Catalyst by Michael Knaggs

don’t think it is, Emily, in the sense that, as I said to Clive, they’re just glad the problem – or the biggest part of it – has gone away. Honestly, you just wouldn’t believe the atmosphere there. It’s a real eye-opener. I think Irene and I genuinely felt that everyone in Cullen Field was tarred with the same brush – were like the crowd that invades us every few months or so. But when you hear them talking, we’ve got off really lightly. It was the same every night over there – police, ambulances, sirens going all the time – well, we’ve all heard them, haven’t we? And in the last week or so since the deaths – nothing at all, except a few minor incidents which they’ve dealt with themselves. They say that the only police on the estate since the deaths have been those working on the case.”
    â€œBut it was only three people,” said someone else, “so how come it can make all that much difference? I mean, the last time we had some trouble there must have been at least fifty of them.”
    â€œApparently the Bradys were notorious for planning virtually all the disturbances. They say that last one, on the night of the murders, was carried out like a military operation. Different groups all set up to do different things to create the most damage and chaos. It was all planned with – well, as I say – military precision. So getting rid of the ringleaders seems to have stopped the rot, for now anyway.”
    There was a momentary silence.
    â€œAnd another thing,” said Irene, “they talk about this man who did it like he’s a super-hero, the ‘Caped Crusader’ or something. They all said they hoped he was still around, and they think that’s what might be curbing the other trouble-makers. That, and the fact that people seem to be more prepared to confront any problems. Actually, I think that’s all part of the same picture – it’s like they now dare go out to tell these kids off, because this person’s watching them from round the corner. The kids might very well be thinking that as well.”
    â€œExcuse me, Irene, but shouldn’t that be ‘ Capped Crusader’?” asked the Branch Secretary.
    â€œThank you for that incisive contribution, Fred,” George laughed, along with everyone else.
    â€œWell, good luck to him, I say,” said Emily. “I hope they don’t catch him. If he’s done Cullen Field a favour, then he’s done us one as well.”
    Others nodded in agreement, and Arnold Danby raised his hand to speak.
    â€œYes, Arnold,” said George.
    The Squadron Leader got to his feet.
    â€œDuring nearly a lifetime in the military, I like to think that I have been fighting for what is right and for the upholding of the law – international law in my case. But more important than the law is justice. It seems to me that, in the space of less than an hour, a single person, now being hunted as a triple murderer, and whose freedom – and, effectively, whose life – will end when he is caught, has put to rights something that all the agents of the law have abjectly failed to do for God knows how many years. Isn’t it ironic that justice, it seems, has finally been done, and the law is such that it will now punish the person who achieved it?”
    For the second time that evening, Arnold Danby sat down to enthusiastic applause.

    Andrew Donald sat motionless, his eyes widening with increasing disbelief and scepticism.
    â€œJesus, hold it right there!” he said, interrupting Tom whilst he was in full flow. “Have you ever visited the planet earth, by any chance? This is the real world, for God’s sake. That’s just pure fantasy. We have a legal framework to comply with, or had you forgotten? None of what you have said – or very little of it – falls inside that.”
    â€œI’m not suggesting we should operate