The Hitman - Chapter 2

`THE HITMAN

Chapter Two

Hands Off Harry’s In Town

A whitewashed sky filled with cotton clouds spread out under the wings of the Belfast to London shuttle flight . The morning sun glistened over the window where Harry sat  reading the information about the people he had to kill as the Captain announced that the plane would be landing in London in twenty minutes . It only  seemed like minutes had passed since the plane lifted off from Aldergrove Airport  .

He went to the gents to count out the bundle of cash that was in the envelope .

He was eagre to get the jobs done quick and return to his job as the Chief Editor of the Belfast Telegraph . He had a shave before returning to his seat . The fasten seat belts sign came on and the plane began to make its descent .

The plane touched down on the tarmac with a short screech of the tyres audible outside and eventually the place came to a stop . The plane had docked and Harry grabbed his overnight grip bag from the luggage compartment above his seat, like everyine was doing  before disembarking . There was heavy security armed with handguns and semi automatic weapons watching everyone as they made their way from the domestic arrivals section at Heathrow . One of them approached Harry and raised his weapon and another pushed him aside . Without thinking Harry’s reflexes  had been triggered .

‘Hands off .“ Harry said .

Immediately he launched an attack swivelling around and delivering a sick kick that dislodged the weapon from the hands of the security before snapping his neck and before the other guard could react Harry placed three very fast punches to the solar plexus , kidney and neck of the other guard knocking him unconscious .

It had all happened so fast no one even noticed as Harry slipped away into the crowd . He went inside the gents toilet and quickly changed his clothes and put on a hat and dark shades . He started thinking about what to do next .

Harry found a telephone and rang a London number .

A soft voice answered . “Hello “.

Harry responded , “It’s Harry . I’ve just landed.”

“Ok , that’s good . Can you talk ?“

“No” Harry said .

“Why. Is there a problem?”

Harry lit up a cigarette and replied .

“I’ve was singled out by two security guards . I didn’t like to look of them . So I acted in response to that situation”

 “What was all that about Harry ? “ Harry said .

“ I don’t know . Maybe it was a set up or it could have been just another routine check on people coming in from Belfast. “

“Ok Harry . Where are you now ?”

“Still here in Heathrow . Harry said .

“Ok do you want me to come and pick you up  .“

“No , everything’s cool . Remember that café near Kensington . ?”

“I do. Yeah .“

Harry said ,  “I’ll be there at one o’clock , Can you meet me there for lunch. We need to talk.”

‘Sure I’ll be there. “

Harry hung up the phone and made his way to the tube station at Heathrow .

He got on the tube and got off at Earls Court , changed at Victoria then got on the central line to via Oxford Circus and made his way to St Pauls where he exited the underground . He used a phone nearby to ring Joe .

“Hello Joe its Harry . I’m in town .”

“Good Harry. How are you ?” Harry replied .

“Well I had a strange welcome at Heathrow . Security searched and questioned me about what I was doing in London . You know how it is Joe . They think everybody from Belfast is a terrorist here”

“Oh sorry about the Harry “

Harry replied,

“It’s all good, no harm done Joe, they’re just doing there job “

 

“By the way , I’ve got you a car and you can pick it up now at the parking bay near St Pauls . I left the keys on top of the tyre , front drivers side . In the glove box are the keys and address to the flat I’ve arranged for you . If you need anything else let me know “

 

“Harry answered .

“Excellent action Joe. I ‘ll pay you later on tonight in New Cross.”

 

“Always nice doing business with you Harry. “

 

Harry replied

“What would I do without you Joe?”

Harry hung up the phone and checked the time . He picked his car and drove to Hackney and parked the car in Mare Street . He made his way into a bar and in a back room he knocked three times on a security door . The door was opened and Harry said .

 

“I’m here to place an order for spare parts .”

 

The guy standing there said  spoke in a harsh cockney accent ,

“You been here a few times before .”

 

Harry replied .

“ The names Harry . I have an account here“

 

“Right then , come inside .”

 

 The door was opened and Harry was escorted into another room where a man sitting a desk welcomed Harry.

 

“Good to see you Harry , how can I help ?”

Harry handed the guy a sheet of paper from his coat pocket saying .

“I need some hardware . Urgent. ”

 

 “No problem?”

He read through the list .

 

“Cash on delivery tonight“

 

“Harry took out some bundles of cash from his bag and peeled off hundreds one by one and placed them in front of the guy at the desk saying .

“Here’s a deposit . I’ll call back at ten o’clock to pick up the order.”

 

“Ok , It will be here for you.. See you then .”

 

Harry got back inside his sports car and took off along Hackney Road and parked beside The Empire Theatre then walked up the road to the Town Hall .

He walked around thinking , planning , getting acquainted to the surroundings . 

He breathed in the air and thought about Belfast and the suffering of all the innocent people he knew , His friends and family who had been killed and tortured .He remembered some of the things he tried to forget .

Then he lit up a cigarette and crumpled up the empty packet before discarding it into  a rubbish bin .

He returned back to his car and checked the address of the flat . He was happy to see the address was in Camden Town as he had a few connections there .

He made his way through the traffic to the flat at Camden Town .

He liked the area and felt at home there . A few Irish pubs had signs up about the live music on . He definitely wanted to go and check that out later .

Inside his flat he unpacked and freshened up for his appointment at one o’clock in Kensington .

 

He still had a bit of time up his sleve so he wandered over to the Royal Arms to see Con Flynn ,a local heavy who dealt out punishment beatings to anyone that needed it . As he walked into the bar he saw Con sitting in his usual chair in the corner by the window . Harry ordered a piny of stout at the bar and took it over and sat down beside Con who sat there deep in thought , with his hand supporting his chin .

Harry lit up a cigarette and talked as he exhaled .

“I’ll be here for a brief visit Con and might need some support . Spread the news around . Let the boys know ok .”

Con sat upright and said ,

“Jesus Harry , what are you doing in town ?”

“I have 3 jobs . What are you drinking Con ?”

Harry asked .

“I’ll have the same as yourself there Harry .“

Harry called over to the barman .

“Another pint of stout please .“

The barman nodded and brought over the glass.

Harry handed over some notes telling the barman to keep the change .

They spoke in between sips and then downed their pints  .

After a quick shake of the hands, Harry was on his way .

Back on the road he took off from Camden Town towards Kensington .

 The Traffic was heavy. Moving a few feet every five minutes. He switched around for a radio station with some music he liked . All he could find was reggae music so he listened to that for a while  . It was ok , kind of static stuff that filled his head as he drove in and out through cars, weaving his way through and then down to the big roundabout at the Elephant And Castle . He arrived just in time and parked outside the Café in Kensington .

As he went inside he saw Rosie sitting there . She gave him a wave that looked more like a karate chop . He responded with a thumbs up and sat done with her at the table . She leaned over and whispered .

“Who is it this time Harry?”

He replied .

“Three to be terminated. “

He took a newspaper that was there and tore off a blank section , writing down three names/ . String , Smitty and Hilda . Then he burnt the paper in an ash tray .

The waitress recognised him at the table and came over.

“”Nice to see you again . Here on business are you “

“Yeah . Could you bring us some fried chicken and salad “:

“What about a drink .“

“Two glasses of German wine .“

Rosie said .

“What is it with you and German wine. “

Harry replied ,

“It’s make by nuns .  I can almost smell their feet when I drink it:

She laughed .

“If you need some personal massage therapy let me know”

Harry replied ,

“Well maybe I could use a little TLC , if things get on top of me .“

She smiled and said .

“I can see the warmth of my heart is burning a hole in your wallet Harry.”

 

“You always have a way of seeing things right,”

He said .

Tell me when and where .

“Should have been yesterday but that’s dead and gone and tomorrow is too far away so tonight at my flat in Camden.”:

He scribbled down the address on a paper tissue . She took it and said ,

 

“You know what they say Harry , life is for living and there no use waiting until your dead . Grab all you can while you’re here.

 

“I’ll fill you in later with all the details at my place “

‘I’ll look forward  that”

She replied .

“No problem . Has your phone number changed ?”

He asked her .

Rosie took a notebook and pen from her bag and scribbled quickly saying  

“Here is my new phone number” 

She handed it to him and he sang a little tune .

“Maybe it’s because I’m a Londoner that I love Rosie best .“

”Stop being cheeky.:

She said.

Two glasses of wine arrived and shortly after their lunch .

Harry looked at the fried chicken on their plates and said,

“It’s a funny thing how birds of a feather end up cooked and brought on your plate.”

Rosie said .

“When are you ever going to quit your job and settle down with some bird ?“

Harry replied ,

“The lifestyle I have doesn’t allow that kind of thing to happen? “

She said ,

“If you found the right woman who understands you , it might change all that.”

“I don’t think anyone could ever change what’s going on. “

He said and she replied .

“Have you never thought about getting married and starting a family?”

“ If I did , maybe they could be targeted to get to me .“

“Never give up Harry , Life is for the living .“

She said and Harry replied .

“I’ll make sure to remember that . “

‘You know what , there might be someone just around the corner,”

Harry replied

“That’s what worries me Rosie. “

:I’ll always be here Harry .“ If ever .“

Harry smiled and handed her a fistful of notes .

“See you later this evening .“

They finished their food and Harry paid the bill and gave a generous tip to the waitress .

Rosie linked Harry’s arm as they left the café and he said .

“I have to pick up some hardware before dinner . I’ll see you after eight o’clock .“

“Never fear, Rosie’s here “

She replied .

They stood for a while under the grey sky . Rosie looked in his eye and Harry looked up at the sky and said .

“Looks like rain .“

She replied,

“If it were raining soup ,with my luck I’d probably have a fork. “

Harry lit up a cigarette  and said .

“I’m going over to New Cross now , to see a fella . Can I give you a lift ?”

Rosie replied ,

“Thanks anyway but I’m going to see a friend in the West End.”

Harry threw his cigarette butt in the gutter and got into his car .

He looked over at Rosie who gave him her karate chop goodbye wave ,

He gave her a thinks up and sped off .

He made his way to New Cross and parked the car and met Joe in a bar .

Joe was sitting there with a few empty glasses in front of him .

Harry sat down and asked .

“How long you been waiting Joe ?”

“ Not too long”

He replied .

Harry called to the barman ,

“Two more of the same  please “

Joe asked ,

Dou you like the car and the flat Harry ?“

“I love that Italian Job Joe , she moves all right . Nice choice and the flat is like home away from home . Ten out of ten for that , Thanks Joe .“

Then he slipped a large envelope over to Joe and said ,

“Here’s the money I owe you with a little extra . I need a fake American passport and three bank accounts to be opened under that name . “

“I’ll see what I can do Harry . Never let the side down yet .“

The barman brought the pints over and Harry handed over a few notes . The barman said thanks and collected the empty glasses .

Harry and Joe sat for a while in silence , as if time stood still . Outside the window the night lights of London were twinkling .

Harry finished off his pint and said ,

“I’ve have to go  and collect something I’ve ordered . “

Then he stood up.  

“You’re a good man Joe . Too good to loose. Keep under the radar . I’ll be in touch .“

Harry went and handed the barman a few notes and said

“What ever he wants . Ok”

“No problem “: Came the reply ‘

 

End of Chapter 2

 

Link to chapter 3

https://www.abctales.com/story/mcscraic/hitman-chapter-3

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