RAGE

AUTHOR'S NOTE

THIS BOOK IS FICTION:

CHARACTERS, NAMES, EVENTS AND INCIDENTS

ARE  A PRODUCT OF MY IMAGINATION

MOST OFFICES, HOTELS, RESTAURANTS AND  PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT  ARE REAL, HOWEVER  ACTIONS TAKING PLACE IN THEM ARE FICTITIOUS:

"Vroommmm" The sound of the explosion rolled back, when it hit the hills, behind Craigmore, from there ,it seemed to smash, with growing intensity through the neighbourhood, before it echoed away in the distance, the detonation was heard 3 Kilometres away, after it ripped through the house, which started slowly to topple, first gradually, than more quickly, just leaving parts of the Northern side, of the elegant house standing, the concussion scattered glass in houses 50 yards away,and rattled windows, at a distance of hundreds of meters, at the same time creating, a choking dust in some places, flames started to lick, from the flammable parts of the collapsed home.

In the distance, near the Elizabeth Shopping Centre ,sirens started to blare, some shocked neighbours ,who had rushed out of their houses, grabbed garden hoses, and directed the pathetic streams of water ,on the flames which died quickly, from the remnants, of the steel framed home.

"It was Saturday may 16th 1987"

A fire-brigade officer, carried out the broken body , of a nine month old child, tears in his eyes, two ambulance officers, wheeled out the still bloodied body, of what once must have been a beautiful young woman, police who had arrived quickly, were trying to push the gathering crowd, back behind their swiftly strung crime scene tape,  whilst others started checking neighbours, for information.

At the West Lakes located Football Oval, an urgent sounding announcement, came over the public address system, and broke into the football commentary, this announcement was repeated several times:

"Will mr.John van Fliet come immediately, to the secretaries Office please", on the field, a runner came up to Kevin MacIntosh, and told him to leave the field immediately, quickly shower and change, into his normal clothing, and from there, go straight to the secretary's office, after he had changed. 

A bemused Kevin, met John at the door of the office , which was quickly opened from the inside, a police sergeant waved both men, to come inside and requested them, with a quiet voice to sit down, he remained standing.

He began, his hand almost nervously rubbing together, with:"My name is sergeant Hillier", he looked at them in turn:"Mr van Fliet, Mr MacIntosh ", they both nodded, John with a premonition of disaster, a vein started pulsing in his temple.

The sergeant, still moved his hands together, rubbing them softly, as if he didn't know how to start:

"Mr van Fliet, I have some bad news for you", he stopped, as if he didn't want to continue, before dragging up some courage, from the dept of his stomach, he hesitated , next the words appeared to come out in a rush:"I have been requested, as a friend of your wife's father, Mr. Nathan MacIntosh, to communicate to you , that an explosion has demolished your home":

John stood up: "Please remain seated Mr van Fliet, please, he almost pushed John down with his hand, his voice full with emotion: "Mr van Fliet", he slightly faltered:"I have the unenviable task, to inform you that your little daughter died, in the explosion", he quickly continued:"Your wife has been taken, to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, she's alive, but I'm afraid she's in a coma".

There were tears in his eyes "how can one tell a person, that his nine month old daughter had been killed, and his wife is in a coma ,and than looking this person straight in the face, without feeling guilty, that your glad that it is not you, being told this sort of news:

"Please accept my sincere condolences ,for your little daughter, I don't know what else I can say, I will also have the task, to tell my friend Nathan , and am not looking forward to that either, please I'm so sorry".

Soundless tears, started to run down John's face, Kevin immediately came over to him, and sat on his knees, in front of his large framed friend, and Brother in Law, who just sat quietly shaking, and soundlessly sobbing, in the grip of emotion, he put a hand on his shoulder, as if to give him some of his own strength.

After a short while, John stood up, handed the keys to his car to Kevin, and starting to walk towards the door, where he turned, and with dead eyes said quietly: "Thank you sergeant", and than without a further glance turned around quickly, and walked out, going directly to his car, which was parked in the members car-park.

Hillier shook his head sadly, and said almost soundlessly:

"I don't like it, I don't like at it all, this man is protected by the Mafia, there's going to be a blood bath somewhere", he stomped his right fist into his left palm,"I don't like it at all", and aloud he said,:" Those stupid bastards", he looked skywards, "there dead, and those bloody idiots don't know it yet"!

The secretary who had come in, after the two tall young men had left, looked at him, she thought that the words she had heard him say, were thorn from deep inside of this sergeant, but all Hillier said to her was:"Thanks for the loan of your office", before walking out, Once outside he informed a waiting Police car to quickly follow, and pass the sky blue Calais, that had just left, and than clear a path for it, to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and if they needed, to use their Siren," Just use the bloody thing"!

Kevin drove his Brother in Laws Calais, following the blue police commodore, with it’s flashing lights, and siron going, straight to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and upon entering, was told that he was allowed to park, inside the Hospitals car-park normally reserved for dignitaries.

They were met by a Police Constable, who immediately guided John, to the intensive care section, Kevin stayed outside in the corridor.

The blood on Sandy's face and body, had been cleaned of, her beautiful features were unmarked, but when John looked at his wife, all he could see was a face devoid of any colour, she was a parched white, with tubes and wires, connected to machines, he felt totally helpless, there was nothing he could do but talk to her, her eyes were closed, and she looked as white as the sheet, which appeared so carfully arranged on the bed, he sat down next to her, and took her small hand, in both his and softly started talking, whilst the tears were running down his face, he talked about nothing but his love for her, and their little daughter, perspiration was pouring down his face mixing, with his salty tears.

That night unused to prayer, he reverently prayed ,that no Angels would be sent down, to take her to Heaven, in his prayers he stated, that he couldn't ,and wouldn't live without her, he said that it would be a sin, if his beautiful wife was taken so early from this World, 'as his innocent little Daughter, had been taken',and that it couldn't be a sin, that if she didn't live, that he took his own life!

Kevin waited outside in the corridor, soon raven haired Tina Ravoli, as usual in an expensive gown, his fiancé, rushed up, and put her arms around him, bursting out crying at the same time, as Kevin knew she cried easely, Kevin held his love close to him, and told her in simple words, what had happened, she wanted to go inside, but he stopped her:

"I'm sorry love, but 'at present' you can't go inside", he held his strong arms around her, "leave John with her for a while, he needs to be with her ,or else, from what I've seen, in the last hour, I'll know he'll break for sure".

Ten minutes later Helen and Nathan MacIntosh arrived, the doctor allowed Helen immediate access ,but requested Nathan to wait until, one of the two that were with Sandy, at the moment came out.

Tina still hugging Kevin, and looking up to her tall fiancé, asked him in a tearful voice: "Who would do such a thing Kevin", she shook her lovely head, "who and why, she is so beautiful, and Emilie was so little and totally without sin"?

He looked down at her, but his father with tears in his eyes answered her, looking in her direction: IIt must have something to do, with that business we went to Holland for, some sort of twisted return for the published revelations, from John's Grand-fathers diaries.

Kevin noted that his father Nathan, like his brother in Law, was ready to break down, this man loved his daughter, and had shown an absolutely love and devotion, for his little Granddaughter since she was born, and had an enormous liking for John.

Tina's eyes blazed, her Italian blood coming to the front, "My father will find out who the filth is, that did this to us", she placed Sandy, John and Kevin as her own family, this tight little knot of people, that had been together for the last three years.

Kevin placed a hand on her back, returning her to his embrace, "hush Tina, we'll find out who done it, have no doubt, and when we do," his voice trailed off, not knowing what else to say, but knowing that justice would be swift.