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 George Douglas 10 - (Frank's Interview)

   Robert Smythe was lucky.  He was already in his car and away from his
house before the reporters swooped.  His wife and their two children were
not so lucky.  Karen had just woken the two girls, Sharon and Alison, when
there was a clamour at the door.  She had the presence of mind to check the
door before opening it.  And decided not to even try!

   She told the girls not to bother with the door and to keep away from
windows.  They didn't argue with her, Sharon was still skittish following
her ordeal.  Karen went to her phone and dialled a number.  But was
informed that the cell phone was switched off!  She then dialled the
partnership number and left a message on the answer-machine.  The only
thing she could then do was to barricade the door in case the mob outside
got nasty.

   Sharon came down the stairs and sat beside her mother, she had dressed
and looked quite pretty she looked up at her mother and asked, "How am I
going to get to the station mum?" She wanted to get the kidnapping out of
the way as quickly as possible.

   Karen hugged her daughter, "I don't know dear.  I hope your father can
find a way." Just then Alison, her elder daughter, entered the room.

   "Why are those people outside mum?" she asked.

   Alison shook her head, "I don't know darling, I really don't know."

   The arrival of the security team was more than they could have expected.
Many of the people had been present the previous Sunday and knew the layout
of the property, they gently but resolutely forced the pressmen away from
the house and down the drive to the main gates.  Again the police took
charge once the mob was evicted, erecting barriers to hold them away from
the gates.

   A knock at the now quiet door announced the team leader of the Delta
group.  He saluted as Karen opened the door.

   "Good morning Madam, Sorry we were late but I'm afraid this caught us on
the hop!" he apologised to Karen, "I'm Carstairs and I'm in charge of your
protection team," he added as an introduction.

   "What's happening Mr.  Carstairs?  Why were all those people here?"
Karen asked him.  In reply he handed her a newspaper.  A glance at the
headline made her sit down in shock.

   "Oh my!" she exclaimed which brought Alison over.

   "Sharon you're famous!" Alison shouted to her sister which drew her over
to the paper.

   "Oh no!  No." Sharon said as she read the headline, "Mum I can't go out
there now!" Carstairs shook his head.  "That's why we are here, Miss.  I
have a car prepared to take you to the police station.  You will be guarded
at all times.  There will be no trouble at all."

   "That's what was said about Sunday!" Sharon pouted.

   Carstairs sighed.  "With respect Miss we were unable to assign a full
team that day.  If we had then things would have been different.  But I'm
afraid that's all in the past - we have to worry about today." Carstairs
was more practical than Sharon wanted him to be so she sat beside Karen
still pouting.

   "Thank you Mr.  Carstairs, is there anything you need us to do?" Karen
was happy to leave the security to Carstairs, but wasn't sure what they had
to do.

   "Nothing at all Mrs.  Smythe, my people will watch the parameter and
ensure that nobody gets in and, apart from staying inside, just carry out
your normal routine." Carstairs smiled at her grateful for her question,
many people didn't understand how to act with bodyguards.

   "Oh - I've just thought, what about Cathy?" Sharon asked, feeling
slightly alarmed about her friend.

   Carstairs smiled at her.  "It was Mr.  Douglas that gave the alert, and
I believe that a team has already been sent to their address." He touched
his ear where an earpiece could be seen with a microphone attached "Leader
here!" he said and then listened.  "Maintain presence and I'll be out in a
moment." He turned to Karen and gave a small smile.  "If you'll pardon me
for a moment Mrs.  Smythe, I'm needed outside." And he let himself out of
the front door.

   Karen followed his footsteps and slipped the security chain onto the
door, just to be on the safe side.

   Once outside Carstairs placed his cap on his head, this had a camera
incorporated as well as communications setup that augmented his earpiece.
"Control?  Team Leader Delta!  Update requested."

   "_TL Delta?  Control - maintain position at present - Team Beta at their
location and secure.  We have a third team Gamma despatched to another
location.  Stand by for further details!_"

   "Control, Team Leader Delta.  Confirmed!  Out!" Carstairs then turned
his attention to the group outside the entrance to the house.  The police
had arrived by now and were ensuring that the reporters behaved themselves.
Although a couple had to be escorted from the garden by some of Carstairs's
team.

   "Ladies and Gentlemen if I could have your attention please.  You will
understand that the families concerned have a lot on their minds at the
moment.  A press statement will be released shortly and until then I must
ask you to be patient and allow these people their privacy.  That is all
I'm able to say at the moment.  Thank you!" He turned away from the crowd
and walked to a van that doubled as a mobile command centre.

   "I was never cut out to be a diplomat, you know," he muttered into his
microphone.

   A male voice chuckled over his earpiece, "_I know!  But you're the best
one here!_" Carstairs opened the door and stepped inside.  Looking up, his
second in command was glancing over several monitor screens.

   "You know Adam, you should be the one speaking!" Carstairs told him.

   Adam Whethereal shook his head, "Not me Stuart, I'd get tongue-tied
facing that mob.  You know that.  You open your mouth and people listen. 
I'm happier providing the lines for you to say." And this was how their
team worked Adam was better in the background providing the data for
Carstairs.

   A blip on a scanner brought Adam's attention.  "We have Charlie's in
sector 2.  D3 and D8 attend and escort back to main group please." He
turned to Carstairs.  "Well some of them didn't believe you."

   Carstairs nodded, "I know and there's two other teams out as well - we
need to tighten this up.  Where's the car for the girl?"

   Adam checked a screen, "It's on its way now, and it's a secure type. 
Who's going with her?"

   Carstairs thought for a moment before making up his mind.  "Su I think
would be best; she looks sweet and harmless and should put the girl at
ease." He was thinking of Su Li, she was an oriental with a black belt (3rd
Dan) in several martial arts and was the team champion.  Although standing
at 5 foot 3 inches she didn't seem too dangerous.

   Adam smiled and flicked a switch, "Su Li report to command truck for
special assignment."

   A few minutes later there was a knock at the door which opened to show
Su Li.  Carstairs nodded to her.

   "Thank you Su Li.  We need a body guard to escort Miss Sharon Smythe to
the police station and to remain with her all day.  Would you mind doing
that?" he asked her

   She smiled at him, "Not at all sir, who am I protecting her from?" she
asked.

   Carstairs smiled thinking of her attacking the policemen interviewing
the girl but then schooled his thought.  "Just reporters but remember no
permanent harm to them; just keep them out of her way."

   She frowned at him as if he'd accused her of a crime, "Of course not
sir! The art is in not using force for the sake of force."

   Carstairs smiled at her.  "Of course!  Sorry for implying otherwise.  If
you'll stay with me and I'll introduce you to Sharon," he told her.  "Adam
I'll be over at the house, if you need me then use the secondary comms."
Tapping his earpiece.

   As he was leaving the van he was interrupted by Adam.

   "Control calling Sir." He handed a microphone to Carstairs.

   "Hello Control.  Team Leader Delta here."

   "_TL Delta.  Message from Alpha!  Relocate family to Alpha 3 repeat
Alpha 3.  All three families to be located there.  Teams Beta and Delta to
maintain presence to secure property.  Team Gamma to act as security at
Alpha 3.  End of message._"

   "Control Team Leader Delta.  Message received and understood.  Out." He
looked at Adam.  "Well you heard that, we've got to move them out to Alpha
3, I suppose I'd better get them to pack up." Su looked up at him and he
shook his head.  "Sorry Su but you're still going with Sharon.  She's got
to get this interview done.  Come on let's tell them."

   -----------------------

   Robert arrived at the police station for the first interview with Frank,
and found the place in an uproar.  Reporters were clamouring around the
front desk trying to find out information and the sergeant was trying his
best to maintain order.  He looked up as Robert entered and quickly spoke
to a constable who managed to escort Robert through a secure door into the
station.

   "What in god's name is happening?" Robert asked the constable.

   "No idea sir, this lot started to arrive since six o'clock this morning
and have been here ever since.  The super's been pulling his hair out since
he's arrived," the constable confided.

   "Well what started it?"

   "A news report about some kidnapping!  Hey that's what Clark's working
on!  You're not involved in it are you?" Robert had a sense of foreboding
at that.

   "I think you'd better get me to DS Clark at once," Robert said.  He was
quickly shown to an office where Clark and his superior were talking.  At
his entrance Clark quickly introduced him.  "This is Robert Smythe.  His
daughter was one of the two girls kidnapped by Kenneth and Frank Webb.  Mr.
Smythe, this is Detective Inspector Greaves." The two nodded in greeting
and then the Inspector asked, "Mr.  Smythe, I understand that you are
partly responsible for the people now inhabiting the entrance." At Robert's
blank look he explained.  "This is in response to a newspaper report about
the kidnapping, one which is biased against the action taken by the police.
From your blank look I assume that you were unaware of this." Robert could
only agree with him.  Greaves reconsidered "I think you'd better explain to
DS Clark about your involvement with the Webb brothers." The Inspector left
the two men together.

   Clark gestured to a seat where Robert sat and then sat next to him. 
Robert thought for a moment and then started to speak.

   "There is an experiment being undertaken by the Crown Prosecution
Service and several private companies whereby some criminal prosecutions
are being undertaken by solicitors such as myself.  The cases involved are
mainly low order or petty crimes with a few serious crimes included.  The
Joey Webb case is one of these serious crimes involved."

   Clark interrupted him, "But why is the CPS doing this?"

   Robert smiled, "Costs!  As always the Government's trying to save money.
As the Prison service now has private guards in some prisons and private
transport to and from courts and prisons.  So the CPS now has to `farm out'
its business."

   Clark was unsure about this.  "So how did your firm get involved with
this?"

   Robert was more cautious with this answer.  "We've been sponsored by a
consortium to take part in the scheme.  They have provided the money to
enable us to take the case and so we joined the scheme.  The Joey Webb case
was assigned to us as the next case in line.  We've followed up the police
case with our own enquiries as if it was a normal private prosecution."

   "That's when Ken and Pete Webb came into the picture?" Clark asked.

   "Yes.  One of our researchers was approached by Ken and he tried to
`persuade' her that the information she had was wrong and didn't like it
when she called a watchdog who took photographs of Ken.  It was from these
that we were able to recognise him.  When Pete started to approach our
witnesses then our watchdogs were able to chase him off.  We had hoped that
they would give up."

   Clark shook his head, "Instead they kidnapped your daughter and Cathy
Douglas!"

   Robert nodded, "Yes, I don't know how they found out where I lived or
how they were able to decoy the security guards I had, and it was purely
the girls' bad luck that they were alone at the front but I suppose it was
just a chance that the men took."

   "I suppose so.  But we'll find out when we talk to Frank.  Are you sure
you want to represent him?  I'm sure the law society would question it!"
Clark was watching Robert closely

   "They may want to.  But Sharon and Cathy both agree that Frank was
railroaded into the brother's plans with a false accusation of murder.  So
I have to prove them right!" Robert said.

   "Yes, I'd like to hear more about that." Clark said and then thought
about something, "We've contacted the police in Joey's home town and
they're interested about the case, if we get enough information they may be
able to proceed with the case.  This means, of course, that you may have to
relinquish your action against Joey anyway." (As a side note - In England
unsolved murder cases are not closed except in exceptional circumstances
but remain open indefinitely.  Also murder cases are given a higher
priority than an extortion cases so any action would be for the `higher'
crime).

   "Yes that's true, I suppose it a pity that we couldn't prove that Joey
was part of this kidnapping as well." Robert said.

   "No, he's got an alibi for that at least." Clark agreed.  "Well shall we
get on with your client's interview."

   ---------------------------

   Frank Webb was worried!  He'd been bundled from the hospital to the
police station amidst the noise of people shouting for an interview.  How
they knew he was there was beyond him.

   Now he was waiting in an interview room, a policewoman had brought him a
cup of coffee and was sitting in a corner - just making sure he didn't get
up and run out.  Not that he would, he knew that he was in a lot of trouble
and was willing to face up to his crime.  Again his brothers had dropped
him in it!

   He was still agonising over this when DS Clark walked in along with
Robert and another man that Frank didn't recognise.  As soon as they
entered the policewoman left.

   "Good morning Frank.  Before we start the interview I have to ask if you
want me to represent you.  You can have another solicitor if you want one,"
Robert asked Frank who shook his head.

   "No Mr.  Smythe, I'm just surprised that you offered after all I did?"
Frank was genuinely puzzled.

   "As I said last night, both my daughter and Cathy said that you needed a
good solicitor, and they both trust you which means a lot to me.  Now is
there anything you need to talk about to me before the police start their
interview?"

   Frank shook his head.  "No, Mr.  Smythe.  I've had time to think about
things last night and following what that other man said I think I'm going
to need your help."

   "What other man?" Clark asked suddenly.

   "He said he was the family solicitor but I've never seen him before, and
I didn't get his name", Frank answered and Robert was able to supply the
name.

   "Crimmonson his name is.  Patrick Crimmonson.  He's been trying to break
my case against Joey ever since I've taken it up." Robert was slightly
angry now, "He's the type of person that gives solicitors a bad name, but
there's nothing he's done to bring him up against the council."

   "But he just about told me that Ken and Pete were using his ideas!"
Frank said.  Robert turned to face him.

   "Did he actually tell you that though?"

   Frank's face fell, "No he didn't it was the way he spoke, it implied
that he knew everything about the plan, but he didn't say it outright."

   Robert nodded, "Yes he's clever like that, innuendos and hints but
nothing definite.  Well, he's bound to overstep the mark one day.  Anyway
Frank, if you're ready to start I think that DS Clark here is also ready."

   Frank nodded and all the people took their seats, Clark and the unknown
man on one side of the table with Frank and Robert on the other.  There was
a tape machine on the table with microphones pointing away from it.  The
man with Clark removed two sealed tapes from his pocket and loaded them
into the machine.  He pressed the record button, there was an electronic
bleep from a speaker and then Clark spoke.

   "This is an interview with Mr.  Frank Webb.  The date is Wednesday 15th
May and the time is 09:27.  Persons present Detective Sergeant Clark." He
paused while the unknown man spoke.

   "Detective Constable Williams."

   "Mr.  Robert Smythe - solicitor for Mr.  Frank Webb."

   "Frank Webb"

   Clark took over the questioning again.  "Mr.  Webb you understand that
you have been charged with kidnapping of Cathy Roberts and Sharon Smythe
and anything you say here may be produced in evidence against you in a
court of law." Frank nodded his head, "I'm sorry Mr.  Webb but we need your
verbal answer."

   "Yes I do, I'm anxious to help you." Frank answered.

   "Thank you.  Now in your own words please, we need to know what
happened, how you became involved in this." Clark was being very free with
Frank; he understood what the man was feeling and wanted him to be relaxed
as he agreed with Cathy's assessment.

   "It was about a week ago that my brother Ken turned up at my house."
Frank began. . .

   ------------

   "Hello Frank.  How you've been?" Ken said.  Franks face dropped when he
saw his brother standing in the door.

   "Ken?  How did you get my address?" Frank asked.

   "Oh a little bird told me.  What's the matter - I thought you'd be happy
to see your big brother?  Married life seems to agree with you."

   "Listen Ken the answer's no, okay I'm not going to do anything.  I'm
free from you and Joey."

   Ken moved in close and whispered into Frank's ear, "Well if you want
your lovely wife and kid to learn how you killed a man in cold blood then
carry on.  But if you want your secret to be kept safe I think you'll want
to help."

   "Oh come on Ken that would kill them!  You wouldn't do that!" Frank was
sweating now, he hadn't revealed to anyone about that day.

   "If you help us get Joey free then there's no need is there!" Ken tried
to make his voice friendly but there was a hint of malice in it.

   "Okay but we can't stay here!" Frank told him.

   "That's okay; I've already got a place we can go to, nice and quiet. 
Pete's already there."

   So Frank told his wife that he was going with his brother for some time
and not to worry, that was the last time he saw her until they met up at
the hospital.

   Ken took Frank into the town centre and then to the Courthouse.  He
checked to ensure that nobody was watching before entering a small
corridor, once there he used a key to open a concealed door.

   They walked down a flight of stairs.  "What is this place?" Frank asked.

   "It's an old bomb shelter, they built it during the cold war, and
haven't used it ever since," Ken told him.  Looking around the walls Frank
could see that they'd been recently painted over which gave a lie to Ken's
words

   "Where's the power for the lights coming from?"

   "It's still attached to the local grid, there's an emergency generator
just in case the big one dropped, but until then we've got free electricity
and water."

   "How did you find out about it?" Frank was curious now.

   "We've got our sources.  The least said about them the better for you."
Ken was now being cagy as if there was something dangerous that he didn't
want to mention.

   "Well how big is this place?" Frank was getting lost with the twists and
turns that Ken was making.

   "Well I don't know as we haven't used all of it.  We're just in a
section that's labelled as family living area 4.  They had a full blown
setup.  I'll show you when we get there."

   They arrived at the area to find that Pete was already lying on a
settee. He looked up when Ken arrive.

   "Well I'll be blowed.  It's Frank!  Was he where . . ." Pete started to
say.

   "Yeah!  Exactly where we were told!  Now keep quiet while we go over the
plans." Ken pulled out a street map and then blueprints.  "This is the
house we're going to take over.  We're going to convince the owner that
he's going to let Joey free or else we kill his family."

   "What!  No way Ken!  I'm not going to do that!  Count me out!" Frank was
appalled at the suggestion.  Then Pete spoke up.

   "Hey Ken, why not grab one of his brats and ransom her for Joey!" Ken
rubbed his chin in thought.

   "Why not, we've got the perfect place here.  Less risk of nosey
neighbours looking in, we could hold her in that end room and use the one
in front for taking the pictures.  And we've got a new toy for that.  Ken
pointed to a small laptop computer with a camera attached.  "It takes
movies and all!  So we can film them talking away.  All fits on a disk,
easy to send."

   Ken seemed proud of his new machine.  Frank wondered where he'd stolen
it from.  "Look Ken, you don't need me to help you, I'll go home and let
you and Pete get on with it." He turned to go and found Pete standing in
front of him.

   "You don't understand, Frank.  You've seen this place; we can't just let
you leave now.  Anyway you understand some of this stuff better than we
do," Ken said in an amenable tone.

   Frank turned to face him but Ken was walking into another room.  Pete
pushed Frank into following.

   "You see Frank, we've got a few extra toys to use, but we need your
expertise in armaments.  Ken had a large suitcase which he opened to show
several bars of what appeared to be play-dough but Frank recognised it as
Plastic explosive.  Ken picked up a bar and threw it to Frank; Pete ducked
as Frank caught it.

   "Relax Pete!  It's harmless until you set a fuse off!" Ken sniggered at
his brother's discomfort.

   "That's not funny Ken, what if he dropped it?" Pete asked.  Frank
remembered that Pete was always the slow one of the family.

   "So what fuses do you have?" Frank asked, Ken pulled open a small
compartment and several radio fuses dropped out.

   "Good grief, these are top ordinance.  Where did you get them from?"
Frank was puzzled as the equipment shouldn't have been available outside of
the army.  He also noticed several thunder flash and smoke grenades with a
special radio fuse.  These allowed saboteurs to plant and then retire to a
safe distance before detonating; they were also very good for distraction
work.

   `_You could start a small war with these_!' Frank thought to himself and
was trying to think of ways to render them harmless when Ken shut the case.

   "Of course once we're ready I'll let you use whatever you need, but for
the time being I've got to make other arrangements.  Pete?  Make sure
Frank's at home here while I go out." Ken said and then walked away.  Frank
tried to follow him but was stopped by Pete.

   "It's okay Frank, Ken's just phoning for instructions." Pete confided.

   "Instructions?  From who?" Frank asked but Pete remained silent on that
subject.  Frank tried to leave but Pete stopped him.

   "I wouldn't bother, Frank, Ken's probably locked the door and, unless
you know the combination, it's impossible to open it!" Pete was smiling as
he said this, "I've tried several times!" Frank decided not to say
anything!

   It was a few hours later when Ken returned; he brought some food with
him.

   "Come on Frank you need something inside you!" Ken told him pulling some
forks and spoons from the kitchen area.  Pulling open the lids from the
curries and passing the foil containers around.

   Pete and Ken started eating the food, "You know what's missing Ken?"
Pete said, "Couple of cans of lager." `_Obviously they were used to this
muck!_' Frank thought.  But hunger made him eat the stuff.

   Once the food, if that was what it was, was eaten Ken started to talk.
"Right then!  Change of plans.  We move this Sunday.  He's holding a party
which we're going to gatecrash." He pulled over the plans to Robert
Smythe's house.  "There's a small dip over here, outside the property. 
We're going to create a diversion - That's your job Frank, smoke and noise,
we're going to be watching the front, and as soon as one of the women
appears there we're in business."

   "What if no one comes out the front, then what?" Frank asked Ken waved
the question aside.

   "We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.  Now Pete you're going to
have to drive the van.  I'll be in the back with one of these." He pulled
out a pistol and pulled out the magazine.  Frank could see that there were
darts inside.  "Don't touch the points, they'll put you out for a couple of
hours." He warned.  "One of these in the heiney and she's away to
sleepyland in seconds.  Then I'll get her into the back and then we're away
and picking you up."

   "You thought this up in the past two hours?" Frank asked, "And where did
you find out about this party?"

   Ken smiled and tapped the side of his nose.  "Just a friend who knows
things, I tell you Frank when you're with us doors will open wide!"

   Frank shook his head, "No Ken, I'm only here because you blackmailed me.
Once Joey is free then I'm out.  Okay!"

   "Sure Frank, that's smooth.  But it's just like old times isn't it?  Us
all together and having fun." Ken was smiling at Frank but his eyes were
cold.  "Anyway I think we'd better get some shuteye because we've got some
sorting out to do tomorrow, places to go and things to see.  Frank why
don't you try that room down the end there, you'll find a bed in there! 
Pete and I'll stretch out on the sofa's here."

   After Frank left them Pete looked at Ken, "Hey I thought you said that
Frank's going to be with us for sometime?"

   Ken gave a nasty smile, "He will be Pete!  Once he whacks the slut he's
going to be ours for life.  Don't worry Pete I've got it all planned out!"
and then Ken laid back on the settee and shut his eyes.

   The next day - or what Frank was told was day - was spent in going over
the plans to the Smythe's house.  Sorting out the easiest access to the
house if the front door was barred - just in case they had to go after
their prey.  Ken passed the grenades to Frank for him to check out.

   "You'll find that they have a radio detonator so you can plant them and
set them off from a distance," Ken told Frank - which was pointless as
Frank already knew about them.

   "Sounds fancy, how did you get them?" Frank was really curious but Ken
still wasn't telling him.

   "Just be happy we've got them.  Now something else we're going to do is
to mine the passageway, just to slow down anyone who tries to follow us. 
You know about plastic and blast patterns so you can plant them." Ken then
turned to Pete "Okay Pete, you go and get the van, you know where to take
it, Frank and me's going to be busy for the rest of the morning."

   And so they were, Ken was watching Frank every way as he planted the
plastic explosive in such a way to cause the maximum damage both to the
roof and whoever would be near it.

   "What's going to happen if this lot does go up?  How are we going to get
out?" Frank asked.

   Ken laughed, "I've got that covered, there's a small passageway that
connects to the main exit, but it's a one-way only affair.  The door's not
visible in the passage it's only if you know where to look.  If I have the
time I'll show you - that's if the occupants don't mind of course." And Ken
laughed as if at a private joke.  Then he took Frank to a room marked
`ELECTRONIC - Authorised personnel only' and showed him the circuit board
which had another attachment to it.

   "This is my ace in the hole.  I've got the electrics scoped out and
under my control.  When I press a button on my remote control I can kill
all the power in this place, I can also restore it just as easily!" Ken was
smiling when he told Frank that.

   "So what?  When the lights are out you're be blind!" Frank told him but
Ken shook his head.

   "Not so, I forgot to give you this." He handed Frank a small package,
inside which was a pair of low-light goggles and a pistol.  "You can check
the gun if you wish, I've also got a spare clip inside there as well.  I
try to look after you little brother, remember that!" Ken put his arm
around Frank's shoulders, "Now if the lights go out then we've got company
and you need to wear the goggles and defend yourself, I'm sure the Army
taught you how to do that!"

   "Yeah they did Ken.  It's just that I didn't plan on touching one of
these again," Frank told him.

   Ken shook his head, "Don't worry you won't have to use it.  Now let's
get the fuses into the plastic and then we'll get some food!  This
afternoon we're going to check out the location and plant your surprise."

   --------------

   Clark interrupted Frank's narration.  "But when the SWAT team ran into
the bunker why was it that the stuff didn't go up?"

   Frank smiled, "Well what Ken didn't know was that on the last night I
went round and took all the fuses out of the plastic, I hid them in the
kitchen, they made a hell of a noise when they went up - Ken probably
thought that it was the ceiling caving in."

   Clark smiled "So Ken's little trick didn't work!"

   Frank was sober, "Sergeant, if I hadn't done that how much of your SWAT
team would be alive now?"

   "Yes, I see.  So indirectly you're responsible for the saving of an
entire team." Clark said.

   "I hope you're going to make a note of that Sergeant, my client deserves
the credit for that, he was thinking ahead and of others!" Robert said
while making notes of his own.

   "Indeed Mr.  Smythe, it will be noted down and reported on." Clark said.
"So what happened that afternoon?"

   --------------

   Pete drove the van, stolen but with false number plates on it, past the
Smythe residence.  There were open gates with a short drive to the front of
the house.  The drive circled round so that it was easy to turn a vehicle
round and drive straight out.

   "Yeah that looks simple enough," Pete said, "Room to spin round in, easy
to grab the slut and scarper away!"

   "Okay then, let's see the back of the place!" Ken told him.  Pete drove
on to where there was a small road leading to a farm.  It was more of a
dirt track leading into an overgrown area.

   "Come on Frank, let's do a reccé." Ken said, trying to sound military.
He led Frank out of the van and started to make his way through the
undergrowth.  "Shit Frank, this stuff's thick."

   "It's not too bad, now where's the house from here?" Frank asked Ken
pointed towards a fence.

   "Just the other side of that, their grounds are extensive.  What do you
reckon?" Frank looked at the undergrowth.

   "We can put the thunderflash in the tree there and the smoke over there!
That way people will hear the noise and then the smoke and, with any luck
come over to check." Frank said as he surveyed the grounds.

   "Okay then, put them up!" Ken told him Frank looked incredulously at
him. "We're rolling tomorrow so if we've prepared the groundwork today
that's less to do!"

   "What if somebody finds them?" Frank asked Ken shrugged.

   "So?  It's up to you to make sure they can't!" Ken told him.

   ("_Why didn't you sabotage those?" asked Williams.  When Frank looked at
him as if he was mad Clark answered__.

   "_It's obvious, Williams!  Ken would notice if those didn't go off, but
in the shelter there would be too much going on to take any notice." He
turned back to Frank "Carry on with your evidence._")

   So Frank judged which tree would be best for the Thunderflash grenade.
He picked an Oak tree and started to climb it.  Ken threw up a piece of
rope for Frank to secure the grenade to a limb.

   "You sure it won't blow the branch apart!" Ken shouted.

   Frank shook his head, "Not this type." He made sure that the grenade
wouldn't get dislodged by wind or birds.  "Fuse armed!" he shouted down.

   "Okay come down and we'll sort out the other one!" Ken told him.

   They soon finished planting and arming the smoke grenade and returned to
the van.  Ken handed over a small box.

   "There you are Frank.  All you have to do is switch this on, the blue
button is the flash and the green is for the smoke.  Got that" Frank nodded
his understanding.  "Okay Pete, we'll head back to the garage and stow this
wreck, then get some food, we'll need to stock up for a few days at least."

   Pete frowned, "What'll we get?"

   Frank snorted, "Does it matter, and I'm not cooking anything!" Which
made Ken and Pete look at each other, and then Pete said.

   "Well it can't be that hard!  So I'll give it a go."

   Ken laughed at that.  "I'd like to see that," was his cryptic response
which made Frank ponder for some minutes.  Another thought stuck him.

   "What are we going to do for masks?" he asked Ken.

   "We don't need masks, we're just taking and keeping the broad for a few
days and then we'll be out of the city, she'll never recognise any of us!"
he told Frank.

   "You might not be but I've still got a job here, not to mention my
family!"

   Ken smiled; his plan was to make Frank kill the kidnap victim to bring
him further into their clutches.  "We'll cross that bridge when we get to
it!" Ken said.

   The rest of the trip was in silence as they drove to a garage where the
van was stored out of sight.  They walked around a few corners to find
themselves in the main high street.  Ken pointed out a convenience store.
"Pete you get some supplies from there - *and pay for them*!  Frank and
I'll get back to the base."

   Ken led Frank down the road to the Court House passing by the
underground station as they went.  Frank was puzzled as they entered the
Court House.  "How come the cameras don't pick us up?" He asked.

   Ken laughed, "They probably do - the only trouble is that there's nobody
watching them!  The security people don't know how to operate them and
anyway they go home at 5 P.M on Friday to be back at 9 A.M.  Monday.  We've
got passes to enter anywhere in here."

   "I haven't!" Frank said but Ken handed him a small piece of plastic.

   "Now you have!  If anyone stops you just show them this!" Frank looked
at it in amazement.

   "How did you get this?" He asked but Ken just smirked and tapped his
nose again.  Once they got to the Court House Ken led Frank to a side
street and a non-descript door which opened when he used a key.  Frank
wanted to question him more but knew that it would be worthless.

   ("_Did you ever find out how Ken was able to get all this information
and equipment?" Clark asked Frank_.

   _Frank shook his head.  "No, I think some-one else was involved but he'd
never tell me, it could have been that solicitor bloke but I can't say for
sure._")

   Ken led Frank down the corridor to the hidden door which he opened and
then the pair walked to the living accommodations.  Some time later Pete
appeared carrying some food which he placed into a larder, he also brought
some milk which he placed into a fridge - which showed signs of being
recently cleaned.  Ken told Frank to explore the area to get to know it,
which is what he did.

   He looked through the lit part of the bunker.  Following some pipes he
arrived at a room which he decided was a laundry area with a washing
machine and a tumble dryer; they were 20 years old but looked new.  He
opened the door to the washing machine and found an instruction book and a
small packet of powder.  Checking the back of the machines he found that
they were properly plumbed in.  He left the room shaking his head - `_who
on Earth would waste their money like this_?' he thought to himself.

   He looked through several rooms; at one time he opened a door and
quickly shut it as somebody was on the other side.  He paused.  `_Who's
going to be down here at this time?_' he thought and opened the door.  The
room held dummies - store manikins - standing still and scaring the hell
out of him.  He entered the room and looked around.  Most of the dummies
were dressed in clothes from the early sixties; on the wall was a small
notice.  `*Position family group in living areas and single figures or
pairs in corridors* - Lewisham council 1964' Frank decided that it must be
to provide a display for the bunker to get people to see how they might
survive a nuclear war.

   He was going to leave the room when he remembered Ken's cryptic words
regarding the escape route - `_if the occupants don't min_d' was what he
said, and here was a room full of `people' so the exit must be in here
somewhere.  Frank looked around again trying to find something strange.  He
noticed that a poster on the wall was trapped in the wall itself.  He
traced the line and found what seemed to be a covered nail, but it was not!
It was a raise switch which when pushed opened the door.  Frank found
himself in the corridor leading to the entrance.  He looked back to get his
position and found that he was beyond the mined area.  Ken had certainly
planned this well.

   The smell of burning brought Frank rushing to the kitchen area where
Pete and Ken were using a fire extinguisher on a frying pan - obviously
Pete's attempt to cook bacon and eggs had failed and the cremated mess in
the pan was testament to that.

   "I told you I couldn't cook!  Now what are we going to eat?" Pete was
saying

   Ken went to the fridge and pulled out three prepared meals.  "I was
keeping this for after, but I think we could get some more either tomorrow
or Monday.  These are simple Pete, just turn on the oven and cook them for
however long they take.  You'll have to read the instructions though,
Pete!"

   Watching Pete read instructions on the food was entertainment in itself.
Frank could watch his brother's mouth move as his finger followed every
word.  He turned on the oven and was about to put the food in when Frank
stopped him.

   "Hey Pete ain't you going to let the oven heat up first?" Pete looked at
Frank and then back to the oven.  Then he re-read the instructions again
before looking up at Frank and nodding.  Frank couldn't stand it but turned
away to leave Pete to his own devices.

   Frank joined Ken in the living area.  Ken had taken out a cigarette and
was smoking it.  He offered the pack to Frank who declined.

   "So Frank, you've looked around what do you think of the setup here?"
Ken asked.

   Frank sat down in a chair and regarded Ken closely.  "Well you seem to
have made yourselves at home.  Why did you need me?"

   "Because you're family, Frank, that's why.  You should have heard Mum
the day you left home, she was so frantic.  It was her dying wish that we
boys should stick together!" Actually it wasn't, her last words were
`_thank heavens Frank wasn't here with you brats_!' but Ken wasn't going to
let Frank know that.  The real reason was that neither Ken or Pete knew how
to set the explosives or the grenades, but once they learnt that Frank was
in the area decided to use their knowledge of his `crime' against him.

   Frank was already thinking `bullshit' but didn't say it out loud, "But
Ken you had all this backing, why didn't you just spring Joey and leave the
city?"

   Ken sat back and savoured his cigarette.  "Well there's a slight problem
with that, it seems that Joey's on some kind of program, if he was under
normal police custody there'd be no problems but it's a private company
dealing with him so the rules are different.  Our guy can't get him out
like he would normally do.  So we're trying something different."

   "And once he's out and away then we'll never see each other again?"
Frank was trying to make sure that this was a one time only thing.

   Ken looked Frank straight in his eyes, "Of course Frank, I mean we're
not heartless.  We'll be out of your life and you'll be back with your wife
and kids, how are they by the way?"

   "How should I know, you've not let me contact them since we left!"

   "Yes, well sorry about that.  You'll have a chance later on, but at the
moment it's better they know nothing about this, isn't it?" Ken said, then
another thought struck him, "How are you at medicine?" At Frank's look Ken
chuckled, "Well we're going to keep our guest quiet at night by using a
Mickey, I was going to let Pete administer it but after his cooking I'm not
sure if he's up to it." Frank had a vision of Pete overdosing the victim
and killing her.

   "I'd better do it; some of these new drugs can be dangerous in large
quantities." Frank hurriedly said.  Ken smiled at him.

   "Thanks Frank, I knew I could trust you!"

   ("_So you agreed to help them drug the girls?" asked Williams_

   "_If Pete had problems with cooking a simple meal how do you think he'd
cope with giving out drugs?  I had to do it to save their lives!" Frank
replied angrily_.

   "_My client, again, was forced to act for the well being of the
kidnapped victims.  If he hadn't then he'd be facing manslaughter charges
instead of just kidnapping!" Robert interjected_.

   "_Thank you Mr.  Smythe.  Now Frank, the day of the kidnapping.  What
happened?" Clark asked_.)

   They picked up the van from the garage and drove to the Smythe
residence. They parked across the road and watched.

   "Hey Ken, who's those people walking around in there?" Pete suddenly
said

   Ken took a pair of binoculars and focused on the house.  "Looks like
some rent-a-cops, there's not many of them." He reached under his seat and
pulled out two radios and handed one to Frank.  "Here Frank, take this and
walk down to the next road, when I give you the signal you set off the
presents okay."

   Frank took the radio and then checked that he still had the remote
detonator with him.  "How long do I wait?" He asked.

   "Until I let you know of course.  If I were you I'd relax a bit, we
could be in for a long wait!" Ken told him.  Frank got out of the van and
walked down the road until he came to the turning, He knew that the range
of the detonator was quite long, but it never hurt to be near in case the
fuses failed to work.

   It was over an hour before Ken's voice came over the radio.  "Frank! 
Set them off now.  Now!" Frank took out the detonator control and turned it
on.  He pressed the Blue button.

   There was a satisfying flash followed a few seconds later by the `BANG'
of the grenade.  Frank smiled and nodded.  He then pressed the Green
button. A plume of smoke could be seen.  Frank turned off the remote and
started to walk back to the van.

   Inside the van Ken was watching as two girls came out of the house and
sat down on the grass talking.  The security people seemed to take no
notice of them.  Ken swore both girls were the same age and looked the same
- which one was the Smythe girl?  "Shit!  Okay, we'll take them both" he
said to Pete and then ordered Frank to set the grenades off.

   The noise and smoke sent all the guards inside the house, nobody stayed
to watch the girls, which was what Ken had hoped for.  He nudged Pete who
started the engine and drove the van along the drive.  Ken leaned out of
the side door and fired the dart gun, hitting one of the two girls.  He
quickly reloaded and shot the other one before jumping out of the van,
picking up the girls and loading them inside the van.  Pete drove quickly
back out of the drive and turned to pick up Frank who looked at the two
bodies inside.

   "Why'd you take two girls?  Which one's the Smythe girl?" He asked.

   Ken shook his head.  "Don't know, but we'll find out when we get them
back to the bunker.

   Pete chuckled, "I don't mind, it's been so long since I've had any that
I'll take the slut left over!"

   Frank shook his head.  "Oh no, Pete!  You're to keep away from these
girls.  If I find you've been. . ."

   "Stow it both of you.  Pete we need both these girls alive to send the
message," Ken said, stopping any argument between the two.  But Frank vowed
that Pete wouldn't get near to the girls to cause them harm.

   The van pulled up by the side entrance to the Court House and Ken and
Frank carried the two unconscious girls in, leaving Pete to take the van
back to the garage.  "Ken I don't want to see these two harmed in any way!
If Pete touches either of them then I'm out of here and I'll take them with
me."

   "Don't worry about Pete.  He'll behave himself." Ken assured him, `_Once
you learn that we're going to get rid of these two then you'll have other
problems won't you_!' he thought.

   The two girls were placed on the bed and left there to recover. . .

   ----------------------

   "And that was how we kidnapped the two girls." Frank finished.

   "When did you decide to help the girls?" Clark asked

   "As soon as Ken said that we were going to kill the girls so that they
couldn't tell on us!  There was no way I was going to allow that."

   "So how were you planning to do that?" Williams asked.

   "I checked the sleeping drug that Ken had supplied.  If I gave the girls
slightly more of the dose they would go into a deep sleep, all I had to do
was to give it to them and then convince Ken that they'd sink deeper into a
coma and finally die.  He didn't know what the drug did so I thought he'd
buy it."

   Clark nodded, "It would have worked, but in the end we sent in a SWAT
team.  Why did you kill Pete?"

   "I had to!  He was going after the girls.  I couldn't let him hurt them
so I tried to wound him.  Trouble was I was feeling groggy from where he'd
shot me, so instead of his shoulder I got his head!" Frank looked down when
he said that - he had aimed for Pete's head but didn't want to go down for
murder.

   Clark nodded his head.  "Well I think that's all we need for the moment.
Interview ended at 11:15." Williams pressed the button to stop the
recording and eject the tape.  "We'll let you take one copy of these tapes
and the other one will be used to create a transcript." Robert took charge
of them and left Williams with the other set.  Williams left the room Clark
stayed behind.

   "You understand that we'll have to hold onto you in the cells for some
time." Frank nodded, "By the way I've spoken to some of the SWAT team, the
people sent to make sure the girls were okay, they told me that the head
shot you made was the best they'd ever seen given the conditions." He
smiled.  "But that won't appear on any official version either."

   The three of them left the interview room and Frank was escorted to the
cells.  The sergeant in charge allocated him one away from Ken.  Robert
asked if he could talk to Frank for a short time.

   "Well Frank, I won't lie to you, it's going to be difficult to avoid a
custodial sentence.  But with the help you've given the police I'm sure
that we could shorten it down to at least a couple of years, less with good
behaviour," Robert said

   "I know!  I just wish I could make Nicola and Kathy understand why I did
it." Robert patted his shoulder.

   "Don't worry about that Frank.  I'm sure that DS Clark will allow you to
talk to them, is there anything else you want me to do?"

   "No sir, you've done more than I expected you to do.  Just tell Sharon
I'm sorry."

   Robert shook his head, "Sorry?  For helping her to get through that
ordeal?  I'm not sorry about that, I'm glad you were there!"

   Frank gave a small smile.  "I wanted an excuse to help the girls.  It
was that Cathy who showed me how.  If it wasn't for her I'm not sure where
I'd be now!"

   Noises from outside made Robert walk out.  The constable nearby closed
and locked Frank's cell securely.  Robert went to the custody desk where a
reporter was clutching his nose and complaining about a small woman who was
standing besides Sharon.

   "I want her charged!" The man was saying pointing at the oriental woman,
"I was just doing my job and she pushed me.  When I went back she broke my
nose!"

   "If you hadn't tried to touch this girl you wouldn't have been in the
way of my elbow!" the woman retorted.  "She is in my charge and I have been
ordered to keep her safe from everybody!"

   The Sergeant looked back at the reporter.  "Did you try to grab onto the
girl sir?"

   "Well how the hell else could I get her to talk to us, all I did was to
tap her on the back!" the reporter said.

   "Right sir, that's assault on a minor, do you have a solicitor or do you
want us to arrange for one?" the sergeant said.

   "WHAT!" The reporter was incredulous "Just for tapping someone on the
back!" he said.

   The sergeant just nodded.  "Yes!  Now I could just let you off with a
warning.  That's if you're not going to make a fuss about things?"

   The reporter considered his position.  He looked at the oriental woman
and the girl he wanted to interview.  Then he shook his head.  "No, I
should have looked where I was going I suppose!" he said resignedly.

   "That's very good of you sir.  I think we should let the FME have a look
at that, can't let the press moan about police brutality can we sir." And
at a gesture the reporter was taken by a constable to a side room to await
a doctor.  The sergeant turned to Sharon and her bodyguard.  "And you Miss
had better go through those doors where DS Clark is waiting for you."

   The oriental woman bowed, "Thank you sergeant, I'm sorry for the
disturbance I caused."

   The sergeant chuckled.  "That's okay miss.  I wanted to do that myself!"
he said softly.

   Robert approached Sharon who turned and beamed at him, "Daddy!" She said
and Robert noticed that the oriental woman relaxed.  "This is Su and she's
very nice and kind and you should have seen her hit that man!"

   Robert looked at the sergeant who was looking away and trying to show
that he hadn't heard a thing.  Robert smiled at the woman.  "Thank you Su.
I'm sorry I wasn't at home to bring Sharon in myself."

   Again Su bowed.  "That is all right Mr.  Smythe; I've been assigned to
look after Sharon.  She is a very lovely girl."

   "Thank you Su.  Would you mind staying with her as I'm not sure what's
going to happen?" Robert asked her

   "Certainly Mr.  Smythe it would be my pleasure." Robert walked with his
daughter and Su to where DS Clark was waiting with him was Cathy and
George.

   "Well if you're all ready to start I think it's going to be better with
both girls at the same time!" Clark said, leading the way into the
interview room.

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