There were a few seconds of silence.
‘No, everyone is fine here,’ Simon answered.
‘Good. That’s good, Simon. The next thing we have to do is work out how we proceed from here,’ Ruth said softly. ‘Can I speak to you?’
‘I ... I think you should speak to Rachel,’ he replied.
Ruth heard the phone being put down and the sound of voices talking. Then a female voice came on the phone. Ruth immediately recognised it as Rachel Ryan.
‘This is Rachel. Who is this?’ Rachel snapped.
‘This is DI Ruth Hunter. We met the other day if you remember?’ Ruth asked.
‘Yes, of course I remember. You also came this morning and shot at us,’ Rachel said.
‘I’m very sorry about that. Simon assured me that no one inside the farm has been injured,’ Ruth said, making eye contact with Drake who was listening intently.
‘You’re not coming in here. And we’re not coming out,’ Rachel said sternly.
Ruth frowned as she looked at Drake.
What the bloody hell am I meant to say to that?
‘I understand that you’re angry, Rachel. But I don’t see how that’s going to work. You can’t stay in the farm forever.’
‘We don’t need to. That’s what none of you will understand. It’s started,’ Rachel said.
‘What’s started, Rachel?’ Ruth asked, as though talking to a child.
‘I don’t want to speak to you. And I don’t want to speak to any trained negotiators. One of your officers was up here yesterday. Sian, is it?’ Rachel said.
‘Sian? I don’t ...’ Ruth said, playing dumb.
‘We’re not stupid. I knew she was police as soon as we met. But I liked her. And I think she understands me and what we’re doing here. I want to speak to Sian and I’m not going to speak to anyone else ... So why don’t you go and get her and then we can talk.’
The line went dead.
CHAPTER 23
Rachel was in her office sitting at her desk. There were some cheap-looking bookshelves full of books, mainly religious, against a wall. A few posters were stuck neatly to the cream-painted wall.
Simon sat on a sofa, and beside that Maria sat in her wheelchair.
‘I don’t see that handing ourselves in is an option,’ Rachel said looking over at them. ‘Simon, you worked as a lawyer. What could we be facing?’
‘Manslaughter, murder, use of firearms. It’s not good,’ he answered.
‘I’m worried about the children, Rachel,’ Maria said quietly.
Rachel had asked Maria to be part of the conversation as she used to be a social worker.
‘What would happen to the children?’ Rachel asked.
‘I think they would all be taken into care to start with. I think there would be a lengthy investigation into the safety of each child, and their parents. But that could run for many months, even years,’ Maria explained.
‘And we wouldn’t get a fair hearing. They don’t understand us out there,’ Rachel said angrily.
The phone rang and Rachel looked at it momentarily before picking it up. ‘Hello?’
‘Hello Rachel. It’s Sian here ... How are you doing up there?’ she asked.
‘I’ve had better days,’ Rachel said.
‘Yeah, I suppose we all have. I’m hoping we can sort all this out peacefully. By us talking ...’
‘Why didn’t you do that in the first place? You lied to us. Why did you send armed officers up here and then fire at us? How am I meant to trust you, Sian?’ Rachel said, feeling the tension in her stomach.
There was silence for a couple of seconds.
‘You can trust me, Rachel. I don’t know what happened this morning, but you need to tell me what I can do to get you guys out of there safely?’ Sian said.
‘You know Sian, we obey God’s law over man’s law on Solace Farm. In the Bible, when the Sanhedrin ordered the apostles to stop preaching in the name of Jesus, they replied “We must obey God rather than men.” Their disobedience was justified. That’s what’s happening here, Sian. And I know you understand it,’ Rachel said.
For whatever reason, Rachel knew that Sian had been sent up to the farm for a specific purpose. She wasn’t sure what that was yet, but God’s intention would soon become clear.
‘I understand that what you believe doesn’t always fit in with the laws of where you live. But my job is to uphold the law,’ Sian said.
‘What if you don’t always believe in that law?’ Rachel asked.
‘That’s a very good question, Rachel ... but it’s not my job to question the law,’ Sian explained.
‘Why not? You just blindly enforce it, do you? Without question?’ Rachel asked.
‘No. It’s not like that. Sometimes the law lets people down. I’ve seen that and it’s made me angry. But it does what it’s there for ninety-nine percent of the time. To protect people. To remove criminals from society who are intent on harming others.’
Rachel smiled. ‘I knew there was something special about you, Sian. I can hear it in your voice today.’
There were a few more seconds of silence.
She knows what I’m telling her is the truth. I pray that the Lord comes and shows her right now, and for her to find the right path, Rachel thought.
‘How do we move forward from where we are, Rachel?’ Sian asked.
‘You must come to me,’ Rachel said.
‘Sorry. I don’t understand.’
‘You must come up here alone. I will surrender myself, and those in my family who have done wrong. But I will only do that to you. You understand us, Sian. I knew that the first time we met.’
‘I don’t think they will allow me to do that,’ Sian said.
‘Then there is no way forward for us, is there? It will be in God’s hands.’
There were a few minutes silence. Rachel guessed that Sian was getting instructions from her superiors. That DI Hunter woman whom she didn’t like.
‘Let me just clarify what you just said to me, Rachel. If I come up to the farm, you will hand yourself and the others over peacefully?’ Sian asked.
‘Yes. But it has to be you. That is the only way,’ Rachel said and put down the phone.
BY MID-AFTERNOON, THE media was awash with the breaking news that there was a siege situation in Snowdonia involving a religious community.
Sian was in the first-floor bedroom of the cottage with French, who was using the telephoto lens to keep an eye on the farm and feeding back information.
Drake and Ruth had listened in to the phone call that Sian had had with Rachel Ryan. At this stage, they just wanted to keep Rachel talking and had suggested waiting for an hour before Sian rang again. Sian couldn’t see the point. Rachel had made it very clear. If Sian went up to Solace Farm, then Rachel and the others would come out peacefully and surrender themselves to the police. It was simple.
However, both Drake and Ruth thought it was far too dangerous for Sian to approach the farm. There were no guarantees that they wouldn’t shoot her dead. Sian knew that Rachel meant what she had said. For whatever reason, she trusted Rachel to keep her word – however illogical or foolhardy the others thought that was.
‘Got a bit of movement,’ French said as he looked up at Sian.
‘Shove over,’ Sian said playfully as she and French swapped places by the window.
Putting her eye to the camera, Sian spotted a few of the children she had seen before at Abel’s party. They were walking across the yard, escorted by a few of the parents. Despite the events of the morning, they were laughing and chattering.
Then Sian spotted Abel dancing and whirling around with a beaming smile on his face. His look of joy and innocence made her heart leap.
Suddenly, something in the corner of the camera’s lens caught Sian’s eye. Some movement in the hedgerows. The leaves shook to and fro. For a second, she thought it might be a couple of birds. Then she saw the dark shape of a man moving into position. He had a high-powered HG3 sn
iper rifle with laser sights.
It was a police marksman.
The sight of the children playing in the yard while under the watch of a deadly police sniper made her feel sick to her stomach.
At that moment, the cottage seemed to shake. The noise from above was deafening. Glancing skyward, Sian could see the navy and yellow colourings of an EC145 police helicopter. Leaves and dust from the ground swirled into the air as it remained stationary for a few seconds before moving away and circling over the farm.
Sian went back to the camera lens and watched as the children in the yard danced and waved at the helicopter above them.
They’re so excited to see it she thought, her heart breaking.
Standing up from the camera, Sian looked at French.
‘This is starting to feel like a military operation. We should be taking this slowly and try to negotiate them out of there, not surround the place with snipers and scare the kids with police helicopters. What’s the matter with everyone?’ Sian said feeling herself getting increasingly angry.
‘They’ve got weapons, Sian. And they fired on police officers. They’re not a bunch of peace-loving hippies,’ French said with a frown.
‘Dan, there are about twenty children in there. And women who don’t know one end of a rifle from the other. What are we going to do? Throw in some tear gas and stun grenades and let the SAS sweep through the farm?’ Sian growled.
French looked at her and shrugged. ‘Okay. I get what you’re saying. Just please try to calm down.’
I don’t want to calm down. I know what I need to do.
Sian went over to the windowsill and snatched up the car keys.
‘What are you doing?’ French asked.
‘I’m doing what needs to be done, Dan,’ Sian snapped. ‘We’ve still got our Kevlar vests in the boot, haven’t we?’
She saw the realisation on French’s face – he knew what she was up to.
‘Don’t even think about it, Sian,’ he whispered.
‘I’m going up there. And I’m getting all those kids out of there safe and sound. And if you warn anyone, I will castrate you the next time I see you,’ Sian said.
‘Sian? You can’t do that ...’
I’m not listening. I’m going.
Walking down the stairs, Sian passed a few other CID officers and nodded hello. She was keen to avoid Drake and Ruth. They’d want to have a conversation with her about her next phone call to the farm.
Slipping out of the cottage, she went around the back and unlocked the car. Pulling open the boot, she took her Kevlar bulletproof jacket out, put it on, and secured it. She reached inside the car, pulled out her police radio and slipped it into her inside pocket.
Putting her head down, Sian broke into a quick march down the side of the cottage and out onto the main road. By the time anyone realised what she was doing, she would be halfway to the farm.
She strode along the country road and began to climb the gentle hill that led to Solace Farm. She gazed up at the large sign of Jesus, his arms outstretched. It looked like he was looking down at her for a second.
Then she heard a voice calling her. ‘Sian? Sian?’
It was Ruth.
I’m not stopping for anyone, she thought.
Pushing on, Sian increased the pace of her strides until she could hear Ruth running up behind her.
‘Will you bloody stop!’ Ruth yelled at her.
Sian stopped but she knew she wasn’t going back.
‘I’m going up there. Rachel Ryan is going to come out with the others. And none of those kids will end up as collateral damage,’ Sian said, trying to catch her breath.
‘Don’t be bloody stupid! It’s too dangerous,’ Ruth said as she looked at her. She looked genuinely scared.
For a moment, Sian wondered if she really was putting herself in too much danger.
‘I’m a police officer. I’m not going inside the farm. But we need to see if Rachel will keep to her word. It’s worth the risk,’ Sian said.
Ruth looked at her – not as her DI but as someone who cared deeply for her. ‘I don’t want anything to happen to you.’
‘Come on. I’ll be five minutes. First sign of anything and I’ll do a runner,’ Sian said with a smile. She wanted to reassure Ruth everything was going to be fine.
‘Drake is going to go mad.’
‘He won’t go mad if they all come out quietly,’ Sian said.
‘I’m not going to stop you, am I?’ Ruth said, moving a little closer.
‘Not unless you arrest me, you twat,’ Sian said with a grin.
‘Have you got your radio?’
‘Yes, boss,’ Sian said, patting her pocket.
Ruth pointed back at the cottage. ‘Well Dan will be watching you from up there. And we’ve got two snipers in position now so that makes me feel better.’
‘That makes me more nervous,’ Sian said. The idea of having guns trained on her every move made her feel jittery.
‘Just be careful ... or I’ll be the one that kills you,’ Ruth joked.
They looked at each other.
‘I’ll see you in a bit, eh?’ Sian said as she turned and continued to walk.
‘Yeah. I’ll be waiting for you.’
‘And you can make me dinner later, all right?’ Sian said.
‘You’re on.’
‘Maybe I should bring some of my stuff back over?’
‘Maybe you should,’ Ruth said with a beaming smile. ‘You mean more than your toothbrush and a pair of knickers?’
Sian laughed. ‘Yes. I’ll see you in a bit okay? And don’t worry.’
Ruth nodded. ‘Just don’t do anything stupid, eh?’
They looked at each other for a moment and then Sian turned and continued to walk up the hill. As the wind picked up, she looked skyward, noticing that the helicopter had now gone. Instead, the sky seemed to darken suddenly, casting a canopy of black which masked the winter sun.
She marched on. The wind swirled again and a large steel gate rattled as if it was desperate to open. Arriving at the yard, Sian got her breath back as she scoured the farmhouse. There didn’t seem to be anyone around. The quiet and stillness was unnerving.
She felt the first patter of raindrops on the back of her hand.
‘I knew you’d come,’ said a voice from behind her field of vision.
It startled her for a second.
It was Rachel.
‘I’m really hoping that you’re a woman of your word, Rachel,’ Sian said.
‘I am. I meant what I said.’ Rachel’s green eyes twinkled with a smile.
Why is she so happy? She’s about to be arrested.
‘I do need you to come with me,’ Sian said, as if talking to a child.
‘I know that, Sian. I know why you were brought to me. And so do you. It’s God’s will,’ Rachel said with a shrug and a beaming smile.
Oh bloody hell, she really is quite bonkers.
The rain started to fall heavily, pattering on the yard and the potholes that were already filled with muddy water.
‘I’m going to need the others too. The ones that fired at us,’ Sian said.
Rachel nodded and gestured inside the farmhouse. ‘They’re all in here. Come on or you’ll get soaked.’
Sian shook her head. ‘No, it’s all right thanks. I’ll stay out here.’
Rachel shrugged nonchalantly. ‘Okay. No problem. We’ll be out in about five minutes. I promise.’
The rainfall seemed to change gear, its intensity growing rapidly.
As Rachel got to the door, Sian heard a voice yell, ‘Mummy!’
Abel appeared out of nowhere and grabbed Rachel’s leg for a moment.
‘Hello darling,’ Rachel said to him.
Abel looked out of the doorway and frowned at Sian.
‘Hello, Abel?’ Sian said with a little wave.
‘You remember our friend Sian, don’t you?’ Rachel asked him.
Abel nodded. ‘Why’s she standing in the
rain, Mummy. She’ll get wet.’
‘I don’t know. Why don’t you ask her?’ Rachel said, smiling.
‘Why are you standing in the rain?’ Abel asked.
Sian shrugged. ‘Erm ... it’s difficult to explain.’
‘Why don’t you come inside or you’ll get very wet,’ Abel said.
‘No, it’s okay. But thank you, Abel.’
‘She’s being silly, isn’t she?’ Abel said to Rachel.
‘Okay. Just for five minutes then,’ Sian said, thinking that getting out of the rain for a few moments wasn’t the worst idea.
Taking a long stride over a puddle, Sian got to the front door. Rachel and Abel ushered her inside and the door closed behind her.
It was darker than Sian had remembered.
She heard a noise directly behind her. A shuffle.
WHACK!
Darkness.
CHAPTER 24
Glancing at her watch, Ruth could see that Sian had been gone for over ten minutes with no contact. Something in her gut told her to be worried.
Ruth clicked her radio. ‘Seven-zero, seven-zero. Three-six. Over.’
There was an uneasy silence as she waited for some response from Sian.
‘Seven-zero, seven-zero. This is three-six. Over.’ Ruth repeated.
There was nothing.
Ruth looked up the hill towards the farm.
What the hell is happening up there?
Feeling her pulse start to quicken, Ruth knew she needed to do something.
Her radio crackled, ‘Three-six, three-six. This is Oscar Beta. Over.’
‘Three-six. Receiving. Over.’
‘Oscar Beta. I have lost visual on seven-zero. Over.’
Ruth responded. ‘Three-six. Received. Out.’
Shit! That is not good.
It was French, and for some reason Sian had moved out of the sight of the observation point in the cottage. Feeling her stomach tense, Ruth took a breath.
Talk to the snipers. What have they seen?
‘Alpha Foxtrot One, Alpha Foxtrot One. This is three-six. Over.’
As she waited for a response, Ruth felt her pulse quicken. She needed to know that Sian could be seen.
The Solace Farm Killings: A Snowdonia Murder Mystery (A DI Ruth Hunter Crime Thriller Book 7) Page 14
