Chapter Text
12:15pm 17th February
The Capri came to a fishtailing halt, tyres squealing and horns sounding from the following vehicles. The ground ceased shuddering and the tail end of a bass rumble echoed off the high rises. Doyle looked back through the rear window as a cloud of smoke and debris billowed out of the underground entrance they had just passed. He looked back at his partner, Bodie’s face was impassive, but his eyes mirrored the horror and anger that he was sure was showing on his own face.
“You call it in. I’ll go down, see what I can do”. said Doyle exiting the car and running back towards the entrance.
“Right.” Bodie answered his voice calm in the face of such chaos, “3/7 to base, we have an explosion at the Harley St. entrance to the underground. Send emergency services. 4/5 has gone in to render assistance and I’m following, 3/7 out.”
“Roger that 3/7. Base copies, will comply. Base out”.
Slipping the RT. back into his jacket Bodie exited the car and followed his partner. By now panic had gripped the public and people were standing in dazed shock, crying or screaming hysterically, and for a second Bodie was back in Ireland serving in the SAS. Only that time, the bomb had gone off in a crowded supermarket. Shaking his head fiercely to dispel the clamouring memories he yanked a large bandanna from his jeans pocket and covered his mouth and nose before descending into the smoke filled gloom.
“Ray” he called, stepping gingerly around scattered debris and bodies, trying to ignore them knowing Doyle would have checked them first.
“Ray where are you. Have you found anyone yet”.
“Over here” came the reply from his left, followed by a coughing fit.
“Keep talking, I’ll follow your voice” eyes burning in the acrid smoke Bodie picked his way forward.
“OK. Not to far, I think I’ve found a live one!”
A diffuse circle of light caught Bodie’s eye and he made his way towards it. He found Doyle crouching beside four bodies, thankful that he could see few details in the gloom. Not that he needed to see, his cursed memory supplied enough graphic images from long years past to render the dark useless. One of the bodies had been rolled aside to reveal another underneath, Doyle was checking for a pulse.
“She’s still alive. All that blood must be his” Doyle said gesturing towards the man he had moved aside.
Just then the woman moaned and opened her eyes, then proceeded to cough violently.
“Take it easy love” Bodie soothed as he crouched opposite Doyle and used his bandanna to remove some of the blood from her face. “We’ll have you out soon. Just got to make sure we can move you.”
Doyle began a cursory check for broken bones and internal injuries, his ministrations eliciting no response from the woman until he reached her right arm.
“I think she’s OK to move. Be careful when you pick her up, her right arm is badly hurt but I don’t think it’s broken. I’ll guide you out with the torch”
Bodie nodded. Sliding his arms beneath shoulders and knees, he lifted her with effortless strength. Stepping carefully to avoid tripping, and trying not to cough in the smoke filled air, he followed Doyle’s back and the faint circle of light in front of him.
They were met halfway up the stairs by firemen in breathing gear, and Doyle realised that the whole thing had only taken 10 minutes from when he had heard the explosion until now. It had seemed an eternity.
One of the firemen tried to take the woman from Bodie, but she locked her arms around his neck and would not let go.
“It’s alright mate.” Bodie said “I’ll take her the rest of the way. She’s not in a bad way, and most of that blood is someone else’s”.
The fireman nodded and followed on after his crew mates.
Reaching the top of the stairs they were met by an ambulance crew, and Bodie tried to deposit the girl onto a gurney, but again she would not let go. One of the medics injected something into her arm and slowly her grip loosened.
“Sedative” was all he said by way of explanation before rushing her to a waiting ambulance. Doyle followed along behind, giving a brief report on the girls condition to the man’s partner. Bodie stayed put surveying the now organised chaos. The uniforms had crowd control underway, and the fire crews had started removing the dead and wounded.
He was back in Ireland again, standing in what was left of the shopping mall. Mangled bodies all around him, the tang of blood, surrounded by the wail of sirens and the moans and screams of the wounded filling his ears. A touch on his arm made him jump he turned to meet the green eyes of his partner, filled with concern.
“You allrignt mate?”
“Yeah. Just brings back some memories I’d rather not remember”.
Doyle nodded understanding.
“Look you need a change and so do I, and you can bet the Cow is going to want in on this one bad, so...” He was interrupted by a beep from his pocket, pulling out his RT. he acknowledged the call. “4/5 over”
“Base here 4/5. Alpha wants you to report ASAP” The woman’s voice on the other end sounded shaken. “Is it bad Ray?”
“It’s bad enough Beth” Doyle replied. “Tell Alpha we’ll be in as soon as we can. The traffic is bad, we might have to detour, that’s if we can get our car out. Over”
“Roger that 4/5. I’ll see what I can do about a police escort to clear the roads”.
“Roger that base”. there was a pause on the other end.
“That police escort is arranged 4/5, base out”.
No sooner had Beth signed off than a young police officer approached diffidently.
“Sir your escort has been arranged”.
You had to hand it to Beth she was the best you could have in a crisis.
“Sure ki.... “ he had been about to address the young officer as kid and stopped just in time. God had he ever been that young? He couldn’t remember.
“ Sure. It’s the silver Capri, over there” he said pointing in the direction of their car.
“Right Sir. We’ll start moving traffic now. We have to anyway you see, it’s blocking the way for the emergency vehicles... “ the officer trailed off, realising he was babbling and flushed with embarrassment. Doyle felt sorry for him and squeezed his shoulder “ First one?” he questioned.
A nod from the young officer
“It’s OK mate” he said giving him a sympathetic smile
“Do you ever get used to it?”
“No mate” came the unreasuring reply
“Oh” the young officer looked at him then turned to leave. Doyle stopped him.
“It does get easier, but only a little. I don’t think you should ‘get used to it’ “
The young man nodded understanding, and Doyle let him go. He turned and found his partners blue eyes staring at him.
“I don’t remember ever being that young” Bodie mused
“Have you taken up mind reading as a hobby or something” Doyle snapped
“Huh?” came the puzzled reply
“Never mind. The Cow wants us back ASAP, incase you missed that. They’re organising a police escort to get us back to HQ.”
Bodie grunted acknowledgment and followed Doyle back to their car, where they sat and waited for the traffic to be cleared in front of them.
Cowley paced his office impatiently, cursing the delay but knowing that Bodie and Doyle were moving as fast as they could. His thoughts were interrupted by a knock, he turned to the door. “Come in”.
A young woman entered carrying a plain brown folder. “Preliminary casualty list Sir” she said extending the folder towards him. Cowley looked at it with obvious distaste. This was one aspect of his job he could do without. A list of names, each one representing many shattered lives, and each time he dreaded the inevitable day when he would know someone on that list.
Betty gave him a sympathetic look which he acknowledged with a nod as he took the folder from her. She quietly left the office, closing the door behind her. Cowley gazed at the innocuous folder for a full 2 minutes before opening it. His eyes scanned down the list, names and ages but no faces. Then a name leaped out at him from the page and a chill followed by a hot rage seared through him. Michael O’Brian! Then the name under that. Elizabeth too! and Colleen? No she was listed as a survivor. Dear God Colleen! He had known her since she was a wee lass.
Colleen. He would have to break the news, if she did not already know. He could also make the funeral arrangements, he could spare her that much pain.
His dark thoughts were interrupted by another knock at the door. “Come”
Betty opened the door “Bodie and Doyle Sir”
“Good, send them in please. Oh and please look up the number of John Porter, he’s a lawyer with Tanfield and Porter, and hold all calls”
“Very good Sir” Beth replied and waved Bodie and Doyle into the office. Cowley looked up as the two men entered. The first thing he noticed was the blood on Bodies shirt, and the iron tang in the air. Doyle also had blood on his clothes, though they had both obviously made an effort to clean themselves up. Without preamble he handed the file to Doyle.
“Preliminary casualty list”
Doyle took the folder and scanned through the names, wincing when he reached a group of children on the list.
“Kids for Godsake. Do they think killing kids will gain sympathy for their cause” Doyle exploded, almost throwing the folder at Bodie.
Bodie caught the file and started to read through dispassionately. “They don’t do it to gain sympathy” he replied in an equally dispassionate voice “That’s why it’s called Terrorism”
Doyle swung around about to comment on Bodie’s exceeding bad taste. Blue eyes met green and Doyle bit back his comment as he saw the echo of his own anger and abhorrence reflected there.
Watching the by-play with little amusement, Cowley decided to intervene.
“I want these people!” the hard edge in his voice told both Bodie and Doyle that the Old man was taking this one personally.
“As of now you are reassigned to this case. Bodyguard duty. One of the survivors is a possible witness. She has yet to make a formal statement.”
Cowley handed Doyle a photo of the woman. ”I have the unfortunate task of informing her that both her parents were killed in the blast”
“Sir?” the both questioned together.
“Yes. Colleen O’Brian, the daughter of an old friend of mine. Michael O’Brian’s...... “ Cowley broke off, catching a change of expression on Bodie’s face.
“Not Sgt. Mgr. O’Brian Sir?” Bodie asked, a disbelieving tone in his voice.
“Yes. Why, did you know him?”
“No Sir, not personally. He was well known in the SAS when I served. I guess you could say he was a legend, I served in his old regiment, Sir”
“I’m sorry Bodie” Cowley said knowing sympathy would not be accepted.
Doyle kept any comments to himself.
Doyle looked at the photo again, carefully, the face looked familiar “Sir. this looks like the woman we pulled out”. He handed the photo over to Bodie, who glanced at it.
“That’s her all right. Nice looking Bird too”
Cowley gave him that look “You keep your hands to yourself Bodie, that is my Goddaughter you’re talking about!”
Bodie looked sheepish but made no reply
Cowley held his gaze a few seconds longer, then let the matter drop.
Doyle, on the other hand gave Bodie his usual are-you-nuts-or-something look.
“You two can get yourselves cleaned up. Meet me outside at my car” Cowley said by way of a dismissal.
The two turned and filed from the office, neither wishing to speak.
15 minutes later, showered and changed, they met Cowley outside at his car.
“Bodie, you’re with me. Doyle, you ready the Alpha Prime safe house. When she has been discharged I want her moved straight there.”
“Sir” came the simultaneous reply.
Bodie threw the keys to the Capri to Doyle and turned to Cowley’s driver, hand held out for the keys. “I’ll take it from here Sunshine”
The driver looked to Cowley and received a curt nod, with a resigned sigh he handed over the keys, everyone in CI5 new how protective Bodie and Doyle were of the Old Man.
Bodie saw Cowley into the car, and as he crossed to the drivers side yelled to Doyle’s retreating back “Don’t forget the beer”
Doyle waved acknowledgment without looking back. As Bodie settled into the drivers seat a comment came from the back. “The beer Bodie?”
“The beer Sir. I’m not babysitting without it.” came the reply
Cowley smiled to himself, satisfied that his boys were back on track. There would be time enough for mourning and dealing with it. Right now he needed them to be focused on the job. Many outside the business would probably find such humour in bad taste, and admittedly in his opinion Bodie went to far sometimes, but in this line of business it was a necessary means of self defence. It was a mark of how close Bodie and Doyle were that Doyle rarely took offence at Bodie’s seemingly out of place jokes.
Conversation was sparse on the way to the Hospital, on arrival they found that a security check point had been set up at the entrance.
A young army officer waved their car to a stop, Cowley wound down his window.
“Identification please Sir”
“Cowley CI5” he replied, flashing his ID to the young Private.
After a quick glance the soldier snapped a salute and gestured for his partner to remove the barricade.
Bodie expertly manuvered the car through the slow moving traffic, following an ambulance to the A&E entrance.
“Stop Here” said Cowley
“Sir?”
“I’ll get out here, you park the car and wait for me”.
“Sir” was the only reply, Bodie got the message, Cowley wanted some time alone with Colleen. He pulled over to the kerb and Cowley exited the car. At the sound of the door shutting Bodie pulled back out onto the road and proceeded to find a park not to far from the entrance. After manuvering the car into a parallel space, Bodie decided to have a cigarette. Lighting up he turned on the car radio. The mellow tones of a clarinet floated up from the speakers. Bodie grimaced, he was not in the mood for mellow, and punched buttons until he found a more up beat sound.
Cowley walked into the semi-organised chaos that was the A&E admitting area, the noise hitting him like a physical blow. Casualties were still coming in, the noise of doctors, nurses and ambulance crews dashing about, all mixed in with the cries of the wounded and the anguish of relatives.
Approaching reception and the harried looking woman unfortunate enough to be on duty, he waited behind a distraught woman asking about her husband.
“Please. His name is Ben, Benjamin Kane. He said he was going to be on that train, and I haven’t heard from him yet. Please, you must tell me if he’s alright”.
“I’m sorry Mame but I can’t tell you. We haven’t received any more names yet. As soon as I hear anything I promise I’ll tell you”.
Cowley guessed that she had made that same promise many times today. The woman seemed about to protest when a police officer came to the receptionists rescue.
“Mrs. Kane was it?” he questioned, taking the woman gently by the arm.
“Yes”
“Well, you come with me and we’ll see what we can find out.” he proceeded to lead the woman away.
The receptionist threw the policeman a grateful look behind the woman’s back, which he returned with a wink.
The receptionist looked back in his direction but Cowley was sure she was not really seeing him.
“Name please”
“Cowley. George Cowley”
“I’m sorry. I don’t recall that name being on any of the lists”
“That’s because I am here to see Colleen O’Brian” Cowley replied impatience entering his voice.
Confusion clouded the receptionists face, then cleared as comprehension dawned.
“Oh you’re George Cowley. I’m sorry. It’s just that before this happened I’d just pulled a double shift, well I couldn’t very well go home in the middle of all the chaos could I, and, well you see I’m afraid my brain isn’t keeping up any more” she coloured realising that she was babbling.
“That’s quite alright lass” Cowley replied in a less impatient tone, a little angry with himself for being so hard on her.
“Yes. Well. Let me see. O’Brian .... O’Brian, O’Brian, Colleen. Yes here she is. She’s in ward 12 room 7. It’s a private room.”
“Thank you”
“Your welcome” she replied, a smile lighting up her face.
Cowley made his way over to the lift. He entered and punched the button for the required floor. Exiting the lift and glancing quickly to the left and right, he recognised the man on guard duty.
“ Murphy, how is she doing?” asked Cowley sharply
“ As well as can be expected sir. She’s in pretty rough shape.” said Murphy softly
“Yes, well that’s what I’m here for.” he said a little more sharply than he meant. It was the last place he wanted to be and for the worst reason.
“Oh.” said Murphy promptly shutting up.
Cowley quietly opened the door and stood with a wealth of pained regret in the usually cool eyes. The young woman lying in the hospital bed seemed so much older than he remembered, nothing like the picture he had last seen of her, that laughing smiling face full of youthful exuberance. What a wealth of dreams and hope had been in those eyes.
Her face was bruised and pale the entire right side of her face covered by a dressing and her left arm was heavily bandaged. Cowley had been prepared for that. What really appalled him was the fact that she looked so frail, as though she had aged ten years.
As if she had sensed his presence in the room, her head turned in his direction. recognition was slow to come. But then she hadn’t seen him for some years. Not since she had been a young lass of 13 or 14. All of a sudden Cowley felt old and tired, so very tired and oh it hurt so much seeing her like this. His little pixie, he used to call her as pretty and unpredictable as one too. She had always wrapped him around her little finger so easily, as easily as a smile.
“ Uncle George?” came the hesitant question and the look of resigned pain and dread in her eyes nearly broke his heart! she knew, ah she always had been quick off the mark his little pixie.
“ Aye lass, the very same.” he said very quietly as he crossed the room and came to sit by the bed. He took her hand, gently squeezing the fingers comfortingly. Her eyes had the blank look of a shock victim, that dazed punched look he knew so well.
“ Their dead, aren’t they Uncle George. I’m not stupid. When no one will tell you anything, It’s usually because they don’t want to tell you the worst!” said Colleen numbly
“ Aye lass, I’m afraid they’re both gone. I know it’s not much consolation but neither of them suffered , it was instantaneous. .!” said Cowley very softly. He had done this duty so many times but it never got any easier oh no, it never did!
Colleen squeezed his hand in gratitude, it did help a little. the thought of them lingering in slow agony would have been unbearable. Then the calm of shock broke as the finality of what he had said hit home viciously; they were gone, she would never see them again. It seemed incomprehensible to her that her life would simply go on without them! Hot tears came with quiet sobs. Cowley sat offering silent support, knowing that even sincerely meant words were never appreciated at times like this. The storm passed and she let go of his hand to wipe her face. With a flourish Cowley presented her with a large white kerchief, the Knight comforting the damsel in distress. He was rewarded by a tentative smile that did much to banish the shadow in her eyes. She had always been particularly fond of those type of fairy tales, and she had badgered him relentlessly as a small girl to read them to her. He had never been able to resist her for long. Colleen had always had an irresistibly winsome smile and it heartened him to see even its shadow again.
“You remembered” she said after making use of the proffered handkerchief.
“Aye. One does not forget being wrapped around a small pixie of a girls wee finger” he replied smiling.
She smiled again at the use of his nickname for her “Pixie. It’s a long time since I’ve heard that. Thankyou Uncle George. I’m glad it was you who told me, even though I already new”
“Aye lass, I’m going to miss him too. I spoke to your Father on the phone only three weeks ago, we had arranged to meet at the club whilst he and Elizabeth were in London with you.”
“I seem to remember him mentioning something about that”
“Look lass. I know this will be hard for you, but I have also come in my capacity as head of CI5. I have to ask you to make a formal statement about what you saw while it is still fresh in your memory. I am also placing you in protective custody. Your status as a witness is bound to have been compromised by now, what with all the reporters bailing up anyone who will talk. Someone is certain to have let that sort of news slip. There will be a round the clock watch on your room, until you can be discharged and we can move you to a safe house.”
“Is all that really necessary?” Colleen asked in a shocked voice
“I’m afraid so lass. The IRA has claimed responsibility, the proper recognition codes have been given. I have instituted a media blackout but I cannot stop people talking to other people. Therefore we can be sure that they will know that there is a witness by now. It won’t take them long to find out your name, and when they have that they will come looking for you.”
“But what if what I saw has nothing to do with them”.
“The fact that you might have seen something is enough to condemn you. They will not take the chance that you can identify even one of them”
“Oh damn. I should have kept my mouth shut then. If I hadn’t babbled to that ambulance man I wouldn’t be in this mess”
“Och lass, in the state you were in you cannot blame yourself”
“You’re just saying that”
“No I’m not. You have enough to worry about without beating yourself up about that. So I’ll have no more said on the matter. Is that clear” he asked, putting a mock sternness in his voice.
“Yes Sir” Colleen said meekly
“I have also taken the liberty of contacting your fathers lawyer to make funeral arrangements. I hope you don’t mind, but under the circumstances I felt I could spare you the task”.
Colleen sniffed “Thankyou Uncle George. I truly don’t think I could have faced that just now”.
“Aye, but I’m afraid you’ll have to face remembering. I need your statement now while events are still fresh in your mind”.
“I’ll do my best, but things are a little fuzzy. Must have been the bump on the head”.
“Well just try to remember as much as you possibly can. I’m going to record your statement for evidential purposes” reaching into his coat pocket he produced a small hand held recorder, about the size of a small bible.
“That’s a new one. I’ve never seen one of those before?”
“New technology. One of the advantages of being a government agency is you get first look at the best of the new stuff” positioning the recorder on the side of the bed he activated it.
“Statement by witness to underground bombing. witness is unnamed for security reasons. Date September 15th. Time 1:15pm. Now, in your own words and in your own time, I want you to describe everything you can remember no matter how unimportant you think it might be. Just speak in a normal tone of voice and the recorder will pick it up”.
“Right. Well. Um. Well it was about 11:45 when I arrived at the station. I had been staying in London a couple of days, you know, catching up on old friends and things. Well anyway, uh, mum and dad had insisted that they would come out to meet me. I guess they still think ..... thought of me” the correction came through gritted teeth “as a little girl. Well they’d said they were coming in on the 12 o’clock train. Well I’d decided to do a bit of sight seeing. You know, renew that sense of home, look in on old haunts. So I arrived about 15 minutes early and sat down to wait. I’d just started to read the book I’d brought with me, I always carry a book you never know when you might need one. Well anyway, I’d just started to read when I heard this commotion down the platform a short ways. A young man was being dragged away from a young woman by an older man. The young guy was yelling something like ‘you don’t have to do this’. She must have said something in return because he stopped struggling, although the other man did not let him go”.
“Do you think you could identify them if you saw them again?” Cowley interrupted.
“Well. The young man yes, and the girl. But the other man I didn’t get a good look at him, he was behind the other guy”.
“That will be enough. If you can identify the young man then we have a start. Do continue”
“Well, I didn’t think much of it at the time. Just one of those things, you know, maybe his girl was breaking up with him or something. I don’t know why it seems important now, but after the explosion after I’d been rescued it just seemed to click into place. Like a hunch or something. Do you know what I mean?”
“Yes I do. It’s what makes a good operative. The mind is a good recorder of all that the eye sees and the ear hears. Unconsciously the mind may put all these things together and make an intuitive leap to an answer, therefore we may not understand where the answer has come from”.
“Yes! that’s it exactly. I recall things now about the way the woman acted. She seemed very nervous, but not for the obvious reason of expecting trouble from her boyfriend. he and the other man were long gone if the way he had been dragged away was any indication. She also kept this box very close to her, always reaching out as if to assure herself it was still there. It struck me as odd at the time for some reason, but the train arrived soon after. I could see them getting off the train near where the girl was sitting. I remember her getting up to walk away, which was strange because she left that parcel behind which she had been so worried about loosing. Then all I remember is this bright light and a loud noise. Then I woke up with this man leaning over me and blood all over my face.”
Colleen started to shake again, tears streaming down her face. Cowley reached over to the recorder and switched it off.
“I remember being carried out into the daylight, then nothing again until I woke up here”
“That would have been Doyle and Bodie, two of my boys. They were nearby when the explosion happened, they pulled you out. I think we can leave it at that for now. Events leading up to the explosion are all we are interested in at present. I’ll speak with the doctor and see when we can move you to the safe house. I’ll also arrange for one of my people to come down here with the mugshot books, see if you can pick this young man out of any of them. It’s a slim chance but we have to try it. You could try for the woman as well.”
Colleen nodded, sniffing again. Cowley gave her an encouraging smile and exited the room, closing the door and leaving her to her grief in private.
Making his way to the duty station he nodded to Murphy on the way past.
“Excuse me Sister. Could I please speak with Miss O’Brian’s Doctor? I need to know when she can be discharged”
“Oh, and who might you be?” the Sister asked, with a nurses disdain for any who dared intrude upon their ordered domain.
“Cowley, Head of CI5” he replied shortly, unused to being addressed in such fashion.
“Very well” the woman seemed unimpressed with his answer, but she did page the Doctor.
A young man in an open lab coat arrived in a hurry about 10 minutes later.
“Hi. Look I’m sorry I took so long, but I was in the middle of looking in on several of the other victims. I’m a trauma specialist you see and this is right up my alley, so to speak. Now, about Miss O’Brian. Afraid you wont be able to move her today. Concussion you see. Bad blow to the right side of the head. Probably contact with the platform when she fell. So, anyway can’t move her today. In overnight for observation. Tomorrow afternoon at the earliest I’m afraid”
“Doctor .... ?” Cowley asked, extending his hand
“Hmm?. Oh. Sorry. Cray” he replied taking Cowley’s hand and shaking it firmly.
“Yes. Doctor Cray. You’re quite sure I cannot move her today?. Miss O’Brian’s safety is in jeopardy every minute she is left in the open!”
“Quite sure Mr Cowley. Concussion is a nasty business, can have delayed effects.’
“Very well Doctor, I shall take your advice” Cowley replied, somewhat reluctantly, “However, I do hope you wont object to my placing extra security in and around the room?”
“Not at all Mr Cowley. Just as long as they don’t interfere with hospital routine” this last was said with a quick glance at the nearby Sister.
“Rest assured Dr Cray, my men will only interfere if they feel Miss O’Brian’s safety is in danger” Cowley replied, loud enough for the nurse to hear.
A disdainful sniff could be heard in reply.
“I can’t ask for more than that I suppose.” Dr Grey replied with a grim and a small nod in the direction of the nurse.
“Well, goodbye Mr Cowley, I’ll keep you posted if there are any problems with Miss O’Brian’s condition.” he finished as he turned to leave. He hesitated, turning back to Cowley his eyes taking on an angry sparkle “Get the bastards Mr Cowley. People who inflict this sort of carnage on anyone or anything deserve to be stood up against a wall and shot, and you can quote me on that!”
“We will get them Dr Cray. They, are at the top of my priority list, and they will pay!” Cowley replied, silently agreeing with the doctors sentiments and wondering if he could arrange just such a fate for them.
The doctor held his gaze, then nodded once and left.
Returning to the private room, Cowley addressed the man standing at the door, “Murphy, please contact Bodie and tell him to pick me up. Then get onto Susan and have her come down here with the mugshot books on all known IRA Terrorists. We need to get a quick ID out on these people. I want them found before they come after Miss O’Brian.”
“Sir” Murphy acknowledged and proceeded to carry out Cowley’s orders.
Knowing everything would be taken care of Cowley went back into Colleen’s room.
“Colleen, I have to leave now. Susan, one of my people, will be here soon with the mugshot books. She will also stay the night with you in the room as added security.”
“OK Uncle George” she replied, yawning hugely, “Oh excuse me, I’m feeling so tired”
“That’s not suprising with all you’ve been through today. I’ll go now and leave you to get some sleep” his words fell on deaf ears, Colleen was already asleep. Closing the door quietly Cowley turned to Murphy
“Tell Susan when she gets here, that she will be staying the night in Miss O’Brian’s room as added security”
“Yes Sir”
“Bodie should be here by now. I’ll be at the office if there are any progress reports on the identification of the Terrorists.”
“I’ll notify you immediately Sir” replied Murphy
Cowley acknowledged Murphy’s reply with a nod, then turned and made his way back to the entrance where he spotted Bodie standing by the back passenger door of the car. The chaos around the hospital didn’t seem to have abated noticeably.
“Back to the office Bodie, I want to be there when the reports start to come through”
“Right Sir” Bodie answered, opening the door
Shutting the door behind Cowley, he returned to the drivers side and got into the car. Glancing at Cowley in the rear view mirror, “Message came in on the radio about five minutes ago Sir, the death toll has gone up. Three of the serious cases have died.” he reported, hating to be the bearer of bad news
Cowley said nothing for a few minutes, his face had gone cold and forbidding, then he caught Bodie’s eye in the mirror “The office Bodie, and quickly” was all he said before sitting back in the seat to brood.
Bodie started the engine, finding a gap in the traffic he manuvered the car onto the road. It was along silent drive back to CI5 Head Quarters, with Bodie unwilling to interrupt his superiors thoughts.
A loud “Sir!” caught his attention, pulling his mind away from it’s dark thoughts. He looked around, forgetting for a second where he was and saw Bodie standing with the door open a concerned look on his face.
“Find out where Doyle is and join him, you two are in charge of Miss O’Brian’s security. I want it air tight, no better than air tight” he ordered, acknowledging Bodie’s concern with a look before entering the office building.
Bodie returned the car to the pool, before going to his own. Swinging in to the drivers seat, he picked up the radio mike’.
“3/7 to Base. Patch me through to 4/5 please. Over”
“Roger 3/7, hold please. Through now. Base out.”
“4/5 here, over”
“Our illustrious leader has instructed that I join you, are you at the house”
“Is that so. Yes I’m still at the house. Williams’ and Jax are setting up security. So I guess that leaves you with shopping detail. And don’t you forget the beer. Over”
“Shopping! Thanks allot” Bodie replied in an aggrieved tone, Doyle wriggles his way out of the dirty work again.
“You’re most welcome. 4/5 out”
As he pulled out of the driveway Bodie toyed with the idea of buying nothing but junk food by way of revenge, then discarded it. Doyle would probably make some snide remark about cholesterol and life expectancy and go out and get something for himself, all the fun would be lost.
Doyle chuckled to himself, if there was one thing Bodie hated doing it was shopping. Which was why when he wasn’t eating out, he was round at Doyle’s place for dinner.
“What’s so funny?”
Doyle turned to find Williams coming up behind him “I’ve sent Bodie to do the shopping”
Williams winced “Are you sure that’s wise, I’ve seen what passes for food in his eyes”
“Relax, we can always send him out again with a list, besides he’s not that bad”
“Ha. Just don’t come to me when there’s nothing for you to eat” Williams replied continuing on inside. “Oh, Jax is finishing up on the east perimeter” he added without turning.
Doyle grunted and finished checking the alarm panel before following Williams inside.
The spacious Victorian style house was two storeyed, situated on large walled grounds.
Despite appearances to the contrary it was heavily alarmed, with closed circuit TV and motion sensors, very little could get in without tripping at least one of the many defences.
Everything was ship shape and had been checked out personally by one of the operatives.
Susan finally found a park, miracles do happen, she mused to herself as she locked the door. Hefting the heavy suitcase, and making it look lighter than it was, she made her way straight to Colleen’s room.
Approaching Colleen’s private room she smiled at Murphy and winked at the admiring young soldier on the other side of the door, who proceeded to blush nicely. This got a grin from Murphy, who winked back as he stood and opened the door for her
Stepping into the darkened room she glanced at the young woman lying in the bed. It was obvious that she was asleep. Loath to wake her Susan placed the case quietly at the foot of the bed and sat in the guest chair. She glanced up and saw Murphy still there with the door open. “I’ll give her another ten minutes, if she’s not awake by then I’ll wake her myself” she said quietly.
“It’s your call, but Cowley said they needed those Id’s ASAP” he replied
“And she looks like she could use the rest” Susan stated
Murphy just shrugged and closed the door
“She’s a black belt?” she heard the young soldier say before the door was shut, and wondered what Murphy had been telling him. She’d have to hit him up, literally, and find out. Murphy was only slightly better than Bodie where women were concerned. She sighed, she’d just have to keep trying to teach them all manners.
Settling back down in the chair she glanced at the wall clock, the glowing numbers reading 5:45, give her till six she thought.
The minutes passed with only the ticking of the wall clock, and echoes from the corridor outside, to disturb the quiet. Susan was jerked out of her dose by a tormented cry from the woman in the bed, a quick sweep of the room showed no intruders. Seconds later the door burst open and Murphy entered gun drawn.
“What’s up?” he snapped looking at Colleen.
A stream of semi intelligible words was issuing from Colleen and she was waving her bandaged arm about.
“She’s having a nightmare” Susan replied trying to keep Colleen from banging the injured limb on anything, without doing further damage herself. “Go get the nurse”
Murphy nodded and reholstering his gun left the room, closing the door behind him.
“Colleen. Colleen honey wake up, you’re having a bad dream” she crooned, shaking Colleen gently.
Colleen’s eyes snapped open, unfocused they stared out at an invisible world, her body went rigid.
“Colleen, can you hear me?” Susan asked
Dull eyes turned towards the sound of her voice, then as if released from her torment Colleen sagged against Susan and great raking sobs were torn from her.
“God their gone. Why?” Colleen kept repeating between gasps for breath
“Easy baby. It’s Ok” Susan soothed, stroking Colleens hair, unable to look into the eyes pleading for answers she could not give.
Just then the door opened and a white uniformed nurse entered “What seems to be the matter here?” she asked in a calm voice
“She’s had a nightmare Sister” Susan explained whilst trying to disengage Colleen’s arms from around her neck. Seeing the difficulty Susan was having the nurse reached into her apron pocket pulled out a syringe, and administered a shot to Colleen’s arm. Gradually the vice like grip around her neck loosened and Susan gently layed Colleen back on the bed.
“Just a mild muscle relaxant” the nurse explained placing the syringe back in the pocket.
“Are you OK now honey?” the nurse asked, brushing stray hair off Colleen’s face.
“There was blood all over. And I saw them lying there, they kept asking me why. They kept asking me why” Colleen sobbed, clinging to Susan’s hand with an almost painful grip.
Do you want me to give you something to help you sleep?” the nurse asked
“No!” Colleen objected vehemently, “I don’t ever want to sleep again.”
“It’s OK Sister, I’ll stay with her. I’ll be here all night.”
The nurse looked at Colleen dubiously, then nodded and left the room.
Colleen looked shyly at Susan “Sorry about that. I haven’t had nightmares since I was a child.” she sniffed.
“Don’t mention it. If it were me I’d probably be having nightmares too. Name’s Susan by the way, Mr Cowley sent me down” she replied
“Yes, he told me you’d be coming” Colleen said, reaching for a box of tissues and blowing her nose. “I suppose you want me to look at some pictures?”
“If you’re up to it?”
“I think so. Uncle George will need them pretty quickly I guess”
“Uncle George?” Susan asked suprise in her voice
“Yes. He’s my Godfather, but I’ve always called him Uncle George. Why?”
“Well, the sly old dog. He never told me you were his Goddaughter. We’ll just have to take extra special care of you then, can’t have anything else happening to the bosses Goddaughter can we.” Susan said with a smile trying to lighten the mood.
Colleen smiled back, appreciating the effort. “I really can’t imagine Uncle George like that, he’s never raised his voice to me ever. But then I haven’t seen him for about eleven years. Maybe he’s changed?”
“I doubt it. George Cowley never changes” Susan replied. “Feeling better?”
“Yes thanks. I’ll look at those pictures now.”
Susan went to the foot of the bed and opened the suitcase, removing one of the heavy books inside she carried it back to the bed and set it on Colleen’s lap.
“Not exactly fun reading, but see how you go. I’ll just sit here, if you spot anyone you think you recognise tell me and I’ll radio it in.”
“OK” Colleen replied, and taking a deep breath opened the book.
Twenty five minutes later Colleen closed the second book, without success, and put her head in her hands, squeezing her temples “I think I’m getting a headache” she stated
“Just one more to go, do you think you can handle it?” Susan asked with concern
“I’m sure, I’d rather get it over and done with thanks”
Setting the last book on Colleen’s lap, Susan placed a hand on her shoulder, “Don’t feel bad if you don’t find anyone in this one either, it just means that we’ve never caught them before. We’ll have to work of sketches which will be less reliable, but we will get them”
“Thanks” Colleen replied looking up with a smile. “I’ll remember that”
The faces on the pages were becoming a blur, each starting to look the same as the last when recognition caused one to suddenly jump out at her.
Susan caught the catch in Colleen’s breath and looked up from the magazine she had been reading. Colleen was staring fixedly at the page, her breath coming in short gasps. Quickly Susan stood up and removed the book from Colleen’s slack grip, causing her to snap out of her trance. “Are you OK?”
Colleen started at the sound of a voice “Hmm. Oh. Yes. I think so. God I feel so stupid, I’m not normally like this. I don’t fall apart in a crisis. I feel so helpless and lost. I hate feeling like a weepy little school girl, busting into tears at the drop of a hat” She stormed a rising anger colouring her voice. “Damn the bastards that did this to me, hanging would be too good for them”
“Amen to that,” Susan agreed quietly, “and you have every right to feel the way you do. I’m not going to say I know how you feel, because I don’t, but I can say I don’t know if I’d manage much better. You’ve been through something that nobody should have to go through, I’d say you were dealing with it very well. So enough of this being so hard on yourself, or I shall inform Uncle George.” and with that threat hanging over her Colleen could do nothing but agree.
“So can you tell me which one of these photo’s you recognised?” Susan asked
Colleen pointed to a picture of a young man in his mid 20’s with blond hair.
“That’s him. I’m sure of it”
“Right, I’ll call it in.” Susan replied, removing her RT from her bag.
“2/6 to Base, Over”
“Base here 2/6 go ahead”
“We have an ID on one of the bombing suspects. A Terrence Anthony Dunne. Please access all details and pass on to Alpha One immediately. Over”
“Roger 2/6 will do. Base out.”
“2/6 out.” She finished, replacing the RT back in her bag. “They’ll pass that information on to the Boss. I suspect he’ll have every agent he can spare on this case, and probably a few he can’t as well, he’ll probably have the walking wounded doing research in the dungeon. Mr Cowley is taking this case very personally, and not just because of your involvement I think.”
Colleen yawned hugely, covering an embarrassed smile with her hand. “Sorry, that one snuck up on me. I’m tired but I don’t want to go back to sleep, I’ll just have nightmares again.”
“Well I don’t think you’ll have much choice on that one, if you’re tired you’ll sleep. I don’t think the doctors are going to give you anything to keep you awake.”
“I can always resort to coffee, if I can find any in this place” Colleen speculated.
“I think that martinet of a nursing sister out there will have something to say about that” Susan commented.
“Well you could always say it was for you” Colleen suggested slyly
Susan burst out laughing “I like your style Sis. Ok it’s a deal. Now I’ll just see if I can arrange for something more comfortable than this chair for me to stay in tonight, then I’ll arrange for a nice large pot of coffee”. So saying she took the mug shot book from Colleen and placed it back in the suitcase, then with a conspiratorial wink left to make her arrangements.
Colleen lay back on the bed, trying to ignore the dull throb coming from her wrist. One of the things that had come back to her was the memory of being carried out of the subway, she remembered a vague image of straight black hair, strong arms and a deep reassuring voice. So it had been two of Uncle George’s agents who had found her, and one of them had her intrigued, not to mention interested. Susan would be a good person to start with in getting information about him, she certainly wasn’t going to ask Uncle George. She could just imagine his reaction to that.
The door opened, interrupting Colleen’s thoughts. The end of a hospital bed nosed its way through the doorway pushed by a young orderly, with Susan following behind coffeepot in hand.
“Look’s like I’m going to be more comfortable than I thought. This nice young man here is Jonathan, and he’s found a spare bed in storage for me.” Susan said, flashing him a brilliant smile, which he returned with enthusiasm.
“You’re welcome.” he replied as he positioned the bed next to Colleen’s
“Is there anywhere I can get a pot of coffee around here?” Susan asked
“Well, I can try the staff kitchen, I think they have some of those portable hotplates for conferences. I might be able to half inch one for you. If you promise to forget I ever said that” replied the orderly
“If anybody asks, I know not from whence it came” Susan replied with a smile of thanks.
“Right then, I’ll just pick up some bedding for you and then see about that coffee” Jonathan said as he left the room.
“Well you’ve certainly learned how to use that smile of your’s to good effect.” commented Colleen
“It’s self defence”, Susan replied, “Comes from working with the likes of Bodie and Doyle”
“Uncle George told me those were the two that rescued me”
“Yes, I’d heard that. Lucky you” Susan replied
“Tell me about them” Colleen asked
“Those two, Why?”
“Just curious” Colleen replied blandly
“Uhuh” Susan replied, looking at the expression of innocent curiosity on Colleen’s face, and didn’t believe it for a second. ‘Oh no the terrible twins have done it again’ she thought to herself. Oh well, there were some things a girl had to learn on her own, and this was one of them.
“What do you want to know?” Susan asked with a sigh of resignation
“Oh everything” Colleen answered with a large grin on her face, she could tell what Susan was thinking and wasn’t going to deny it.
“Everything!. I guess we have all night, but first I’m going to get changed into something more comfortable, I’m not spending the night in this.” she said indicating her skirt and blouse.
Going to the suitcase she took out a small roll bag and headed out the door. Colleen lay back and stared at the ceiling, trying to ignore the dull throb of pain in her wrist. She had only been allowed a mild painkiller.
two minutes later there was a knock on the door, followed by Jonathan, the orderly who had brought in the bed for Susan. He was carrying a steaming pot of coffee in one hand and a small hotplate in the other, behind him was a young woman in a blue smock carrying a small fold up table.
“Hi, I’ve managed to find a spare hotplate nobody will miss, This is Julia”, he said indicating the young girl, “She’s a friend of mine. Julia has the late shift in the kitchen, she’ll keep the coffee coming.”
Julia moved to the far corner and set up the table, “I’ll be back soon with milk, sugar and cups. I guess the two guys outside might want some as well so I’ll bring 4 up”
“Thanks allot Julia, it’ll be much appreciated” said Colleen with a smile.
Julia returned the smile and left the room. As Jonathan was plugging in the hotplate Susan returned, she had changed into a pair of sweat pants and t-shirt with white tennis shoes.
She spotted the orderly and exclaimed “Oh you are a life saver, I’ve been dieing for a coffee”
“Julia’s just gone back for the other stuff, she shouldn’t be long. Everything’s set up here, you’ll have to excuse me I have jobs I need to be doing before someone comes looking for me”
“Go right ahead young man, I wouldn’t want to get you in trouble with Attilla the Hun out there, and thanks again for all your help” Susan said, flashing him another of her smiles.
“You’re welcome. I’ve also arranged for the kitchen to bring up a meal for everyone as well, It’ll be another half an hour.” Jonathan replied as he left.
As Jonathan was leaving Julia returned carrying a tray with mugs and coffee fixings, as Jonathan held the door for her she glanced at the two men standing at the door, “Would you two like a coffee?, there’s plenty here for everyone”
That is the best idea I’ve heard all day” replied Murphy, “Coming?” he asked the young soldier next to him
“Absolutely” came the enthusiastic reply
“I can bring a couple of chairs up from the cafe’ if you’d like, I don’t see why you should have to stand all night” Julia suggested smiling shyly at the young soldier
“I stand corrected, that is the best suggestion I’ve heard all day. If I send this nice young man down with you, he can bring them back for us.” Murphy replied, clapping the young man on the shoulder. Both Julia and the soldier coloured slightly, but neither objected to the suggestion. Julia glanced at the soldier and lead the way out the door, Murphy closing it behind them
Susan, who had been pouring coffee for everyone, handed one to Murphy saying “When did cupid die and who made you his replacement?”
“He hasn’t, and nobody, but I figure he can always use a little help” Murphy replied, an angelic look on his face as he sipped his coffee.
“Hah!. Out with you, back to your post before I report you for being AWOL” Susan replied making shooing motions with her hands. Murphy flashed a grin at Colleen and retreated out the door
“Are they all like that?” Colleen asked chuckling
Susan rolled her eyes heavenward “You have no idea” she replied, handing Colleen her coffee. “Half the time it’s like working with a bunch of teenagers, but their a good bunch really, you can trust them with your life, and frequently have too.”
After getting her own coffee she settled back down in the chair beside the bed “Now, where was I?”
“You were going to tell me about Bodie and Doyle” Colleen answered
“Oh yes. In that order?” she asked archly
“If you like” Colleen replied, trying to be off-hand whilst blushing slightly.
Susan pretended not to notice. “Right then where to start .... ?”
Doyle looked in dispair at the contents of the shopping bags on the kitchen table, regretting having ever sent Bodie out on his own to shop. Oh well, he would just have to go out himself later, or send one of the others out for real food. The one thing you could rely on was that Bodie couldn’t shop to save his life, which is why he ended up at Doyle’s flat for meals most of the time, when he wasn’t eating out. The one thing Doyle hadn’t worked out yet was wether it was deliberate or not, he was convinced that no one could eat that badly on a regular basis and remain as healthy as Bodie was, which lead him to the conclusion that Bodie only did it to annoy him.
The back door opened and Jax came in, “That’s the last of the perimeter alarms checked” he commented as he came up to the table. “You sent Bodie out didn’t you” Jax complained after looking at the shopping on the table, “Just for that you should spend first watch tonight out in the car”
“Ok. Ok. I can take my punishment like the next guy” Doyle said, hands up in surrender, “I figured things might have improved” he stated lamely
Jax fixed him with a look of pity, one usually reserved for people who jay walked in rush hour traffic and complained about being hit by a car.
“From now on I’ll do the shopping around here” Jax stated, tapping his chest for emphasis.
“Fine by me” Doyle agreed
“What’s fine by you” Bodie asked from where he was leaning against the door frame of the hall entrance
“The staff of this establishment find your choice in groceries leaves allot to be desired” Doyle replied in his best imitation of a posh maitre d’. “and have suggested that you be removed from all further food gathering duties.”
Bodie looked at Doyle as if he’d suddenly sprouted wings and a second head, then with a martyred expression he said “Far be it for me to argue with the majority. I shall take myself to the living room where I shall suffer in silence at this mortal insult!”, then he turned and went back down the hall.
Doyle and Jax looked on in astonishment.
“You know, sometimes I worry about that man. Don’t you?” asked Jax
“You have no idea” Doyle replied with a sigh of resignation
“So who’s going to do dinner tonight?” Jax asked
“Don’t look at me. If I’m going to be spending the night in the car, I’m not cooking. So I guess that leave’s you, Bodie or Williams” Doyle answered.
“Oh no, Bodie is not cooking dinner and neither am I, in fact looking at this lot I don’t even know if I’ll eat dinner here. Besides Williams and I will be spending the night out too you know” Jax stated hotly
“Well, as you have no choice but to eat here, and I agree that Bodie is a bad choice, then I guess that leaves Williams. And those guard huts are a helluva lot more comfortable than a car.” Doyle stated matter of factly, closing the discussion on the matter by leaving the room and following after Bodie to the lounge.
Jax’s “I beg to differ” following after him.