Authors: Ken McClure
Tags: #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Medical, #Suspense, #Thrillers
The Trojan Boy (21 page)
Out of the corner of both eyes Innes could see that all
attention was now being concentrated on the diamond. He
put the glasses back to his eyes and raised them slowly to
section 'J'. Seat L-17 was unoccupied as were the two seats
on either side. Four or five rows behind the empty seats and
slightly to the right three men were moving along the row. Innes could see that one of them was Shelby, the man who had led the
NORAID
delegation in Belfast. He cursed under
his breath, then he became aware of someone entering the
row behind him and glanced back. It was Roker returning.
Almost imperceptibly, darkness had closed in on the
stadium, shutting out the world in the interests of the game.
The crack of the bat sent a ripple of excitement round the tiers and set the tiny, bright figures down on the diamond
into motion. The hitter, running at full tilt, slid safely into second base and the ball slammed into the catcher's mitt to
kill the moment. The ball was returned to the mound in a
lazy arc where the pitcher snatched it from the air and spat
out a stream of tobacco juice into the dirt. He adjusted his
cap and prepared to throw again.
attention was now being concentrated on the diamond. He
put the glasses back to his eyes and raised them slowly to
section 'J'. Seat L-17 was unoccupied as were the two seats
on either side. Four or five rows behind the empty seats and
slightly to the right three men were moving along the row. Innes could see that one of them was Shelby, the man who had led the
NORAID
delegation in Belfast. He cursed under
his breath, then he became aware of someone entering the
row behind him and glanced back. It was Roker returning.
Almost imperceptibly, darkness had closed in on the
stadium, shutting out the world in the interests of the game.
The crack of the bat sent a ripple of excitement round the tiers and set the tiny, bright figures down on the diamond
into motion. The hitter, running at full tilt, slid safely into second base and the ball slammed into the catcher's mitt to
kill the moment. The ball was returned to the mound in a
lazy arc where the pitcher snatched it from the air and spat
out a stream of tobacco juice into the dirt. He adjusted his
cap and prepared to throw again.
From a position well behind Innes, Jarvis was watching him
intently. Avedissian and Kathleen sat beside him. 'Do you
recognise the man sitting behind Innes?' Jarvis asked
Kathleen.
intently. Avedissian and Kathleen sat beside him. 'Do you
recognise the man sitting behind Innes?' Jarvis asked
Kathleen.
'I've never seen him before,' she replied.
'Do you think he's one of the kidnappers?' asked
Avedissian.
Avedissian.
Jarvis shook his head and said, 'No, or they would have
done something by now. They're both waiting for some
thing or someone. He's either
NORAID
or another
IRA
man.'
done something by now. They're both waiting for some
thing or someone. He's either
NORAID
or another
IRA
man.'
A roar from the crowd greeted the first home run of the
game and Innes was momentarily lost from view as people
leapt to their feet to applaud. As they settled Avedissian leaned towards Jarvis and whispered, 'Innes is not looking
at the game!'
game and Innes was momentarily lost from view as people
leapt to their feet to applaud. As they settled Avedissian leaned towards Jarvis and whispered, 'Innes is not looking
at the game!'
'What do you mean?'
'He's watching the crowd on the other side of the
stadium.'
stadium.'
Jarvis looked at Innes and traced his line of sight. He
could now see what Avedissian meant. Innes was looking at
a section of the crowd on a lower tier. Jarvis raised his own
glasses and tried to emulate the angle of Innes's binoculars. He found the empty seats. 'They are waiting for someone to
arrive on the other side,’ he said to Avedissian. Take a look at row "L".'
could now see what Avedissian meant. Innes was looking at
a section of the crowd on a lower tier. Jarvis raised his own
glasses and tried to emulate the angle of Innes's binoculars. He found the empty seats. 'They are waiting for someone to
arrive on the other side,’ he said to Avedissian. Take a look at row "L".'
Avedissian looked, then passed on the binoculars to
Kathleen.
Kathleen.
Jarvis asked Kathleen to look at the crowd in the area of the empty seats to see if there were any faces there that she
recognised. She looked but saw no one familiar.
recognised. She looked but saw no one familiar.
'Keep looking!' said Jarvis, sounding anxious.
'Do you think they might try a snatch if the kidnappers
bring in the boy?' asked Avedissian.
bring in the boy?' asked Avedissian.
'It's possible,' replied Jarvis. 'It depends on how far in
advance Innes was told where the boy would be and
whether he or his
NORAID
cronies have had time to set up
something across there.'
advance Innes was told where the boy would be and
whether he or his
NORAID
cronies have had time to set up
something across there.'
'You said the kidnappers were clever,' said Avedissian.
'That's what puzzles me,' replied Jarvis. 'This would be a
silly mistake.'
silly mistake.'
‘
There's someone coming into the empty seats,' said
Kathleen. She handed back the glasses to Jarvis.
There's someone coming into the empty seats,' said
Kathleen. She handed back the glasses to Jarvis.
Jarvis saw the figure of a man wearing a dark blue
lumber-jacket and a baseball cap edge his way along the row
and sit down. He was alone. 'I don't understand it,' said
Jarvis, checking anxiously on Innes and finding that he was
still looking across to the same place. There's no sign of the
boy.'
lumber-jacket and a baseball cap edge his way along the row
and sit down. He was alone. 'I don't understand it,' said
Jarvis, checking anxiously on Innes and finding that he was
still looking across to the same place. There's no sign of the
boy.'
Avedissian took a look at the man in the lumber-jacket.
He had taken a packet of peanuts from his pocket and
appeared to be watching the game intently. Avedissian looked at the man's cap then looked again for it did not
carry the logo of either of the teams that were playing. It
had a plain blue shield on it with the cipher, F-B9. The
cap!' he whispered urgently to Jarvis. 'Look at his cap!'
He had taken a packet of peanuts from his pocket and
appeared to be watching the game intently. Avedissian looked at the man's cap then looked again for it did not
carry the logo of either of the teams that were playing. It
had a plain blue shield on it with the cipher, F-B9. The
cap!' he whispered urgently to Jarvis. 'Look at his cap!'
Jarvis looked and understood immediately. He swung the
glasses round to find section 'F' in the stadium and homed
in on seat B9. There, sitting beside a woman wearing dark
glasses, was a little boy. He was wrapped up warmly and seemed to be very tired. In his lapel he wore a small enamel
badge with a Union Jack on it.
glasses round to find section 'F' in the stadium and homed
in on seat B9. There, sitting beside a woman wearing dark
glasses, was a little boy. He was wrapped up warmly and seemed to be very tired. In his lapel he wore a small enamel
badge with a Union Jack on it.
'Jesus wept,' muttered Jarvis. He passed the glasses along
the line.
the line.
Avedissian heard Kathleen draw in her breath sharply.
'What's the matter?' he asked anxiously.
'What's the matter?' he asked anxiously.
There's a man looking at us!' she replied.
Jarvis looked and saw what had alarmed Kathleen. A
man wearing a black overcoat and sitting three rows behind
the woman and the boy appeared to be looking directly back
at him through field glasses. His first impulse was to tear his
own glasses away from his eyes but then he realised that the
man was not looking at him at all. He was watching Innes.
He was looking to see if Innes had noticed the seat code on
the baseball cap . . . and he had not.
man wearing a black overcoat and sitting three rows behind
the woman and the boy appeared to be looking directly back
at him through field glasses. His first impulse was to tear his
own glasses away from his eyes but then he realised that the
man was not looking at him at all. He was watching Innes.
He was looking to see if Innes had noticed the seat code on
the baseball cap . . . and he had not.
'We've got time!' Jarvis whispered urgently to
Avedissian.
Avedissian.
'What do you mean?'
They will have to keep the boy there until Innes tumbles
to the code on the hat. Maybe we can get to him before that
happens!'
to the code on the hat. Maybe we can get to him before that
happens!'
'Snatch him back ourselves, you mean?' said Avedissian,
filled with apprehension.
filled with apprehension.
'Only if we get a real chance,’ replied Jarvis. 'We can't
take any risks with the boy's safety. But we can get round
there and take a look at the situation.'
take any risks with the boy's safety. But we can get round
there and take a look at the situation.'
Avedissian agreed.
'For God's sake, be careful!' urged Kathleen.
'We'll leave our seats one at a time,’ whispered Jarvis.
'Make as if you are going out for a beer. We don't want to
alarm our friends across the way.'
'Make as if you are going out for a beer. We don't want to
alarm our friends across the way.'
Avedissian waited until Jarvis had been gone for a few moments before getting to his feet casually and starting to
edge his way along the row. As he got to the end of the row
he looked back at Kathleen and smiled. 'Be careful,’ she
mouthed.
edge his way along the row. As he got to the end of the row
he looked back at Kathleen and smiled. 'Be careful,’ she
mouthed.
Avedissian found Jarvis waiting for him in the gallery
behind the tier. Together they ran along it as far as they
could before stopping when they came to a blank wall.
There was a stairway beside it. They took the steps two at a
time and descended to the tier below to look for the way
ahead but there did not seem to be any. This section of the
stadium appeared to be completely isolated from the next at
all levels by a concrete partition.
behind the tier. Together they ran along it as far as they
could before stopping when they came to a blank wall.
There was a stairway beside it. They took the steps two at a
time and descended to the tier below to look for the way
ahead but there did not seem to be any. This section of the
stadium appeared to be completely isolated from the next at
all levels by a concrete partition.
'There's a door!' said Avedissian, pointing to a blue door set in the wall near the back edge of the gallery. They ran over to it but only to find that it was locked. Jarvis cursed and a voice behind them asked, 'What are you looking for,
buddy?'
buddy?'
They turned to find a security man standing there.
'We've just seen an old army buddy of ours. We're trying
to get to him,’ replied Jarvis with what Avedissian thought
was admirable presence of mind. What was more, Jarvis
had said it in a convincing American accent. Avedissian
thought he understood why Jarvis had been chosen for the
job.
to get to him,’ replied Jarvis with what Avedissian thought
was admirable presence of mind. What was more, Jarvis
had said it in a convincing American accent. Avedissian
thought he understood why Jarvis had been chosen for the
job.
'You'll have to go down and round the outside,’ said the
guard. 'Just explain to the guy on the gate and he'll let you
through if you show him your tickets.'
guard. 'Just explain to the guy on the gate and he'll let you
through if you show him your tickets.'
'Oh come on, man, that'll take forever,’ pleaded Jarvis.
The guard hesitated and rubbed his chin while Jarvis smiled disarmingly at him and then gave in. He unhooked a bunch
of keys from his belt and found the one for the blue door.
'Don't you ever say I did this,’ he called after them as they
passed through to the next section.
of keys from his belt and found the one for the blue door.
'Don't you ever say I did this,’ he called after them as they
passed through to the next section.
Jarvis ran up to the edge of the gallery and put the glasses
to his eyes. Avedissian followed. Both men were breathing
heavily. 'Are they still there?' asked Avedissian anxiously.
to his eyes. Avedissian followed. Both men were breathing
heavily. 'Are they still there?' asked Avedissian anxiously.
There was a pause then Jarvis replied. 'Still there. We can do it!'
They continued their run along the second gallery,
swerving to avoid a fat woman coming towards them with a glass of beer in either hand and carrying several packets of
popcorn between her teeth. She turned to protest but could say nothing for fear of losing the bags.
swerving to avoid a fat woman coming towards them with a glass of beer in either hand and carrying several packets of
popcorn between her teeth. She turned to protest but could say nothing for fear of losing the bags.
They made good progress, albeit in slalom style, as they weaved in and out to avoid cross traffic moving to and from
the toilets and food stands. There had been no barrier between the last two sections; Jarvis prayed that there would
be none between them and the final one where the boy
was. His heart sank as he saw the concrete divide loom up.
the toilets and food stands. There had been no barrier between the last two sections; Jarvis prayed that there would
be none between them and the final one where the boy
was. His heart sank as he saw the concrete divide loom up.
'There must be a door in this one too,’ reasoned
Avedissian. 'You check one level up. I'll go one down.’ He
raced down the stairs to find another unbroken wall and
cursed his luck before 'turning on his heel to climb back up
again. He reached the level where Jarvis was and saw that
Jarvis had found a door. He was trying to budge it with his
shoulder.
Avedissian. 'You check one level up. I'll go one down.’ He
raced down the stairs to find another unbroken wall and
cursed his luck before 'turning on his heel to climb back up
again. He reached the level where Jarvis was and saw that
Jarvis had found a door. He was trying to budge it with his
shoulder.
Avedissian could see that Jarvis was attracting some
attention so he hung back. He saw Jarvis put his foot to the
lock in exasperation then someone said loudly, This guy's
got a problem.' Jarvis threw himself against the door again
but only succeeded in drawing a bigger audience.
'Somebody should call a cop,’ suggested a fat man.
attention so he hung back. He saw Jarvis put his foot to the
lock in exasperation then someone said loudly, This guy's
got a problem.' Jarvis threw himself against the door again
but only succeeded in drawing a bigger audience.
'Somebody should call a cop,’ suggested a fat man.
The mention of police made Jarvis abandon his attack on
the door and run back to the gallery where he found
Avedissian. 'No luck,’ he said as they raced back down the
stairs.
the door and run back to the gallery where he found
Avedissian. 'No luck,’ he said as they raced back down the
stairs.
'I saw,’ replied Avedissian. 'We'll have to go round the
outside after all.'
outside after all.'
'There's no time,’ insisted Jarvis. 'There has to be another
way.' He hurried to the back wall of the stadium and looked
over. There, two metres below, projecting from the outside
wall, he saw a concrete ledge. It was narrow but it was a
possibility. He said so to Avedissian.
way.' He hurried to the back wall of the stadium and looked
over. There, two metres below, projecting from the outside
wall, he saw a concrete ledge. It was narrow but it was a
possibility. He said so to Avedissian.
Avedissian looked over and felt unwell. At this level they
were still thirty metres above the ground. One slip and they
would be dead. 'I don't know . . .'
were still thirty metres above the ground. One slip and they
would be dead. 'I don't know . . .'
'We can do it!' said Jarvis, deciding the issue by getting on
top of the wall and lowering himself out on to the ledge. With a quick look behind him to ensure that no one was
watching from the stairs, Avedissian followed.
top of the wall and lowering himself out on to the ledge. With a quick look behind him to ensure that no one was
watching from the stairs, Avedissian followed.
Both men stood on the ledge, their bodies spread-eagled
against the smooth face of the stadium wall. 'All right?'
asked Jarvis. Avedissian grunted in reply.
against the smooth face of the stadium wall. 'All right?'
asked Jarvis. Avedissian grunted in reply.
Jarvis began to move along the ledge. Avedissian waited,
pressing his cheek to the rough surface and considering all the things that could go wrong. He could fall and break his
neck. Someone might spot them up there and call the
police. The thought of a Hollywood style drama involving
police and firemen frightened him into action. He started to
move.
pressing his cheek to the rough surface and considering all the things that could go wrong. He could fall and break his
neck. Someone might spot them up there and call the
police. The thought of a Hollywood style drama involving
police and firemen frightened him into action. He started to
move.
The ledge was not smooth underfoot for, over the years, it
had accumulated a heavy coating of concrete dust and de
bris which made Avedissian painfully unsure of his footing.
He tried to clear the way ahead by brushing it lightly with
his leading foot but Jarvis stopped him. 'You'll attract
attention below!' he warned. Avedissian took his chances
with the uncleared ledge.
had accumulated a heavy coating of concrete dust and de
bris which made Avedissian painfully unsure of his footing.
He tried to clear the way ahead by brushing it lightly with
his leading foot but Jarvis stopped him. 'You'll attract
attention below!' he warned. Avedissian took his chances
with the uncleared ledge.
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