The Isle of Devils HOLY WAR (3 page)

Savage looked at the Commissioner and Storm and said, “Well then, ‘God save the Queen’. I may need the old gal later.” He turned to Storm and added, “Well, mate, daylight is burning. Let’s go down to my office and get started.”

The Commissioner yelled at Savage, “I just told you. You’re on holiday. You can’t have any police business in this building.”

Savage fired back, “I meant the bloody pub down on Water Street, sir. Come on, Storm. I’m on holiday.” Savage and Storm walked out of the office and left the building.

The Power of Crude

The two men walked down to Water Street and into one of Savage’s favorite pubs. After entering the pub Savage yelled to the bartender, “Barkeep, make me up a ‘Dark 'n Stormy’ for my dark and stormy friend. Better yet, make that two. I’ll take one, too.”

As they sat down Storm asked, “What the hell did you just order? Are you making fun of me?”

Savage laughed and said, “No mate, that’s a local drink made with our own
Gosling's Black Seal Rum and Ginger Beer. Don’t worry. You’ll bloody well like it.”

The bartender brought the order over and slammed the glasses down on the table saying, “Drink up, boys.” He walked back over to the bar laughing.

Savage picked up his glass and said, “Cheers, mate.”

Storm picked up his glass and replied, “Cheers.” After taking a couple of gulps Storm said, “Not bad; I could get used to this drink.”

After a bit of small talk, Savage asked, “If you’re here looking for terrorists, what the hell were you doing on that speedboat fighting with drug dealers?”

Storm replied, “The smugglers had been acting very suspiciously; so I was keeping my eye on them. When I saw them throw something overboard I thought it might be something related to the terrorist plot. So I went after the package.”

Savage replied, “Didn’t you take a big risk exposing yourself to the terrorists?”

Storm said, “Look, I didn’t have time to think about it. After seeing you in action what’s the difference?”

Savage laughed and took another sip. He asked, “So what makes Bermuda a hot spot for you?”

Storm replied, “Two reasons. First of all you have a new oil distributor, Hooda Oil from Saudi Arabia, setting up operations here selling their oil and gas cheaper. Also the fact that some believe money laundering is common place in Bermuda, especially with the heavy duty your Government places on oil imports here. There must be tons of money, not just oil flowing in and out of Bermuda.”

Savage snapped back, “Speaking of high prices for oil, aren’t your U.S. oil companies making record profits off the high cost of crude? I don’t see them doing anything to keep the prices down by stepping up U.S. production or using their oil reserves. So who are these terrorists making wealthy anyway? Better look in the mirror, mate.”

Storm added, “OK, I get the message. Sorry. It does make you wonder-- if Hooda Oil is funding terrorists from the huge profits they’re making on crude now. No matter what, we do need to find out more about Hooda Oil. Was that their tanks I saw when I arrived at the airport?”

Savage replied, “No, that’s our own local imported. They’re clean. I personally know the family who owns it. Hooda Oil is being setup at the other end of the island just next to the Royal Navy Dockyard. In fact, I hear they’re setting up construction facilities in the old abandoned Casemates Prison. Plus they already have oil storage facilities there.”

Storm asked, “Should we head to Casemates tomorrow?”

Savage thought for a minute and said, “No I think tomorrow we’ll go to Hamilton and pay a visit to one of my banking friends and ask him a few questions about Hooda Oil first.” Savage looked down at Storm’s belt and asked, “Hey, mate, I don’t see you’re packing. What’s up?”

Storm replied, “Well, buddy boy, I was until someone tried to deep six me in the ocean. I floated back to the surface, but my pistol didn’t make it.”

Savage added, “Well, you’re better off without it. All types of guns are banned here. Most of the time cops don’t even wear them.”

Storm smiled and said, “So what do you do when you’re trying to make an arrest? Do you say, ‘Stop, or I’ll slap you’?”

Savage’s face was turning red. He replied, “That just means we’re better cops than our bloody U.S. counterparts. We can do our jobs without guns.”

The two laughed and egged each other on for a while; then they finished their drinks and agreed to meet the next morning and drive into Hamilton.

The next morning Agent Storm was waiting for Savage in front of City Hall in King’s Square. While he was waiting, he noticed several middle-eastern men loitering around waiting for the ferry going to the Royal Naval Dockyard. He slowly moved over in their general vicinity to try to pick up on some of their conversation. Just as he was about to hear what they were saying an annoying sounding horn broke his concentration. Everyone in the general area turned and looked in the direction of the noise. It was Inspector Savage. He pulled up beside Storm and yelled out through the opened passenger window, “Good morning, mate. Are you ready for a busy day of sightseeing?”

Storm gave Savage a look that could kill and said as he jumped into the car, “Thanks! I was just about to hear what these Arabs were going to say.”

Savage responded, “Good luck, I hope you know Arabic. These guys are expats working at Casemates, but they don’t speak a lick of English that I can tell.”

As Savage pulled out on to York Street, Storm grabbed hold of the dashboard and yelled out, “Look out!”

Savage laughed and said, “What’s the matter, mate? Didn’t anyone tell you we drive on the left hand side of the road in Bermuda?”

Storm snapped back, “Hell no! Are you trying to scare the crap out of me?”

Savage laughed again and replied, “Well, mate, I hope we won’t run into any out of control jaywalkers in Hamilton. That just might do you in. But don’t try to arrest them since jaywalking is legal in Bermuda.”

Storm looked over at Savage saying, ‘You know I’m a black belt in karate, and before this investigation is over I just might kick your crazy butt from one end of this island to the other end.”

Savage looked over at Storm and replied, “I don’t think I’m too worried. This old man happens to be the ex light heavy weight boxing champion of Bermuda.”

Storm added, “That’s right, you said ex.”

The two kept ribbing each other all the way to Hamilton. After arriving, Savage parked in the City Hall parking lot. Then the two walked across town to a narrow alleyway with stairs going down. Halfway down the stairs Storm grabbed Savage by the shoulder and said, “Hey, wait a minute. I thought we were going to visit a local banker.”

Savage looked back at Storm and said, “Did I say banker? I meant to say bookie.” He then opened the door which led into a narrow hallway with steps going up a floor. The second floor was dark with a musty damp smell, and the air was filled with smoke. Savage walked over to desk where a very dark skinned Jamaican sat smoking a cigar. The Jamaican, whose name was Krack, looked up at Savage and said, “Hey mon, you here to bust this poor hardworking Jamaican?”

Savage replied, “No, your pretty Bermuda wife told me she can’t live without you. Otherwise I would deport your ugly butt back to Jamaica. Oh by the way, Krack. This is my good friend, Derek Storm. He’s here from the U.S. visiting.”

Krack stood up and gave Storm a brother handshake and said, “Brother, you’re running with bad company.”

Storm smiled and replied, “You got that right, brother.”

Savage interrupted, “Enough with the brother talk. Krack, what’s going on out at Casemates? I hear there’s more out there than just oil flowing.”

Krack hesitated to answer for a few seconds and asked, “Savage, did anyone follow you?”

Savage replied, “No, why do you get so nervous when I mention Casemates? You know they can’t lock you up there anymore. What’s the matter?”

Krack replied, “The street talk is that last week some brothers broke into Casemates in the middle of the night, and no one has heard from them since.”

Savage added, ‘Don’t worry, Krack, we’ll protect you. Got anything else for us?”

Krack said, “Yeah, but you didn’t hear this from me, or I’ll be a dead man.”

Storm joined in, ”Not to worry, brother, spill it.”

Krack added, “I hear they’re buying crazy stuff at crazy prices.”

Savage asked, “Like what, mate?”

Krack went on to say, “Speedboats, walkie talkies, palm pilots, fertilizer, lime, machetes, and lots of other stuff.”

Storm and Savage looked at each other in shock. Savage turned back to Krack and said, “Thanks, mate. Tell your wife she’s stuck with you for a while.” Savage and Storm turned around, left the building, and continued down to Front Street without saying a word. Finally they made their way over to the harbor front where they could talk in private.

Storm turned to Savage and said, “I can’t believe what I’m about to say, but it sounds to me like a few bomb components are being purchased out at Casemates. I wonder why they’re buying the speedboats. Do you think Krack really knows if any men are really missing? Have you seen any missing person reports?”

Savage interrupted Storm by saying, “Wait just a minute, mate. You’re asking a lot of questions.”

Storm replied, “I know, so give me some answers.”

Savage went on, “Ok, Ok. First of all this sheik is very wealthy. He might want a fleet of speedboats. The lime could be a cheap way of painting the cell walls in Casemates. And no, there haven’t been any missing person reports filed in Bermuda for months. So, Storm, are you going to call in the cavalry now? ”

Storm snapped back, “Are you kidding? There’s no missing persons! It’s not a crime to purchase speedboats, and who knows what the lime is really for. On top of that, our informant is a ‘crack head’ from Jamaica.”

Savage stopped him saying, “Now wait a minute. He’s not a crack head: his name is Krack. I trust the man.”

Storm added, “Good for you, but I’m not ready to trust him yet. So, Savage, what do you think we should do?”

Savage replied, “It’s bloody simple to me, mate. First of all, we get back to St. George’s and wait at the ferry stop. Then we’ll follow those three Arabs when they arrive on the ferry tonight. It makes me wonder why these three are living in St. George’s when all the other foreign workers are living and working at the Dockyard.”

Storm added, “That’s a good point, what else?”

Savage continued, “Tomorrow after we find out where they live, I’ll follow them when they leave to go to the Dockyard, and you’ll sneak into their living quarters.”

Storm yelled back, “Wait a minute. Why am I breaking and entering? It’s your country, and you’re a cop here.”

Savage replied, “Calm down, mate. You’re right. I’m on holiday, and I can’t get caught doing something illegal. Whereas all that can happen to you is that you’ll get arrested. Then the US Consulate will bail your bony butt out of jail, and the Bermuda Government will kick you off the island. Now doesn’t that sound like a better plan to you?”

Storm laughed and said, “It’s a plan all right. Let’s get back to the car and to St. George’s before you really get me into trouble.” They both laughed and made their way to City Hall, then drove back to St. George’s to wait for their Arab friends.

The Stakeout

It was now late in the afternoon. Inspector Savage and Agent Storm had been milling around King’s Square for quite some time waiting for the three Arabs to return to St. George’s on the ferry from Dock Yard. Finally the high-speed ferry arrived and the Arabs made their way into the square. Savage noticed them first saying, “Look, Storm. Here they are. We’ll follow them at a safe distance to make sure they don’t see us.”

Storm replied, “Is there any chance we’ll lose them?”

Savage laughed and said, “Don’t worry mate, I know this end of the island like the back of my hand. There’s no way they’re going to lose us.” As he spoke, the trio walked up Kent Street. Savage and Storm were quick to follow at a safe distance. The trio walked by the old Unfinished Cathedral on their way up to Government Hill Road.