John struggled for many months with the guilt of sending two young men to their deaths. He was especially distraught over the way Kenny’s life was ended. He devoted most of his waking hours planning a way of gaining retribution from the two Stapo thugs who killed him.
‘John, I cannot condone you seeking these men out. I promise you they will face the full force of the law and it will be done by the book.’ Graham had been severely reprimanded for his role as senior officer present at the time of Kenny’s death while in police custody. Nevertheless, he remained firm to his principles that the officers’ concerned would face the due process of law.
‘I somehow don’t think that will happen, Graham, Mason supported by Garside will probably see to it they are quietly shipped out to some outpost where their thuggery will continue. I can’t let that happen. They beat that young man to a pulp simply because he refused to give his name. He protected this organisation and paid for it with his life. For the sake of his friends and colleagues, I cannot risk them escaping the justice they deserve. You do what you have to do my friend, I won’t stand in your way but if it turns out as I suspect, then I will find them and do what I have to do.’
‘John, I promise you this, if they manage to wheedle their way out of this crime then I will be the first to help you in hunting them down. There are a lot of good coppers’ that are being tarnished by what has happened here and I need to show them what the uniform they wear is really about.’
John greatly admired Graham for standing up for what he believed in but sadly, he felt that while the status quo remained, those beliefs would eventually be shattered.