Storm is Coming

By M.W. Fletcher

The brutal killing of a British Bobby on the streets of London on New Year’s Day by a Jamaican Yardie is further complicated when it becomes known who his older brother is. The culprit goes to ground as the Police scour the streets of Brixton for him; he finally escapes the country to head back to Jamaica, before the British Police obtain an extradition order. The brother of the murdered police officer Chief Superintendent Attlee takes it on himself to go and catch the killer of his brother and whilst on the island is captured by a serious Jamaican posse leader and friend of his brothers killer. Whilst the Jamaican authorities try their best to find the British senior Police officer. The OSC return from a mission on the African continent to the news that the Police killer and Chief Superintendent Attlee are now in Cuba. With the British Police unable to now, intervene into a non-extradition country. Max had previously made a promise to chief superintendent Attlee after he saved his life and wants to go into Cuba. The Prime Minister eventually lets the OSC loose. The OSC are Britain’s first and last line of offence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AG Books
• Release date: May 25, 2016
• ISBN: 9781785385094

Book preview

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1

Railton road

Brixton

London SE24 0LT

UK

Lat = 51 degrees, 27.5 minutes North

Long = 0 degrees 6.5 minutes West

Monday

1st January 1990

Twenty-one eighteen hours GMT

His solitary figure silhouetted from the streetlights showed the distinct outline of the British bobby, the British Police uniform is deliberately unthreatening originally derived to clearly distinguish them from military enforcers, which had been the system of policing seen before the 1820’s.

The officer was wearing the traditional custodian helmet the usual name given to the helmet worn by male police officers in England and Wales and certain other places around the world. It is synonymous with the bobby on the beat image.

The original design was based on the Victorian British Army Home Service helmet, which itself was based on the Prussian helmet.

The London Metropolitan Police first adopted it in 1863 to replace the stovepipe top hat worn since 1829.

The day had been characteristically calm for a New Years day as the lone figure of PC LB-439 Tony Attlee walked along Railton road in the dark, it had been a brisk cold day with temperatures below freezing, he was dressed in his three quarter length overcoat, and his black leather gloves covered his hands.

His only personal protection was in the form of a 14 inch long traditional wooden truncheon carried within his right pocket of his black trousers that had a sewn in truncheon pocket.

His communication was via a personal radio system (PR) linking him directly to Brixton Police station.

He had been on the ‘L’ division since finishing his training at Hendon three years ago.

Now aged twenty-nine he had previously been a teacher of maths in a local primary school and had eventually left, when he felt he was becoming impotent at his career level.

Along with his shift, they had pulled the 2pm to 10pm shift for this New Years day Bank Holiday and twenty minutes ago, he had liaised with his patrol sergeant who had pulled up in a patrol car and given him ten minutes in the warmth of the vehicle.

His PR suddenly came to life, Lima Bravo to 439 we have a report of a disturbance at number fifty-nine Railton road, neighbours reporting shouting and other noises from within the premises, take a look over?

Received Lime Bravo, thought it was too good to be true, I am a few minutes away, 439 out.

He quickened his pace down to the address and as he neared the property he began hearing raised voices from within followed by the distinct sound of several gunshots.

He reached for his PR and spoke into it, Lima Bravo from 439, I have just heard several gunshots fired from the premises of fifty-nine, request back up over.

Roger that 439, do not go in, back up is on its way, over.

Will do standing by for back up, 439 out!

The sergeant in the control room at Brixton police station immediately placed the call, Lime Bravo to all available units, we have a possible shooting at 59 Railton road, officer on scene requires assistance, over.

The calls being put out for any officer requesting assistance becomes an immediate priority with a number of units replying and they were now making their way to the scene.

The sergeant then flicked a switch on his console and spoke into his Comms, Lima Bravo to MP over.

Back at New Scotland Yard’s information room one of the operators picked up the radio call, MP to Lima Bravo go ahead over.

The generic call sign for New Scotland Yard is MP for the Metropolitan Police Information room.

MP we have a report from one of our officers attending a disturbance call of gunshots being fired from number 59 Railton road, requesting additional assistance over!

Standby Lima Bravo! MP to Alpha-1 location over?

Alpha-1 is one of the Mets Armed Response Vehicles (ARV) and is crewed by three officers, the driver whose job is to get them as quickly and as safely to the incident scene, another in charge of communications and the third the observer whom plans the best route to the incident scene all are firearms trained.

The ARV crew were each armed with Glock 17 point 9mm pistols and one had a Remington pump action shotgun.

The ARV responded with Alpha-1 to MP currently eastbound on the A3 and approaching Clapham Common, over.

Alpha-1 proceed, immediately to 59 Railton Road, Brixton the officer on scene is reporting gunshots fired, and division is requesting assistance, over.

The reply back was immediate and positive, Alpha-1 on route, ETA 60 seconds, out.

Police constables Tony Wadsworth and Gerry Thaxton who were part of the Metropolitan Polices traffic OCU (operational command unit), were patrolling in their traffic patrol car travelling along the A-205 Dulwich Common towards Dulwich West, Tony Wadsworth was driving.

Their base location was out of the Southwest traffic garage in Hampton; their area of patrol was the Southwest area of London, although today being the bank holiday they were covering part of the southeastern side, their call sign Victor Tango-3.

They had also picked up the shout from MP and Gerry spoke into their radio, MP from Victor Tango-3 we are less than sixty seconds away would you like us to assist, over?

Victor Tango-3, that’s affirmative, MP out.

Gerry activated the blues and two’s and Tony accelerated the Ford Sierra V6 along the reasonably quiet road the V6 two point three engine came alive and the vehicle devoured the asphalt road surface below it.

Back in Railton Road Pc Attlee had stood near to the house and had heard a second set of gunshots; two men running out of the door into the street closely followed this a few moments later, both were Rastafarians with their dreadlocks dangling beneath their green, gold, red and black Rasta caps.

Pc Attlee immediately recognised the one, as he moved forward he spoke into his PR, two men are leaving the house... Before he could finish the man he recognised raised a handgun weapon, aimed it at him and fired two shots at him.

Both shots struck his chest area the kinetic energy within them propelling him backwards and onto the ground.

The one assailant shouted at his colleague, Wah shoot Di bah-bee-lon mon?

The man with the gun in his hand replied, Im knows I an’ I, now run dread! Run!

The sounds of the police sirens were now filling the air as both the men then sprinted from the scene.

This brutal killing of a British Police officer would eventually lead to Max Storm the operational leader of the OSC making good on his word when a friend calls in a favour!

2

Outside

59 Railton road

Brixton

London SE24

Lat = 51 degrees, 27.5 minutes North

Long = 0 degrees 6.5 minutes West

Monday

1st January 1990 (same day)

Twenty-one thirty three hours GMT

Alpha-1 came voluble into a deserted Railton road from the south end the headlights quickly picking up a figure lying prone on the nearside pavement a hundred yards down the road.

The driver brought the vehicle to a screeching halt and the three-man crew quickly ejected from the vehicle, just as Victor Tango-3 emerged into the road from the northern end.

One of Alpha-1’s crew knelt down alongside their fallen comrade and quickly felt for a pulse on the neck, it was just barely registering.

He spoke into his PR, Alpha-1 to MP, we have an officer down, believed gunshot wounds, request immediate Ambulance to and additional assistance to the scene, over!

The controller at MP replied, Ambulance on route Alpha-1, less than five minutes, out.

MP to all available units, we have an officer down in Railton Road Brixton, please respond!

In the next thirty seconds, numerous units responded to the call, the call that all Police officers dreaded hearing on the radio; it meant one of their own was down!

Throughout this time, both the remaining two men from Alpha-1 had entered number 59 and one of them came out and said to his colleague still attending to Pc Attlee, we have two dead bodies inside, how is he?

His pulse is very faint, ambulance is on route.

Victor Tango-3 was now pulling up on the scene along with two more divisional vehicles.

The Alpha-1 officer whom had just come out of the house made a call on his PR, MP from Alpha-1, we have two dead bodies in number 59, both with five bullet wounds. Four to the chest and one to the head, looks like a Yardie style killing ritual and we have no suspects, request additional units to set up a perimeter and enable search protocols, over.

Copy that Alpha-1 I have a senior officer on route to take charge ETA ten minutes how is the downed officer over?

Not looking good at the moment he has a very faint pulse, over.

Received that Alpha-1, we are already setting up a half-mile secure zone with additional units, around your location as soon as you have any further information, inform us over.

Will do MP, Alpha-1 out!

Ninety seconds later the Ambulance, entered Railton road sirens blaring and blue lights flashing as it pulled up alongside the fallen officer the two crew a female and male paramedics quickly exited the vehicle and began to work on the Pc Attlee.

Fifteen minutes later, they had stabilised him and were placing him into the ambulance, less than a minute later they were heading off with Victor Tango-3 providing the Police escort to the nearby University Hospital Lewisham, PC Gerry Thaxton from Victor Tango-3 now in the back of the ambulance with the wounded PC Attlee.

Superintendent Steve Rowson was now at the scene and quickly began to coordinate the search for the suspects, he stood at six-foot two inches with a stocky frame and buzz- cut hairstyle.

He had been inside the house, and quickly noted that the two dead men were of Jamaican origin and looking at their appearance, their long dreadlock hair beneath their Rasta caps and other items in the house it was apparent they were probably from a local Yardie group.

His working knowledge of the Yardie gangs was that they had began to proliferate in the London area in the early 1980’s bringing drugs and gun related crimes to the City.

These had the effect of irreparably tarnishing the faultless image of the vast majority of Jamaicans in Britain.

They had taken on many aspects of the Rastafarian movement, the hair grown into dreadlocks the symbol of the mane of the Lion of Judah.

Their crocheted Rasta caps often having four colours, the red symbolising the bloodshed of the African people, the yellow for the sunshine of the land, the green for the lush greenery of the African continent and the black for the African people.

He spoke into his PR, MP this is Superintendent Rowson put me on talk through over.

Back at New Scotland’s Yards information room Inspector Steve Ball was now in charge and responded to the superintendent’s request by flicking a switch on his console allowing him to break into any existing Comms traffic.

MP to all units, standby for an update from Superintendent Rowson at the Railton road shootings. Superintendent Rowson you are clear to broadcast, over.

Superintendent Rowson to all units, our suspect is probably of West Indian origin and probably Yardie’s; stop all vehicles and persons on foot, which match this description, use caution as they may be armed. I will be dispatching additional armed units from PT-17 to assist, out!

In 1987, the Mets firearms unit D11 was renamed as PT17, due to it now being a part of Personnel and Training. The armed officers of PT17 were issued with Browning self-loading pistols, and Smith & Wesson Model 28 revolvers, along with training on the Heckler & Koch 93.

Superintendent Rowson was well aware of whom the wounded Police officer was related too and knew he would have to make a visit, but before that he re-contacted New Scotland Yard, Superintendent Rowson to MP, request SOCO and photographer to the scene, also have CID liaise with me here, over.

Inspector Ball replied, Will do sir, MP out.

3

44 Broadwood Avenue

Ruislip

Hillingdon

London HA4

Lat = 51 degrees, 35.0 minutes North

Long = 0 degrees, 25.4 minutes West

Monday 1st January 1990 (same day)

Twenty-two forty one hours GMT

Once the CID had arrived Superintendent Rowson had briefed them and left them in charge, up until that time no suspects had been apprehended.

His driver had taken him from the scene out to Ruislip on the northwest side of London, the man he was going to see was an old friend and they had both graduated from Hendon Police College nearly eighteen years ago.

Chief Superintendent Stanley Attlee was head of the Special Operations Room in Lambeth, the same division his brother had just been gunned down on.

The driver pulled the unmarked car up on the spacious carriage driveway with space for at least five cars and killed the engine before alighting to the rear nearside door to let superintendent Rowson out.

Rowson walked to the hardwood front door noting the lights were on downstairs, he rang the doorbell and waited a few moments and then observed the outline through the frosted glass door window of a figure approaching.

The door opened and he was looking at Chief superintendent Attlee who said to him well good evening Steve and season’s greetings, what brings you out to the sticks?

Seasons greeting to you Stan, may I come in Stan, I have some news you need to hear?

But of course forgive my manners, please come in Steve.

Both men walked through the spacious and welcoming reception hallway that has doors into all of the ground floor rooms.

Steve Rowson followed as they turned right into the lounge with a front aspect Bay window and double doors to the rear opening into the bar, the superintendent noted the beautiful beamed ceilings with a picture rail and a feature fireplace that dominated the room as a stunning centrepiece, throwing out its heat.

He followed Stan through the lounge that led into the bar area that was naturally lit with two side aspect windows and two to the rear aspect as well as a large glass patio style door that opened directly out into the private rear garden.

Stan turned and said, Can I get you a tipple Steve?

I think it would be wise to hear what I have to say first Stan!

Stan Attlee could see that his friend was struggling to keep his composure and said, Okay Steve, I am all ears.

Stan I am sorry that I have to bring you this news, but your brother Tony was shot less than a couple of hours ago on Railton road.

Stan Attlee stepped back and sat down on one of the bar stools, obviously stunned by this news he sat there for several seconds before he said, is he still alive?

Yes! He took two bullets to his chest and is now at University Hospital Lewisham, they are attempting to stabilise him before they operate on him and I have to say his chances are slim.

I need to get there now Steve!

"No problem, my driver is outside, we will take you there now and on route I will fill you in on what happened.

Just give me five minutes to get changed Steve.

I will wait outside in the car for you and contact the information room at the Yard for an update.

Chief Superintendent Attlee left the room and went upstairs, He was six foot four inches tall, with broad shoulders and dark brown hair that was swept back and age 38yrs.

He had been born in Romford a large suburban town in northeast London.

Having completed his basic 16 weeks training at Hendon he had been posted to Bow street police station on the C division.

He had been involved in many aspects of Police work and had recently been promoted from Superintendent to chief superintendent heading up the Special Operations Room in Lambeth. Ten minutes later, he was being driven to the hospital.

Steve Rowson had spoken with the information room for any updates, there had been no further information on any suspects and the wounded Pc Attlee was now undergoing critical surgery to save his life.

4

‘ICIS’

Saltbox Hill

Biggin Hill

Kent

Lat = 51 degrees, 19.7 minutes North

Long = 0 degrees, 1.2 minutes East

Monday

1st January 1990 (same day)

Twenty-two fifty eight hours GMT

Vince Edwards was in the Intel room a large cylindrical area, standing beneath a whole skylight roofing system, he had just listened to GAIL’s report on a shooting in Brixton, normally this type of incident would not require the attention of ICIS, but the name of the shot police officer had made it through GAIL’s filter systems.

‘ICIS’ Intelligence Collating Information Services was located in what appeared from the outside to be a disused gasholder station off Saltbox Hill near Biggin Hill.

When Major Strayker set up the OSC unit, he found this place and together with Vince Edwards created a high tech information gathering and analysis unit, all under the guise of a disused gas holding station.

The Intel room was equipped with a wide range of computers and other hi-tech electronic equipment.

Vince Edwards had collar length silver grey hair, wore glasses and was wearing his usual tweed style suit, he looked like a science teacher from the late fifties, yet he was only thirty-two years of age. Vince has a British Mensa I.Q of 191.

He said to GAIL, I think I will give the Major a ring he should be made aware of this news.

GAIL replied, I will make the connection for you now Vince.

GAIL was a virtual three-dimensional beautiful female head hologram contained within a tube of vertical light similar to a fluorescent tube, but this one had a diameter of six feet.

GAIL or to give her the full title was the OSC’s Global Analysis Information Link, that can tap into and access any computer system in the world; she does this covertly without the host knowing anything about it, FBI CIA, Israeli, French and many more intelligence networks.

She is also linked into all the CCTV systems at all the world’s major airports, shipping ports, and other transportation areas, together with access to British immigration and passport services.

GAIL also provided the link to the OSC’s designated satellite code name eagle eye.

5

Major General

Mick Strayker’s Home

Wells road

Bromley

Kent.

Lat = 51 degrees, 24.3 minutes North

Long = 0 degrees, 3.1 minutes East

Monday

1st January 1990 (same day)

Twenty-three eleven hours GMT

Major Strayker’s home was a five bedroom, two-bathroom period home set in stunning grounds of over one acre with a swimming pool and tennis court.

His Butler Bentley had answered the call and had transferred it through to Major Strayker whom as in the spacious lounge having a tipple of his favourite thirty-year old Glenfiddich Single malt Scotch.

Mick Strayker had joined the army as a boy soldier at the age of sixteen and had come through the ranks, he was now Forty-six years of age.

He had never married although he had, had his fair share of women.

Strayker was a good six-foot three inches tall with wide shoulders and a close-cropped haircut, which was now showing signs of greying around the sides.

He was the youngest Major General in the British army; and was a natural soldier having seen service during the Mau-Mau uprising in 1960, the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1963, Aden 1965, several tours in Northern Ireland and the Falklands in 1982 along with postings in Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Belize and Brunei.

He was a keen collector of antique handguns and had amassed some very rare pistols.

Strayker was the head of the Operational Strike Command (OSC) and his operational code name was Eagle 2, he picked the phone up, listened to his Butler, and then said, Put him through Bentley!

Good evening Vince and a happy new year, looking at the time I presume this is important?

Vince said, happy new year to you too sir, I thought you should be made aware of an incident in Brixton a couple of hours ago.

Strayker said, Okay Vince I am listening.

Vince briefed the Major of the events in Railton Road Brixton along with the current update on the wounded officer Pc Attlee.

Strayker had listened and appreciated the phone call from Vince, when Vince had finished he said, Keep me in the loop on this one Vince and thank you for the call.

Vince said, Should we inform Max, sir?

Strayker quickly rechecked his