“Good morning. Table for one is it?”
“Yes please.”
The young waitress led Roger over to a small table near the corner. “Would you like toast and tea or coffee?”
“Yes, toast and coffee would be lovely.”
She placed a menu in front of Roger. “Please help yourself to cereal and juice. I’ll come back and take your order for breakfast shortly.”
Roger studied the menu. He wasn’t sure what the day ahead held for him, but he knew it would be full on, and he would need some strength.
As he sat drinking the coffee, the waitress had brought over and as she took his order for a full English breakfast his phone tinged.
He looked at the message. When you’re ready let me know, and we can discuss your options. Whatever you do, don’t go home. They will have your address by now and could be waiting for you. Phil.
Chapter Twenty-Six
THE MEETING
After finishing his breakfast, Roger headed back to his room. He needed to be alone. To think about what had happened. To decide what he should do. He’d seen the man who killed his only daughter and her best friend walk free from court. Then he’d seen the same man murder the witness in cold blood and then attempt to murder him.
Deep down he knew O’Connor would stop at nothing to try to kill him. After all, he was now the witness to a murder. He needed advice from someone with more knowledge about these things. He could trust Phil Jones.
Roger sent a text. I’m ready.
Within two minutes, his phone rang.
“Hello, Phil.”
“Hello, Roger. Hope you got some sleep last night. I’m on my way over. I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’ve just spoken with Gerry. He has a small meeting room we can use. Ask the girl on reception; she’ll point you to it. I’ll see you soon.”
Roger waited a couple of minutes and then walked from his room to reception. The girl gave him directions to the meeting room.
The door was open, and he walked in. The room consisted of a table in the centre with four chairs. At the far end were three sofas arranged around a large coffee table.
Just as Roger was deciding where to sit, the door opened and a gentleman in his fifties entered.
“Hello, Roger, Phil Jones. Pleased to meet you again after all these years. Sorry it’s under such bad circumstances but let’s see what we can do to help the situation, shall we?”
Roger sat down at the table. As a businessman, this felt more familiar to him than discussing things on a sofa.
Phil Jones walked over to a percolator. “Would you like a coffee?”
The two sat facing each other, both with their coffee cups on the table. Phil had a thin briefcase which he had laid on the table. He pulled out an A4 size pad and a pen.
“Before we start. I have to warn you. On the record and as an ex-detective, I should advise you to contact the police and give them a statement. Off the record, I would warn you that many of my ex-colleagues who are still in the job believe that the O’Connor’s have a mole inside the police station. Sadly, I have to say I think you would be in danger if you relied on them to protect you.
“If I’m to help you I need to know the details of what you saw. I’d like you to talk me through everything you can. Start at the beginning and try to give me as much detail as you can. Don’t assume I know anything and don’t leave anything out, no matter how trivial it may seem. I may see things that you aren’t aware of, but I can’t do that unless you tell me everything. Do you understand?”
Roger nodded. “I went to see Mr Gleeson to talk to him and find out why he had changed his statement in court. I was sitting in my car in the car park where he works from the details you sent me. I noticed him walking towards his car and was about to get out when I saw O’Connor and his son Tyson. So I stayed in the car to see what they wanted. I thought they might be meeting him to give him money. I had the idea they might of paid him off.”
Roger went on to explain the details of seeing the shooting.
“My first thought was to drive to the police station, but I remembered from going there to meet the detective in charge of my daughter’s hit and run that the outside doors are on a buzzer. You can’t just open them. I thought if they were right behind me they’d gun me down before I could get inside. So I just drove and as I trawled through my phone to find someone to help, your name came up, and luckily you answered. The rest you know.”
Phil Jones looked up from the pad where he’d been making notes.
“On my way over this morning, I spoke to a friend of mine on the force and got the latest. It appears the security cameras for the car park had the wires cut, so there are no CCTV pictures. That’s probably the reason Kevin and Tyson weren’t wearing hoodies, and you recognised them. Will Gleeson was shot twice. One shot at close range. He didn’t stand a chance. It was a very professional job. Obviously not the first time they’ve done it. It certainly has all the hallmarks of a seasoned professional. You have to make some difficult choices about your future. Do you have other family members? How about your wife or other children? Your parents or brothers or sisters?”
“Julie was my only child. My wife and I are divorced although we still get on okay. Both my parents are alive, but I’m an
