We all make MISTAKES and we are supposed to learn from them, but what if that mistake, although innocent, is big enough to bring you down? If it introduces a dangerous situation, that in turn endangers your whole family, and beyond? The answer can be that you cannot afford to make another mistake.

In this book it is easy to see how entrapment could lead any one of us to fall victim to circumstances where one mistake leads to another. Where a growing number of people become involved, personally and professionally, a mistake here, a mistake there –with dire and deathly consequence. The Italian perpetrators involved here are clever and cruel enough to spin their web to entrap and cause mistakes to be made by the likes of us all, and that includes the National Criminal Intelligence Service (NCIS) that protects us as a nation.

Where does it all end?

Quote by Chief Inspector Cox summing up after the affair.

CHAPTER ONE

Charles Bashford Klein was such a person who became the perpetrator of a serious ‘lesson to be learnt’ where the implications lead directly to the only two people he had ever loved. Most lessons derive from a ‘mistake’ and the more quickly that mistake can be rectified properly, the better.

Charles failed dismally, totally in fact with repercussions far beyond his own life. His legacy was poisonous and unrelenting yet it would have been the very last thing he would ever have wished for, so how did it happen?

Charles had an established prosperous jewellery shop where he had served the public for fifty years, he was married with one son who had come into the business. Charles carried out delicate repairs to jewellery, he was an honest, old fashioned type which was clear to anyone who met him; he exuded reliability. The business had afforded a substantial holiday retreat in Liguria where they enjoyed certain solitude from time to time with hardly any local contact. Their middling years had seen them owning and using a modest yacht, but that was all behind them now that advancing years curtailed their activities.

The son, Royston was of a quiet disposition, even more than that of his father and probably the reason they got on so well. Vivienne, wife and mother, had had absolutely nothing to do with the business for at least ten years, but formed a great anchor in the family, equally devoting her time between husband and son. Her later years were at last relaxing and apart from reading, tending her English flower garden there was little time to do much else.

It was while Charles and Vivienne were in Italy that Charles was approached by a neighbour across the valley. Although geographically classed as a neighbour, the terrain meant that they had not met before. He had somehow become aware of Charles’ business and asked for an alteration to be made to a diamond necklace. Charles explained that he would be unable to work away from his workshop in Hertfordshire, England, but advised that Italian craftsmen were capable. It was explained to him by the neighbour that it was not the case in the locality, and at any rate Charles’s reputation had gone before him; a number of locals had remarked on the quality of individual pieces that Vivienne had worn. The news had escaped that Charles had designed them individually and so she was a constant advertisement to his talent, thus, they were invited over to their new acquaintance and shown a very poor example of local craftsmanship. A few glasses of wine later and Charles was suggesting that it could be posted across in the usual way; their son Royston would put it in the safe.

Gianni the host, a tall prosperous Italian, who exuded gushes of charm and confidence laughed –

“ Oh we donna do things like that ‘ere. We are the country people – I will ask you to take it and ‘geeve’ you a letter of my ownership, in case you have a customs problem. When it is ready you can return with it and I can pay you. But first can I offer to you the alteration that I desire?”
“But I can’t come back for several months.”
“No problemo! I have some business in UK, if you are a long time returning, either I or one of my assistants will come to you. If that is the case, he will carry a letter of introduction where both the envelope and the letter itself will carry my logo. Would you like to be paid in pounds or euro?” There was a kind of intoxication in Gianni’s style that went beyond the glasses of wine.
Charles smiled feeling relaxed in this convivial company, ignoring that Gianni had all the answers before the question could be raised. “You Italians have a very uncomplicated way of doing things.”
“We like informality here in Italy, but we only work with people we trust. My letter of provenance for the jewellery will prevent complications should there be any enquiry whatsoever.”
It was as straight forward as that. Stupid in some respects, the jewellery carried a value in excess of forty thousand pounds in its current state, but even Vivienne smiled; there was no feeling of suspicion, nor that a mistake had been made.

The trip to England was without complication. The occasional car was stopped at Dover, but they went straight through, in fact they could not remember ever being stopped, maybe it was because of their age, they were in their 70’s, who knows. The letter was not needed, but it was kept handy to be revealed if asked by customs to declare anything for import. In any case it was not for import. Little did they know what was yet to come.

One month after Charles had e-mailed notification of the alteration, complete with photo, the assistant arrived. Gianni’s logo was presented. The photo had been sufficient to show that the job was to satisfaction, and so the assistant had brought another item for repair. This time Charles had to sign a receipt that bore a photo of the item, only a minor alteration was required and a price of two hundred pounds was suggested.

As Charles examined the piece he was slightly worried. There was a trust implied here. Charles’ trustworthiness would never be in doubt, but there was no reason for Gianni to be certain of this. The assistant courier, who, or whatever he was, did not exactly abound in the personality department. He could not offer a contact telephone number and only shrugged when he proposed that Charles should e-mail any communication. He paid the bill for the first alteration, and left with it saying that he would come back in one month unless he had different instruction.

Charles knew very well that there were strict rules that needed to be followed in introducing jewellery between countries. ‘Dumping’ as it is called involves cross border selling without notification where different countries have subsidised taxes in force that must not break international agreements. Any suspicious activity is the responsibility of everyone involved in the chain. Serious cases were vigorously investigated by the fraud squad.
Charles sent an e-mail but did not raise any issues, he merely acknowledged receipt. This was his first big mistake.

Another month later it was Gianni who arrived with a grand open smile; it was near to closing time. His entrance was as grand as his smile, gesticulating like only the Italians do. This theatrical performance encompassed his praise for Charles’ work and ended by him producing a small package. Charles seized upon the opportunity to end this awkward affair, but his protestations were nipped in the bud.

“Oh no Charles, I absolutely insist! This little package is only a small present for your wife to show my gratitude. I will hear no more about it.” He then made an offer to treat him and Vivienne out to dinner. Royston was away on a course. This now meant that Gianni followed Charles to his house where once again the super charm display went into overdrive on meeting Vivienne again. It was impossible not to offer an invitation to stay over at their house and it was swiftly taken up. The restaurant meal proved to deliver and there was no mention from Gianni about future collections. Charles was silently pleased as he had not made a song and dance at all about the ‘new’ business relationship that had developed, but was hoping to challenge the situation in a one to one with Gianni. It was difficult in any event to get a word in edgeways as Gianni continued unabated all evening, cascading information about his considerable estate that grew vines and olives throughout three kilometres in all directions. He did not come over as bragging, his chosen words were like poetry when describing his substantial paradise. Charles and Vivienne were easily mentally transported back to the area that they knew and loved so much.

The following morning just before a taxi was to arrive, another piece of jewellery was presented. Charles was taken by surprise; he had continued to be relieved all the time that no more had been offered for repair or alteration. He was off his guard and accepted it. How deliberate was this effusive man, where his often overbearing manner prevented one from even thinking, let alone in to making a decision. Whatever Gianni had said while handing over the package, Charles was oblivious to it as he clambered clumsily to find words of protest. The next instant the taxi arrived and Gianni was swept away reiterating voluminous words of praise and thank you, he was gone without Charles saying anything. Vivienne beamed away in her ignorance before frowning on looking at the package, “not another present, good Lord”
“No Viv, it’s uh, another little job for me to do.”

Charles wasn’t sure if he was met with a little hesitant questioning expression or not, but he had every right to be annoyed with himself , yet it was still not a matter of reporting this neighbour for dumping; he would need to put matters in order with Gianni on the next visit to Liguria. This delay cemented another mistake.

The following week the assistant arrived out of the blue, with another package carrying the logo that brought even deeper concerns. This situation was worse, although Charles was not entirely sure why at first, but it became more obvious, the assistant did not need to take the last item of jewellery away. Also, the assistant did not want to communicate, was it because being Italian he lacked language skills? A rather quick exit exacerbated the deep sensation of doom. Now Charles would have to deal with this in person. He paved the way by e-mailing to Gianni that he could not continue receiving items explaining the international code of practice regarding jewellery. He remained polite, though felt that he was firm enough.

Fortune was absent when the next day a motor cycle courier arrived at the shop with a boxed parcel, Royston was on his own whilst Charles was away and signed for it. It was customary for him to open such a parcel as it may be something that needed to go into the safe immediately. Inside were a number of pieces of expensive jewellery; too much for the safe. Royston phoned his father.

Charles arrived within an hour and was already horrified fully expecting to see the familiar logo. There was no logo, there were no instructions, only a note to say ‘sorry, for no notice. Will call as usual’
Charles went to the computer to send a message of rejection to Gianni.

There was a reply to Charles’ former e-mail. “sorry for large delivery. Just received your ‘worried’
e-mail. Do absolutely nothing – will call in two days.”

There was no call in two days, nor three, four or five. Charles then told Royston what had been happening. Royston was a young thirty two year old who had never really got away from the home and business; his father’s teaching meant that he instantly could see the implications, but like his father he also didn’t really know what else to do. “You have done nothing wrong intentionally dad, but let’s hope it isn’t stolen property.”
Charles became unusually defensive and abrupt which was an obvious sign of stress.

“Don’t be silly, they’re wealthy landowners, but then, you have hardly met them.”
It was time to e-mail again. The words from Royston had struck an unnerving chord as he thought out loud. “How come I don’t have an address, no telephone number either?”

This large package was clearly wrong. Why would someone risk thousands of pounds of property that could be stolen, go missing. There was no provenance. What if he had to account for it all?
Royston was able to see that all was far from well, his father said he needed to mind the shop while he got to the bottom of all this. Charles went through to the back office and decided to contact his immediate next door Italian neighbour in Italy to try to get the full contact details of Gianni.

He was pleased to make some initial progress when he was greeted with a “No problem, I will drive round and I will be in touch later today.”

Charles then took the ‘goods’ to his safe at home acknowledging in an aggravating kind of way that although he was leaving Royston in the clear should they get checked by the police, why on earth should he be doing this – it was akin to being a criminal.

There was to be no let up for Charles. The Italian neighbour returned the call only to say that he is not listed. The only positive news was in the fact that he had an address, but even this was marred by the neighbours comment, “there is a great mystery to this family. They are often travelling. There are staff present, and I was interrogated when I was taking a note of the address by a surly man when I called. They are not originally from our region and so there is mistrust, they don’t mix with any one nearby.”

The neighbour knew that Charles had been invited to sort out some jewellery for the family. His cautionary parting advice brought more tension “ be careful Signor Charles, they are different from most people.”

A visit to Italy was essential, it must be brought forward. Charles started to make arrangements trying not to pre-empt a cause for Vivienne to worry; this whole affair must be terminated, but once again the reins were taken from him.

A business type e-mail appeared on Charles’ screen, ‘Dear Charles, it is a great shame that our arrangement that has worked so well is troubling you so much that you send people to my house. Your recent hospitality was so welcome and so I am amazed that you mentioned nothing of your concerns during our shared meal and throughout my short stay at your house. Your work is appreciated and you do not, I think, receive sufficient remuneration. I am working elsewhere for some weeks and have therefore organised a meeting where my twin sons will visit you. They will collect and talk with you. Their English is not perfect; please do not see this as them being rude or unfriendly.

Charles was not a large person, who appeared smaller than his true size, no doubt due to his work where he spent hours bent over his bench. The prospect of meeting the twins made him wonder if there might be trouble, he had seen the twins briefly, they were enormous and carried themselves in an unfeeling way. He reflected further, how on earth did he let this happen? Why was it that there never was an appointment made and yet all visits suited them? Was the courier, who came on the motorbike when only Royston was alone, a coincidence or planned? Charles’ paranoia was increasing as he struggled not to worry. He would take no truck from Gianni’s sons, he would be firm and ready – this had to finish.

WRONG! Two very tall, well built guys standing nearly two meters in height entered the shop late in the afternoon. Their combined physical stature substantially diminished the light coming in from the windows. Royston had left only fifteen minutes earlier.

“ Meester Bashford Klein. I am Roberto, this is my brother Antonio. You are expecting us.”
Charles stammered a reply which did not help him at all. He observed that they were identical twins.
“Yes- Yes, I sort of. I uh, uh.” He was not allowed to continue.
“You have some things for us. Papa tells us it is possible that it be at your ‘ouse.”