The Bay Bulls Standoff

by Chris Ryan

  “If they were going to do that, wouldn’t you think they would have done it before now? I would think. Where did the two of you go when you went up towards the farm?”

  “We went up to have a look from a few high spots. I figured one of them would be a good spot to view the house.”

  “And did you find anything?”

  “Well, actually, the view of the house was good. But the snipers in the grass by Billy Oates’s house look like ants. So that ruled the farm out.”

  “Dutch, I told you Saturday afternoon that the spots we had here in the pit next to Mrs. Aggie’s house were the best view in the harbour. We tried everywhere else.”

  “I thought so, too. But it’s always worth a try to look elsewhere.”

  “I stopped by your Uncle Tom’s on the way up. There was no less than four media vehicles there. You had NTV, CBC, VOCM, and the Telegram.”

  “I hope you didn’t talk.”

  “Actually, I did. But it was only for a few seconds and I never gave them my name.”

  “No, you didn’t. But someone else may have.”

  “I never thought of that. Anyway, that’s all I can do now.”

  “VOCM called Joe this morning. They wanted an interview. Someone in the harbour is giving them updates every two hours or so.”

  “How did ye know that?”

  “The person who called told Joe.”

  “So . . . Joe, did you give them an interview?”

  “No, not talking to no media until this is over. Sharon, you think Leo is not monitoring the news? Don’t kid yourself. He most definitely is.”

  “I never thought of that. I hope, now, that they don’t air what I said.”

  “Guaranteed there will be a half-dozen or so people from the harbour on the tube this evening.”

  “Did you happen to see the National last night?”

  “No, but big sister Barb called from Trepassey this morning and told me it made the National. I’d say it will be on all stations suppertime tonight. Definitely.”

  “I wonder what their plans are for today and tonight?”

  “That’s the million-dollar question. They got to be planning something.

  “Sometime last night another huge truck appeared at the town hall. This one is also white in colour and even bigger than the first one that came up from town.”

  “I was looking at her in the town hall parking lot on the way here this morning. The thing is massive.”

  “I think it’s the bomb disposal unit.”

  “Why would they have that here for a standoff? You sure it’s the bomb disposal unit?”

  “I’m not sure, but it certainly looks like it. Any word on getting Peanut?”

  “No. Spoke to the cops again yesterday evening and they said to drop by again today. I’m starting to think they like looking at me. I also heard that Sandra Cahill’s cat is in her house alone, too. And Carly Lundrigan’s dog is in her house, too.”

  “I think they may have let Carly get her dog yesterday evening. Someone told me that last night on the phone.”

  “I’m going to track her down sometime this morning. To find out if it’s true she got her dog.”

  “Sure, if you did that to a dog, the police or the SPCA would drag your ass into court and charge you with cruelty to animals. But there’s nothing wrong with it when the cops do it. Who do they think they are?”

  “I don’t care, I’m getting Peanut today. I don’t care if I have to go up by Ann Marie Puddester’s and sneak down by Tom O’Driscoll’s. Dutch, you come down with me today and talk to the cops, will you? You’re a good hand to talk. I just can’t get across properly what’s on my mind. I’m no good trying to get my point across.”

  “There’s talk that they’re cutting the electrical power tonight.”

  “It’s true. They don’t have to get on a pole anywhere. They can do it down by the church. Apparently every house has their own isolated breaker. Supposed to happen sometime after midnight. I’ll be here watching that.”

  “So we’re into our third day with this standoff and no movement yet. They soon got to start trying something.

  “I have to run to Mount Pearl for a massage on my back sometime this afternoon. Here’s my cell number again. Tell Brenda to make sure and put it into her address book in her phone, Sharon.”

  It took me twenty minutes to get to Mount Pearl, forty-five minutes for the massage. I called Brenda as I left the clinic.

  “Hello, that you, Dutch?”

  “Yes, Brenda, it’s me. I’m in Mount Pearl. Anything on the go up there?”

  “Not a thing. No movement anywhere.”

  “Okay. I’ll be back there in a half-hour or so. You want a coffee from Tim’s?”

  “Yes, that would be nice about now.”

  “Sharon with you?”

  “Yes, she is.”

  “Ask her if she wants one, too.”

  “Sharon, Dutch is on the phone. He wants to know if you want a coffee. Yes, she said.”

  “Is Joe still there?”

  “He left here an hour or so ago. I think he may be gone home to try and get a nap.”

  “Do you know if he remembered to call Bouchard?”

  “Never heard him say.”

  “Good that he went home half early. God knows he needs a nap. He may have gotten three and a half or four hours sleep since this started on Saturday. See you in twenty minutes.”

  When I got back to the pit, it was empty except for Sharon and Brenda. I parked behind them.

  “Hey, girls. Here’s your coffees.”

  “Geez, thanks, Dutch. Now that’s what I call service. Dutch, who do you go to for your massages?”

  “I go to Amy Norris and Deana Whalen at Massage for Health, in Mount Pearl. I used to go to Deanne Mahoney in Goulds, but she isn’t at it anymore. Did you get Peanut?”

  “No, but they guaranteed me that Sandra and I will get our animals tomorrow morning. Martin Tobin’s cat was left in the house on Saturday, too.”

  “Those animals left alone for four days. Someone should be shot over this.”

  “Dutch, I wish we had a coffee house in Bay Bulls.”

  “There’s talk that a Robin’s Coffee is opening beside the Medicine Corner drugstore next to Maggotty Cove Pond.”

  “I hope it does. I loves me coffee, b’y.”

  “I do, too. I can drink four or five a day. There’s days that I have drunk more. Anyway, I’m going home to get a bite to eat. I’ll be back when the news is over. See you later.”

  “Later, Dutch.”

  I went home, got something to eat, and called Joe.

  “Janet, Joe home?”

  “He’s asleep.”

  “Okay. Don’t wake him, for God’s sake. Tell him I’m going back to the pit when the news is over. And please tell him not to forget my binoculars or scope.”

  “Will do. Bye.”

  By the time I got back to the pit, Joe was already there. Randy the Cat was in his back seat. I parked my car and got in Joe’s SUV.

  “Randy, move over.”

  “Why?”

  “I need to be able to use this side of the vehicle. It’s the best window for scanning with my scope.”

  “I was here before you and I’m keeping it.”

  “Joe, tell Cat to move the fuck over.”

  “Randy, please move over. He needs that window to use his scope.”

  “Fuck you, Dutch.”

  “Now, Cat, don’t be so sooky. You’re getting on like a child.”

  “Fuck off, Dutch.”

  “Joe, see the news?”

  “I just watched the piece on Leo on CBC.”

  “They didn’t give much detail, did they. Ac
tually, they gave very little. I learned nothing from it. I figured they would have something more to say.”

  “I was expecting a few more in-depth details from the cops.”

  “We’re not getting anything from it because we know what they will be reporting. All right for someone living away from here.”

  “The Telegram had more in it today.”

  “The picture on the front page looked like it was taken down by Uncle Tom’s.”

  “That second truck that showed up last night. They took something out of it a half-hour ago.”

  “What was it?”

  “I don’t know. It looked like a box that moved with wheels on it.”

  “Robot, Joe, robot. Just describe it again.”

  “Well . . . it was roughly two feet by two feet and a couple of feet high. And more lights on it than a Christmas tree. And, if I’m not mistaken, I thought I could hear the words ‘test, one . . . two . . . three . . . test’ coming from it.”

  “Joe, you stay here and hold on to our spot. I’m going to take a quick run down around the town hall for a look. That’s exactly what it is, Joe. A damn robot.”

  “Why would they bring that up here? I thought that was used for bomb disposals.”

  “You’re right. They have something up their sleeve with that here.”

  “I’ve heard of police forces using them in hostage situations.”

  “Don’t tell me they’re going to send that in to Leo’s. That should go over well. Leo will flip when they send that in on his property. Wait and see. You know how guarded Leo is with everything. Especially his property. He’ll go berserk. I guess the robot’s remotely operated.”

  “I have no idea, Dutch. I’ve never seen one in my life, let alone seen one in operation.”

  “I guess time will tell. This could turn out to be a fun-filled night. I’m going to make a few calls.”

  I dialled Jeff’s number.

  “Jeff, you won’t believe what the cops have down by the town hall.”

  “What?”

  “A robot.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, a robot. I guess they’re going to send it in towards Leo’s house, to try and communicate with Leo.”

  “Dutch, that will set him off to no means.”

  “Jeff, you and I know that, but the cops don’t. This will definitely backfire. Anyway, call Plumber and tell him, will you?”

  “I take it you’re in the pit, Dutch?”

  “Yes, I’m here with Joe.”

  “Save me a seat, will you? I loves listening to you tormenting Joe.”

  “I don’t torment him. It’s just so easy to get him riled up. Okay, I will. Got to go. I have to call John Deagan.”

  When I called John, Irene answered.

  “Irene, John home?”

  “Yes, let me get him for you.”

  “Dutch, what are you at?”

  “Nothing, here in the gravel pit with Joe.”

  “Joe who?”

  “Me brother, b’y . . . the undertaker. You should have known that.”

  “Dutch, there are no less than six or eight Joes in Bay Bulls. Do you want me to count them for you? I can, Dutch. I’m not that busy. So, do you want them in alphabetical order, by the order of their last name or by their age? Or I can do up the harbour first and then go down the harbour. It’s up to you, Mr. Ryan.”

  “John, I never called you to talk about the Joes of Bay Bulls.”

  “Anyway, Dutch, what are you at in the gravel pit?”

  “We’re here since this all started with Leo.”

  “You’re off your fucking heads. You’re up in that pit since the start of this? Nothing better to be at?”

  “I’m calling to tell you the cops just took a robot out of one of their trucks.”

  “What kind of robot?”

  “One with wheels or tracks, lots of lights on it, and a PA system. The one they use for bomb disposals. And I’m sure you can operate it remotely.”

  “What the hell are they going to do with a robot?”

  “I don’t know . . . we don’t know. I’m guessing they’re going to send it in to try and communicate with Leo.”

  “Dutch, he’ll blow the shit out of that with one of Dermott’s old World War II assault rifles. Those .303s.”

  “Yes, that’s what we’re hoping. Going to be an exciting night here in the pit. Come up for a look later.”

  “That’s what I won’t. I’m into a good book. Not going up there to freeze the arse off meself, especially for Leo. Do you think, if I was down here in the Alley suffering through an episode of depression with the fine officers from Ferryland and Holyrood trying to help me through it, do you think Leo would be over in the Marsh Road or up on the Ridge keeping an eye on me? I doubt it.”

  “Anyway, John. Got to run.”

  “Dutch, keep me up-to-date on what’s going on with Leo, will you?”

  “You won’t drop up for a look, but you want to be kept up to speed on the goings-on?”

  “Yes, that’s right, Dutch.”

  “I guess I will. See you, bye.”

  All of a sudden Joe interrupted, his tone excited.

  “Dutch, get off the phone and have a look. Looks like there are three cars up by Sharon’s. Probably changing out officers. Time got to be some long stuck in one of those cars all day, I’d say. Look how long we’re finding it, and we can come and go as we please.”

  “Joe, the white truck is going across the bridge by the church.”

  “Where’s it going?”

  “I don’t know, but I’m thinking it’s going somewhere close to Leo’s house.”

  “You’re right, the two cop cars by the church are moving to let it pass.”

  “Okay, it’s slowing down by the post office. It’s stopped right in front of Bernie Mullowney’s. Right in the middle of the road.”

  “What the fuck are they stopped there for?”

  “I don’t know, but if I had to guess I’d say they’re going to take out the robot there and send it up the road and into Leo’s driveway.”

  “Can you see the cops by the truck?”

  “Yes, I see four. The back door is opening. See the ramp they’re lowering? See it, Joe, see it? The robot is coming out the back. It’s going down the ramp. Holy fuck, look at the lights on it! Looks like a mini cruise ship at night.”

  “Where did all the cops around the truck come from?”

  “They followed the truck in a Suburban. It was up the truck’s ass going up St. John’s Road. You blind, Joe?

  “Okay, can you see it going up the road? That thing can move. I’d say that was going fifteen or twenty kilometres. Okay, it’s taking a right and heading towards Leo’s house. See how fast it turned. Joe, look at the house. Holy fuck, didn’t that light the front of the house up? The lights on that are as powerful as three or four pole lights combined. You could see the light on the side of Ann Marie’s house, and how far is Ann Marie from Leo?”

  “Seven or eight hundred feet, I’m guessing.”

  “Keep an eye on it and see where it goes. It’s going around the back. The side towards the garages.”

  “I lost sight of it.”

  “I did, too. But I can see the lights on it, lighting up the back of the house. Listen, Joe, hear it talking. Shhh, listen.”

  “LEO . . . COME OUT. LEO . . . COME OUT. We will not harm you. Leo . . . please come out. Leo . . . we have cigarettes for you.”

  “Holy shit . . . isn’t it some loud? Joe, I’d say that’s a trained negotiator we’re hearing. The voice coming from the robot.”

  We heard a loud bang.

  “Joe! Hear that?”

  “Sounded like a shot was fired. It did, but it d
idn’t sound as loud as I would expect.”

  “Remember, Joe, that the noise was from within a house. I’m going to give Ann Marie a shout. I bet she can hear everything that’s being said. She’s right behind Leo’s house.”

  Why Ann Marie wasn’t evacuated was a mystery.

  “Ann Marie, Dutch here. You listening to the robot? Did you hear what sounded like a shot being fired?”

  “Actually, I was watching TV and heard this loud noise and went out to see where the noise was coming from.”

  “Well, I’d say the loud noise was a shot fired.”

  “Where did that robot come from?”

  “It was in that second white truck that showed up last night, the bigger one. They had it out down by the town hall building an hour ago. I guess they were testing it.”

  “Dutch, that is some loud.”

  “Sure, we can hear every word it’s saying here in the pit. And we must be half a kilometre from Leo’s. So, is Leo saying anything?”

  “He keeps saying, ‘Get the fuck off my property.’ He’s saying it over and over. He sounds like he’s going to blow his top. Sure, Dutch, don’t they know that this is only going to piss him off more? He fucking hates cops, and now for them to bring this thing in on his property. . . . Come over for a listen.”

  “No, we’re going to hang on here. I might be over later. Who’s there with you?”

  “Your sister Julianna.”

  “Tell her I said hello.”

  “Okay.”

  “Call me back if you hear anything interesting, okay?”

  “Will do.”

  “Later.”

  I tried Judy’s number, thinking Sharon might be there.

  “Sharon, did you hear the robot that they sent in on Leo’s property?”

  “No, what was it saying?”

  “It kept saying, ‘Leo, come out . . . Leo, come out.’ I know he’s not fuming. Sharon, he’ll blow the fuck out of that if they send it in too often.”

  “Dutch, I’m surprised that he didn’t blow the fuck out of it the first time it went in.”

  “Actually, we thought we heard a shot fired. I was just talking to Ann Marie. She told me that Leo keeps roaring. He keeps saying to the robot, ‘Get the fuck off my property.’ Over and over.”

  “I just twisted the top off a cold one. When that’s gone, I’m going to dart up to Ann Marie’s for a look. If Brenda shows up, tell her I’m gone up to Ann Marie’s.”