Free Influence by Andrew Snadden Page A

reason with Foster again, who after a few more seconds of holding him, let go. Foster turned around and began asking O'Keeffe where they were going for something to eat before he noticed that everyone was staring at him with worried expressions on their faces.
    “Why are they all looking at me? What's your fucking problem?” asked a puzzled Foster which prompted most of the people within the pub to hastily avert their gaze and look down at the floor. Foster shook his head with confusion and muttered “Pricks!” before he walked out of the main doors in an agitated state.
    O'Keeffe raised his palm up at Jones and Conan and told them to leave it before he transferred his attention to the man who Foster had grabbed and apologised profusely for his friend’s behaviour. The landlord behind the bar suddenly piped up, expressing his support for them and remarking how the loss of their colleague must have been very hard on them before he 'eloquently' said in his cockney accent “You're bloody heroes for sorting those bastards out! Scum, they should all be deported!” He then leant forward and put his hand on the man's left shoulder and said “I suggest you keep your mouth shut about this boy! You don't know you're fucking born sunshine!” The stubbly man acknowledging what he said with a nervous nod before repeatedly apologising to the three officers. O'Keeffe thanked the Landlord and they hurriedly left.
    Outside Conan turned to O'Keeffe and asked him what the hell was going on and that as Fosters friend, he must have known what was going on with him.
    “I don't know! He had a moment like this after the shooting; I thought it was just shock and stress affecting him!” He replied.
    “I can't believe this, I thought he was just playing up! I shouldn't have doubted him!” Conan reflected.
    “Look, we all should have done something about him earlier, but right now, we just need to find him!” Jones interrupted. The three men looked at each other with concern before they rushed off to search for Foster.
    The following morning, after failing to locate Foster, the trio discussed the night before with the others, drawing annoyed responses from Simpson and MacNeil who both stated that it had been obvious that something bad was going to happen. O'Keeffe informed Inspector Balham of what had happened, who shook his head and exclaimed “I knew he wasn't right! That's why I placed him on non-operational duties and removed his firearms permit, maybe I should have done more too. OK we'll sort this out when we get back!”.
    Just as the team were about to walk into the court for the verdict, Foster appeared smiling and apologising for his lateness as if everything was normal. Jones was just about to ask him where he had been since the pub but Balham tapped him on the shoulder and shook his head implying that he should leave it for now.
    Twenty minutes later, the Judge asked the Jury for their verdict, causing the butterflies to flutter around each of the firearms officers stomachs. As the Jury returned a guilty verdict against the five defendants, Jennings screamed out “They're are the murderers. They're the ones who killed an unarmed man!” before he was restrained by one of the court's bailiffs. The other four defendants remained silent and forlorn as they had done throughout the hearing.
    After the Judge had finished shouting for order to be restored, he finally gave his verdict, “I find the defendants guilty of planning and making preparations to commit mass murder, and hereby sentence them to fifteen years imprisonment!”, the five men's faces dropped. “And as for you Mr Jennings, I also find you guilty of the murder of City police officer Sergeant Kevin Marriot and the attempt murder of PC Alex Moore, in addition I therefore also sentence you to life in prison” The Judge finished with a look of disdain for Jennings in particular which did nothing to quell the temper tantrum he'd had just moments