CHAPTER 24
Jack and Jeremy had planned on meeting the detectives for an update.
‘Let’s meet in my house. I had hoped that we could convince Kate to join us but she still hasn’t come round to the idea that it may help her in some way.’
‘Jesus Jack, I thought by now she would have started to see what she’s doing isn’t serving her.’
‘Ye I know. I thought so myself Jeremy. But it’s as if when we say something to her it makes her worse , not better. Her behavior is so erratic we don’t know when she is going to lash out and when she is going to sit and listen to what we have got to say. Rose is at her wits end. If I’m honest I’m fairly close myself. I really felt after she went back to work that she would settle into a routine. Even start meeting people again.’ Jack shook his head, disheartened and feeling the worry rest on his shoulders.
‘Why don’t we meet John and Patrick in the Troc tonight. Have a decent bite to eat, a glass or two of a good French red and talk through this stuff? Maybe they have some insight from their dealings they can give us?’
‘That sounds like a great plan Jeremy. I certainly feel like I need some help on this one.’
‘Right that’s settled so. I’ll make the reservations and talk to the boys. I’ll see you at eight.’
‘Cheers Jeremy, thanks for that. Much appreciated.’
Jack hung up the phone and sat for a long time at the telephone table wondering about Kate and whether he would ever have his daughter back again or would this action, this violence, that had entered all their lives be the defining moment which she would never come back from. He prayed silently.
‘Please God if you have any mercy in you. Help my precious girl find her heart again.’
‘Let’s meet in my house. I had hoped that we could convince Kate to join us but she still hasn’t come round to the idea that it may help her in some way.’
‘Jesus Jack, I thought by now she would have started to see what she’s doing isn’t serving her.’
‘Ye I know. I thought so myself Jeremy. But it’s as if when we say something to her it makes her worse , not better. Her behavior is so erratic we don’t know when she is going to lash out and when she is going to sit and listen to what we have got to say. Rose is at her wits end. If I’m honest I’m fairly close myself. I really felt after she went back to work that she would settle into a routine. Even start meeting people again.’ Jack shook his head, disheartened and feeling the worry rest on his shoulders.
‘Why don’t we meet John and Patrick in the Troc tonight. Have a decent bite to eat, a glass or two of a good French red and talk through this stuff? Maybe they have some insight from their dealings they can give us?’
‘That sounds like a great plan Jeremy. I certainly feel like I need some help on this one.’
‘Right that’s settled so. I’ll make the reservations and talk to the boys. I’ll see you at eight.’
‘Cheers Jeremy, thanks for that. Much appreciated.’
Jack hung up the phone and sat for a long time at the telephone table wondering about Kate and whether he would ever have his daughter back again or would this action, this violence, that had entered all their lives be the defining moment which she would never come back from. He prayed silently.
‘Please God if you have any mercy in you. Help my precious girl find her heart again.’
***
‘Good to see you both.’ Jeremy and Jack shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with the Detectives from the Department of Foreign Affairs Liaison Office.
‘You too gents,’ John motioned for them to take a seat.
‘Sorry we haven’t been in touch in a while. Christmas is a busy time for us as you can appreciate.’
‘No problem there Patrick,’ said Jack. ‘We’re grateful for any help and updates you can furnish us with. It’s all very well us going to Spain and being on the committee for the ‘Campaign for Justice’, but you guys have the inside track so to speak.’ Jeremy handed Jack the wine list as he spoke.
‘Why don’t you pick something? Red alright for you gents?’
‘Nothing for me thanks Jack. I’m driving. John here though pulled a fast one. He’s bagging a lift with me this evening so I’m sure you’ll have a willing accomplice in him,’ said Patrick laughing.
‘Nice to see you boys don’t lose you’re sense of humour with all the horrors you must get to see,’ said Jeremy.
‘Ah, sure if we did that we’d be no good to anyone’ John was looking at the menu as he spoke.
‘So true’ said Jack. ‘Now let’s get this food ordered so we can get down to business.’
‘It’s the steak for me tonight I think.’
‘Ye I’m with you on that John.’
‘Sure that sounds great,’ said Patrick. ‘What do you think Jeremy?’
‘Why complicate it I say.’
Patrick motioned for the waiter who was hovering nearby and they placed their orders.
‘Now tell me what’s the news from our friends in Spain?’ Jeremy got straight down to business.
‘I’m afraid we aren’t much further on than the last update. We know who they are looking at for it. But these things take time, a lot of time. It will come around but I can’t emphasise enough how you have got to be patient.’
‘I appreciate that John. Really I do. But Jesus I wish they would at least arrest someone. All these families want is to see some form of progress. It doesn’t need to be all of them. Just a token even. One guy. Someone they can at least look at and direct their anger at. Do you know what I mean?’
‘Absolutley, I understand totally Jack.’
‘If they could just have someone other than themselves or their other family members to focus their anger on then maybe they could start to move on…...’ Jack paused as he thought about Kate.
‘My Katie is in a bad way. I really believe that if she could just see that something was happening, that someone would be brought to justice for this she could start to look to the future. Right now she is so angry I’m worried for her.’ He stopped and took a swig from the wine which Jeremy had just poured.
‘Jack, I know it’s tough. I can’t even begin to imagine what Kate is up against. But even if they do arrest somebody do you really think that’s going to be enough to help her sort herself out? Don’t you think she may need some professional help?’
‘Ye I agree Patrick. But that’s just it. She refuses to get help. She seems to have turned the anger inside herself and has pressed the self destruct button.’ Jacks emotions got the better of him and he hung his head to try to compose himself. Jeremy picked up the conversation.
‘Jacks right you know boys. I bet Kate’s not the only one who is doing this either. Isn’t there anything your department can do to help more?’
John spoke first.
‘Jeremy we really don’t have the resources to reach out to everyone involved. There’s ninety three Irish families all in similar situations to yourselves. We can offer advice and send you in the right direction but after that it’s up to each individual to get the help they or their family member needs. I really wish there was more we could do but we can’t.’
‘Even as it is we are spending our free time, just as you are, going back and forth to Spain on this one. We’re off the clock tonight. But we are as invested in this as you guys are. Okay so we don’t have to deal with losing our families, I’d never compare what we are doing to what you are. But, we are invested all the same. We have talked to each one of those ninety three families. We’ve also talked to many of the hundreds who were injured. We want to see that these bastards rot in hell Jack. Believe me when I say that.’
‘I know that lads,’ Jack said reassuredly. Really I do. I just feel so bloody frustrated at times. I want to get the bastards and watch them being tortured. I want to see them in as much pain as I have to see on my Katie’s face every day.’
‘I’ll certainly drink to that,’ said Jeremy. ‘Dan was a great man and if he was here right now and the roles were reversed he would be saying the very same thing. He wouldn’t leave one rock unturned in the search for the cowardly fuckers and I won’t either.’
‘I hear you both,’ said John.
‘I suggest we make a toast’ said Patrick holding his glass aloft. ‘To justice being served’
‘Here, here.’
‘To justice being served,’ they echoed in unison.
‘Sorry we haven’t been in touch in a while. Christmas is a busy time for us as you can appreciate.’
‘No problem there Patrick,’ said Jack. ‘We’re grateful for any help and updates you can furnish us with. It’s all very well us going to Spain and being on the committee for the ‘Campaign for Justice’, but you guys have the inside track so to speak.’ Jeremy handed Jack the wine list as he spoke.
‘Why don’t you pick something? Red alright for you gents?’
‘Nothing for me thanks Jack. I’m driving. John here though pulled a fast one. He’s bagging a lift with me this evening so I’m sure you’ll have a willing accomplice in him,’ said Patrick laughing.
‘Nice to see you boys don’t lose you’re sense of humour with all the horrors you must get to see,’ said Jeremy.
‘Ah, sure if we did that we’d be no good to anyone’ John was looking at the menu as he spoke.
‘So true’ said Jack. ‘Now let’s get this food ordered so we can get down to business.’
‘It’s the steak for me tonight I think.’
‘Ye I’m with you on that John.’
‘Sure that sounds great,’ said Patrick. ‘What do you think Jeremy?’
‘Why complicate it I say.’
Patrick motioned for the waiter who was hovering nearby and they placed their orders.
‘Now tell me what’s the news from our friends in Spain?’ Jeremy got straight down to business.
‘I’m afraid we aren’t much further on than the last update. We know who they are looking at for it. But these things take time, a lot of time. It will come around but I can’t emphasise enough how you have got to be patient.’
‘I appreciate that John. Really I do. But Jesus I wish they would at least arrest someone. All these families want is to see some form of progress. It doesn’t need to be all of them. Just a token even. One guy. Someone they can at least look at and direct their anger at. Do you know what I mean?’
‘Absolutley, I understand totally Jack.’
‘If they could just have someone other than themselves or their other family members to focus their anger on then maybe they could start to move on…...’ Jack paused as he thought about Kate.
‘My Katie is in a bad way. I really believe that if she could just see that something was happening, that someone would be brought to justice for this she could start to look to the future. Right now she is so angry I’m worried for her.’ He stopped and took a swig from the wine which Jeremy had just poured.
‘Jack, I know it’s tough. I can’t even begin to imagine what Kate is up against. But even if they do arrest somebody do you really think that’s going to be enough to help her sort herself out? Don’t you think she may need some professional help?’
‘Ye I agree Patrick. But that’s just it. She refuses to get help. She seems to have turned the anger inside herself and has pressed the self destruct button.’ Jacks emotions got the better of him and he hung his head to try to compose himself. Jeremy picked up the conversation.
‘Jacks right you know boys. I bet Kate’s not the only one who is doing this either. Isn’t there anything your department can do to help more?’
John spoke first.
‘Jeremy we really don’t have the resources to reach out to everyone involved. There’s ninety three Irish families all in similar situations to yourselves. We can offer advice and send you in the right direction but after that it’s up to each individual to get the help they or their family member needs. I really wish there was more we could do but we can’t.’
‘Even as it is we are spending our free time, just as you are, going back and forth to Spain on this one. We’re off the clock tonight. But we are as invested in this as you guys are. Okay so we don’t have to deal with losing our families, I’d never compare what we are doing to what you are. But, we are invested all the same. We have talked to each one of those ninety three families. We’ve also talked to many of the hundreds who were injured. We want to see that these bastards rot in hell Jack. Believe me when I say that.’
‘I know that lads,’ Jack said reassuredly. Really I do. I just feel so bloody frustrated at times. I want to get the bastards and watch them being tortured. I want to see them in as much pain as I have to see on my Katie’s face every day.’
‘I’ll certainly drink to that,’ said Jeremy. ‘Dan was a great man and if he was here right now and the roles were reversed he would be saying the very same thing. He wouldn’t leave one rock unturned in the search for the cowardly fuckers and I won’t either.’
‘I hear you both,’ said John.
‘I suggest we make a toast’ said Patrick holding his glass aloft. ‘To justice being served’
‘Here, here.’
‘To justice being served,’ they echoed in unison.
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