Blood Money (chapters one and two.) (standard:Suspense, 4300 words) [1/18] show all parts
Author: Hulsey	Updated: Oct 06 2011	Views/Reads: 3941/2322	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
A group of desperate men attempt to swindle a powerful IRA man out of three million pounds. (I have decided to submit one of my eighteen novels.)

1 

To each of the commuters riding the tube, the smartly attired man
browsing through his newspaper reeked of success. In this instance 
appearances were deceptive. True, Sam Chaplin was a highly esteemed 
solicitor who commanded an extortionate fee, but his weakness for risky 
investment schemes placed him in a less than opulent social position. 

His wife, Pauline was unaware of her husband's unsuccessful get rich
projects, and Chaplin struggled to disguise his failings, fuelling her 
lavish lifestyle with an abundance of credit cards. Paying his sizeable 
mortgage was exhausting what income he had available, but what hurt him 
most, was the fact that he was gambling with his six-year old son's 
future. 

The thirty-six year old bespectacled Londoner gazed at the familiar face
of the man in the newspaper; the man he was on his way to meet. Morris 
O'Hara was listed as one of the top one hundred richest men in the 
country; his chain of supermarkets mainly contributing to his vast 
wealth. His appearances on television, advertising his stores had 
portrayed the Irishman as a humorous, generous man; his donations to 
various charities endorsing his portfolio. Only now he had encountered 
misfortune head on. Driving from his mansion, he had failed to brake in 
time and eleven-year-old Melissa Palmer was killed instantly. 

A witness swore that he had reeked of alcohol, but the police who had
attended the tragic accident had refuted the claim. Appointing a top 
team of solicitors, he triumphed in the courtroom. 

Rumours were rife among the public that the multi-millionaire had bribed
the authorities to procure his freedom. His growing unpopularity 
wavered after he offered the parents of Melissa compensation, the exact 
figure not revealed. The grieving parents proudly refused the monetary 
offer and made their feeling known to the media. 

Chaplin conceded that he was undoubtedly inferior to O'Hara's defence
team and wondered why he had been summoned by the great man himself. 
The troubled solicitor noticed the devout attention he was getting from 
a shapely, blonde girl. His eyes were attracted to her generous 
cleavage. Making eye contact with his admirer, he turned back to his 
newspaper sheepishly; after all, the girl was probably barely out of 
her teens. 

After seven years of marriage, Chaplin conceded that his marriage was
becoming stale. He had married at the age of twenty-nine after courting 
Pauline for six months. Inwardly, he realised that if Pauline had not 
fallen pregnant, he would no doubt be still living the life of a 
playboy. 

The fair-haired solicitor glanced up once more from his newspaper to see
the girl was still scrutinising him. He felt a sensation of euphoria as 
he milked the attention. Granted, he worked out most days, and his 
boyish looks often charmed the women, but this girl was so darned 
young. 

He vainly removed his spectacles and smiled at the girl. She turned to
the burly Rastafarian who was seated beside her and whispered into his 
ear. The couple stared at Chaplin and laughed loudly, before holding 
hands and rising from their seats. After making their way towards the 
doors, the embarrassed solicitor replaced his spectacles. 

Leaving the tube at Hyde Park, Chaplin braced himself against the bitter
February wind. He noticed a strong police presence, owing to last years 
bombings of the London transport system. Arriving at his destination, 
he double-checked the address, before stepping back and admiring the 
luxurious four-bedroom mansion, which overlooked Hyde Park. 

He pressed the buzzer and spoke. “Samuel Chaplin here. I've an
appointment with Mr O'Hara.” 

He heard the click of the locks and the door was opened. O'Hara towered
over the solicitor. He was an imposing, bulky man with wavy grey hair, 
a red bulbous nose and deep blue eyes. His face was rugged, due to his 
difficult upbringing on the streets of Belfast. Several times the 
multi-millionaire had been under surveillance by Special Branch, who 


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