In the Company of Jackdaws E-Book

Tony Jackson

• Herausgeber: Grosvenor House Publishing
• Kategorie: Abenteuer, Thriller, Horror
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 554

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2013

Beschreibung

The second book to feature DS Bene Douglas of the Levensbridge Police Force. In 1944 an astonishing secret is discovered by German soldiers in Northern France. The secret is never revealed and goes with them to their graves. In 2010 two bodies are exhumed from the woods and a deadly chase begins to find the secret. Suspicious deaths, attempted murder, robbery and a missing young boy all threaten to overwhelm our hero and his new colleague. The investment club are being wooed, the bowls club members are scared, and a crime from the past is re-opened.Finally the Jackdaws strike.

Leseprobe

Contents

Title

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Chapter 1 Etaples – Northern France January 1944

Chapter 2 September 1939 – January 1944

Chapter 3 Lower Hutton P O W Camp – Levensbridge, England – June 1944

Chapter 4 Levensbridge – July 2010

Chapter 5 Disturbing news

Chapter 6 An ideal investment

Chapter 7 Two new recruits

Chapter 8 A mysterious death

Chapter 9 An unwelcome reunion

Chapter 10 Incident on platform 4

Chapter 11 Things begin to turn nasty

Chapter 12 This time next year we’ll be millionaires

Chapter 13 Bene declares war

Chapter 14 A plan of action

Chapter 15 Concern at the bowls club

Chapter 16 A lead at last

Chapter 17 Lambs to the slaughter

Chapter 18 Barbeque with a difference

Chapter 19 Visiting time

Chapter 20 More visiting

Chapter 21 Some explaining is needed

Chapter 22 The hunt for Anna Ferenc

Chapter 23 Dinner at the Fox and Pheasant

Chapter 24 Secret agent at work

Chapter 25 The hunt for Anna continues

Chapter 26 A troubled meeting

Chapter 27 Dreams and nightmares

Chapter 28 Secret agent – missing in action

Chapter 29 Rebuilding old friendships

Chapter 30 George gets angry

Chapter 31 The number of missing people is rising

Chapter 32 A visit to the architect

Chapter 33 A severe bout of amnesia

Chapter 34 A cry for help

Chapter 35 Back to reality

Chapter 36 Sylvia turns detective

Chapter 37 Some success at last

Chapter 38 Investments can go down as well as up

Chapter 39 A small matter of revenge

Chapter 40 The hunter and the hunted

Chapter 41 A case of two solicitors

Chapter 42 Danger beware

Chapter 43 Secret agent in action

Chapter 44 The diary of Dieter Hoffmann

Chapter 45 A job nearly done

Chapter 46 The secret of Jackdaw’s Wood

Copyright

Acknowledgements

I would like to acknowledge the following people for the help they have given me in the making of this book.

Alan Strong

Ken & Val Graham

Who helped me with editing the book

And who also helped in the design of the book cover

Not forgetting

My wife Pat

Who put up with me during the months I sat at the computer writing this novel

Foreword

“In the Company of Jackdaws”

This is the second book to feature DS Bene Douglas of the Levensbridge Police Force.

In 1944 an astonishing secret is discovered by German soldiers in Northern France.

The secret is never revealed and goes to the grave with them.

In 2010 two bodies are exhumed from the woods and a deadly chase begins to find the secret.

Suspicious deaths, attempted murder, robbery and a missing young boy all threaten to overwhelm our hero and his new colleague.

The investment club are being wooed, the bowls club members are running scared, and a crime from the past is re-opened.

Chapter 1

Etaples – Northern France January 1944

The Horrors of War

Dark clouds hung like a deathly shroud over the German coastal defences which stretched along the northern coastline of France: this was part of the Atlantic Wall which stretched from the Netherlands all the way down to Spain.

The rain which had been falling incessantly for the past eighteen hours had slowly turned into a cold and miserable icy drizzle. The wretched weather was reflected in the faces of the three German guards who stood uneasily in the cold night air continually shuffling their feet and tugging up the collars of their sodden grey overcoats. Their thoughts were focused solely on the end of their shift when they could return to the newly constructed concrete bunker. Once in there they could look forward to a hot drink and a change into dry clothes; if there was any wood left for the fire they could put some warmth back into their shivering bodies.

This was not what the three friends from the small town of Maierhofen in southern Germany had joined the army for back in 1939. Otto Bauer, Lukas Kohler and Dieter Hoffmann, along with many others of a similar age had enlisted in the ever expanding German armed forces. They had been swept along on the rising tide of nationalistic passion which had engulfed not only Maierhofen but the whole of the German nation.

The three friends had borne witness to many crimes against the local community during their time in northern France. Every man, woman and child in that part of France hated them, some actively taking part in obstructing the Germans in any way possible. If caught they were dealt with in the severest possible way. The local townspeople would be rounded up in the public square with family members placed at the front; here they were forced to watch the slaughter at close quarters. A single shot to the back of the head was the preferred method and the body left where it fell for the family to take away and bury. If they were lucky it was a straight forward execution, if not they would have to endure some form of torture first, before finally begging for a bullet to put an end to their suffering.

The worst single atrocity had taken place the previous day, and for the friends it was the final straw. It was this particular action that had determined them to plan their escape from this horrible place and the appalling life they had been forced to live there. If this was an example of the way of life the German people wanted for their future and for that of their children, then the three friends wanted no part of it.

The day before had started much the same as any other day but around midday everything started to change. The three men had been summoned to accompany the two Huber brothers to a farm. The intention for this visit was not clear at first, but it became apparent as soon as they arrived at the farmhouse. The farmer’s daughter had stupidly rejected the advances of Karl Huber the previous day, so together with his brother Franz they had returned to the farm to exact revenge on her and her family to atone for the humiliation he had suffered.

The daughter and her father were dragged from the farmhouse and taken over to a barn where they were shut in with the brothers. Once inside the farmer was tied to a post where he was to forcibly watch as his daughter was raped by the two thugs. The three friends waited outside feeling guilty but too frightened to intervene; they were powerless to prevent the forthcoming degradation of the farmer and his daughter. Standing by their vehicle and trembling with shame they waited for the screams to begin. When none came they began to wonder what was happening in the barn, but still none of them dared to go over and look.

After almost ten minutes of silence, the brothers together with the farmer came out from the barn and headed back to the vehicle where the friends were waiting. All six climbed into the truck, and under the direction of the farmer they drove out of the farmyard on a rough unmade road away from the farm. Nothing was said but the Huber brothers were looking smug. After about a kilometre they stopped and the six on board alighted from the vehicle to continue the journey on foot. The three friends had no idea what was happening or where they were going, but they would soon learn the reason for this unexpected journey, and the secret they would discover at the end of it would remain with them forever.

Four hours later the group returned to the vehicle; the brothers appeared satisfied with what they had seen and the six drove back in silence to the farmhouse. On their return the farmer was noticeably more relieved, he was hoping that the secret he had shown them would save his family from any further attention from the soldiers. He walked over towards the barn with the intention of releasing his daughter, unaware that Franz and Karl were close behind.

Reaching the door he pushed it open and entered the barn, as he stepped inside he felt a huge hand on his back which propelled him into the centre of the barn where he stumbled and fell forward onto his knees. A shot rang out and the farmer slumped forward onto the floor with a gaping hole in the back of his head. The brothers entered the barn completely unmoved by the high pitched screams of the terrified daughter. The poor girl had to endure almost half an hour of physical and sexual abuse before her ordeal was finally ended by another single shot. The brothers though were not yet finished with the family; their thirst for revenge would not be quenched until it was final and absolute.

Walking back to the truck they took out a can of petrol and returned to the barn where they poured the fuel onto the wooden walls and door, then likewise with the farmhouse. Karl calmly lit a cigarette then threw the match to the door. Standing back the brothers watched as the flames shot up the walls of the house. When a face appeared at an upstairs window Franz calmly pulled out a revolver, he fired successive shots up towards the window where the farmer’s wife and her young son were looking for an escape from the fire. The shots drove them back inside; there was to be no escape for them. When the flames reached the rooms above more screams could be heard from the two people trapped inside. These had no effect on the Huber brothers who were in their element, laughing raucously as the screams shrieked out from the farmhouse. At last the heartrending cries died down as the two remaining family members succumbed to the flames. In the truck the three friends sat weeping at the horrific scene that had been played out before them. The Huber brothers remained until the entire farm had been razed to the ground, then suddenly and without any sign of emotion they climbed into the truck and drove back to base.

Chapter 2

September 1939 – January 1944

An opportunity presents itself

In late 1939 the three friends had enlisted into the newly formed local regiment in Maierhofen, and very soon they would find themselves to be part of the huge force that would invade France. In early May following on behind the main German thrust across the border into France they met with little resistance to impede their progress, the French forces were continually falling back towards the capital keeping distance between themselves and the invading army. The invasion had been planned well, it was efficient and disciplined and moved forward with a concerted urgency. In no time at all they found themselves on the outskirts of Paris itself. As the regiment arrived on the outskirts of the unguarded city it was held there waiting while negotiations between the two sides came to an agreement on armistice. The regiment from Maierhofen was part of a much larger German Army and would remain in Paris for the next three months. Then it was to go north to join up with the Army again and defend the northern coast against a possible Allied invasion.

The three young men had been schooled together and had remained close friends throughout their teenage years. More studious than aggressive by nature, they had only enlisted as their duty to the Fatherland, not through any personal choice or ambition. Not to have volunteered would certainly have incurred a good deal of anger from their fellow citizens in the staunchly pro-Nazi town of their birth.

Otto and Lukas had been close neighbours in their home town, and until the start of the war both had been studying at medical school. Otto stood tall and slim, well over six feet, in fact in his uniform he had the appearance more of an officer than an infantryman. He was a quiet, sensitive man, an only child of whom his parents had high hopes of fulfilling his and their ambition of becoming a surgeon. He wore small rounded spectacles which suited his long narrow, rather serious looking face with its sharp features. His pale almost unhealthy looking complexion gave the impression he would always be ailing something, but on the contrary he rarely ailed from anything at all. He had sleek black hair which was swept well back from his forehead.

Lukas was a little shorter but still around six feet tall; he also had the same pale complexion but lacked the sharp features of Otto. His face bore a slightly pained blank expression, almost as if a little confused by his surroundings and the people around him. This was a misconception as anyone taking him at face value would soon discover, the brain behind this plain exterior was sharp and he was in full control of himself and his actions. His hair was similar to Otto’s, black and swept back.

Dieter on the other hand was the perfect example of the Arian race, tall and blonde with a powerful athletic body; a well formed slightly ruddy face with sparkling blue eyes. His body language oozed confidence and demanded respect. He possessed a ready smile and had a sense of humour with which to charm any lady. He had worked as an apprentice in his father’s antique shop and it was his father’s wish that Dieter would take over the business when he retired.

At the other end of the spectrum were the two Huber brothers Franz and Karl. They were part of a large family of notorious bullies who were feared for their renowned violence and reprisals against anyone who dared to cross them. Although they were not twins the appearance of both was chillingly similar, huge men with large round heads. Their deep red faces sported large thick ginger moustaches that matched their closely cropped ginger hair. The flared nostrils and small eyes set well back in their heads completed the features that stood them apart from all others. Unfortunately for the three friends the Huber brothers had enlisted in the same regiment.

2

It was now 1944 and they had been in France for almost four years. The war which had started out so well and had promised to be a short and decisive one now seemed to be turning against them. With the British and American armies now gathered only a few miles away across the channel, going home anytime soon was looking very remote indeed. Even more worrying was the fact that with the German forces so stretched, would they be able to keep an increasingly expanding and well-equipped Allied army from landing in France. If they were to get a foothold in Europe they would surely not stop there, but drive the German army right back into the fatherland, and then what? How would they exact their revenge on the German nation. Knowing how they had steamrollered across Europe and Russia destroying everything and everyone in their path, this was too frightening to even think about.

3

The events of the previous day still consumed the minds and thoughts of the three men who were coming to the end of their guard duty. The last few years had taking its toll; they had witnessed and experienced things that no one in this world should ever have to do. For Otto there was nothing to look forward to except changing out of his wet clothes and getting some hot liquid into his frozen body, maybe some coffee if he was lucky. He should have followed his two friends back to the bunker but instead he made his way over to a point overlooking the little harbour where he thought he had seen something that was not quite as it should have been.

Moving quietly forward to get a better view he spotted what he thought was part of the ground that looked as if it was moving on its own accord. He continued to watch, and as his eyes adjusted to the conditions he saw what looked like a small fishing boat being dragged out from under cover. Screwing up his eyes he could just make out the outline of someone who was pulling it down to the edge of the water. He moved closer and as he approached the man suddenly became aware of his presence. The man turned and waved to someone Otto could not quite see, but when he shone his torch over in that direction he picked out a woman and two small children standing by the harbour. All four froze not knowing what to expect from the German.

Otto found himself temporarily unable to move, he was just as astonished as they were. After a short silence and no movement from the four people Otto approached the man and asked what he was thinking about, putting a boat out to sea at this hour of darkness. The man who was a local fisherman realised that there was no reason or excuse he could give to account for what he was doing prepared himself for the inevitable. He spoke quietly, but his voice was shaking so much that Otto had difficulty in taking in much of what he was trying to say. After what seemed an age Otto finally came to understand that all the man wanted to do was take his wife and children over to England, to take them away from this horrible war where they would be able to live in safety with friends. The man went down on his knees and wept openly, begging the German not to report them. A long silence followed and both men seemed reluctant to break it. The fisherman was confused by the German’s lack of reaction and his continued silence, knowing fine well that others who had defied the occupying army had paid dearly with their lives.

Otto was tired of war, he had seen too many atrocities carried out against these people. He didn’t want to see the fisherman or his family punished for trying to escape the war, in the same situation he was sure he would be doing exactly the same. His mind was still numb and he was taking his time deciding what to do for the best. If he allowed the family to go to sea he might be found out himself and punished, if not, then punishment for the fisherman and his family would be certain death.

It was as well that he took time to decide for slowly a solution began to form in his mind, a solution which could benefit them all. He spoke quietly to the fisherman explaining first what would happen to them if they were reported, the frightened fisherman listened intently. After a short silence Otto suggested the alternative. He would not report the fisherman but he would have to take Otto and his two friends with him to England. The fisherman agreed at once but said they would have to leave immediately as the conditions that night were perfect for a night crossing of the channel. If they didn’t leave tonight there may not be another chance for weeks.

As a precaution Otto took a small but essential part of the boat’s engine with him and quickly made his way back to the bunker. Once there he motioned his friends over to a quiet corner and explained to them what he had agreed with the fisherman. The two were taken completely by surprise and it took a minute or two for the information to sink in. What they were about to do was desert, nothing less, and punishable by a firing squad if caught. All three went silent as they considered the enormity of what they may be about to do.

Thankfully there was not enough time to think it through properly as the boat would soon have to leave if it was to have any chance of getting away unnoticed. With the events of the day before weighing heavily on their minds the decision was made. All three were in agreement, this would be their only chance to escape the horrors they had been living through. Whichever way the war ended Germany would never be the same again, not for them or their families. They collected dry overcoats and stepped outside.

The rain had all but stopped and if they hurried there was a good chance they would get away unnoticed before the next change of guards had reached and taken up their positions. Going as fast as they dared they sped down towards the coast and climbed into the waiting boat. The fisherman urgently held out his hand for the missing engine part, Otto went into shock as he realised the part was still in his wet overcoat which had been left in the bunker. He jumped out of the boat and hurried back up the hill to the bunker almost knocking Karl Huber over as he rushed inside. “What the hell you doing man,” Karl shouted.

Speechless and fuming at his own carelessness Otto went over to his coat, with his back to Karl he took out the engine part and put it in his pocket. He turned to leave but saw Karl barring his exit. “Well,” he said “What’s the bloody hurry, don’t you have time to sit down and have a nice hot drink with us?”

“Sorry but I’ve got a girl waiting for me, its bloody cold out there and she won’t wait forever.” it was all he could think of saying, “I’ve got to rush.”

Karl roared with laughter

“About bloody time as well, I thought there must be something wrong with you three, let me have her when you’re finished and we’ll say no more about it.” With that he let Otto pass; he was still enjoying the joke as Otto rejoined the party on the boat, the engine part was quickly installed and the little boat slipped quietly away from the French coast and headed off across the channel to England.

Chapter 3

Lower Hutton P O W Camp – Levensbridge, England – June 1944

An unhappy reunion

The three friends had been in England for almost six months and had settled easily into life in the POW camp. Close to the river Leven it was only a couple of miles from the northern market town of Levensbridge, which nestled in a naturally formed valley near the southern end of the Lake District.

Back in January it had been dark when they had stepped ashore from the boat on the south coast of England. The three men had helped the fisherman to haul the small vessel out of the water and pull it a little way up the beach where it could be secured. Luckily they had not been spotted, if the boat had been seen they would surely have been fired on and possibly killed before they had been given the chance to surrender themselves. Once on land they split up from the fisherman and his family and set off for the nearest town where they could surrender. When this had been accomplished they were sent under escort to the camp at Lower Hutton which had been specifically set up for Germans who had surrendered. The camp was separate from other camps which housed German soldiers who had been captured.

For the first time in years Otto, Lukas and Dieter felt safe and secure. The war which was still raging in Europe seemed a million miles away. They had adjusted to a different way of life and were settling in quite happily. At first they were unsure about how they would be accepted at the camp, but soon found that the officers were friendly and treated them with respect. With the help of an interpreter they were encouraged to learn the language so they could be sent out to work on the local farms. After a few short weeks they were allocated a farm each where they would work throughout the day, and return to the camp in the evening.

The work was hard as some of the local farmhands had been enlisted into the army and labour was in short supply, but there were no complaints from the three men. Time passed quickly and soon the bad memories they had brought over with them began to dwell less and less on their minds. They tried not to think about what was happening in France, but were worried about how Germany and Maierhofen in particular were faring. They received no news at all from their home town, the only information about the war came from the guards at the camp and the farms where they worked. The camp was a pleasant place to be and if it was not possible to return to Maierhofen they would remain in England and make this their home.

There had been no more talk of the trip they had taken with the Huber brothers and the French farmer, or the secret they had discovered in France. As far as they were concerned the secret could remain there forever, and if the Huber brothers wanted to return they were quite welcome to whatever rewards awaited them.

The camp guards were not really guards at all in the sense of the word as no one in the camp wanted to, or even thought about escaping. As time went on the guards and prisoners would often sit together in the evenings. Friendships were formed and developed which would last long after the war was over, until now everything had been going smoothly. The farmers fed their workers well in reward for their efforts, and in the evenings the atmosphere was warm and amiable with a good mix of interests between the prisoners and their guards. Although the prisoners were not allowed out at night the guards would sometimes bring in a few drinks to share with the inmates.

Then came the news of the invasion by the Allied forces, many prisoners had been taken in northern France and the camp at Lower Hutton would have to accept some of the new prisoners. The officers in charge of the camp didn’t want any discord between the prisoners already in the camp and the new ones coming in, so they agreed to say nothing about the inmates who had surrendered.

There were to be around twenty new POWs coming to the camp and the inmates waited anxiously for their arrival. The following day the new batch arrived. It was a sorry looking bunch of men who trudged slowly into the camp, their unshaven faces grey and drawn. What clothes they had on were dirty and ragged and the footwear was an odd collection of boots and wellingtons; one man wore a boot on one foot and a shoe on the other, another only had one boot. The three friends scanned over the new arrivals and their hearts sank when they saw the familiar forms of the two Huber brothers approaching.

This was the worst possible news. They couldn’t believe that of all the men who had been captured it was their bad luck to be thrown together again in the same camp as these two men. To be fair the Huber brothers didn’t seem remotely interested in any of the inmates already in situ in the camp. The war had not been kind to them, but nevertheless the mere sight of them sent shivers down the backs of the three friends, were they never to be rid of them. It would not be long before they were discovered and the brothers would know instantly of their desertion. The three friends went to bed that night with sunken hearts.

On their return to camp the following evening they found the new arrivals had settled in; it had been a warm sunny day and they were sitting outside talking quietly amongst themselves. The guards were wary and on edge as these new prisoners were real prisoners and would need to be watched carefully. It was Karl who first spotted the three friends; he jumped to his feet immediately and snarling obscenities made to rush over and confront them. One of the guards raised his rifle and quickly positioned himself in front of Otto, Lukas and Dieter. Karl stopped short of the guard but continued to shout loudly and gesticulate towards the three men he had been prevented from getting his hands on. Other guards quickly came onto the scene and forced Karl back to his quarters. Franz had also seen the commotion and after making a gesture as if drawing a knife across his throat he followed Karl inside. There was no mistaking what the two brothers would like to do to the three men if given the chance. The guards had been unaware of the history between the two parties and were visibly shocked and frightened at the reaction of the two new inmates.

From that day on, the atmosphere in the camp became almost unbearable. The guards had to be on duty in the evenings and throughout the night, there were to be no more pleasant evenings in which to sit outside socialising with the inmates. During the day it was a little more relaxed as the inmates who worked on the farms were away for most of the time, but on their return there was an atmosphere of bad feeling between the two groups. Three weeks later the situation if anything had got worse. Franz and Karl had stirred up a lot of trouble and were a continual worry for the guards and the camp officers. On one occasion the pair had managed to gain entry into another block and had attacked two of the men who were sleeping there. As for the three friends, they had to be guarded all the time they were in the camp as they were the prime targets for the brothers.

The following week and with no improvement in the circumstances, the camp Commander Edwin Ferguson called the guards into his office for a meeting; the inmates had been separated and were having their lunch. It was obvious that something had to be done, the situation had got so bad that unless action was taken soon, someone was going to be killed. During the conversation between the men it became clear that all the trouble in the camp was caused by just two of the prisoners, the Huber brothers. The original inmates were no problem at all, and from the recent arrivals all but the two brothers had settled in fairly well and were reasonably happy there. The only time they needed to be guarded was when urged on by the brothers who wanted to stir up as much hatred and unrest in the camp as they could.

The Commander had listened to his men and stood up to address them. “It would appear that these two people are the sole cause of all the problems here.” and after a short pause “It’s a pity we can’t send them to another camp but to do that we would need a good reason. All the other camps will have their share of trouble makers just as we have, so that alone is not sufficient to transfer them.” Still standing he bowed his head in silence looking vaguely at the table in front of him and drumming his fingers on it. None of the men wanted to break the silence, they knew that the Commander hadn’t finished addressing them. Finally, lifting his head he continued. “I know we’re on a knife edge here, before the last prisoners came we had enough staff to function efficiently, but now we’re stretched to the limit and I’m fully aware that none of you have been able to take any leave. You’ve all supported me and I appreciate the work that you’re doing here, but it’s too much to ask you to carry on like this indefinitely. I wish I could bring in more officers to help but it’s no good even asking.”

He took another short break before continuing. “Just tell me what the position would be if those two men were not here?” Several of the officers volunteered the answer, but it was left to one guard to express the view of all of the men.

“All the prisoners except those two are no problem at all, even the new ones. If they were not being bullied they would happily join the original inmates and go out to work, there would be no more trouble it’s as simple as that.” The meeting closed and the Commander had his solution.

The following day the brothers were marched out of the camp to work in the woods, escorted by two guards who stood over them while they carried out the work. The same procedure took place each day for the remainder of the week. It kept them away from the camp during the day, but as soon as they came back into the camp the trouble flared up again.

On Friday when they returned to camp they were led into the Commander’s office. He closed the door and put a suggestion to them. “The work you have been doing through the week has been appreciated but there is still a lot to do, we’re well behind in our schedule for wood clearance and we need to catch up. What I would like is for both of you to do an extra shift tomorrow.” The brothers made it clear that they had no intention of doing any such thing.

“Weekends were not worked at the camp.” they stressed. The Commander ignored this comment and continued.

“You will have realised that we are understaffed at the moment and my men are working long hours, they deserve some time off. If you’ll agree to work this shift tomorrow a guard will take you out to the woods and leave you there. He’ll come back later and bring you back to the camp, but during the day you’ll be allowed to work unsupervised. The point is can I trust you to work unsupervised?” He waited for their response which was not long in coming.

Both men made it perfectly clear they would be only too happy to work on the Saturday, and of course they could be trusted. Where could they go to, they didn’t want to leave the camp and all their friends. The Commander had the answer he had been looking for.

The brothers left the Commander’s office with huge smirks on their faces, thinking of the following day when they could make good their escape. As they disappeared into their quarters, the Commander sent for the three friends. Closing the door behind them he told them they were free the following day if they wished to leave the camp. The three were a little surprised but would enjoy a little time out of the camp when they didn’t have to work. Then came the crunch. The Commander explained the reason he was granting them some free time.

The three listened in silence with serious faces. He spoke to them quietly but clearly, giving exact details of what he wanted them to do. The three remained silent as they listened to what he was suggesting; they had been given an opportunity and it was up to them if they wanted to take that opportunity or not. The Commander continued. “I don’t care if one, two, or all three of you carry it out. But it could be the only chance you’ll have to rid yourselves of these bullies once and for all, and return the camp to what is was like before they came. I can’t stress strongly enough how the situation here has deteriorated and it could get even worse. The guards here are stretched to the limit and they can’t be everywhere at all times. I’m sure that before long those two will find a way to get to you, and when they do I may not be able to guarantee your safety.”

The following day came and the two brothers left the camp with their guard, shortly afterwards the three friends also left the camp. It was a good half an hour later when gunshots were heard back in the camp. “That will be the farmers shooting rabbits I expect,” said the Commander to no one in particular, but making sure that the guards and at least some of the inmates could hear him. Strolling around the yard he made the same remark a little later although no one else could recall hearing further shots. His job for the time being done he returned to his office.

Later that afternoon the three friends returned to camp. Their faces were not showing any signs of the pleasure that should have been there, after all it wasn’t everyday that free time was granted to inmates. They should also have been hungry, but instead of joining the others for the evening meal they went straight to their quarters and stayed there for the remainder of the day.

The guard was sent out to bring back the two brothers, but to the surprise of all but a few in the camp he came back alone. Almost out of breath he rushed into the Commander’s office blurting out that the brothers were nowhere to be found. “They must have run off sir,” he gasped. “Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to leave them on their own.” Strangely enough the Commander didn’t seem too concerned.

“Not to worry they won’t have gone far, they’ll soon be found and brought back here again. It’ll be dark soon but I’ll send out a search party first thing in the morning.” The guard left the office to tell his comrades of the escape.

The Commander was looking more stress-free now as he gazed over to the three empty spaces in the gun cabinet. “I’ll have to make sure they’re back in place before morning,” he mused. Settling back in his easy chair he reached over to the cabinet and produced half a bottle of whisky, pouring out a large measure into a tumbler he sat back and relaxed. “Ah that’s much better.” he said.

2

Over the next two weeks the camp slowly returned to the peaceful state it had been in prior to the arrival of the Huber brothers. Their disappearance had been the main topic of conversation between the inmates for much of the first week, but gradually the men began to notice that the atmosphere in the camp had changed and had been steadily improving since their disappearance. The camp was a much better place without them, and it wasn’t long before memories of the two men had faded altogether.

When the war finally ended many of the inmates wanted to return home to Germany to be re-united with their families, but although the fighting had stopped there was still a concern for the POWs. The government didn’t favour the idea of sending all these people back to Germany so soon after the war. They wanted to ensure a period of lasting peace so the POWs would be returned to their homeland slowly over a period of time. The camp at Lower Hutton continued to function until the Autumn of 1946 when the last of the inmates were finally sent back for repatriation. There were a few who didn’t want to return to their own country and these included the three friends. They wanted to stay in England, to live there and make careers for themselves.

When at last the camp closed the Commander gathered together what remained of the camp records, the majority of which had already been sent to head-quarters. Only a few remained and as well as these there were some personal items which had been kept. Looking through these he discovered some letters which had been given to him to post by the inmates. Memories of the two brothers came back to him. “Yes” he thought, “With all that trouble going on back then I must have forgotten about these.” The letters had been checked to make sure they contained no information which may have been useful to the enemy, but for whatever reason the letters hadn’t been posted. Two of them were addressed to Herr A Huber, that must be their father I suppose, it’s a bit late now but I’ve got a couple of stamps that should do for one of them, I’ll post it off tonight. The other ones I’ll keep until I can get some more stamps in the morning.”

Before the war Edwin had been head librarian at the central library in Levensbridge and he had been looking forward to taking up his position again as soon as the war ended. He had left his assistant in charge during his absence as the library had only been open two days a week during the war years. The two were good friends as well as colleagues and were keen to re-establish their close working relationship. Edwin called at the library first before going home taking all the items from the camp with him in a large tin box. “I’ll put it in the storeroom until morning,” he thought, “Then I’ll make arrangements for it to be collected by the authorities.” He dragged the heavy box down the steep stairway into the basement. The room was kept at a constant temperature which was needed to preserve the more valuable books and records kept by the library. He placed it alongside similar boxes and trunks which contained numerous miscellaneous items of historical value. Climbing slowly back up the stairs he found himself a little out of breath. “Well I’m not as young as I used to be,” he reflected. “I’ll have to be more careful and not overdo it from now on.” He cast a swift eye over the library before leaving, then locked the outer door and went home.

Once home he made himself a quick meal and then poured out a good measure of his favourite whisky. Sitting back in his much-loved armchair he recalled how he had had to adjust to life on his own when his wife had suddenly been taken from him some years ago. Sylvia had always taken care of his needs. They had not been blessed with children, but had lived a contented and comfortable life together, just the two of them each dependant on the other. Then when Sylvia was diagnosed with leukaemia it was only a matter of a few short weeks before she gave in to the inevitable.

“Well thank goodness that’s all done with.” he sighed, the war now finally over he could look forward to his work back in the library. He raised himself wearily out of the chair, spread his arms and yawned. “My God that box must have been damned heavy it’s quite worn me out, a good night’s rest is what I need.” Edwin went upstairs and climbed into his bed where he fell asleep almost immediately.

Morning came and the sunlight began to drift in through the bedroom window, over the next hour or so it crept slowly around the room until it rested on Edwin’s face. The sunlight was strong but it didn’t waken Edwin. Gradually the temperature in the room was getting warmer but the body in the bed was now cold. The tin box with all its records and letters would have to stay where it was, locked away in the storeroom at the library.

Chapter 4

Levensbridge – July 2010

Retirement Party

The party in the Fox and Pheasant public house was well underway and most of the staff from Levensbridge Police station were present. Following a successful career in the Metropolitan Police and latterly Levensbridge Police Force, Adam Firth had been looking forward to this moment. He could now put his feet up and start to enjoy his well earned retirement. Also leaving the force were Detective Sergeant Steve Mitchell who was retiring through ill health, and Detective Constable Mike Ostler who was being transferred to the North Lancashire Force.

The tall, rather rangy figure of Chief Inspector Sowerby with his distinctive sharp angular features was preparing to make his speech. He had nothing but praise and good luck messages to pass on to the three who were leaving the station, but it was also his duty to pass on news which would disappoint another member of his team.

DS Benedict (Bene) Douglas had proved to be a first class officer under Adam’s guidance, and with Adam’s retirement both he and Chief Inspector Sowerby had assumed that Bene would be promoted to Detective Inspector. Earlier in the day the Chief had received news of the proposed budget cuts for the forthcoming year; he was feeling uneasy and a little guilty about having to break the news to Bene. But it had to be done and now was as good a time as any. If he left it any longer Bene might find out from another source and that wouldn’t do at all. Pulling Bene over to one side he began to explain the cuts which had just been announced. Bene listened intently.

He was slightly shorter than the Chief Inspector, but still an inch over six foot, he had put a pound or two on recently but was not overweight. His slightly weather beaten face with its rustic features was topped off with a mop of thick curly brown hair set a little back from his broad forehead, his big friendly brown eyes were fixed firmly on the face of his superior. There was to be no replacement for Adam and neither would the vacancy left by Steve Mitchell be filled. Bene was stunned; he had been planning his wedding and was looking forward to buying a new house for Alex and himself. The promotion he had been expecting would have gone a long way to securing a mortgage for the newlyweds.

“I’m sorry Bene I feel partially responsible for this myself. You passed all the exams and you deserve the promotion. I fully expected you to get it and I honestly didn’t think this new round of cuts would be so drastic.” The news had completely floored Bene and it took a little while for it to sink in. The Chief continued to try and console him but could offer little in the way of comfort. He would appeal against the decision of course and hope to have the grade of Detective Inspector reinstated, but by the tone of his voice he didn’t seem very confident of getting the decision overturned.

There followed a short silence which gave Bene a little time to take it all in and compose himself. “Well I can’t say that I’m not disappointed, but if these cuts have to be made I suppose I have to be thankful that I still have a job. I mean if the cuts are carried out across the force then I expect quite a lot of people will actually lose theirs.”

The Chief was relieved that Bene had taken the news this way. He wanted to remind him how well he had managed when working on his own, using his own devices he had singlehandedly solved two cases earlier in the year.

“Remember a few months back when Adam was off with a heart attack, Steve was on long term sick leave and Mike was spending most of his time in the office?”

“Yes” said Bene “But that was different, and it was only for a couple of months or so, I couldn’t do it all the time.”

“No of course not,” said the Chief. “But in those few months you grew up and you proved yourself to me and everyone else in the station, and look at the results you got.”

Bene listened to the praise he was getting from the Chief but a sudden thought threw him into a state of panic. “If they’re not replacing Adam, Steve and Mike that means I’m going to be on my own again, I don’t think I can manage without any support at all.” The Chief was quick to calm him down.

“Well there is a bit of good news Bene because I’ve no intention of letting you struggle on by yourself.” Bene looked quizzically at the Chief wondering what was coming. “Granted, Adam and Steve won’t be replaced, but starting on Monday we’ll have a new Detective Constable at Levensbridge and he’ll be working directly under you.” This news cheered Bene up a bit. For although Mike had been in CID he had never really been much help to Adam or to him. Most of his time had been spent in the office working for the Chief, he had utilised him to free up a uniform officer for duty on the beat. And of course Steve had been off sick for quite a long time as well.

“Oh well” he thought “At least now I’ll have some proper help, and I’m sure Adam will still be around to lend an ear if I’m really stuck even though he is retired. Yes maybe it won’t be too bad.”

Bene and the Chief separated and went off to join their colleagues who were now well into the party spirit. The only thing bothering Bene now was how he would break the news to his girlfriend Alex and her mother Dot with whom he was living.

At the far side of the room he spotted the pretty young PC Jenny Stephenson who had been cornered by Mike and Steve. They were plainly trying it on with her, and although he was sure she could handle them without any assistance she beckoned him over with a friendly wave. “Hiya Bene!” she shouted. Bene began to make his way over towards the group; he was barely half-way there when her raised voice got his attention again. “You’ll never guess what these two have been suggesting.” She was clearly more amused than upset, and laughingly told not only Bene but everyone else within earshot what the two men would like to do with her. They should have known better, but obviously the alcohol had taken over their senses and given their confidence too big a boost. Wittingly Jenny brought them down with a wallop when she related their suggestions to the large audience she now held. The colleagues who were gathered around were having a good laugh at the expense of the two men.

Alone with Jenny the disappointment of his conversation with Sowerby was fading into the back of his mind. Jenny was a stunner, she had an hour glass figure, legs that went on forever and long curly black hair that swept around her well formed pale face, she had large sparkling blue eyes that would seduce you and drag you in under her spell. “Well” she said “It’s certainly going to be different at the station from now on isn’t it. I mean we’ll all miss Steve ‘cos he’s a great guy, but Mike’s always been a bit of a wet fish hasn’t he; you and him never really got on that well did you?” Bene had to agree.

“No I suppose not, we did have our differences I know, but this last month or so he’s been a lot more friendly and helpful. Still we’ll have a new face at the station on Monday I’ve just heard it from Sowerby.”

“So will you be made up then?” She asked. Bene had to admit that with the proposed cuts it was now very unlikely.

“Oh I’m sorry Bene, because you’ve worked so hard for it and you really deserve it, anyway who’s this new guy that we’re getting?”

With the disappointment of missing out on his promotion Bene hadn’t thought to ask the Chief who it was that was coming in.

“I haven’t a clue you know, Sowerby never told me. I’ll ask him later on if I get the chance.”

But the chance never came, every time he looked over towards Sowerby he was deep in conversation with someone. In the end Bene decided to forget all about it and concentrate on enjoying the evening; he would find out on Monday, that would be soon enough.

Bene looked around for Adam Firth his boss for the past three years and who had just completed his last day of service in the police force. During their time together Adam had been as much a friend to him as his superior. It was Adam who had taken him under his wing, had looked after him and guided him throughout his career in CID. Many times Bene had wondered if he would ever be able to hack it on his own after Adam retired. He had been lazy and far too reliant on Adam, but for some reason Adam had seen hidden qualities in Bene that even Bene himself didn’t know he possessed.

The change had come when Adam had suffered a heart attack and Bene had been left on his own with two difficult cases to crack. He had just met his girlfriend Alex at that time, and in a few weeks from now they were to be married. With her support and Adam’s he had shed his old lifestyle and become a more responsible and dedicated person, someone who could now be relied on, not like the Bene of old. He had worked tirelessly on the two cases, and despite several setbacks he had stuck firmly to his task and finally brought the culprits to justice.

They say a crook can spot a policeman a mile away whether he’s in uniform or not. But at least one copper could confidently allege to dispute that claim, for Adam Firth looked anything but a Policeman. He preferred his country casuals, the checked jacket he had worn faithfully for a number of years now sported new patches sewn on top of the original ones. He had a kindly face, which together with his attire would easily pass him off for a Solicitor, or maybe an old fashioned doctor. At the moment he was looking rather glum and Bene wondered what it was that was troubling him. “Hey come on Adam, you should be enjoying this more than anyone.”

“Oh it’s you Bene don’t worry about me, I’m just taking a minute or two thinking about all those years I’ve spent looking forward to this day.”

“Well it’s here at last boss, Ellen will have been waiting for this day to come just as much as you have. She’ll have you all to herself now and I bet she’s got lots of jobs lined up for you.” “Yes you’re right there I think that’s what I’m afraid of you know. I mean here in the police I could always use that as an excuse, but now I’m finished there’s no escape.”

“Well,” said Bene “I suppose it’ll take a little time to adjust, but it won’t be long before you start feeling the benefits. It’s been fairly quiet here recently, maybe a bit too quiet. I think we both needed something to get our teeth into this last month or so to keep us occupied. I don’t know about you but I get the feeling that this quiet spell isn’t going to last much longer.”

Adam thought about it. “Yes maybe you’re right, I’ve had the same feeling but I can’t think what on earth it is that could be brewing up. The only odd thing that’s happened recently is the discovery of those two bodies that were unearthed in the woods near that old POW camp. But they’ve been in the ground for over sixty years, and anyway division have claimed them so it can’t be anything to do with that.”

“Yes I know” said Bene. “It’s strange though isn’t it, because they seem to have been German POW’s. Do you know any more about them Adam?”

“Not much more, the only thing they’re sure about is that they were brothers, DNA has confirmed that fact. Oh and I believe they had identical gold bracelets which were obviously gifts from the family. There is one problem though, both of them had been shot more than once and the bullets they found in what was left of the bodies were British army issue. I believe their details have been given to the press in Germany to see if anyone over there can identify them and maybe want to reclaim the bodies.”

“Well whoever gets that case is on a loser isn’t he,” said Bene. “I mean how the hell can you find out what happened out there in the woods after all this time; it’s an impossible job.”

“Yes” agreed Adam, “Just think yourself lucky that division have claimed it.” Bene certainly was pleased that it was division that had taken it over and not him. But he still had that uneasy feeling, something was waiting for him out there but he had no idea what it was.

It wouldn’t be too long before he found out.

Chapter 5

Disturbing news

Levensbridge police station was situated a little way from the town centre on a narrow street with parking on one side only; it sat rather unobtrusively at the end of a row of small terraced houses. It had been built in the Victorian era and had retained its outward frontal appearance although the rear of the building had been extended. Inside, the building had undergone several alterations, and was now fully equipped and fit for purpose for a modern police force.

Bene arrived early at the police station on Monday morning. Not that he had any reason to do so for there had been little for him or Adam to do during the last few weeks. It might have been because he was a feeling a little apprehensive. Adam had always been there to guide him, but now he was on his own and feeling rather exposed and vulnerable, like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a car. His mentor had now retired and the support that he had always relied on had gone with him. He knew that both Adam and Chief Inspector Sowerby had confidence in him to do the job alright, but just the thought of not having that father figure to turn to made him jittery. If only he had something tangible to get his teeth into it would help, just sitting at his desk with little to do but check his emails and deal with a mass of meaningless paperwork was not helping him one bit. “Damn,” he thought “If only that telephone would ring, anything at all however trivial just to get me out of here.”

It was a sign of his nervousness that when the phone did ring Bene almost jumped out of his chair. He picked up the receiver and gave his name to the caller. As he listened a frown began to form across his large forehead. The call was from Mrs Janes the manageress of Greenacres residential home which was on the southern outskirts of the town. When the call ended he picked up his jacket and left the office, telling Val the civilian administrator as he left to take any calls and that he should be back in an hour or so. “It might be something, it might not,” he muttered to himself, “let’s just hope she’s not being paranoid.”

He had passed the home several times before in his car but had never had any reason to call there, until now that was. He was let into the building by one of the carers who took him along the wide featureless corridor to the manageress’s office.