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CHAPTER TWELVE - Video Evidence

I was taken back to the Drug Squad's London headquarters and given the biggest grilling of my life. It was all very different and all very strange. I'd not been on the receiving end before, I'd always been dishing it out. Now I knew what it's like, and I can tell you it's not a pleasant experience.
For something like two hours I was made to continuously explain my story. I told them how I tracked down Rachel Joyce and got a lead on Hendry's club. I explained too, how, with Hugo's assistance, I'd managed to become a member of the club, and how later I'd managed to break into Hendry's office only to find Bo spark out and handcuffed to the chair. I also told them about the tapes, both the cassette recording and the video camera recording of Bo's ordeals.
If I did mislead or skip over anything, then it was what went on between me and Anthea. I considered that personal and something not destined for any official report.
Anyway, I'm pleased to report that my explanation was accepted, and, once it was all over, we all became the best of friends.
At sometime around four o'clock in the morning, perhaps a little later, - no one seemed to sleep around here - and in Harry Bell's office, myself and a handful of other officers listened intently to the cassette recording, then moved on to view the video tape.
Since I've already explained the cassette recording to you, I won't bore you again with the details, but I think you'll find the video tape very interesting. But I warn you now, it's not for the squeamish.
When the video began to play there were six of us sat around a large television screen. Harry Bell and Denny North were two of them, I was another, the other three were members of the Drugs Squad I'd not had privilege to meet before this night. For the record they were namely, Joe, Bob and Dave. I don't think I was ever told their surnames, but I guess it's not important. But what was important I guess was their attitude to me. They were all treating me like one of their own, and I was a cop again.
Now I want you to think back. If you remember, I'd left the video camera running on its side, so picture this will you, six grown men all sat around a television set, all with their heads to one side and looking intensely at the screen.
To start with there was nothing to be seen but the far end of the chamber. However, at this stage, I remember feeling pretty pleased with myself for getting the camera angle right. The brazier, the two posts and the cage were all completely within shot, albeit all sideways on. The cage was at the top, the posts in the middle and the brazier underneath.
After a few minutes the lights went out and the screen went black.
"That's when I left," I told the attentive audience.
There were a few mutterings, and, for a while necks straightened whilst someone fast forwarded the video to a point when the lights came back on. We then all settled back down and returned our heads to one side.
Not long after the lights came back on, Hendry and his apeman sidekick appeared in camera. They were dragging Bo between them. Her hands were handcuffed behind her back, and the straps of that leather dress she wore hung in tatters about her. She was awake and struggling, that was obvious. She was also protesting vehemently. The sound quality however was poor and it was difficult to make out what was being said above the drone of the camera motors one always hears on these sort of recordings.
"We'll get the experts on the sound and get a transcript made," said Harry Bell at this stage.
No one in the room seemed to take much notice. I think the pictures told us all anyway.
The action moved on. I'd been right about Bo's excuse for a dress. It was the apeman that cut it away. He had a knife and simply hacked at the straps and pulled the web-like structure away in great handfuls. There was a g-string underneath, but that didn't last long either. With one quick tug it came away and then instantly cast to the back wall of the chamber.
Hendry, in the meantime, was putting a match to the brazier and adjusting the flame. He then returned, and together they helped get Bo chained between the posts.
I must admit, they were expert at it, and worked as a team. They'd obviously done this many times before. With Bo lying on her back on the ground, they dragged her round, positioned her between the posts and pulled her legs apart. One guy then attached a manacle to an ankle, whilst the other did the same to the other leg. After that Bo was forced to stand upright, with legs wide apart. The handcuffs were then removed from behind her back.
After that Hendry held Bo by the neck, and got her in an arm lock, whilst the apeman took hold of the other arm and stretched it out towards the post. He then locked the manacle about the wrist, and I guess by then it was all over bar the shouting. Anyway, the other wrist became quickly secured, and that was it. The entire operation had been swiftly executed, neatly done, and all over within the space of something like thirty seconds.
With Bo noticeably still protesting and rattling her chains, Hendry and the apeman descended the steps to the chamber floor beneath the raised area. They began to converse.
I must admit I could not make anything out, but it seemed that we had an expert lip-reader in the room. It was either that or he had extremely good hearing.
"What did he say?" asked Harry Bell.
It was a general question to anyone who might help. I was surprised to find someone answer.
"I think Hendry said something about someone called Boris being on his way. I think he also said something like; 'go outside and wait for him, then bring him down here to me as soon as he arrives'," answered the guy in the room called Joe.
After that the apeman sidekick disappeared from shot, and leaving Hendry alone to deal with Bo.
I asked a general question: "Who's Boris?"
Surprisingly there was silence.
Harry Bell eventually answered: "I don't know. He's somebody new, but the investigation's in its early stages and I'm sure we'll get a lead on him."

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Now for a health warning. From now on, what I have to report is not very pleasant. If you are in anyway squeamish, then I suggest you skip over the following few paragraphs and start reading again after the next set of asterisks.

* * *

Hendry extracted a branding iron from the flames and walked up to Bo. He held it to her face so that she could feel the heat. Bo immediately jerked her head away in order to keep the greatest distance possible between the red-hot tip of the iron and the skin of her face. I also noted for the first time that Bo's face was badly swollen. She had a black eye and puffed out cheeks. I figured she'd had another working over in Hendry's office before being dragged down here for further interrogation.
"What's he saying?" asked Harry Bell as Hendry continued to threaten with the iron.
Hendry was facing away from the camera, so lip-reading was out of the question. But good old Joe somehow managed to pick up a few words.
"I think he wants to know who Bo's working for," said Joe.
It was obvious Bo was being stubborn and not going to give in that easily. Why, I do not know? It seemed to me downright stupidity not to reveal everything, especially when you knew what was going to happen if you refused.
We all looked on, our eyes transfixed to the screen. It was obvious by now that Hendry was getting impatient. He was physically shaking with rage.
Anyway, the talking stopped and the branding iron moved away from Bo's face. The actual strike could not be seen. Hendry's body was in the way. But Bo's reactions were all too plain to see. Her head flew back as if punched on the jaw, her body set rigid for a second or two, then began to shake violently. I think all six of us in that room felt for her. This was pain beyond belief, and this was only the first strike of the iron, of which we all knew, after seeing Bo's mutilated body, that there were many more strikes to follow.
"Oh no!" shouted one person in the room.
"Bastard!" shouted another.
I think the rest of us kept our thoughts to ourselves.
Hendry was seen to ask again.
"What's he saying this time?" asked Harry Bell.
"The same thing I think," answered Joe, "he's still wants to know who Bo's working for."
Bo was in no mood tell. She did say something, and even I could translate what was said, or at least got the gist of it. It was something along the lines; 'fuck off you bastard'.
Hendry most obviously didn't like the answer and he struck again. Not once, but several times on this occasion. I think what he did was burn a complete circle around the nipple of Bo's left breast.
Once more the six grown men sat watching around the television screen either vented their anger, or, inwardly agonised as Bo threw back her head and rocked uncontrollably between her restraints.
Bo was still shaking amidst what appeared to have been a never ending series of violent spasms when Hendry began grilling her again. I'm not even sure Bo was capable of answering anymore. Her head was tossed right back and she was looking up to the ceiling all the time this was happening.
 Anyway, I guess Bo's response was negative either way you look at it. Hendry's arm dropped, and from behind one could see his elbow stabbing in and out as the branding iron struck and struck again. This time it was her right breast that received the punishment, and if anything suffering far worse punishment than the one on the left.
"Go on, tell him Bo," someone said, "give in, don't suffer anymore."
Hendry took time off to reheat the iron. The tip was smouldering as he returned to the brazier and thrust it into the flames.
For a while Bo's whole body came into view. The shaking had stopped, her head was on her chest, and her whole body was slumped forward on the chains. Her breasts were noticeably blackened, and little whiffs of blue smoke could be seen rising from around the stricken areas and drifting up past the side of her head. Even though I'd seen the after effects for myself, and aware that the ordeal was far from over, let me tell you it was still a horrible sight to see, and one I would not like to experience again.
Hendry returned, this time with his coat off and shirt sleeves rolled up. It looked like he really meant business now. The tip of his branding iron was glowing a bright red. With one hand he grabbed at Bo's hair and pulled back her head. He then asked her something once more.
"The same question?" queried Harry Bell.
Joe nodded.
"He still wants to know who she's working for," he confirmed.
Bo, it seemed was still holding out. It was noticeable in Hendry's body language that he was getting a very angry and frustrated man.
This time Hendry struck at the stomach. He looked like he was using the bellybutton as his target this time, and searing a series of H's in a ring around it.
Immediately the iron struck, Bo came to life. Her head flew back, and she began to rock and shake uncontrollably between the two upright posts.
If nothing else, and despite the poor sound quality, the chains could be heard rattling loudly above the din as Hendry began to question Bo once more. Again an answer was not forthcoming and the frustration within Hendry was becoming blatantly obvious.
On receiving no positive response, Hendry stooped low to attack another part of Bo's body. This time to thrust the iron up between her legs. A squeal was noticeable along with a shuddering jerk to the body as the hot iron struck upwards between her open legs.
The torment did not end there. Unfortunately there was to be no respite for poor Bo. Two more jabs quickly followed, and both resulting in similar violent reactions.
Having jabbed three times in quick succession, Hendry stood up and grabbed the back of Bo's hair.
With her head held right back he asked again.
This time Bo appeared to say something. It looked like she was broken.
Hendry asked one more time, as if for confirmation. Then noticeably his shoulders dropped and he began to relax. It looked like he'd got what he asked for.
"What did she say? What did she tell him?" asked Harry Bell.
Everyone in the room waited for Joe to speak. I was as eager as the rest of us to find out.
"It sounded like Drugs Squad," said Joe solemnly.
Harry Bell rubbed his chin.
"That looks like the end to our undercover operation," he mused to himself thoughtfully.

* * *

If you were one of the squeamish types and skipped the last section, then it's okay now, you can start reading again from here. What you missed was Bo under torture revealing that she worked for the Drugs Squad, and, as a result, blowing Harry Bell's elaborate undercover operation to pieces.
Someone switched the television off at this stage and set the tape in rewind. Harry then dismissed the gathering. It was now getting on for six o'clock in the morning and everyone was beginning to yawn.
"Go home everyone and get some sleep," he told everyone. "Let's have a fresh look at everything tomorrow afternoon."
I wondered if that included me. I think technically I was still under arrest.
"Does that include me Harry?" I asked.
Harry nodded his head.
"You can go home too Woody," he informed me.
Now I had a little problem. My car was still parked somewhere out near Hendry's club. I'd been brought here under arrest, in handcuffs and in the back of a police car.
"Thanks Harry," I said, "but do you think you can do me one more favour?"
"What's that Woody?" asked Harry.
"Organise me a lift back to Hendry's place. My car's parked up in a side street near there, and I'd like it get back if I may," I asked politely.
Harry smiled for the first time tonight.
"I'll get someone to run you out there Woody," he agreed and he picked up the phone from off his desk.
Those in the room were leaving as Harry dialled, and each in turn were saying their goodnights. Harry waved and said goodnight back. So did I. We were now alone in the room together.
Harry found someone on the phone that was up and about and eventually I heard him organise a lift.
"Someone's coming for you, but it could be a while," he told me as he put the phone down.
"Thanks Harry," I replied.
For quite some time afterwards nothing was said. I could see that Harry was deep in thought. I could also see that he had no intentions of going home for a rest.
"What are you going to do now Harry?" I asked. "Bring Hendry in and throw the book at him?"
Harry shook his head. He looked pensive.
"It's not as simple as that Woody," he told me with a sigh, "we're the Drugs Squad not the police. What you've just seen is highly sensitive material and not for general release. If we pass this over to the local police and Hendry gets arrested, then everyone involved are just going to dive for cover. Oh, we will throw the book at him if we ever get enough on him. But there are bigger fish to catch. Hendry's just a bit player. There's a whole operation going on out there, and we need to get to the bottom of it first."
I understood. I guess being an ordinary cop I was looking at it from another angle.
"What about Bo? Won't she be pushing charges?" I asked.
Harry shook his head once more.
"She'll want what we all want. She'll want to see the whole lot caught before taking any action against Hendry," he said.
I felt sorry for Bo. I also felt sorry for Harry and the rest of his team. They'd worked hard to get people inside the club, and now that cover had been blown wide apart, and all because of a mobile phone left carelessly in the glove compartment of a car.
"What's missing Harry?" I asked. "how much do you know?"
Harry looked at me and shook his head.
"We don't know how the stuffs getting into this country for a start," he told me. "They've got some elaborate scheme going for getting everything past customs, and nobody as yet has been able to figure it out."
I wondered if the guy with German number plates had anything to do with it all.
"What about this Boris fellow? If it's the same guy that I saw driving away from Hendry's, then he drives a car with German number plates," I put to Harry.
Harry shook his head.
"It could be a man Hendry meets up with occasionally," he told me. "But he's a very slippery customer. We've tried to put a tail on him, but every time he's given us the slip. It's as if he knows our every move. If I didn't know my staff so well, I'd even go as far as to say he's got an inside informer."
"And have you?" I asked.
"What?" asked Harry.
"Got someone inside giving away vital information?" I explained.
Harry shook his head.
"I just wish I knew Woody," he sighed, "I just wish I knew."

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End of Chapter Twelve