The early edition of the Evening Standard was leading on a
story about a Russian being found unconscious outside a notorious Soho club
in a state of undress, as the paper put it. It speculated
that he was a senior diplomat conducting secret negotiations in London and
quoted an unnamed police source as saying the police forensic laboratory was
examining a restricted substance found on the man’s body. Neither the Foreign
Office nor the Soviet Embassy had any comment.
Thursday 31 October 2013
Sowerbutt's Pub
“Impressed on all my friends,
old boy, that Luton has the best pubs. Rustic charm, good whiskey and friendly
natives,” the slight military man smiled, sipping his Old Bushmills.
“What do they say, John?
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit,” Sowerbutt replied. The two men were sitting
at a bar table in The Engine in the centre of Luton, Tipper stood guarding the door
to Bute Street, quietly drinking a pint. “They don’t stick their noses in here
and the landlord’s missus is a top hand in the kitchen. What more do you want?”http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-of-Red-ebook/dp/B00B1CWM5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358353851&sr=1-1
Sowerbutt's Shop
Sowerbutt buried himself
behind the Mirror, reading the letters calling for reprisal air
raids against Berlin. “Teach the Jerries a lesson they won’t forget,” said one.
“I want 100 dead Jerries to make up for my darling Peter,” said another.
“Shop, what shop?” Sowerbutt
said suddenly, registering what Polly had said.The attractive red-head sighed and shook her head. “Sorbay. The shop we’ve opened in Grosvenor Square with your friend’s niece. I’m sure I told you all about it.”
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-of-Red-ebook/dp/B00B1CWM5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358353851&sr=1-1
Friday 18 October 2013
Sowerbutt's Plans
“How many lads has Shapiro got, Nero?”
“Half-a-dozen, Mr Sorbay. But
nothing to worry about, he treats them like dirt. I heard them talking about the old bastard
in the Rose and Crown.”“Better and better. We’ll create a diversion in that empty building next door to give his lads an excuse to leg it. We’ll tie him up, strip the place and load up our lorries, then drop a match."
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-of-Red-ebook/dp/B00B1CWM5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358353851&sr=1-1
Sowerbutt's Letter
“This is a
letter to Madame Komarovski from the son of an old friend of hers from her
Moscow days. He goes on about poor Papa who died at the hands of the evil
Reds. Then he talks about cursing them until his dying breath. After
getting that lot off his chest, he comes to the point. Could she put up for a
few days a seaman friend from Lisbon who has a letter for the English government from Jerry. Just until he finds his feet and gets hold of
the VIPs he is supposed to contact.”
“Brilliant, guv,” Spaghetti
said. “That bit about the Reds makes it sound genuine.”“That should be bait enough for the Reds,” Sowerbutt said. “Pop and his matchbox men can keep watch on the streets and send a message when the Russkies are coming. We’ll grab them and hold them in the old laundry near Queens Theatre, you know the one that took a couple of incendiaries."
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-of-Red-ebook/dp/B00B1CWM5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358353851&sr=1-1
Sowerbutt's Mission
"The brothel-keeper, and his
men will secure the airfield. Less conspicuous and no official fingerprints, Prime Minister. He
and his men were Blackshirts, so it could be described as an attempted
coup, led by Jerry, if anything should emerge into the public arena," Brendan Bracken said.
“Sorbay will drive the Jerry envoy down to Luton Hoo,
20 minutes away. Good security there being the new Eastern Command HQ."http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-of-Red-ebook/dp/B00B1CWM5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358353851&sr=1-1
Saturday 12 October 2013
Sowerbutt's Supplies
Sowerbutt sat on a crate
filled with copper wire that Shapiro, or Hercule Poirot as the locals
knew him, had planned to send to the port of Riga in Russian-occupied Latvia.
He was presently negotiating a deal for a couple of tons of copper wire with
the de Havilland factory in Hatfield for a new hush-hush twin-engine bomber
that the Air Ministry had ordered. Like most companies, the factory was
battling with the bureaucracy to obtain official allocations of raw materials.
Sowerbutt's Fears
“After a couple of glasses,
she told me that first thing this morning, he was up at Luton Hoo with some IRA
bloke. She says he’s a real
mean bastard. She is scared, doesn’t want Eamonn to be
locked up like her old man. Says she doesn’t want to be on her
own again.”
Sowerbutt was on his feet, grabbing his leather jacket and strapping on
his shoulder holster. “Christ, Nero. An
IRA attack on Luton Hoo. An attack on the army base or do they know who is
staying there? Why would they want to kill our VIP or do they want to kidnap
him like the Haganah and the general? Perhaps it‘s the Haganah again, pulling the strings.” Sowerbutt's Prospects
“Are you going to marry him,
Polly? If you don’t mind me asking, that is.”
Polly blushed, it was
a question she had asked herself many times. “I don’t know, Dot, I
suppose is the answer. I don’t know whether Sorbay
wants to marry me or not. He’s never mentioned it,
he was married before but never talks about it. Doesn’t talk about the future, not here often enough to talk
about anything."http://www.amazon.co.uk/Colour-of-Red-ebook/dp/B00B1CWM5M/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1358353851&sr=1-1
Sowerbutt's Necklace
“Did I show you what Sorbay
bought me last time he was in trouble.” Polly smiled and slipped into the bedroom,
bringing back the stunning silver necklace studded with small diamonds.
“Oh Polly. That’s beautiful. You
should wear it and enjoy it. He’s very fond of you,
isn’t he?”“I suppose you’re right, Dot. I’m like most East End girls, hiding away their valuables somewhere safe in case they are caught in a raid.”
Sunday 6 October 2013
Sowerbutt's Rations
“Dublin was disappointing, I
admit,” Sowerbutt said. “With the Church threatening eternal damnation,
there’s just not the business. I
checked the books for that half-share in the brothel, but there
wasn’t the turnover. Plenty of
red-blooded lads, but it is a small town, too strait-laced.
“Still it was good to catch up
with some of the Blueshirts I knew in Spain and we’ll be getting some deliveries soon of Irish beef and
butter. Make a pretty penny.”Polly smiled: “I’ll be glad of some decent food. The rations are hopeless, if you can find anything. It is alright those politicians talking about fighting the Jerries on the beaches. Meanwhile we’re wasting away. Thank goodness for your tins of steak.”
Sowerbutt's Invasion
Polly would not admit it to her exasperating man but she was worried about
the talk of bombings and the imminent German invasion. Sowerbutt's assurances about his
Blackshirt contacts were one thing, but England would never be the same again.
Besides she and the girls could be hurt in the fighting.
Friday 4 October 2013
Sowerbutt's Explanation
"What on earth gave you the
idea of ballet lessons, Coach?”
“Something you mentioned,
Jimmy. Remember you talked about employing Madame Komarovski to change
One-Line’s walk? I got to thinking she might help the way the lads move about
in the boxing ring. Give them a bit of an edge.”“She has done a brilliant job with One-Line. The big oaf still worries about someone from his old battalion recognising him as a deserter. But I tell him his own mother, God rest her soul, would not recognise him. Different man. The glasses and hair colouring help as well.”
Sowerbutt's Warning
Tucking her guidance stick
under her arm, Madame Komarovski, who sported short grey hair, clapped her
hands twice. “More effort next week, gentlemen, if you please. I don’t come
along here for fun, I expect 100 per cent from you. Your hour is up, class
dismissed.”
With a curt nod to Sowerbutt
and Coach, the diminutive dance teacher collected her cloak and bag
and swept out of the gym.Slumping into one of the leather chairs in Coach’s tiny office, Sowerbutt exclaimed: “I’m looking forward to a cuppa. That is some tough lady, I’m exhausted."
Sowerbutt's Surprise
Sowerbutt had not expected Coach Marigold’s answer when he asked his old friend
whether much had happened during his recent weeks away in
Wales and Ireland. The gymnasium in King George’s Hall on East India Dock Road
had always been the same since he started boxing there as a boy. The two men
always laughed at the Coach’s usual reply, “the only change is that we are
getting older, Jimmy”.
Coach would never admit it
openly but he was pleased to see the hard-faced businessman back in Poplar. His
view was shared by many local families; no-one standing in their corner. Coach blurted out: “We’ve started ballet
lessons, Jimmy.”
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