For the Love of God and the Arab Rising

  Chapter Sixteen: The Next Move. Catriona opened the conversation once more. ‘What the hell are we going to do? We can’t go off gallivanting across some field chasing bad guys. We need the police’. ‘I agree, we have survived this far, but its time to give in and get help’. ‘The nearest police station then.’ Said Jeff. ‘Yes mate’. Catriona cuts in: ‘No, I don’t think so. You’ll end up talking to some idiot who calls someone else for authority to proceed, etc, etc’. ‘Well who then?’ ‘I don’t know, I don’t know’. ‘What about that pest at your work’ ‘My boss, Tom Brule’ ‘Yes, Tom Brule. I guarantee he will know senior police staff, and will help us’. Catriona was not so sure; she never did like the man. He was self perpetuating and untrustworthy. I on the other hand felt the same as Catriona, but was prepared to use his contacts and put up with his annoying nuances. It was time to give him a call, the work number was ringing, and then Tom answered the call. ‘Steve? You’re on holiday, why are you calling me?’ ‘Oh nothing much, some ones ransacked my house, wrecked my car, beaten me to a pulp in New York, shot at me, and chased me for my life to and from the airport, nothing much’. ‘Are you OK?’ ‘Cat and I are in one piece but that’s about it. Can we meet today, maybe this afternoon? I need your help with this one. I need to see someone with authority in any police department. The MET, Scotland Yard, anyone Tom’. ‘Steve. What makes you think I can do that?’ ‘Tom, please don’t take me for a mug. I know you and your family are all Freemasons and that you know more people in this world than anyone has a right to’. ‘Steve, let’s leave the wider issues for another day. I may be able to help. Shall we meet at your place?’ ‘No way; up town somewhere. Do you know the Costa Coffee, just down from the City Group Tower at Canary Wharf?’ ‘Yes. When and what time?’ ‘Later today, say 4pm’. ‘That’s fine Steve, see you later’ ‘Tom, thank you very much; we need help and we both appreciate this’. ‘No worries Steve; see you there.’ I closed the call down and looked at the other two. It was now about 630 am; we needed a good clean up and a rest. So we headed for Jeff’s house and each took a long bath. The bath was immediately followed by a good English breakfast: Sausages, eggs, mushrooms, beans, bacon, toast and several mugs of tea to wash it all down. During the ravenous consumption of breakfast, we both thanked Jeff for coming through as a true friend and rescuing us from the airport thugs. The clothes line swipe to the blond mans throat was a power move that only a big guy like Jeff could execute. I leant over the table and patted Jeff on the shoulder and Catriona stood up, walked around the table, and gave Jeff a huge wet kiss on the cheek. He went visibly pink in the cheeks and brushed it off like any pal would. Cat and I soon headed for the spare room whilst Jeff slouched onto the sofa and switched on his ‘big ass’ TV.