Carnage

by Heather Atkinson

  Taylor’s elbow in Mikey’s stomach caused him to drop to the floor. Taylor hastily unwound the cord from his neck and threw the thing across the room with disgust.

  “Just fucking die,” he panted, grabbing Mikey’s leg and dragging him towards him with one hand while raising the knife with the other.

  Jules threw herself at Taylor again, grabbing his hand and banging it off the bed frame, making him drop the knife. A punch to the face knocked her onto her side and a kick to the ribs kept her on the floor. In the fight her stitches had burst again and her blood was smeared across the floor.

  Taylor retrieved the knife, pushed her onto her back and straddled her, determined with every fibre of his being to finish this.

  “Finally,” he said.

  “No,” croaked Mikey, dragging himself across the floor, reaching out to his wife.

  This incredibly tender gesture caused Taylor to hesitate. He wasn’t a monster, he hated this, it was only desperation that had brought him to such an extreme act. He could only watch in astonishment as Mikey hauled himself on top of Jules, shielding her with his body. Protecting her had led to him getting shot in the first place and it seemed he was perfectly willing to do it again for her.

  Mikey stroked Jules’s face, both of them gazing at each other, seemingly having forgotten he was even there. Tenderly they kissed and pressed their foreheads together.

  “Oh Jesus,” said Taylor, feeling all the determination draining out of him, sitting back on his haunches, breathing hard, lowering the knife. He considered himself to be the good guy while they were the dirty criminals but never in all his life had he known love like that.

  Then he thought of what would happen to him if he didn’t do this, if he didn’t get that money.

  Grabbing Mikey by the shoulder he pushed him off Jules and onto his back, so they were lying beside each other. Some of Jules’s blood had transferred onto Mikey’s skin. It was only then Taylor saw the call button in Mikey’s hand. He looked to the door in panic at the sound of approaching footsteps, astonished when the door was flung open and two nurses, a doctor and - to his amazement - DI Dwyer and two detective sergeants charged in.

  The hospital staff gasped and remained at the back of the room, astonished to see an armed maniac in their hospital. Dwyer confidently stepped forward, followed by the detectives.

  “Alright Taylor, the game’s up,” said Dwyer. “Put down the knife.”

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “Just put down the knife so we can talk about it.”

  For a moment all he could do was gape at them before self preservation kicked in. “They attacked me.”

  “Alright. Just put the blade down and you can tell us what happened.”

  “I told you, they attacked me.”

  “Well it’s over with now, so drop the knife.”

  Taylor glared at him. “You don’t believe me.”

  “Right now the only thing I’m concerned with is you putting down that weapon.”

  Taylor frantically gazed around the room like a trapped animal trying to find a way out. “I can’t.”

  “Yes you can. Just let them go.”

  “You’re telling me to let them go? You hate this family.”

  “That doesn’t mean I want to watch you stab them both to death on a hospital floor.” Dwyer took another step forward and extended his hand. “Now give me the knife before this goes any further.”

  “You don’t understand, I have to or I’m finished.”

  “If you stab them you’ll definitely be finished.”

  “You don’t fucking get it,” yelled Taylor, raising the knife.

  He went rigid, knife hovering in the air as agony filled his lower half. Jules grinned with delight as she twisted his balls as hard as she could. Mikey dragged himself upright and slammed his fist into the side of Taylor’s head, delivering the right hook he’d been famous for when he was a boxer, knocking him out before flopping back to the floor.

  Dwyer and the two officers leapt at Taylor, rolling him onto his front and cuffing his hands behind his back. Dwyer picked up the knife and slipped it into an evidence bag. Everyone was so preoccupied no one noticed Dane hovering in the doorway, appalled.

  He turned and headed back down the corridor, taking Brick’s phone out of his pocket. He’d been careful to take that off him knowing it contained sensitive information about their business contacts.

  “Raven,” he said. “You’ll never fucking believe it. DI Taylor, the copper Damon said looked dodgy just tried to kill Jules and Mikey. He knows a lot of sensitive stuff about them…”

  “On it,” she replied before hanging up.

  Dane pocketed Brick’s phone, a little ashamed to realise he was shaking. This situation was completely out of control.

  Mikey took Jules’s hand. “You okay babe?”

  “I would be if people would stop trying to kill us.”

  He chuckled and kissed her hand, both of them unable to move, content to lie on the floor as the medical team swarmed around them.

  “Stay and take their statements once their doctors give the all-clear,” Dwyer told one of the accompanying detective sergeants. “And keep an eye out. We don’t know who else might be waiting to take a pot shot.”

  The detective nodded curtly, not impressed about being left behind with people who had bullseyes on their backs. His colleague smirked at him as he left.

  Dwyer and the detective escorted Taylor out between them, who stumbled along, his head slumped, his life over.

  “How did you know?” mumbled Taylor.

  Dwyer indicated for the detective to hang back a bit, so he could talk to Taylor in private. “Everyone knows you’ve been on the take for years. Two hundred thousand pounds was paid into your account this morning. Untraceable source of course but certainly too much for a DI’s pay.”

  “You sneaky little bastard, you went behind my back.”

  “I’ve been watching you for a while. Only myself, the Chief Inspector and the Superintendent know about our little sting operation.”

  “Always did want my job, didn’t you?”

  “Yep. I’ve never made any secret about it and I’ll be made the next DCI. Call it my reward for bringing down a crooked copper.”

  “You’re the most crooked of them all. At least I don’t fit up innocent people.”

  “You just tried to kill two people and you’re lecturing me? Your opinion is worthless now anyway. You’re finished as a copper Taylor but you could still have a life. All you have to do is give me some information.”

  “About what?”

  “The Laws’ and Maguires’ activities. They’re the big prize to me.”

  “Still wanting revenge for your brother? Pathetic.”

  “Like I said, the opinion of a disgraced copper is meaningless. Tell me what I need to know and you’ll only serve a bit of time inside.”

  Taylor snorted. “Like you could pull off that miracle and even if you did the Maguires would have me topped as soon as I set foot inside my cell.”

  “Perhaps not. But it’s the only option you’ve got. Tell me nothing and you’ll go to prison for the rest of your life, not that that would be very long. Coppers don’t tend to last long inside category A prisons.”

  “Fine. I’ll tell you what you want to know but I have conditions.”

  “Of course,” smiled Dwyer as they stepped outside. Taylor was the stepping stone he was going to use to boost his career and finally bring down that fucking family. He’d tap dance all over the sod if he had to.

  There was a dull thud and Taylor was pitched onto his back. Immediately Dwyer flung himself down behind his own car.

  “Get down you dick, it’s a sniper,” he yelled at his detective sergeant, who was staring down at Taylor in shock.

  Galvanised into action, he threw himself down beside Dwyer. “He’s dead. He’s fucking dead.”

  “So I see.”

  “They shot him.”

 
; “Yes, I know,” he said, taking out his phone. “What an amazing detective you are.”

  “With a gun. He’s dead.”

  “If you don’t get a grip I’m going to slap you until you do,” Dwyer yelled in his face.

  The sergeant went quiet and nodded, his hands shaking.

  Dwyer was fucking furious. That family had the luck of the devil.

  “Bloody nice shot,” said Damon.

  “Thanks,” replied Raven, packing up the sniper rifle.

  Keeping low, they both jogged through the woods, clambering over the fence into a field, heading back to the road where the car was parked. Raven hid the rifle in the secret compartment with the rest of the weapons. Catching Damon’s look, she sighed.

  “Fine, you drive,” she said, tossing him the keys.

  “Finally,” he grinned, leaping into the driver’s seat. “So where to now?”

  “We’re needed in Liverpool.”

  “Good city Liverpool. I had one of the best shags of my life with a Liver bird.”

  “What a romantic story,” said Raven as they left the hospital behind. “And if we see any cyclists no pulling over. We’re on a time limit.”

  “Spoilsport,” he said, starting the engine.

  As he drove she took out her phone and dialled.

  CHAPTER 40

  Jules and Mikey were once again settled in their beds, Jules’s shoulder having been stitched back up. Despite what he’d been through Mikey was actually awake and alert for the first time since he’d been shot. Dane himself was outside the door on guard duty with two of his men while the others were patrolling the grounds. The detective had attempted to question them but their doctor had told them they were in no fit state to answer questions. Mikey had promised to bung him a lot more cash if he kept telling the police that.

  “Did you the power of good being attacked by a lunatic copper,” commented Jules, who was dozing on her bed.

  “It’s amazing the effect a good fight can have,” he replied with a weak chuckle. “But I didn’t imagine us spending our honeymoon in separate beds.”

  “Never mind. We can make up for it when we’re back at full strength.”

  “You bet your gorgeous arse we will.”

  Jules was smiling as she reached for her phone when it burst into life. “Yeah?” she said. “Thought so. Nice work. Yeah, okay babes, good luck.” She hung up. “That was Raven. It’s done.”

  “So it would seem,” he said at the sound of approaching sirens. “That could have been very awkward for us. Dwyer would have used him to cause havoc for us.”

  “There’ll be a great big bloody fuss about this.”

  “And we’ll ride it out, like we do everything.”

  She nodded, settling back down to sleep.

  “Jules?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “Do you have to call Raven babes?”

  “Why, does it bother you?” she said, amused.

  “Well, it doesn’t bother me exactly but I do find it a bit…uncomfortable, especially as you’ve slept with her.”

  “But I won’t again. You’re the only one I’m sleeping with from now on.”

  “Glad to hear it but…”

  “Fine, I won’t call her babes again. It’s just a habit anyway.”

  “Thank you. Jules?”

  “Hmmm?”

  “I wish we were sharing a bed.”

  “Me too. Can I sleep now?”

  “For a few minutes, before a bunch of coppers burst in here and start asking questions.”

  “They can try,” she said before drifting off.

  She jumped awake when the door flew open and Dwyer stomped in.

  “Sorry,” said Dane, following him into the room. “He wouldn’t be stopped.”

  “It’s okay,” she replied, staring up into Dwyer’s furious face who was breathing so hard he sounded like a wheezy bagpipes.

  “How the fuck did you do it?” he bellowed.

  “Do you mind?” said Jules. “I’m trying to get some bloody kip here.”

  “How the hell did you manage to assassinate a DCI?”

  “Eh? You think we’re responsible? We were surrounded by loads of doctors and nurses when Taylor was shot. Go on, ask them.”

  “I don’t think you did it personally you silly bitch.”

  “Oy,” said Dane. “Don’t talk to her like that.”

  “How did you do it?” he snarled at Jules. “Tell me.”

  “I didn’t do anything you dick.”

  Dwyer glanced over his shoulder at Dane and his eyes narrowed. “Dane Black,” he said, stomping up to him. “I know you couldn’t have done it because I spotted you in the corridor. No way did you have time to get to those woods to make that incredible shot but you got someone to do it. Give me your fucking phone.”

  “Piss off.”

  “Give me your fucking phone right now.”

  “You got a warrant then?” He smiled when Dwyer turned even more puce. “Didn’t think so but here it is, take a look and see for yourself.” Dane handed him his own phone, having disposed of Brick’s down a drain.

  Dwyer snatched it off him and scrolled through the call list, even more infuriated to see he hadn’t made a call in the last two hours.

  “Fuck,” he spat.

  “Don’t you dare,” said Dane, snatching it off him when it appeared he was going to throw it against a wall.

  Dwyer turned back to Jules. “First my brother, now Taylor. Your family’s got a history of killing coppers and you will go down for it.”

  “They were both bent coppers,” she retorted. “I don’t know why you’re defending them.”

  “They were still coppers,” he yelled in her face. “And heads will roll. What the fuck are you laughing at?” he said when Mikey chuckled.

  “You’re a thick bastard Dwyer.”

  “What did you say?” he said, stomping over to his bed to glare into his face.

  “You’re trying to blame a man you said yourself couldn’t have done it because you saw him outside in the corridor and two people you know were surrounded by doctors and nurses. Taylor was being paid by our enemies to kill us. Has it not occurred to you that they were probably the ones who killed him to stop him talking when they saw their plot had failed?”

  Dwyer went silent, mulling over his words, hating the fact that they made sense. “Where’s the rest of the clan?”

  “What?”

  “At the other hospital you couldn’t move for family members in both your rooms. You’ve been attacked twice and they’re not here. I find that very suspicious.”

  Mikey shrugged. “So? They’re busy, they have lives and children.”

  “My guess is they’re down south, eradicating the enemy as we speak. Well I’ll be keeping in close contact with Kent and south London police and if just one body turns up there gruesomely murdered guess where my first port of call will be?”

  “Where?” said Mikey innocently.

  “Here,” he exclaimed.

  Dwyer rounded on Jules again when she laughed. “You think this is fucking funny, do you? Let’s see if you think this is so amusing. I’m going to be the next DCI, it’s already in the bag. Guess where I’ll be focusing all of my unit’s considerable resources?”

  “The doughnut shop?” said Mikey, making Jules laugh again.

  “That’s right, enjoy yourselves. Make the most of it because your family’s days are numbered.”

  The doctor returned to the room, fetched there by one of Dane’s men. “I specifically said my patients aren’t up to an interrogation. I insist you leave, immediately.”

  “Don’t worry Doc, I’m gone,” said Dwyer, glaring at Mikey and Jules in turn. “Don’t think this is over. I will be back.”

  With that he stormed out, Jules’s laughter echoing after him.

  “I do apologise,” said the doctor. “I’ll make sure he doesn’t come back.”

  “Thank you,” said Mikey.

  The doctor smiled an
d nodded. After the money that had been paid into his bank account he was willing to tell the police Mikey and Jules were pink elephants if they wanted him to.

  “That man needs a good shag and a bad woman,” said Jules.

  “Dwyer or the doctor?”

  “Dwyer. The doctor probably already pays for those. You can tell.”

  Mikey chuckled, already falling asleep, as was Jules. Dwyer’s words had disturbed neither of them. After everything they’d been through they were water off a duck’s back. Both were grateful to their enemies for making them so strong.

  Amber was scared and pissed off. It was tempting to run upstairs to pack and then flee to Exeter airport. In fact she would have done by now if Riley, Cathy and Beth hadn’t been keeping such a close eye on her. She couldn’t decide whether it was because they knew what she’d done or because they simply didn’t trust her after she’d cheated on Mikey. Probably the latter, there was no way they could know about her role in the plot against them. She was quite certain that if they did they would have had her killed by now.

  Her phone buzzed and, taking it out of her pocket she saw it was a text message from Katia.

  Are you free to talk? it said.

  She glanced around the large lounge. Cathy, Beth and Daina were chatting on the couch cradling mugs of tea, the kids were playing together and Riley was upstairs taking a shower.

  “I’m going to get some fresh air in the garden,” she mumbled before getting to her feet.

  No one paid her any attention, not even her own sons, who had lost all interest in her since they’d been down here. Admittedly she had been short with them but they got on her nerves, especially Zach, who was so pathetically needy. Fortunately he was getting all the fuss he needed from the other women and his cousins, meaning he left her in peace.

  Yes, Amber texted back once she was outside.

  Her phone rang and she answered it on the first ring. “Hello?”

  “Amber, it is me,” said that voice in the lilting Slovakian accent.