Seeds of Evil

by Robert Kitchen

  CHAPTER 36

  ‘How do you feel Elizabeth? Walter calls you Lizzie, doesn’t he? Would you be more comfortable, if I used the diminutive?’ asked Nathan soothingly. She eyed him warily.

  ‘How do you know so much about us? Who are you?’

  ‘Lizzie, Lizzie, you really ask a lot of questions. All you need to know is that I mean no harm to you or Melanie, I promise. I have pressing business that I must conclude rather quickly. Your good self and beautiful daughter are vital in helping me achieve that end. If I could work it out any other way I would not hesitate to do so. Unfortunately for you, Walter has been rather indiscriminate in his choice of company lately. By involving himself with that terrorist chap, he has placed you and Melanie in a perilous situation but if you do exactly as I say, both of you will be perfectly okay. The shadow of dread began to recede. Perhaps he was true to his word and really did mean them no harm. Making things difficult could change his attitude toward them. Apart from his initial assault, he had acted like a perfect gentleman. With this in mind Elizabeth resolved to accede to the intruder’s request.

  With renewed vitality she stood and informed him that she and Melanie would comply with his demands. ‘I want you to finish whatever business that you have with my family and myself as quickly as you can and leave us in peace.’

  ‘An excellent decision Lizzie,’ he beamed.

  ‘And please don’t refer to me as Lizzie. I reserve that privilege for my closest friends,’ she answered haughtily.

  ‘As you wish Mrs. Dane. A rose by any other name et cetera, et cetera.

  ‘Thank-you,’ she replied with a grin. Far from being afraid, Melanie took in the whole affair with an air of bewilderment. Elizabeth’s heart pounded as she placed an arm around Melanie’s shoulders. Everything will be alright, I am sure that he is sincere when he says he won’t hurt us.

  ‘I think so mammy but how does he know our names?’

  ‘Oh I dare say that all shall be revealed in good time, as they say.’

  ‘You are a very brave and sensible lady Mrs. Dane. Walter is a very lucky man,’ said Black, displaying obvious relief. ‘Let me, by way of explanation, fill you in on how this sorry mess began. About two years ago, no I lie, slightly less than two years, a young man was drafted over here as part of the security forces. He was as innocent as your lovely daughter and not much older. One night, just before his nineteenth birthday, a coward concealed in the upstairs bedroom of a derelict building, snuffed out his young life.’ Nathan blew out a stream of breath through puckered lips. ‘With less regard than one would have, when extinguishing a match. This act of cowardliness set in motion a chain of events. The authorities branded these, as the random acts on a maniac. They were in fact reprisals. Surely you have read about them, your husband was first on the scene on each occasion. Ah I can tell by your expression that the penny has dropped at last. Yes indeed Mrs. Dane I am referring to the series of incidents melodramatically titled, the Preacher Murders. You should feel privileged, after all it is not every day that a person finds herself in such illustrious company.’ Elizabeth drew back from him in shock, pulling her daughter closer to her. ‘Oh I see that I have upset you. Please Elizabeth as I said before you are perfectly safe. God I hate repeating myself. If you have digested anything written about me, you will recall that the people executed by me, were more than deserving causes. You and Melanie by comparison, are good upstanding citizens who find yourselves entangled in the final act. I have no wish to harm innocent people unnecessarily. That my dear lady would be morally wrong.’

  ‘Let me see if I am hearing you properly,’ she said nervously. ‘You are telling us that you are the Preacher?’

  ‘For my sins, yes that is exactly what I am saying,’ replied Black smugly.

  ‘But you murdered small children and women, Lord in heaven you attacked innocent babies,’ she screamed. ‘Murder is the wrong word to use in this context. One does not murder vermin, one exterminates them. Those eradicated were the offspring of the lowest form of humanity. Do not be shedding tears for their kind. In fact you should be rejoicing that there are less to harm you or your daughter in the future. Please Elizabeth, you are upsetting Melanie with your whimpering. Comfort your daughter, I really detest hysterics. His words hit home like a thunderbolt. She had not taken into account the effect that the madman’s revelations would have on her daughter. Elizabeth slowly turned to Melanie whose skin had turned the colour of porcelain. She was trembling uncontrollably and staring at the intruder through vacant eyes. ‘Come pet, let us sit down for a moment,’ she whispered, gently guiding the child back to the settee. Melanie was sobbing by this stage, as fear had taken hold. Black waited patiently for them to calm, before continuing. ‘That’s much better my dear,’ he smiled. ‘I don’t want you wasting your tears on rancid carcasses. They were the spawn of evil as surely as the devil himself had sired them. Offspring of the most cowardly murderers in history. Their bloodline was tainted, can’t you see that I had no choice. My only recourse was their elimination.’

  ‘But you mutilated and tortured the poor people. How do you justify that?’ hissed Elizabeth.

  ‘Of course you are right. That was an unfortunate necessity. The head of the families had to find out what it was like to lose a loved one. To feel the same pain and suffering that the bereaved experience when a son or daughter or lover is the victim of violence.’

  ‘I do not want to listen to another word. Please explain what it is that you want from us.’

  ‘Very well, I am growing bored with the subject. As you can see, it is raining heavily. I want you to ring your husband. Inform him that you and Melanie went for a drive but unfortunately the car has started acting up. Tell him that you are stranded in the country about twenty miles out of town. Request that he comes to pick you up and that in the interests of safety it would be more prudent for the pair of you to remain with the vehicle until he arrives. Oh, and tell him to hurry. By the way, I take it that you do possess a mobile?’ she nodded assent. ‘Very wise, so necessary in these troubled times. Now where was I? The call, please do not do anything to hinder the operation because if you do, I shall consider such an act as aiding my enemies and you know what that will mean. Tell him to be as quick as he can as you do not wish to be stranded after dark.’ Elizabeth had an alarming thought. If she acquiesced, he may do something terrible to her husband. ‘What do you want from Walter?’ she asked.

  ‘Come now, time is fleeting. I shall explain Walter’s involvement on the way.’ Gleefully he ushered them from the house, like a demented schoolteacher on an annual outing. It was at that moment that Elizabeth understood how utterly mad their captor really was. ‘I hope you don’t mind driving. Melanie and I will be much safer in rear. Reluctantly the girl tore herself from the safety of her mother’s embrace and entered the rear compartment. Mrs. Dane slid behind the driver’s wheel and sat silently awaiting instructions. ‘You know the Craigauntlet Road Elizabeth?’ the older woman acknowledged that she did, stealing a glance at her terrified daughter in the rear view mirror. Oh lord I pray that she comes through this ordeal unscathed, she beseeched, in silent prayer. ‘Please take us there, it is a pity about the rain, we could have shared a pleasant cruise in the country. You can call Walter once we have arrived at our destination.’

  ‘You promised that you would tell us what you want with daddy,’ said Melanie.

  ‘Yes I did, didn’t I my dear and a promise is a promise. Your father and I have had several conversations over the past year or so. Your mother will be able to verify this I am sure. He in fact is the most informed person on the planet when; it comes to my mission of revenge. It is therefore fitting that he should be in attendance when I administer the coup de grace. Oh don’t be alarmed dear lady, he is not my intended victim. That would be a foolish mistake on my behalf. I have chosen your husband to write the final chapter of my quest. Walter is a very astute pers
on. His writing style is a little outmoded but he is an honest man and his coverage is always written in accordance with this ethic. That I can tell you is a rare commodity nowadays. The way things are panning out, I may not be around to assist him with my autobiography, so I have taken the liberty of scratching a few notes. Past history, where I grew up, went to school, that sort of thing. It is all on disc, ah the wonders of modern technology. Actually witnessing the termination of Seamus Horan should give the story an ambience of stark reality, don’t you think? Why is Seamus Horan so important, I hear you ask? Seamus Horan is the instigator of this whole sorry affair. Seamus Horan,’ he whispered, ‘Is the bastard who killed my darling Jason.’

  ‘My God you really are completely out of your tree,’ said Elizabeth incredulously.

  ‘You disappoint me Elizabeth, do you not realise that Walter will become instantly famous. Not that he is by any means obscure. He did after all manage to cajole a confession out of Jason’s murderer. I heard on the news that the RUC. have subpoenaed him to appear in court and in all probability your husband may be held in contempt if he does not reveal the terrorists whereabouts. So gallant of Walter to risk incarceration to uphold the last wish of a dying man.

  His loyalty I am sorry to say is seriously misplaced. The sorry truth is, if he does not reveal the hiding place of that piece of offal, he will become as tainted as the murderer he is protecting. Ergo Mrs. Dane, I shall have to put him in the same category as Horan. ‘You Irish have an expression I believe. They would both be, tarred with the same brush. Personally I do not think they are. Walter is far too discerning to be taken in by the likes of Seamus. I am adamant that he shall come to the right decision.’

  ‘What’s gonna happen when this is over Con?’ asked Clements. The UDA. man was in a pensive mood. He sat on the edge of the bed staring morosely through the window at the steady downpour. Water was cascading down the windowpane giving the impression that some unseen hand was slashing at the landscape.

  ‘What, sorry Billy, what did ye say?’ Tullen was lost in his own reverie. Pondering on the future, wondering if he and Moira could ever make a lifetime commitment after all that had happened between them.

  ‘I was wonderin if ye had given any thought te the future, once this Preacher crap is history?’

  ‘Naw Billy, things aren’t workin out exactly like I planned. Know what I mean? One thing’s for certain, I can’t go on the way I have done in the past.”

  ‘Jesus that’s a strange thing te say. What exactly do ye mean by that Con?’ asked Clements, fixing his partner with an inquisitive stare.

  ‘Not so strange Billy. I’ve been givin the whole issue a serious coat of lookin at and I hate te admit that I don’t get much pleasure out of what I’m seein.’

  ‘Christ this gig is gettin te ye. What’s this yer spoutin, philosophy?’ jibed Clements.

  ‘Naw Billy, listen te me, I’m deadly serious. A few months ago I would have blown ye away as quick as look at ye. Know what I mean?’

  ‘Aye Con I hear what yer sayin. Ye’ve seen the true path. Ye want te become a prod,’ laughed Clements. ‘Shit, would ye be serious for once in yer life,’ snapped Connor, in exasperation. ‘I could never shoot ye Billy, even if me life depended on it. You can say I’m talkin a load of shite but I have become closer te ye than any of me buddies in the RA. People I classed as mates, comrades in arms and all that bollocks. Do ye follow me Billy? I’m not askin for yer trust Billy, I know that would be too much te ask but I’m tellin ye sincerely, that I regard ye as me brother, hand on heart. I owe ye me life aye and so much more. For the first time in years I look at people and see just that, people. I don’t ask meself, is yer man a prod, can I turn me back on him? I can’t go back to those days Billy. If Moira will have me, I intend gettin outta here. Let them kill each other if that’s what they want. Aye they can kill each other until there’s none of em left. For the first time in me life I don’t give a shit.’

  ‘I don’t know how te react te that Con. In me heart I know what ye’re sayin is true but I’m not as brave as you. And regards trustin ye, ye may not have noticed, but I’ve been doin that for quite a while now. Do ye not think that I’m as confused as you are? I’m not as deep a thinker as you Con. Maybe the hatred and bigotry is embedded too deeply but I could never trust another Catholic. Every time I see those Sein Fein bastards on TV, with their patronisin attitude and their talk of peace, it makes me blood boil. A political solution can never be reached as long as ogres with a past as black as the mire they were spawned in, purport to represent the nationalists. A peaceful end is possible, when both sides rid themselves of known paramilitary leaders. Politics is all very well but how can we possibly believe that new ideas can come from those people? Christ Con, even the names of the political parties is an affront te yer average man in the street. How could ye honestly expect a Catholic te vote for the Ulster Unionist Party and by the same token, what self respectin Prod is gonna cast a vote in favour of Sein Fein? Both sets of politicians make people want te spew. Get rid of the auld guard, bring in new faces and then let’s see how public opinion sways. Ye know yerself that most people both sides of the fence,

  want te call it a day but at what cost Con? Tell me that, at what cost?’

  Moira was outside when they were discussing the solution to Ulster’s problems. She had no intention of eavesdropping but their conversation was so intense that she could not help herself. Neither man had heard her ascending the stairs. Both were oblivious to her presence on the other side of the door. Moira stood enthralled listening to two sworn enemies discussing a cure to the cancer that was eating at the heart of the province. A weak smile played on her lips, as her beloved spoke of leaving Ireland to set up a new life with her. If she will have me? There was no question. How could she live without him? The concept was so unreal to her that it was bordering on the ridiculous. Moira had to struggle to stop herself from laughing aloud. ‘Poor Con,’ she whispered. ‘I have treated ye so badly.’ Silently she edged closer to the doorway, she did not want to miss a single syllable. Had she been so wrong, when prejudging her companions? Clements seemed to be sincere in his wish for peace and some of what he was saying made very good sense. Moira thought of her own dislike for Ulster politicians, their smarmy faces constant visitors via the medium of television and newspapers. She shared a mutual contempt for them with Clements. I wonder how many other people feel the same way? she mused. She wrecked her brain to recollect any person who had a good word to say about any of them. She failed miserably. The tea tray was beginning to numb her hands, she had heard enough in any case. In a flourish she brushed the door fully open using a perfectly formed hip. ‘Here ye are then tea and biscuits,’ she smiled, placing the tray on the floor. Moira was always careful to steer clear of the window. Clements thanked her and to his amazement she replied, ‘No trouble at all, it must be a bore bein stuck up here days on end.’ For the life of him he could not remember her uttering one civil word to any of them. ‘If ye require anythin else just givus a call. Oh Con love, I’d like a wee word, when ye get a minute.’

  ‘Aye right ye are love, I’ll be down in a minute,’ replied Tullen confused.

  ‘No hurry love, after ye’ve finished yer tea would be grand.’

  ‘No I’ll let it cool a bit,’ he offered, following her from the room. He could not recall her in a better mood since her sister’s murder and he was not about to lose the moment. She leaned across his body, closing the door firmly behind him. Before he had a chance to take stock of the situation, she had flung her arms around his waist and pulled him to her. Her lips were on fire as she passionately devoured him in a way he could not have believed possible. Her tongue darted in and around his mouth filling him with desire. ‘God I’ve missed the taste of ye. I adore ye Connor Tullen, now away and drink yer tea.’ Without

  waiting for a reply she was gone, he could hear her giggling as she took the last step
.

  CHAPTER 37

  Rain lashed at the windscreen. The wipers seemed to be involved in a macabre death struggle with every painful swish. Dane thumped the steering wheel. This was not how he had wanted to begin the evening. There had been an atmosphere at the office and Kiever, the bloody bastard, was harassing him with all sorts of legal mumbo jumbo. ‘I’ll have to get out of this fucking business,’ he grumbled as he passed the flats at Knocknagoney. ‘Jesus what was Lizzie thinking about going for a drive in weather like this?’ After forty minutes of painstakingly slow progress, he saw his wife’s Metro parked at the side of the road. Light was fading quickly in the murky afternoon and the rain was relentless. Heaving a sigh, he pulled up in front of the little car and got out. He squinted as he approached the vehicle in an effort to see through the windscreen but it was a futile gesture. Huge globules of liquid were exploding against the glass, as if their only purpose in life was to obliterate the offending barrier. Strange he thought, why is Lizzie just sitting there and Melanie at least should have opened the door to greet him? With a shrug he forged on bending low to deflect the angry deluge away from his face. ‘Well this is a right pickle dear. What were you thin-’ he said, opening the door and leaning in but his complaints were cut mid sentence. A wave of nausea washed over him as he took in the scene before him.