by Duncan James
***
They were in the Prime Minister’ office. Tony Weaver himself, Sir Robin Algar, Andrew Groves and Major Bill Clayton.
It was evident now that both the Nationalist and the Unionist terror groups had decided that they were the victims of treachery from within their own ranks, reported Bill Clayton. There was a lot they couldn’t explain, but they had initially concluded that, on the one hand, McFosters had disappeared and made off with the IRA’s funds, while Keenan had done the same with the Unionist bankroll. But then, as more and more funds disappeared and more and more accounts were emptied and closed, including some holding quite small amounts, this theory became less and less tenable. There seemed no way to stem the flow, and what leadership there was left had eventually panicked.
“I am most grateful to you, Mr Groves, for all you did to help my little list get into the hands of the media round the world,” said Clayton. “It had an electrifying and immediate effect, and more or less completed the job of closing down terrorist activity in the Province.”
“I agree,” said the Prime Minister. “Throughout this whole affair, Andrew’s handling of the media, and his ability to co-ordinate with colleagues, has been exemplary, and played a major role in the success of Operation Honolulu. Or at least the first stage of it. There is now a great deal to be done on the political front in the months and years ahead.”
The talks at Camp David had been by no means easy, reported Weaver, but at least the Taoiseach was now totally committed to the unification of Ireland under the American flag, and all sides had begun working together within the constitutional committee to make that happen smoothly and fairly, and the team at Hickham USAF base were reported to be making encouraging progress.
“Things have gone so well, in fact, that the two Presidents and I have agreed to make a co-ordinated public statement next week about what has so far happened to return the Province to something like normality, and what we plan for the future. Of course it will need careful drafting, and you will all be consulted,” promised the Prime Minister. “But we need to keep the initiative, we think, and put our case on the public record in our terms, rather than having to respond to leaks and speculation later. There’s a good deal of good news to put across, and we need to do that to get public opinion on our side.”
Groves and Algar nodded, sagely.
“But it hasn’t all been good news, I’m afraid,” said Clayton. “I suppose in an operation like this there were bound to be failures and casualties.”
“You mean the Trafalgar Square bomb?” asked Groves.
“No, not just that,” responded Clayton. “The IRA treasurer was found floating face down in Strangford Loch at the end of last week, for example.”
“So why was that bad news?” asked Robin Algar. “He was obviously the prime suspect, after McFosters, as the one getting his hands in the till, and an obvious target.”
“Precisely,” responded Clayton. “But he was one of my best men.”
They looked shocked.
“An ex-Army Padre, and Parish priest in the Falls Road area. I couldn’t pull him out in time to save him,” said a grim-faced Clayton.
“I agree,” said The Cabinet Secretary. “That is bad news. I’m sorry. He was obviously a very brave man.”
“And Edward Benbow has been shot and killed.” continued Clayton.
“And who might he be?” asked Tony Weaver.
“My Uncle,” replied Clayton. “Lived in Fittleworth, in Sussex, and was shot by two men on a motorcycle as he walked across the bridge over the River Rother, on his way home.”
“This is obviously sad from your point of view, but is it in any way significant?” asked the Prime Minister.
“I believe it is - very,” replied Clayton, “That list of bank accounts I gave you, Prime Minister, which you later passed on to Sir Robin, was in an old envelope addressed to my Uncle. Where is it now?”
The Prime Minister looked across to Sir Robin Algar.
The Cabinet Secretary looked ashen faced.
“I handed it, still containing the list, to Alistair Vaughan,” he said.
***
