No Revenge

By Antonio Ruggiero

Westminster Magistrate Court, Prosecutor Bill McKenzie, convicts Reg Bailey of Robbery and Grievous Bodily Harm with intent. For attacking Mrs. Robinson by shooting her in the leg after she tried to fight him off. From stealing her handbag.

Reg Bailey’s brother, Carl, and his girlfriend Linda, plan to break into the prosecutor’s house, to kidnap his son Jason in return for the prosecutor to get his brother released. We know Linda, Carl’s girlfriend, is forced to help him, but she is totally against the idea.

DCI Joe Toscani and DI Tanya Spencer are called out to the prosecutor’s family home, to find that their son Jason has been abducted. The two officers try to find out the truth about who may have taken the prosecutor’s son. Does Bill McKenzie have a secret about who they are? And will he have Reg released to get his boy back safe, or will DI Tanya Spencer bring him back?

DCI Toscani and DI Tanya Spencer close in on the truth about the kidnapping of Bill McKenzie’s son, and save the boy?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Sep 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9781528985062

Antonio Ruggiero

Antonio Ruggiero was born in Bedford on 15 April 1962. He is British with Italian origin. He was a retired barber after 40 years and always wanted to write his own novels. He is a single parent of three adult kids and five grandchildren. He also has a younger and only brother, a sister-in-law, and a niece.

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About the Author

Antonio Ruggiero was born in Bedford on 15 April 1962. He is British with Italian origin. He was a retired barber after 40 years and always wanted to write his own novels. He is a single parent of three adult kids and five grandchildren. He also has a younger and only brother, a sister-in-law, and a niece.

Copyright Information ©

Antonio Ruggiero 2023

The right of Antonio Ruggiero to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528982528 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528985062 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published 2023

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

I would like to thank Austin Macauley Publishers for believing in my work. I’d like to thank my good friend Vince Testa for helping me with my prologue, and also my friend Mick Albanese who has recently released his book and is giving good reviews on my manuscript.

Prologue

Wednesday morning, March 18th 1998.

Three days before the first day of spring, and we’re at Westminster Magistrate Court. Prosecutor Bill McKenzie is about to convict Reg Bailey for robbery and grievous bodily harm for shooting Mrs Clair Robinson in the leg.

Mrs Robinson had just withdrawn some money from her account and was just about to leave the bank when she is confronted by the offender. He stands right in front of her and pulls the handbag off Mrs Robinson’s shoulder. But out of sheer instinct, she pulls the handbag back towards her. As she tried to fight him off, he reaches for the gun that he carries in the back of his trousers and shoots her in the leg as can be seen from the footage on the bank’s own CCTV video footage, of how it all happened.

Judge Thomas Buckley motions for the prosecutor to proceed with the video. Michael Copeland, the defence lawyer for Bailey, stands up and shouts Objection! but is quickly met by a robust Overruled from Judge Buckley. He then looks to Mr McKenzie and waves him to continue.

As you can see, Mrs Robinson has only just withdrawn her money and was just leaving the bank to continue with her daily routine when the offender, Reg Bailey, stands in front of the victim and pulls the handbag off her shoulder. She tries to fight him off, but he then, with the distinct intention to harm, reaches for his gun and shoots her in the leg. He then runs out of the bank with Mrs Robinson’s handbag.

Mr McKenzie finishes his presentation of the CCTV footage and goes to take his seat. Thank you, prosecutor, says the judge, and asks Mr Copeland if he had any questions to close the case.

No questions, your honour.

The judge responds by requesting the jury to leave the courtroom. The court will adjourn tomorrow at 10:00 am.

It’s now 10:00 am on Thursday, the 19th of March 1998. Carl and Linda are sitting at the back of the court to hear the jury’s verdict. The rest of the court enters and await the verdict.

All rise, cries the Court Bailiff. His Honour, Judge Thomas Buckley residing.

The Judge takes his seat at the top of the court and directs the rest of the court to be seated.

The judge flicks through some papers and then appears to tick some of them. Have you reached a verdict? the judge asks of the jury.

The Chair of the jury then slowly stands. He looks to the rest of the court, and then back to the judge and states calmly, Yes we have, your honour.

Can you give the court the verdict please, responds the judge promptly?"

Yes, your honour.

The Chair of the jury slowly lifts a piece of paper. He puts his glasses on, and takes a deep breath.

On the first count of grievous bodily harm, this jury finds Reginald Bailey…

There is a deathly silence in the court as the Chair looks towards the offender and states, Guilty as charged, your honour.

Thank you, Mr Chair, and on the second count, please?

Again, the Chair puts his head and looks intently at the paper he is holding. He is by now visibly shaking, but then slowly says, On the second count of attempted robbery, we find Reginald Bailey…

The Chair pauses as he again finds that he needs to take a sharp intake of breath and say, Guilty as charged, your honour.

The judge takes off his glasses. He looks towards the offender and with a