Retribution at Albi

By John Costella

Almost three years have elapsed since Dexter Grant moved to Venice, and now with his partner, Juliette Reed, both can finally enjoy living their lives following the horrendous sequence of criminal events which had earlier plagued them.
Although the events of yesterday now appear to have stabilized, just a few kilometers north of Venice, Chief Inspector Gino Novara was currently regrouping his team, having again received government instructions to resolve a new wave of associated criminal activities in both Europe and the United States of America.
The infamous Assignment Bureau, which the police had been chasing for several years, had continued to cause both a threat and embarrassment to government circles in both Italy and the United States. In addition to the many unsolved killings performed by the bureau, a new wave of cybercrime had been linked with these activities, creating concern throughout major financial and industrial sectors of the world.
Retribution at Albi is a formidable story of intrigue and murder which portrays the concluding part to a trilogy of mystery thrillers, the first two being Assignment Pellestrina and In Pursuit of Arete. This third component of the narrative returns to Venice, then onto the United States and culminates in Southern France, reuniting several of the original characters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Nov 22, 2016
• ISBN: 9781524666118

John Costella

John Costella was born in London and is of Italian descent. Having studied art, period architecture, and history, he now brings together these components into his literary works. Drawing on his knowledge of London and Venice, his earlier works included historical journals of both great cities, all of which include his own familiar style of illustrations. More recently, he has focused his attention in creating mystery novels that encapsulate historical themes into the vagaries of criminality within the twenty-first century.

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© 2016 John Costella. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

This book titled ‘Retribution at Albi’ is purely a work of fiction, and therefore, any name, character, place or incident is simply a product of the author’s imagination and may not be construed as being real.

Any resemblance to actual events, locations, organisations or persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Published by AuthorHouse 11/19/2016

ISBN: 978-1-5246-6609-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-6610-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5246-6611-8 (e)

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Preface

Main Characters

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Dedication

PARKINSON’S UK

Acknowledgements

In creating this novel I should sincerely like to thank everyone who has contributed to my ‘imaginary’ cast of characters, each individual inspiring a modicum of creativity within my literal mind, simply through distant observation throughout time. These fictitious individuals will always remain in my memory.

Once again, I also have to thank my beloved wife Avril, and supportive daughter, Louise, for the time they have spent proofreading and correcting the grammatical content of this book, thereby completing the trilogy of works.

Preface

This novel is the final part of a trilogy, based on a mystery thriller set throughout Central Europe and the USA in the present time. The majority of characters portrayed in this book featured in the first two parts of the trilogy, namely, ‘Assignment Pellestrina’ and ‘In Pursuit of Arete’, which focused on Dexter Grant, a senior systems designer with a French IT company who decided to leave London and embark on a new career in Venice.

Almost three years have now elapsed since Dexter moved to Venice and at present he is living with his partner Juliette in the district of Cannaregio, both having recently embarked on new career opportunities.

The circumstances and horrendous incidents which Dexter and his group of friends had experienced when he first moved to Venice have since been put to one side, in an attempt by both Dexter and Juliette to rebuild their lives and pursue their vocations. Although having previously experienced the anguish of being innocently entangled in a network of organised crime, which called upon the combined forces of the Italian Police, Scotland Yard and Interpol, in the past few months both have finally settled into living a normal life once again.

However, although events of the past, now appear to have stabilised, just a few kilometres north of Venice, Chief Inspector Gino Novara was regrouping his team, having once again received Government instructions to resolve a new wave of associated criminal activities in both Europe and the USA.

The infamous Assignment Bureau, which the police had been chasing for several years continued to cause a threat, once again becoming an embarrassment to government departments in both Italy and the USA. In addition to the many unsolved ‘assignment killings’ performed by the bureau, a new wave of Cybercrime had been linked with these activities, creating enormous concern throughout major financial and industrial sectors.

New evidence would suggest, that several of Novara’s previously unresolved investigations were now linked to more sophisticated protocols. This union bringing together both the perpetrators of the underworld criminal fraternity, with fraudulent ‘new age’ professionals capable of working on advanced technical systems, to engineer illicit activities.

What transpires is an intricate network of felonious pursuits, disguised by a curtain of deception, bringing together individual criminal masterminds who subsequently engage in combat on opposing fronts.

Main Characters

Dexter Grant, former IT senior systems designer now living in Venice, having earlier obtained a fine arts degree now works as a restorer. Lives in a refurbished apartment with his partner, as well as being the owner of a large motorhome on the Lido. Innocently involved in a sequence of horrendous events two years earlier.

Francesco Veronese, newly promoted to Police Inspector based in Venice, who previously worked with Interpol whilst investigating several formidable murders associated with a criminal mastermind known as Arete.

Sandro Busato, formally a property agent based in Venice, who now works exclusively as CEO of a prodigious building restoration project, funded by extremely wealthy benefactors. Born in Venice and a close friend of Dexter, now living in the region of Dorsodoro with his partner.

Rachael Sturridge, owner of a fine arts gallery in London who travels extensively to promote her business. Former freelance university lecturer in fine art, a close friend of Dexter, and more recently living with her partner Sandro Busato.

Juliette Reed, talented IT designer who formerly worked with Dexter in the UK and more recently having left her former company now lives with him in Venice. Currently working at a University in the district of Santa Croce, Venice.

Enrico Juventi, owner of a contemporary bar in Cannaregio which the Venetian group use throughout the year. A popular friend and confidante who accommodates the needs of everyone and serves the best Spritz in Venice.

Vincenzo Testini, a distant but good friend of the group, now living outside of Venice. Seen to be Enrico’s best customer, who uses his bar daily. Local journalist and writer who often contributes to the business needs of his friends.

Sergey Petrov, considered the senior partner in a major Cartel which masterminds a multi-criminal organisation throughout Europe. Two years previously disposed of one of his partners, Victor Donelli, aided by his remaining partner Andres Ramos. For the past decade has used the services made available by Arete. Based in Dubai.

Gino Novara, Chief Inspector of police based in Rome, who heads a team of covert police officers funded by a Senior Government Commission to investigate and apprehend the criminal mastermind known as Arete.

Piero Righetto, a police Inspector based in Palermo, who is called upon by Novara to join his team in apprehending Arete, following a sequence of assignment killings in Sicily.

Flavia & Sina Loeh, specialist business associates working for Rachael Sturridge who were formerly based in Canada.

Girade, seasoned assassin who has worked for Arete for a number of years, based in Southern France.

Charles Dupre, new recruit to Arete’s operatives, also based in France.

Roberto Corbella, government civil servant based in Milan.

Batista Zentil, son of Venetian immigrants, who has a successful IT systems company based in New York. Friend of Sandro Busato.

Ben Crawley, Chief of Detectives (NYID) based in New York, who also heads a team of undercover police officers funded by a Government department, which work in tandem with Gino Novara.

Guido Abelli, police officer within Novara’s team.

Bruno Conti, police officer within Novara’s team.

Luigi Bari, IT specialist within Novara’s team

Max Lewinski, International financier based in New York and Switzerland, long-time friend of Sandro Busato.

Simon Myers, senior executive in Machaon, a large pharmaceutical company based in New York.

Mason Lavini, Chief Accountant for Sergey Petrov, based in Italy.

Dirk Overbeek, international expert in locating missing art treasures ‘looted’ in WWII, based in Holland.

Rossi Toscano, CVP (Brethren) senior member representing Dorsodoro.

Cristofano Manzo, CVP (Brethren) senior member representing Cannaregio.

Stephano Catucci, CVP (Brethren) senior member representing San Croce.

Luigi De Cecco, CVP (Brethren) senior member representing Castello.

Mattio Ruffino, CVP (Brethren) senior member representing San Marco.

Chapter 1

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The freshness of a spring Venetian morning filled the air as a small funeral cortege of motor boats made their way from the district of Dorsoduro to the island of San Michele. There were three vessels reverently carrying funeral mourners along a predetermined route to the island cemetery, each person there to offer their last respects to a departed friend.

As the lead funeral vessel exited from the Rio di S.Vio into the Grand Canal, it followed the historic water route towards the mouth of the canal basin until it reached a spot where the Piazza San Marco could be seen in all its glory. Pausing momentarily it then turned 90° and slowly made its way back along the Grand Canal, this time briefly pulling alongside the newly refurbished Palazzo Beschiappi, before continuing its journey into Canale della Misericordia. Throughout the journey onlookers from various points along the route respectfully bowed their heads completely unaware who the deceased person was, or what impact he had made in protecting this island of need. When the lead vessel had finally reached the end of the canal it then headed into the Lagoon once again, its passage unobstructed by the busy flotilla of craft going about their business and headed directly towards Iosa San Michele. At this point several other water taxi’s each transporting groups of additional mourners to the remote cemetery island joined the three funeral cortege vessels.

The route chosen for this journey to the final resting place of the deceased had been carefully selected as a tribute to a native Venetian who had spent the majority of his life working to ensure that the heritage of Venice would be preserved for the foreseeable future. Everyone attending his funeral was aware of the passion and pride he felt for his beloved ‘Serenissima’, and embraced the legacy he had left by his work.

Today, Sandro Busato would be honoured by his peers, revered by the Venetian Government, and respected for his work by many friends, he would also be dearly missed by his partner Rachael Sturridge who shared a close relationship in their personal life, as well as the insatiable appetite he had towards his business ventures.

Upon arrival at San Michele the leading funeral hearse pulled alongside the awaiting pontile, its dark blue hull picking up the reflections from the lagoon as a glimmer of morning sun sparkled on the water’s edge. Busato’s coffin would be carried to its final resting place in a secluded area of the cemetery reserved for his family and reverently laid to rest, after a memorial service in the small chapel. Following the burial service, two personal artefacts would then be respectfully thrown into the Venetian Lagoon as the cortege returned to mainland Venice.

Rachael Sturridge led the group of mourners comforted by two close friends, they were followed by a local priest from Dorsoduro, behind this group were senior members of the CVP (The Brethren of Venetian Heritage), a covert group of wealthy Venetians which formed the sect known to only a few as ‘The Brethren’. At the rear of the procession walked a variety of friends, distant relations and business associates, including several principle members of local government, some of which had travelled long distances to offer their final respects.

Having walked through a labyrinth of pathways within the spectacular Gardens of Remembrance, the funeral party arrived at the appointed area and were greeted by a member of San Michele’s staff, who then beckoned the priest to come forward, before offering his condolences to Rachael Sturridge.

The ritual of prayer was again respected after the burial, followed by a minute of silence observed by the group before returning to the pontile, where the awaiting flotilla of watercraft would transport everyone back to a venue in Dorsoduro for the wake.

Sandro Busato’s life had been short by today’s standards, however, to those close to him, namely Rachael and his fellow Brethren members, he had decided to follow a dangerous path in pursuit of his goals and like a few before him, had suffered the consequences of failure. Throughout his earlier professional career and long term membership of the CVP his pursuit of success meant that he was consistently engaged in heinous crimes within the criminal underworld that still remain an enigma to elite police sectors throughout Europe.

His untimely death was ironically caused by his failure to observe the creed set by the CVP and because of this, he too became a target in a similar fashion to the many assignment killings he had instigated himself throughout his long term as a senior member. His fate was sealed following a sequence of errors he made several months earlier, forcing the CVP to take remedial action according to the creed that they piously observed. The delay in ‘dispatching’ Busato had been deliberately held over until an appropriate successor had been appointed, one had now been chosen!

The remaining senior members, for obvious reasons, naturally withheld events leading to the CVP decision to dispose of Busato from Rachel Sturridge. She was however fully aware of her partner’s business connections within this sect, having herself been recently appointed as an interim ‘associate elect’, for a limited period of time. The assignment instructions for Busato’s death was cleverly disguised by the Brethren and his death to all intents and purposes occurred while he was making his way to attend a hastily convened meeting of the CVP. The secure meeting venue chosen specifically for this purpose was located in the Dolomites, at Passo Falzarego, which was considered to be far enough away from Venice to undertake their covert meeting in safer surroundings.

Recent events had prompted the decision for such a meeting as the police authorities had been constantly attempting to investigate the business interests of the CVP, whom they previously knew little about. Their interest had been aroused by an incident which occurred during the restoration of Palazzo Beschiappi, resulting in an unannounced raid on the completed but uninhabited building on the Grand Canal. Earlier events had led them to believe that a large consignment of valuable un-catalogued Venetian art treasures were to be installed in the building, the majority of which may have been looted by the Third Reich during World War II.

Although the business interests of the CVP were unknown, Busato was the leading figure in an ongoing restoration project and was indirectly involved in previous incidents connected to the criminal underworld. Several months earlier, Chief Inspector Gino Novara and Inspector Francesco Veronese were the two police officers that finally obtained a search warrant, but were unable to continue their line of investigation at that period due to the lack of evidence related to criminal activities. In attempting to make a conviction one vital piece of evidence had been removed, namely a covert unit of skilled art restorers working from Padua, nonetheless interest in Palazzo Beschiappi had been maintained and the movements of both Busato and his ‘associates’ had been monitored. This intrusive action was considered a major threat to the CVP, and by their own creed was totally unacceptable, therefore the weak link in the chain had to be removed in the normal fashion, in this case Sandro Busato.

As Busato was travelling to the CVP meeting venue, he became a victim of his own failure, consequently an ‘assignment’ had been issued to dispose of him, as he drove along the mountainous road to join his fellow members. The way he was disposed of followed the usual pattern, he was first ambushed by paid assassins and rendered unconscious, while still in his vehicle, the vehicle was then set ablaze and sent careering down the treacherous slopes into a wooded area where it exploded on impact, leaving only charred remains of his body. The subsequent police enquiry found no evidence of foul play from the remains of the vehicle and his death was recorded as an accident. Following routine investigations it was then discovered that Busato had rented the vehicle at Piazzale Roma, his identity taken from the remains of his brief case, which had been thrown out of the vehicle on impact.

Today the perpetrators of his death were now reverently walking slowly back to the entrance gate of the cemetery behind Rachael, who although clearly distressed by the loss of her partner engaged in conversation with those around her, especially two close friends that had comforted her throughout her ordeal. One friend, a member of her Gallery staff based in London and the other a long standing friend from New York, who offered warm words of consolation.

‘Be brave Rachael, this part is all over now, but what still remain are your memories of Sandro which will always be with you.’

‘Thank you Susan, although he is gone everything in Venice will remind me of him, which will be his epitaph. I’ve just got to get on with my life as he would have wished, and as you say, his memory will always be with me.’

The drone from the engines of awaiting motor launches became prominent as the mourners walked onto the pontile, Rachael and her group were the first to be assisted on board the lead vessel, once safely seated it headed back to mainland Venice. Then in a regimented order the remaining launches pulled forward collecting each passenger, who once boarded and made their way to form the funeral flotilla for the short trip back to Dorsoduro. Because of the number of craft returning to Rachael’s opulent residence, following the ceremony, the flotilla of water taxis had been earlier briefed to follow alternative routes on the return journey, allowing the main launch to take a direct route.

By now the spring mid-day sun had warmed the air and the reflections on the marine blue Lagoon sparkled in the wake of Rachael’s launch as it carefully approached the pontile at Dorsodoro. There were two ushers patiently waiting to assist the passengers off the vessel and lead them into a large reception lounge once the launch had docked, inside were additional staff prepared to cater for the ‘repast’.

Rachael had by now shed her initial grief and in her normal manner began organising events prior to the main body of guests who would be shortly arriving.

‘I must get my hands on a gin and tonic,’ stated Rachael, as she brushed aside one waitress offering a glass of spritz, the traditional Venetian drink of prosecco mixed with aperol.

‘I’ll join you Rachael if I may,’ came the response from Miriam Adler, her long-time friend from New York, who was once a partner in their first Art Gallery, which they opened in Chelsea, Manhattan.

‘How are you feeling now Rachael, do want some time out before all the guests arrive?’ asked Susan Young, her London Gallery assistant and a former college friend of many years.

‘I’m fine now that the ceremony is all over, Sandro always said that when he eventually left this planet he wanted people to celebrate rather than mourn his going, so I am going to do just that. That means keeping away from any reference to business and therefore I shall be selective whom I engage in a conversation with for the rest of the day!’

The two women looked at Rachael in admiration as they knew full well that she would not sit back and grieve for long, quite the opposite, life was for living and there would be lots more to come from their diligent and forthright friend. Having downed their first drinks all three left the bar area and made their way back to the reception doorway in readiness to host the imminent reception.

By now all of the water taxis had left Iosa San Michele with their passengers and were making their way to Dorsoduro, choosing a variety of routes to Sandro Busato’s former residence, many choosing to sail east passing Cannaregio to Piazzale Roma and on to the Guidecca Canal. The remaining vessels were going west past Castello and eventually into the Basin of San Marco and then turned into the Guidecca Canal. Either route would take about 20-25 minutes based on the alternative minor canals which each taxi had decided to take. There was however one guest who would not be returning to the repast, his name being Mattio Ruffino, a senior CVP Brethren member who had a flight to catch from Marco Polo Airport to Paris.

Ruffino had been a close friend of Busato for many years, long before they were invited to join the CVP, and came from a wealthy Venetian family that resided in the district of San Marco. Both he and Busato were prominent representatives for the CVP in negotiating and delivering a major part of the wealth management and operational components. More recently they had been undertaking the remodelling of the Brethren’s business activities, part of which had created some problems for both men. With Busato’s demise, Ruffino was now charged with finalising this mammoth covert project and to ensure that the mistakes identified earlier, would no longer arouse further interest from certain onerous parties, namely the Government investigators.

His trip to Paris was primarily to meet incognito with an international Cartel member, named Sergey Petrov, who had earlier negotiated a transitional agreement to purchase a large piece of the CVP’s criminal activities in Europe. The contracted agreement had been thwarted with initial problems related to stage payments, brought on by the Cartel, resulting in a series of treacherous double-dealing activities, which triggered the murders of several people on both sides.

Ruffino was fully aware that his peers within the CVP would closely monitor his performance in successfully completing this task and he knew the penalties for failure to follow the creed by which the Brethren functioned. Busato’s demise was proof alone!

Busato’s funeral was no longer on his mind, as the water taxi headed north across the Lagoon, his thoughts were purely on the negotiation table in Paris where he hoped that he would be supported by a group of accountants and lawyers. In addition to this he knew that he would be protected by one of his assignment operatives, a paid assassin! Comforted by the fact that this operative had been used many times in the past and considered trustworthy, he would be able to resolve the impending issues while remaining undercover, in the manner by which the CVP operated.

The journey to the airport would take about twenty minutes and as he sat back and enjoyed the view across the Lagoon his attention was distracted by the speed in which a launch was approaching his vessel from the rear following the same route, which was outside of the normal sailing channel. On hearing the approaching vessel the water taxi owner glanced round and casually remarked on the behaviour of the launch behind, stating that there was never any police vessels around when boats abused the strict speed controls imposed in the Lagoon, Ruffino simply nodded his approval. By now the fast moving vessel had reached the water taxi and was about to pass dangerously close on the starboard side, both Ruffino and the taxi owner turned to face the craft as it reduced speed. Still perplexed by this action Ruffino’s driver muttered a few words of disapproval, at that same time as two seated passengers stood up, each bracing submachine weapons. Then, without any hesitation, the occupants of the launch discharged a magazine of bullets into the cabin of the taxi, their line of fire aimed directly at both Ruffino and the pilot. Unable to take any evasive action, both occupants of the taxi fell to the deck of the vessel, as the cabin was ripped apart by 60 rounds of bullets discharged from two VMS 07 automatic weapons.

Immediately following the murderous incident, the pilot of the high speed launch sailed close to the stationary taxi, then circumnavigated the vessel, and once satisfied that there was no visible movement from either of the victims he hastily sped away in the direction of Jessolo. The two gunmen on board then casually dismantled their weapons which they discretely packed away in holdalls before sitting back in their seats, both remaining silent for the remainder of their journey. Fortune was with the assailants as there were no craft in the immediate area, therefore the water taxi would not be discovered for several minutes enabling their escape and avoiding any witnesses.

In Dorsoduro, completely unaware of the incident in the Lagoon, the remaining guests had by now returned to Busato’s residence and everyone present had spread themselves around the reception lounge each with drinks in their hand, in readiness for the buffet that was to follow. Traditionally, the Venetian ‘repast’ would be seen as a celebration of the recently departed, even though it was customarily not to speak of the dead for fear of summoning the deceased back to earth! Rachael was by now making her way around the large room having selected which guests she preferred to speak to, and although familiar with the CVP members’ presence, decided not to engage in conversation until they approached her. This didn’t prove difficult at first as the group had annexed themselves in a corner of the room clearly wishing to display their elitist status. Instead Rachael decided to speak to more recent acquaintances that she had met after forming a relationship with her partner, one of which was a wealthy American banker who was a major investor in Busato’s, Venetian restoration programme.

‘It is good to see you once again Rachael, but I had hoped it would have been in different circumstances,’ came a welcome comment from Max Lewinski, a broad speaking New Yorker. Although Rachael had not formally met him before, she recognised him from earlier photographs as being a good friend of Busato.

‘I’m so pleased you were able to find time to come over, I know Sandro would have been honoured by your presence.’ Said Rachael in an unusually loud tone of voice.

‘He was a friend as well as a business associate, and his memory will remain with me. I know that you still retain your apartment in New York so please call over and see me when I’m back over there, at any time in the future.’

As Rachael continued to mingle with her guests, the caterer announced that the buffet was ready in the adjoining dining room, which prompted her to lead her guests to the awaiting tables that were provided. The size of the room allowed all forty guests ample space to sit at tables of their choice, the only reserved table being one set aside for Rachael and a selected few, which included associates