The Hitman - Chapter 1 - Part 2

THE HITMAN

Chapter One

Harry Packs His Bags

Part 2

Punky stood in the lunch room looking out the window at the traffic moving along Lower Donegal Street and the women with their prams . She took her bag from a cupboard and dove into the mysterious contents there withinh and produced a hair brush and some make up . As she whistled a tune that was in her head she brushed her long blonde hair and put on a new face with foundation , rouge and some fine eyeliner with ruby red as a final touch .

She turned on a radio and made herself a coffee before making her way to the large oak door of the chief editors office where she waited for Harry to return .  She sat down behind his large desk and out her feet up and pretended she was him speaking to the invisible man in front of her .

“So why don’t you just walk in . Don’t you ever knock on a door . Where you born in a field or something ?  So you have something foe me . Take a seat and tell me. I’m all ears .“

 Just then Harry returned to his office . Liz jumped up from his seat and rushed towards him . They embraced in a passionate kiss with their backs at the door . Harry locked the door and they undressed and made love on his desk  . After the moment was gone Harry adjusted his clothes and unlocked the door to his office and said

“Listen love   I have something here that was handed to me in The Duke this morning and I need you to go over it with me .“

“Who give it to darling ?“ She replied .

“A  fella I know by the name of O’Neil.”

Liz sat down opposite Harry who was now sitting at his desk and she read through the contents of the letter Harry gave her .

 

“Jesus Harry is this for real . it’s a wee bit dodgy if you ask me  . We can’t put that on the front page .”

 Harry looked at her from a pile of paperwork that he was going through on his desk . He grunted and then said ,

“ Its from a good source Liz .“

“From a good source Harry . Listen to what it says, ..“To everyone concerned . Last nights operation at the corner bar is a warning to every undercover agent in our ranks . The Irish Republican Movement in North Belfast knows who you are and the blood of our martyrs are on your hands . We will find you and we will kill you . The killing of seven British army soldiers along with three special branch men in their car was another blow in the belly of the beast who occupies our land . Up the republic .“

Liz threw the letter on the desk and Harry took it and pout it away into a file in his drawer .

“Liz this is what sells newspapers . I’ll send the printers room a copy . It’s going on the front page this evening love.“

Liz looked at Harry and replied ,

“You know what will happen if we do this .”

Harry replied ,

“ I know , its bound to trigger some response. Nothing new round here right ?”

Immediately she said .

“Dead right Harry , nothing new. So between us two don’t you think it’s a wee bit odd that the IRA would admit to this as they killed some of their own people.“

Harry responded ,

“You don’t get it do you ?”

Liz asked ..

“Get what Harry ?”

He looked up at the ceiling and responded ,

”Those who were killed were double agents and were passing information about the IRA to the security forces . They were set up and targeted for execution love ”

“Oh ,. now I see what you’re saying . It’s a complex situation Harry.“

Liz said as Harry stood up . He lifted his baseball bat that had fallen to the  floor in that heated moment when they had made love  .

 .Harry held the baseball bat close to his chest and said ,

“We have freedom of the press  Liz and I don’t care who gets upset . Lets get this on the front page of the evening edition . Get the Tele out there on the streets love.”

Liz staggered to the door and  looked back at Harry at his desk and said ,

“ Harry I feel like I’ve been de-virginated  I can hardly walk “

She straightened her dress and ran her fingers through her straggled hair .

Then she laughed like a hyena .

Harry measured up with the baseball bat as if someone threw a curler at him and as he took a swipe into the air with the bat he grunted a response .

“Come on , Its not that bad .See you later on love and tell Mc Cullough I said to enhance the copy of that letter I sent . He’ll know what to do.”

 

“OK Harry , Do you want a coffee ?“

He reached for the mug that was sitting on the window sill near the and replied ,

“ That would be brilliant and make it strong with a half a dozen sugars but don’t stir it because I don’t like it too sweet ok but before you do that get that story out on the front page .”

“I’ll get on it right away “

 As she closed the door Harry’s phone rang .

Harry picked up the phone .’

“Harry speaking . What can I do for you ?”

 

The voice on the phone replied .

“ Headquarters here Harry . We have a few contracts here for you .Are you free ?”

Harry replied

“I can arrange some leave . Are they local jobs ?”

“ Three targets are across the water.”.

Harry replied .

“It will be a little extra than the usual fee . Travel expenses .“

“Understood Harry. No problem ”

Came the response .

“In advance. “  Harry said.

“Ok , sure.  Remember that post office that was blown up a few weeks ago?”

 

Harry replied , “That one on the Ormeau Road “

The caller confirmed  .

“Yeah that’s the one . Well go upstairs and look underneath the green sofa .

We’ll let the lads know you’ll be coming to collect your money and job list .”

“Anything else I need to know.’

Harry asked

“All the details you’ll need will be in the envelope.“

“I’ll get over there tonight. “ Harry said . 

The caller responded said .

“You’re on your own now, right “ .

“That’s what I like to hear.“ Said Harry

“God save Ireland.” Came the reply .

“Free the people.“ Harry said .

In the printers room Liz was busy talking to McCullough .

“I know its very hard for you but Harry told me to tell you , to touch up that wee story for the front page.”

McCullough lit up a cigarette and took a drag . Then he coughed and said.

“So now I’m the talented one . Enough said. “

“It’s to be done yesterday . See if you can manage to get your brain into gear. The first edition goes out sometime today ok “

McCullough took another drag of his cigarette and started coughing again and spoke

“If I can’t polish this story up nobody can . I command some respect round here”

Liz laughed and replied .

“Choke on it wee man. “  As she walked away she pointed again and said

“You can kiss my arse McCullough . “

Liz went to make Harry a coffee as McCullough whispered under his breath.
“That woman has got real class . As rough as guts but real class He put on a pair of small round framed spectacles and began to make some notes .

 In the editors office Harry made a call .

“Joe , its Harry here . I need you to do me a favour . ”

“Sure thing what ever you need Harry.” Said the person on the line .

“I’m going to a media conference in London tomorrow . Can you book me somewhere to stay for a few weeks and organize a car for me . Something nice and fast to get myself around .”

“OK Harry . I have that arranged for you. “

“I’ll pay you in New Cross tomorrow,“.

He hung up the phone . A  knock came to the door .  

“Come,” He said .

Liz walked in with a Mug of coffee .

“Here’s your coffee , I’ve ordered your fish and chips , They shouldn’t be long”

   

Harry replied . “Thanks love, listen I’m going to take some leave . I’ll be in touch in a day or two . Do you think you’ll be able to look after things when I’m away.”

“Don’t I always ?” She said .

 

 “What is the time anyway? “ and she answered 

“It’s lunchtime “

 

A knock came to the door .

“Come”

A girl holding a hot parcel of fish and chips stood there and she said .
“Was there anything else ?”

Liz assisted her out the door .

“No , That’s the lot here . Bring me the change later . I know where you are so don’t think I won’t come looking for you .

 Liz said as she handed her the ten pound note .

Harry opened up the paper parcel and steam poured out from around the battered trout and the smell of vinegar rose up around the room . Harry took a sip of coffee and offered some of the ships to Liz who  refused .

Harry said ,

“Ok I know you’re upset , but I have some work to do over there . Why don’t you take a break , make it a long one .“

Liz made a silent exit muttering something as she closed the door .Harry scoffed down his early dinner as the phone rang .Picking up the phone with a mouthful of fish he grunted 

“Ugh wha ”

The called responded

“This is Westland battalion Ulster Volunteers . We are claiming responsibility for last nights attack in the corner bar , We will continue with assassinations until all those who have tried to infiltrate our ranks have been dissolved . We are determined to wipe clean the streets of our beloved Ulster with the blood of these traitors . No Surrender . God save our Queen “

The caller hung up the phone .

It was just the kind of thing Harry was hoping for . He called McCullough to his office . When he arrived Harry said

“Stop the press . We are going to change a few of the details for the front page “

 

Mc Cullough replied .

“What ?”

We’re going to change the head line to UVF Hit The Corner Bar “

“We’ve already started rolling the press Harry and I did a brilliant polish up of the story as you asked me to do .”

Harry shouted ,

“Damn it . Can you not just for once follow m orders . Stop the press , We have a new headline for this evenings paper and I will write the editorial “

McCullough walked away to the printers room saying to himself .

“This place is crazy and I must be mad to work in this place “

Harry finished the editorial and sent it to McCullough . The press started rolling again and the Belfast Telegraph was on its way to the streets .

Harry took a trip to the Ormeau Road and picked up his envelope before going home to pack his bags to go to London and as he did he whispered,

May the road rise to meet you and the wind be always at your back .

 

End Of Chapter 1

 

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/hitman-chapter-2

Link to Chaper 2

 

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