A Triple murder in a quiet Essex village. Three of the County's most feared criminals are dead, it is December 1995. Six weeks earlier, an innocent girl dead by misadventure and a cruel turn of fate. These facts are undisputed, written in stone and intrinsically linked. As is the conviction of two innocent men. Once Upon a Time in Essex: An interesting and fast paced thriller, delivering an alternative explanation, with a plausible how and why. It answers difficult questions and deals with the facts as proven. The author does not seek to discredit any previous accounts or versions of events leading up to the gruesome murders, he merely offers an interesting alternative scenario to be considered. Which, given the nature of so many unexplained facts and events surrounding major crime, both then and now, the book may offer some explanation as to why so many of Britain's major crime bosses are plagued by an unexplainable occurrence of bad luck, and at such inconvenient times in their careers. And why there is no Good Life for them in retirement. Make your own minds up, but be careful who you tell, or rather how you tell Naturally I have made some elements of the timeline and story fit my purpose, so please don't quibble on minor issues. There have been many versions of who, why and how, regarding events which took place on the night of the 6th December 1995 in Rettendon, Essex. The death of three men is all that is certain. They were notorious, violent and professional criminals. And they died on a lonely and deserted farmer's track. In the middle of nowhere, unarmed. These are the only details of the event universally accepted. Two men are serving life, on scant evidence. The convicted proclaim their innocence, yet appeal has been denied, or manoeuvred from grasp. Conspiracy theories are rife. Several films and a few accounts have clawed their way into existence; to be portrayed as factual accounts of the event. Fact or fiction, perhaps no longer relevant in the unforgettable and alluring story about the untimely death of the gentlemen in question. Pat Tate, Craig Rolfe and Tony Tucker. They are dead, somebody knows why and how. They aren't talking. The legend, perhaps best, now becomes a fable. Corporal William Handley served in the Falklands war. A member of the legendary 22 Special Air Service regiment. D Squadron, Mountain Troop. It is not a forever career. He can't do Civvy Street. He joins the Metropolitan Police. Perhaps they should have turned him away; someone in Special Branch thinks otherwise. Bill's career is nothing out of the ordinary, no spectacular rise through the ranks. Just a steady bloke, eventually becoming a sergeant in the Criminal Investigation Department. Out of a uniform, but never really. Hollywood's in Romford, the first big door for Tony Tucker. Not long before the bright lights of Bas Vegas, a few miles along the Southend Arterial beckon. More sensibly referred to as Basildon by Essex Police. Tucker and Tate's organisation and muscle grows rapidly. Fuelled by steroids, ecstasy and fast easy money. Essex is partying, the Essex Boys are cashing in. The power struggles spill out onto the streets. Eventually getting the attention of the serious organised crime team. Trouble is the Essex Boys are always one step ahead. They're learning fast, got inside help. No one has the bottle to break ranks, give evidence. The pair have earned the right to step back from front-line work; never going down for a large possession, when there are so many mules to do the work for them. Eventually, if you push hard enough, there's going to be collateral; any firefight, it's a given. The wrong person will go down, an innocent. It had all gone too far, they didn't care. They were too busy looking at the next big bit of work. This time they were helping themselves to someone else's prize and they had their eye off the ball. It was just a quick look, then on to d