TheBattleofGoldhawkRoad BrianHarrison

Brian is from Liverpool. He writes: "My father workedin the city so never lovedit, but he couldoutwit it

andshowedme how to use it. He provedthat short routes were not the fastest andobvious routes were not the most interesting. In the city couldbe foundwindinglanes, short cuts through buildings, ships to be boarded, andpeople that workedin strange places. He showedme how there is so much more to know about a city than what you can see from its buses."

BillEversonwaskilledoutsidehispubonthehighstreet.Helivedforthatplace,buthedidn’t expecttodieforit.Itwasnearly30yearsago,butthosewhorememberhimcanstillsensehispresenceas theypassby.Therewereatleastadozenpubsonthehighstreetbackthen,every50yardsorsoandeach withtheirownregularsandreputations,buttodaythereareonlyafewleft.

Billhadbeenapolicesergeantbeforehetookonthepubtenancy. Ifyouhaveanyideaofwhatan old-schoolpost-warcopperwaslike,thenyou’dknowBill.Hetookarobuststandonpublicorderand wasmoreinclinedtoadministeracliparoundtheearthancompletethenecessarypaperwork.Hisbeat washisfiefdom,andtherewerepeoplewhorespectedwhathestoodforandwouldtellstoriesabout situationshe’dsortedout.Hewasn’tbent,butheknewhistimewasup.Old-stylepolicingwasonthe wayout;patrolcarsandriotsquadswerebecomingthenewfaceoftheMet. Plentyofretiredcopperstookonpubtenancies,butnotmanydidsointheareastheyusedto patrol.Theprosecutionarguedthisexplainedtheseverityoftheattack,butthechargeswerebroughtin thecontextofthePreventionofTerrorismActs.MickeyCorriganwassentdown,butalotofusthought therewerestillunansweredquestionsconcerningBill’sdeath.Thedefencehadclaimedthatitwasjust

supposedtobeawarning,apunishmentbeating,butitdidn’tseemlikethat. Whateveritwas,itprobably wouldhaveremainedjustanunsavourymemoryifIhadn’tcalledroundatJackandDaisy’splaceonmy waybackfromworkonenight. ‘IwasdowntheGoldhawkRoadtoday,’ saidJack.‘Beforeyouask,yes,IcalledinatTheKeys.’ ‘Ican’trememberthelasttimeIwasinthere;itmusthavechangedabit,’ Isaid. ‘Notasmuchasyoumightthink.Mostoftheotherplaceshavegonetothewall,butTheKeysis prettymuchthesame.DavevanEker’sstilldrinkinginthere,thoughhelookedabitlostwithouta dartboardtolookat.’ ‘VanEker…Washesober?’

‘Asanewt.Ofcoursenot.HeknewwhoIwas,butdidn’tseemtorealiseitwasover20years sincewe’dlasttalked.Still,everyconversationwithhimseemstoturntofootballorthepriceofbeer,so therewerenoawkwardgaps.’ ‘He’sstillonaboutSpartaRotterdam,andLondonbeerbeingabargaincomparedtotheprices chargedinHolland?’

‘Ofcourse. In vino veritas an’ allthat.Hedidn’tseemquiteasaddledasusual.Heseemstohave lostabitofweightfromwhatIremember,buthe’sstillabiglad.Hetalkedabouttheolddaysand mentionedonethingIhadn’trealised.’ ‘Yeah?’ ‘MickeyCorrigan.He’soutandabout. Hewouldhavebeenoutbynowanyway,butthebloody GoodFridayAgreementgothimreleasedabitsooner. Hewasstillaclassified“political”prisoner.’ ‘Thatoldchestnut?’ Isaid. MickeywasaboutaspoliticalasaLondonbus: he’dpickupanyoldideaaslongastherewerea fewquidinitforhim.HegotitintohisheadthathewaspartoftheIrishdiasporaandshouldcollectfor “thecause”–asifShepherdsBushwassomewherebetweenBrooklynandSouthBoston.Billtooka

stronglineoncollectionsinhispub: itwassaidthathe’devenaskedtheSalvationArmytoleaveonone occasion.Mickey’sfutileattempttousethecollectionsasamoney-spinnerledtotheattempttoenforce compliancewithinalessthansympatheticcommunity. Billwasabigmanbuthewasold,andnotmany youngermenwouldhavesurvivedsuchabattering. Billranhispubwithafewsimplerules,butonesthatwerestrictlyenforced.Inadditiontothe“no collections”rule,forexample,bettingstakeswerelimitedtonomorethanthepriceofapint.Therewere otherpubsonthehighstreetwhereyoucouldplaythefruitmachinesorcribbageheusedtosay,sohis pubremainedaplaceforadrinkandachatratherthanarefugeforcardsharpsandhustlers.Hecouldn’t reallyenforcetheserulesacrossthewholepubfrombehindthebar,butthethreatofbeingchallengedby Billwasenoughtokeeptheplacerespectable. Itwasinoneofthoseotherpubsthatyou’dusuallyfind

Mickey.I’dbeenatschoolwithhimandhewasaviciouslittletoerag,bullyingandterrorisingyounger, smallerkids. Mickeyhimselfwasaprettysadcase,buttheproblemwashisfamily: ifyouvaluedyourlife,you didn’tcrosstheCorrigans.Hewastheyoungest,andascrawnyunderweightruntcomparedtohisolder brothers.Officiallytheywereinthescrapmetalbusinessbutthatwasjustasideline;themoneycame fromsellingstolengoods,someofitinboxes‘fallenoffthebackofalorry’ butprobablynickedfrom yourneighbours’ homesthenightbefore.Thereweresuggestionsofotherscamsbutitwaswisenottobe tooinquisitive.TheCorriganslikedtheirbooze,werehandywiththeirfists,anddisposedtousing whatevercametohandiftheyfoundthemselvesinacorner.Itwassafertoconsoletheirvictimsandhelp

themmakeuptheirlossesratherthanconfronttheiraggressorsdirectly.Wejustwishedthatsomeonelike ShanewouldrideintotownlikehedidintheoldmovieonTV.We’dneverimaginedthatBillwould claimthatrole,evenifthestorydidn’tpanoutlikeithadinthefilm. Icanseehimnow,polishingglasses,atwinkleinhiseyeandasmileonhisfacewhenhesawyou comingthroughthedoors.Eachwelcomewasasheartyasthefirst,andthefirstwelcomewaslikea

reunionofoldfriends.JackandIhadbeenregularsinTheCrossKeysuntilabout20yearsagobutwe’d goneourseparateways;TheKeysandusthatis,notJackandme.Yougrowoutofplaceslikeyougrow outofthings.Otherthings,placesandpeoplecaptureyourattentionandyougetolder,yougrowup,you moveon. OurlittlegangbackthenhadbeenJack,Mack,Nev,Trev,andAsh: that’sJackDaniels(yes, really),me–CharlieMacMillan,–NevilleBurton,TrevorLumb,andAshishDesani. Nowit’sJackand Daisy,meandAlison,fullstop.Welivewithinafewmilesofeachother,furtherwestfromwherewe grewup,andseeeachothereveryfewweeksorso.Nevqualifiedasadoctorandmanagesdisaster emergencyteamsintheFarEast,TrevteachesEnglishinGermany,andAshisupinDurhamwherehe stayedonafteruni;JackandIdon’tseemuchofanyofthem.

‘DidDavesaywhatMickeywasdoing?’ ‘Hedidn’treallyknow;hewasramblingabit,’ saidJack.‘OldmanCorrigandiedwhileMickey wasinside.Whenhecameout,hisbrothershadcarvedupthebusinessesbetweenthem.Theygavehima fewoddjobs.Ithinkhedrivesamini-cabthesedays.’ Inoticedhewasgettinglouderandmoreexcitable. ‘Pitywedon’tknowwhofor,’ Isaid.‘I’dbesurenottocallthem.’ ‘Isthatall?’ saidJack.Heglaredatme. ‘Whatdoyoumean?’ ‘Thisguybeatanoldmantodeath.Areyouhappyhe’snowpickingupdrunkenteenagersfora livinganddrivingthemoffintothenight?Getreal,Mack,theguy’sapsycho.’ Ibackedofffromtheconfrontationanddidn’thangaroundtosocialise.AsIdrovehomeIwas

dazedbyJack’sanger.IrealisedI’dforgottenwhyI’dgonetoseehim,andIdrovearoundaimlesslyto calmdownbeforeheadinghome.Alliesaidshe’dneverseenJackangryinalltheyearsshe’dknownhim. Forbothofushepersonifiedthenotionof“legalcool”thatyou’dexpectfromasuccessfulbarrister.Jack hadoncetoldmethatitdidn’tmatterwhetherhethoughthisclientswereguiltyorinnocent;itwaswhat thecourtsthoughtthatwasimportant.Asajournalist,IthoughtIwascynical,butJackcouldtopthatwith ease.Hewasrighttobeangry,butlettingitshowwaswhatsurprisedme;Isupposethatiswhatfriends arefor–beingabletowearyouremotionsonyoursleeve.HewasangrybecauseMickeyhadbeen classifiedas“political”andthatmeanthisreleasewasn’tsubjecttothestringentparoleconditions imposedonmere“criminal”killers. Therewasneithersupervisionnorbailconditions: nothingthatmight

requirehimtomodifyhisbehaviourunderthreatofhavinghislicencerevokedandwhizzedbackinside. MypaperhadrunabigfeatureonthispolicyinaSundayanalysispiece,althoughourfocushadbeenon theproblemsitwascausinginNorthernIrelandratherthanwestLondon. ThenextdayIrangtheFulhamChronicle.TherewassomeoneonthenewsdeskIknew;I mentionedthearticlewe’dpublishedaboutthereleaseofprisonersinNorthernIreland.

‘HavetherebeenanyproblemsinwestLondon,Sally?’ ‘Idon’tknow,Mack.Whatdoyoumean?’ shesaid. ‘Didn’tsomeonegetsentdownforthemurderofapublican?Whatwashisname…?Mickey…? Mickey…MickeyCorriganitwas.HewasinBelmarshforkillingaguyontheGoldhawkRoad?Itwas linkedtooneoftheIrishparamilitarygroups.’ ‘Itdoesn’tringanybells.MostofusherereadyourpieceonwhathadhappenedinBelfastand Derry,butnoonelinkedittoanythinghappeninglocally.Maybehedoesn’tlivearoundhereanymore.’ ‘Maybe.’ ‘I’vegotacontactatthenickinShepherdsBush;doyouwantmetofollowitup?’ ‘No,it’sOK,Sally.Iwasjustflyingakiteandwonderingiftherewasapattern.’

‘Sorrywecan’thelp.Buthey,ifyouneedanassistant,therearepeopleherewhowouldstepup. You’restillourlocalboymadegood.’ SallywasrightthatIcoulduseanotherassistant,butthepaperwasn’thiringandthingsweretight allround.IknewthatifaSundaybroadsheetwerefeelingthepinch,thenthingswouldbereallytoughfor thelocalpapers,eveniftheystillhadestateagentsandclassifiedadstorelyon.ButI’dlearnednothing moreaboutMickey;ifhe’dbeentheravingpsychothatJackimagined,thenheshouldhavedone somethingthatwouldhaveattractedattention. ItwasafewmonthslaterthatIgotacallfromJack.Hewasinastateagain,andagainMickey featuredasthesourceofhisdistress.ThepreviousdayDaisyhadbeenatameetinginRichmondthathad goneonlateintotheevening;sheworkswithafoundationthatsupportshomelessyoungstersandthe

meetinghadover-run.They’dbookedacartotakeherhomeandDaisy,whohadbeenexpectinga serviceableToyota,wassurprisedtobecollectedinanewluxurysaloon.Shefellintoconversationwith thedriveronthewaybackandthesmalltalkwaseasyuntilheaskediftheaddresshewastakinghertoin EalingwaswhereJackDanielslived.Hewentontosaythathe’dgonetoschoolwithJackbutthey’d movedinseparatecircles;he’dbeenabitofatearawayandhadleftschoolat16whileJackandhismates hadstayedonintothesixthform.Asshewasgettingoutofthecarthedriversaid‘RemembermetoJack. TellhimthatMikeCorriganhasbeendrivingyou.’ OnhearingthisfromDaisy,Jackcalledmeimmediately. ‘Heknowswherewelive,Mack.Theguyknowswestooduptohim;he’sboundtobeplanning

retaliation.Ithinkweshouldgotothepolice.’ ‘Jack,calmdown.Ifhe’dwantedrevenge,hecouldhavedoneitalongtimeago.He’sbeenoutof prisonforabout10yearsandyou’dnevereventhoughtofhimuntilafewweeksago.Ifhewasthe criminalmastermindyouthinkheis,doyouthinkhe’dbeworkingasacabdriver?’ ‘Sutcliffewasalorrydriver.’

‘Listentoyourselfforaminute.Youwanttotakethistothepolice?Whatexactlywouldyousay? Andwhatwouldtheymakeofoneofthehottestsilksintownclaiminghe’sbeingterrorisedbyanex-con he’snevermetincourt,andwhohasbeengoingstraightsinceleavingprisontenyearsago?’ ‘Youmakemesoundunreasonable.’ ThiswentonforafewmoreminutesbutIthinkImanagedtocalmhimdownbypromisingtopull afewstringstoseewhatwasactuallygoingonwithMickey.Ididn’thaveanystringstopullbutIwasn’t preparedtotellJackthat,Ijusthadtogethimtocalmdown.OnethingIcoulddowasreturntoTheCross KeysasJackhad.AfewdayslaterImadeadiversionfrommynormalwayhomeandfoundmyselfon thethreshold.Itfeltstrangetobeback. Thereweretwoblondesbehindthebarwearinguniformwhiteshirts,blacktrousersandblackties:

theguywasinhisearlythirtiesandlookedmorelikeaharassedcurrencytraderthanabarman;the woman,inhermid-twenties,justlookedbored. Mypresenceinthedoorwaywasnotenoughtoprompt eitherofthemtolookmywayandtheycontinuedtheirconversation.AtthebarIorderedapintofbitter. Theservicewaspromptandwouldhavebeenfineonabusynightwhenpeoplejustwantedtobeserved quicklywithminimalfuss. AsJackhadsaid,therewasagiantattheendofthebar: DavevanEkerwasperchedonanarrow barstoolthatwaseclipsedbyhiswideshouldersandbroadhips.Hewaswatchinggolfonthebig-screen TV.Isidledalongthebarandstoodnexttohim. ‘Dave?Longtime,nosee.’ Heswivelledslowlytofaceme,expressionless. Thenonesideofhismouthcurledandhegrinned.

‘Mack?It’sMack?’ ‘Surething,buddy.Youlookgood.Whathaveyoubeenupto?’ ‘Mack.’ Heclaspedmyhandbetweenhisgiantpalmsandpumpedmyarmupanddown.Helookedbetter thanIexpectedafteralifetimeofheavydrinkingandsmoking.Hesaidhe’dcutdownontheboozeand hadstoppedsmokingtoo.HesaidthatJackhadbeeninafewweeksagoandthenaskedaboutTrev,Nev, andAsh–thereseemedtobenothingwrongwithhismemoryatall.Iaskedaftersomeoftheother peoplefromtheolddays: somehaddiedandothershadmovedawayorjuststoppedcomingin. Daveboughtmeadrink,lookedmeintheeye,andsaid,‘youstoppedcomingafterBillwas

killed.’ ‘Iknow,Dave.’ Ishuffleduncomfortably.‘Westoodtogether,butitwasn’tenough.Billwent down.Wecouldn’tstopithappening.’ ‘Butwedidstopthem,Mack.Westoodtogetherwhenitmattered.Itwassomethingyoushould havecelebratedandyouweren’theretodoit.’

Hewentintohispocketandpulledouthiswallet. Hetookoutastripofpaperandcarefully unfoldedit.Therewereafewtearsalongthefoldlinesandhepushedittowardsme.Itwasacuttingfrom thefrontpageoftheFulhamChroniclewithaphotoofTheCrossKeysandthestoryofthateveningin 1988.‘Icarrythisbecauseitremindsmethatwewereacommunity.Wewerestillavillageandwestood together,’ saidDave.‘EvenFatPatandLilfromthebettingshopjoinedinwiththeirbrollies.Thesedays wedon’tknowpeopleaswellasweusedto;they’dgetawaywithitnow.’ I’mnotsureIwouldhavedoneittoday,butthenitseemedrightthingtodo.Nothinghadbeen planned: todayitwouldhavebeencalledaflash-mob,butitwasjustacomingtogetherofme,Jack,Nev andTrev,studentsonourwayhomefromcollege;thepostman;Dannyfromthechemist’s;afewbuilders fromthebigdevelopmentdowntheroad,includingDave;Stevefromthegarage;andafewpeoplefrom

thecouncil.Itwasacross-sectionofwestLondonworkingpeopleontheirwayhome,planningacheeky pintafterwork.IskimmedthearticlealthoughIcouldhavereciteditwordforword: “ Amanwas killedinaclashbetweendemonstrators outsideabusy pub on the Goldhawk Road yesterday as community relations in ShepherdsBushtookamajorturnfortheworse. Local people say that The Cross Keys public house had been targetedbyanIrishParamilitaryorganisationthatwas raisingmoney foritscausethroughpubliccollections. These fundraisers have been seen on the streets ofShepherds Bush for the past three or four weeks and are reported to have made

collectionsatotherpubsinthearea. The licensee ofThe Cross Keys, Mr Bill Everson, refusedto allow these collections and the pub was targeted by people claiming to be supportersofINLA,theIrishNationalLiberationArmy. OnWednesdayafternoon, passers-bywerestartledtoseeatleast15 men in balaclava helmets and black nylon jackets forma picket line across the doorways of the pub just before it was due to open at 5.00pm. A number ofpeople forming the blockade carried pickaxe handlesorbaseballbats.

By5.15 agroup thoughtto be customers hadgatheredopposite and there was some shouting. Members ofthis group ranacross the road toconfrontthepicketlineandfightingstarted. Witnesses estimate thatover40 menandwomenwere caughtup in thebrawlatonetime.

Police had arrived by 5.25 but it was not until 5.45 that sufficient officersinriotequipmentarrivedtoquellthefighting. ItisreportedthatMrEversonwasinsidethepubandcameoutwhen the fighting started. It is claimed that several of the armed men attackedhimashetriedtotalktotherioters. Fifteen people were taken to hospital and a police spokesman said that a total of 24 people had been arrested. The police would not releasethenameofthedeceaseduntilnextofkinhadbeeninformed. PatrickMalloyoftheHibernianAssociationsaidthatIrishpeoplein LondonabhorredtheactionsofINLAandthatviolencehadnopartin

anyaspectofIrishpolitical culture, butColinHiggins ofthe Fulham BNPrejectedthisconciliatorylinesayingBritishpeopleweresickof (Cont.onpage3).” ‘WhataboutMickeyCorrigan?Whathappenedtohim?’ ‘Hewasanastymanthen,buthe’schanged,’ saidDave.‘TheCorrigansweren’tpolitical.Heused thatIrishstuffasafrontforaprotectionracket.Hisfatherandbrothershadmostofthescamsroundhere tiedupandMickeyneededtoprovehewasastoughastheywere.Thebrothersprovidedthemuscle becausetheyknewBillwasfeedinginformationaboutthembacktohisfriendsintheMet.Idon’tthink theymeanttokillhim,buttheyneededtosilencehimbeforethecopshadenoughinformationtobring themdown.ByexaggeratingMickey’sphoneyIrishsolidaritycampaign,thebrothersmadesurethat

Mickeywouldbethefallguyifitallwentpear-shaped.Youdon’tthinkMickeycouldhavecomeupwith theideaofapicketline,doyou?’ ‘Isupposenot.Butyousayhe’schanged?’ DavewentontotellmethattheCorriganfamilymovedonwithoutMickeywhilehewasinside. Thefamily’slawyershadn’tdeniedthepoliticaldimensionofwhatwasdone,sohewouldendupin BelmarshinsteadoftheScrubsandbecutofffromroutinecontactwithhismates.Whilehewasinside, thebrotherscarveduptheirdad’sempireamongthemselvesandleftMickeyoutinthecold.Itturnsoutto havesuitedhim.Hescroungedenoughcashfromhisbrotherstobuyafewbigcarsandsethimselfupasa mini-caboperatorwellawayfromGoldhawkRoad.

‘Doesheevercomebacktotheseparts?’ Iasked. ‘NotthatIknowof.IthinkheusedtodrinkinTheCrown,butIdon’tknowifheevergoesback therenow.’ IboughtadrinkforDaveandwassurprisedwhenheonlyaskedforahalfbecausehewasonhis wayhome.Thatwasafirst.WetalkedforabitlongeraboutRangers,andheupdatedmeonthefortunes

ofhisbelovedSparta.Weleftatthesametime,about7.00,andbeforeheadingoffinadifferentdirection DaveaskedifI’dbebackanytimesoon.AfteramomentIsaidImight.AndImeantit. Ihadn’tgotanyclosertofindingMickeyanditleftmeinafix.IstillhadthisfeelingthatJackwas freakingoutovernothing,butatthesametimetherewasnosatisfactioninsuspectingthatmyinstincts hadbeenright.Itwastheabsenceofdoubtthatmademeuneasy.Ibroodedonitforafewdaysuntilthe dayweweretidyinguptheofficeandassemblingthefilestobearchived.Inthebundlewasthe backgroundmaterialforthefeaturewe’ddoneonNorthernIrelandandIcalledoveroneofthejuniors. ‘Beforethisgoesaway,canyouchaseupalooseendforme?’ ‘Sure,MrMacMillan,whatdoyouneed?’ ‘It’sprobablynothing,buttherewasacaselikethisinLondon.AguycalledMickeyCorriganwas

releasedandseemstohavedisappeared,eventhoughhe’sprobablystillinLondon.Rememberthose searcheswedid?CanyougobacktothedatasetsforanybusinessesownedbyaMichaelCorrigan?Try carhireortaxiservices.Justgiveitafewhoursand,ifyou’venotfoundanythingbytheendoftheday, thendropit.Ijustwonderedifitwasalooseendweshouldhavetiedup.’ Joannamightbetheyoungestkidintheofficebutshe’salightning-fastresearcher.About90 minuteslatershecametoseemewithascribbledmemopad.She’dgotaddressesandphonenumbersfor aMichaelChristopherCorriganinStratfordwithOlympusCars,aMichaelJohnCorriganinFinchley withEuromotors,andaMichaelPatrickCorriganinRichmondwithExecutiveCarServices. ‘You’reastar,Joanna.I’llchecktheseoutandwecanarchivethefiletomorrow.’ ImadeacoupleoftokenphonecallstobemusedreceptionistsinStratfordandFinchleywithsome

hokumaboutsmallbusinesses,askinghowlongtheyhadbeeninbusinessandwhethertheyfelttheir prospectswereimproving.Iscribblednotesonthefiletotheeffectthattheirstart-updatesdidn’tmatch thetimeofMickey’srelease.IcheckedtheaddressofExecutiveCarsinRichmondandsawtheyweren’t farfromthestationandattheendofthedaytookthetubetohavealookatMickey’sbusiness.The registeredpremisesturnedouttobeasmallshopconvertedtoatypical24-hourmini-caboffice: neon lighting,plasticchairsinawaitingroom,abigmapofwestLondononthewall.Therewasapubdown theroadandIwentinforadrink.Itwasn’tverybusybuttherewasnooneintheearlyeveningcrowd whoresembledwhatIimaginedMickeymightlooklike.IwasthinkingaboutleavingwhenIheardaguy furtherdownthebaraskhiscompanionwhattimeCorriganhadtoldthemtobethere.‘Twentyminutes

ago’ wasthegrowledanswer.IpulledtheEveningStandardoutofmypocketandtookaninterestinthe crosswordonthebackpage.Afterafewminutesaslightfigurecameintothebarandheadedtowardsthe twoguysbehindme.IheardoneofthemgreetMrCorrigan. EventhoughI’dkeptanopenmindaboutwhathemightlooklikewhenIscannedthepubearlier, Idon’tthinkIwouldhaverecognisedhim.Iwouldhavenoticedhim,though.Hehadagreypallor,grey

wispyhairinacomb-overstyleandascrawnyneck.Thereseemedtobenoweightonhimatall.Hewas, however,dressedinanimmaculatenavycoatoverpinstripetrouserswitharazorsharpcrease,andbright, shinyblackshoes.Athisthroatwasaturquoisesilkscarf.Igatheredfromtheconversationthattheguys wereenquiringaboutthepossibilityofworkwithhiscompanyandCorriganwasoutliningtherelevant termsandconditionsbehindanyofferthatmightbemade.Tobehonest,Iwasimpressed; hewas demandinghighstandards-referencesandaCriminalRecordcheck-andtherewouldbeadresscode. Compliancewasmandatory.I’dbeeninmini-cabsthatwouldhavefailedafoodhygienecheck,never mindanMoT,butthislotwereclearlywayabovetheindustryaverage.Hetoldthemtogoovertothe officetocollecttheapplicationformsandmailthemtohimattheofficeaddresssoeverythingwason paperandaboveboard.

Icontinuedtoeavesdropandcompletedafewmorecrosswordclues.Asthetwodriversleft Corrigansuddenlyturnedtomeandsaid,‘Excuseme.’ Iturnedtolookathim.Hesaid,‘I’msorryifI’m mistaken,butaren’tyouCharlesMacMillan,thejournalist?’ ‘Yes?’ Iwasn’tsurewherethiswasgoingandtriedtofeigninnocence. ‘Weusedtobeneighboursmanyyearsago.’ Heextendedhishand.‘I’mMikeCorrigan.’ Ishook hishand.‘IusedtobecalledMickeyCorrigan,butMickeydoesn’texistanymore. Inoddedinrecognitionofhisname. ‘Mack.MostpeoplecalledmeMackinthosedays,andstill do.’ Thenexttenminuteswerequitesurreal.Withoutmentioningprison,andasifitwerejustlight smalltalk,heoutlinedhowhewasachangedmanwhowantednothingtodowithhispreviouslife.He

describedhowhe’dmetDaisyrecentlyandthathehadbeenvaguelyawareofourgang’scareer successes.HeevenmentionedanewprojectNevwasnowleadinginCambodia,whileIthoughthewas stillinIndonesia.Iofferedtobuyhimadrinkbuthesaidheneverdrankonaworkingnight,ashemight havetotakeacarout.HegavemehiscardandsaidthatifIeverneededsomethingspecial,Ishouldcall himsohecouldofferadiscountedrate.Thenheleft,leavingmestunned. LaterthateveningIphonedJack.Assoonashepickedupthephonehepounced,sayingithad beenoveraweeksincewe’dlastspoken.IexplainedthatIstillhadmydayjobbutthesarcasmwaslost onhim.ItoldhimI’dmadesomeprogress.ImadenomentionofmyvisittoTheCrossKeysandmy conversationwithDavevanEkerbecauseitwassooutofkilterwithJack’sviewofDave’scredibility

thatwe’dgetintoanotherargument.InsteadItalkedabouttheworkdonebyJoanna,theleadshehad found,andthencautiouslydescribedmyvisittoRichmond.AfterI’dfinishedtherewasasilenceonthe line. ‘Ifindallthisveryhardtobelieve,Mack,’ hesaid.‘Whatareyouholdingback?’ ‘Nothing,Jack.Absolutelynothing.Bychance,Imettheguy.Idon’tthinkyou’drecognisehim.

HedressessharperthanaTorycabinetminister,drivesanewJaguar,andrunsaseeminglysuccessful business.Theonlythingthat’soutofplaceisaShepherdsBushaccentthatyoucouldcutwithaknife.’ ‘Don’tyouthinkit’safront?’ ‘Forwhat?CheaptaxistoHeathrow?’ ‘Drugs.Moneylaundering.Extortion.Idon’tknow–you’rethehot-shotinvestigativereporter, isn’tityourjobtoworkthatout?’ ‘Jack,bereasonable.Icanonlyinvestigateifhe’sdonesomethingwrongandthere’snoevidence ofthat.You’rethelawyer,forGod’ssake.You’dbefirsttoshoutiftheMetweretryingtostitchupone ofyourclients.’ Theconversationsee-sawedforanothertwentyminutesbeforeIpersuadedJackthattherewas

nothingthatneededtobedoneandthatMickeyshouldjustbelefttogetonwithhislife. Thingsseemedtoquietendownafterthat. IkeptclearofJackforafewweeksandburiedmyself inmywork: wepickedupastoryaboutjihadistswhowereshiftingthefocusoftheirtargetsfrom individualstoinfrastructure. AllieaskedDaisyifshewasinterestedinaWestEndshoppingtripone Saturday.ImetJackforalunchtimedrinkathisgolfclubandthingswentwell;Mickeywasn’tmentioned onceandIthoughteverythinghadblownover. AboutthreemonthslaterIgotacallfromJackjustaftermidnight.Hewasinastateagain.‘Mack, isDaisywithyouandAlliebyanychance?’ ‘No,why?’ ‘She’snothomeyet;sheshouldhavebeenherehoursago.’

DaisyhadbeenatherregularmeetinginRichmondandithadover-runagain.ShehadrungJack atabout9.30totellhimshewasonherwayinacarbookedbytheFoundation,andthejourneywould taketwentyminutes.Jackhadtriedcallingherbackbutherphonewentstraighttovoicemail.He’drung theFoundation,buttherewasnoonetheretotakethecall.Hedidn’tknowwhattodo.‘It’sthatbastard Corrigan.He’stakenher;I’mconvincedofit.Itcan’tbeacoincidence.’ ItoldJacktostaybythephone. IrangMickey’snumberbuttherewasnoresponse.IcalledthemainnumberforExecutiveCarsand enquiredaboutthebooking.‘Ohyes,wehaveacontractwiththePhoenixFoundationandMrCorrigan saidhe’ddealwiththecallpersonally… No,wehaven’tbeenabletospeakwithMrCorrigan…There seemstohavebeenanincidentinChiswickandthereareseveretrafficdelaysinthearea.’

WithmountingapprehensionIcalledthenewsdeskandaskedaboutChiswick. ‘Allhellseemstohavebrokenloose,Mack.There’sasecurityalertbutnothinghasbeen confirmed.VariousstoriesincludeabombinatruckundertheChiswickFlyover,gunmenholedup somewhere,asinglegunmanwithahostage;allcomplicatedbytrafficfromafootballmatch.Themilitary areonstandbyanditlooksasifthey’vedeployedsomenewgizmothatcanblockallmobilephone

communicationwithinasmallradius.We’reguessingit’stopreventanybombintheareabeingtriggered remotely.Who’sbehindit?Wehaven’taclue,butweincludetheusualsuspects.’ Sowasitcoincidence?Wasthecarjustcaughtupinthegridlock?Ifso,whycouldn’ttheywalk away?Weretheyterroristgunmen?Orwasitasinglegunmanwithahostage?Wasthegunmana paramilitarysoldierofsorts?Orwasitaderangedmini-cabdriver?Orhadtheyspontaneouslydrivento HeathrowandtakenthefirstflighttoRiotogether?Ihalf-hopedforthelastoptionasitseemedtooffer fewerproblems.IcalledthepressofficeatScotlandYardforanupdateandgotanearnestPRwhotold meingreatdetailsignificantlylessthanI’dlearnedfrommyownnewsdesk.FinallyIrangJackbackand updatedhimonwhyhecouldn’tcontactDaisyandwhyshecouldn’tcontacthim,leavingoutallthe speculation.AtleastmyconversationwiththeYardhadprovidedmewithenougheuphemismsand

evasionstosatisfyevenaforensicallymindedlawyerhandicappedbystress. ItoyedwiththeideaofgoingdowntherebutknewthatIwouldn’tbeabletogetclosebecauseof theinevitablepolicecordon.Despitethat,afterbringingAllieuptospeedonwhathadhappened,Igotmy bikeoutofthegarageandensuredIhadenoughlightssoeventhemostofficiouspolicemancouldn’t object. BythetimeIgotthere,itwasallover. Thenewsdeskcalledmetoreportthatshotshadbeenfired andatleastfourpeopleweredead;allthecasualtiesweremale.Therehadbeenabombinaparkedtruck undertheflyover.ItwasseenbyanoffdutyCommunitySupportOfficeronherwayhomeafterthe footballmatchearlierthatevening.Shereporteditandarapidresponseunitwasthereinminutes.The bomberswantedafastcarforanescapeandspottedtheJaguar.MickeytoldDaisytogetinthebackand

lielow.HerefusedtogivethecarkeystothebombersandoneofthemshotMickey.Thecopsstarted shootingbeforeanyoneelsewasshot,andtheelectronicgizmopreventedthebombfrombeingdetonated, eventhoughatleasttwoofthebomberstriedtotriggeritasthebulletsstartedtofly. PooroldMickey.He’dbeenbornwithinspittingdistanceofQPRbuthadneverbeeninterestedin football.Ifhehad,hemighthavethoughtaboutthematchinBrentford,andgonethroughOsterleyrather thanKewtoavoidthetraffic. Foralawyer,Jackshowedareasonabledegreeofhumilityandcontrition: headmittedthathis loathingofMickeyderivedfromthebeatingsheinflictedonhisyoungerbrotherinprimaryschool,and thenonBill.OnbothoccasionsJackhadfelthelplessandafraidtointervene.However,heconcededthat

MickeyhadactedselflesslytoensurethatDaisycametonoharm.ItwasAlliewhonotedtheironyin MickeybeingsenttoprisonforhangingontothecoattailsoftheIRA,andmeetinghisendatthehandsof someguysridingthecoattailsoftheJihad. Mickey’sfuneralwasinRichmond.IwentbacktoTheCrossKeysandtoldDaveaboutmy meetingwithMickeyandtheeventsinChiswick.Heattendedwithafewotherswhohadbeenpartof,or

remembered,ourBattleofGoldhawkRoad.Idon’tknowwhattheirmotiveswere.Perhapsthey

acknowledgedthatMickeyhadchanged;perhapstheycametospitonhisgrave.IthinkMickey’spartner

realisedthathehadtouchedmorepeople’slivesthanshehadimagined.