A Gangland Tale

by Neal Hardin

When a retired London gangster (Alan Dent) receives an invitation in the post to attend a wedding in London, he dismisses the invite as a prank. But, later that evening he receives a telephone call from a stranger who advises him to attend, or the consequences for him will be serious. Dent travels from his home in Benidorm, Spain to London to attend the wedding. There he meets a retired Met police DI called Harry Pryde. Pryde informs Dent that he knows of an incident that occurred ten years ago, in which Dent killed a gangster called Benny Hilton. Pryde blackmails Dent into attempting to break into the business premises of a small-time south London drug dealer. Dent, is in a quandary. He seeks advice from an old associate. A man by the name of Tony Fitton. Fitton advises Dent to contact someone by the name of Terry Crawshaw. Dent and Crawshaw meet and soon reached an understanding. One week later the robbery takes place. ?640,000 in cash is taken in the raid, but the raid turns violent as two of the drug dealer's men are shot dead by Crawshaw.Hours after the robbery, Dent is double-crossed by Crawshaw when two of his team kidnap Dent's sister and nephew. He is forced to return his share of the takings. From this point on Dent is determined to get even with Crawshaw, but to also discover whose money was taken. Two days later, Dent observes one of the drug dealer's men entering the business premises of a man called Syd Welsh. He follows this man onto a London tube train. Under duress, the man tells Dent that the stolen money belongs to the late Benny Hilton's three sons. Dent decides to enact a risky strategy by informing the Hiltons who stole their money. He meets Sam Hilton and they come to an agreement. They soon locate Syd Welsh and one of the gang members. After negotiations, Crawshaw agrees to return the cash. However, things do not go to plan. Two of Crawshaw's men are shot dead. This act begins a gang war. By this stage, Dent has returned home to Spain to run his pub, in the resort of Benidorm. He receives a telephone call from Tony Fitton. Fitton reveals that he has been working on an elaborate plan with Crawshaw to lure the Hilton brothers out of their south London stronghold. Fitton persuades Dent to help him execute a devious plan. The action now moves to Benidorm. Two of the Hilton brothers travel to Benidorm to find Crawshaw. They are seeking revenge for an attack on their brother. After a series of near misses, the Hiltons set out to kill Crawshaw in a villa. However, the two Hilton brothers and a third man are ambushed and shot dead by Crawshaw.In the early hours of the morning Dent and Crawshaw and another man drive to a remote spot in the hilltops overlooking Benidorm to dispose of the bodies. On the journey, back to Benidorm, Crawshaw attempts to kill Dent, but his gun jams and Dent escapes. Later that evening, Crawshaw and an associate visit Dent's pub seeking to confront him. A fist fight develops. Crawshaw pulls out a gun. Crawshaw is disarmed and flees from the pub, before he is challenged by the police and shot. In the aftermath, Dent convinces the local police that he does not know Crawshaw. The local police are unable to connect the incident to the report of the burnt-out car containing the bodies of the two Hilton brothers and a third man. Dent enlists the help of one of his barmen to remove the body of a man who was murdered in the flat above his pub. Crawshaw is released after several weeks in custody and returns to London. The story concludes at this point.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1983059374
• ISBN13: 9781983059377
• Release Date: June 2018
• Publisher: Independently published
• Length: 232 Pages
• Weight: 0.91 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"