Who Were They?

O N E - Every Story Must Have A Beginning

Not many of us are aware that there is a group of people completely dedicated to help those in dire need to escape their troubles. The help they need to start a new life... a new future.

Well that is what Cathy Limerick thought. You see many years ago on the thirty-first of June 1995, a baby with the name of Catherine Judith Limerick was born to the mother and father of the two most celebrated Witness Protection Programmes agents to ever have walked through the W.P.P. HQ. Of course she never knew this, how could she? Her parents died when she was just three days old and ever since, Cathy was told that her parents had died in a car crash and the only way that she, Cathy, had survived was because she was still in hospital being treated as a pre-mature baby. But that is not where she really was.

In actual fact, Catherine Judith Limerick wasn't in hospital she was however on the way to a very small village of Prestatyn, North Wales. Her parents being part of the Witness Protection Programme had annoyed an awful lot of the wrong sort of people in their time and wanted nothing more than to get rid of the child of Agent S and Agent L. No matter how ruthless they could be, the W.P.P wouldn't have an innocent child murdered for the sake of revenge.

So here we are at the beginning of the story, outside the house of one Mr and Mrs Jackson. Rain pouring and bouncing off the steel and aluminium that are formed to create the roof of the car, not disturbing the baby wrapped in a tartan blanket, with a locket and a photograph concealed within. Rolling down the windows to the tinted glassed car a man appears with just one question.

"What is her name?" Mr Jackson asks looking slightly grey as if Atlas' sky had fallen on him, to be fair it sort of had. You must understand that with the job of Cathy's parents her father rarely contacted his brother plainly to keep him and his wife safe.

"Catherine Judith Limerick, her mother's maiden name, I understand to keep her safe you see, your brothers' choice. We must thank you for taking on this huge responsibility, I mean to say it could be years before anyone comes looking, but when they do just be prepared. Just raise her right, feed her, clothe her, keep her safe, but before I do go I want you to know your brother was much respected, loyal and loved man, as was his wife, they did commited acts to be proud of." Now with that he unbuckled the car seat and handing her to Mr Jackson closed his door and with a nod of his head pulled out from the pavement and turned the corner leaving a very ill-looking man wet through holding his brothers child.

Sixteen Years Later...

Music blaring, she nearly missed the sound of her Uncle's husky voice calling up the stairs like he had done every morning since she started school eleven years ago. He always said the same thing every day, every year.

"C.J Limerick when you're done getting ready for all the boys at school" he said . To Cathy her uncle was her best friend, he was the only link to her parents that she had. "I'd love you to make an appearance today". Clipping on the locket that was tucked inside her blanket on that long day sixteen years ago Cathy put on her red high-tops and pulled her fair hair back into a ponytail, she slung her black school bag over her shoulder and charged down the stairs grabbing the toast her aunt had out on the plate in her hand, Cathy wrenching open the door and jumping into the open topped army car.

"Ready for the last day of school, kiddo? Oh and when you get home be ready for about six, the sailing club mightn't appreciate it if you're late for the awards ceremony tonight." Cathy smiled. They pulled away from the curb and headed towards St. Anne's High School.

... but what she didn't know is that she wouldn't be attending the ceremony that night, Cathy wouldn't be returning to that little cottage later on in the afternoon, for an actual fact she wouldn't be seeing her uncle or her aunt for quite a substancial amount of time.