When asked whether the case involved her father, businessman Jonathon Lake, who is currently suspected of being in some way connected to the death of three men on the main Brighton to Newhaven road a few weeks ago. The Superintendent made no comment. But it is believed that Mr Lake is somehow connected with London Crime boss Francis Holland, and that a feud between the men has caused his innocent daughter to be used as a pawn. Holland (57) has left his Chigwell home, and is believed to have fled abroad in the last twenty-four hours.
It is believed that Holland is being sought by police for a number of offences relating to armed robberies and extortion in and around the Home Counties. It is also rumoured that Customs are seeking him for drug trafficking offences. The current whereabouts of both Lake and Holland are unknown at this time.
Sandi Lake was unavailable for comment, but her Head-teacher, Brian Goodson, said of her, “Sandi is a delightful girl, it is sad that she has been exposed to such a horrible act, but she has shown that she is brave and resourceful, and I hope she has not been scarred by this incident. We are all grateful that she was rescued unharmed.”
For pictures of the site of the gun battle, see page five.
“Oh my God,” I said, and sat down to read it. Page five had a photograph of me wearing my little black number at the fashion show. I looked very elegant and was smiling, as I had just won the award. It also had the pictures of the industrial estate, and the pool of blood on the car park. The rooms I had been in were ringed and it all looked so weird.
“It’s in the nationals as well. Same pictures too, some local photographer has struck lucky,” Pete said.
Scott and another officer, Steve, came in, and saw I was reading the paper. He showed me the Daily Mail, and I was in that too.
“How are you?” he asked, pouring himself a coffee.
“If you must know, bloody awful,” I admitted.
He frowned.
“Oh?”
“Nothing to do with yesterday, okay. Girl things,” I said, and he stopped frowning.
“Oh.”
“I’ll give you - Bloody Oh,” I said, and went to hit him, so he chuckled.
“So how are we going to play today, skipper?” Pete asked.
“Two cars. You drive Sandi, and Steve and I will follow. It’s Ed’s day off,” Scott explained.
“And when we get there?” I asked.
“Pete will stay close, and we will be right outside. But to be honest, I don’t think they will try anything so soon after the last attempt.”
“How do I explain Pete lurking and dribbling in the corner?” I asked.
They all laughed.
“Play it how you see it. If you can just say he is a friend who drove you up.”
“And the reason he is within five yards of me all day?”
“Shit, I don’t know.”
“How about I tell the truth? After all, it’s in all the bloody papers.”
“Ah, yes, well I suppose that would do,” Scott said, looking sheepish.
I was wearing a short tan skirt and a neat little light brown top, with lacing across the bust. It was a lovely sunny day and although I had felt better in my life, so I was actually very happy. My hair was the longest that it had ever been, and was looking gorgeous. I loved the feel of it against my shoulders. Despite my ‘visitor’, I felt about as complete as I could remember, and I kept smiling every time I saw my reflection. There was nothing false about me any more. I was at last the person I had always wanted to be.
The events of the previous day were so unreal, that it was as if they had happened to someone else. And besides, I was being escorted by three really dishy blokes all carrying guns.
We arrived at the agency a little before ten. The guys parked their cars outside, so when a traffic warden appeared, they flashed their warrant cards and stayed put.
I went in followed by Pete, his Glock was partially covered by a light bomber jacket. His radio was in a pouch under one armpit, and his gun under the other. A little wire disappeared into his ear, and he was constantly looking around. It was all rather melodramatic, so I felt rather important.
The agency was on the third and fourth floors of a relatively modern building. It was light and airy, and all decorated in a very modern and tasteful style. It was very open plan, and the furnishings and décor were all very expensive.
“Sandi, darling girl, do come in, super to see you. Oh, your hair looks lovely, down like that. And those colours are so you,” Jemima said as I walked in. I had worn my hair up for the fashion show.
Pete lurched in behind me. She looked at him as if I had brought in some dog turd.
“Sorry Jemima, but after yesterday, I’m sort of stuck with him,” I said, and she looked at me and frowned.
“Yesterday?” she asked, raising one elegantly plucked eyebrow
“I was sort of involved in some nastiness. It’s in the papers,” I said. She looked sufficiently vague, so I guessed she hadn’t read them yet. Pete helpfully showed her the Daily Mail.
“I’m a police officer, madam. I am here to ensure that Alexandra is kept safe,” he said, showing her his warrant card, and as he did so, his firearm was briefly on view in its holster.
Jemima looked shocked as she put on a very dainty pair of half moon glasses. Her expression deepened as she read the newspaper, and even more when she saw the Glock.
“Oh, my God, you poor girl. So what is it all about?” she said returning the paper to Pete, and putting away her glasses.
“My Dad, it turns out, is a bit of a scallywag, and it seems he may have upset some of the wrong people. So, as he has conveniently buggered off, they tried to get to him through me. But it seems that the police have everything under control, and Pete here is my guardian angel for the day,” I said.
She shook her head, and surprised me by smiling.
“What a wonderful change,” she said, and I must have looked rather bemused at her, so she laughed.
“When I saw you in Brighton, I thought, there is a refreshing look, so different - almost unique. You were just so different to most of the girls who come to me. And this, it’s all so exciting, so romantic almost.”
“Romantic?” I said, staring at her. What planet was she on?
“Maybe the wrong word, but oh, I don’t know, out of the ordinary, certainly unusual,” she said.
“I spent an hour in the boot of a car with a sack over my head. I didn’t actually feel it was the slightest bit romantic,” I said, and she smiled.
“I know, but we lead such safe and secluded lives, this is all dramatic and different.”
I smiled, and she looked at Pete.
“I can wait in the car, as long I know where she is, that’s no problem. If you leave the building, let me know, okay Sandi?”
“Sure, Pete, thanks.”
He smiled and shuffled out.
“He’s rather hunky, in a rough sort of way,” Jemima said, eyeing his bum.
“They all are,” I said.
“All?”
“I have four. There is Pete, Ed, Steve and their Sergeant Scott.”
“Good gracious, how divine. Do they spend the night with you as well?”
“Oh yes, but I sleep alone,” I said, with a knowing look.