by Bill Ward
He heard a knock at his door and went to open it, expecting to see room service with the brunch he had ordered. At first he thought there was no one there but then Melanie appeared from the side of the door. She had a huge smile and looked stunning. She was wearing a beautiful red lace sheath dress that fell to her knees and hugged her body. The lined part reached from her breasts to her knees but the long sleeves and round neckline were a delicate sheer pattern. He didn’t know one designer from another but didn’t doubt the dress must have cost a fortune and was worth every penny. He was mesmerized by how she looked.
“I had the taxi firm call me the minute they dropped you here, as I couldn’t wait to see you,” she explained. “Aren’t you going to invite me in?”
Tom was shocked by her sudden appearance. He had thought he had two hours to prepare. He was still in the same clothes he’d flown in and needed to freshen up. He stepped back into the room and she followed. He kissed her on either cheek in greeting.
“Is that the best you can manage,” Melanie joked. She reached up to him and kissed him slowly on the lips. Her tongue darted inside his mouth. He responded and pulled her closer. They held each other tightly and kissed for a long time. He knew she could feel how pleased he was to see her.
“I desperately need a shower,” he said, breaking the embrace. Then added, “It’s so good to see you.”
Melanie pinched her nose with two fingers. “I wondered what the funny smell was,” she joked. Then she gave him a huge smile. “I’ve missed you too,” she sighed.
“I didn’t know a month could be so long,” Tom replied. He was beginning to relax. Melanie was here and she was pleased to see him.
“By the way, how’s Colin doing?” Melanie asked.
“He’s doing great. Doctors say he will make a complete recovery. He said to say hello.”
Colin was now at home recuperating and being doted on by Liz. Tom had visited several times and was surprised to find that Liz had been very welcoming each time. If she blamed him for Colin’s getting shot, she wasn’t bearing a grudge. And Maxwell had negotiated a further payment from the newspaper for Colin, Tom and Janet to tell the story of the events on the night Colin was shot and John killed. Tom had asked for his share to be divided between Colin and Janet but not to tell them what he’d done.
“Don’t know about you but I’m feeling terribly nervous,” Melanie said, as she moved to the window to look at his amazing view.
“So am I,” Tom agreed. “It’s been over a month and I wasn’t sure you’d still feel the same.”
Melanie turned slowly and stared at him. “I’m nervous about the big game you idiot. My feelings for you weren’t ever going to change. Now how about that shower? I think I’ll join you.”
The Chief had been out down the pub for a few drinks. It had been a difficult three months but he’d come through it and at last he felt under less pressure. The mess in London had been cleared up and though he’d lost Jones as a source, things were slowly getting back to normal.
The backlash from the capture of his Operations man hadn’t been as bad as anticipated. Maybe he had been selective in what he chose to tell the Cops. The fact he was talking had been enough reason for them to change everything about how they did business. It was a pain but necessary. Anything that could potentially be revealed and put them at risk was amended. Income had dropped sharply for a month but was now getting back to normal.
The talk about his leadership had gone from outright criticism to barely a whisper. Nobody was willing to put their head above the parapet and openly challenge him. So he’d decided to go for a few drinks with the boys to celebrate. It had been a good evening. A band had been playing a good mix of pop and then played some traditional songs before finishing with Dunlavin Green, which was one of his favourite ballads. It reminded him the fight had been going on for over two hundred years. They had all joined in and it had been a grand atmosphere. He’d decided to call it a day at two in the morning, although the pub would be open most of the night. He was getting too old for all night sessions. And anyway the younger boys could let their hair down better when he wasn’t around.
He was enjoying the fresh air as he staggered the half a mile back home. He was a bit uncertain on his feet but the pavement was well lit by street lamps and it was a cool rather than cold night. In truth he’d had a good few pints and was feeling a bit the worse for wear. He was thinking about getting a sandwich when he reached home. He was feeling peckish and a ham sandwich with an ample covering of mustard would be just what he needed before going to bed. He‘d have to be careful though not to wake the wife. She had a terrible temper on her when he disturbed her sleep. He smiled at the thought that maybe he would disturb her sleep properly after his sandwich. It had been a while since they last did it.
He walked under the bridge that he had known since his childhood. It was dark and something in the shadows caught his attention. There was a blur of movement out the corner of his eye. He started to turn but he was slow to react and the blow to his head knocked him to the ground before he knew what had hit him. He lay stunned on the ground. He tried to shake his head to clear his senses. He put his hand up to where he’d been hit and felt blood running down the side of his head, mixing with his hair, confirming someone had delivered him a huge blow.
The alcohol had clouded his normal sharp sense for danger. Had they been buying him drinks with the intention of getting him drunk, just so he wouldn’t be in a fit state on his walk home? Were they still back in the pub raising a glass to his misfortune? A figure emerged from the shadows.
“Do you know who I fucking am?” The Chief asked angrily.
The man who had hit him was dressed in dark clothes and The Chief couldn’t distinguish his facial features. Then he realized it was because he was wearing a balaclava covering his face. The Chief saw him raise a large club like weapon and it came crashing down on his leg before he could move out the way, breaking his shin bone. He let out an enormous wail like a wounded animal. He tried to pull himself back from his assailant. He was sweating and in terrible pain.
The man spoke for the first time and through his pain, The Chief recognized the voice.
“You murdering bastard. Did you think I was just going to let you get away with killing my children?” Pat Murphy spat the words out with a terrible anger.
The Chief was scared but also saw a glimmer of hope. This wasn’t just some random assault by a Loyalist stranger intent on revenge. He’d known Pat Murphy all his life. Surely he could reason with him. “But Pat I told you it was nothing to do with me. It was those Real bastards he joined.”
“I’m not fucking stupid. I know Connor was over there. I know how you think. I know how he operates.”
“Pat, we can sort this out.”
Murphy seemed not to hear The Chief. “And even if they killed my son why would they kill Samantha? She was my baby girl. I loved her more than anything. More than any fucking cause.”
The Chief was looking around. Why hadn’t anyone come to his aid? They must have heard him scream. The pain was intolerable. He knew what was coming when he saw Murphy raise the club again and immediately started to scream. The blow struck his other shin and the Chief heard the sound of smashing bone at the same moment he felt the unbelievable pain.
“She was a beautiful lass,” Murphy continued. He seemed oblivious to The Chief’s pain and screams. “And my son was a good boy. Wouldn’t ever do anything that would knowingly hurt your fucking cause!”
The Chief was lying on the ground, his body was broken and shaking but his mind was working. He reasoned if he could keep Murphy talking someone was bound to come to his aid. It was only a matter of time. He thought about shouting out for help but that might provoke Murphy into further attacks.
“I have kids Pat. I know how you feel but it was nothing to do with me,” The Chief struggled to keep an even voice, wanting to sound sympathetic. “Samantha was just unlucky. It was some English pervert did for her.
I wouldn’t have hurt her. She was one of us. It was nothing to do with me or Connor,” he pleaded. Inside he was regretting not seeing this coming. He’d thought Murphy was okay with his explanation it was the Real boys that were responsible for his son’s death. Now he was faced with a demonic madman.
Murphy wiped his forearm across his mouth. He pulled the balaclava from his head. “Shouldn’t have harmed my lass,” he said with conviction. “The missus is in a terrible state. I promised her I’d set things right. Enough chat. I need to get this done. Make your peace with God.”
The Chief saw the look in Murphy’s eyes and was terrified. “You fucking eejit,” he suddenly shouted. “No wonder your kids were so fucked up with you as their father. You don’t understand fucking anything.” Anger had replaced the pain he was feeling. “You think this is going to make everything better? You’ve just made it worse.”
Murphy raised his club one further time. He straddled The Chief’s body. “Maybe but I know if it wasn’t for you my kids would still be alive. This has to end.”
As Murphy brought the club crashing down on The Chief’s head, he started to scream and tried desperately to move away but it was impossible with his broken legs. He lifted his hands to protect himself but it was useless. The first blow silenced the scream but not the whimpering that immediately followed.
Murphy hit him several more times in quick succession until the features of the face could no longer be distinguished. It was just a mangled mess of skin, bone and blood. Murphy had tears running down his cheeks. He was panting from the effort of delivering the blows.
He threw the club to the ground and looked up at the sky. He made the sign of the cross and said out loud, “I’m sorry my children. I failed you but I’ve revenged you. Rest easy. Your mother and I will be with you soon.” Then he cast one last glance at the body on the ground and walked away.
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Read Bill Ward’s second thriller ENCRYPTION.
In a small software engineering company in England, a game changing algorithm for encrypting data has been invented, which will have far reaching consequences for the fight against terrorism.
The Security Services of the UK, USA and China all want to control the new software.
The Financial Director has been murdered and his widow turns to her brother-in-law to help discover the truth. But he soon finds himself framed for his brother’s murder.
When the full force of government is brought to bear on one family, they seem to face impossible odds. Is it an abuse of power or does the end justify the means?
Only one man can find the answers but he is being hunted by the same people he once called friends and colleagues.
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