by Anna Smith
‘Aye. I’m on my way, man. Be another hour and a bit . . .’
The force of the rock on the back of Frankie’s head stunned him on his feet and he staggered a little. But Sharon was on him again, this time three rapid, frenzied hits, the sound of the rock against his head making a muffled thumping noise in the stillness.
‘Fuck!’ He dropped the phone.
Before he had a chance to turn around, she hit him one more time, with a force and strength she didn’t know she possessed, and he fell to his knees, dazed and confused, blood coming down the side of his neck. In a flash, she was into the back of the van, grabbing her bag, her hands trembling as she thrust them inside and brought out the gun. She pulled back the hammer, ready to shoot if Frankie had moved. But he hadn’t. He lay groaning on the ground, his eyes rolling. She pointed the gun at him.
‘Fuck!’ he muttered. ‘Fuck are you doing, Sharon! Stop!’
‘Shut the fuck up,’ she spat. ‘Stay where you are and don’t move.’
She slipped past him to the driver’s door and could see the keys still in the ignition. She came back and stood over Frankie. She bent down and picked up his mobile phone, and could see the last call he received was from Knuckles. She glanced down at him.
‘I should shoot you right now, you bastard. I’d be doing you a favour. Because whoever gets you first – Knuckles or the Caseys – you’re a dead man anyway.’
He put his hand up feebly, but she could see he was only semi-conscious. She backed away from him, slammed the back doors of the van, climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine. She switched on the headlights to make out where she was and spotted the narrow track they must have come up. It crossed her mind that this might not have been the first time Frankie Martin or any of his mob had been up here to dispose of someone who had crossed them, and as she put the van into reverse, she wondered how many skeletons were lying in the woods below – food for the vermin as they rotted away. If Frankie was next, she didn’t give a damn. It had been his choice. She had run out of choices the moment she realised that Knuckles had no more use for her. It was all about survival now. She’d survived his first attempt to get rid of her, and she’d done it again.
‘Fuck you, Knuckles!’ she said aloud as she eased the car around past Frankie’s body, then sped off down the track where the lights of the M6 were getting closer.
Chapter Forty-One
Kerry sat with Danny and Jack in the kitchen, while a few of the other closest associates came in and out, providing any information they’d picked up. Jack had sent two of his men up to the hotel to make discreet enquiries from staff and guests to find out what happened once guests had been evacuated. They’d established that everyone had been outside and all guests had been evacuated safely. They’d been told to wait in the car park while they organised a roll call to make sure there had been no mistakes. But one of the guests was missing. It was a lady by the name of Marcia Baker – the alias Kerry had booked Sharon under at the hotel. One of the waiters had seen her going away with a man, and didn’t think anything of it. He had mentioned it to staff, and they appeared to be satisfied that she had gone away for a while until things were settled at the hotel. She had some clothes in the hotel, but no papers to identify her. Vinny had called Kerry’s mobile to say that police were looking at the CCTV footage to see if they could identify who she was seen leaving with. She hadn’t heard back from them. And as it was now after eleven, she didn’t hold out much hope of getting any closer to finding Sharon tonight.
‘I just feel responsible,’ Kerry said. ‘I should have had someone up there. With it being One Devonshire and stuff, I just didn’t think anyone could get past the front door without being a guest, or with a guest.’
‘And nobody did, Kerry. So don’t blame yourself,’ Danny said. ‘Whoever kidnapped Sharon must have had someone helping – because the fire is no coincidence. This was all planned. We find out who lit the fire, we might be getting close.’
Kerry’s mobile rang and she picked it up. It was Vinny again.
‘Kerry, our traffic boys have picked up footage of a silver Merc van leaving the One Devonshire car park just after the drill. They’ve picked it up again on the M74 and then further down. We’re talking to the boys down south to see if they catch any more sightings of it on the M6.’
‘Thanks, Vinny. I appreciate that.’
‘I’ll let you know if we get anything more.’
He hung up. She didn’t want to sound ungrateful, but knowing the van was heading towards the M6 didn’t make her feel any better. If it was going there, then Sharon was being taken to Knuckles. And that would be the end of it.
‘What about Frankie? Anything from his mobile?’
Jack shook his head. ‘His mobile is switched off. But if he’s taken her – and there’s a good chance he has – then he wouldn’t be using his own mobile to communicate with Knuckles. He’ll have another one. Treacherous fucker.’
‘I should have dealt with him earlier too.’ She sighed.
‘Kerry,’ Danny said, ‘don’t beat yourself up. This isn’t over by a long shot.’
Kerry’s mobile rang and her eyes almost popped out of her head when she saw Sharon’s name come up on the screen. She picked it up.
‘Kerry!’
‘Sharon!’ Kerry glanced wide-eyed at Danny and Jack who looked at each other in disbelief. ‘What’s happening? Where are you?’
She pressed the phone to her ear as Sharon spoke, and she could hear the tremor in her voice.
‘Christ, Kerry! It was Frankie! The bastard kidnapped me from the hotel. I was tied up in this van, but I escaped.’
‘You escaped?’ Kerry’s voice went up an octave. ‘How?’
‘I’ll tell you when I see you. But right now I’m heading somewhere on the fucking M6 in the van and I don’t know where I’m going.’
‘Hold on a second, Sharon.’
Kerry turned to Danny and Jack.
‘It’s Sharon. Frankie kidnapped her, but she’s escaped and is on the M6 in the van by herself. We need to get to her.’
Jack went to the door and called in two of his men.
‘Get into your car and head down the M6, fast as you can. I’ll call you once you’re on the road and I have more information.’
The men nodded and left.
Kerry put her phone on loudspeaker so Danny and Jack could hear.
‘Sharon. Are you okay?’
‘Yeah, I’m fine. Shaken up, but surviving.’
‘What about Frankie?’
‘Don’t know about him. Left the bastard on some hillside near the Lake District.’
‘What happened?’
‘I twatted him on the head with a brick. I don’t think he’s dead though.’
Kerry glanced at Danny and Jack and clocked their lips curling in smiles of admiration. She even found herself smiling.
‘Christ almighty. Did he hurt you?’
‘No. But he was taking me to Knuckles. That’s when the really bad stuff would have happened. Listen, Kerry. Knuckles was going to the school tonight to take our Tony out. I talked to Tony earlier on – just before the fire. I don’t know what Knuckles’ game is. But I’m worried about Tony.’
Kerry looked at Danny and Jack.
‘We can get someone down there.’
‘I’m worried it might be too late.’
‘Listen, Sharon. I’ve got a couple of guys on the motorway just now and they’ll come and meet you. So just see about pulling in somewhere – a motorway café or something. The boys will be with you in a couple of hours. Don’t worry.’
‘It’s tomorrow the shipment arrives, Kerry.’
For a moment, she had almost forgotten about the shipment. The whole day had gone in a blur. She hadn’t even sorted the details out with Vinny, if the cops were definitely going to be there or not. But she’d told him enough that they would have already recced the area and would know what to do. It wasn’t expected until late in the afte
rnoon or early evening, so there was plenty of time.
‘I know. I’m working on that. Don’t worry about tomorrow. We’ll get that sorted. Just keep out of sight. Our boys will be with you soon.’
‘Thanks, Kerry.’
Kerry sighed as she hung up, and looked at Danny and Jack.
‘She’s got some bollocks, that lady,’ Danny said.
Jack smiled. ‘Aye. I’d love to be a fly on the wall in Knuckles’ house when he gets word that she’s fucked him over again. What a prick that guy is.’
‘Anyone fancy a drink?’ Kerry stood up. ‘I could do with one.’
‘Definitely,’ Danny said. ‘Whisky for me. Small one. Could be a busy day tomorrow.’
‘Same for me,’ Jack said. ‘The night’s not over yet. When you get a chance for a better talk with Sharon, ask if she’s any idea where Frankie turned off the motorway – where he took her. He might still be lying there. I want to find the fucker.’
Kerry nodded, then went to the cupboard and brought out a bottle of whisky and poured them a small one each. Then she uncorked the bottle of red wine she’d opened yesterday and poured herself a small glass. She sat down heavily, thinking of Sharon and the terror she must have been through. Yet she’d survived again. Knuckles Boyle would rue the day he ever took this woman on. And very soon, he would find out that she wasn’t alone.
*
Cal and Tahir were playing pool in the sports centre when Tahir’s mobile rang. He watched as his friend’s eyes lit up.
‘Really? Tomorrow? They should be here tomorrow? When? Where? When can I see them?’
Tahir kept the phone to his ear listening.
‘Okay. Call me as soon as you hear anything.’
He put the phone back in his jeans and turned to Cal.
‘That was the Turk. Tomorrow my brother and his family will be in the UK. I don’t know where or any details, but they are on their way from Europe. He says my brother told him to tell me that he is very happy and excited. His children are too.’
Cal grinned and slapped his mate on the back.
‘That’s brilliant, man. Fantastic. I’m well pleased for you.’
‘Thank you. When he gets to UK, I suppose he will get some transport here. It was all part of the deal. I pay for the transport to Glasgow and then they tell me where they will be.’ A wide grin spread across his face. ‘I am so excited, Cal. The last time I saw my brother’s youngest child, she was only a year old. Now she is three. Her big brother is almost five, and funny and very cheeky. You’ll like them.’
Cal saw Tahir’s eyes shine with emotion and he felt a lump in his throat himself.
‘Great. We’ll be like family, mate.’
‘Yes. Thank you. We will be family.’
Cal went to the bar and brought back Cokes for them, but as he stood at the bar watching his friend pot the remainder of the balls on the table, something niggled him. The Turk may be bullshitting now that he had their money. Trouble was, there was nothing they could do but take him at his word. But now he had told them he would deliver Tahir’s family tomorrow, Cal could only hope that he did. If he didn’t, he couldn’t bear to see the disappointment in his friend’s face. And if the Turk did fuck them over, Cal resolved that it would be the last time he ever did.
Chapter Forty-Two
Sharon began to shake a couple of hundred yards after she drove back onto the motorway in the van. She could feel the panic attack coming from her legs, all the way up her arms to her chest, catching her breath. Her hands trembled uncontrollably on the steering wheel and she gripped harder, willing herself to calm down. Her face was hot and her neck pulsated.
‘Come on, Sharon,’ she said aloud. ‘If you don’t get a hold of this you’re going to bloody pass out. Just breathe. It’ll pass.’
She managed a couple of deep breaths, letting the air out slowly, and could feel the blood pressure around her temples begin to abate. She could do this. She had to. In the distance she saw the next exit was a motorway service station and she knew it was big enough to be anonymous in. Nobody would be looking for her here anyway, not this early on. Frankie, if he ever got up, had to get back to the nearest town or village to make contact, and she decided it was a safe bet that he wouldn’t have Knuckles’ phone number in his head. She glanced at his mobile on the passenger seat, hoping it wouldn’t ring. She picked it up and switched it off. She was tempted to toss it out of the window, but perhaps she’d need it, if only to keep tabs on any messages Knuckles was leaving for Frankie. As she pulled into the massive car park she glanced around and waited a few moments before getting out of the van. Then she stepped out and walked across to the entrance. It was almost eleven at night so the place was fairly quiet, and the customers were mostly truckers and delivery drivers. She bought a sandwich and a cup of tea, put them on a tray and moved to the far corner of the room. She opened the sandwich and nibbled at it, before emptying two sachets of sugar into the tea. It tasted awful, but the sugar was supposed to be good for shock, so she swallowed it down, wincing. She was feeling better already, and was about to phone Kerry to tell her the exact location when her mobile rang. Tony’s name came up, from the secret mobile. She snatched it and pressed the phone to her ear. But the voice wasn’t Tony’s – it was Knuckles’. Her stomach dropped to the floor.
‘Teaching our kid your devious ways, you thieving bitch.’
She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.
‘Teaching my son to keep secrets from his dad, are you?’
‘Knuckles . . . Listen. This has nothing to do with Tony—’
Knuckles burst in. ‘Don’t you fucking tell me to listen, you robbing cunt.’
‘Let me speak to Tony. Please!’ Her voice shook with emotion. ‘Please, Joe. Please!’
‘Shut up. It’s not enough that you steal my money and go running to those Casey fuckers, but you try to turn my son against me. You’re history, Shaz. History!’
Sharon thought her chest was going to explode, picturing Tony sitting beside his dad, terrified, knowing he’d be worried sick about her. The poor kid must have been panic-stricken when his dad found the secret mobile.
‘Knuckles, please listen to me for a second. Let me speak to Tony. Just to make sure he’s okay.’
‘He’s with his father. Of course he’s okay,’ Knuckles said, his voice thick with sarcasm.
‘Mum! Mum!’
Sharon gasped as she heard Tony’s voice pleading. Then the sound of a slap and a grunt.
‘Mum, tell him! He hit me!’
‘Fuck!’ Sharon murmured. ‘Knuckles. Please. Don’t.’ Her throat tightened as she fought back tears. ‘Please. I’ll do anything you want. Anything. I’m sorry for everything I did. I’ll give you all the information you need to make things right again. I’m so sorry. Please. Leave Tony alone.’
‘Where’s Frankie? I’m trying to phone him.’
‘I don’t know, Knuckles. That’s the truth,’ she lied. ‘I’m in the back of the van and he stopped somewhere. I don’t even know where I am. I think he must have fallen asleep.’
‘Arsehole that he is. Do you know where you are?’
‘No. I’m still in Scotland, I think. Frankie just put me in the van and drove away. I don’t know where we went. Then the van stopped. I thought I heard him get out, but I don’t know.’
Sharon held her breath in the silence, praying that he was believing her.
‘If you’re lying to me . . .’
‘I’m not. I’m locked in the van. I can’t even get out.’
‘Why don’t you phone your pal Kerry Casey?’
‘I don’t want anything to do with that mob. I made a mistake even contacting them. I want to come home. I’m so sorry.’
‘You fucking shot two of my best men.’
‘You sent them to execute me, Knuckles.’
Her voice shook. Even after everything he did and everything he was doing now, the torture, the pain, it still hurt her to the core that he was
actually going to have her murdered. She could never forgive him for that, and she would kill him with her bare hands if she got the chance, but it still tore the heart from her that he wanted her dead. She waited for what seemed like an age as she listened hard for any signs of whimpering or pain from her son. Then she heard his voice.
‘Mum,’ Tony sniffed. ‘Are you all right? Where are you?’
‘I’m okay, son. Listen. Don’t you worry. Everything’s going to be all right. Just do what your dad tells you and be a good boy.’ She paused, swallowed her tears.
‘But, Mum! I need to see you. When can I see you?’
Sharon bit her lip. Bastard Knuckles was using Tony to lure her to him. She knew what would happen as soon as she showed up within ten feet of Tony. Knuckles would be waiting for her with a gun.
‘Soon, pet. I’ll see you soon. Now be strong. Be a good lad. I . . . I’m proud of you, I really am.’
She heard him sniffing and sobbing and she covered her mouth with her hand.
‘You see how you’ve upset the lad, you fucker? Right. You listen to me. Get banging on that door of the van until someone comes to help you. I know you’re not daft enough to go to the police. So as soon as you get out of there, let me know where you are and get your fucking arse down here. I have to go. I’ve got a big shipment coming tomorrow and I want you there for it. And I’ll tell you this, Sharon. You’d better be here or you’ll never see your boy again. You got that?’
‘Knuckles. I’ll get out of here. I promise. And I’ll make this all up to you. I’m sorry for everything. We can be good again. I want that so much. Please believe me. Don’t take this out on Tony. He’s just an innocent lad.’
