The Hitman

THE HITMAN

A Novel
By
Paul McCann

Preface

Just how precious is life ?
I wonder .

This novel entitled The Hitman attempts to portray the cold price of human life . The value to a Hitman and the connections behind the scene can be a few thousand dollars . Its as cheap as that .

For those who become judge jury and executioner well ,
what is the price of justice ?

Consider for a moment the struggle of the Irish people in their plight for freedom . If you read through Irelands modern history books you'll discover the price of a nations blood has paid the price for what is held so dear .
If you look at the lives lost and the sacrifices made along the way then emancipation must be a very precious thing indeed .

Centuries of injustice has seen executions and assassinations .
with very little or no consolation for the innocent .
Because of that retaliation and more bloodshed drew its most powerful weapon . Fear .
Some said who cares and so what .
But no, not so said The Hitman .
He took up where others left off . He worked on both sides .
His hand brought slaughter to the authorites .
He brought arbitration to its knees .
The Hitman is a master of retaliation and lives hand in hand with fear . He regards life as a petty sum . To him they are just names written on a list . He deals in death not in life . He delivers the final blow . Those who met up with him found deep sleep in mind body and soul . They became the deceased victims of the Hitman .

The Hitman - Contents

Chapter One - Harry Packs His Bag

Chapter Two - Hands Up Harry's In Town

Chapter Three - Flowers For Hilda

Chapter Four - Needles And Pins

Chapter Five - Pick Ups And Put Downs

Chapter Six - Clearing The Air

Chapter Seven - Time To Pay The Dues

Chapter Eight - Birds Out Of The Cage

Forward

Sit back and read their stories and as you do ask yourself have you become judge jury or executioner ?

Say hello to the Hitman .
Harry has a workplace .
It's a step away from hell .
He oftens gets a call .
It's from those who deal with the price of life . The currencey is blood and Harry can never say no to the call .

Harry puts down some big dudes and pick up the pieces .

His career is that of an executioner , never judge him , right or wrong lest you become judged yourself as he blows away anyone who gets in his way .

He drives fast cars , never talks too long , doesn't like relationships yet gets on well with most people he meets .

Harry who has no emotion ,until one day he meets a lady .

He tries not to fall in love but ends up in a relationship that may put an end to his days as The Hitman .

THE HITMAN
Chapter One
Harry Packs His Bags

The night passed and as the foggy dew began to lift , dead bodies were being covered and placed into the back of ambulances and armoured cars .
Seven dead in the corner bar and three in a parked car . Corpses were lying on pavements on both sides of the road . The death count numbered over twenty five civilians , seven British soldiers , five policemen and three members from the army reserve . Scores of people were in serious condition in the Belfast City hospital .
The people awoke to the news of another bloodbath on the streets .
in the center of the city evening newspapers were rolling on the press .
The castle printers section of the daily newspaper had more than enough to do . There had already been at least seven possible front page stories with graphic pictures of the riot that turned into a slaughter .
Inside the editors office there were photographers, journalists and members of the public giving their eye witness reports of what had taken place .
Harry the editor wanted to get it right . The business of reporting the facts of what happened was very important . In a number of city bars you always heard accurate reports of the events that took place . Harry needed something more and as his head was about to explode he decided to take a walk into The Duke to get behind the facts and find out what the word was on the street .
He got up from his chair and yelled out ,
"Hold the press . I'll be back in a little while . "

He grabbed his coat and hat and walked out of the newspaper office .
Outside in the back lane way newspaper vans were lined up awaiting their loads for delivery across the province .
Harry head off down through the crowds on the sidewalk and on towards the docks .
Meanwhile back inside the castle printers section of the newspaper office an argument was talking place .

"Are you out of your bloody mind McCloud "
McCullough shouted .

"I'll tell you once .Keep your bloody hat on McCullough, just because you're the chief printer around here doesn't mean you can tell me what to do ."
Came the reply from McCloud .

McCullough screamed out .
"You're out of control Punky . I tell you to jump and you say how high . Am I understood ?

McCloud said ..
"No . Go and jump in the Lagan ."

McCullough went on ,
"Punky McCloud I remember the first day you started in here . You hardly had two bob to your name . Don't forget that . So you better get your act together, wise up, and do what you're told , otherwise you'll be back signing on the for more brew down at Corporation Street tomorrow ."

McCloud replied
"I'm telling ye McCullough I got the word from upstairs . Harry told us to hold the press for a little while ."

McCullough shouted even louder .
"Roll the press ."

Punky McCloud was looking worried now .

"Are ye out of your mind McCullough.

The friction was getting slightly aggressive now and the printer gave one of these looks can kill looks and said ,
"Roll the press if you know what's good for you ."

McCloud's baldy head bowed down and said ,
" Ok keep your hair on McCullough . I'm just the printers assistant like ."

McCullough sat down behind his desk and shouted ,
Remember that ."

Punky McCloud pushed a few buttons and the presses began to roll .
"McCullough , you're crazy like the rest of them in this asylum ."

"What did you say ?
Sounded the heated reply .

"I said kiss my ass if you've got the lips for the job .
McCloud ducked as a lunch box filled with sandwiches was thrown from the chief printers desk .

"See you McCloud you can be replaced . I'm number one around here . Now you don't even make up any number . Not even anywhere near a number In fact you're now looking at making it into my incident report book ."

"All right don't panic head the ball . The first run id coming through ."
"Bring me the cover page ."
McCullough said .

Punky took about five minutes to bring it over .
Just as McCloud was about to hand over, the cover page, of the evening paper, Harry walked in to the castle printers section and snatched the cover page from McCloud .
Harry looked up and down at McCullough , his face was red with rage .
He spat on the ground and shouted ,

"Whats this ?

"That's the cover story and wrap for this evenings issue boss ."
Replied McCullough .

"My orders where to stop the press rolling until I returned . Are you able to follow orders or what ?
Said Harry .

"I told him what your orders were Harry but he wouldn't listen ."
Said McCloud .

"Harry come on . You know what's it like . "
Said McCullough who was looking pale and sickly .

"I will not take any excuses . You were told to hold the press ."

"I couldn't stop them Harry ."
Said McCullough .

"We don't use negatives in here McCullough . You couldn't stop them is not the response I am after. You are the chief printer and you have the power to stop the press ."

"But you never told me Harry ."
Said McCullough .

"I passed my orders down the line McCullough and my orders were to hold the press until I came back . When I say stop , I MEAN stop . You are not paid to think about anything else . You are paid to follow my orders ."
Said Harry .

"Well Harry, I was not made aware of it until it was too late . The presses had bean to roll "
McCullough replied .

"Well listen now very carefully . Heads are going to roll over this ."

"Harry please , don't be like that ."
Said McCullough .
The look on McClouds face was one of complete satisfaction .

McCullough pleaded with the Editor .

"Harry for goodness sake . In all the time I've been here, never once have we stopped the press rolling ."

"There's always a first time for anything McCullough ."

Mc Cloud stood behind Harry's back and made a few rude gestures at the chief printer and said ,
"I'll just take my break now if that's all right with you then ."

McCullough was speechless ,
"What ."

He said .

Punky looked back very smugly and said ,
"Its lunch time boss . I'm taking a break . Ok ."
Said McCloud .

"Quit the crap, smart alec."
McCullough snapped back .

"Have you a problem with Liz ?"
Harry asked .

Punky put on this really innocent face and said ,
"Yes Mr McCullough is there a problem with me having my lunch break .

Harry interrupted and said ,
"Listen Liz . Go and have your lunch break . I want to have a serious word with our chief printer ."

Liz went to her locker and grabbed her lunch box . On her way out of the
printers shop she could still hear Harry screaming his head .