hard landing first chapter · 2019-12-17 · that was something else that was going to change, she...

HARDLANDINGFIRSTCHAPTER

TrishElliottranherhandacrossherstomachforthehundredthtimesinceshe’d

leftthedoctor’ssurgery.Itdidn’tfeelasiftherewasanewlifegrowinginside

her,itwasfartooearlyforanymovementorkicks,fartoosoonforthebabytobe

makingitspresencefelt.ButTrishhadknown,knownattheverymomentthat

Jonathonhadcomeinsideher,thatthistime,afteryearsoftrying,shewas

pregnant.She’dboughtapregnancytestkittheverynextdaybutithadbeen

negative,andshe’dgoneoutthedayafterthatandithadalsobeennegative.But

Trishhadknown,deepdowninsideshe’dknown,andathirdpregnancytesthad

confirmedwhatherbodyhadbeentellingher.Shewaspregnant,atlast.

Shehadn’tsaidanythingtoherhusbandandshe’dleftitanothermonthuntil

she’dgonetoseeherdoctor,butnowtherewasnodoubt.Pregnant.She

whisperedthewordtoherselfassheparkedthecaratthesideoftheroad,

relishingthesoundofit.‘I’mpregnant,’shesaidsoftly.‘Iampregnant.Iam

havingababy.’Shewantedtorundownthestreetandtelleverybody,toshoutit

tothesky,tophoneeveryfriendandrelativeshehad.Butshealsoenjoyedthefact

theshehadsuchadelicioussecret.Sheknew.Thedoctorknew.Andthatwasall.

Forawhileatleast,thebabybelongedsolelytoher.

Sheswitchedofftheengineandshuffledacrosstositinthepassengerseat.Her

husbandlovedtodrive.Itwasn’tamachothing,itwasn’tthathedidn’ttrustherat

thewheel,itwasjustthatheenjoyeddrivingsomuchthatshewashappytolet

1

himdoit.Trishthoughtthatshewasprobablythebetterdriverofthetwo.She

tookmorecare,followedtheHighwayCodereligiously,checkedhermirrors

constantly,andwasalwayshappytoletothermotoristsgetaheadofher.

Jonathon,wellJonathondrovelikeaman,therewasnogettingawayfromit.But

heenjoyeddrivingsoshesatinthepassengerseatandwaitedforhimtoleavethe

office.

Thatwassomethingelsethatwasgoingtochange,shethoughtwithasmile.

Jonathonhadpromised,crossedhisheartandpromised,thatwhentheyhada

familyhe’dgetadeskjob.Nomorelatenights,nomoreweeksawayfromhome,

nomoreputtinghislifeontheline.He’dpromised.He’dtakearegularjob,with

regularhours,andhe’dbethereforherwhensheneededhim.Someoneelsecould

taketherisks,someoneelsecouldgettheglory.He’dbeahusbandandfather.A

familyman.He’dpromisedandshewouldkeephimtoit.

Shesawherhusbandwalkingalongthepavementtowardsthecarandshe

waved.Jonathongotintothecarandgaveherakissonthecheek.Ashepulled

away,Trishslippedherhandaroundhisneckandpushedherlipsagainsthis,

kissinghimdeeply.Hekissedherback,withpassion,andslidhishanddownto

cupherbreast.

‘Thatwasnice,’hesaidasshefinallyreleasedhim.

‘Youdeserveit,’shesaid.

‘Forwhat?’Hestartedtheengineandrevvedtheacceleratorashealwaysdid,

boy-racerstyle.

2

‘Forbeingsuchagoodhusband.’Shestrokedhisthighandsmiledtoherself.

Shewasn’tgoingtotellhimyet,notuntilthetimewasabsolutelyright.Thefood

wasintheboot,alltheingredientsforhisfavouritemeal.Andabottleofhis

favouritewine.She’donlyhaveasiptocelebrateandthatwouldbethelast

alcoholshe’dtouchuntilthebabywasborn.Shewasn’tgoingtodoanythingthat

wouldremotelyjeopardisethehealthofherchild.Theirchild.Thechildthey’d

beenwaitingforforalmostthreeyears.Theirdoctorhadinsistedthattherehad

beennomedicalreasonforherinabilitytoconceive.Shewasfine.Jonathonwas

fine.Therewasnoneedyetformedicalintervention,thedoctorhadsaid,theyjust

neededtokeeptrying.Theywerebothyoung,fitandhealthy.Jonathon’sjob

meantthathewasunderalotofstressmostofthetime,butotherthanthatallthey

neededwaslotsofsexandabitofgoodluck.They’dhadlotsofsexallright,

thoughtTrishwithasmile.Thesexhadalwaysbeengreat,fromthemoment

they’dmet.

‘Whatareyousmilingat?’askedJonathon,puttingthecaringearanddriving

awayfromthecurb.Hepushedhiswayintothetrafficwithoutindicating,waving

acarelessthankstoaBMWthathadtobrakesharplytolethimin.

‘Nothing,’shesaid.Shewantedtotellhimthereandthen,butshewanteditto

beperfect.Shewantedittobeamomentthatthey’dbothrememberforever.The

momentwhenshetoldhimthatshewaspregnant.Thattheywerepregnant.

3

‘Comeon,comeon,’mutteredJonathon.Aheadofthemwasasetoftraffic

lights.Jonathongroanedastheyturnedred.‘Seethat?’hesaid.‘Nowwe’restuck

here.’

‘There’snorush,’shesaid,pattinghisthigh.Shelookedacrossatherhusband

andsmiled.Hewassogood-looking,shethought.Tall,broad-shouldered,anda

mopofblackhairthatkeptfallingacrosshisface.Perfectteeth.Atoothpaste

advertsmile.

Hegrinnedather.Shelovedhisgrin.Itwasthegrinofamischievous

schoolboythathadnevergrownup.‘Whatisit?’heasked.

‘What?’

‘You.You’resmilinglikethecatthatgotthecream.’

Shewantedtotellhim.God,shewantedtotellhim.Shewantedtograbhim

andkisshimandhughimandtellhimthathewasgoingtobeafather.Butshe

justsmiledandshookherhead.‘Nothing,’shesaid.

Alargeblackmotorcyclepulledupnexttothem.Thepillionpassengerleaned

downsothathecouldlookintothecar.Trishthoughtforamomentthathewanted

toaskdirections,thenshesawthegunandfrowned.Itwassounexpectedthatfor

afewsecondsitdidn’tregister.Thentimeseemedtostopdeadandsheeverything

clearly.Shesawthegun.Adullgreyautomaticinabrownglovedhand.The

pillionpassengerwearingabrightredfullfacehelmetwithanblackvisor.The

driverwearingablackhelmet,hisvisoralsoimpenetrable.Menwithoutfaces.

Thedriverrevvedtheengine.Thepassengerheldthegunwithbothhands.

4

JonathonwasstilllookingatTrish,butasherfrowndeepenedhestartedtoturn,to

seewhatitwasthatshe’dseen.Ashemoved,thegunkickedandthewindow

explodedandcubesofglasssplatteredacrossTrish’sface.

TheexplosionwassoloudthatitdeafenedTrishandshefeltratherthanheard

thenexttwoshots.Herfacewaswetandshethoughtthatshe’dbeencutbutthen

sherealiseditwasn’therbloodbutherhusband’s.Herfaceandchestweresoaked

withhisbloodandshestartedtoscreamashetoppledforwardontothesteering

wheel.

***

Therewereeightofthemintheminibus,allwearingblueoverallsandtraining

shoesandbaseballcapswiththelogoofthepestcontrolcompanyabovethepeak.

Astheminibusstoppedatthegateaboredsecurityguardwithaclipboardwaited

untilthedriverwounddownthewindowandthenpeeredattheplasticIDcard

clippedtohisoverallpocket.Hedidaheadcountandmadeanoteonhis

clipboard.

‘Nooneoffsicktonightthen?’Onabadnightthere’donlybefourinthesquad.

Eightwasafullcomplement,andwiththecompanybarelypayingabove

minimumwagetheywereusuallyatleastonemanshort.Nowomen.Thework

wasunpleasantandphysicallydemanding,andwhilesexdiscriminationlaws

meantthatwomencouldn’tberefusedajob,fewmadeitbeyondthefirstnight.

5

‘Newblood,’saidthedriver.‘Stillkeen.’

Thesecurityguardshrugged.‘Yeah,Irememberkeen,’hesaidwearily.He

wasinhislatetwentiesbutlookedolderwithhairgreyingatthetemplesanda

spreadingwaistline.‘Okaygentlemen,holdyourIDcardswhereIcanseethem,

please.’

Themendidastheywereaskedandthesecurityguardshonehistorchatthe

cardsonebyone.Hewastoofarawaytocheckifthefacesofthemenmatched

thefacesonthecards,butevenifhehadcheckedhewouldhaveseennothing

wrong.AlotoftimehadbeenspenttomakesurethattheIDcardswerefaultless.

Thevanwasgenuine,asweretheoverallsandbaseballcaps.Theoriginal

occupantsofthevanwereintheirunderwearinadisusedfactoryineastLondon,

gaggedandboundandguardedbyanothermemberofthegang.Hewouldstay

withthemuntiltoldthatthejobwasdone.

Thefacesthatlookedbackatthesecurityguardhadtheboredresignationof

menabouttostarteighthoursoftediousnightwork.ThreewereWestIndian,

includingthedriver.Therestwerewhite,allofthemagedunderforty.Oneofthe

youngestyawned,showingamouthfulofbadteeth.

Thesecurityguardnoddedandsteppedbackfromtheminibus.Hewaved

acrossathiscolleagueandthewhitepolebarrierwithits‘STOP’signrosegently

up.Standingatthegatehouseweretwouniformedpolicemenwearingbullet-

proofvestsandcradlingblackHecklerandKochautomatics.Theywatchedthe

minibusdriveby,theirfingersinsidethetriggerguardsoftheirweapons.The

6

drivergavethemafriendlywaveanddrovetowardsthewarehouses.Overheada

BritishAirways747swoopedlow,itslandinggeardown,wheelsreadytobiteinto

therunway,enginesroaringinthenightsky.

ThemanwithbadteethduckedinvoluntarilyandoneoftheWestIndians

laughedandslappedhimontheback.‘Don’tfuckaround,’saidthemansitting

nexttothedriver.Hewasawide-shoulderedmaninhislatethirtieswithsandy

brownhaircroppedclosetohisskull.Hiseyesscannedthedarknessbetweenthe

warehouses.Hewasn’texpectingtrouble,virtuallyallthesecuritywasatthe

perimeteroftheairport.

Intherearoftheminibus,themenbeganpullingsportsbagsfromundertheir

seats.

‘Right,finalnamecheck,’saidthefrontseatpassenger.HisnamewasTed

Verityandhe’dbeenplanningtherobberyforthebestpartofthreemonths.

‘Archie,’hesaid.Heopenedtheglovecompartmentandtookoutaportable

scanner.Heswitcheditonandclippedittohisbelt.

‘Bert,’saidthemandirectlybehindVerity.HisrealnamewasJeffOwenand

he’dworkedwithVerityonmorethanadozenrobberies.OwenpulledaFairy

liquidbottleoutofhissportsbag.Hesniffedthetopandwrinkledhistwice-

brokennose.

Veritytookasecondscannerfromtheglovecompartment,switcheditonand

placeditonthedashboard.

7

‘Charlie,’saidthemannexttoOwen.HewasBobMacdonald,aformer

squaddiewho’dbeenkickedoutofthearmyforbullying.Veritydidn’tknow

Macdonaldwell,butOwenhadvouchedforhimandVeritytrustedOwenwithhis

life.Macdonaldpulledasawn-offshotgunfromhisholdallandslottedared

cartridgeintothebreech.

‘Doug,’saidthemannexttoMacdonald.Heshovedaclipintothebuttofa

handgunandpulledbacktheslider.HewastheyoungestoftheWestIndians,a

careercriminalwho’dgraduatedfromcartheftandprotectionracketstoarmed

robberyafterhe’ddoneasix-monthstretchinBrixtonprison.That’swhereVerity

hadmethimandspottedhispotential.

Thealphabeticalroll-callcontinued.AtoH.Theyoungguywiththebadteeth

wasEddie.Hehadarevolverinhisrightglovedhandandastunguninhisleft.

Eddiepressedthetriggerofthestungunandbluesparkscrackledbetweentwo

metalprongs.Thehighvoltagechargewasenoughtodisableamanwithout

causingpermanentinjury.ThetalllankyWestIndiannexttoEddiewasFred.He

hadatwin-barrelledsawn-offshotgun.Sittingonhisowninthebackcradlinga

pump-actionshotgunwasathirty-somethingGlaswegianwithashavedheadand

footballtattooshiddenbyhisoverallsleeves.HewasGeorgeandhehadan

annoyinghabitofcrackinghisknuckles.

TheWestIndiandriverwasHarry.Veritydidn’tknowwhatHarry’srealname

was.He’dknownthemanforfiveyearsandworkedwithhimonadozenjobsbut

hadonlyeverknownhimbyhisinitials,PJ.Hewasoneofthebestdriversin

8

LondonandclaimedtohaveoncebeenEltonJohn’spersonalchauffeur.Verity

noddedatP.J.andhebroughttheminibustoahalt.

‘Anyoneusesanynameotherthantheonesyou’vebeengivenandI’ll

personallyblowtheirheadoff,’saidVerity,turningaroundinhisseat.

‘RightTed,’calledGeorgefromthebackoftheminibus,thenheslappedhis

foreheadtheatrically.‘Shit,Iforgotalready.’

‘Veryfunny,’saidVerity.Hepulledasawn-offshotgunoutofhisbagand

flickedoffthesafety.‘Remember,wegoinhard;heartsandminds.Don’tgive

themtimetothink.Theysoundthealarmandwe’vegotlessthansixminutes

beforethebluesandtwosarriveandwe’reuptoourarsesinHecklers.Everybody

set?’

Thesixmeninthebacknodded.

‘Maskson,’saidVerity.

Thementookofftheirbaseballcapsandpulledonblackskimaskswithholes

foreyesandmouths.VeritynoddedatP.J.andtheWestIndiandroveforward.

Verity’sheartraced.Nomatterhowmanyjobshedid,nomatterhowmanytimes

he’dpiledinwithagun,thefearandexcitementalwayscoursedthroughhimlike

electricity.Nothingcomparedwiththehighofanarmedrobbery.Notevensex.

Allhissenseswereintensifiedasifhiswholebodyhadgoneintooverdrive.

Veritypulledonhisownmask.Heconnectedanearphonetothescannerand

slippedtheearpieceunderhismaskandintohisleftear.Juststatic.

9

P.J.turnedsharplytotherightandpulledupinfrontofthewarehouse.Verity

swungopenthedoorandjumpeddown,keepingthesawn-offclosetohisbody.

Theearpiecebuzzed.Asuspiciouspassengerinthearrivalsterminal.AnIC6

male.AnArab.Good,thoughtVerity,anythingthatdrewattentionawayfromthe

commercialareaoftheairportwasaGodsend.

Owenpulledbackthesidedoorandjumpedoutoftheminibus.Hehada

revolverstickinginthebeltofhisoveralls.Therestoftheteampiledoutand

rushedovertotheentrancetothewarehouse.Therewasalargeloadingareawith

spaceforthreetrucksbutthemetalshuttersweredown.Totherightoftheloading

baywasametaldoor.Themenstoodeithersideofthedoor,weaponsatthe

ready.

Veritywalkeduptothedoorandputhisglovedhandonthehandle.Thedoor

wasneverlocked,evenatnight.Thereweremenworkinginthewarehousetwenty

fourhoursaday,thoughtherewasonlyaskeletonstaffatnight.Fourmenat

most.Twoforklifttruckdrivers,asecurityguardandawarehouseman.Four

unarmedmeninchargeofawarehousecontainingthebestpartoftwentymillion

poundsworthofgoods.Veritysmiledtohimself.Liketakingcandyfromababy.

Veritypulledopenthedoorandrushedin,holdinghisshotgunhigh.Tothe

rightofthedoorwasasmallofficecontainingthreedesksandwall-to-wall

shelvingfiledwithcardboardfiles.Auniformedsecurityofficerwassittingatone

ofthedesks,readinganewspaper.Veritylevelledhisshotgunatthemanand

motionedwithitforthemantostandup.Asthemangottohisfeet,Eddierushed

10

byVerityandpressedtheprongsofthestungunagainsttheguard’sneckand

pressedthetrigger.Theguardwentintospasmandslumpedtothefloor.Eddie

caughthimashefellanddraggedhimbehindtheofficedoor.Hetookarollof

ducttapefromhisoverallpocketandusedittobindtheman’shandsandfeetas

therestofthemenfannedout,movingthroughthewarehouse.Itwasabouthalf

thesizeofafootballpitchwithcartonsofcardboardboxespiledhighonwooden

pallets.Mostoftheboxesweremarked‘Fragile’andcamefromtheFarEast.

Japan.Korea.HongKong.

AnorangeforklifttruckreversedaroundastackofboxesandDougranuptoit

andjammedhispistolagainsttheneckoftheoperator,amiddle-agedmanin

whiteoveralls.Douggrabbedtheman’scollarandpulledhimfromthevehicle,

thenclubbedhimacrosstheheadwiththegun.

Veritycouldhearthesecondforklifttruckwhininginthedistanceandhe

pointedinthedirectionofthesound.FredandtheGlaswegianranoff,their

trainingshoesmakingdullthudsontheconcretefloor.

Dougrolledtheforklifttruckdriverontohisfrontandwoundducttapearound

hismouthbeforebindinghisarms.

VeritymotionedatMacdonaldandOwentostartmovingthroughthestacked

pallets.Theywerelookingforthewarehouseman.

Thethreemenmovedsilentlythroughthewarehouse,theirweaponsatthe

ready.Macdonaldlookedathiswatch.‘Plentyoftime,’whisperedVerity.

‘Radio’squiet.’

11

Thesecondforklifttruckstopped,andtherewasabumpingsoundinthe

distanceasifsomethingsofthadhitthegroundhard.Thensilence.

Thethreemenstoppedandlistened.Offtotheirrighttheyheardasoft

whistling.Veritypointedandtheyheadedtowardsthenoise.

Thewarehousemanwasinhisearlythirtieswithrecedinghairandwire-framed

glasses.Hewasholdingapalmcomputerandmakingnoteswithasmallstylusas

hewhistledtohimself.Hewassoengrossedinthetinycomputerthathedidn’t

seethethreemaskedmenuntiltheywerealmostuponhim.Hisjawdroppedand

hetookhalfastepbackwards,thenVerityjammedhisshotgunintheman’s

stomach.‘Don’tsayaword,’hissedVerity.‘Doasyou’retoldandwe’llbeoutof

hereinafewminutes.’

Hegrabbedattheman’scollarwithhislefthand,swunghimaroundsothathe

wasfacinginthedirectionoftheoffice,thenfrog-marchedhimwiththeshotgun

pressedintothebaseofhisspine.‘There’snom-m-moneyhere,’theman

stammered.

‘Isaiddon’ttalk,’saidVerity.Herammedtheshotgunbarrelintotheman’s

backforemphasis.

Whentheyreachedtheofficethetwoforklifttruckdriverswerelyingonthe

groundoutsidethedoor,gaggedandboundwithgreyducttape.Owenwas

standingoverthem,hisguninonehand,theFairyLiquidbottleintheother.

Veritypushedthewarehousemantothefloornexttothetwoforklifttruck

drivers.Themanrolledontohisbackandhisglassesfelloff,clatteringonthe

12

concrete.Veritypointedhisshogunatthewarehouseman.‘TheIntelchips,’he

saidthroughgrittedteeth.‘TheonesthatcameinfromtheStatesthismorning.’

Voicesbuzzedinhisearpiece.APoliceNationalComputercheckontheArab.A

name,dateofbirth.Nationality.Iraqi.‘Bastardragheads,’mutteredVerity.

‘What?’saidthewarehouseman,totallyconfused.Hegropedforhisspectacles

withhisrighthand.

VeritynoddedatOwen.OwensqueezedtheFairyLiquidbottleandsprayedthe

contentsoverthethreemen.Macdonaldfrownedasherecognisedthesmell.

Petrol.Theforklifttruckdriversbuckedandkickedbutthewarehousemanjust

layonthefloorinshock,hishandclutchinghisspectacles.

Owenemptiedtheplasticbottle,thentossedittotheside.Hetookagunmetal

Zippofromthepocketofhisoverallsandflickeditopen.‘Youheardwhatthe

mansaid,nowwherearethechips?’Hespanthewheelofthelighterwithhis

thumbandwavedatwo-inchsmokeyflameoverthethreemen.

‘Archie,whatthehell’sgoingon?’shoutedMacdonald,takingasteptowards

Verity.‘Noonesaidweweregoingtosetfiretoanyone.’

‘You’vegotashotguninyourhands,thisisnodifferent.’

‘Haveyouseenwhatthirddegreeburnslooklike?’

VerityturnedandlevelledhisshotgunatMacdonald’slegs.‘Haveyouseen

whatakneecappinglookslike?’

13

Macdonaldraisedthebarrelofhisshotgunskywards,showingthathewasn’ta

threat.‘JustwishedI’dbeenfullybriefed,that’sall.’Heshrugged.‘You’reright.

Inforapenny...’

Thewarehousemanscrabbledonhisback,awayfromOwen.Owenfollowed

him,bendingdowntowavetheflamingZippoclosertohislegs.The

warehousemanbackedagainstthewalloftheoffice,hishandsupinfrontofhis

face.‘I’mnotsurehowcloseIcangetbeforeyougoupinflames,’saidOwen.

‘TheIntelchips,’hehissedatthewarehouseman.‘Wherearethey?’

‘I’llhavetocheckthecomputer,’stammeredthewarehouseman.Adarkstain

spreaddownhislefttrouserleg.

OwenclickedtheZipposhut,grabbedthewarehousemanbythescruffofthe

neckanddraggedhimovertotheofficedoor.Verityfollowed.Theearpiece

buzzedandcrackled.There’dbeenacarcrashoutsidethedeparturesterminal.

Twominicabshadcollidedandthedrivershadstartedfighting.Veritysmiled

underhisskimask.Themoredistractions,thebetter.

Eddiethrewthewarehousemanintotheoffice.OwnsnappedtheZipposhut.

‘You’vegottenseconds,thenit’sbarbecuetime,’hesnarled.Hegrabbedthe

warehousemanandpushedhimdownontoaswivelchair.

Thewarehouseman’shandstrembledoverthekeyboard.‘Ihavetothink,’he

said.‘I’monlythen-n-nightman.’

‘Thinkaboutthis,’saidOwen,lightingtheZippoagainandwavingtheflame

closetotheman’sface.

14

Thewarehousemanshrieked.‘Okay,okay,wait!’heshouted,stabbingatthe

keyboard.‘I’vegotit.’Hewipedhissweatingforeheadwiththearmofhiscoat.

‘RowG.SectionSix.Twelveb-b-boxes.’

Verityturnedtotheofficedoor.‘Fred,Doug!’hecalled.‘RowG.SectionSix.’

Theearpiecebuzzed.DespitethecleanPNCcheck,theArabwasbeingtakeninto

custody.

OwenclosedtheZippoandusedducttapetotiethewarehousemantothechair.

‘Id-d-didwhatyouwanted,d-d-didn’tI?’askedthewarehousemanfearfully.

Owenslappedapieceoftapeacrosstheman’smouth.

VeritypointedatOwen.‘TellP.J.togettheminibusready,’hesaid,then

joggedtowardsRowG.

‘I’lldoit,’saidMacdonald.

Veritystoppedinhistracks.HepointedaglovedfingeratMacdonald.‘Isaid

him.IfI’dwantedyoutodoitI’dhavetoldyou.’HepointedatOwen.‘Doit!’he

shouted.ThenhepointedatMacdonald.‘YoustaywithmewhereIcankeepmy

eyeonyou.’Verityjoggeddownthecentreaisle.MacdonaldandtheGlaswegian

followedhimwhileOwenrantowardsthefrontdoor.

Dougwasalreadysittingatthecontrolsofaforklifttruck.‘Heretheyare,’

shoutedFred,gesturingatapalletloadedwithcardboardboxes.

‘Comeon,getthemloadedandlet’sgetoutofhere!’shoutedVerity.The

boxescontainedthelatestPentiumchipsfromtheStates.AccordingtoVerity’s

15

manontheWestCoast,thereweretwenty-fourboxesintheshipmentworth

almostamillionpounds,wholesale.

Inthedistance,themetaldoorslammed.Theyallturnedatthesoundof

runningfeet.VerityandMacdonaldranintothemainaisleandsawOwen

hurtlingtowardsthem.‘Cops!’yelledOwen.‘There’scopseverywhere!’

Veritywhirledaround.‘What?’

‘They’vegotP.J.There’sarmedcopsallovertheplace.’

Verity’shanddroppedtowardshisscanner.Hecheckedthefrequencyandthe

volume.Everythingwasasitshouldbe.‘Theycan’tbe,’heshouted.

‘Theymusthavehitasilentalarm,’shoutedOwen.

Verityrantowardstheoffice,whereEddiewasstandingwithbothhandsonhis

pistol.‘Whatdowedo?’shoutedEddie.

Veritygesturedatthemetaldoor.Therewereboltstopandbottom.‘Lockit,’

hesaid.Eddieranoverandslidthebolts,thenduckedaway.Therewereno

windowsinthewarehousestructure,nowayofseeingwhatwasgoingonoutside.

Owenwaspantinghard.VerityputahandonOwen’sshoulder.‘Howmany?’he

asked.

‘Shit,Idon’tknow.Theywereallovertheminibus.Threeunmarkedcars.A

dozencops,maybe.Ididn’thangaroundtocount.’

Verityrushedintotheofficeandslappedthewarehousemanacrosstheface,the

rippedthetapeawayfromhismouth.‘Didyoutripanalarm?’heasked.

16

Thewarehousemanwasshaking.‘Howc-c-couldI?’hestammered.‘Youwere

w-w-watchingmeallthetime.Youknowyouwere.’

‘Whatarewegoingtodo?’askedEddie.

‘Shutthefuckupandletmethink,’saidVerity.

‘There’snothingwecando,’saidMacdonald.‘Ifthecopsareoutside,it’sall

over.’

VerityignoredhimandturnedtoOwen.‘YousaidtheyhadP.J?’

‘Hewasbentoverthebonnetofoneofthecars,oneofthecopswas

handcuffinghim.’

‘Didtheyseeyou?’

Owennodded.

‘Theminibuswasstillthere?’

Owennoddedagain.

‘Okay,’saidVerity.Ifthecopsknewthatthey’dbeenseenthentheyhadonly

seconds.Hegesturedwithhisshotgunatthetwomenonthefloor.‘Freetheir

legs,’hesaid.‘Anduntiethetwatinthechair.They’reourticketoutofhere.’

Eddierushedintotheoffice.FredandtheGlaswegianbentdownandripped

theducttapeawayfromthelegsoftheforklifttruckdrivers.

Veritystoodcradlinghisshotgunashestaredattheboltedmetaldoor.Ifthe

copsknewthattheywerearmed,theywouldn’tcomestormingin.Andifthey

wentoutwithhostages,thepolicewouldn’tbeabletoshoot.Veritytriedto

visualisethegeographyaroundthewarehouse.Sofarashecouldrecall,there

17

werenovantagepointsforsnipers,nohighgroundfromwheretheycouldbe

pickedoff.Itwouldallbeupcloseandpersonal,andthatmeantthecopswouldn’t

beabletofirewithoutriskingthehostages.Buttheyhadtomovequickly.‘Come

on,comeon!’heshouted.

Eddiepushedthewarehousemanoutoftheoffice.‘Thesecurityguard’sstill

outcold,’hesaid.

‘Three’senough,’saidVerity.

‘Enoughforwhat?’askedMacdonald.

‘Togetusoutofhere,’saidVerity.Hewentovertothewarehouseman.‘Give

metheducttape,’saidVerity,holdingouthishandtoOwen.Owentossedhim

therolloftape.ThewarehousemantriedtospeakputVeritypushedthebarrelof

theshotgununderhisnoseandtoldhimtoshutup.‘George,comeoverhere.’

TheGlaswegianstoodupandwalkedovertoVerity.‘Putyourshotgunagainst

thebackofhisneck.’TheGlaswegiandidashewastold,andVeritywoundduct

tapearoundtheweaponandaroundthewarehouseman’sneck.

‘Youusehimlikethatandit’skidnapping,’saidMacdonald.‘Shoothimand

it’scold-bloodedmurder.’

‘Ifthecopsletusgo,noone’llgethurt,’saidVerity.HenoddedatFred.‘Do

thesamewithhim,’gesturingattheforkliftdriver.TheWestIndianhauledthe

mantohisfeetandstartedfasteninghissawnoffshotguntotheman’sneckwith

tape.

‘Theywon’tletyouwalkoutofhere,’saidMacdonald.‘Evenwithhostages.’

18

‘Armedrobberywillgetustwelveyears,maybefifteen,’saidVerity.‘Ifagun

goesoffandoneofthesesadfucksgetsit,it’llbemanslaughter.Tentotwelve.

We’vegotnothingtolose.’

‘TedVerity,Iknowyoucanhearme,’saidavoice.Veritywhirledaroundin

surprise,thenrealisedthatthevoicehadcomethroughtheearpieceofthescanner.

Itwasbeingbroadcastonthepolicefrequency.‘Thisisthepolice.It’soverTed,

comeoutnowbeforethisgetsoutofhand.’

VerityroaredandranovertotheforklifttruckdriverthatFredwastyingup.

Heslammedhisshotgunagainsttheforklifttruckdriver’schin,thenkickedhim

betweenthelegs,hard.ThemanfellbackandVerityhithimagainashewent

down.

MacdonaldgrabbedVerity’sarmandpulledhimaway.‘Whatthehell’sgot

intoyou?’shoutedMacdonald.

Verityshookhimoff.Theearpiecebuzzedagain.‘There’sarmedpoliceout

here,Ted.There’snowhereforyoutogo.Leaveyourweaponswheretheyare

andcomeoutwithyourhandsintheair.Ifwehavetocomeinandgetyou,people

aregoingtogethurt.’

Atelephonebegantoringintheoffice.

‘Answerthephone,Ted,’saidthevoiceinVerity’sear.

‘It’sthecops,’saidtheGlaswegian.‘They’llbewantingtotalktous.’

EddiehurriedovertoVerity.

19

‘They’vealreadytalkedtous,’saidVerity.Heslappedthescanneronhisbelt.

‘Ontheradio.’

‘Howdidtheyknowwehadascanner?’askedEddie,hisfacejustinchesaway

fromVerity’s.Veritycouldsmellgarlicontheman’sbreath.

‘Theykneweverything,’saidVerity.‘We’vebeensetup.’Hesworeandthen

pushedEddieinthechest.‘Getthefuckawayfromme!’hesaid.

‘It’sover,’saidMacdonald.HeturnedtotheGlaswegian,lookingforhis

support.TheGlaswegianshruggedbutsaidnothing.‘Ifwegooutwithhostages,

they’llthrowawaythekey,’saidMacdonald.TheGlaswegian’sfingerwasonthe

triggeroftheshotgun.Mostofthebarrelwascoveredwithducttape,bindingitto

thebackofthewarehouseman’sneck.Themanwastremblingandthepieceof

ducttapeacrosshismouthpulsedinandoutashebreathed.

‘There’llthrowawaythekeyformeanyway,’saidtheGlaswegian.‘Onelook

atmyrecord.’Hejabbedtheshotgunagainstthewarehouseman’sneck.‘Let’s

justdowhatwe’vegottodo.’

Macdonaldgroanedandshookhishead.HenoddedatOwen.‘Jeff,helpme

outonthis.Thismadbastard’sgonnagetusallkilled.’

‘Nonames!’screamedVerity,brandishinghisshotgun.‘Nofuckingnames!’

‘Ted,’saidMacdonaldcalmly.‘Themknowingwhoweareistheleastofour

problems.’

20

‘He’sright,’saidDoug.‘Ifthecopsareoutsidethenit’sthankyouandgood

night.’Hegesturedatthedoorwithhishandgun.‘Thispeashooter’sgonnadome

nogoodagainstpigswithheavyartillery.’

‘We’renotgonnashootatthem,’shoutedVerity.‘Allwe’regonnadoistotell

themiftheytrytostopus,thehostagesgetit.Look,theminibusisoutthere.P.J.

isthere.Ifwemovenow,wecanstillgetoutofhere.Ifwekeepyappingthey’ll

befiringteargasandGodknowswhatelseinhere.’

Thephonestoppedringing.FredwenttostandbyDoug.TheGlaswegian

pulledthewarehousemanbacksothathewasclosertoVerity.Battlelineswere

beingdrawn.OwencursedandmovedovertoVerity,hissawn-offshotgunatthe

ready.HegesturedwithhischinforMacdonaldtojoinhimbutMacdonaldshook

hishead.

‘Eddie,’saidVerity.‘Getthehelloverhere.’

EddielookedacrossatthetwoWestIndians,thenatVerity.‘Ididn’tsignup

forashoot-out,’hesaid.‘Inandout,yousaid.’

‘Eddie,getoverhereorI’llshootyoumyself.’Eddiegrittedhisteeth.Verity

levelledhisshotgunatEddie’sgroin.‘IsweartoGod,’saidVerity.‘Getyour

fuckingarseoverhere.’

TearswelledupinEddie’seyesbuthedidashewastold.

‘Answerthephone,Ted,’saidthevoiceinVerity’sear.‘Whatwe’vegottosay

isbettersaidoverasecureline,right?Don’tyouagree?’

21

Verityrippedtheearpiecefromhisearandpointedattheforklifttruckdriver

onthefloor.‘Getashotguntapedtohisneck,now,’heshoutedatOwen,keeping

hisownweaponaimedinthedirectionoftheWestIndians.

Owengrabbedtherollofducttapeandpulledtheinjuredmantohisfeet.

‘Givemeahand,’hesaidtoEddie.

‘Ifyou’regoingtogothroughwiththis,I’moutofhere,’saidDoug.

‘You’renotgoinganywhere,’saidVerity.

‘Thisain’tnothreemusketeerthing,’saidDoug.‘Youdowhatyou’vegotto

do,butI’mwalkingoutnow.’

‘I’mwithhim,’saidFred,shiftinghisweightfromfoottofoot.

Thetelephonestartedtoringagain.

‘We’regoingouttheretogether,’saidVerity.

Eddiebeganwindingtapearoundtheforklifttruckdriver’sneck.

‘They’renotgoingtoletyoudriveaway,’saidMacdonald.

‘Theywon’thaveachoice,’saidVerity.‘Whataretheygoingtodo?Shootat

uswhilewe’vegottheseguysbytheshortandcurlies?’

‘Andwhatareyougogoingtodowhentheysaythere’snodeal?’said

Macdonald.‘Blowtheheadsoffcivilians?

‘They’lldeal,’saidVerity.

‘Ifthat’swhatyouthinkthenyoudon’tknowthecops.’

‘Doyou?’yelledVerity.‘Isthathowtheyknewwewerehere?Didyougrass

usup?’

22

‘Screwyou,Verity,’saidMacdonald.‘Idon’tneedthisshit.’

VeritypointedhisshotgunatMacdonald’smidriffandhisfingertightenedon

histrigger.Macdonaldswunghisownshotgunupsothatitwaslevelledat

Verity’sstomach.

‘Guys,forfuck’ssake!’shoutedOwen.‘We’reonthesamesidehere!’

‘We’reinthistogether,’saidVerity.‘Ifwesplitupnow,it’sover.’

‘It’soveranyway!’shoutedMacdonald.‘Youjustdon’tseeit.’

‘Bob,we’redamnedifwedoandwe’redamnedifwedon’t,’saidOwen.

MacdonaldsnarledatOwen,thoughhekepthisweaponaimedatVerity.‘You

toldmethiswasastraightrobbery,’hesaid.‘Inandoutbeforeanyonewasthe

wiser,yousaid.Nowwe’retakinghostages.’

‘Thecopsaregoingtosaywetookhostagesanyway,’saidOwencalmly.

‘Soonaswetiedthemupwewereholdingthemagainsttheirwill.Look,Ibrought

youinonthisbecauseyouwereacoolhead.Don’tletmedownnow.’

Thephonestoppedringingagain.Outsidethewarehousetheyheardrapid

footsteps.Thensilence.

Macdonaldnoddedslowlyandloweredhisweapon.‘Okay,’hesaid.

VeritystaredatMacdonald,thennoddedcurtly,acknowledgingMacdonald’s

changeofheart.‘Checkthedoor,’Veritysaid.‘Don’topenit,justlisten.

Macdonaldwalkedtowardsthedoor.AshepassedVerity,Macdonaldturned

suddenlyandslammedthecut-downstockofhisshotgunintotheman’sstomach.

ThebreathexplodedfromVerity’slungsandhedoubledover.Macdonaldbrought

23

thestockcrashingdownonthebackofVerity’sheadandVeritydroppedlikea

deadweight.

OwenstaredatMacdonaldinamazement.DougandFredcheered.The

Glaswegiantriedtoriphisshotgunawayfromthewarehouseman’sneckbutthe

ducttapeheldfirmandhecursed.Macdonaldswunghisshotguntowardsthe

Glaswegian.‘Don’teventhinkaboutit,Jock,’hesaid.

‘You’redead,’saidOwen.‘Whenhegetsholdofyou,you’llbewearingyour

ballsaroundyourneck.’

‘Ifwegoouttheretooledup,we’redeadanyway,’saidMacdonald.Hebacked

awayfromOwen.TheGlaswegianrippedhisshotgunfreewitharoar.Heaimedit

atMacdonaldasthewarehousemanslumpedtohisknees.

Macdonaldkeptbackingaway.‘I’venoproblemwithyou,Jock,’hesaid.‘Or

you,Jeff.Ijustwantoutofhere.’

Therewasaloudbangattheentranceandtheyalljumped.AstheGlaswegian

turnedtolookatthemetaldoor,Macdonaldsprinteddownthewarehouse.He

duckedbetweentwotoweringstacksofpallets,thenzigzaggedright,leftandright

again.Hedroppedtheshotgunandkickeditunderapallet,thensprintedtowards

therearofthewarehouse.Behindhimheheardthemetaldoorcrashopen

followedbythestaccatoshoutsofmenwhowereusedtotheirordersbeing

obeyed.‘ArmedPolice!Downonthefloor,now!Down,down,down!’

Macdonaldzigzaggedagain,andreachedthewarehousewall.Theemergency

exitwasatthemid-pointandMacdonaldrantowardsit.Fromthefrontofthe

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warehouseheheardasingleshotgunblast,thenaburstofautomaticfire,then

moreshouts.Hewonderedwhohadfired.Owenwastoomuchofaprotoshootat

armedpolice.ItwasprobablytheGlaswegian.Macdonaldhopedthathehadn’t

hitanybodyandthatthepolicehadbeenfiringwarningshots.Apumpaction

shotgunagainsthalfadozenHecklerswasnocontestatall.

Macdonaldkickedthemetalbarinthemiddleofthedooranditsprangopen.

Analarmsoundedoffinthedistance.Thedoorbouncedbackandheshouldered

hiswaythrough.

‘Armedpolice!’shoutedaCockneyaccent.‘Dropyourweapon!’

Macdonaldstoppeddeadandraisedhishandsintheair.‘I’mnotcarryinga

weapon,dipshit!’heshouted,thenstoodwherehewas,breathingheavily.

‘Downontheground,keepyourhandswherewecanseethem!’shoutedthe

officer.Hewasinhismidtwenties,dressedallinblackwithaKevlarvestanda

blackbaseballcapwithPOLICEwrittenacrossitinwhitecapitalletters.Hehad

hisHeckleraimedatMacdonald’schest.Thereweretwomorearmedofficers

behindhim,bothwiththeirgunsaimedatMacdonald.

‘Canwealljustrelaxhere,’saidMacdonald.Hetookoffhisskimaskand

staredsullenlyatthethreearmedpoliceman.‘Okaynow?’hesaid.Theylookedat

himwithgrimfaces.

‘Downonthefloor!’saidtheoldestofthethree,gesturingwithhisHeckler.

25

‘Yeah,right,’saidMacdonald.‘Look,Idon’thavetimeforthis.’Hemovedto

walkbythem.TheCockneysworeathim,raisedhisweaponandslammedthebutt

againstthesideoftheMacdonald’shead.Macdonaldwentdownwithoutasound.

***

Macdonaldcametolyingonhisback,staringupatamaninawhitemaskwearing

adarkgreenanorak.HewasshiningasmallflashlightintoMacdonald’slefteye.

Macdonaldgroaned.Heheardthewailofasirenandrealisedthathewasinan

ambulance.Hegroanedagain.Hetriedtositupbuttheparamedicputahandin

themiddleofhischestandpushedhimbackdown.‘Liestill,you’vehadanasty

bangonthehead.’

‘Hehitme,’saidMacdonald.‘Whythehelldidhehitme?’

‘Becauseyouwereresistingarrest,youtwat,’saidaCockneyvoice.

Macdonaldtriedtositupagain.

‘Really,Sir,Iwouldn’t,’saidtheparamedic,pushinghimbackdown.‘There’s

agoodchanceofconcussion.We’regoingtohavetogiveyouascan.’

Macdonaldtriedtopushtheparamedicawaybuthisarmwouldn’tmovemore

thanafewinches.Helookeddown.Hiswristwashandcuffedtothemetalbarof

thecothewaslyingon.Hetriedtoraisehisotherhand.Thatwascuffed,too.The

copwho’dhithimwassittingnexttothecot,hisHecklercradledinhislap.He

26

hadalongfacewithdeep-seteyesandhe’dturnedthebaseballcaparoundsothat

thepeakwasattheback.‘Ishouldhavehityouharder,’hesaid.

‘Whatthehell’sgoingon?’askedMacdonald,groggily.

‘Yourmateshotoneofours,’saidthecop.‘You’reallgoingdownfor

attemptedmurderontopofarmedrobbery.’

‘He’sokay?’

‘Yourmate?Tookoneinthearm.He’lllive.’

‘Screwhim,healmostgotuskilled.Thecopwhowasshot.Isheokay?’

‘Nowyou’reworried,aren’tyou?’ThecopslappedhisKevlarvest.‘Vesttook

mostoftheshot,bitofdamagetohislowerjaw.Buttheintentwasthereand

you’reallinittogether.’

Macdonaldlaybackandstaredupattheroofoftheambulance.Theywere

movingatspeed,thesirenstillwailing,buthecouldtellthathewasn’thurttoo

badly.He’dbeenhitbefore,byexperts,andthebuttoftheHecklerhadn’tdone

anyseriousdamage.WhatworriedMacdonaldwaswhythejobhadgonesobadly

wrong.

TOBECONTINUED……

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