E for Escalation – Azure Spark. Part 5
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[Background music at the end. This story will be posted in full after the Challenge for those of us that like to read everything in one complete telling,]
ESCALATION – Wednesday Early Morning
Entwined in each other’s embrace
starts a hectic day, equipping us with the energy to cope with the traumas dug
up at CID. Our Aberdaron assault case is bogged down with confused victims,
inflicting identities, and other cases taking precedence. Most are evaluated –
by money powers – as more ‘exigent’.
Results that use less resources. Austerity 101. Ffyc restraints. My case means my rules.
We have found no addresses in the
Nefyn area for the two men, and their occupations remain vague. Evidence is
elusive.
While Kama rides her Ducati motorbike into Porthmadog, I ride my Ninja to Caernarfon, heading for the address of Göteborg Electric Engineers.
The unit is on an industrial estate that exposes the decline
in UK industry. Rust and decay. Boarded up windows, chained gateways, abandoned
cars, and a few thriving businesses. GEE is not one of them.
The weeds cracking the concrete steps are the healthiest evidence
of life. Yet, the iron mesh gateway is wide open despite the other signs the
business is dead.
Heart sinking, tattoos jangling, I park the bike then try
the front entrance. Nothing – as expected.
I check the windows and side doors. Nothing. My heart ebbs.
I grit my teeth. Another dead end.
I walk back to my bike, intending to report in.
A delivery van pulls up by the unit, and the driver carries
a large box to the front door, then leaves. Does he know the unit is abandoned?
What were his instructions – if any?
I check the package, but there are no indications of what it
is. A 2x 4x 5 shipping box. The only clue are two labels. One shows the
sender’s address – GEE in Sweden, who must know their UK subsidiary’s correct
address. The second is a FRAGILE – FREIGHT label.
My tattoos warn me to leave so I drive to a position from where
I observe the building. Report in as I watch.
“This address for GEE is for an abandoned unit. But a
van has just made a delivery as if it will be collected. Number plate and
details memorized. I’ll wait and see. Smiles.”
Time drags with background traffic noise and seagulls. Beach
noises win. Visions of sand and beautiful shells.
My mobile rings. The PCSO on-duty at the hospital.
“We endeavoured to stop him, but Ellis Evans checked
himself out without giving us a clear idea of where to reach him. Vic Vaughn is
still here and making no sense. If he attempts to leave in similar
circumstances, I will attempt to dissuade him more effectively. I’m sorry I let
you down.”
“You didn’t. Nobody knew that he would do that. I’ll
make sure we locate him.”
“Diolch. I
believe that with your reputation.”
Ellis Evans – the man whose clothes I failed to check. My
stomach tenses – twists. Too late now. Forensics should have done their job
anyway.
I close my eyes. Another fail DI Ffion Baines will struggle
to explain to the Chief Constable.
The sound of a vehicle turning into the unit’s yard pulls me back to my stakeout. It’s a Skoda Octavia Estate 4 x 4 with GEE signage. The driver gets out and retrieves the package. She’s tall, elegant and athletic, 5’11” – fitting the exotic description the diving trainer gave our SWP colleague.
“Package retrieved. Following vehicle and suspect matching SWP description. Will send photo of licence plate. Track me please, cariad.”
The 4 x 4 is unaware of the tail and leads me to an
industrial park on the outskirts. Smarter, newer, flourishing businesses,
including the North Wales offices of GEE. Security is evident everywhere, from
CCTV to guards.
What is being protected? GEE hardly registered in our
checks. No alerts. No criminal records. No evidence of felonious intent. Who
are they?
F for Freight, Felony and Fragile. G for Göteborg. E for
Electronics and Ellis Evans. Plus, Escalation and Evasion. I for Identity and
Instructor. N for Nefyn and Nowhere.
FEIGN. Who is attempting to deceive us? Someone is playing
games and my tattoos say we are not the Home team nor is this Eirias Stadium.
[image error]Caernarfon, North Wales
For further details on this theme visit my Blogging from A to Z Theme Reveal, and on
the evolution of Sparkle Anwyl visit Snowdon Shadows.
Other A to Z Bloggers can be found via the Blogging from A to
Z website’s Master List –
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/2019/03/link-to-view-master-list-and.html
^*^
And now for something completely different.
“Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.”
William Congreve – The Mourning Bride
