Maria's Revenge

By John R. O'Neon

Maria’s Revenge is about a London policeman who becomes a fugitive from the law because his wife (Maria) and son are blown up and burnt to death by an IRA bombing. After the two culprits are caught and disposed of by Kane in a not too pleasant way...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781291174397

Book preview

Maria's Revenge

Maria’s Revenge

John R. O’Neon

First published 2007 by Lulu.com

The right of John R. O’Neon to be identified as the

Author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance

With the copyright, design and patents Act 1988.

Copyright © John R. O’Neon 2007

Cover design © 2007. John R. O’Neon

ISBN    978-1-291-17439-7

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not,

by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, re-sold, hired out,

or otherwise circulated without the publisher’s prior consent

in any form of binding or cover other than that in which

it is published and without a similar condition including this

condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

Dedicated to the ones I love

Time is the moment that lasted forever

And the day that disappeared

As long as we have memories

Yesterday remains

As long as we have hope

Tomorrow waits

Prologue

This story is about a London policeman who becomes a fugitive from the law because his wife and son are blown up and burnt to death by an IRA bombing.

After the two culprits are caught, they are eventually judged innocent.

That sets Jeff Kane, the main character, on a course of vengeance. After tracking down and disposing of the two that killed his family in a violent way. He goes to France to help a friend that loses her husband, an old mate who worked for Interpol. The death of his friend turns out to be caused by Gun runners of the IRA.  Jeff's involvement takes him through Europe, visiting France. Italy and on into Turkey and back with numerous attempts on his life and unusual happenings to him.

He gets help from a friend of his dead mate in Interpol and also becomes involved with his friends widow; Simone and her daughter Danielle. But he is continually tormented by thoughts of his family burning to death in their car. With numerous attempts on his life the ending is unexpected whereby hatred gets him but love wins.

One

I watched as the council truck trundled down the road spraying people’s feet as they tried to dance away from the splashes on the pavement. Then I saw my wife’s car and my son at the window as it overtook the truck and pulled into the curbside opposite the café where I was waiting for them.

My son was pointing towards me through his open window as I finished my coffee. I turned to the door and stepped outside to see Paul leaning out. He was shouting and shaking his fist at the truck driver as it went past. I laughed at the thought of him getting all wet and angry...then my stomach churned over and a weird feeling ran through me as I froze in horror, the car suddenly burst into flames. I heard my son’s screams and then my wife’s as the car was engulfed by fire.

I missed the curb and tripped headlong onto the road. I scrambled to my feet and tried to go to them but was thrown backwards as an explosion ripped the car apart.

A door flew off and hurtled across the road hitting another car, causing it to swerve and hit a lamp post just meters from where I lay. I got to my feet shouting their names and trying to reach out to them. Not realizing that I was being held back by somebody from the café.

I screamed their names and clawed at the air until I became a mumble of despair and sank onto the ground and sobbed.

The heat was intense but I never noticed as I lie there saying their names over and over.

I don’t know how long it took me to respond to my name. All I could see was the images of my wife and son through the flames, screaming until even their pleas were stifled... But their screams still echoed inside my head... and they were calling my name.

Then I realized that I was in a police car with Steve, my partner. He was gripping my arm tightly.

‘Jeff . . . Jeff He shook me. ‘Come on mate, there’s nothing you can do here. Let’s get you to the hospital, your face looks badly burnt, then we can go and get a drink. It’ll make you feel better.’

I couldn’t believe what I heard him say, Help me forget? A drink to make me forget... ‘What the fucking hell are you saying? That’s Maria and Paul in that car... I’ve got to get them out of it or they’ll...’

I awoke to an antiseptic smell and realized I was in Hospital. I turned to look at Steve sitting beside the bed. His blond hair neatly combed behind his ears. His Windsor knotted tie sitting squarely in his collar. His dog toothed sports jacket crisp and neat. Then I recalled him hitting me. He looked up from his paper. His eyes showing his sadness.

‘Jeff! I’m sorry I had to hit you mate but there really wasn’t anything you or anyone could have done.’

I sank into the pillow as the flames began licking all around my mind and their screams of anguish filled my head along with a voice saying ‘Sorry’ ‘Sorry’ I’m sorry but I never knew it was your wife and kid. I’m sorry Jeff.’

That word kept mingling with the screams in my head...

‘Someone's gonna be sorry’

I mumbled as I tried hard to get my thoughts together. I looked up at Steve. He was young and looked very uncomfortable.

‘Why Steve? Why my family, who would want to kill them? Why them, why?’

‘I don’t know why or how Jeff but we will find out I promise.’ He said.

I went to get up and my face tightened, I winced as I touched my skin. It was covered in some sort of cream. Steve motioned to his own face saying. ‘You were burnt or singed a bit’ He said

‘Yeah! Is that all...’ I retorted as my cheeks started to sting as tears began to roll down them. ‘We’ve got to find who did it Steve.’ I mumbled.

‘Yeah I agree but not right now! ‘He pushed me back down onto the bed as I tried to get up, I tried to rise but couldn’t.

‘You’re in shock Jeff. . Take it easy will you.’

I fell back onto the pillow again. My head was swimming, swirling around in flames. ‘That drink? They gave me something.

I could see the light and all around it were flames, yet it wasn’t a candle! I couldn’t understand why an electric light globe should have flames. I lay there watching them dance around the filament and spreading to the whole shade cover...’ Maria’ I shouted, and sat bolt upright in the bed and reached for the ceiling. She looked down out of the flames until her image was engulfed and disappeared. ‘Oh my god it really happened’ I sobbed, and tried to hold back the tears as the nurse asked if I was all right. ‘All right! Of course I’m all right, can’t you see that I’m only singed.’ I said sarcastically. Something she never deserved, but probably understood. That question was still gnawing at my brain. Why them? ‘My clothes nurse, where are my clothes?’ I snapped at her.

‘You shouldn’t be leaving just yet sir; your face is... she paused as I looked into the mirror. She could see that I was determined to leave so she opened the small cupboard and handed me my shirt and trousers without saying a word. She knew what had happened.

As I pulled my trousers on I could again see those infernal flames with Maria looking out at me. Suddenly the anger took over and I punched the wall hard and cursed aloud ‘Someone will pay darling, I swear that they’ll each pay with their life.’ I stood looking at the hole I’d made in the plaster.

Steve must have told them to inform him when I woke because he entered at that moment.

‘Are you OK Jeff?’ He said as he looked enquiringly at the nurse.

I continued to dress with my face cracking as I spoke.  

‘Have you learnt anything yet Steve?’

‘Are you sure your OK Jeff’

I turned away from him. What could I say to such a stupid question? Steve shrugged his shoulders knowing I’d ignore his advice of rest.

‘Well the cars a total wreck and nothing can be told from it yet, it’s at the lab being checked over. Do you want to go to the station Jeff?’

‘No! Take me to the lab.’

‘Are you sure mate, I mean...?’ I turned sharply and interrupted him.

‘Will you stop questioning my sanity Steve, I’m all right I tell you, are they at...’ I couldn’t say the word Morgue, it just wouldn’t come out.’

‘Yes.’ Steve said. Knowing what I meant. ‘But you don’t want to see them just yet do you?’

‘I want to remember what those bastards did.’ I spat out with hatred in every word.

‘What bastards? We don’t even know at the moment how it happened or why it burst into flames, and seeing them like they are isn’t going to help you in any way at all, except to make your memories worse than they are now.’

I stared at Steve for some time knowing he was right. As cops we’d gone through the same scene with others, I’d even spoken those same words to other victims. To those that are left behind to live and remember. My thought’s started to wonder again. Dad! Don’t be late tonight, last time we met you there we had to circle the block five times before you arrived. Paul said. "You take notice of what Paul said darling, it’s not easy driving around London at that hour of the day, and they won’t let us park outside of the Embassy... Embassy... ‘The Embassy! That’s it.’ I shouted ‘It was a terrorist’s bomb!’ I shouted at Steve as Maria’s words echoed through my mind.

‘No Jeff it wasn’t a bomb, the gas tank blew up, there was no fragments or any sign that it was a bomb so you can’t say that.’

‘Cars do not just burst into flames you idiot, not from the outside!’

‘OK Jeff you win, let’s go down to the lab and take a look then.’

Our Inspector came in as I stood starring at the husk of what was the prison for my incarcerated wife and son, until their agonizing death released them from the pain. I had no more tears; anger had replaced the anguish, anger so fierce that if the murderers were here now I would take pleasure in seeing them die very slowly and in great agony.

‘I’m sorry Kane.’ Ross Turner said without looking at me. He was around forty with a slight bald patch that he tried hard to cover by combing his hair the other way. He had a paunch, stood about five-eight with his shoes on and looked like a policeman. He also never liked me.

‘How did it happen, do you know anything yet? I said bluntly.

‘Petrol! The car was drenched in Petrol including your...’ He thought better of finishing his sentence as I mumbled ‘Petrol?’ and stared at him with hatred in my eyes. I tried to think back to the scene. ‘But how could they get covered in...God! The water truck, it sprayed them with petrol that’s what my son was shouting at the driver for.’ I turned to Ross. ‘The truck? Have you got the driver of the truck....? Well!’

‘No not yet but we will. The truck was found abandoned four blocks away in North row. There was a pressurized tank on its seat, it contained petrol.’

‘My god! Why? Did they think I was in the car or what?’

‘We don’t know for sure yet but we think they hit your wife’s car by mistake.’ I stared at Ross, puzzled at his remark. ‘Well go on then’ I urged him.

Ross sighed loudly and continued. ‘Well at the same time as your wife drew up outside the embassy so should have the secretary of state Mr. Usher. But he was delayed in the traffic. He was also being driven in the same type of car, as your wife’s, a dark blue Mercedes. I’m sorry Kane, I really am and we will get whoever was responsible for it soon’.

‘So they died by mistake, well it’ll be no mistake when the murdering bastards are caught, I’ll see to that.’

‘Go on home Kane there’s nothing you can do here.’ ‘Isn’t there.’ I retorted sharply.    ‘Well you’d better find them before I do or there’ll be no court appearance I can promise you that.’ ‘Take it easy Jeff.’ Steve said as he followed me outside. ‘Look Steve.’ I paused not really wanting to hurt his feelings but his remarks were pissing me off. If all you’re going to say all the time is take it easy then you can fuck off! I can do without you. Jesus Christ what do you expect me to do just sit back and do nothing, their dead and gone for Christ’s sake and I won’t rest until I get who killed them.’

Steve stared at me for a few seconds then said with conviction in his voice. ‘Whatever you do Jeff, I’m with you all the way. Where to now?’

‘The car pound.’ I said as I gripped his arm tightly and nodded my thanks.’

There it stood the murder weapon. On its front seat was the pressurized tank covered in fingerprinting dust. I stared at it wishing I could turn it on its users. I climbed up into the cab and sat there for some time. My mind was like a video on replay going over and over the scene trying to see a clue, something, anything that would help me catch them. Then I saw it. Someone threw a ball of paper or something in front of the car and hurried on past. What did he look like? I tried to force myself to see his face but couldn’t. ‘Damn it!’ I cursed

‘What’s wrong Jeff, are you OK?’

‘Yeah, I just remembered seeing someone throwing something, a ball of screwed up paper I think in front of her car just before it... but I can’t recall his face.’

‘You mean it might have been a detonator, not just rubbish?’

‘Yes that’s exactly what I mean, come on let’s go.’

‘Where to now?’ Steve asked as he hurried to keep up with me.

‘The embassy. I want to have a look around.’

The road was blackened and the smell of burnt rubber still hung in the air. We both looked up and down the road and path for ages but found nothing. Several times I thought I had what looked like the remnants of a bomb but they were nothing. After a whole hour of searching I had to give up. ‘Come on Steve lets go back to the lab, maybe we’ll find some answers there.’

I looked back at the black patch on the road as we drove away and shuddered.

‘Who’s in charge here?’ I asked as we entered the forensic laboratory again.

‘I am! Jedson, Tom Jedson. Call me Jed. And you’re Kane. I’m sorry.’

I had turned to confront a tall bespectacled and serious looking middle aged man who held out his hand. It felt cold as I shook It. ‘Thanks but tell me, did anyone do a sweep of the road and surrounding area for’... I gestured 

‘Well did they?’

‘Yes Kane we did.’ His answer came slowly and deliberately. ‘And they found nothing other than pieces of the car. Why do you ask?’

‘I don’t really know but I...Well I remember seeing someone throw a screwed up piece of newspaper or the like in front of the car just before it burst into flames.’ I was staring at the car and I began to feel faint. I could see my wife in the car. I was trying hard to rationalize but I shouted out her name and grabbed at the door of the husk; it opened. I just stood and stared at the seats, just skeletons. ‘That’s all that’s left, just ghosts.’ I mumbled.

Steve took my arm and eased me away from the car but said nothing.

‘I’m fine Steve.’ I said and looked over at Jed. ‘I’m sorry Jed what were you saying?’ Jed’s serious face took on a comforting smile as he answered.

‘Well I was about to say that it could have been an old arsonists trick that they could have used.’ He paused again and rubbed his chin in thought.

‘Well go on, what do you mean by an old Arsonists trick, explain.

‘Um, yes well the couple they caught about six years ago used it, it took us a while to figure out just how they started the fires, it was simple but very clever. It was only when a night watchman died in one of the fires that we were called in to investigate it.’ He turned to stub out his cigarette. ‘It took the forensic lab a while but we got it in the end.’ He continued to flatten the cigarette stub until it was just powder.

‘Well come on man tell us what it was, what did they use?’

‘Oh yes... it was very clever, they used two chemicals. A Phosphorus which is a poison and Carbon Disulfide which of course is an explosive. Each is poured over a piece of paper and then they are screwed up together, after about thirty-seconds it ignites and bursts into flames. That’s probably what you saw happen.’

‘The fucking bastards! If only I could remember his