Chapter 43: Old Slippery Intervenes In An Argument
It was now Monday, at the start of December. Liz was working late and my sister was kindly looking after little Jennifer. She was now a robust little toddler. Liz was starting to get 'broody'. so it seemed more nappy changing would be on the horizon soon just when things seemed to be settling down with little Jen. I would be very much in the 'dog house' if I spent too much time in the Bull.
As I have said, the girls' high school was excellent. For those reading this who are not British, by high school I mean an 11 to 18 secondary school, with the 6th form being 16 to 18-year-olds. Classed as an Academy, it was supposed to be open to all but there was some 'under the table selection'. So a high number of Annabelles and Rebeccas came along with the Traceys. Yes, that all-pervasive English Class system again.
A 'piece of cake', 'a walk in the park', it could well be when compared with other secondary schools in London. Also, most of the school staff frequented a 'boozer', a pub closer to the school. I preferred a short drive or walk to the Bull. I hated sitting around talking 'school gossip' with the rest of the teachers. So the Bull-it always was.
Sandra and Kevin soon arrived. Sandra had her 'mock' A levels coming up. She was doing very well overall and would soon be off to the same university as Kevin.
The Majors were there needless to say, as was the Detective Chief Inspector, but not the young detectives. The rest of the 'committee' Pamela etc were actually working. The Chief's weekend was very busy with cracking a financial scam plus tracking down a warehouse full of stolen goods. So he thought he could do with a rest, or so he thought.
Sid and Beryl were really pleased. It may be a Monday afternoon for a change which was usually dead in most pubs, but both the Cellar and Lounge Bar-Restaurants were very busy. People were really being drawn in now from the 'City' in East London.
Two businessmen came regularly to thrash out deals. We had all noticed them. The Majors thought they were not bankers. I suspected they were property dealers being a bit into that myself. Detective Chief Inspector Higgins agreed.
"You see that fat geezer sitting on the left. Yep, the big bloke. I know him. He's way dodgy. Suspect these property dealings are about 'laundering'. He's into 'nose candy'. ladies, and arms shipments, and that is just for starters. He has 'form' as well. Previous fraud and alleged ABS, Actual Bodily Harm. Nothing stuck, cases were thrown out of court through lack of evidence. A right slippery/slimy so and so. He is here because the City Police are onto him, Thinks he's safe in this 'manor'. Yes, he is on my 'radar' alright."
With that, a heated argument between the two of them seemed to get a lot worse. The 'Chief' was onto his 'police phone'. He explained the situation to the local police station and wanted some uniform officers over at the Bull ASAP.
Old Slippery was watching this very intently. He knew all about both of them of course. Both the 'Chief' and Sid the Landlord were 'telepathically' trying to calm the Old Ghost down. These two either didn't know or care about Old Slippery. This was not wise, not wise at all!
Both Sandra and Kevin started recording very surreptitiously. They expected the 'proverbial' would soon hit the fan. They were right. The larger of the two smashed a wine bottle on the side of the table and thrust this at the other man's face. This was to be a classic 'bottling'.
Old Slippery's reaction could be measured in milliseconds. His cloak extended right out. He seemed to fly across the tables in the Lounge Bar Restaurant. The Old Highwayman then grabbed both 'gentlemen' by the scruff of their necks and effortlessly lifted both of them out of their seats. The larger one still had the bottle in his hand.
Luckily the Lounge Bar Restaurant had a high ceiling. Some of the customers in the dining area ducked down a bit. However, Old Slippery easily managed to clear everyone's heads. He seemed to have no problem with this at all. He sailed majestically across the Lounge Bar, a man in each hand. They appeared to be in a state of total horror and stupor.
There would have been a time when that would have been it. He would have summarily dispatched both of them with his trusty rapier. However, he spared both, knowing justice would come via the Metropolitan Police, which it eventually did as they both later received long custodial sentences when all the cases they were involved in were unraveled.
He then, unceremoniously, carried both out of the Lounge Bar door and out through the front door of the Bull. He stopped at the entrance as he knew he could go no further. Two bouncers, flattened themselves against the wall to let Old Slippery and his 'passengers' through. They seemed to be both in a state of terror and awe. If only they were able to do this with erring customers?
The Old Highway Man gave them both a wink as if to acknowledge what their thoughts had been.
Old Slippery then literary threw both men across the road to the waiting police officers and a police van.
The uniformed police had had dealings with Old Slippery before, but this seemed way beyond the possible.
The Old Ghost then gave a stately bow along with an extravagant twirl of his three-cornered hat, in the direction of the uniformed officers. They duly reciprocated by doffing their caps and helmets and bowing slightly all in unison.
"Ah at last people are learning good etiquette in the 21st century." Old Slippery thought to himself.
Sandra and Kevin were not far behind and had managed to capture everything, including the 'expulsion' of the two 'gentlemen' outside.
The ghost went straight back to his chair. There was a spontaneous round of applause from everyone in the Lounge Bar Restaurant. This was reciprocated by yet another flamboyant bow and a twirl of his three-cornered hat. He promptly faded away. He needed to recuperate.
Detective Chief Inspector Higgins collected up all the belongings of the two 'gentlemen'. Their cell phones, laptops, and papers from their table. All this was needed for evidence. He then went straight back to the police station to process all of this plus interview both of them. They could and would certainly be done for affray. What other 'delights' could the Detective Chief Inspector find?
There was the usual dilemma. How to 'square' Old Slippery's role in all of this? The Chief thought he could involve the two bouncers and suggested to them that he could help them out in the future with some good job opportunities, as they had 'done good.' This time Old Slippery had gone too far, this was way too public. This had no bearing on the case though. That was 'cut and dried'.
The press caught onto this with a selection of lurid titles in some cases:
Old Slippery Sends Trouble Makers Flying!
The Bull Ghost Hands The Police A Prize!
Don't Mess With Old Slippery At The Bull!!
The 'red top' press was broadly sympathetic again. They could see he was there to protect the pub. The 'broadsheet' papers gave more measured accounts along the same lines.
This did bring another influx of thirsty newspaper hacks to the Bull for a while. After a week or so, all this subsided.