In The Deep: Foxy Fowler, #1

By Lee Richards

This book is the first in a series. It tells the story of 'Foxy Fowler', a top London detective.

He knows what it will take to succeed and rise to the top.

He has solved many serious crimes on the streets of London's Underworld.

After being newly promoted, D.C Fowler feels in the deep as he has to stop a sick, brutal and evil killer. This maniac is on the loose and will strike again. He has to be apprehended at all costs.

Author Lee Richards takes you on a suspense-filled journey full of page-turning shocks and thrills.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Richards
• Release date: Jul 23, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393493181

Lee Richards

Lee Richards is 55 years old. He spent his career in sales and marketing and has taken early retirement. A reading fan from the age of 12, when his mother presented him with the full collection of Agatha Christie novels. That was it. He was hooked, a fan of the written word for life. In the main, his interests in reading are within the crime, thriller, action and suspense genres. Lee was born and bred in the East End of London. After traveling the world with his career he has now settled in the English countryside with his wife and two dogs. To my American readers as I am English, some of the language used is in my native tongue. I apologize in advance if this causes some confusion, I hope you understand. Thank you Email  [e-mail]

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Lawrence Fowler sat on the edge of his bed excited and full of anticipation. It was Christmas Eve 1943 and Lawrence was seven years old. He could not wait until his Mum and Dad checked that Father Christmas had been. His Father made his way downstairs and then shouted up He's been! Come on everybody let's see what Santa has left for you!.

Lawrence and his younger sister ran downstairs to join their parents. Their Father had joined the Army to fight in World War II in October 1939. He was shot and lost half his leg in 1941 and was given an honourable discharge from the Army, that is why he was home when the war was reaching its climax. In the eyes of all around him, he was a hero, and he was, no question.

Lawrence and his younger sister Tracey entered the room and gasped at the enormous amount of presents Father Christmas had left them. Lawrence had asked for a policeman's hat and uniform. The reason for this was that his Great-Grandfather was a police officer in the City of London. His Grandfather was a police officer in London's Metropolitan police force. The family stories always told to him, fuelled his interest in joining and becoming a police officer. He was obsessed on joining the police when he was grown up.

Because of his Father's injuries suffered during World War II, he could not accede to the police. Secretly this bothered Jack, but he kept it all bottled up. He had wanted to carry on the family tradition himself. As a result, he wanted more than anything for his son to join the force.

Lawrence was only seven years old but was already obsessed with becoming not just a policeman but a detective. His Father and his Grandfather did not deter him in any way from that as a career choice even though he was such a young lad. It was what they both desired.

Excitedly Lawrence put on his policeman's hat, shield and handcuffs and proudly walked around the room showing off to his Mum, Dad and sister. He knew even at the young age of seven years old, that one day he would become a detective. Thanks, Mum, thanks, Dad and Merry Christmas everybody, said Tracy and Lawrence with big beaming smiles on their faces. The day was set, it was going to be a lovely Christmas Day with lots of food and treats. (Even though rations were on nationwide, Jack, the head of the household had a few contacts on the black-market and made sure his household never went without).

The family had a fantastic day and to be fair most days were good days in the Fowler household, as Jack and his wife made the most of every day.

CHAPTER 2

Mr and Mrs Fowler had met, courted and married in the East End of London. Then they inherited some money from two of Jack's aunts. It was large enough to buy a house. It was then after lots of discussions that Jack and his wife decided to move from the East End of London, out to Ruislip in Middlesex which in those days was considered to be the countryside almost. It was there that they decided the children would have a better life and more opportunities given to them. The air was cleaner and the surroundings beautiful.

So the whole family moved out to Ruislip when Lawrence was four years old, and Tracey was two, in 1939 just before Jack enlisted. They settled into a normal healthy family life in the beautiful suburbs of Ruislip Middlesex. They lived in a three-bedroom semi-detached mock Tudor house in a pleasant cul-de-sac.

Lawrence enjoyed a lot of freedom. With his friends in the summer holidays they would be out fishing, playing football, and Lawrence's favourite; cops and robbers until it was time to go home for tea. These days during Lawrence's seventh year and eighth then ninth, were memories that would stay with him forever.

When all three of them reached the age of 10, they all felt just a little bit too big to be playing these games. They decided, that as there were three of them, they would start up a car washing business in people's homes. So they saved up for buckets, leathers and once they had them, they knocked on doors to drum up business. It was very successful and kept the three young lads occupied at weekends and school holidays, until they were 15 years old. On top of that, all three boys had paper rounds in the mornings before school. They had made a decision not to be so much of a burden on their parents and to be their own ‘men’.

These times were character building for all of them. Lawrence was growing into a great young man. His desire to be a policeman was becoming more intense as the years went by. When he was 18 years old, he took driving lessons and passed the test first time. As a reward, his Father bought him a Mini Cooper. Lawrence was extremely proud of his new car. It gave him a sense of freedom that he and his friends certainly never took for granted.

CHAPTER 3

Lawrence was a good son, a great brother and a good friend. He was growing big at this stage, and as Jack, his Father said to his Mother could be a big boy I say 6 feet, 6 feet one easily. His Father couldn't have been more precise. At 19 years old Lawrence stood at 6'1" tall. He made a fine figure of a young man. Inside he was burning with ambition to be a policeman.

The only way to join the police force was to wait until recruitment advertisements appeared in the papers. In the meantime Lawrence got himself a full-time job, knowing that it was only going to be a fill in until he joined the police. The job he chose was as a milkman. Lawrence worked for a company called Express Dairies. This position worked well for Lawrence entirely because he would start work at approximately 4:30 AM in the morning and be finished, in the home by 2:30 PM. The extra free time allowed him to train in the gym which was a big interest of his, and also to play rugby again something that was one of his great passions.

He went out with a few girls, nothing serious but just for fun. He played rugby for his local team, and after each match, they always had a good drink up, which he enjoyed. At the same time for some reason he started smoking, in those days it was not unusual, and the general public did not know the real dangers of smoking and the long-term damage it could do to themselves.

An advertisement recruiting for Metropolitan Police cadets was placed in the papers when Fowler was 25 years old. He replied to the advert in the newspaper and awaited the response. About three weeks later he was given the date for his fitness test and interview to be held at Paddington Green Station in North London.

When he arrived for the day-long process, he was part of approximately 32 other candidates on the same day. Because of the numbers there on the day, it put a little bit of doubt into his head. Maybe he wouldn't make it.

The day started with filling out a general questionnaire, then a fitness test, followed by the interview.

It was Lawrence's turn to take the fitness test, this was not a problem for him whatsoever, and the person in charge of testing remarked on how high his fitness levels were.  Lawrence found this a boost before his interview; he went back to the waiting area with the other lads.

After waiting for about two hours, Lawrence's name was finally called. He knocked on the door, butterflies in his stomach and sweaty armpits from nerves. Come in and close the door behind you, boomed a voice from inside the room.

Lawrence entered the room. There was a single chair facing a long table with five officers present. All were in uniform and clearly high-ranking officers.

They started by asking Lawrence various questions about his past. Then his ideas for the future. What he felt about the public. And what he thought his role as a police officer would be.

They then told him that in their opinion he needed to get some more life experience behind him and to reapply when the next recruitment adverts appeared in the press.

Lawrence was visibly gutted.

Son, don't be hard on yourself. You're as fit as a fiddle, and super intelligent. We looked at your answers you gave to the questions you filled out earlier today, and we are more than happy. Keep your nose clean, stay out of trouble, and with, as we say more life experiences you will be a policeman.

Lawrence replied, Thank you Sirs, I am disappointed. But I can assure you I am coming back, I will be a police officer, and will be of service to the citizens of London. My aim is to be a top detective. Thank you for your time, I will hopefully see you again soon.

Together the officers thanked Lawrence for his attendance. When Fowler left the room, they all discussed the potential he had and made special notes, regarding his overall demeanour and ambitions that were apparently burning him up. The overall consensus of the interviewing officers was that Lawrence Fowler would be an excellent policeman and without doubt achieve his objectives.

CHAPTER 4

Lawrence went home and told his parents all about the interview. His Father said he was basically in; he had just to wait his time. Both Lawrence's parents made him feel better.

He went up to his room and after thinking about everything that happened realised the best thing to do was indeed to take the interviewing officers advice and keep his head down. More importantly, keep his nose spotlessly clean. Fowler was not going to foul up his opportunity at realising his dream of becoming a police officer.

He decided there and then that he would stop drinking as it would affect his fitness levels. But he never stopped smoking and in later years as a detective, it would become a trademark of his. Because although Lawrence didn't know it now, he was going to be a great detective and would be known for certain phrases, smoking, and his style of dress which was influenced by the images he saw of detectives at the cinema.

He could just picture himself wearing a trilby and a long trench overcoat. Lawrence smiled to himself as he realised things would fall into place, he would make them fall into place.

So over the course of the next few years, he concentrated on his job as a milkman. Lawrence had a few more girlfriends but nothing serious.

He carried on playing rugby. The only thing that Lawrence did was to cut the drinking completely out and eventually he grew to dislike the taste of alcohol.

Almost one year to the date of his first interview, advertisements for recruitment in the Metropolitan Police appeared in the newspapers. Lawrence quickly wrote a letter for an appointment time and date. Some three weeks later he received the time for his fitness test and interview in the post.

He attended the day's interviews and tests again at Paddington Green Station in North London. He flew through the fitness and sat before the board of officers. Again he went through the same sort of questions in the interview as the previous one.

They informed him he would be notified in writing as to whether or not he was successful within the next 2 to 3 weeks and dismissed Fowler from the room.

It was the longest period in Lawrence Fowler's life. He was 25, and this was his second attempt to join the police force. Every day he went to work, he did his job and then rushed home daily to check the post.

About 2 1/2 weeks after the interview he rushed back, and his Mum gave him a letter that was addressed to him. He opened it excitedly because he knew that this letter had to be from the police. It indeed was.

Mr Lawrence Fowler had been accepted to train at the Met Police training centre at Hendon. He was to start in four weeks time so that he could give prior notice to his employers.

That evening his family had a special roast beef dinner to celebrate.

Jack was so proud of his son, his heart felt like bursting with pride.

Lawrence went to work the next day handed in his notice and felt every minute of every day before he left to start his training at Hendon's police school.

Lawrence spent the next four weeks training hard at his gym so that he would be super fit at the police training school. Not only that every evening he would study from books he obtained from the library. Lawrence wanted to know everything about the history of the Metropolitan Police Force.

He was leaving no stone unturned because he wanted to pass out in the top 5 to 10% of candidates.

The time came for him to leave and start the 17-week residential course at Hendon.

He had tears from his Mum and his sister because he was leaving home for the first time. His Dad shook his hand and wished him all the best and with that Lawrence got into his Mini. He started the car, and as he drove down the road his family were waving at him, he tooted the horn and waved out the window. He could not believe it; he was grinning from ear to ear.

Hendon, here I come he thought himself my dream is coming true.

CHAPTER 5

He arrived at Hendon with over a hundred and twenty other candidates due on the course. Some  were there and others arriving all the time in a constant flow of bodies.

All of these candidates if they passed would be spread out among the Greater London area. Depending upon their grades, that they achieved across the whole course would determine the type of stations they would be placed to start their probation period. Individual police stations suited certain candidates it was a fact of life.

Lawrence threw himself into his studies, his fitness and all his tests. His focus of concentration were the final exams that would make or break his dreams.

As usual, he took it very seriously and was determined not to balls it up. A week after taking the exams, the cadets were notified of their results by their tutors.

Lawrence Fowler came number one in the fitness trials and number one in all areas of the written exams. He was chuffed to bits with himself. He could not wait to tell his parents.

All of the cadets on this course were then informed of the time and date of their passing out parade. That evening telephone calls