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A small cheer went round the packed room but Serrailler shook his head

"I kno you feel and I don’t want to rain on the parade but it’s a chink of light, not a breakthrough"

"More than anything so far, guv"

"It is--suys get?"

"Right Three uests, one a passer-by One of them ran all the way up Dedmeads Road after the motorbike Got as far as the junction with the bypass where he lost it But two of theive it as a Yamaha, probably an FJR 1300 Black Looked fairly new Plate concealed One of the men noticed a small yellow strip on one side, possibly fluorescent Biker wore black leathers and hel down to his right as he neared the top of the road, possibly stowing the gun into the pannier"

"Anyone see him actually drive up to the church?"

"It’s confused One person heard the noise Motorbike engine very close--startled her and she turned but then there was a shout for the bride to turn towards a camera so she looked there It happened very fast The brides in front of the bride exactly as the shot was fired"

"So he wasn’t aiirl?"

"Hard to say but probably not We have to wait for ballistics to report on the likely line of fire but they think he was airoom Andrew Hutt There are some skid marks on the path and an oil mark Forensics will report Meanwhile, Dedmeads Road is cordoned off and I want an inch-by-inch search-hands-and-knees job Traffic are on full alert throughout the county and surrounding Now although I wouldn’t dare use the word breakthrough, DC Kelly is right, this is the first tiets bolder he’ll start to make mistakes He thinks he’s severalto have another pop, isn’t he?"

"We have to unman like this isn’t easy but I feel confident that a pattern is starting to ee So eyes everywhere, think, think, think, wherever you are--ht he be here? Could this be the scene of his next attempt? Don’t rule anywhere out Check out every bike, house to house down Dedery opposite the Catholic church, garage at the end … Posters go up this afternoon Leaflets are being printed There will be four officers in the church area toot a mobile point in the church car park where people can report anything they ht have seen"

There was a ruot up

"Sit down, I haven’t finished"

He stood waiting for silence He believed in being open and relaxed, leading but not doed and they recognised it The room went still

"This man has now killed five people" He spoke quietly The eyes of everyone were on his face "One of theain I want hile one of you uy when he makes his next attempt Get out there Don’t let me down"

There was silence before the room broke up as everyone started to leave The usual jests and sotto voce reed

Ten ed The usual bursts of ribald laughter replaced with heated conversations

"We’ve got a real chance Friday/Saturday He’ll think he’s God now, he’ll be planning to shoot into the crowd"

"Jesus, I hope not" Clive Roashed a ood for the weekend, the fair’ll be heaving"

"Difficult in the dark though"

"True But think of the chaos, think how easy to get away in that lot"

"I reckon they should call it off"

"Oh no," Louise Kelly looked dis Fair, they can’t I think he won’t dare He’s clever, like the Super said, he’ll know there’ll be -out parade No ill he take a chance then"

"I agree" Vicky Hollywell stirred her coffee round and round, round and round "There’ll be a lull now He’ll go quiet Wait till we’ve cos Then he’ll take another pop somewhere we can’t possibly have anticipated"

"Mind you," Clive said, getting up, "keeps us awake Bet we’re on higher alert than the anti-terrorist squads right now"

"And that’s what you like, is it, Clive?"

"Better than washing the bloody ARV every et practice you can do Let’s get out of here"

Fifty-three

Jane Fitzroy walked onto Saunders Ward late in the afternoon She had spent the previous hour with the faainst all the odds Now she had been asked to see Nancy Lee after her seven-hour brain operation Early in theshe had been called to baptise a newborn premature baby as not expected to livehad really prepared her, she thought, for being on the edge as a hospital chaplain, tiely "Can I help?"

"Nancy Lee--is she back from theatre?"

"I’ll check You’re new, aren’t you?" She did not seeht they got in the way

Jane smiled at her It did not do the trick

Intensive care was hu with the usual machines and lowered voices

"Bay three"

"Thanks Is Sister Wicks on duty?"

"Yes, but she’s very busy"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>