By Beej

Part 1:

Jenny watched as Jake’s cell phone danced across the top of his desk, and reached to grab it before it flung itself off the edge like a demented lemming.

"Aaron Mitchell’s phone."

"G’Day, Jenny. It’s Chris Roberts here. Is Jake around?"

"Oh, good morning inspector. Hold on just a moment, I’ll get him for you."

Jake walked out of his private bathroom dressed in his trackies and running vest, smiling at Jenny as she held up his phone, telling him who was on the line.

"G’Day, Chris. What can I do for you?" The smile left his face as he listened for a couple of minutes. "Okay, I’ll be right there."

Jenny watched as Jake grabbed his hoodie and jammed the phone in his pocket. "There goes my run, Luv. Hostage situation at St. Mary’s."

Jenny gasped in shock wondering why anyone would take a hostage in the beautiful cathedral. "I’ll call Angie for you."

Jake kissed the top of her head and thanked her as he rushed out of his office. Ten minutes later found him at the police barrier, showing his ID. and getting passed through. He soon found Inspector Roberts.

"Oh, Jake, glad you got here so fast. You didn’t need to get changed before you came," he winked, looking Jake up and down.

"Yeah right, five minutes later you wouldn’t have caught me. I was headed out for a run."

"Ah, the joys of owning your own business. You get away with playing hookie in the middle of the day."

"Too right, mate," Jake laughed in reply. "Okie dokie, let's get down to business. Why did you call me for this one?"

"We think he’s military, or ex-military. Said he wouldn’t talk to us, but he might talk to someone in the service."

"Right, let’s give it a go then, shall we."

The phone rang out in the office in St. Mary’s House and all heads turned towards it. The man in army fatigues ignored it, watching the small crowd he was guarding.

"Are you going to answer that, son?" Father Paul, the older of the two priests present asked.

The man pointed to one of the altar boys. "You, go fetch the phone, don’t speak to anyone, though."

The young lad ran through into the office and grabbed the handset of the cordless phone, ran back out to the others, and handed the phone over without a word. He went back and hid from view behind the Dean.

"I told you I wasn’t speaking to any cop," the man spat down the receiver.

"G’Day, mate. Take it easy. I’m not a cop. My name’s Jake and I just wanna talk to ya."

"What makes you think I want to talk to you?"

"Well, you told the police bloke that you might be willing to talk to someone from the military. You a soldier, mate?"

"I could ask you the same thing. You a soldier?"

"Was, mate, just on active reserve now."

"What rank?"

"Major," Jake replied softly.

"Unit?"

"1NZ SAS."

"Holy snappers, they brought in the heavy squad just for me?"

"No, mate, I just happened to be in the area. I work down near the harbour and they asked me to come along for a chat. So, do I call you mate, or would you like to tell me your name?"

"It’s Patrick, sir."

"Great, mind if I call you Pat? And you don’t need to call me sir, Jake will do."

"Most people call me Paddy. I’m in a bit of a mess aren’t I, Jake?"

"Paddy it is then. That’s why I’m here, mate. To try and get you out of it. Can you tell me who you have with you?"

"Two priests, the Dean, and four altar boys."

"Mate, you gotta let the kids go. They must be shit scared. You’ll still have the priests and the Dean. What do you say?"

"Let me think about it. Call me back in 30 minutes."

With that, the phone went dead and Jake was left staring at the building, wondering what would happen next.

Jake made a couple of calls, and before the half hour was up, he’d managed to get a few facts about Paddy from the military. There was a BOLO out for him as he was AWL from his battalion up in PNG. Hus commander told Jake that Paddy had become increasing agitated after getting a phone call. The next thing they knew, he was gone, sneaking onboard a transport heading back to Oz. They had been looking for him ever since, but up the top end where his family were, not down in Sydney. Jake thanked him and said he would do what he could to get Paddy out in one piece by the time an escort was arranged from his unit.

Checking his watch, Chris Roberts nodded to Jake. The 30 minutes was up. Just before he hit redial, the doors opened and four young boys ran across the grass towards the police vehicles. As they got closer, Jake saw tears streaking their faces. He went forward to meet them and was almost knocked on his back when they flung themselves in his outstretched arms.

"It’s okay, boys. You’re safe now," he said softly, helping them dry their eyes. "Come with me and we’ll get you all fixed up. There’s cold drinks if you’d like."

All the boys nodded eagerly and went with Jake to the control truck where a policewoman came out to look after them. "I’ll come see you in a bit, mates," Jake told them, winking and waving.

"Well, they don’t look too bad," Chris remarked, handing the cell back to Jake.

"Thank goodness for that," Jake replied, hitting redial.

Paddy picked up on the second ring. "Jake? Did the boys get to you okay?"

They sure did, mate. Thanks for sending them out. No need to scare them more than they already are, eh? Now, how about we have a little chat?"

"Inside."

"What?"

"I’ll talk to you inside the cathedral."

Jake looked at Chris, who was listening on the earphone. Chris shook his head. There was no way he was letting Jake walk into a dangerous situation. The boys had told them that Paddy had a ‘big gun’.

Listen, Paddy. If I agree to come and talk to you inside, you have to let the others go. I’ll be your hostage."

Paddy sat at the desk with his head in his hands. He really didn’t know what he was doing in Sydney, holding innocent people hostage, for what? He wasn’t thinking straight. Ever since the phone call his mind was lost in a thick fog.

Why had he sneaked in to St. Mary’s and taken hostages? Now he was thinking that there was no way he was going to get out of there in one piece. Perhaps sending the priests and dean out would help his case, but he needed Jake in there first, a bargaining point if the police decided to storm the cathedral.

"Jake, you can’t go in there. He’s unstable, anything could go wrong."

"I think I have to, John. I want to try and get him before the army arrives. They won’t want to sit around for as long as it takes, they’ll want to go in and get him. I don’t want anyone hurt, and Jin will never forgive me if I let the cathedral get scratched," Jake finished with a laugh. He spoke again into the cell phone.

"Paddy, I’m coming in, mate. Have everyone ready to come out when I get there."

"Okay, Jake. We’re moving into the main building now. Don’t try anything."

"No worries, mate. It’s just me, and all I have with me is my cell."

As Jake walked up the steps to the front entrance the door slowly opened. The priests and the dean came out as Jake made it to the entrance.

"Bless you, my son," Father Paul said softly, embracing Jake. "Please be careful. He seems calm on the outside, but there’s a wild look in his eyes."

"Thank you, Father. I’ll do my best to bring him out peacefully. Now if you would all like to go down towards the barricade? The man in charge is called Chris, and he’s waiting for you."

Jake turned and stepped through the door, which closed with a dull thud, and he turned to see Paddy for the first time. He was locking the large oak door.

"We can go sit down, Major."

Paddy was dressed in his fatigues and held a combat rifle at the ready position, but Jake thought he was safe, believing that Paddy really did want to sit and talk, and not do anything stupid.

"Why Sydney, mate? You come from the top end."

"Molly, my wife, always said she wanted to come to Sydney. I guess I thought that after her call to me she’d want to leave our house and move down south."

"And the cathedral?"

"She’s Catholic. I figured that if I grabbed the priests, she would come back to me to set them free."

"You haven’t put a lot of thought into this at all have you, Paddy?"

"Aw fuck…I didn’t think of anything, did I?" Paddy moaned, looking at Jake in despair. "I’m sorry. Major. I think I’m ready to give myself up."

"Your unit is sending someone down to get you. If I can persuade the priests not to press charges, we may be able to keep this a military matter, although you’ll have to go with the police to a holding cell until the army gets here for you."

"That would be good, if you can swing it, sir. I know I face a court martial. I really don’t know why I did it."

"I guess we can blame emotional stress. Sounds like you had a breakdown, mate. I have to thank you, though. This has been the easiest hostage negotiation I’ve ever been involved with. I usually have to talk the man out, not sit down and be told he’s ready to give himself up."

Paddy grinned ruefully. "I just hope that I get a sympathetic panel at my court martial."

"I’ll give them a full report, mate. I’m thinking that they may insist on a stay in hospital to get you all sorted out, then who knows."

"Right then. Do you have to give someone a call so they don’t gun us down as we leave?"

"Very funny, Paddy. There’s no fear of that, but I’ll call to let them know we’re on our way."

Jake dialled a number and was soon speaking with Chris, then they headed for the huge front doors and walked out into the late afternoon sunshine, down the steps, and across to the police operations truck.

"I’ve been told by the priests that they don’t want to press charges as no-one was hurt," Chris told Jake. "The boys are fine as well. We took them to a Red Rooster for some food and they think it’s all been an adventure now."

"Thank goodness for that, " Paddy muttered. "I never meant them any harm."

"Well, mate. You’ll be coming with us until your military escort arrives. They’re flying down from Darwin so will be a few hours yet. We’ll get you a nice comfy cell and a hot meal, okay?"

"Thanks, you’re all being very kind. I’m sorry I’ve put you to so much trouble. Please tell the priests how sorry I am."

"No worries, Paddy. I’ll do that for you," Jake answered. He watched Paddy get driven away and stayed a while as the barricades were taken down, then headed of to find the priests before heading back to the office then going home.

"Hey, hot shot!" Mike called out as he entered Jake’s office. "Heard you ended a hostage situation yesterday."

Mike and Tori had arrived late the previous evening to scout out places to spend their honeymoon.

"Mate, that was the weirdest scenario. The bloke let the boys go when I asked, and then he said he’d talk to me inside. When I got to the front entrance the door was opening and the priests and the dean came out. He let everyone go, then just sat and talked with me."

"That was lucky, my friend. You shouldn’t have gone in there alone."

"Yeah, yeah, I already have Chris on my back over that, but it was all over before it started, and he just seemed to want to be taken back to his unit."

"Ah well, another exciting day in Sydney," Mike laughed.

"The weird thing is, he told me he got a call from his wife saying she was leaving him, but I’ve spoken to his company commander, and he’s single. I think he went tropo! Perhaps instead of a court martial, he needs a spell in the psych ward."

"I don’t get it, Jake. Why choose Sydney?"

"Maybe he’s never been here before," Jake joked.

Just then the door opened and Tori came in with Angie. Jake got up to greet the girls, hugging Tori and kissing Angie.

"What you doing here, Luv?"

"I thought it would be nice for you to take us all to lunch, lover."

Jake glanced at his watch and noticed the time. Picking up his jacket, he asked Jenny and Star to watch the shop, then set off to the underground parking area, his wife and friends close on his heels.

They were soon driving over the harbour bridge on their way to Kirribirri, and Angie smiled as she realised where Jake was taking them. He pulled up outside Ainoya, one of the best Japanese restaurants in Sydney, and a place she knew Mike and Tori had never been to before.

Two hours later, after a wonderful dining experience, they headed back to the car, but were surprised when Jake headed north, and not back to the city. They ended up in Manly, and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around the shops and sitting on the beach. Jake had called the office and told Jenny to switch to their night service, then tell everyone to go home early.

As they were walking back from the aquarium, Angie stopped and looked around her.

"What’s up, Angel?"

"I…um…Jake, I’ve just had a cold shiver down my back, and now I have that prickly sensation that we’re being watched."

Determined not to laugh it off like he had the last time Angie had those feelings, he turned around as well, searching the faces of the people walking up and down towards the ferry terminal. He saw nothing untoward, but there were a lot of places someone could be watching them from.

"Okay, folks. I think it’s time to get back to the car and head south."

Mike agreed, filling Tori in quickly with what had happened the last time Angie felt eyes on her.

Mike doubled security in the office and insisted that Jake and Angie never went anywhere alone. He thought the security on the wharf was adequate, but still posted a couple of men at the main entrance and also one on each side entrance.

"Don’t you think that’s a bit OTT, mate?"

"I don’t, Jake. Remember, I got caught up in Angie’s ‘feeling’ the last time."

"Don’t think I’ll ever forget that, Mike," Jake whispered in reply.

A couple of weeks passed, and Angie was more relaxed and settled, so Jake thought they could slacken off the security a little. As usual, Angie accompanied him to the office building, but she left the lift on the tenth floor, as she had an appointment with Drew who was looking for a nurse practitioner for his practise.

"I’ll catch you late, Jake, and we can have lunch together, maybe invite Drew as well."

"Even if he doesn’t give you the job?" Jake laughed as he ducked the playful punch aimed at his shoulder.

"Hey, any more of that and I’ll be lunching with my new boss," Angie grinned as the lift doors opened. "See you later, lover," she added as she kissed him goodbye and skipped out of the lift. Jake waved as the doors closed and headed on up to the twelfth floor.

It was nearing lunchtime when Jake’s phone rang. The caller ID told him it was Drew’s office.

"G’Day, Drew, how’s my lovely wife doing?"

"If you want to see your slut again, I suggest you come down here now…and come alone."

Jake stared at the phone, listening to the dial tone. Darrin came in the office and asked him what was wrong. Jake ignored him, opening up his safe and taking his gun out.

"Jake…what’s going on?"

Jake pushed right past him and rushed out the door towards the lift. Darrin reached for the phone and pressed a couple of buttons. Drew’s number came up on the display. He ran out to look for Mike and they ran down the stairwell as fast as they could.

Jake opened the outer door slowly. The reception area was empty. The door to Drew’s office was slightly ajar and he heard voices. He was almost at the entrance when one voice got louder.

"Glad you could join us, Mitchell. Why don’t you come on in?"

Jake pushed open the door, gun in hand, and inched into the office. Inside he found Angie, Drew and his receptionist, along with Paddy and…Captain Collins.

"Hello, Major," Paddy said, smiling.

"How did you get out?"

"Well, thanks to your report, they sent me to the military hospital. I managed to give them the slip with the help of the Captain here."

"We meet again, Major," Collins spat out. "I think I’ll take your weapon. Drop it and kick it across to me."

Jake reluctantly dropped his gun to the floor and kicked it across the polished wood floor where it came to a stop by Collins’ foot. He bent down to retrieve it.

"Nice gun you have here, Mitchell."

"Give it back and I’ll show you how it works, you fuck," Jake hissed in reply.

"Watch your mouth," Collins shouted as he grabbed Angie by her hair and pulled her towards him. "What you doing with a half breed? Have you got no shame, bitch?"

"Get your hands off me," Angie spat.

"Feisty cow, aren’t ya," Collins smirked, placing Angie in front of him as a shield. "Just in case your mates decide to burst in on us, Mitchell. She’ll be the first to go. But if all goes to plan, sweetheart, you’ll watch your mongrel of a husband die in front of you. Shoot him, Paddy."

"What?"

"I said SHOOT HIM. Why did you think I contacted you to help in the first place, because I like you? You’re gonna do the ‘wet work’ for me."

"I can’t."

"You shoot him, or I’ll shoot you!"

Paddy reluctantly lifted his gun to point in Jake’s direction, his hand visibly shaking as he did so.

Darrin and Mike stood outside Drew’s offices. It seemed very quiet inside. Mike pushed open the door and saw no one in the reception area. Signalling for Darrin to follow, he stepped in. The door quietly shut behind them and they heard voices coming from Drew’s office. Looking around, they saw another door, which led to an examination room. It was empty, and there was an adjoining door to Drew’s office on the far wall. They made their way towards it and stopped, trying to hear what was going on on the other side of the door.

Jake was busy trying to talk Paddy out of firing his gun. Paddy begged him to be quiet. This wasn’t what Collins had told him was going to happen. He said Jake was his little brother, and the only family he had left in the world, and he was determined to see him one last time before he was shipped up country. For some reason, it all sounded plausible, especially as he’d known Collins when he first joined up, and thought he was an honest and honourable man.

Collins was getting impatient now and let go of Angie’s hair to grab Paddy. Angie pushed Collins and he bumped into Paddy. His hand jerked and the gun went off, closely followed by the one Collins held.

Paddy’s shot hit Jake high up his right arm, causing him to spin round. Collins had more luck, his shot slammed into Jake’s back, and he crumpled to the floor.

"JAKE!" Angie screamed, running across the room. Collins beat her to it and grabbed hold of the back of Jake’s shirt, roughly throwing him onto his back.

Jake was still conscious, and stared up at Collins. "Goodbye, Mitchell," Collins whispered, grinning in triumph as he pointed his gun at Jake’s head.

Just then, the door to the treatment room burst open and Mike flew in, followed instantly by Darrin. Darrin took Paddy down and Mike aimed for Collins. His bullet struck him in the neck just as his gun went off. His aim was deflected as his body jerked, but he didn’t miss Jake entirely. The bullet meant for his head was now embedded in his chest, dangerously close to his heart.

The silence following the roar of gunfire was broken by Angie’s anguished cry. The men turned to look at her. She was staring at Jake, lying limp and bloody across her lap.

"NO!!" she screamed…

ON TO PART 2

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