by Bryan Murray
Colleen nodded. “Well, it’s damn good, I’ll say dat, Sean.”
Mickey was still trying to get the full picture. “So, what you’re sayin’, Sean?”
Quinn once again finished the sentence. “What I’m sayin’ is let dem see me in de mask as I make de hit, but den start chasin’ dis sonofabitch,” he pointed at the mask in his hand. “An’ hunt him down while we slip away under de radar!”
Colleen still looked dubious. “But isn’t he an American, Sean?”
Quinn smiled cunningly. “Dat he is, me darlin’, but after de phone call I received an hour ago, he’s also an American who jus’ landed in England for de funeral of his granny!”
Mickey was beginning to get the picture. “De one de hit man took care of?”
Quinn smiled. “Exactly an’ even if he has an alibi, he’s gonna get one hell of a work out before he clears himself, by which time we’ll be long gone back across de Irish Sea!”
Mickey finally smiled. “Dat’s one hell of a plan fer sure, Sean!”
CHAPTER 5
It was a cold, misty morning as the mourners for Edith’s funeral gathered in the cemetery. The minister had just finished the eulogy as Jake Sr. stood there, surrounded by family and friends, a man totally lost in his grief. Jake, Sarah, Winnie and Stephen were standing beside him.
Later, at Jake Senior’s home, the mourners had gathered for refreshments and the old man was once again surrounded by family and friends. He looked as if he hadn’t slept in days, memories of his wonderful life with Edith still burning in his brain.
Winnie had prepared an appetizing snack for the guests and Jake was topping up their glasses with an additional tot of Scotch to ease the cemetery chill from their bones.
He walked over to his grandfather to top up his glass. “How’re you doing’, Gramps?” he inquired.
Jake Sr. lowered his voice. “I’ll be glad when everyone leaves to tell you the truth, son!” he replied.
Jake nodded. “I know what you mean. Hang in there, Gramps, it’ll soon be over,” he changed the subject. “Did you manage to speak to the coroner?”
Jake Sr. nodded negatively. “Not yet, son. He was out of town, but he’ll be back on Monday. I’ll touch base with him then.”
Jake nodded and moved off among the guests. Sarah grabbed his arm. “You okay?” she whispered.
He gave her a loving smile and squeezed her arm back. “Yes, thanks for being here,” he whispered back. “And I’m sorry about the separate bedroom thing, but it was perhaps a bit much to spring on Gramps at the moment.”
She smiled lovingly. “Don’t worry about it, as they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder!”
He gave a wry smile. “Ain’t that the truth?”
* * *
Unknown to Jake and Sarah, just a few miles up the road, Quinn and his team were going over the final details of Quinn’s outrageous master plan. To one side, Mickey was reading the latest issue of ‘Playboy’ Magazine as Quinn grabbed their attention.
“So, let’s go over it one more time,” he began. “An’ dat means you too, Mickey.”
They all stopped what they were doing and listened attentively. “When I start shootin’, Mickey you stand by to take out any resistance,” he looked at Bill, slightly built, wiry, dark hair. “And you, Bill, make sure you immobilize de security SUV’s and any CCTV cameras you can spot. We don’t want dem bastards chasin’ us and most important of all, we don’t want dem spottin’ anyone but me.
“So, you and Mickey make sure dat just before de shooting starts you cover your faces wid de scarves,” he added as an afterthought. “An’ remember, dose security guards will have spotters and marksmen in de crowd, so once we start shootin’ keep low and hide behind de crowd where you can, so dey won’t be able to shoot back until we make our getaway!”
Bill and Mickey nodded in agreement as Quinn continued. “Its important dat we take out de CCTV cameras because dey’s linked to de MI5 recognition software and we don’t want dat shit operatin’ in case dey happen to catch Bill an’ Mickey in de crowd before dey put de scarves on an’ start shootin’!”
He paused for effect as he explained the whole core of his master plan. “Dere’s only one man we want dem to see on de BBC TV cameras and dat’s me! Is dat understood?” They all nodded in agreement.
It was obvious that Quinn had thought things through in detail before he turned to Colleen. “Colleen, you keep the engine runnin’ on de van up the street, ready to roll de second we arrive. Are we all clear so far?”
They all nodded and he then turned to Megan and Danny. “And you two have de switch cars ready, engines runnin’ on de outskirts of town. Megan, de second we arrive, you jump in wid Danny and Bill and we’ll jump in your getaway car. We all head out fast an’ go our separate ways! An’ remember, we need medical kits in both de getaway cars in case anybody gets shot, because we can’t even go near a hospital if we needs treatment. You bein’ de nurse, Megan, you’ll have to take care of it, okay?”
Megan nodded. “Will do, Sean.”
“If we don’t have a tail, we’ll all meet up at de safe house later,” Quinn took a deep breath, luxuriating at the audacity of his plan. “Dis will all go down at 2.00 pm and by 2.05 please God, it’ll be over. Tomorrow will be a great day for our cause, my friends. God bless all here.”
CHAPTER 6
On a bright, sunny day, Jake and Sarah drove along out of Cheltenham in the direction of the nearby Cotswold Villages, a very popular tourist spot in the UK.
The day after the funeral, with two days left before their scheduled return to the USA, Jake Sr. had insisted that Jake spent some time showing Sarah some beautiful English scenery. Jake had been happy to oblige, but he was in no hurry to leave until he knew much more about what had happened to his grandmother.
The small Cotswold Villages epitomized everything rustic and picturesque about South Central England, with their thatched roof cottages, all built in a warm, beige sandstone. Each village had its own distinctively unique name such as Upper Slaughter, Stow-in-the-Wold and Bourton-on-the-Water.
It was a relief to both of them to relax after the stress of the funeral as they drove along, both still discussing the events surrounding the death of Edith.
Jake was thinking out loud. “You know, I still can’t see anyone wanting to hurt Nan, because she was such a low-key, kind and generous person, who wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
Sarah nodded in agreement. “Exactly, unless there was some hidden motive connected with you, Jake!”
“That’s what’s drivin’ me nuts!” he replied. “And the more I think about it, if this is part of some devious plan, it would certainly be a way to get me over here!”
Sarah was still dubious. “But get you over for what?” she asked. They were both soon to find out.
* * *
On a chilly, sunny day in the outskirts of Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, it was a major day for the locals. The New Regional Cancer Hospital was having its grand opening and the streets surrounding the hospital were filled with crowds of interested bystanders, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the guest of honor, Her Majesty the Queen.
The streets and surrounding shops were shrouded in bunting showing the Union Jack and street vendors were everywhere, busy selling flags and hats to the loyal citizens of the guest of honor. Security was tight and the security personnel were scattered among the happy crowd as the time approached for the grand opening.
Close by, in a back street of the town, within earshot of the excited crowds, the inconspicuous van was parked at the curb with Colleen at the wheel, nonchalantly reading a magazine outside a ladies hairdressers, as if she were waiting for a friend inside. She checked her watch.
Outside the hospital, the canopy, under which Her Majesty would be making her formal opening speech, was cordoned off by an ornamental rope with security personnel also in close range.
Further down the street, where the Royal limousine would arrive and the Queen would wa
lk past her loyal subjects on the red carpet, down to the podium for her speech, there was less close scrutiny by the security forces in view of the fact that when the Royal vehicle finally stopped, it would also be closely followed by two SUV’s, each containing members of the Royal Security Detail. A big mistake! This was what Quinn had been hoping for.
Always attack at the point of least protection had been a long-standing RIRA mantra and among the surrounding crowd, Quinn, Mickey and Bill were discreetly located, close by where the limo would stop. Their automatic machine pistols were hidden out of sight and with each of the three of them holding a flag half-heartedly, they blended perfectly into the surrounding scene. Bill and Mickey kept their heads down, behind tall bystanders and in the background the BBC TV cameras were on location, ready to videotape the Royal arrival. In addition, on two posts close by, the MI5 CCTV cameras were strategically mounted covering the area of the Royal vehicle arrival.
To the more interested bystander, if they had taken the trouble to look at Quinn, he would have looked just like everybody else in the crowd. In the chilly weather, he was wearing a grey hoodie to ward off the chill wind, but it was also the ideal cover for the strap holding the mask of Jake Harrigan in place. Even a friend of Jake’s would have had to be standing within a couple of feet away to see it was just a mask. Quinn gazed around nonchalantly, but taking in every detail of the attack scene.
The staff of the new hospital were gathered around the special canopy and the podium, hoping for their moment of glory as the clock on the nearby church tower was showing 1.55 pm.
The Royal standard was flying proudly on the front of the maroon Bentley State Limousine as it approached with typical British punctuality, with an escort of two black SUV’s to the rear of the Royal car. Waiting at the curb where the limousine would stop, was Lady Rebecca Witherston, the President of the Hospital Board accompanied by three men in dark suits, who looked like her business colleagues.
However, on closer inspection, one would have seen the bulging shoulder holsters of the three members of the Royal Security Detail. Up in the crowd, other colleagues were also whispering into wrist microphones and scanning the crowds closely.
As the Royal vehicle approached, in the surrounding crowd, Quinn nodded imperceptibly to Mickey and Bill, who nodded in return that they were ready as the screams of the crowd indicated that the Royal entourage were arriving.
Bill, who was an accomplished marksman, had already scoped out the location of the two CCTV cameras, located above the area where the Royal limo would stop.
The TV cameras were rolling as the convoy pulled up so that the door of the Bentley was level with the red carpet laid out. The crowd were screaming excitedly and the doors of the two following SUV’s flew open as the Queen’s security detail, weapons hidden, erupted and moved over to the Royal limo. Their eyes were also scanning the crowd as they whispered into wrist microphones before they tactfully moved towards the door of the bulletproof Bentley.
The TV Reporter was already going live describing the scene and the flag-waving citizens continued to scream in excitement as the door of the limo slowly started to open wider and Lady Witherston moved towards the limousine to greet her guest of honor.
Up in the crowd, a Security Guard, who had been scanning the crowd, suddenly spotted Mickey and Bill pulling up their scarves and raising their guns as they started to follow Quinn through the crowd, closer to the Royal limousine. He screamed into his wrist microphone. “Hostiles observed, Abort! Abort!”
Unaware they had been spotted, Quinn, with Mickey and Bill, the latter two with their faces now masked, erupted from the crowd, weapons raised as they started firing. Bill, quickly took out the CCTV cameras, before Quinn moved in and aimed at the opening door of the limo and in his haste he hit Lady Witherston and one of the Security Guards as the others started to return fire immediately.
The element of surprise was with the RIRA gunmen and as Lady Witherston fell to the ground, the other guard next to her was also hit as he instinctively leaned on the partly open door of the limo to close it, screaming at the Driver and the Security Guard next to him up front. “Go! Go! We’re under attack!” He finally closed the door before he fell dead alongside Lady Witherston.
The hours of training of the custodians of the special passenger inside the Bentley, kicked in immediately and they quickly swerved out into the road and disappeared from the scene immediately.
The crowd had automatically sensed that something was wrong and most of them hit the ground to avoid the gunfire as Mickey was now already spraying the suddenly alert Security Guards with gunfire as they all dived for cover, trying to return fire.
Two more were killed by gunfire from Bill and Quinn and four more were wounded on the ground. The element of surprise had been very effective as Quinn and his men prepared to flee the scene
Bill quickly riddled the tires of the SUV’s with gunfire, immobilizing the vehicles to stop further pursuit as Quinn and his men turned on the stunned crowd, before heading away from the scene.
The TV reporter quickly regained his senses and screamed at his cameraman. “Keep rolling! Keep rolling! Focus on the limo location first, then the gunmen!” The cameraman was already taping the bodies at the limo as Quinn (looking like Jake) gave a last look around and rushed off with Mickey and Bill behind him, their faces still covered,
Still cowering on the ground, two local men had also been watching Quinn before he ran off.
As the attackers fled quickly towards the corner of the side street to the waiting van, a Royal security detail marksman took aim at Quinn but only hit the wall next to him as he ran round the corner. However, his next shot hit Bill in the arm as he staggered round the corner, helped by Mickey.
Bill screamed at Mickey. “Mickey, I’m hit!”
Mickey saw the wound and as they continued to rush towards the waiting van, Mickey grabbed his scarf and tried to wrap it around Bill’s arm until they made it to the open rear doors of the vehicle where Mickey and Quinn helped him aboard, slamming the doors behind them as the van roared off.
Colleen sped off up the road and quickly out of sight. It had all been smoothly executed.
* * *
Back at the scene of the attack, an injured Security Guard was still alive and already on the intercom to his colleagues. “This is Blue Leader. Emergency! Emergency! Assassination attempt on Corona, repeat assassination attempt on Corona. We have dead and injured on the ground! Send immediate back-up. The car of Corona has left the scene intact, over!”
He was quickly joined by a surviving Group Leader of the Queen’s Security Detail who came to his aid. A voice was heard over the intercom.
“Understood, Blue leader. Help is on the way, over!”
The Group Leader looked around in shock at the devastation. The crowd were still in panic, trying to get away from the scene. He was furious. “Some terrorist bastard is gonna pay for this!” he screamed.
Back on the ground, Lady Witherston, the woman who had been waiting to greet the Queen, lay dead with other dead security personnel around her and their injured colleagues were also lying close by.
The crowd looked on in shock and one older woman was in tears. “Oh, my God! They killed the Queen!” she screamed.
Others just looked numb as the Group Leader came over to calm them down, his hands raised, palms outwards placatingly. “Relax, relax, folks, Her Majesty is unharmed, this is not the Queen!”
An old man shouted out. “Then who is it?”
The Group Leader replied. “Regrettably, it’s the lady who was waiting to welcome Her Majesty,” he motioned them all to move back. “So, please back up, let the medics and emergency people through. Back up, back up.”
The crowd made way and the emergency staff moved in. Some of the security guards were still alive, groaning in agony on the ground. The flag-waving excitement of the Queen’s loyal subjects had been instantly transformed into a mad assortment of ambulances and police sirens as the she
ll-shocked military personnel looked on, still trying to comprehend what just happened. No matter how often one trains for this type of suddenly violent, tragic event, the reality is always different.
CHAPTER 7
The van carrying Quinn and his team roared out of town unchallenged and inside the van Colleen looked inquisitively at the men behind her as she drove skilfully at full speed.
“What de hell happened, Sean?” she asked.
Quinn was absolutely furious as he tore off his mask. “I’ll tell you what happened,” he screamed. “Dey must have spotted us before we made de move!”
“How d’you mean?”
Quinn was venomous. “They started firing at us too fast and as I tried to get a shot into de limo, I missed and hit some udder woman. After dat it all went to rat shit! We kept firing until we could make a move to leave, Bill’s hit, and Megan will need to take care of him!”
Mickey was in shock. “Holy Jaysus!”
Quinn continued. “Dose security guards was damned good, returned fire immediately. Believe me, nobody was even gettin’ close to de Queen! So, let’s get de fuck out of here, girl!”
The van went roaring round a bend and quickly turned left into a quiet lane. Down the lane, Megan was already nervously at the wheel of the first car, engine running and Danny was at the wheel of the second car with the engine also running when the van roared up to a stop behind them.
Quinn and his buddies jumped out of the van and helped Bill into Danny’s car where he was joined by Megan. Quinn, Mickey and Colleen got into the other car and they all quickly drove back onto the road out of town.
Both cars approached the intersection ahead and Danny, Bill and Megan turned left as Quinn and his team turned right, just as two SUV’s of the back-up security detail went screaming through the intersection and back towards the scene of the attack to support their injured colleagues.
Driving away, Quinn looked over his shoulder a malevolent smile on his face. “Looks like we got out by de skin of de damn teeth!” Their car continued west past a sign that showed ‘M5 Motorway - North - 2 miles’.
