funny movements (Alice)

Alice, Francis and others of the Security Services investigation department did share some of Ashford PD's cases. The murders, drug cases and people trafficking tended to end up with them along with SWAT teams and anything other than beat cop work. Alice considered it similar to when the FBI assisted with a case only here things were so close the lines blurred.

So with an ID that informed people she was a Lead Detective with a Security Services badge and shield that would confuse things a little she pulled up in the open topped red jeep. Most were black but she tended to pick one that looked like it was a civilian vehicle. She'd also a spare case pack for the OSE officer she'd be dealing with just in case she hadn't got it.

Alice had on a pants suit with the obvious shape of a pistol in her shoulder holster under the mid green jacket, her trousers black and solid flat shoes. Her blouse was light pink and sleeveless.

She wasn't to thrilled to find out she had to deal with OSE again. Ace hadn't exactly left a good impression personally with her but at least he'd been professional about things while the weirdness happened round them.

The person looking back at her matched the photo attached to the case pack. So she asked in a Floridian accent "Are you Agent Mercer?" She'd be professional about this too even if she hated everything the OSE stood for.

Blythe Mercer

Agent was the job title you got when you worked for any agency; at least normal ones anyway. You could called an Officer here if you were part of the PD. So in Alice's case it wasn't purely about respect as she wanted this to run as smoothly as it could. Though she suspected it would be rather messy by the time they finished with this case. One of them might well be in hospital or the guy they were looking for would be in the morgue if he was lucky. If he still lived he'd be questioned in a harsh way.

"In that case hop in Blythe. I am Lead Detective Alice Seraphim of the Ashford Sercurity Services Investigative Department. You're also about to get an education in the reality of crime fighting and how dumb INTERPOL can be. We could have scooped this guy last year if we had known about him" she replied with a little smile.

"I brought you a copy of the case if you haven't seen it already. Our guy is called Julius Lanchester; aged 49, caucasian. Already wanted in Florida and Georgia for drug smuggling and people trafficking. He's also expanded his operations to Trinidad & Tobago and now had a foothold here. As I mentioned before Interpol cut us off from their database and didn't involve us until now. So he's been here a year pulling strings while he had been causing a lot of regional suffering".

There was also a photo of him in the file for reference and identification later on. "I helped bust a major weapons and drug smuggling operation in Guadaloupe along with my partner. This was how the connection of our man Jules was made to here. And the hunt begins now".

Looking over to Blythe while she got a chance to digest all this information she knew this might get rough at the end. So had a question for her. "Do you at least have a pistol with you? This will get rough and you may well have to kill by the end of this". Her looked showed she told the truth. Things had improved on the island and also opened up regionally. Ashford Isle wouldn't be a hiding place anymore once an international warrant was issued as they'd know about it.


Blythe Mercer

It was mainly OSE's reputation and her own limited experiences with them before she got here that was bothering Alice; so of course there would be tension. "Yeah he's a real piece of work and he will pay the price later on. Officers from Georgia, Florida, Trinidad & Tobago and the Ashford PD would like to talk to him as well. So he has to come back with us alive though a bullet hole or two will be fine as long as they're not fatal" she replied before she started the jeep and she drove off.

"He dosen't have an address in the new city so that leaves the old town or the slums. He might even be outside the city as well but I know people who might know a thing or two. First stop is Father Brown; don't let the title fool you as he runs a strip club in the old part of town. His joint is called 'the Lady Chapel'. May his god help him if he makes this difficult" she added sighing.

If nothing else the OSE boys might find a new joint to go to after working hours but this local employer also had other side lines that would get him in front of a judge.

Blythe Mercer

Alice didn't know if Blythe was being serious or not about the mention of torture. That troubled her so as they drove on with the wind in their hair she replied "I'm not allowing torture; once that happens his lawyer will be all over this case and nobody will get to bring him to trial. Also given the poor reputation of OSE round here please don't mention who you work for. People will clam up rather quickly and our man will just go into a deeper hiding place". She was serious about this and added "you sound likeable and you might well be a decent soul but I do have issues with your employer".

The strip club was mentioned and she further added "they'll be closed now but I'm sure he'll still be around to ask questions. A good informant is worth his weight in gold; he also hates drug dealers so he's not likely to be a friend of Jules".

Blythe Mercer

Alice had expected more of a fight over this but it did seem Blythe and herself were on the same page here. At least for a short time.

“In that case we have an investigation to follow and an internal arrest warrant to execute. It won’t be long until we get to the old town” she replied and about ten minutes later she was pulling up beside a church; or at least it used to be one and the tell tale sign is wasn’t one now was the neon cross above the wooden front door. The holy statues were all still there which was his choice but you didn’t go to this chapel to confess your sins.

“Welcome to the Lady Chapel. He’s either just gone to bed or chatting up one of the cleaners” she added. Once out of the car she flew briefly to have a quick look round the back of the joint and didn’t see anything unusual. So it was time to try the front door.

Banging the door with the butt of her Walther PP she added in a loud voice “Father Bill. It’s detective Seraphim. I’d like a word with you”. She was likely to be the only visitor wanting to see him this time in the morning.

Blythe Mercer

About a minute later a tired looked large man answered the door. He towered over Alice for starters and would have looked at home in an American Football team. He was wearing pink pajamas which made him look more like a teddy bear than a bouncer.

"Good morning Kenny. Is the father around?" she sweetly said and a conversation started. She just introduced Blythe as Agent Mercer to avoid complications and explained they who they were looking for. She didn't mind him knowing as he'd be told anyway. Kenny shook his head and his look showed he didn't like drug smugglers much either. "He's going to be trouble" he commented. Then Father Bill himself came to the door and invited them in. It did still look like the inside of a church though the pews had gone and the dancers platforms, their poles and other tables and soft furnishings had taken their place. The DJ seemed to play out of the pulpit too by the looks of the location of the speakers.

Coffee was offered in his living quarters upstairs and to the back of the building and Alice accepted. She needed an expresso several times a day as they were getting down to business. The good father had lived in Jamaica before coming here and sounded British. He'd also been travelling for his profession like Alice and Blythe. "I did hear something. Mr Lanchester went off grid not long after he came here but his henchmen do come here quite often" he said and gave a few names which Alice recorded on her phone. Blythe was also free to ask questions if she felt they would help.

Blythe Mercer

Father Bill did have suspicions about what those henchmen were up to. So he answered the question. “Usually they’re just here as customers watching the girls, having fun or drinking but they do seem to occasionally meet others here. It doesn’t look like hanging out if you know what I mean”.

Alice looked to Blythe voicing a thought that had formed. “He’s using them as go betweens from time to time. He either trusts them a lot given he doesn’t show himself or doesn’t have a choice to work that way. He’s hidden so long he’s paranoid”. Then looked back to father Bill. It was very helpful information even if it didn’t reveal the lair of the spider right away.

“Thank you for the help but be careful when you are recruiting. The quality of fake island ID cards is certainly getting better” she added with a little smile. A bit of advice for him as she didn’t want to have to bust a source like him for having underage dancers on the premises.

Blythe Mercer