Hetman: Hard Kil Read Free

cache and that it consisted of two AK47 assault rifles and an amount of semtex. We believe all of this to be of Libyan origin.” She took a glass of water; it shook slightly in her hand as she drank from it. “However when the RUC moved in to search and make arrests, the cache had gone.”
    “Wonderful.” Fox rolled his eyes.
    “Paddy, not the time.” Lancing said in an even tone. “Please continue, Lieutenant.”
    O’Connor cleared her throat. “The RUC were fired upon and when they returned fire one suspect was injured whilst two others got away. What was worse however was what they discovered in the barn.” She paused, drank again. “Under the tarpaulin, in place of the Kalashnikovs they found a body. He was one of our informers. His name was Sean Fannon. I was his handler. It was Fannon’s Intel that put the cache at the farmhouse. He was our highest placed asset in the South Armagh Brigade and our inside man in McCracken’s group.” O’Connor looked down and shakily refilled her cup.
    There was a respectful silence which Lancing finally broke. “Fannon was one of the four inside the house along with McCracken, Grew and the injured suspect - Kelly Dermott.”
    “The entire operation’s been compromised. We should have just ‘jarked’ the weapons, grabbed the PE and brought them in ourselves.” Gord stated in his ‘matter of fact’ Cornish accent.
    “I agree.” Fox was blunt. “Is Dermott talking?”
    O’Connor shook her head.
    “Just give me five minutes alone with him.”
    “Paddy!” Lancing snapped. “Not the way, besides he’s in surgery.”
    Fox ignored Lancing’s tone. “How was Fannon blown? Where’s the leak?
    “We don’t know if there is one.” O’Connor had regained her composure. “Any number of things could have happened. We do however have new COMINT from the South Det. A call made to a number they were monitoring confirms that McCracken’s group are going to use the weapons in an attempt to assassinate Liam Taylor.”
    “Fantastic.” Napp closed his eyes and sighed.
    “Who?” Snow was none the wiser.
    “Taylor is a Loyalist campaigner. He’s dared the IRA to take him out to prove a point.”
    “Thanks.” Snow nodded at the Lieutenant.
    O’Connor continued. “Taylor is not aware of the ‘plot’ against him and we do not intend to tell him. Given Taylor’s position he would go public. We all know that the extra media coverage would swell the volunteer ranks on both sides.”
    “We should be thinking of Taylor’s wife and kids and not the bloody media coverage.” Fox growled.
    “If this operation fails, if the ceasefire fails then it’s everyone’s wives and kids that are put at risk Paddy.”
    “Do we know when and where the cell is going to target Taylor?” Snow asked
    “No. Dermott has given us nothing, but we know the attack is imminent. We need McCracken to make contact again. The number he called is one associated with Pat Dolan, the former Republican Sinn Féin councillor. Dolan is funding McCracken’s group from across the border.”
    “This just gets better.” Napp’s sarcasm was not hidden. “Do we know Taylor’s plans?”
    “We know that he’s meant to be giving a radio interview tomorrow sometime after six at his house.”
    “Lovely.”
    “An interview about what?” Gord questioned.
    “We don’t know. To have asked the station would have alerted them that we were directly interested in Taylor.”
    “So what’s the plan?” Snow didn’t want to waste any more time.
    If O’Connor was relieved the grilling was over she didn’t show it. “Snow and Fox. You are to set up a covert OP on Taylor’s house. Gord and Napp you’ll be keeping watch over the approach road. Fannon knew that there were more members of this splinter group but not who or where they were. Our task is to wait, see who turns up and then make hard arrests. The RUC will take it from there.”
    “Forget the RUC; we should just take them out. That’s what