Taking the Town

by Ford Murphy

  He spent the rest of the day and night on the couch nursing wounds and watching television. Even after several painkillers he was really suffering. If anyone comes for me now I’m completely fucked. He just hoped that McGill would be as good as his word. “We will see, I guess, we will see.”

  Chapter Ten

  June, 1985

  Twelve months earlier

  Lissadown

  Chief Superintendent Mike McGill sat in his office staring coldly at the man sitting across the desk from him. Joe Delany was a low-life thug. He was also the Assistant Attorney General for Athlone and surrounding regions.

  “I know you’re dirty Delany, and so help me I’ll find that link to those bastards who are ruining this town.”

  Delany sat back in his chair, a sardonic smile on his face. An intensely ugly little man with a big head and a narrow body, he dressed shabbily and personal hygiene was not his strong suit. As dirty as he smells, one of his colleagues had remarked about him once. He was widely despised in the office where he worked and by all he came in contact with.

  Still, what he lacked in style, Delany made up for in cunning. He had worked his way up to this position by wheeling and dealing and he certainly was not one to be crossed. McGill was fishing, and clearly Delany knew it.

  “Why Chief Superintendent, I’m shocked by these baseless accusations.” Delany’s voice was thick with sarcasm. “I suppose you have evidence to back up such fighting words? Otherwise,” he continued as his voice turned deadly cold and a venomous look came across his face, “I strongly advise you be very careful and fully think through the consequences of your words. Because such words could lead to consequences that you would undoubtedly regret.”

  “Is that a threat?” McGill was furious. “Is it? Do you know who you’re talking to?”

  “Now, now, Chief Superintendent, I wouldn’t dream of threatening such a senior officer of the law, and certainly not one as powerful as you are.” His tone suggested that he believed McGill had no real power at all. “Consider it just friendly advice, that’s all.” He stood up to leave, staring McGill directly in the eyes. “These are dangerous times, Chief Superintendent McGill. Very dangerous times indeed. A lot of things can happen in such times. Best to be very careful. Yes, best to be very careful, indeed.” Delany’s threat was clear and delivered with such impunity, he smiled smugly as he walked out.

  After he was gone, McGill sat there fuming. He knew he’d lost that particular encounter but he also knew that he would do everything within his power to prove that Delany was dirty and on the gang’s payroll.

  “I’ll get you, you rotten son of a bitch,” he promised. “No matter what it takes, I’ll get you.”

  These days, he felt very old, very tired and very disillusioned. He could feel Lissadown slipping deeper and deeper under the gang’s control with each passing month. He had to rustle up the courage and the energy for one last battle. He needed help but didn’t know where to look for it.

  ~ * ~

  Later that night, Delany met with the four top gang leaders. “McGill is on to me. He as much as accused me today of being on your payroll.”

  One of them laughed. “Relax, McGill’s a pussy. He doesn’t have the balls to do anything. What did you say to him?”

  “I told him straight out to be very careful about making accusations. I still think he needs to be sent a message.”

  The gang leader nodded. “Maybe you’re right. We’ll take care of it. I never liked that fucker anyway.”

  ~ * ~

  The next day as Sarah McGill, the Chief Superintendent’s only daughter, was leaving work at the local hospital, heading home to her husband and young daughter, two men approached her. They pulled her into a waiting car and drove to a deserted car park.

  “You pass on a message to your old man,” one of them said as he punched her in the face. “If he tries to fuck with us both you and your brat of a daughter will be found at the bottom of Loch Ree. You got that?” He punched her hard again, opened the door and pushed her out. “You were lucky this time. The next time won’t end as well for you. Make sure you tell him now.”

  Sarah drove directly to her parents’ house.

  “Jesus Christ almighty,” her father exclaimed when he opened the door and saw her bloodied face. “Did he do that to you? I’ll brain the bastard!” Sarah’s dad detested her husband and would be more than willing to believe he’d harm her.

  “No, dad,” she sobbed, sinking into his arms.

  After she told him what had happened, put his head in his hands. She’d never seen him look so beaten. He was clearly devastated. “I know who did this. Those bastards, they’ll stop at nothing.”

  Seeing her father like this scared her almost more than the thugs had. “Dad, what am I going to do? What if they go after Jane?”

  He visibly steeled himself, once again becoming the father who would protect her from any bad thing. “Don’t worry. I can handle this, but I’m going to have to get you out of harm’s way.”

  “No, Dad. I don’t want to leave. This is my home. My job is here.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I won’t risk putting you and Jane in danger. Even if I back off the bastards for now, there’s no guarantee you’ll be safe.” He gathered her in his arms. “I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.”

  Chapter Eleven

  April, 1981

  Five Years Earlier

  Cork City

  Finn watched the girl of his dreams from across the crowded bar. He and David had decided to go and have a few pints in a favorite pub of theirs in Cork’s bustling city center. As usual the place was crowded. It was generally a young person’s pub and was a regular haunt for students and those who still wanted to be students.

  He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. You are so beautiful…and so with someone else.

  David Kirk followed Finn’s gaze and found the girl. “Go for it,” he urged. “She’s cute.”

  “She’s got a boyfriend.”

  “I don’t see anyone with her.”

  Finn smile wryly. “He’s gone to the loo.”

  At that moment, the girl looked up and her eyes met Finn’s. She gave him a brief smile and cocked her head in an inquisitive manner. Did she remember him or was she just flirting?

  David grinned at him. “You’re on. You saw that look. Go on. What are you waiting for?”

  Finn turned to him “Not going to happen my friend. We both know that.”

  “Careful, you’ll end up with Margo if you don’t watch out. She’s my sister and I love her but you do not want to do that to yourself.”

  Finn looked back at the girl who was now arguing with her returned from the bathroom boyfriend. He was gesticulating a lot and pointing his finger over at Finn.

  David frowned. “Oops, I guess boyfriend is the jealous type and has figured out that his girlfriend fancies you more than she does him.”

  “Stop. That’s not true but I wish it was.”

  Her boyfriend seemed to get madder and madder and eventually jumped up from his seat, pointed over at Finn and started to walk their way.

  David chuckled. “He cannot be fucking serious. Man is he in for a shock.”

  They both watched the boyfriend make his way through the throng of drinkers. When he was within eight feet of Finn and David, he slowed down then stopped completely. Finn stared evenly at him and could imagine the mental readjustments he was now making once he was right in front of the two of them rather than seeing their heads across the bar. Discretion overcame valor, the guy lost his nerve and turned back towards his girlfriend.

  Finn looked over at her and shrugged his soldiers with a “what can you do?” expression on his face.

  She responded in similar fashion and then turned and gave her embarrassed boyfriend a withering look.

  Finn nudged David. “Let’s go. I think that was enough excitement for tonight.”

  “My friend, the night is but a pup.” David put his arm across Finn
’s shoulders. “We’ll get you laid yet, no matter how difficult it is or how reluctant you are.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Finn growled. “I think right now I’d settle for a burger. Let’s get something to eat. Almost as good as sex.”

  “You have a warped mind, Finn Lane.” David laughed. “Either that, or you’re still a virgin and haven’t a clue what you’re talking about. Which is it?”

  Finn didn’t answer him. He glanced her direction one more time. She was clearly not speaking to the very contrite boyfriend. He was half-tempted to go over and ask if everything was all right but he knew that would inflame the situation so he decided against it. “A burger it is,” he said as he punched David in the arm. “Come on man, move your ass.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Sunday, June 29, 1986

  Week One: Day Seven

  The four men at the meeting in the large house just on the edge of town were all livid. One of them however, the leader, was apoplectic. A large, purple vein protruded from the right side of his forehead and the blood could literally be seen pulsing through it.

  These were the top men in the criminal gang that ruled Lissadown. They were all related and all ruthless. However, three of them knew that there was, in reality, only one boss—the one they deferred to here. They also knew that family or no family, if they ever messed with him, he’d have them taken out just as quickly as he would anyone else.

  “What’s the latest?” the leader growled.

  One of his henchmen coughed nervously. “Not good, boss. Not good. They’re all banged up badly. Gerry will never get it up again. Mikey won’t be walking until Christmas. They’re all out for months.”

  The boss’s eyes narrowed. “What do we know about this fucker?”

  The same man responded again. “Not much, boss. We know he’s from Cork. He’s only been here a week or so. We also know that he’s into martial arts.”

  “Really,” the boss spat sarcastically. “We know he’s into martial arts, do we? What was your first fucking clue? It wasn’t the fact that he singlehandedly beat the shit out of five of the hardest men I know. It couldn’t have been that, could it? We know he’s into martial arts. For the love of fucking God!”

  The others stayed quiet. They knew from experience that when the boss got like this, saying nothing was by far the safest course of action. The most innocuous statement or response was liable to trigger an all hell’s broken loose reaction and that was never, ever good.

  “I want the fucker wiped off the face of the earth, and I want it done fast. We can’t afford to let anyone disrespect us like that and think they can get away with it. I don’t want anyone in this town or anywhere else thinking that we might be losing control. Let’s show them all we are still in charge. Put a contract out on him today. Make sure you get a real professional and make sure he does the job properly. We’ll pay top price. No problem there.”

  “Okay boss, we’re on it.” The three men got to their feet and hurriedly left, each of them secretly relieved to be out of the line of fire.

  “Jesus,” one of them said, “I’ve never seen him so angry. Did you see the vein in his temple? I thought it was going to burst it looked so swollen.”

  “Who are we going to get to do the job?” another asked. “You heard him. It better be done right.”

  “I know someone who knows someone in Dublin,” said the third man. “It won’t be cheap but I can set it up. He said money’s no object so let’s hold him to that. The sooner this is taken care of, the sooner things will go back to being normal.”

  ~ * ~

  “Of course I will, my dear, I’d love to.” Mike McGill laughed down the phone to his four year old granddaughter who had just asked him if he would take her fishing. He and his wife called their granddaughter every Sunday afternoon without fail ever since she and her mom had moved to London almost a year ago now. They missed their only daughter and grandchild terribly and it broke their hearts to be apart from them.

  “And Granda, when we catch a big fish, I’m going to bring him home, put him in a bowl and keep him as my pet. Mom won’t let me have a doggie or a kitten so I’m going to catch a fish instead.”

  “Now honey,” McGill said tenderly, “it’s not mommy who won’t let you get a puppy or a kitten, it’s just that those are the rules where you live. I’m sure mommy would love a puppy. She did when she was your age.”

  When Sarah was beaten up a year earlier, her husband, Anthony, had blown a gasket on him. “You fucking idiot. What possessed you to cross those sons of bitches? Chief Superintendent, my ass. You’re about as much of a threat as a toothless lion. Now you’ve put us all in danger.” But that was about the extent of Anthony’s concern for his family. Within the week he’d done a runner and was now in the States.

  As much as McGill had hated doing it, he’d sent Sarah and Jane off to London for safety. He had begged his wife to go as well but she had flat out refused.

  “My place is with you,” she told him each time he broached the topic. “For better or for worse. You do remember those words, dear, don’t you?’ He was secretly relieved that she hadn’t gone but always felt guilty about that too.

  “What name are you going to give your fish, Jane?”

  There was silence for a moment. “Freddie. I’m going to call him Freddie,” the little girl said triumphantly.

  McGill was amazed at how quickly she’d picked up an English accent. There less than a year and already sounding like a native cockney. “That’s a great name, baby girl. I really like it. Now can I speak to mommy for a minute?”

  “Okay Granda. Bye bye. I love you.”

  A moment later, his daughter was on the line. “That child.” Sarah sighed. “Where does she get those notions from? Fishing. That’s all she talks about. ‘I’m going fishing with my granda’ she’s been telling all her friends lately. Anyway, how’s everything there? I heard there was a big commotion on Friday. Seems like some of those idiots came out the worst for wear. Who did it to them? Is he still around?”

  McGill listened to her knowing he’d have to give it to her straight or she’d keep at him. “Yes, he’s still here. I went to see him yesterday and we talked for a long time. He says he was provoked and then he was attacked so he simply defended himself. Apparently, he sat at Julia Davis’ table for lunch on three separate days, even after he was warned not to do it. He told me he didn’t think it was fair that people should be able to dictate to him who he could and couldn’t have lunch with. He claims that he’s the innocent party here.”

  “Isn’t he?” asked Sarah. “It sounds to me like he is. What happens now? They won’t take this lying down. He has to know there’s a price on his head.”

  “He’s a smart man. He knows the stakes. And yes, technically he’s the injured party here but I have my doubts about how innocent he is. There’s more going on than meets the eye, I’m sure of it.”

  They talked for a few more minutes before McGill handed the phone to his wife and headed to his study. He knew they’d be talking for another hour at least.

  He sat in his study and thought. Although she would never say it, he knew his wife blamed him for Jane and Sarah having to move to London.

  He thought about the other families who were in the same situation. They all blamed him too.

  Hell, he blamed himself. Maybe it was time to retire. Let a younger man with fresher ideas take over.

  Although he had been an excellent policeman for many years and had been on the short list for the Commissioner’s job for a while, the past few years had severely damaged his reputation. Given the way the gang had taken over the town and operated with impunity, he was now seen to be as weak and ineffective as his former son-in-law had accused him of being.

  There were even whispers about him being on the take, such was the perceived inadequacy of his response to the gang’s activity. But he was neither dishonest nor weak. He had tried to find a path that maintained the peace, but he’d lost all control of the situa
tion once police family members began to be targeted—Sarah wasn’t the only one. It became virtually impossible to get them to do their jobs under those circumstances and no one was willing to transfer into Lissadown from another location.

  Now though, he knew there was an opportunity. The first blow had been successfully struck and he intended to follow it up with several of his own. He laughed. “There’s life in the old dog yet.”

  He also knew that he’d have to look out for Finn Lane. Sarah was right. There had to be a price on his head now. He’d have to take care of that. This was job one. He reached into the drawer of his desk and took out a file holding the names and numbers of people he could turn to in an emergency. If ever there was an emergency, this is one.

  He thumbed through the document for a while then picked up the phone and listened for a moment. His wife and Sarah had evidently ended their call, so he dialed a number. “Gerry, Mike McGill here. It’s been a long time. How the hell are you? You old son of a gun.”

  “What can I do for you, Chief Superintendent? I assume this is not a social call.”

  “As a matter of fact, it’s not, Gerry. So let me get straight to the point. You know that favor you owe me from when I saved your ass years ago? Well, it’s time for me to call it in. Here’s what I want you to do.”

  McGill outlined his plan to Gerry, making sure that he understood it every step of the way.

  “And they say you lost it, McGill.” There was a hint of grudging admiration in his tone. “Look at you thinking two steps ahead, just like the old days. By the way, I heard about the ruckus in Lissadown. Seems like the boy has really shaken things up and now you’re going to ride the wave. I think you’re back in the game, McGill. Let me work the phones. I’ll get back to you.”

  “Don’t mess this up, Gerry. This is far too important.”

  Gerry laughed. “Capiche, skipper. I got it.”

  McGill sat back in his chair. “Game on.” A slow smile spread across his face. “Game on.”