Tested by Fire by David Costa (the little red hen read aloud TXT) 📗

‘I’ve just been down to Newry for a bit of shopping and a catch-up with old friends. What one of them told me confirms what you were thinking. Sean Costello is definitely up to something big.’

‘What did you hear?’

Mary told him of her conversation with Maguire and the concern she had over what she’d heard.

‘Costello’s up to something, I just know it.’

‘I agree. It’s what we suspected. Our people in South Armagh say he cleared a hide and got in some sniper practice. The talk is that he’s up to something big but not on Irish soil as he’s completely disappeared.’

‘Maybe he knows better, Kevin, and he’s lying low.’

‘Whatever it is, if I know Costello, he won’t stop until somebody stops him. He won’t listen to reasoned argument. Either way, he’s determined to be a hero, dead or alive.’

‘My worry is that he destroys any good work the Peace Process has brought about.’

‘One thing I can assure you about, is that the people at the top won’t let that happen. Nothing will get in the way of that. Mr Costello is already a dead man. If the Brits or someone else don’t get him, we will. Look what happened to Eamon Collins.’

Mary remembered Collins only too well. He was another bastard who deserved what he got. Collins was a British Customs Officer living in Newry during the Troubles. At the same time, he was also operating as a Provisional IRA Intelligence Officer for the area. During his time, he’d set up many off-duty security forces for gun and bomb attacks, assassination but realistically plain murder. They were easy targets shot in front of their friends and families.

This had been one of the reasons she’d decided to help Joseph.

Collins used his cover as a Customs Officer to allow him easy access back and forth across the many border roads. Then, like many others, he came to the notice of Special Branch and was arrested. He broke under interrogation, spilling the beans on not only his own involvement and actions but naming many of his PIRA friends, leading to widespread arrests. Eventually Collins had withdrawn the statements that had made him a super-grass saying they were made under duress. The judge hearing the trial believed him and set him free. Following his release and the collapse of the case against him, all those he’d named also walked free. Collins was ordered by the IRA to leave the country and to go into exile on pain of death for his betrayal and was warned never to return. But Collins was arrogant and believed his past work for the cause would be enough to allow him to return from America where he’d been living. He returned to the family home in Newry after writing a tell-all book and taking part in a TV documentary about his days in the IRA. But he was wrong to think he was safe or would be forgiven. The IRA, especially the PROVOs, he’d worked with in South Armagh didn’t want to forgive or forget. One day, while Collins was out jogging near his home, he met with some of his old comrades who gave him a beating before plunging a large knife into his brain. Thus, all traitors of the cause meet their end. Mary knew the risks she took, but she took the risks to save lives unlike Eamon Collins who lived to take lives, even innocent ones.

‘I remember Collins all right. He deserved everything he got. I just thought you needed to know what I’ve heard as soon as possible.’

‘I know, and thanks for that. If you hear anything else about Costello, give me a call. Now, I must dash. The wife’s expecting me to meet her at Primark to help her spend more money. Don’t worry too much about Mr Costello, his days are numbered.’

‘Sure, Kevin, see you soon.’ She smiled.

When O’Hagan had left, she took her time to finish her latte, making up her mind what to do next. She realised that she’d taken the mobile phone out of her bag and had been holding it for some time. Her subconscious mind had already been telling her what her next step would be. Pressing the buttons, she sent a text to Joseph.

Need to meet, can come to you

A message came back almost immediately.

Can you get to Manchester? Can pick you up?

On my way, will phone you when boarding

Next stop Manchester and Joseph, she thought.

Chapter Twenty-five

The Hilton Hotel in Manchester is just like Hilton hotels the world over, clean, efficient, spacious, comfortable rooms, good staff, and pricier than they should be. The one on Deansgate filled the skyline of the city from miles around. Some would say it was ugly and not sympathetic to other architecture in the area like the Town Hall and Library in St Peters Square, but they were far enough away from the hotel not to matter. One of its main features was Cloud 23 the Cocktail Bar on the twenty-third floor with views of the city from the windows on the forty-seventh floor. With an indoor pool and fitness suite, Costello knew this would be the ideal place to relax while preparing for the task ahead.

After booking in, he found that his corner room on the forty second floor gave him the view he’d hoped for. From the window he could see through his binoculars the rear of the Midland Hotel and the top of the Conference Centre. What he could see only confirmed what he’d originally thought on his ground recce. The wind, the distance, and angle would all combine to make a shot from the Hilton almost impossible and therefore too risky if he was to be successful.

Chapter Twenty-six

Manchester was still in one of those autumn moods with bursts of warm sunshine in between the showers of rain.