FOURTH DRAFT OF MAIN ASSIGNMENT ~ 23rd June 2015
The funeral was extraordinarily well attended, people had arrived from all over the world. This man was respected, loathed, loved and hated in many places, by very many. Some arrived to make sure he was actually dead and to raise a glass in celebratory style. Others were genuinely sad as the deceased had been extraordinarily generous to those who were loyal to him. The media were there with a very heavy presence as this man was a wheeler and dealer who had a very sketchy history of violence and contrastingly of genuine charity to those in need. In other words this death was news and news was what kept the media arenas in business.
Six black horses led the cortège pulling an ornate carriage, many members of the family and some very close personal friends walked slowly behind as the procession made its way to the cathedral.
Joey Brown a turf accountant of some renown was seated above a retail shop with several friends and acquaintances using a pair of very high powered binoculars to survey the mourners in detail.
'I am certain our man is here somewhere, he is sure to break cover to pay his last respects to his late Uncle Alphonso, rumour has it that Dickus is in line to inherit a very large sum of money. I want what he owes me paid back with interest.'
There was a general ripple of assent from everyone there, James Black, his right hand man and personal assistant then replied. 'No worries Boss we have men everywhere, if the scumbag should have the nerve to show his face, we will get him and bring him here!'
So far there had been no luck and it seemed as if the exercise was to be a waste of everyone's time.
Waiting in the cathedral was another group of people with an identical mission. Clarence Hall a very influential city stockbroker was there as an invited guest examining the mourners and the family members in detail.
Maxwell Braithwaite Dickus was a very wanted man in more ways than one, as his Uncle went to his last resting place in style.
As the funeral service began, there was a slight disturbance at the entrance when the doors were opened to allow the entrance of a latecomer. Clarence did not even have to turn his head to assure himself that his time was not wasted, he guessed and signalled to an accomplice at the door.
Meanwhile our friend Joey Brown was hopping mad as a black sedan with heavily tinted windows had smashed into the windows of the shop below and the occupants had run off. This took everyone's attention away from the search and the place was crawling with police who were trying to establish the facts of how it happened. Joey's men were in hot pursuit of the occupants while the object of the afternoons exercise was paying his last respects in the cathedral.
When the service ended and the congregation began to file out, Clarence Hall became mystified as his people were unable to locate Dickus among the crowd of mourners. The family and close friends were expected to gather in a luxury hotel in the centre of the city and Clarence and his friends raced to intercept him at the wake.
Meanwhile a close friend of Mary was accompanying an infirm man in a wheelchair to the airport to catch a flight back to Scotland. Mary together with a very well trusted private investigator friend Marg, were there to meet her and the plane took off.
'Phew, that was a close run escape Mary, it was wonderful how that head of the PI firm was able to infiltrate and read every move our pursuers made. How did they do it! They are brilliant at the job they do.'
'I have known Marg for years.' Mary replied, 'She does not come cheap, but our fortunes have changed suddenly and when Alphonso's will is settled, we will be very wealthy again!'
'Excellent!' Exclaimed Maxwell. 'Our move to the Eastern coast of Australia is going ahead as planned. I have instructed a firm of solicitors to take control of our affairs and we will be able to move into a very desirable rental property when we decide to go.'
'Just one last thing Maxie, I know you will not like this. I have arranged for Marg to seek out all of your creditors and settle all your gambling debts without delay. In future I will handle our finances my love.'
(769 Words)
The funeral was extraordinarily well attended, people had arrived from all over the world. This man was respected, loathed, loved and hated in many places, by very many. Some arrived to make sure he was actually dead and to raise a glass in celebratory style. Others were genuinely sad as the deceased had been extraordinarily generous to those who were loyal to him. The media were there with a very heavy presence as this man was a wheeler and dealer who had a very sketchy history of violence and contrastingly of genuine charity to those in need. In other words this death was news and news was what kept the media arenas in business.
Six black horses led the cortège pulling an ornate carriage, many members of the family and some very close personal friends walked slowly behind as the procession made its way to the cathedral.
Joey Brown a turf accountant of some renown was seated above a retail shop with several friends and acquaintances using a pair of very high powered binoculars to survey the mourners in detail.
'I am certain our man is here somewhere, he is sure to break cover to pay his last respects to his late Uncle Alphonso, rumour has it that Dickus is in line to inherit a very large sum of money. I want what he owes me paid back with interest.'
There was a general ripple of assent from everyone there, James Black, his right hand man and personal assistant then replied. 'No worries Boss we have men everywhere, if the scumbag should have the nerve to show his face, we will get him and bring him here!'
So far there had been no luck and it seemed as if the exercise was to be a waste of everyone's time.
Waiting in the cathedral was another group of people with an identical mission. Clarence Hall a very influential city stockbroker was there as an invited guest examining the mourners and the family members in detail.
Maxwell Braithwaite Dickus was a very wanted man in more ways than one, as his Uncle went to his last resting place in style.
As the funeral service began, there was a slight disturbance at the entrance when the doors were opened to allow the entrance of a latecomer. Clarence did not even have to turn his head to assure himself that his time was not wasted, he guessed and signalled to an accomplice at the door.
Meanwhile our friend Joey Brown was hopping mad as a black sedan with heavily tinted windows had smashed into the windows of the shop below and the occupants had run off. This took everyone's attention away from the search and the place was crawling with police who were trying to establish the facts of how it happened. Joey's men were in hot pursuit of the occupants while the object of the afternoons exercise was paying his last respects in the cathedral.
When the service ended and the congregation began to file out, Clarence Hall became mystified as his people were unable to locate Dickus among the crowd of mourners. The family and close friends were expected to gather in a luxury hotel in the centre of the city and Clarence and his friends raced to intercept him at the wake.
Meanwhile a close friend of Mary was accompanying an infirm man in a wheelchair to the airport to catch a flight back to Scotland. Mary together with a very well trusted private investigator friend Marg, were there to meet her and the plane took off.
'Phew, that was a close run escape Mary, it was wonderful how that head of the PI firm was able to infiltrate and read every move our pursuers made. How did they do it! They are brilliant at the job they do.'
'I have known Marg for years.' Mary replied, 'She does not come cheap, but our fortunes have changed suddenly and when Alphonso's will is settled, we will be very wealthy again!'
'Excellent!' Exclaimed Maxwell. 'Our move to the Eastern coast of Australia is going ahead as planned. I have instructed a firm of solicitors to take control of our affairs and we will be able to move into a very desirable rental property when we decide to go.'
'Just one last thing Maxie, I know you will not like this. I have arranged for Marg to seek out all of your creditors and settle all your gambling debts without delay. In future I will handle our finances my love.'
(769 Words)