Five Days

By Gerald Rolf

This story takes place in Dublin, Ireland where the culture, business practices, government and banking ethics of 2003 through 2008 could well have allowed this fictional tale to be a reality. We will never know.
April, 2007. Peter and Liam Higgins along with their wives have made four decisions. First, they have acquired all the detailed family information they need. Two, their procedures are simple and low risk.
Three, they have acquired all necessary identifications with all equipment in place. Four, they will kidnap the children.
The three grandparents of the four children are wealthy and will have no problem wiring nine million Euros to a Swiss bank account for the childrens release. It is because most of the available millions have never been reported for tax that the families will not contact the police nor undertake any effort to identify the kidnappers. The children and their Nanny are comfortably housed in a warehouse with Five Days provisions. Kidnapped after school on a Friday their food runs out at noon Wednesday. The money must be deposited by Tuesday as the kidnappers want twenty-four hours before wiring the location of the children. It is up to the parents whether or not the children go hungry.
Their plan is successful with most of the money changed into stocks and United States T-bills. The parents get word of the childrens location by e-mail from Frankfort, Germany. One Higgins family heads for Spain, the other for the United States.
The greed that permeated Dublins elite has allowed the Higgins to commit the perfect crime. It is learned one of the grandparents, Seamus Mc Shane, has hired a London hit man to get back his share of the money and eliminate the threat of additional blackmail by the kidnappers. Knowing how Mc Shane would react a private detective, Robert Sullivan, has been hired by one of the families to try and identify the kidnappers and following learning of Mc Shanes action protect them from harm. It is up to Robert to locate Peter and Liam Higgins before the hit man does and make sure they are not harmed as that would trigger the familys tax frauds becoming public. Exposure of the incriminating evidence could ruin the three families. Criminal prosecutions would be the result. Will Robert Sullivan be successful?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: Feb 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781469151052

Gerald Rolf

Gerald Rolf grew up on U S Army posts, the son of an Army Officer. He attended Texas A&M University graduating with a BS degree in Geological Engineering and a MS degree in Geology. He worked as an exploration geologist for two major Oil Companies before becoming an Independent Consulting Geologist. Active in his profession, he served as President of the Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies representing twelve societies. He always had a love for writing and authored many geologic reports and field studies before retiring. His stories reflect imaginative situations or observations of current events and the reader will put the book down having experienced something new. Since 2003 he has been living with his family in Ireland.

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by Gerald Rolf.

ISBN:          Ebook                                      978-1-4691-5105-2

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was created in the United States of America.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

0-800-644-6988

www.xlibrispublishing.co.uk

[e-mail]

303415

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

CHAPTER ONE

Thursday April 24th, 2007

The two couples stood in the doorway of the storage room for the abandoned building. The room had five mattresses on the floor, a Porta Potty in one corner, two large coolers, pillows and blankets thrown on the mattresses, two large boxes of groceries, eight four liter bottles of water, a box of candy bars, two bags of crisps, a case of cokes, another of lemonade, five large battery flash lights, a box of books and children’s games, a wash basin with tooth brushes, hand towels and soap, a first aid box and two large Teddy bears. The location had been a truck storage area and warehouse site. It had been abandoned and unused for the past nine years. One of Dublin’s many real estate developers had bought it eight years ago for eighty-six thousand. It was now on his books at one million eight. Peter Higgins and his wife, Agnes went to their car while his brother, Liam and wife, Caroline climbed into theirs.

Peter hollered at Liam, You lock the gate and come to our place for supper and we can talk about tomorrow.

Peter and Liam grew up as dedicated computer nerds. They both graduated with honors at UCD in Management Information Systems. Peter was working for a consulting firm specializing in updating or developing state of the art operating systems for accounting and real estate firms. One of the accounting firms they had as clients was Frank Martin and Associates who had many developers and Government Agencies as their clients. Liam headed a team that was installing upgrading and a new tracking system regarding tax information for Irish firms and high income individuals. Information that should be filed with the Tax Office.

The Government had paid millions for a Tax Department computer data base marketed by a British firm. Liam had tweaked the system to make it more operator friendly for the few in the department that had the expertise and desire to do it right. At first it was a game for Liam to identify those that had fabricated their information with the help of very creative accounting by some of Dublin’s most highly regarded accounting firms including Frank Martin and Associates. He soon learned that high level tax department managers didn’t want to know or pursue certain firms and individuals. Invariably the suspects were those that were friends of the ruling political party. He started making his own file as a valuable personal information resource. The information he and Peter had put together could possibly bring down the Government along with law suits and calls for criminal prosecutions. They decided however to use it for themselves. They would not be making waves for others to go surfing.

Meg Ivers had been working as a nanny and household manager for the Kelly family for two years. She was married to Pat Ivers, head nurse for the oncology unit at Beaumont hospital. They had three grown children, two working in London as programmers for insurance companies. Their daughter, Beverly, worked as a bookkeeper for a Dublin clothing store and was pregnant. One of Meg’s duties was to ferry the Kelly children and two neighbor children, Pat Mc Shane and Emma Andrews to their private church primary school. She was due to pick them up at two thirty. Before she left for the school she had reviewed the cook’s weekend menus. Being Friday she was looking forward to the weekend. She and Pat were to spend the weekend with friends in Sligo. A week in the home of Sarah Kelly was always taxing but the money was good and she loved taking care of the children. Something Sarah was glad for her to do. Sarah Kelly was a completely spoiled child and her social standing and activities were paramount in her life. Having given the cook a few final instructions Meg headed for the Kelly family Lexus.

Liam Higgins and Caroline were parked near the exit of Claremont Park at Claremont road. Liam wore a Garda jacket and hat. As Meg approached the intersection Liam stepped into the street to stop Meg. That allowed Caroline to slip behind Meg’s car open the passenger door and take charge. Caroline held a gun pointed at Meg as Liam drove off.

Turn right and right again at Farney then go a few blocks pull over and park. We need to talk.

Meg did as she was told. What do you want from me?

We want your cooperation Meg. We will pick up the children and I will introduce myself as a relative. You and the children are to be held in comfortable conditions for a few days while the parents settle a financial demand that is due. No harm will come to anyone as the parents are well able to settle the demand. Holding you and the kids will speed things up. One thing though. If you attempt to sound the alarm that something is wrong we know where your daughter works and lives. We also know she is pregnant. You do not want to put her at risk. Let’s go get the children at St. Mary’s and then you are to drive north to Sean Moore and left at the roundabout cross the East Link Bridge to Wall right turn on Fairview Strand to Clontarf road and on to Howth. No questions please, now drive.

Meg drove to the school pick up area. The four children Teresa and Robert Kelly, Emma Andrews, and Patrick Mc Shane were waiting. One of the teachers ushered the children to the Lexus.

Hi Meg, hop in children and have a lovely weekend. See you Monday Meg. How is Beverly doing?

She is fine Mary, thanks for asking. Bye.

Who are you? Asked Teresa

Hi kids. I’m Sally an aunt of Patrick’s from London. We sailed here for a visit. Our boat is at the Howth harbor. Both Pat’s and Emma’s moms are on the boat and we are going to join them for burgers and chips while we sail around the bay for a bit. Have to stop and pick up a few supplies for the boat. Here are a few pictures of the boat to look at.

The kids were content to look at the photos and the bay waters that could be seen along Clontarf and Howth road. Liam would be at the gate to the abandoned warehouse site.

Meg at Howth and after we pass the church on the right you will see John standing by an open gate. It is a left turn on to the property and drive straight to the rear building. There is John just ahead.

John closed and locked the gate then followed the Lexus to the front of the small warehouse. Caroline and Meg stepped out of the car as John walked up.

Hi kids we need to pick up a few supplies why don’t you come with us to see some of the boat stuff.

The entrance to the building and the back room had been dressed up with used boat equipment lying around on the floor. John entered the room followed by Meg and the children. John quickly backed out as Caroline closed the door. They locked the door then placed the two heavy steel bars. There would be no chance of exiting the reinforced door. The screams and crying of the children was muffled. They could hear Meg calming them. Liam parked the Lexus behind the building. There was about twelve feet of brush between the back of the building and the eight foot fence thickly covered with briars, small trees, and vines. Liam covered the Lexus with a green canvas tarp. The two Dart train tracks were on the other side of the fence. The Lexus was not visible.

That went a lot easier than I thought it would Caroline. I was afraid I might have to force those kids into the room. All that boat junk we had put in the front must have kept them at ease. You ladies were right to insist on doing it

It was three thirty-five. They drove back to the Sandyford apartment to pick up their luggage and Agnes. Peter and Agnes were in an apartment in the same complex. Both apartments had paid up contracts that expired on June first. Peter would be driving back to Dublin after sending the e-mail to Gerald Kelly’s office from the library on the Maynooth University campus. It was four fifteen. He worn a wig, a university sweatshirt, and tinted glasses. The two couples would be leaving from Dun Laoghaire on the late evening ferry to Holyhead in the UK. They would not be returning to Ireland. Liam and Caroline would be going to Spain while Peter and Agnes would probably be living in America.

Sarah Kelly’s maid answered the phone. This is Barbara Andrews is Meg there? She hasn’t brought Emma home.

No miss Andrews, we thought she might be visiting with you or the Mc Shane’s. Miss Sarah is not here. I don’t know where she is. Have you tried the tennis club?

Gerard Kelly had returned from a late luncheon meeting with several stock clients regarding possibly joining in a property purchase for a new apartment complex walking distance from the Dart station in Wicklow. The demand for more convenient commuter availability to Dublin was a given. It would require assuming a portion of the thirty million property bank loan already negotiated. Gerard advised that they would have loan payment liability but the value of the property once built is estimated to be significantly greater than the loan amount. He was considering a commitment to a five percent interest, a slam-dunk deal. Gerard finished returning the several calls his secretary had taken while he was out of the office. He turned to his computer for any massages.

"Good Lord! This can’t be!"

His e-mail read, Dear Mr. Kelly, This is a demand for you, the Andrew’s, and the Mc Shane’s to organize the transfer of nine million Euros to a Zurich Swiss bank account as instructed below. We realize that these funds will for the most part be made available by the children’s grandparents. We are familiar enough with their finances to know covering the cost incurred should be readily available on short notice. It is Friday and the three families have the weekend to decide which assets to make available for bank loans on Monday morning. This is critical as the children and Meg Ivers have a five day supply of food and drink. They are fine, safe, and comfortable but we will not be available to free them. It is you who have to do that. Within twenty four hours after the monies are transferred you will be informed of their location. Wednesday noon will be the children’s last full meal so their well being and freedom is up to you. Any thought of trying to identify the children’s location or tract the monies will result in silence. Neither the Swiss bank nor our representative dealing with the bank has any knowledge of the children’s location or the reasons for the monies transfer. Meg and the children are aware that their grandparents will be freeing them in a few days. Any attempt to identify our group will result in a detailed file of certain offshore accounts and understated or hidden income sources of the three families to be delivered to several legal and news offices. Transparency can be harmful. In case you have doubts about Meg Ivers she was doing as instructed knowing that her daughter who is pregnant could suffer harm. This will be our only communication except for location notification. The ball is in your court.

Gerard made copies of the e-mail and left for home. He had phoned Michael Andrews and Sean Mc Shane to meet at his home, a problem had come up.

Barbara Andrews and Anne Mc Shane were at Sarah’s house. Gerard had phoned that Sarah was on her way home. The maid and cook were upset and confused as to what to do. They made a pot of tea. Gerard arrived. After closing the den door to the hall he read the e-mail to the Anne and Barbara. The mothers were beside themselves. Sarah walked in.

What’s going on Gerard? Why are Anne and Barbara here?

Sit down and read this, Gerard handed Sarah the e-mail.

Michael Andrews came in the room. Oh Michael Emma has been kidnapped and so has Pat, Teresa and Robert. We are asked to buy them back. They will be out of food on Wednesday. What do we do?

Michael was reading the e-mail Gerard handed him. Jesus! Five Days! Meg is with them, thank God for that!

Sarah got up and went for the phone. I’m phoning my father

"No you are not Sarah. Not until the three families have had time to think this through and agree what steps to take. Sit down while we wait for Sean. Barbara would you and Anne please go to the kitchen and organize some sandwiches and coffee.

Michael and Gerard huddled up at the desk. Gerard, I know my dad can probably raise a million or so against his business but Barbara’s family are school teachers so no real help there. I can probably raise a few hundred thousand. If the folks and I pledge our homes we can maybe get a bank loan of another half a mil but that’s about it.

Don’t worry Michael, I think these gangsters know where the real money is and that’s with Frank Martin and Sean and Anne’s folks. It is pretty obvious that our gangsters are a lot smarter and better educated than the idiot Tiger raiders we read about. One thing for sure we cannot even think about contacting the Garda or any other law enforcement outfit. I can sign for maybe ten percent share in a nine million note. We can do the numbers after Sean shows up.

I’m here what is going on?

Read this Sean then we will talk.

Barbara and Anne came in with a cart loaded with sandwiches and pots of tea and coffee. It was five-fifty.

Liam, Caroline, and Agnes had been having a sandwich and beer at the Smyth’s pub on Lower Georges Street in Dun Laoghaire. It was five-fifty and they awaited Peter’s arrival from Maynooth. He should show up by six-thirty. They were excited and confident that they were well on the way to a comfortable retirement and the wherewithal to develop their hobbies. They had a few hours before they could board the ferry. Their only decision at the moment was whether to eat in