the vast majority of people living today, a network
of tunnels and chambers still existed beneath Pedley. It was once written that
the cellar system was reminiscent of a downscaled version of the Roman
catacombs. Around two hundred years before, convict labour brought to the mainland
excavated an underground system, which served as a penal colony. The convicts
were housed in these chambers to serve out their remaining years, whilst the
authorities at the time lived in stone houses above the ground. This
underground network, whilst inhumane, was extremely effective for controlling
and keeping the prisoners at bay.
The stone buildings were
eventually demolished and no visual evidence remained to support the theory of
the once-concealed subterranean passages. Only three entrances were ever
constructed, all of which led directly from their respective stone premises.
One such entrance lay directly below Broadbent’s premises.
Although this network was still
functional, time had brought with it some degree of deterioration, with access only
known to the privileged few who had sworn an oath of absolute secrecy. It was
ironic that the drug underworld would establish their regional headquarters in
such a cleverly chosen underground location.
An organisation within the drug
world known as Scorpio had purchased the Broadbent site some eight years
earlier. Victor Marlow, known only as ‘the Keeper’ to his employees, was the
brains and finance behind the enterprise. He ran an efficient and highly
profitable business from his city address and had successfully launched three
regional headquarters - one of which was Pedley - to assist with city and
interstate demand. The Pedley success story of recent years was so impressive
it now rivaled its city counterpart for annual revenue, where interstate trade
was now drawing from its abundant stock. It came as no surprise to those in the
hierarchy that Marlow held this regional outlet in such high regard. Due to its
close proximity to the city, he often made the effort to visit the town to
discuss business developments with his regional head and view the underground
operations.
The Pedley conglomerate consisted
of numerous people on the payroll. Broadbent alone comprised a manager and his
four subordinates, whilst the drug operations were delegated to two people
responsible for trafficking, transport, the recruitment of pushers and to carry
out the manual tasks required underground. The syndicate’s overall
responsibility was carried out by a regional head, whose identity was known
only to Victor Marlow, Broadbent’s manager Neville Bradbury and one of the drug
operators.
Only five people within the
organisation had knowledge of and access to the underground network beneath
Pedley: Marlow, the regional head, Bradbury and two drug operators known only
as Charlie and Sol. The world beneath Broadbent was an underground paradise for
supporting the drug habits of those so inclined. The variety alone was like a
smorgasbord of gourmet dishes that would satisfy the most fastidious of
seasoned palates. The pickings, which boasted unconditional quality and
unlimited supply, covered the total spectrum, ranging from cannabis and ecstasy
through to cocaine, amphetamines and heroin.
Neville Bradbury, a methodical
man in his early forties and a loyal employee of the syndicate, arrived at the
warehouse. He was pleased to see that the morning consignment had arrived and
that all the produce was packed the way he had instructed. Travis Ferguson, the
Broadbent employee also known as Ferret, had rejoined his coworkers and would probably
receive his boss’s gratitude, much to the annoyance of others.
‘Thanks, guys,’ Bradbury said. ‘Would
one of you now place that pallet into the van and take it over to Murphy’s
Supermarket as they’re expecting delivery before ten, and then you can call it
quits for the day.’
‘Sure, boss,’ called Ferret, keen
to accrue some
of tunnels and chambers still existed beneath Pedley. It was once written that
the cellar system was reminiscent of a downscaled version of the Roman
catacombs. Around two hundred years before, convict labour brought to the mainland
excavated an underground system, which served as a penal colony. The convicts
were housed in these chambers to serve out their remaining years, whilst the
authorities at the time lived in stone houses above the ground. This
underground network, whilst inhumane, was extremely effective for controlling
and keeping the prisoners at bay.
The stone buildings were
eventually demolished and no visual evidence remained to support the theory of
the once-concealed subterranean passages. Only three entrances were ever
constructed, all of which led directly from their respective stone premises.
One such entrance lay directly below Broadbent’s premises.
Although this network was still
functional, time had brought with it some degree of deterioration, with access only
known to the privileged few who had sworn an oath of absolute secrecy. It was
ironic that the drug underworld would establish their regional headquarters in
such a cleverly chosen underground location.
An organisation within the drug
world known as Scorpio had purchased the Broadbent site some eight years
earlier. Victor Marlow, known only as ‘the Keeper’ to his employees, was the
brains and finance behind the enterprise. He ran an efficient and highly
profitable business from his city address and had successfully launched three
regional headquarters - one of which was Pedley - to assist with city and
interstate demand. The Pedley success story of recent years was so impressive
it now rivaled its city counterpart for annual revenue, where interstate trade
was now drawing from its abundant stock. It came as no surprise to those in the
hierarchy that Marlow held this regional outlet in such high regard. Due to its
close proximity to the city, he often made the effort to visit the town to
discuss business developments with his regional head and view the underground
operations.
The Pedley conglomerate consisted
of numerous people on the payroll. Broadbent alone comprised a manager and his
four subordinates, whilst the drug operations were delegated to two people
responsible for trafficking, transport, the recruitment of pushers and to carry
out the manual tasks required underground. The syndicate’s overall
responsibility was carried out by a regional head, whose identity was known
only to Victor Marlow, Broadbent’s manager Neville Bradbury and one of the drug
operators.
Only five people within the
organisation had knowledge of and access to the underground network beneath
Pedley: Marlow, the regional head, Bradbury and two drug operators known only
as Charlie and Sol. The world beneath Broadbent was an underground paradise for
supporting the drug habits of those so inclined. The variety alone was like a
smorgasbord of gourmet dishes that would satisfy the most fastidious of
seasoned palates. The pickings, which boasted unconditional quality and
unlimited supply, covered the total spectrum, ranging from cannabis and ecstasy
through to cocaine, amphetamines and heroin.
Neville Bradbury, a methodical
man in his early forties and a loyal employee of the syndicate, arrived at the
warehouse. He was pleased to see that the morning consignment had arrived and
that all the produce was packed the way he had instructed. Travis Ferguson, the
Broadbent employee also known as Ferret, had rejoined his coworkers and would probably
receive his boss’s gratitude, much to the annoyance of others.
‘Thanks, guys,’ Bradbury said. ‘Would
one of you now place that pallet into the van and take it over to Murphy’s
Supermarket as they’re expecting delivery before ten, and then you can call it
quits for the day.’
‘Sure, boss,’ called Ferret, keen
to accrue some
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