With furrowed brow Walter Dane scrutinised the postcard held in the palm of his left hand. The stamp was undoubtedly French, depicting a skier hurtling down a picturesque slope. Scribbled on the back in an unfamiliar hand was a message, which was the reason for his consternation. The inscription read, ‘Having an abominable time. You have positively ruined my holiday. In my naively I assumed you to be a journalist of integrity. When reporting my ensuing endeavour, in the interest of public awareness, please omit nothing. Remember that hell awaits the devil’s hand servants.’ Dane reread the card with little success and once more to be absolutely sure. No, he could not make top nor tail of it. After one final attempt he gave up trying dropping the intrusion into his already cluttered desk drawer. ‘Jees but the world is full of nutters,’ he grumbled, as he typed the concluding paragraph describing the hilarious attempts of the local RSPCA to apprehend a donkey that had run amok, disrupting peak traffic, in the city centre. The hapless creature had wandered into the path of a corporation bus, causing said bus to swerve before coming to rest in the window of a funeral parlour. Walter had been tearing his hair out trying to think of an adequate pun for the story and the postcard’s arrival had destroyed his train of thought. The best he could come up with was, “Donkey Sends Bus On Abray Day Excursion.’ Adding to his frustration the phone was screaming to be answered, interrupting him for the umpteenth time, ‘Belfast home for the terminally insane, how can we help you,’ he barked.
‘Very funny mister. Is your name Dane?’ Came the mirthless reply.
‘Yes that’s me, sorry about that. How can I be of assistance?’ said the journalist sheepishly.
‘You wrote the article concerning the death of the Blackmore family.’ He was brusquely informed.
‘That is correct, what of it? Do you have relevant information regarding the crime?’ prompted Dane, displaying an improved degree of interest.
‘Mr. Blackmore and I are members of the same organisation. It would give me great pleasure to have you as a guest this evening perhaps we could discuss matters further then, if that is convenient of course.’ The journalist could tell from the voice’s tone that he was being summoned rather than invited. He decided to be cagey, string the man along and possibly glean some information, even an explanation for the meeting.
‘Look, what is all this about? You’ll pardon me if I appear a little uneasy with the arrangement.’ He was gently rebuked by the other whom, in a persuasive manner, added, ‘Mr. Dane, you more than most must be aware of the sensitive nature of this conversation. With all due respect, you can hardly expect me to discuss the matter on the telephone. I hate to be overly insistent but it really is imperative that you meet with me this evening. Furthermore, it should prove more advantageous to you than us. You have my solemn word that you are in absolutely no peril whatsoever.’
‘Under the circumstances, how can I refuse.’ Overriding his apprehension, Dane began to feel the tingle that always precedes the smell of a major story. ‘It will be my pleasure to meet with you. Just tell me where and-’ he was checked mid sentence.
‘Dear me no Mr. Dane, that is not how we do things, security and such, I hope you understand. Attend to your business as you would normally and rest assured that transport will be provided. By the way, I shall not insult your intelligence by informing you that this conversation has been in the strictest confidence. Should the information regarding our rendezvous leak into the wrong hands, well I think you can draw your own conclusions. Until our meeting then, goodbye Mr. Dane.’ There was no mistaking the implication of the voice’s last remark. Dane was nobody’s fool, he knew that a breach of trust would not only jeopardise himself but he had to take into consideration the safety of his wife and daughter as well. Still the reporter was intrigued, he had covered many stories but this was the first time he had actually spoken with a paramilitary leader, from either side of the divide.