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Car blast at Victory training ground. Manager Parker feared Dead
The sporting world, indeed the whole of Australia, was rocked today by a car bomb attack on one of soccer’s most popular managers, Melbourne Victory’s Bruce Parker. It is known that one man died in the attack, but police have not released his identity. It seems likely to assume however that it is the successful manager of the local team.
Why Mr Parker would be targeted in this way is not known. Victory had just qualified for the Grand Final of the inaugural season of the A-League so it would seem unlikely that there could be a sporting motive behind this heinous crime.
The confusion over the bodies had, of course, helped me. Geoff hadn’t been particularly keen to let anyone know he employed young migrants without Visa’s on his estate and that had led to further delays, during which I lay very low. But as one week merged into two the cat was let out of the bag and the police named the poor victim. Geoff Lord told the press that I had gone into hiding due to the attempt on my life but that it wasn’t going to detract from the team’s preparations for the Grand Final and that I would be there when it mattered.
And it was here, today, that it mattered. The Grand Final. Much as expected Perth Glorywould be our opponents, and I was buoyed by the fact that Anthony Danze had recovered from his knock. Sarkies dropped to the bench to accommodate him.
As before the game opened up in a cagey fashion but it was not destined to be a goalless match. On 9 minutes Vieri skipped clear on the right and crossed dangerously for Thompson, who couldn’t make the header. Instead it was only half cleared to Danze who belted the ball home through a ruck of players from the edge of the box. 1-0. The shot was deflected and Thompson was a mile offside but we won’t complain about that.
On 25 Glory were level with a screaming free kick, foolishly given away by Claeys. {b]Perth[/b] got a second before half time and went in ahead, on balance justly.
I went through the roof at them and fortunately for me they responded with a second half that seemed to come from a different team. We applied pressure form the off but only got an equaliser on 68 minutes, Thompson the scorer at the second attempt. On 86 minutes Vieri headed a Vince Lia corner goalwards, only to see it blocked on the line. Carl Recchia popped up to put home the rebound for his first ever professional goal. A fitting end to a hard fought game as we held on and ran out 3-2 winners of the Grand Final.
Final Score: Melbourne Victory 3-2 Perth Glory The A-League Championship is ours !
Meanwhile, in the car park of the Olympic Stadium, a large man in a bulky trenchcoat stood in the car park waiting for the final whistle.
Mr DeVilliers had stayed in Melbourne after destroying the worm, Patch's, car. And it was a great surprise to him when he found out he hadn't actually killed the toad.
Mr DeSmet was unsurprisingly not best pleased. He promised to send over his other assasin Mr. Wong if Mr DeVilliers was unsuccessful this time, and Mr Wong was a man, probably the only man, who scared the willies out of the large Belgian.
So, on finding out the facts (i.e. Patch/Parker was still alive and was going to lead the team to glory in the Grand Final (how many finals did these Aussies want ???)) Mr DeVilliers went back to planning his next attempt. Forget stealth. Forget getting away. This was going to be spectacular.
It quickly became obvious when the final whistle blew as a great roar went up from the assemble multitude. Mr DeVilliers was actually glad that Melbourne Victory had won as it made this part of the plan so much easier.
The exit gates had been flung open, but no-one left as the final presantatuions were made. Mr DeVilliers walked in, uncontested. He found a door marked "Staff Only" and tried it. It was locked. It didn't take much effort to break the door down and there was no-one there to watch as they were all out on the pitch. He found an area set out for a recpetion, and waited.
Out on the pitch our captain, Geoffrey Claeys lifted high the A-League Grand Final trophy and the crowd roared. The lads did a lap of honour and then we all went in. As the lads got changed, Geoff Lord asked me to join him in his office as we had the Asian Champions League to prepare for. I said I'd say a few congratulary words to the lads and then join him.
That done, and the champagne corks popped, I strolled upsatirs into the executive offices. I walked through an apparantly deserted room that was set out for a giant celebratory banquet and onto Geoff Lord's office.
As I entered I couldn't help but notice the figure of Managing Director Tony Ising lying face down on the floor. Geoff Lord sat transfixed in his chair. I looked at him enquiringly but he said nothing, he just sat there with his mouth open.
A voice behind me made me spin round.
Mr DeVilliers (MDV): "So we meet at last Bruce Parker, or should I call you Denton Patch ?"
The hulking great man I had seen at the airport that time was filling the door frame. He really was from Brussels, what a turn up ! I actually smiled at that one, but not for long.
MDV: "I bring you greetings from Mr DeSmet. You probably expect me to torture you to get the location of the money you stole, but you're in luck. Mr DeSmet just wants you dead."
And with that he raised his arm. In his hand was a gun. A big, frightening gun.
Sunday 19th february No, that wasn't The End. Is this The End though ?
A shot rang out. But it didn't come from the end of Mr DeVilliers gun. A surprised look came across his face, the arm dropped and he slumped forward, onto the floor, a pool of blood spreading round his giant frame.
Framed in the doorway behind him, with a smoking revolver that Dirty Harry would have been proud of was my personal assitant, Mandy. She looked somehow younger. I realised that her hair wasn't grey any more, and she wasn't wearing those 'granny' glasses that made her look dowdy. I must have looked confused because she began to explain.
Mandy Deneuve (MD): "You think of me as the nice lady who helps you organise things, but I do have another role. I am Chief Inspector Amanda Deneuve of Interpol and I have been following you since you escaped from prison. Geoff here was kind enough to take me on as your PA with only a bit of arm twisting from the local police. We thought you had money stashed away but I've not seen you use any of it, but The Cartel still want to kill you for it, why is that ?"
It was no use, the game was up. Or was it ?
Bruce Parker/Denton Patch (BP/DP): "You heard the assassin, DeSmet simply wants me dead. Revenge, hatred, whatever. There is no money, I would have gone from here long ago when I had the chance if there was, wouldn't I"
MD: "I suppose so. But you best be aware that De Smet has another assassin, Mr Wong, who is much better than this Belgian amateur. That's why I want you to consider this. Turn state's evidence against DeSmet and the Chocolate Cartel. We can offer you complete immunity from prosecution and a new identity. One that works this time. What do you say ?"
There was only one answer to that, and so here I am sitting outside a bar watching the sun go down, sliding down behind the next island as I look out over the Eastern Mediteranean.
Inspector Denevue was good to her word. I was spirited out of the Olympic Stadium in the back of a Toyota land crusier with blacked out windows. Geoff Lord released a statement as to how after the attempt on my life I had resigned from the club after staying on to guide the team to their greatest success. he thanked me for my service to the club and announced Aaron Healy as my succesor.
Meanwhile I had my appearance altered again, a whole new, conservative, wardrobe, a new passport and a new identity. And a choice of locations, as ever I went for somewhere sunny.
And in return I provided the evidence, from behind a bullet proof screen in a Bruges courthouse that put DeSmet and all his Cartel cohorts into prison for a long time.
And now ? Now I am scot free, but if you think I'm going to lead you to all that money, think again. And as for football management, who knows, there's always next season.
The End Denton Patch may return in an FM2007 story
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