Let Right Be Done

Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Ricky left the café through the rear entrance and watched from the shadows as Dave came out the front door. From a distance they did look alike, and just like him Dave rode a Manx. Ricky held his breath hoping the ruse worked. The sound of the bike being kicked started was followed by a car engine turning over, and seconds after Dave left the car park the Jag followed.

Ricky smiled, he'd assumed that Sanderson would have him followed, and that had proved correct. He'd also reasoned that Sanderson's goons wouldn't be knowledgeable enough about bikes to recognise the difference between two different Manx bikes; he'd been right about that as well, and now he had time to meet up with Gently and Bacchus so they could have a look at the package he was delivering.

The parcel was intriguing; he'd been expecting a box but what he had been given was the padded envelope. It hadn't weighed much more than a letter, but was lighter than a book. He'd wanted to study it and feel it through the packaging, but suspecting he was being watched he'd just placed it in the carrier on his bike.

Having to deliver it to Birmingham had been a surprise and if he had any concerns about the job, it was if this delay to examine the package would mean he missed the delivery time. His mind pondered the delivery address, hopefully Gently could speak to the Plods in Birmingham and they could provide some more information about the place he was going to.

Having waited five minutes to make sure that the men who'd been following him did not return he got on his bike and headed back to the police headquarters.

Chief Inspector Gently, Bacchus and Alexandra were waiting at the station. None of them were sure when or if he would be able to meet up with them that night. Alexandra in particular was finding it difficult not to worry despite Ricky's assurances that he would be alright. If his suspicions were right and Olivia's murder was linked to some organised sex industry, then the people would be ruthless. Glancing at the clock she realised it was only a minute since she had last looked; Mr Gently and Bacchus looked unconcerned but she couldn't be like that. She nibbled nervously at her lower lip and walked to the window peering out onto the dark streets.

"Did your mother not ever tell you that a watched kettle never boils?" Inspector Gently inquired.

"By the way I'm behaving obviously not." Alexandra tried to smile.

"He'll be ok you know he's a smart young man."

"He's not a policeman though, what experience of working undercover does he have?"

"None, but during his National Service he was involved in a covert op where he distinguished himself with honour. His superiors thought so highly of him that they wanted him to stay in the army and train to be an officer."

"Didn't know him very well then did they? Ricky doesn't like the establishment."

"No, but that doesn't make him unsuitable for this job. He has brains and more than that, thanks to an incident last year he has developed common sense." George paused, as if was remembering the incident in detail. "He has the measure of Sanderson I'm sure."

"You're talking about what Webster did to him last year aren't you? How did that help Ricky develop some common sense."

"I'd advised him not to leave police custody he ignored that advice, and that is not a mistake he would make now."

"Did you know Webster from London?" Alexandra asked

"You don't think I'm local then and I thought I'd lost the accent."

She smiled.

"No you haven't, once a Londoner always a Londoner. So you knew Webster?"

"Yes I did. He was a vicious criminal. To try and stop me arresting him he killed my wife. I followed him to Durham. I knew what he was and what he believed Ricky to be. I knew that meant Ricky was in danger."