agents in the force in a desperate attempt to find and kill Bendoo. He had also offered a reward of two hundred dollars to anyone who killed the traitor.

Grosset had also given Ardez a pocket book, which one of the men they had attacked, had dropped. They found an organization chart drawn in the book. From the chart he was able to deduce that the syndicate was headed by Gaskell Burke and included Ken Stone, Wally Judge, Benn Sanderson and Dickson Lunan. While he didn’t know Stone, Judge or Benn, he had heard about Burke and the troubles he had gotten into. Then he remembered, this was Danville’s brother. He told Ardez to get hold of him for questioning. He was still at a loss to know the relationship between King’s syndicate and Burke. So Dickson was back on the island, he would personally kill him when those guys caught up with him.

***

Neil McDonald reached his office at twelve o’clock that day. After the two meetings with the Minister and the catastrophe at Groves Valley, he was feeling none too pleased with himself. He had a light breakfast but news of the massacre at Groves Valley was still permeating the airwaves.

On his arrival, he ordered lunch from the cafeteria. He looked at the messages on his desk. Nothing of immediate importance was there. The lunch arrived and he had settled down to eat when there was a knock on his door. He went to open it and there were Bendoo and Woody.

“Bendoo!” he exclaimed, grabbing him by his shoulders. “We thought you were dead. You look thin.”

The two policemen found seats in their boss’ office.

“What happened to you, Bendoo? How come we didn’t hear from you for so long?”

“They found out about me, it’s Fred Billings, McCreed’s foster son. I met him up in Stony Hill once when I tried to part a fight between him and McCreed’s daughter. I don’t know how he remembered me, but it looks as if he did some good detective work. He even had a copy of our magazine with a profile about me. They caught me off guard; they put me in a one-room cell. It was last night Camilla, the woman, who lives with that African-American, Rattigan, helped me to escape.”

“I suppose you know what happened at Groves Valley, all shot to hell. They killed eight men down there. We know that it was those men from Wareika, who did it. Some of the survivors told us so.”

“I am wondering if any of the Wareikans got killed too. They must have been planning something big down there,” Wood remarked.

“Camilla said that they had two terrorist experts at the camp. They brought them down here to train men to attack and kill McCreed’s fighters,” Bendoo told them.

McDonald was eating, but he was listening intently.

“Bendoo, the Minister wants us to attack Wareika before the week is out. Is that possible?”

“Chief, if we want to capture those men, we have to surprise them. They knew about our two raids from the moment they were planned. We have traitors in the force and in high places too. Even now I have to be on my guard because McCreed will have alerted his spies about my escape.”

“We suspected that too, that’s why we sent you up there. Now, unless we get rid of those spies it doesn’t make sense to raid Wareika because they’ll be up there waiting on us.”

“Bendoo has found out about three of them already. Agent L, M and N are Superintendent Joe Bygrave, Sergeant Daphne Malabre and Inspector Gurney Bishop. Only K is giving us trouble, he’s the most important but we just can’t find out who he is.”

“We’re going to arrest them immediately,” McDonald said and picked up the phone. He spoke for a few minutes then hung up.

“Blasted traitors, you can bet that there are more of them out in the country turning a blind eye to McCreed’s crimes.”

“Some of those men up there are some good fighters, Chief. Rattigan is their intelligence chief. He’s a military expert who has fought all over the world. What I learned from him before I was captured, is probably more than I learned in the six months I spent at training school.”

“We got some information on this Rattigan. His real name is Curtis Coleman. All that you say about him is true. He’s a military expert, he was employed at one time or another to both the F.B.I and the C.I.A. He was suspected of gun running and was fired from the C.I.A. He has certainly built this Wareika gang into a real fighting force.”

“I feel that if we take about forty men we should be able to do it, Chief.”

“Forty men, why so many, Bendoo?” McDonald asked.

“There are at least thirty-five men at Wareika and about half a dozen women, who can fire a gun. And we know the type of weapons they have up there.”

McDonald had finished eating. He took out a cigarette and lit it. Bendoo and Wood accepted lighted cigarettes from him.

“It sounds good, Bendoo. I think we can make it. I’ll see the Commissioner and talk to him. He’s going to want a report so you can write one. I’ll come up to your apartment tonight to map out some strategies. It’s time we get rid of those criminals.”

Bendoo showed Mc Donald the AK-47. McDonald took it from him and looked at it.

“A Russian AK-47 rifle, one of the best in the world. Those guys are certainly well equipped.”

“I have seen them before. We’ve seized quite a few of them. We have to do more work to stop those marijuana flights from coming in,” he further observed.

“We can drop it off down at the station,” Wood remarked.

“Let them give you a receipt for it,” Mc Donald told them.

Bendoo nodded in acknowledgement of what his chief had just said.

“Sir, last night when we were escaping from Wareika we had a firefight with some of the guards. We believe that at least three men were shot,” Bendoo told him.

“From our reports only one man turned up at the hospital. He was badly shot up and is in intensive care. I don’t know what happened to the other two,” Mc Donald replied.

“We’ll soon find out everything. Use the back entrance both of you and stay out of the public view,” he warned, as both men prepared to leave.

***

“It’s Camilla and that idiot, Chester, who allowed Bendoo to escape,” McCreed stated. They were in the boardroom of Bonnie Joseph’s offices on Waterloo Road, that McCreed had commandeered for their night meeting.

“That woman knows she’s dead if I ever see her again,” Rattigan threatened.

“Boss, don’t think I’m disrespecting you, but from the time we found out that Bendoo was a traitor we should have killed him, because he’s very dangerous,” Grosset stated.

Premba nodded in agreement with Grosset.

“I see your point, Grosset, but we had to find out what he knows about our organization before we got rid of him.”

Premba took a sip of his stout.

“Have you told your people about him yet, boss?”

“I’ve told them about it and I’m going to give two hundred dollars to anyone of them who wipes him out.”

“I must find him and collect that money,” Grosset boasted.

“About when do you think they are going to move against us, boss?” Premba asked.

“Anytime now, Premba, once Bendoo gives them the information, they’re going to move against us. I’ve warned those guys in the country to cut and bag their weed and hide it before they move in on them.”

“He knows the people we are operating through in Montego Bay,”Ardez stated.

“We won’t be using them again. I’ve told them to deny any links to this organization,” Mc Creed told them.

Premba looked at his boss.

“We never found out about that weed that King’s people poached from us.”

Fred looked at him, but didn’t say anything. He was wondering if it was time to make his move, but Bendoo’s escape had complicated things.

“Burke can’t ship it because I don’t believe that he has the

contacts. Once we capture him, he’ll have to tell us where it is,” Ardez declared.

“If the police get him first he’s going to tell them where it is.

We might have to move from Wareika. If we don’t move we have to get more fighters,” Mc Creed stated.

“If the money is good we’ll get lots of men to join us,” Premba opined.

“All of you can spread the word that we are recruiting,” Mc Creed told them.

“You’re to be on full alert and spread the word about Bendoo and Camilla. I’ll be seeing you,” he said as he stepped out of the room ahead of the others.

***

Guy Kerr-Coombs, chief of military intelligence and Neil McDonald sat on the couch in the living room of Bendoo’s apartment. Kerr-Coombs was a heavy cigarette smoker while McDonald smoked a pipe and the occasional cigarette. Delbert Wood was also there.

Camilla was in the kitchen looking after some refreshments.

“How high in the force do you think agent K is, Bendoo?” McDonald asked.

“He could be a superintendent or a senior superintendent, but it must be somebody that senior to be feeding them that kind of information.”

“I’m sure he’s getting some good money to supply them with such high level information,” Kerr-Coombs stated.

“You know I don’t think McCreed has ever met K but he knows his rank and number,” Bendoo opined.

Camilla came out with hot cups of coffee plus some chicken sandwiches, which she passed around. She took a seat beside Bendoo as she had already been introduced to the two security officers.

“We have a big file on McCreed but nothing substantial that could stand up in court,” McDonald informed them.

Bendoo knew that his chief was telling the truth.

“He has gotten rid of all of his enemies. While I was at Wareika Hills, they shot Ruddy Brown and G.C. Cox and killed Lex Malcolm.”

“Brad Elliot and Jack Marriot are to be charged for the murder of that Rastaman on Old Hope Road. I’m sure we’ll find something to charge King with. Some of the bodies at Groves Velley were burnt beyond recognition,” Wood stated.

“We have some new developments. Our investigations revealed that it was that disbarred lawyer, Gaskell Burke, who was in charge of the place. We found a new grave down there. I’ve asked Bill Nugent to pull him in for questioning.”

They all looked at Bendoo.

“I’ve spoken to Woody already, Chief. I can’t believe what happened.”

“I’m still angry about the whole thing. I’ve told Guy about it.”

Guy Kerr-Coombs nodded and Bendoo continued.

“After the shooting of Shower, Niah and Gungoo, Brad and

Jack vanished. It seems that they were going to meet Burke and some more men when they were arrested by the police.”

“They forced King to bait up McCreed’s men,” Wood agreed. “It seems as if they were helping him to rebuild his syndicate and they fell out. He escaped and was going abroad when the police caught him at the airport.”

Bendoo drank some more of his drink.

“After the shooting up of the three men, Brad and Jack just disappeared with the weed. But after they were picked up I don’t know what happened to the weed. They couldn’t post bail and they refused to say what happened to it. I feel that Burke and his men took over. They have the weed, but never got to ship it and it might have been burnt up.”

Wood took a sip of his coffee. McDonald looked at Camilla.

“How did you reach Wareika, Camilla?”

She blushed and reddened. He was about to apologize when she spoke.

“Karl told me that it was an artist colony up there. It was only when I reached there that I realized I’d been tricked.”

McDonald thought over what she said.

“Your sister was out here looking for you. We never knew that you were still out here, until now. You can get in touch with her if you come up to headquarters tomorrow.”

“Oh God, I can’t believe that Liz was out here looking for me,” she burst out crying.

Bendoo put his arm around her shoulders.

“She went through a rough time with Rattigan. He destroyed all of her papers. That woman, whom we robbed when we raided Mister Simmonds’ home the first night, I joined the gang, is her sister.”

“What!” McDonald exclaimed. “I want her to return home with her sister as soon as she comes down here. It’ll be too risky for her to stay here and she has been through too much already.”

Bendoo knew that his boss was right. It would be best for Camilla to return home with her sister. He was sure that once her family knew that she was safe, they would want her to return home immediately.

“How long have you been out here, Camilla? How long did you intend to stay?” Mc Donald asked.

She seemed lost before replying.

“I think, I’ve lost tract of time, but it could be about six weeks. I only intended to spend two weeks.”

“What!” Mc Donald exclaimed. “You know you’ve overstayed your time on the island. I’ve surprised that your people aren’t raising a stink right now. You’ll have to bring a complaint against Rattigan. You can accuse him of kidnapping you. By the way, what’s your profession?”

“I teach kindergarten art for a living. Will I have trouble with the authorities?”

“Bendoo will explain everything to them. I think they will understand.”

She nodded and Bendoo touched her on her shoulder to reassure her.

“You think they might leave Wareika for somewhere else, and wait until things cool down?” Kerr-Coombs inquired.

“Only Wareika I can think about that would offer them that type of sanctuary,” Bendoo replied.

McDonald looked at him.

“We’re going to raid them sometime between now and Sunday. I would say Sunday night. We aim to capture all of them.”

“I think I’d better go to bed, I’m feeling a bit sleepy,” Camilla said, standing up.

Bendoo gestured at her, but McDonald interrupted.

“Sit down, Camilla, maybe you can be of some more help to us.”

She sat down.

“Well, okay if I can be of any more help to you, I’ll try.”

“I’m sure you can, Camilla,” McDonald assured her.

“What about weapons, Bendoo? Do you think we can match them?” Kerr-Coombs inquired.

Bendoo coughed.

“They have AK-47s, M-16s and at least one heavy machine gun up there. All of those guns were brought in on marijuana flights. Most of their ammunition are stored in their armory. We must capture it as one of our first objectives.”

“Some of the guns they were firing at us with, were heavy caliber weapons,” Wood speculated.

“I took away Karl’s gun’s when I was leaving Wareika, Bendoo told me that he gave it in at your headquarters,”Camilla told them.

Bendoo looked at her.

“It’s one of those AK-47 rifles.”

“What! A Russian AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, one of the best in the world. Those guys are certainly well equipped,” Kerr-Coombs remarked.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen one, but I’ve read about it. We have to do something about those guys bringing them in when they come for the weed,”Mc Donald told them.

“Most of the ammunition comes in from the States, but I’m sure that some of it comes from Colombia too,” Bendoo stated.

“I think that we should crack down on all of his locations simultaneously. We’ll be raiding Wareika and the Factory first and then head for McCreed,” McDonald told them.

Those in the room nodded their heads in quiet agreement with this plan.

“Bendoo, tell us some more about the Factory. What purpose does it serve?” Kerr-Coombs asked.

“That’s where most of their vehicles are serviced. The work they do there is a camouflage. That’s where the growers from out in the country come when they want to see Ardez or to talk to McCreed. Some of the workers sleep on the compound, but none of them are fighters.”

“Will they fight if we raid them?” Kerr-Coombs asked.

“They get training from Rattigan, even their growers out in the country get training too. Dangler is in charge of operations there.”

They all knew or had heard about Aston ‘Dangler’ Douglas. Originally a political warlord for a very important politician, Dangler had migrated to the U.S.A for a couple of years before returning home to work at McGrath’s garage.

McDonald saw a worried look on Wood’s face.

“We can match them with firepower, Delbert, don’t worry,” he reassured him.

“Secrecy and surprise will have to be our main weapons if we want to beat them,” Bendoo interjected.

Camilla tried to stifle a yawn.

“I think I’ll turn in now, Bendoo,” she said getting up.

“Good night, gentlemen.”

They all waved her good night.

The Deputy Commissioner looked at Bendoo.

“Do you think we can trust her?” he asked.

Bendoo looked down the passage.

“Yes, Chief, she begged me a couple of times to help her escape. Every time I had to refuse, but it was she who helped me in the end. So I don’t think we have anything to fear from her.”

“You’d better let her stay inside until her sister comes for her. As a matter of fact, we’ll have to see if we can find any safer place to put her seeing that you will be away for a few days.”

Bendoo nodded in acknowledgement of what his chief had just said.

“As far as the mission goes, we’re taking men, who can fight and whom we can trust,” McDonald stated.

“I have some men in mind,” Kerr-Coombs said. “They’re good and they have combat experience. None of them has ever been to Wareika though.”

“As far as the camp is concerned, we’re going to have a complete blackout about it,” Kerr-Coombs continued.

“As a matter of fact, we aren’t documenting anything about this mission until it’s over,” McDonald stated.

Wood lit a cigarette, drew on it, then exhaled some of the smoke.

“You look sleepy, Delbert,” Bendoo remarked.

“No, I’m just dying for everything to be over.”

McDonald looked at him.

“It’s going to be over before you know it, Delbert. Our camp will be down in St. Catherine at Harkers Ridge. It’s about twenty miles from here. The place is nice, with plenty of fresh air. The camp is going to be near a river and far from the main road. The terrain resembles Wareika, so we’re going to use it to do most of our training.”

“What about target practice, Chief? Do we have enough space for that?” Bendoo asked.

“Yes, I’ve camped down there before, we can set up our shooting range on the river bank. The water is clear and clean,” McDonald answered.

Guy Kerr-Coombs couldn’t suppress a yawn.

McDonald looked at him.

“It seems as if we have exhausted our stay here Bendoo, so we’re going to leave now.”

“Bendoo, meet us at the top of your road,” McDonald instructed, as all three men filed out of the room.

Bendoo followed them to the door and shook their hands before they departed. When he returned and looked at his watch, it was a quarter to one.

He took a bath and smoked a cigarette before going to bed.