First Reactions

As soon as he entered the office, Temple saw the note propped up on his desk. Immediately he phoned Sam Walter's number. It was answered almost at once, despite the time. Before hearing the news from Sam, Temple blurted out what had just taken place.

"Why the hell didn't you ring me sooner?" Walters asked. "We could possibly have prevented this!" Temple took in a deep breath. "I wanted to warn you that one of Redbourne's old associates, Willis, remember him? Well, he's been away from Camberwell for some time. Three weeks ago, he turned up again. Guess what? He was begging for a 'clean piece'. Said he'd been paid good money for a hit job." Walters paused. "My guess was that you were the target, that's why I phoned. It wasn't your Sergeant and his wife, it was you Willis was after."

"My thoughts exactly, Sam. Christ, what a mess! Cantwell didn't deserve this. And as for his wife ..."

"Is there anything I can do to help, Jim?"

"I need to get my head round this one first. I'm still a bit shocked, I suppose and not thinking too straight. Can I let you know later?"

"You don't need to ask, Jim. You and me both want that bugger, Redbourne, behind bars. Willis may just be the man to lead us to him. By the way, when I said was there anything I could do, I did mean anything .." He replaced the receiver and the call ended.

***************

Baker was in the middle of a pre-dinner drink, at his house with three other couples, when a young constable arrived at the front door. Baker excused himself from his guests, irritated by what he thought must be a totally unnecessary interruption. He would give the chap a pasting for this. However, the young constable's face was white and he was shaking when Baker entered the study where he had been told to wait. Baker realised this was no ordinary interruption and had the sense to wait to hear the message before any bollocking. For once, he was grateful he had exercised restraint. The news devastated him. He dismissed the constable and told him he would be at the station within ten minutes.

Returning to his wife and their guests, he excused himself and told them to carry on without him. He ignored the flash of temper that crossed his wife's face.

As he drove to the station, he mused that the shooting of any officer would have been dreadful. That it had been Cantwell, as well as his wife, made it a total nightmare. The fact that it had all occurred outside Temple's flat made it horrendous.

What could he say to the Press who would undoubtedly have gathered by now. Worse still, what would he say to Temple?