The Assassin...

She came down the road at a run: intent, but aware. She reached the door and pushed in. She began to shake. Jerkily she pulled the gun from inside her coat, and laid it on the table. She removed her coat and took the old shoebox down from the shelf by the Aga, forcing herself to breathe slowly. She carefully cleaned the gun, taking it apart and ramming the little brushes in and out of the barrel in both directions. She removed the remaining rounds and the hammer and wrapped the reassembled gun in the oilcloth following exactly what she had been shown. She then lifted a floorboard and placed the wrapped gun in hiding. The hammer she hid in the cutlery drawer, and the rounds she mixed with some stale Earl Grey tea in a canister. Then she made herself a cup of fresh peppermint tea, sat quietly while she drank it, and then, re-donning her coat, she pulled back the curtain and checked in both directions. It was getting dark. To be safe, she put on a scarf around her head and left by the side door. Not five minutes later the car slowed beside her and when it stopped, she opened the door.

"Everything according to plan?" he asked.

"Not exactly" she said, getting in. She looked at him and smiled.

"Don't worry," she said. He said nothing.

But worry she did. They reached the hotel and walked in together. She kept her face partially hidden and let him collect the keys. As they waited for the lift, her mind was working overtime. He had set her up. She knew it now. He was the backstop; there for her if she got away. That was the plan, but he had tried to get her killed and now she knew too much. She knew him well. He would have a double scotch and then suggest sex. She didn't feel she could kill him until he tried to kill her. He almost surprised her turning in the lift with a gleam in his eye and a gun in his hand. Because of the silencer he had to take a step back and that was when she did it; he seemed to just stop, departing with a sigh. The knife had hardly any blood on it. She pulled him out of the lift and into the room. No one around. She took a shower and washed the knife down thoroughly, the ceramic blade clear in seconds.

That just left the car. It wasn't really anyone's. Or at least, no one she knew. She drove to an underpass where oilcan fires and overhead noise were the norm, and parked nearby. Stepping out on the pavement she caught the attention of a youth. She still wore the scarf, and looked at him obliquely. He came towards her and when he was close, she threw the key to him. As he dealt with his surprise, she turned and walked away. After ten minutes she picked up a taxi and got back to her own hotel, which she had only left seven hours before. She had a sauna and shower, and then ordered room service. It took her a long time to get to sleep. She had never killed anyone before today, and yet now she had killed three people in the space of 5 hours. She had surprised herself. No going back now.

She had only been to deliver a warning. She made to leave and an underling came in with a gun. “Take her away” the officer said. She objected and, in the melee, she killed the underling with her knife and the officer with the underling’s gun. Had she had safe passage as promised they would be alive today. The contact she did not regret. When she woke, the nightmare was real. She knew enough to know she needed help. But where to go? She stared out of the bathroom window at first seeing nothing, her mind going round in circles like a finished vinyl record. Her subconscious picked up the movement first. She knew for certain that it wasn't over. She stepped into the shower and ran it full blast, cold. After two minutes as her teeth began to chatter, she turned up the heat and warmed her now sharp body, ready. She stood under the hair dryer and pulled on the clothes she had hoped not to have to use. Cross-country, hill-walking kit, and running shoes. She pushed everything including a dry towel into a large plastic bag, and then pushed it into the ruck-sac. Inside her left calf she wrapped the Velcro holding her ceramic knife and case in place. She then grabbed her bag and quietly opened the door. She pulled on a Balaclava and now just the oval of her face could be seen in the dark corridor. A few metres away she saw one of the chambermaids retreat out of a replenishing station and wheel her wagon away towards the lift. She heard, just, heavy racing treads on the stair. Before they reached the landing she was in the station alcove, and she counted them going past. There were four of them, and she didn't like the odds. She saw that they had a key to her room, and were right now creeping towards the bedroom. So the hotel staff were onside. Just not her side.

She realised her options were closing down. Seeing that they were all now inside her room, she nipped out and pulling the door shut with one hand, she deadlocked it with her key. Then, pitching the key into a laundry basket, she made for the fire escape, and was jogging quietly away before anyone knew she had left the building. She passed a bus stop as a bus pulled in, and she casually stepped into the tail of the queue, pulling off her ruck sac and Balaclava she bought a ticket and sat down. The bus route passed back past the hotel, so she bent to tie her lace as they pulled level. Staying on the bus as long as her ticket was good, she alighted one stop before the terminus, and walked casually into a bookshop. No one seemed interested. She walked around the corner and had a coffee sitting in the window, looking out. It was beginning to dawn on her that the hard part was still to come. Getting in, doing the job, tidying up, it had not all gone to plan. No one had talked about getting away. She had a sudden thought. Maybe she too now knew too much. Maybe the reason nobody talked about getting away because that wasn't part of the plan. She looked down at the coffee dregs. OK, so whom could she trust? Tom? He had always felt like a soulmate. They thought about the same things, the same way. But he had just moved away. Not so much in time or space, just away as in not there anymore. They had been idealistic and naïve back then. But back then was 6 years ago now, and since yesterday she was neither any more. She thought about another coffee, but decided against. Why stand out? She put the ruck sac over her shoulder, walked to the main Terminus building and mingled. Overcome for a moment by a fierce desire for Tom to appear, give her a hug, say everything's OK, and smile: she stopped. Immediately she knew she had made a mistake. Everyone else was moving. She was stationary. The cameras would pick that up. She moved purposefully towards Platform 9, and bought a ticket. She walked down the platform and pulled open a door. The train would depart in a few minutes. She looked out the opposite window. There was a small strip of scrub. She tried the door on that side. No good. Another. No good. Centrally locked. Then she saw them, two carriages down. Looking behind her, too late, she saw the rest. They had dogs. She decided to give it one last shot. Guessing that they were now all on the train, she ran to the door and jumped out on the platform just as the train shunted forwards. It stopped again straight away, but by the time they reached the platform, she was gone.

She covered the 500 metres at a brisk trot and reached the abandoned tower block without her pursuers spotting her. She wasn't alone in the building. She had only just climbed up the fascia and clambered in a glassless window when a mix-breed dog about the size of a Golden Retriever licked her face as she fell and rolled into the room. She stroked his head and neck carefully and he wagged his tail slowly. So far, so good. She dusted herself down, and slowly explored her surroundings. The ground floor seemed deserted apart from the dog. She tried to remember what she had learned about these old brutalist buildings. That's right, she thought, there may be a laundry and boilers in the basement. First though, she needed to check for an escape route, and then maybe for somewhere secure to hole-up. She was semi conscious of spotting a flicker of light from an upper floor window as she ran. Maybe about two thirds of the way up. She checked out the flats on the first two floors with the dog watching her. Nothing. The same with the next four. This took some time. On the seventh floor, the dog ran on ahead of her and she was sure she could smell cooking bacon. She very slowly followed the dog. As she came into what would have been the living room, she saw a heavy door, much too heavy for the frame, open about enough for the dog to go in and out. It was enough for her, too. It seemed that the flats now had interconnecting holes knocked in the walls, and here and there also in the floors, with knotted ropes for access. The dog looked back as if to check that she was still following. Suddenly she was in a bright room, and the door shut behind her. The dog looked back one last time, then disappeared from view. She tried the doors at either side and found them locked. She knew that she was in all probability being watched. She sat on an armchair and curled herself, ruck sac and all, into a foetal curl, and feigned sleep.

No more than five minutes elapsed before the far door opened and three guys, probably late twenties, sidled into the room to confront her. As the door opened, she slid the knife into her hand and slipped it up her left sleeve, point first. As they approached, she 'woke up' and stood.

"Who are you, and what do you want?" said the one with sandy hair and a trace of a northern accent. She considered what response to give.

"I'm a weary traveller, far from home, in need of sanctuary" she said, hoping it sounded better to them than it did to her. For a moment nobody spoke. The dark haired one said

"How did you find us?" and he spread his arms wide, indicating the building, the world.

"I was being chased and jumped off a train at the platform and ran in this direction. When I got in out of sight, that dog more or less led me up here. Then the smell of bacon drew me in" and she smiled at him. He smiled back a weak smile. The third was older.

"Is trouble following you? Will it follow you in here?" he said. She looked at him. Not stupid, she thought.

"It might" she said.

"So why should we let you in?" he said, and he said it with an edge, upping the stakes, taking control.

"Because," she said slowly "if the positions were reversed, I would take you in, if you needed me to take you in as much as I need you to take me in, right now."

"And if your trouble visits you here and becomes our trouble, what would you say to us, if the positions were reversed, as you say?"

"I'd expect you to take care of it, as I intend to take care of it, should that arise. I know it's a risk, but I was honest with you. I am in trouble. I do need your help. I have nothing to offer in return but gratitude. If they catch me I will be tortured, then executed."

"Are you the one in the paper? The assassin?” said Sandy.

"Don't be daft" said the dark one, "she's only a girl. The assassin’s a femme fatale. You saw the photofit." turning to her he said

"What's your name, anyway?" They were all talking at once and she thought quickly. If there were pictures on in the papers, it would also be on TV. Had they TV here?

"Kathryn" she said. "Kathryn Kazakis, but I'm called Kate."

"So your one of us, then, not one of them?" indicating the outside.

"You could say that" she said. "I used to live on the island. I was hoping to get back there, but it is looking less and less likely. I have been away too long. Maybe they won't remember me there anymore." she managed to sound tearful. The three looked at each other, then the oldest said.

"Come and eat with us while we think what is best to do" and they walked out, single file with two in front and one behind her. When they reached the end of the corridor they turned into a very large room with glassed windows all along the wall facing the station. Two more young men were looking out with binoculars.

"If someone wanted to, they could shoot your head off using those lenses as targets." she said. They turned as if stung. "Oh. Only what I've read", she said, smiling sweetly at them, but remembering now that her subconscious had spotted the flickering reflection as she had sprinted towards the building. "I think you make a stand for the glasses so they don't move when you breathe, and a shade so the sunlight doesn't bounce off the lens." There was silence. "If you don't believe me, one stay here and the other go down and look up and you will see what I mean. I saw just one of you as I ran across the open ground." The two watchers looked at each other.

"There was only one of us when you ran across" "Show us what you mean" The windows were floor to ceiling. She picked up some old telephone directories and made a mound about 200mm high, and placed the binoculars on top. Then she lay down on her stomach and looked through the glasses. Reaching out with her hand, she picked up a magazine and fashioned a rough shade from the cover. Looking up she said to them

"It's a lot less tiring watching lying down, and I'm much harder to see than you are" she said, pointing at the other one. While she had been showing off, more people had sidled into the room.

"You've had training?"

"Some"

"Where"

"On the island."

"But you've been living here?"

"Yes"

"Why"

"I had a job to do. Now it's done, I'm ready to go home" she tried to make it all seem normal.

Lunch was a large table of food of all sorts. In the middle a salad of oak leaf lettuce, poached eggs and pancetta cooked over croutons. She realised that that was what she had smelled. She was introduced as Kathryn Kazakis to everyone, the ethnicity of her assumed name making her acceptable. The dog reappeared and collapsed down on her feet as she sat on a low couch.

Not much was said about her status one way or the other. As night drew in she was assigned a room. Once the door closed she looked around. Her window looked out on the opposite side of the building, facing the trunk road. Double-glazing kept the traffic noise to a dull pulse. There were no curtains, so she turned off the light. There was no key to the lock on the door, and she went back over the layout of the surrounding rooms in her mind. The rooms on the opposite side of the corridor faced the railway. She knew it was only a matter of time before the block had a visit from the security people. She had meant what she said about taking care of it, but in reality she was only one. She decided to sleep on it, but chose the room opposite the one she had been given.

She had been asleep no more than an hour or so when she became aware of someone opening 'her' door cautiously and stepping inside wordlessly. She quickly pulled on her jeans and shoes, and stood guard inside her new door. Sure enough, the mystery figure stealthily opened that door and moved towards the bedroom. As he stepped past her, she stepped in close, tapped him quickly on the back of one knee and capitalising on his shock and unbalance, pulled him to the ground and landed on him, pressing the knife point under his jaw where he could feel it. She could feel the gun in his waistband, and said

"Knife or knives?" He said nothing, tense, waiting to retaliate. "Just checking I was sleeping peacefully, Eh?" Still no word. She recognised him as the sandy haired one from earlier. I have enough enemies, she thought. Gingerly she pulled the gun out and, still with the knife pressed to his neck, undid the safety catch. "I'm going to stand up now, and we are going to talk, OK?" and she sprang back, pointing the gun at him. He sat up and looked at her.

"My mistake" he said. "Sorry" ......."I guess you are the one on the TV then? "I will leave in the morning," she said. They looked at each other. After some moments he stood up and left the room. She was fast asleep when the smiler from earlier knocked on her door. She blinked away the panic and quickly rolled out of bed to behind the door calling

"Come in". He pushed the door open and came in carrying coffee on a tray with toast and honey. She had time to hide the knife before he turned to see her behind him, but her expression gave her away. He looked frightened. She walked back and sat back into bed, casually moving the gun under her pillow. He placed the tray on her knees and looked as if he wanted to run. She sized him up. "There's enough for two mugs of coffee here. Why don't you get another mug and join me?" and she smiled at him. He relaxed and was back quickly. She motioned for him to get in beside her, lifting the tray. He couldn't really say no. She poured two mugs and pushed a piece of toast towards him.

"Do you make breakfast in bed for all your visitors?" she said.

"No" he said, "but you looked all in last night and I thought you could do with a gentle start today. I won't do it tomorrow."

"I won't be here tomorrow." she said.

"Oh?" he said, "Why not?"

"I cannot protect you all, if there is a raid. Also, I don't think your Sandy is happy about me staying." They were silent while the toast was finished. She licked her fingers, and seeing that he was looking around, took his hand and licked the traces of honey off. He looked at her with a trace of a question. Then he said

"So when did Sandy tell you this?"

"He popped in last night."

"Is that why his gun is under your pillow?"

"Let's put it this way, it wasn't a social call." She lay back.

"You are 'the assassin' then? The one in the papers?" She said nothing. She sat up again and stretched over him to place the tray on the floor. Then, holding his gaze, she took the gun out and engaged the safety catch, and put it on the tray. Then she pulled up her sleeve and unwrapped the knife, placing it too on the tray. She sat back and looked at him. Then she pulled her T-shirt off, and threw it on a chair. She looked at him again. Then she unbuckled her belt and wriggled out of her jeans. She threw them on the chair too. She looked at him again.

"You too" she said. He didn't have to be told twice. He hopped out of bed, jammed the chair under the door handle and was naked beside her in the blink of an eye.

Later there was a knock on the door. They both looked at each other and wordlessly he took the gun and she the knife and took one side of the door each. "Come in" she said. It was Sandy again. He took one look at them, barefoot in jeans and t-shirts only, and said

"At what time will you leave? We don't want to attract attention." She saw her friend about to speak, but a slight movement of her hand caused him to pause.

"I'll be gone within the hour. It's Thursday. I'll just quietly stroll away from here and walk down to the benefit office, like the others, and disappear from there." Sandy nodded, glared at the other chap, and stomped off. She sat on the edge of the bed, and took a series of deep breaths. She said

"What is your name?"

"What does it matter? You are leaving now. I will never see you again" "Don't play games, with yourself or with me. Tell me your name"

"My name is Paul. Will that do?"

"That'll do. I'm not Kathryn, Kate. I have had so many names that I confuse myself. Will you call me Kate for now?"

"For now," he said. Then she said

"I am going to meditate for 20 minutes now. I want you to go out into the other room and stand guard. If something happens, I will be aware, but I would prefer not to be disturbed for 20 minutes. Will you do that, Paul, please?"

"And then?"

"And then I leave"

"Just like that?"

"Just like that. It is better for everyone"

"It is surely not better for you?"

"I have to go sooner or later. I don't think I am safe here...I am going to make a run for the coast and the island. I have all the forces here looking for me, and if I am not mistaken, some of our own people also want me dead. If I am ever to get back to a normal life I have to get away from here and confront the people at home. I will probably not survive, but I am well trained and I don't give up...if you would like to come some part of the way with me, be ready at the door in 30 minutes. If you are not there, I'll go on my own" and she kissed him, pushing him towards the door. He stopped on the threshold.

"The dog," he said. "I can't leave the dog."

"OK", she said. "If you and the dog are not by the door in 30 minutes, I go on my own."

After the meditation, she felt that her head was clearer. Paul and the dog would be very good cover, but it was putting them in danger. When she had showered and packed, she quietly crept down to the door. When she was twenty paces from the door, the dog came towards her, slowly wagging his tail. She had a sudden pang of fear, more for Paul and the dog than herself. When she got to the door there was a grim-faced tableau and only Paul smiled. Sandy said

"You've no right to involve this man in your trouble. You'll only get him killed." She took a deep breath.

"There is no doubt that Paul will be a help to me in what I have to do. There is also no doubt that I would like him there for his own sake. He is an adult, and must make his own decisions. Yes, it is a risk. But so is staying here, and if we make it, we will have a better life. My whole mission was supposed to make sure that we were free. Now I'm not so sure. I'm no longer sure of very much. But one thing I know. Living like this, as a second-class citizen is not for me."

"We would all like to get back to the island. But we are tolerated here. If we make trouble, if you make trouble for us, we'll be rounded up."

Paul said "Kate and I.....Kate and I are going to take the chance. It is the chance for which I have been waiting. We will get away from here as fast as possible and there will be no connection between us and here. I have taken no papers, no passport, nothing to tie me to here. Not even my phone". Kate handed Sandy his gun, and handed him the rounds separately. Nothing more was said. The three of them walked down the concrete steps to the road, and walked off towards the benefit office. The couple in front of them was going to the same place. When they got to the Office, they went inside. As neither had papers there was no obvious way to proceed, but Kate said to Paul

"Go and enquire about your dole money. Tell them you were mugged and your papers stolen. They will give you a form to fill in. Take that and come back to me. I'll wait here with the dog." When he came back with the form, she had put her rucksack inside her jacket and looked pregnant.

"Now" she said "Put your arm around me and rub your hand over the bump as if it is your pride and joy, show the form to me, smile, and we'll walk out together like a happy couple." He did as she said, and smiling said

"We are a happy couple", and off they walked, arm in arm, with a waggy tailed dog in tow.

They went for coffee and she said to Paul "I'm going to do a little shopping now. It is better if I do it alone." she paused "You'll just have to trust me. I'll be about an hour. It would be too much of a giveaway if all three of us do it together. While I'm gone, I want you to get two pay-as-you go mobile phones. Register them to this address" giving him the address of the house where she had stashed the gun and where she had lived for six years, and a handful of money. "Now" she said "what size are you. You know, shoes, waist, inside leg, chest. I need to get you some duds. And some for myself. Then if we agree to meet at the main station we can change there as long as we are careful. The dog will be the problem, but I have an idea."

"What idea?"

"Well, there is no point changing our appearances if we walk in with the dog and walk out with the dog. We'll have to put the dog somewhere while we do the switch. We'll have to find a dog parlour where he can stay for an hour or so. Can I leave that with you? When you come to the station, don't bring the dog." "I'll do what I can. I don't know any dog parlours round here" he said. She thought for a moment. Then she tapped into her phone and came up with a central address.

"Try this one," she said "Give them plenty of money up front and stress he must be ready in an hour. Say you have a lift leaving then and you have to be on time, OK? I'll meet you by the main entrance, under the clock, in an hour." and she walked away. In the hour she bought the clothes she had in mind, and a blonde wig, which made her look even younger. She wore it as she walked up to him and had to stand four-square in his face before he recognised her. She took it off and stuffed it in her bag. Then they went into the station. She knew they would now be on-camera. They headed for the showers.

"You go on in. If the coast is clear, I'll join you." he looked shocked, but went in and was back immediately, taking her by the hand he led her into the shower room. She looked around.

"This might be the last shower we get for some time. Let's do it together. It's safer." Paul nodded. Once under the shower she had a quick flash of yesterday’s events and started to shiver, in spite of the hot water. Paul put his arms around her and then started to giggle. That made her relax.

"What?" she said. "

"Well, he said. "Yesterday I had never even heard of you, life was monochrome, and today wasn't looking that exciting. Yet here I am in a gents’ shower room wrapped around a beautiful woman and have no idea what tomorrow will bring, but you have to admit it's a bit surreal. And sexy."

"I noticed." she said.

She dried herself carefully and put on the blonde wig, then dressed in the suit and accessories she had bought. She passed him his stuff and he opened it like a present.

"These are all washable, quick drying, travel clothes. But at least we will look smart when we walk out of here." With 5 minutes to spare, they picked up the dog. She waited outside. When they came out, the dog rushed up to her, no recognition problems. They linked arms and the dog trotted along beside them. "What now?" he said. She knew she had to be the one with the plan, but the plan was slower taking shape that she liked.

"We need to get somewhere safe for tonight, and we can't go to an hotel with the dog. We probably shouldn't go to an hotel anyway. Also, we need something more in the weapons line. I have a friend out east who will help, but we have to get there without a tail. The best thing to do is for us to split up. You and the dog are not yet on the wanted list. I'll give you the address, but don't write it down. I'll take one of the phones. Only use it in an emergency. I'll make my own way there and we can possibly spend a day or so there and make some plans."

"How far out east?"

"Not far, but too far to walk, you could get a taxi to the town centre if you are sure that no one spots you after that. I'm going to get a motorcycle taxi in about 30 minutes and I'll get him to drop me in the town centre also. We should arrive about the same time, but don't make contact till we are in the house. That means the dog too."

"OK" said Paul. I'll see you there" and he walked down to the taxi rank, to find one that would take a dog.

As soon as he was out of sight, she relaxed. It had been a mistake to team up, but time would tell. She dialled a number from a public phone and waited. When he turned up, she took the helmet, strapped it on and hopped on behind him without speaking. He repeated the destination and she nodded. They were off. He dropped her and she handed him the helmet and the cash with a smile. He grimaced and stowed the helmet. When he straightened up, she was gone. She was only a couple of kilometres from the house, and it was bad luck that she stumbled into a group of skinheads. They started pushing her from one to the other, increasingly threateningly, and using the derogative term for the islanders. She knew that she must end it quickly, but not so as to draw attention to herself. She identified the one who had first pushed her and as she was pushed towards him, she grabbed his lapel and pulled him onto the point of the knife. Just enough to break the skin. He went rigid.

"Tell your mates to piss off. And I mean off" she hissed in his ear. He didn't move and one of the others went to reach for her. She took the knife and raked it down his cheek. He reeled in surprise, and she felt the ringleader go limp in her grip. She dropped him and approached the bleeder in a crouch. Two of the others pulled out knives and started towards her. She darted back to the prone figure, and pulled him up in front of her. Placing the point of the knife on his eye, she said

"Don't make me blind your friend." They stopped. It was a standoff. Her prize started to come round. She pulled his jacket down trapping his arms, and moved the knife to his neck again.

"Move and you're dead," she said quietly.

"She wouldn't dare!" shouted one of the others. She stuck the point hard into his skin and he roared.

"Tell them to go away" she said.

"Fuck off, all of you" he said "You heard me, fuck off or she'll damage me"

"That's the idea" she said quietly, marginally releasing the pressure on the blade. The one whose cheek she had cut looked doubtful. "If you get that stitched up now, it won't leave much of a scar" she said. They started to move away. She knew that that wouldn't be the end of it, but at least she was still standing.

"Lie down" she said to her captive.

"What are you going to do?" he said

"No permanent damage, now lie down here" she took his captive elbow and lowered him to the ground still with the knife to his skin. Once he was down, she quickly removed his shoes and belt.

"Now" she said "I want you to scream, scream bloody murder, and attract as much attention as you can. OK, Scream!" and she stuck the point of the blade into his buttock. He screamed. She raised the knife and mimed sticking it in again. He screamed louder.

"Keep it up" she said, picking up his shoes and belt she threw them as far as she could into a garden and jogged quietly away as doors opened and people came out to see what the fuss was. By the time his friends came back, she was gone, but time had been marching on. Paul would have reached the house and would be wondering. At that moment her phone rang. Not the one Paul had given her, her other one. She froze. It was Tom. She looked at the name and let it ring. Why now? Why now, of all times? He rang off. No message. Then Paul's phone rang. She pressed accept and waited.

"Is that you, Kate?" he said.

"And the emergency is?" she said. He rang off. Twenty minutes later, she reached him. He looked lost. She threw her arms around him and gave him a hug. "I'm so glad to see you" she said to his shoulder "I've had to outrun a spot of bother"

"Why? What happened?" he said, pushing her back to see her face. She told him about the skinheads.

"It means we can't stay here more than one night" she said. The walked into the estate and to the door. The door opened as they arrived on the step. She said "Sanctuary?" He said

"I was expecting you. Who's this?"

"A friend" she said

"And this?" indicating the dog. She could see he wasn't happy. "Sanctuary?" she said again, indicating all three.

"Oh! All right, Sanctuary" he said.

" What do you need"

"We need a bed for the night, some guns, some explosives, some grenades, a car and a boat."

"Are you starting a war? I can't do all that for tomorrow. And a boat! I don't do boats."

The following morning, they looked at each other across the kitchen table.

“I’ve got you the arms, and you can take my car, but a boat! I can’t do a boat. I can tell you who to go to. If you are going home, you can probably swap the car for a boat.” They agreed a price and the trio traipsed out to the car. It was nondescript to a T. Minutes later they were on their way up the coast.

“What do you need grenades for?” She looked over at him. He looked particularly young and she felt the guilt returning. He was concerned.

“I hope merely as a deterrent and distraction. I don’t want to kill any more people. But we will have our work cut out to make it to the island, and then maybe my problems will really start.”

“Our problems” he said, and smiled at her. They stopped once to let the dog out, and stretch their legs.

“You know, when we land, you should just head off and find your family, and forget about me at least until things quieten down. What do you say?”

“Do you know that things will quieten down?”

“No. I don’t. I have no idea what will happen, what I will face. I was sent to do a job. It was supposed to be to help our people. I was just a messenger. It was all arranged. I had been guaranteed safe passage. But when push came to shove, I was unsafe. Then I realised that my back up intended to kill me. So that is why I seem to have left a trail of bodies and become an ‘assassin’. That was not my plan, but it was someone else’s plan. Whose exactly I do not yet know. I work…worked for the home ministry. I have had military training like everyone else on the island, and I did two years in the paratroopers. But a career soldier I was not and I sort of became a low-level diplomat. Or spy, if you prefer.” She paused. “I did have a friend, a close friend, but for six months before I left, he was just unavailable. Didn’t return my calls and so on. Then two days ago, just after I had managed to get to the station, he called my phone. Now why did he do that? He knew I was over here. The department realised that my back up was dead, and the two politicians. Was the operation always just to kill those guys, and then terminate me? If that was the case, I have a score to settle. If there really was a negotiation ongoing, why did they try to arrest me in spite of their guarantee. What information was given to them? I can’t figure it out. I need to see these people, including my friend, face to face. That is why I might need grenades, and guns, and every bit of chutzpah I can muster. I do not think I can protect you. At this point you are not contaminated by association. You can start a new life. If I make it, I promise I will come and find you.” Paul said nothing. “What do you think” she said.

“Well,” he said “You can just go off for 6 months and then ring me out of the blue and I will wonder what’s up” Kate didn’t know what to say and then Paul couldn’t keep a straight face any longer. They both laughed for a moment and then Kate became serious again.

“I just want you to be safe. You have never done anyone any harm. I shouldn’t have dragged you into this.”

“I came in to this as you call it with open eyes. Obviously to get you home is dangerous. And being home may be even more dangerous. Especially for you. But nothing in life is certain. I’ll take my chances.” Kate walked over to him and put her head on his chest. They put their arms around each other and stood there as the sun went down. No decision made.

At the coast they organised a boat, but not as she had envisaged it. It was a 200ft ocean-going yacht, with a full crew. They were given wetsuits. Four hours later the three of them dropped silently into the water and swam the last 500 metres. On the beach there was no sign of the boat. They made for the road and up the hill on the far side. They pulled out their clothes and made themselves look respectable. Kate had all the arms in her kit, and Paul insisted in sharing the load, so they divided it between them. They knew it was still early and needed to keep warm. They made for the station and caught the first train to the centre, arriving with all the early shifts. Then they went for coffee. While they were being served Kate’s picture came up on the overhead TV. The sound was off, but they looked at each other, knowing what it meant. Paul went out and got a newspaper. There it all was in all the reasoned tones of tabloid coverage. The bottom line: Kate was a rogue agent who had far exceeded her remit and was now on the run. No suggestion she had made it home, and no mention of Paul and the dog. To be safe she donned the blonde wig again.

“I’m going to have to lie low. I really do think it better if we split up at this stage. You are still a free agent. Go and tell your mother you have come home. I promise I will keep in touch and keep you up to speed on what is happening.” Paul got up.

“Have you any money?” she asked him

“No” he said. She pulled out the money and gave him half.

“I don’t need that much, just enough to get home”

“Take it. You don’t know what might come up”

He was gone into the station before she remembered he still had grenades and guns in his bag. She texted him

“Take care of the merchandise!” There was no answer. She felt very alone and vulnerable. Apart from Tom she had few close friends in the city. She did know one girl from the army who lived nearby. She walked slowly around to her block and rang the bell. Amy answered the entryphone

“Jesus H. Christ. Is that really you?”

“I need help”

“That you do. Come on up” She released the lock. When Kate got to the flat Amy gave her a hug. “You are all over the TV news you know. What the hell happened?”

“It’s a long story Amy, and it is hard to believe because I can’t make head nor tail of it so far myself. I was sent over, you know, to deliver a message” and she repeated what she knew.

“You know they are disowning you on the news. You were working on your own, murdering foreign diplomats for the fun of it? You think you were set up?”

“I just can’t work it out. I was supposed to be the liaison officer trying to normalise relations between the two countries. But by the time I got in to meet the man, something had gone wrong. What changed the whole tone I do not know. And then the second in command pulled out a gun and I was sure he was going to kill me, so I stabbed him, then the boss pulled a gun so I shot him with the gun dropped by his underling. I now think I was supposed to die there in what would be shown to be an unsuccessful assassination attempt. Great propaganda for the other side. But I got away and made it back to the meeting place. The chap who dropped me off was supposed to collect me. Or as I now see it, confirm that I was dead. He tried to shoot me in the hotel, but I got him first. So now I am fighting my own side. Do you remember Tom?”

“Yes, of course, you two were always together”

“Over the months leading up to the mission, Tom just blanked me. Then when I was just beginning to make my way home, he rings my number. Now why was that? Was he checking too? I don’t know. I don’t rightly know what to do now. If I go in, I may never be seen again, and if I don’t, I may never clear my name.”

Amy got up from the table and poured three fingers of Jack Daniel’s into a tumbler and put it in front of her. “Drink that. Life will seem better.” As an afterthought she said “you can stay here till you get sorted out, but try not to bring the Special Branch back with you when you come and go. Here’s my spare key.” Kate felt like crying. “Thank you” she said. “I will try not to cause you any trouble, but trouble seem to be following me around.”

“I have to go to work. You should have a shower, have another whiskey, and then sleep. Everything seems better when you are rested. I’ll cook dinner this evening, help yourself to what’s here.”

“Amy, you ‘re a good friend, and I need a good friend. Thank you”

Kate did as she had been advised. Before dropping off she rang Paul

“You OK?”

“I’m OK. My mother is giddy happy. How about you?”

“So far so good. I’m holed up here in town and about to sleep. I just wanted to hear your voice”

“What’s this? You’re going soft!”

“Good night Paul”

“It’s not midday yet!”

“Well, good bye then”

“Good Bye. Take care”

Kate packed her gear away, and pulling the bed up against the door, she slept. Awaking abruptly, she realised it was dark. She dressed quietly and moved the bed back so she could enter the living room. She stopped. Sitting in an armchair was a policeman. He smiled, and raised his glass to her. Kate looked around for Amy.
“Amy is my niece. She has gone to get some food. I promised to look after you ‘till she gets back.” Kate tried to smile. She sat in the furthest chair. She thought she might need a weapon. “You wouldn’t pour me a drink, would you?” He heaved himself out of the chair and poured the drink, leaning over to give it to her. “Thanks” she said and took just the tiniest sip. She looked at her companion.

“I’m Kate. What do we call you?”

“I’m Paddy Casey, Detective Sergeant, at your service. Are you really Kate Kazakis, or are you really Rebekah Agnew, Special Agent.?” Kate was silent. Then looking him unblinking she said “I do not at this point know quite which it is better to be, if either. What would be your advice?” He was unfazed by the outburst. “Amy tells me you are in trouble not of your own making. I want to help but I have to be careful, as I am sure you can appreciate. I accept that what you have told Amy is the truth as you see it. There are other ways of seeing it, and these other ways are being strongly marketed by some powerful people. I do not say admirable people, but powerful people. I think that Amy and I are the only two people who know you are back in the country. Is that so?”

“No comment”

“I see”

“Not sure you do”

At that moment Amy returned with the makings of a meal. She looked from one to the other sensing tension.

“Kate, this my Uncle Paddy. I trust him with my life. He is not a career policeman. He is still a Det. Serg. because he ploughs his own furrow. I think you need help, that’s why he’s here. To help. I wouldn’t have brought him in if for a moment I thought it would harm you or your situation. He’s one of the good guys.” Kate made a decision. She stood, walked over to him and shook his hand. “Thank you for helping me” and she sat down beside him. Not much was said until the food was on the table. Eating together altered the atmosphere and they were chatting away like old friends when the TV News came on. Kate was No.1. There was a manhunt on over there and many theories as to where over there she was holed up. There was no balance. It was accepted that she was a multiple murderer and therefore less than human, and the forces of law and order were closing in on their prey. Then one of the taking heads from the island got up and said that they would extend help in the apprehension that they could and that islanders were just as disgusted by the unfortunate turn of events as the mainlanders. They would leave no stone unturned, and on and on. Kate began to feel hopeless. They turned off the TV. Paddy turned to Kate

“Do you see, if your story is true as I believe it is, how do we explain the rush to condemn you. What are they trying to cover up? What was the real purpose behind sending you as a messenger? Whose decision was that? You had your safety assured by whom? Obviously, they intended to at least incarcerate you, but probably to kill you and accuse you of resisting arrest. To what purpose? Someone must know there, and someone must know here. How do we find these people?” Amy said

“Tom did ring you a week ago. Is it worth ringing him to see what he has to say? He’s part of the Special Services too is he not?”

Paddy said “Is there anyone else at the office that you think you can trust?”

“Not really. The only people I trust are my old army buddies” and she indicated Amy. “My only friends. We were the people who cleaned up after the civil war after independence. That’s why so many of us live over there. But you know that. If I ring Tom, it will give the game away that I am back here. He will know from the phone.”

“I can fix that” said Paddy “I can set your phone so it is routed through the mainland. He won’t know” Kate handed over her burner phone. Ten minutes later she moved to the far side of the room, but not out of earshot, and rang Tom. Paddy also set the phone to record the call.

“Tom, it’s Kate” A long pause and a click.

“Kate! How are you? Long-time no see. Where are you now?”

“Oh, you know, how are you?”

I’m fine Kate, I’m fine. You …you have caused a bit of a fuss over there. I believe that they are looking for you. Are you in hiding?”

“Oh, I’m here and there, you know, treading lightly through this bed of roses” He laughed. It was a reference to a time when they had been friends.

“I think it is a bit serious Kate. Why won’t you tell me where you are? Don’t you trust me? Any more?” Kate took a deep breath as if she was going to divulge her whereabouts.

“Of course I trust you, Tom. I just don’t trust these networks. Didn’t you hear a click just before we began speaking? You can appreciate that I have to be careful. Very careful wouldn’t you say? But look, while we are talking, is Philip Kelly still in charge? He was the one who sent me over here. I would dearly like to talk with him. Or his boss if he has one.”

“Oh, Philip is still...oh sorry Kate, I’ll have to ring off.” And that was that. Paddy took the phone and promised to have it back in the morning. They called it a day.

Paddy was back before breakfast and had some news. By analysing the tape, he was able to identify whispering in the background. Someone was repeatedly saying ‘find out where she is’ and as soon as Philip Kelly was mentioned he was told to ring off. They also tried to trace the call. They couldn’t do that but they may realise it is a diverted line. But what do we know? Tom is not on the side of the angels, and Philip Kelly is suspect. I’ll see what I can turn up today and call you tonight. I don’t think I should be identified with this flat, just in case.”

The following 24 hours were non-productive and Kate was becoming twitchy. She was alone in the flat on the second morning when she had a thought. She knew where Tom lived. When Paddy rang that evening, she told him she had a mind to go to Tom’s house and confront him. Paddy, predictably, advised caution. He did say though that he would put a trace on Tom’s house phone, and use it to record conversations in the house. He also said that he was worried that they had no plan. The all agreed to sleep on it

Paddy rang again. “I told you all about those journalists that had accidents? One of those was Rose Debakey. Her car inexplicably drove off a cliff. Her mother came in and offered me her notebooks “in case they had anything useful in them”. In it, Rose has written a list of Special Forces people and their various bank accounts, plus proof that the money came from the mainland government. It seems that there was a perceived danger that the whole system of crooked payments was in danger and they dreamed up a scenario whereby someone from the island would be caught red-handed in an assassination attempt and be arrested, which would take the pressure away from them and onto the shame of the outrage. I don’t know who specifically nominated you, but your friend Tom is on the list of those on the take.”

“That’s a lot to take in. Are the details fool-proof? I mean, can I be sure the details will stand up to scrutiny?”

“We are checking that now, but I have to be careful, obviously. It will take another week or so. What has Amy been up to?”

“She has arranged all the old unit to be available that night, and she has talked to the Late Show people and they have taken the bait. We are going out on Friday week, and the special guests are the top four in the Special Forces. We will have the next most senior people in the front rows. About a hundred in total. Then it is up to you.”

“I think I know what to do. It will all depend on the Police Force acting for the public good. Can you guarantee that?”

“Well, there are two police names on the journalist’s list. If I can keep them out of the loop until after the night it should all go according to plan. I thought it might be an idea to get them invited to the Late Show. We’ll see what we can do.”

Amy said “If you can get into the studio with them all, I and the rest of our old unit will stop anyone else following you in until you stand us down. That means you will be safe in there if nowhere else.” Kate felt herself tearing up. She looked away. “You are putting yourselves at risk for my sake. There is no guarantee that I will succeed, and it could turn nasty.”

“It’s not just for you. If there is something rotten in the centre of our state then we all must do what we can.”

Kate rang Paul. “Hi, how are you?”

“I’m fine but I’m bored. What about you? Any progress?”

“We have a plan.”

“Well. What is the plan?”

“Not sure I want to tell you over the phone. Have you still got that phone I gave you?”

“Yes” “OK, do you want to go up that hill near you and ring me on my old phone from there?”

“When?”

“Now?” Ten minutes later he rang. Kate said “What we know so far is that there is a cadre in the Special Forces working for the mainland, not our island. They are very well paid for this. Some journalists were getting close to the story and all seem to have met with unfortunate fatal accidents. I have a notebook that belonged to one of them and it lists all the people she reckoned were part of the plot. It goes right to the top. Even the Director is on the take. She also had details of their bank accounts. We are working on these now as I speak. I want to set off an episode of the Friday Late Night Show on Channel One. I am going to try to orchestrate the whole show. We can arrange a panel of guests and it will be billed as ‘The Capture of Kate Kazakis’, the people at station are falling over themselves if they think they can get me in the studio that night.”

“What if you are arrested before you can expose the bad guys?”

“Well, I thought that that might be where you come in. If you are in the audience, I have a role for you. That is, if you want it?”

“Tell me what you want?”

“You still have those grenades?”

“Yes”

“Well before we start the expose, I would like you to give each of the four guests a grenade, warning them not to release the lever, and two, one each to two policemen in the audience. That will concentrate their minds. What do you say?”

“How will I get the grenades into the studio?”

“On that night my army mates will be controlling who and what goes into the studio. You won’t have any trouble.”

On the Friday night there was a buzz of excitement. The Special Forces guys were preparing to be outraged by the debacle on the mainland, and to justify their failure to apprehend Kate. The rank-and-file crowd were there in support. They felt that they had the safety of numbers. The show opened with a picture of Rose Debakey instead of the usual ‘warm’ welcome of the host. While her picture was on the screen, Paul distributed the grenades. Then Amy took the microphone and as the pages of Rose’s notebook filled the screen, Amy pointed out to the audience who and what got paid and by whom. It only took about fifteen minutes and there was a certain consternation brewing. Amy then crossed the floor and addressed the head of Special Forces. “You have seen the evidence collected by Rose Debakey which we have checked and can prove is 100% correct. Have you anything to say about her ‘accidental death?” The man was silent. “Moving on, can you tell us about why you sent Rebecca Agnew over to the mainland? Was it to deliver a diplomatic message as she was told, or to set up her capture by the mainland Special Branch because she once asked her boyfriend (no. 42 on the list) why he had so much money. An innocent question, and a murderous response. The mainland Special Branch have confirmed that they were alerted to an assassination attempt by Paul Kiely (36 on the list.) As this was happening, Paul was moving all those not on the lists to other seats, leaving the listed isolated. The studio doors opened and police streamed in and arrested all of them. They were well prepared and it worked like clockwork. Amy handed the mike to the compere who had been side-lined to this point, and he carried on as if nothing strange had happened. All of Amy’s army buddies came in and sat at the back. Amy spoke quietly to the compere who said “And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I ask you to give a warm welcome to Kate Kazakis, or as we know her, Rebecca Agnew.” There was a momentary silence, but the army crowd rose to their feet as one and started clapping and calling out for Kate. Moments later the whole audience were on their feet, clapping wildly. Kate walked quietly out from the back of the stage, and sat in the chair vacated by the Director had sat. “What would you like to tell us, Kate?” Kate said

“First of all, my name is Rebecca Agnew. Kate Kazakis was a pseudonym. I would like to honour the four journalists who died trying to unearth the information we have just shown to you. Their families, including Rose Debakey’s mother who gave us the gold dust that was her daughters work, and chose the right policeman to trust, and gave me a way to avoid being terminated.” There was silence “Please can we all stand for a moments silence to honour the deaths of these brave people and their suffering families” Everyone stood. The cameras scanned their faces. Many tears. Then Kate (Rebecca) said “I would also like to mention Paul Keating who helped me more than I have ever told him.” More applause and an embarrassed Paul. “I was sent over to the mainland…” and she told the story as it happened, not hiding the three people she had killed. She finished with thanks to Amy, her army buddy and all of the unit and Amy’s uncle Paddy Casey, policeman extraordinaire.

The compare said “Welcome home, Ka, Rebecca. I think that winds us up for this week. I hope you all have a happy weekend.

© Dave Cuffe 2025

2016