Northern Heist

Book 0: A Ructions O'Hare Novel

by Richard O'Rawe

Genres: Historical Thrillers; Suspense

Synopsis

"Full of double and triple-crosses  . . . Northern Heist’s deeds and details seem as real as a smashed kneecap, while its stopwatch tension, heightened by present-tense voice, is reminiscent of such classic caper films as 'Rififi' and 'The Asphalt Jungle."—The Wall Street Journal

A fast-paced, suspenseful thriller based on one of the biggest (and still unsolved) bank-robberies in history, written by a former IRA bank robber.

Nobody robs banks in Belfast without the IRA getting a cut -- not even former Provo James 'Ructions' O'Hare. But when word gets around O'Hare may be up to something, the pressure from the IRA begins.

Ructions' trusts his crack squad of former paramilitary compadres, and has full confidence in his audacious plan: To literally empty the biggest bank in Belfast by kidnapping the families of two employees - known as a "tiger" kidnapping -- in order to force them to help Ructions and his crew get into the bank's vault.

But keeping the plan -- and the money -- from the IRA is another plan entirely, one requiring all Ruction's cunning and skill.

In this stunning debut novel, as audacious and well-executed as Ructions' plan to rob the National Bank itself, Richard O'Rawe -- a former IRA bank robber himself - unleashes a story that will shock, surprise and thrill as he takes you on a white-knuckle ride through Belfast's criminal underbelly. Enter the deadly world of tiger kidnappings, kangaroo courts, money laundering, drug deals and double-crosses.

Release date: April 6, 2021

Publisher: Melville House

Print pages: 272

Sample

They say lazyboneitis is in the blood. It isn’t in James ‘Ructions’ O’Hare’s blood. Not when it comes to robbing banks.

At RJ’s gym, on Belfast’s Boucher Road, Ructions watches his childhood friend, Billy Kelly, set down dumbbells on the weight bench and inspect his bulging biceps. He likes what he sees.

A female fitness trainer yells at her aerobics class, exhorting the masochistic faithful to spill even more sweat. A middle-aged Arnold Schwarzenegger lookalike, in a tight pair of latex shorts, with clenched fists in black fingerless gloves, strolls across the floor. Mini-Arnold’s eyes inspect the pot-bellied and the over-the-hillers. Chesney Hawkes’ ‘The One and Only’ blasts over the loudspeakers as Mini-Arnold grins at himself laciviously in a floor-to-ceiling mirror. He sees Billy, winks and strolls over towards the pull-up bar. Billy, the pocket-sized champion weightlifter, opens his bottle of water and puts it to his lips.

Ructions – forty-five years old, blond hair, full lips, thin Roman nose and athletic build – lies on the bench, breathes deeply and prepares to start his set of bench-curls with the dumbbells.  After only five bench-curls, Billy’s upside-down face appears above him.

‘One hundred and fifty large? Before the move? That’s what you said. You’re going to give me—’

Ructions sets down the dumbbells, sits up and wags his finger. ‘Ah, ah, ha, Billy.’

‘Let me get this right …’

‘Uh-huh?’

‘You’re going to give me one hundred and fifty—’

‘I’m not giving you anything, Billy.’

‘Now,’ Billy says, ‘your client—’

‘Uh-huh?’

‘Who we both know well—’

‘We know a lot of people well, and any of them could be the person to whom you are referring.’

Billy ignores Ructions’ provocations. ‘Let’s call this person to whom I am referring Robin Hood.’

Ructions feigns surprise. ‘You’ve guessed my client’s name.’

‘So, Robin Hood is going to give me …’ Billy looks about, making sure he will not be overheard, ‘one hundred and fifty thousand pounds before the job is done?’

‘Yes.’

Billy’s foxy eyes try to read Ructions’ face. ‘Nice bait.’

Ructions does not disguise his ire. ‘Nice bait? Nice fucking bait? Are you serious?’

‘There’s a catch,’ Billy says, pointing to Ructions’ chest. ‘C’mon, amigo. This is your best mate you’re talking to. What is it?’

Ructions puts his arms on Billy’s shoulder. ‘You and me – we joined the Immaculata Boxing Club together, didn’t we?’

‘We sure did.’

‘And I taught you how to swim in the Falls Baths, didn’t I?’

‘No,’ Billy says. ‘I taught you.’

Ructions is reminded that Billy will be a controversialist to the day he dies. ‘Take my word for it, Bill, there is no catch. Once the money is in your hands, it’s yours. So, if the move goes ahead, you get paid the big bucks. If, at the last minute, it gets called off, you still get paid the big bucks. If your boys get knocked off by the cops, they eventually come out of the nick to the big bucks.’

Billy strokes his black moustache. ‘I see.’

‘And remember this – you’re the boss man. You pay your employees what you think they’re worth.’ Gone is the frivolity as Ructions whispers in Billy’s ear. ‘Billy, believe me, it doesn’t get much better than this.’

‘Robin’s no philanthropist.’

‘I never said he was.’

‘So, for him to claw back his money – and get the wages he’s used to – this thing has to work.’

‘Bingo.’

‘Ructions O’Hare,’ Billy says, beaming, ‘you must be one hundred and ten per cent.’

‘Aren’t I always?’

‘I’m in. You knew that anyway. You knew that before you came to me.’ Billy inspects his biceps in the mirror and sings, ‘I am the one and only …’ He falls silent for a few seconds and then turns to Ructions. ‘You fellas must be expecting a heavy haul.’

‘I’m an optimist, Billy. I always expect a good result.’ Ructions had anticipated that Billy’s greed would kick in sooner or later, and he is not disappointed.

‘Can we say two hundred, Ructions? Our pal, Robin, he can do that, can’t he?’

‘No.’

‘That’s it?’

‘That’s it.’

Billy nods. ‘Be thankful for small mercies, eh?’

‘Small mercies can be plenty costly.’

‘Yeah. Well, as I say, I’m in.’ Billy lifts his towel to go, and then stops. ‘Oh, I forgot to ask – how many players do I need?’

‘Five max, maybe less – if you’d a mind to do the prep work yourself and go no-frills.’

‘Hey! You’re looking at “No-Frills Kelly”.’

‘And one more thing.’
‘Yeah?’

‘I might need you to do some overtime. I probably won’t, but if I do, I’ll look after you.’

‘Time-and-a-half?’

‘Double-time.’

‘I’m your man.’