The Man With No Name: Carter & Carter, #1

By Gary Cuthbert

Join the Carter's the brother and sister team who lead a life full of adventure. Michael is a computer wizz, whilst Nicky is glamorous and resourceful. When unrest and stories start circulating about the resurfacing of a hidden secret, Michael and Nicky become intrigued. Death is just around the corner however and they soon find themselves in danger. The giant Carter Enterprise's have money and power and the Carter siblings use it to their advantage.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Cuthbert
• Release date: Sep 6, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393180159

Gary Cuthbert

Gary Cuthbert has written several other novels and young children read a long books. He comes from the North East of England. Besides the Carter & Carter novels he also has available Store Wars, a humourous tale about a year in the life of a corner shop and its owner. In , Agents of the E.S.A. the world is a very different place, it is ran by super computer's. Desease and Crime are things of the past till a body is found and Agents of the European Security Agency get called in.  The Life and Death of Harry Stone is a dark comic story that features the real story of what happens when you die.  Check the website for all titles available. garycuthbertauthor.co.uk

Book preview

The Man With No Name

Carter & Carter, Volume 1

Gary Cuthbert

Published by Gary Cuthbert, 2020.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

THE MAN WITH NO NAME

First edition. September 6, 2020.

Copyright © 2020 Gary Cuthbert.

ISBN: 978-1393180159

Written by Gary Cuthbert.

Also by Gary Cuthbert

Carter & Carter

The Man With No Name

How It All Began

Standalone

Agents of the E.S.A.

Store Wars

Store Wars (Naked Version)

The Life and Death of Harry Stone

The Chequered Flag

Watch for more at Gary Cuthbert’s site.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By Gary Cuthbert

The Man With No Name (Carter & Carter, #1)

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About the Author

S.T.O.N.E. Independent Author Publishing

All characters and events are strictly the imagination of the author and any resemblance to any actual person living or dead is coincidental.

The author retains all rights.

S.T.O.N.E. Independent Author Publishing is for authors who are independent of any publishing house. Although every attempt is made to eliminate errors, due to the fact they are produced by non-professional authors who do not have the vast resources that the main publishing companies have, they may still have some. These should not impact on the quality of the work.

By the same author.

CARTER & CARTER: How It All Began

This is a collection of stories from before Michael and Nicky Carter had the vast resources of the Carter Global empire at their disposal. Go back to the very beginning and read how they got into a life of adventure.

Agents Of The E.S.A.

Set in a future world which is run by super computers. Crime and disease are virtually eliminated and when a murder happens agents Camilleri and Phillips are assigned to investigate. The European Security Agency are the law throughout the European sphere.

STORE WARS

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Based on real memories and stories told to the author this tells the story of life of the corner store back in 1970. Angus Stroud runs the corner store, which isn’t on the corner, read how he deals with events, based around real life events. Such as the customer who calls at every meal time wearing the same mucky coat.

Its a humorous tale and contains details for each month of the events of the year including what music was popular.

POSTMAN GRANDDAD

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These are short stories for those just learning to read. In the first two , The Naughty Elf and Treacle’s Holiday.

Using easy reading and pictures, then a set of questions to see how much the young child is listening or understanding.

CARTER & CARTER

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THE MAN WITH NO NAME.

CHAPTER 1

The good-looking couple sat in first class on the incoming flight from Milan. It was heading into Heathrow,  a private car was waiting to pick them up. The man, in his mid-thirties, was handsome, well dressed and over six feet tall, the woman, also well dressed, with dark hair, smaller than her male companion. The plane landed a few minutes ahead of time and the passengers disembarked, the couple amongst them.  Their body language said they knew each other well. The couple didn't wait for any luggage and headed straight through custom’s. At the arrivals door stood a chauffeur holding a sign saying. 'Carter & Carter '. They headed straight to the man , who without speaking turned and lead the way to the waiting car. With the couple inside, the car drove off and headed into London city centre and to the Carter Global office block. Carter Global was part of the giant Carter Global Enterprise's, CGE was a multinational company that had their fingers in many pies, most of them well-known household names. Carter Global was less visible, but their result's the vast majority of the world's population would know. CG role was to investigate stories throughout the globe, check then both double and treble check the fact's before they would then sell it on to news corporation's worldwide. Some times it was impossible to check out these stories, so they did not sell them on, the result would mean the couple would take up a story themselves and delve a little deeper, some times they even took direct action. On arrival at the office the couple rode the lift to the top floor, where they got out and headed to the main office on the floor. They didn't need to ask as it was their office. The male sat on a large leather sofa whilst the female poured them both a drink before joining him. They sat with the drink in hand a few minutes.

So you believe them? the male asked.

Sort of the girl answered, not committing. They both took a sip of their drinks. there's something in it I'm sure but if it's true, it's still a none story

But doesn't it bug you, if these papers are genuine what difference would it make these days, after all everyone bar the odd old man is dead and have been for fifty-plus years The man got up and refilled both glasses. Nicky, just suppose everything we heard is true, then what? it's not as if we can change history

It's a puzzle I know but if they are the genuine Mussolini/ Churchill correspondence that Britain has denied since 1945, can we then believe what they say about anything else

Why go to those lengths, spreading word unless they are planning something big

Michael, you might have a point, could they not sell them to the highest bidder and then use those fund's to back something else the girl, Nicky, got up and walked to the big desk at the centre of the room, she pressed a button on the intercom then spoke to it. Julie can you put together a list of political movement's that have sprung up in the past couple of year's, limit it to Europe to start with , thank you

What you thinking, sis

That there's more to this than meets the eye, if these papers are real they will be worth what one to maybe ten million, maybe more, so they must have some need for this money

Unless they just want the money, that would set them up for life, remember in the early 80s when some world famous papers fell for those fake Hitler diaries, this could just be the same

True Michael Carter got up and walked around the room. Look let's go to that party they invited us to, we can deal with this in the morning

Very well, but if we are going, we can take your car The couple headed out the door of the office. Julie, the secretary was at her desk.Julie, just have those paper's on my desk for in the morning, we are going to Lord Slater's party tonight, so if we they need us try our mobile's

Yes, Miss Carter

At half-past nine a white Alfa Romeo pulled into the drive of the Slater country resident's. Michael Carter got out one side and then helped his sister out of the other. He dressed in a tuxedo with a bow tie, Nicky had on a backless dress in red. They looked the perfect couple, except they weren't . They walked arm in arm in through the main door where a footman awaited their arrival and showed them into the main hall. The hall was buzzing already with most guest's already there. Lord Slater was surrounded by six guest's three of which were young women, who weren't with the other guests stood around their host.The party went on until the small hour's of the following morning. The two Carter's had kept a close eye on their host either separately or together and with the party starting to wind down they sought the advice of Lord Slater. They approached together.

Lord Slater I would like to introduce you to my sister Nicky, we have been hoping for a quick word with you tonight Michael made the first move do you think we could talk some place a bit quieter? without bothering to reply his Lordship turned, the Carter's followed unsure if he was granting their request or just heading away from them.  Lord Slater was entering his 70s, well over weight and was very fond of good whiskey. He entered the library with the two younger people close behind, once inside he addressed his visitor’s.

Make it quick, I need to be up in the morning for a meeting Lord Slater said

As your one of the foremost historian's on Italy during the 20s - 50s we would like to pick your brain Michael said.

And why would I be of any use to Carter Global, yes Mr Carter and Miss Carter I know who you both are

Your Lordship, we have today just returned from Milan, the last few day's we have been chasing a story concerning the Mussolini/Churchill paper's and the missing Italian gold Nicky Carter took charge, men were more willing to help her.

Not that old story again Slater scoffed at the idea.

This time we have seen copies of the original paper's, we have told that they have the full set, plus they have gained all the copies

My dear, pretty as you maybe somebody is pulling your leg, the copies were all destroyed in 45, soon after the war ended,

Lord Slater I can well understand your disbelief but the organization we have been following claim's to have broken into the Tokyo archives and removed the copy that Shinrokuro Hidaka had smuggled out of Italy into Switzerland before having them sent on to Tokyo , they also have the Petacci diary for 1937 along with her copies, those have been kept in Rome but the Italian's always denied having them . The final copies were Carlo Biggini's , he dead in November 45 , under a false name, but passed his copies to a monk . For some time these totally vanished but reappeared when some building work was taking place in Milan itself, it was Michael Carter who had explained all this .

Boy, if you believe all that then you’re as dumb as your sister is pretty

The problem is they also claim to have the originals in Mussolini's own brief case .

It’s impossible , first or foremost , if you believe the official version of event's , the communist's caught and shot them all with all their papers being put on display , if you are foolish to believe one of the other version's then either the British caught Mussolini and along with Petacci took them telling them they were being rescued and would fly onto  Britain , or that a British agent shot them before the communist one could but there has never been any record of these document's being found by anyone but a British agent who was ordered to destroy them Slater was getting bored with it all now .

How much would you estimate them to be worth if they were real Nicky tried a different way .

At a rough guess I would say if the government wanted to keep the reputation of one of their greatest leader's they would stop at nothing to get them

And what of the missing gold

Now you are talking , I can bring you a different story every day about that all I can say is the gold taken from Italian Jew's was sent to Germany , as payment for looking after them in camp's , even the Italian's and Mussolini didn't know about the gas chamber's Slater thought a second From what I understand the missing gold was never part of the final convoy ,  that they moved by train  into a hillside either near the Austrian-Italian border or the Italian dolomites . The Germans took all the Italian gold reserves when they withdrew . If you tell me you have found that then I will be the first one on a plane to go see

Although they had learnt nothing they couldn't find out by other means, they felt more certain that the offer they had received was just a fake .

Look you two I don't know what it is you think you have found but the gold is long gone or never existed and the papers are fake , Churchill may have admired Mussolini at one point but that's it , so if there's nothing else I am supposed to be hosting this party, Lord Slater waited to see if he was going to get a reply and when none came he left . With nobody left to talk to the Carter's set off . Arm in arm they headed towards the front door to leave , they headed down the corridor as two men came the other way . Both men, although well dressed but not dressed for the party , the suits were of good quality . As they passed Nicky gave them both a smile , the sort that would leave nobody in any doubt that she was interested . Nicky and Michael Carter reached the front door and as he went to fetch the car she stood looking back down the hallway at the back's of the two retreating men . They headed not into the party or even the library, but up the winding staircase . Neither of them looked back . The sound of a car horn brought Nicky's focus back to her awaiting brother . She ran down the stair's to the car , as she slipped into the leather seat's of the Giuletta she turned to brother Michael .

Did you see them two? Out of place here or what?

Nicky calm down , they are just two men out to have a good time Michael said as he drove away .

You’re missing the point , they were both young and handsome

But not my type , I prefer my dates to be women

Arsehole , listen , besides me and you most of the guests are knocking on a bit , these two are not here for the party . They didn't even go into the party they went straight upstairs' . Neither of them even gave me a second glance

So you’re getting old and they are gay , that means nothing They drove on in silence , although Michael may not of sounded as if he believed her , he thought she had a point . That and the fact that one man's face seemed familiar, but from where he had no idea . He drove the car within the speed limit straight to the family home they both shared . It was one of many that the Carter family owned throughout the world . The one they shared had been the original home of the Carter's , prior to Carter senior launching Carter Global Enterprise's and then selling it for a massive figure that meant that Carter Global was kept as a separate company . Michael parked up on the driveway ,  two other cars already parked up , one a bright yellow MG3 with black squares with smiley faces on the roof and the other a red Alfa Romeo Spider . The MG belonged to Nicky , she bought it as it looked fun plus she hated to waste money and it was a good value car and to buy an expensive brand would be such a waste . 

The following morning Nicky found the white Alfa already gone as she set off to the office . Up on the top floor , Julie the secretary was missing as Nicky exited the lift . She opened the office door and coughed but found Michael sitting on the sofa with folder's all around him . Julie was not in sight .

Morning , you didn't wait for me, she said in greeting .

Didn't want to wake you up, I actually came here last night, been looking at all these files you asked for, He picked up one folder by his side and threw it to her . Look at your boyfriend Nicky opened the file. It was the male she had recognised last night . He was one Nico Zacardi, from Bologna, age 39, a record for several small misdemeanour's but nothing major, has links to an organization called Reborn . There were a few details such as his last known address but nothing of real interest .

Older than I thought, do we know anything about this Reborn? Michael picked up another folder and tossed that this one had more page's in than the first . Nicky sat down in a nearby armchair and read . Julie , entered the office carrying a tray , it had coffee and a bowl with cereal in and a plate of toast .

Would you like anything, Miss? Julie addressed Nicky as she placed the tray down in front of Michael .

Er no thank you Julie and you shouldn't run around after lazy bones, you’re not here to make sure he eats,

Yes Miss, he has been here all-night though, Julie turned and left the room again . Nicky's attention returned to the folder on her knee . She started reading .

Reborn was an international movement that spread from Italy to Norway and took in France, Spain and Portugal . They fund other parties depending on which country whether they are from the right or left . They have organized many riots and rallies, some ending in violence . Some big and well-known Politicians had link's to it . As a little footnote, it also stated that Reborn claimed they had retrieved both the Nazi gold haul and that of Mussolini .

Nicky closed the folder and looked up. She sat watching her brother as he finished the toast . He looked up .

Well?

Well what yourself, she replied .

Do you see a pattern? First the letters reappear, then the gold, and now they are all over Europe. Makes you think,

Might be a bit of a jump to make. she thought that it wasn’t all connected. With what end game? A new German Reich? I don't think so,

Let's just look into the letter’s, I'll ask all the heads to keep their ears open about the other, if they find anything out we can look into that latter, The office door burst open and Julie rushed in .

You better watch this, she said and turned the BBC news channel on  the large screen TV on the wall . The presenter was just announcing the death of Lord Slater . Both the Carter's sat in silence and watched. Neither could believe what was being said. The news flash finished with announcing that there would be a police statement .

Julie , find whoever they have put on the case and arrange for us to go see them Michael took charge .

Yes sir

This was a development that neither of the Carter's had expected .

Do you want to bet it's not natural causes? Nicky Carter enquired .

Not a chance, if he was meeting with this Zacardi character then something was up. Why would a Lord meet a low level crook from Italy?

Maybe they were discussing recipes, Michael gave her a look that said ' don't be funny, I'm not in the mood'. He stood, paced around the room a while then as if he decided sat down again. Although this sort of connected to each other it didn’t, none of it made real sense. Like if these papers were genuine then where have they been for the past seventy year's and what?, besides money? , what could they be trying to gain? . As for the gold, well ever since the end of the war there have been rumour upon rumour about the gold , anywhere from buried in a tunnel in Poland to it being sent into space in a rocket, some seemed very unlikely such as the rocket but then again the scientists behind both American and Soviet space programs had been German, so was it such a big step to think they could have done it? . Reborn, now what was the point of organizing little group's in nearly every country in Europe? Surely there was nothing to gain by this?

I think I should go back to Milan, we need to either buy these papers or acquire them. You, Michael need to try looking at the bigger picture, we are missing something, Nicky was saying what her brother was thinking, they had that close bond that they could always tell what the other would say or do. Great for playing games and if their lives depended on it but with relationship's with the opposite sex it became too much for most people and they soon bailed out. There was no way either of them would change it, but at time's it became difficult .

Julie came back into the room without knocking. The case is being handled by a sergeant Jones, he would be interested in meeting you both, so I have invited him over, he should be here within thirty minutes,  Julie didn't add sir or miss as it was hard to know which one to put first, as she had been working for them for well over eighteen-month's now she had learnt that the Carter’s thought like one person not two, so neither of them was more important than the other.

As small children they had always been close, because their father was off making a fortune so they saw him only at a special occasion and their mother spent most of her time with one club or another. So unless at school they would spend hours together. Michael was two year's older, but that didn't count for anything as Nicky developed at an earlier age. Together they had first tasted adventure and since then had searched it out whenever they could, running Carter Global allowed them the opportunity to hear stories that they might otherwise not hear. Anyway, CG ran itself, there were very few issues when they had to decide  themselves.

The police detective arrived an hour later. He was young but had been a detective for several years. He was one of the new bread, with a smart suit and all the right schools. Only if you listened very carefully, would you hear the slight trace of accent .

I believe you had both been at the party last night at his Lordships? detective sergeant Jones asked, but it was more of a statement of the facts that he already knew.

Yes, he invited us a while ago, Michael took the lead.

Was there anything unusual that happened? Jones withdrew a notebook from his jacket pocket.

Yes, in fact two people arrived who looked out of place and they went straight upstairs, Nicky chimed in.

Two foreigner's by any chance? the Carter's both agreed that they looked as if they could be. They failed to mention that they recognised one of them, seems some time around one in the morning he took a fatal overdose,

Or someone gave him it, old Slater didn't take drugs, although he supported those who wanted them legalising he never took them himself, Michael wanted to make sure that they treated it as a murder, not a suicide or accident.

How would you know that, Mr Carter?

Our family has known the Slater's for years, we have been to loads of functions he has held and we have talked about many things including drugs, I know for a fact he had tried none of them. He might have campaigned about them but he himself would never touch them, it was a total lie, as before last night they had never meet.

Did you have occasion to talk last night?

"Yes, we