Strikers Instinct

by A. D. Rogers

  The Wishton goalkeeper needed medical attention as Rae strode forward to take the last penalty. Showing not a hint of nerves he calmly tucked the ball past the Bolton goalkeeper to make the score 5-4 with one penalty left to take. The Wishton players looked for their goalkeeper to step forward to face the final penalty. If he could save it then Wishton would be in the Premier League next year. If Bolton scored then the penalties would continue – sudden death until one side missed.

  Suddenly the players realised that the goalkeeper wasn’t moving and that Harry and the Wishton officials were arguing furiously with the referee.

  “He’s broken his hand.” Harry shouted. “We need to bring the substitute goalkeeper on.”

  “No substitutions allowed once extra time has finished.” The referee announced. “He either goes in goal with one hand or you find a goalkeeper from the players you still have out here.”

  The Wishton players looked around in dismay – what the hell was going to go wrong next! No-one wanted to volunteer for the job and the players avoided eye contact with everyone – so no-one noticed Luke stripping off his shirt as he walked to Harry. Seconds later he was wearing a spare goalie’s shirt and was ramming some spare gloves on his hands. His team mates were silent as Luke strode towards the goal. The crowd began to chant one word, over and over again.

  “Linden, Linden, Linden, Linden!”

  The last Bolton player walked forward – he looked nervous and the noise from the crowd seemed to be making things worse. He placed the ball on the spot and was alarmed to see that Luke seemed totally oblivious to all that was going on around him. Instead Luke was smiling and seemed totally focused on watching the ball.

  The referee blew his whistle and the Bolton player moved forward with more confidence than he felt. Luke watched him like a hawk – convinced that he knew which way the ball was going. He began to dive as soon as the ball was struck but then he realised with a sickening feeling that he was diving the wrong way……….

  EPILOGUE

  Four days later – a beach in northern Minorca.

  Luke lay back on his sunlounger and gazed around him. Sue had left 30 minutes ago for her Spa session and he didn’t expect to see her again for a few hours. The beach was deserted at this time of the year and even the hotel pool only had a couple of elderly swimmers moving up and down.

  The break had been at Sue’s insistence. She had said the week before the game that win or lose, the two of them would be leaving straight after the game for a few days away at a top hotel in the sun. True to her word, as soon as the game was over she whisked Luke off to the airport – ignoring all the reporters – and for the last few days they had simply relaxed and re-charged their batteries.

  Luke felt terrible running away straight after the final whistle and leaving everyone to face the media but he told himself that he had made it clear from the beginning that he wanted to keep as low-key as possible. Lexi and Tom had travelled back home with the family and Sue had promised that when school broke up in a few weeks that they would have a proper family holiday in Florida.

  Luke had enjoyed the last few days alone with Sue – his phone had been switched off for most of the day and he had even had a chance to catch up with some of his reading – but now he was starting to feel slightly bored. Sue had picked this hotel mainly because it was very quiet and Luke had to agree that although it was lovely – there was probably more life in a morgue. He was lying on a stretch of beach reserved for hotel guests although anyone could walk through a section near to the sea.

  He was just considering taking a dip in the sea when he noticed an unusual figure lumbering down the beach. Although it wasn’t the hottest time of the year it was still very warm – Luke was wearing only shorts. The figure walking down the beach seemed to be wearing a suit, tie and sensible shoes. After a few seconds Luke began to groan as the approaching figure became more recognisable.

  “Keep on walking!” he shouted as the figure drew near.

  “Don’t be like that!” Harry pleaded. “It took me 2 days to track you down and then another 2 days to arrange a flight here. Sue made sure that you weren’t to be disturbed.”

  “She’ll be back soon so you’d better scarper.” Luke warned.

  “My flight back is in two hours – I’ll be gone before she even knows I’m here. Any chance of a drink?” Harry pleaded.

  Luke ignored him.

  “Aren’t you just a little but curious why I came all this way?” Harry asked.

  “Nope!” Luke replied. “All I know is that whenever I listen to you then I end up in trouble.”

  “What trouble?” Harry asked innocently. “You’ve had a great year!”

  Luke seemed as though he was going to hit Harry – so Harry moved back slightly.

  “Listen,” Harry begged, “there are one or two things that I needed to get off my chest – and I couldn’t wait any longer.”

  Luke put down his tablet and glared at Harry.

  “Go on.” he said in an unfriendly tone.

  “Well I perhaps haven’t been totally honest with you in a few areas.” Harry began.

  Luke moved forward in his sunlounger.

  Harry ignored the movement. “You were right,” he admitted, “I did fix the fans competition – or at least Fran fixed it for me.”

  Luke exploded and almost grabbed Harry by the throat before he regained control.

  “I knew it!” he muttered. “Why did you do it?”

  “Several reasons.” Harry gulped. “Mainly because I wanted to do something nice for you after all the good things you have done for me and others – but I also knew that if I could get you into that environment then I may be able to persuade you to take part in the study group.”

  “But how did you know I would be any good – and how did you persuade Fran to help?”

  Harry shrugged. “You are one of the fittest men I knew and I also knew that you were once a decent footballer – it was a calculated risk. And as far as Fran is concerned – she is a very good friend who seems to think she owes me a lot. I have looked after both her parents – they both had dementia problems. Her father is sadly dead now but I made sure that her mother is in a very good home and is well looked after. I told Fran that she would be helping make your dreams come true but also helping with important research.”

  Luke seemed to have calmed down a bit. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Because you have too many principles.” Harry answered. “You wouldn’t have gone along with it.”

  “What else have you not told me?” Luke demanded.

  “I poisoned the team before the Fulham game.” Harry said simply.

  “What!!!” Luke dived towards Harry.

  “Well poisoned is probably too strong a word actually – I just gave some of the squad a 24 hour bug so that I could get you onto the bench.” Harry revealed.

  “Unbelievable.” Luke moaned. “What else?”

  “I organised the leak to QGNews.”

  “Why?” Luke cried.

  “People were beginning to whisper about you. How could you play so well and not be on drugs at your age? I needed to bring everything out into the open and prove you were clean. So both Fran and I spoke “confidentially” to certain people about various things.”

  “You took a big chance – how did you know that the QGNews recording equipment would fail when they spoke to you and Fran?” Luke asked.

  “I used the pen you gave me.” Harry grinned. “I knew Jessica would take the bait so I let them record a little bit to get them hooked and then I blocked everything else. Then I lent the pen to Fran – she blocked every conversation. She also mentioned that she had heard that Basil Jeffers and Jake Pryce hated you – so she planted the seed in Jackie’s mind.”

  Luke shook his head. “I’m lost for words. At least the TxT Plus launch seemed to go well. That’s one of the few things that Sue and I have been tracking.”

  “All the publicity from last week caused the sales
to go through the roof. Ed is very pleased.” Harry said innocently.

  “I’ll bet he is,” murmured Luke, “and I bet that anyone who bought TxT shares will be pleased too?”

  Harry nodded. “Ed is the majority shareholder but there are a large number of shares available on the open market – the price has shot through the roof this week – as you probably know.”

  Luke stared at Harry. “How much did you make Harry?”

  “Millions.” Harry answered simply. “Enough to fund my research for years and not to have to rely on that idiot to keep me going. Actually – whilst we are on the subject – how much did you make?”

  “A similar figure,” Luke answered honestly, “my profits will be going towards building a new theatre in Wishton and other worthy causes.”

  “Why did you buy the shares?” Harry asked curiously.

  “I guess that I had a feeling that I couldn’t ignore. It was like the feeling in the parade ring at Haydock – I knew TxT pro was going to be a big success – I could just feel it.”

  Both men studied each other.

  “So what now?” Luke asked.

  “Well there has been one significant development.” Harry replied. “QGNews are going bust but before they do so they have offered us a deal – or rather they have offered you and Ed a deal. Their American owners have offered to sign the whole business over to you and Ed if you drop any legal action against them.”

  Luke laughed. “Me and Ed as partners – I don’t think so!”

  “Just talk it through with Sue before you make any decisions.” Harry urged.

  As they were talking they hadn’t noticed a young couple walking along the edge of the beach. Suddenly the couple stopped and the young woman walked across to Harry and Luke.

  “Excuse me,” she asked nervously, “are you Luke Linden?”

  Luke grinned. “Sadly enough – yes I am.”

  The girl turned to her partner. “You’re right!” she mouthed.

  Turning back to Luke she asked another question.”I’m really sorry to disturb you but my boyfriend is a big football fan and would it be possible for him to have his photograph taken with you?”

  “No problem.” Luke smiled.

  The girl pulled out her Smartphone and as her boyfriend moved to stand next to Luke she began snapping away.

  “Do you want to join them?” Harry asked the girl. “I’ll take one for you if you like?”

  The girl grinned in agreement and handed her phone over to Harry. As the three of them stood together they began to chat.

  “That was a great game on Saturday!” said the young man excitedly. “We watched it in the hotel bar. We couldn’t believe that save you pulled off at the end – kicking the ball away with your feet! You must be so proud!”

  “I am.” Luke admitted modestly. He thought back to the moment when he thought he had really messed up – the ball was heading the wrong way but luckily he managed to kick out and stab the ball to safety. That was the last thing he remembered before being buried under dozens of bodies.

  The young couple thanked Luke again and just as they were about to walk away they stopped and the girl turned to again to Luke.

  “Mr Linden – will we be seeing you in the Premier League next season?”

  Luke glanced at Harry. “No – the deal was for one season only – I’ve decided that I will be hanging up my boots. The Premier League is no place for old men.”

  Harry put his arm around the young man and whispered in his ear. “Don’t worry – you haven’t seen the last of Luke Linden. He’ll be playing again next year!”

  Luke glared at Harry. “What was that?” he demanded.

  “Nothing.” Harry smiled as he winked at the two youngsters.

  The two men turned to walk back to the hotel. Harry decided that perhaps now wasn’t the time to tell Luke the last of his little white lies – he’d maybe leave it for one more season…