Takedown

by Heather Atkinson

  “It’s smoke. Put this on,” he said, handing him the mask and coughing.

  “Sounds like you need it more than I do.”

  “We can share it,” Vance told him, dragging the oxygen tank off the firefighter’s back and handing that to his brother too.

  While Caleb strapped the tank to his back, Vance peered around the door, leaping back when the stun gun was thrust through the gap again, the flash and crackle eerie in the swirling smoke. Caleb took a few deep breaths through the mask before holding it out to Vance, who took a couple of breaths and handed it back. When he looked out of the door again, he spied a second figure lurking in the fog created by all the smoke. Vance was trying not to think about the cause of that smoke and if it was getting closer.

  “Help me get him to his feet,” he told Caleb, indicating the unconscious firefighter.

  Between them they hauled him upright and slapped him awake. As he came round with a start, the brothers shoved him out into the corridor, causing him to receive a shock from the stun gun from his colleague who’d thought he was one of the brothers coming out of the lift. Vance kicked the unconscious firefighter into his friend and they both fell to the floor.

  “Go,” yelled Vance, dashing out of the lift, Caleb following, the brothers stomping on the fallen firefighters to keep them down as they ran down the corridor for the stairs.

  Faith couldn’t help but think of the film The Shining as the axe splintered her front door. Not wanting to tackle an axe-wielding maniac, she decided it would be better to retreat than fight. But she was trapped on the fourth floor and her main exit was blocked.

  She looked over her shoulder and smiled at the balcony doors. Her attention was drawn back to the front door by a particularly loud crack and she saw the hole in it was now so wide Ben’s face was visible. His eyes briefly locked with hers and she saw nothing but triumph there.

  Faith dashed over to the balcony doors, yanked the key out of the lock and stepped outside, immediately wishing she’d worn a thicker coat as she was engulfed in the icy air. She closed the doors behind her and locked them. Peering through the glass, she saw Ben finally break through and race into her living room. It enraged her to see him in her home, her sanctuary. He ran up to the glass and glared at her through it. Faith grinned and gave him the finger. From behind him emerged a smaller figure. It was Amanda. Faith watched them have a discussion, pointing at the doors and surrounding frame but she couldn’t hear what they were saying.

  “Oh shit,” she said when Amanda produced a steel tool from her belt that resembled a screwdriver with a bulbous red handle. It was a window punch that firefighters used to smash glass.

  Looking down over the balcony, she could see the ground below. All the residents were gathered at the assembly point in the gardens a good distance from the building, the fire engine parked at an angle at the doors into the flats. Someone spotted her standing there and pointed, drawing everyone else’s attention to her. Faith thought what a genius plan the firefighters had come up with. All those people could watch them smash in her balcony doors and drag her back inside and they would think they were saving her life when in fact they were here to do the opposite and once again they would be the shining heroes of the hour.

  She ducked, covering her head with her arms as Ben drove the window punch into the top right corner of one of the doors. The glass cracked and when he drove it into the bottom corner it collapsed completely, showering her with glass. Covertly she picked up one of the jagged shards and remained crouched on the floor.

  Ben pulled the mask off his face to talk. “Be sensible Faith and come back in. You’ve nowhere else to go.”

  “Where’s your axe?” she frowned up at him.

  “I left it by the door.” He held up his hands. “I’m unarmed. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “No. You just want to abduct me to force my brothers to give you back the product.”

  “Yes, which is why we would prefer not to hurt you.”

  “All right,” she said, straightening up. “But back off a bit.” Her gaze flicked to Amanda, who was scowling at her, black eyebrows locked together. “Both of you.”

  “Back up,” Ben told Amanda, waving his hand at her.

  Amanda obeyed while still glaring at Faith, who slowly walked back into the room, the two firefighters being careful to leave a few feet between them and her. Faith, her lungs already irritated by the smoke, started to cough again as her flat was filled with it thanks to the broken door.

  “Is there really a fire?” she asked between coughs.

  “No,” replied Ben. “We used smoke canisters, but it will have a similar effect. We’ll give you a mask, if you come with us.”

  Faith coughed again and nodded. “Okay.”

  When Amanda removed her own mask and held it out to her, Faith snatched it off her and took a few deep breaths, the ache in her lungs starting to ease.

  “That’s better,” she said, handing it back. “Thank you.”

  As Amanda took the mask off her, Faith slashed her arm with the shard of glass, making her screech and kicked her in the stomach, knocking her back onto the couch. Ben lunged for her, attempting to disarm her. Faith leapt back, avoiding his arms, pulled the extendable baton from the back of her jeans, snapped it out and smashed it into his left knee. With a cry he dropped and Faith darted around him.

  As she reached the door she was kicked in the back and she fell to the floor, the baton falling from her hands. Glancing over her shoulder she saw Amanda, who was so angry she looked demented. Faith kicked out, catching her in the right thigh but it wasn’t enough to fend her off.

  “You fucking bitch,” hissed Amanda in her ear, twisting her arms up her back and dragging her to her feet.

  Faith put one foot against the wall and pushed, sending Amanda tottering backwards. She threw back her head, catching Amanda on the nose and she groaned, slackening her grip. Faith threw her off, turned and punched her in the face, knocking her sideways.

  “You’re the fucking bitch,” she hissed.

  When she tried to run for the door again, Ben’s hand fisted in her hair and dragged her back inside. She was thrown against the wall, hitting it so hard she was stunned and she slid to the floor.

  Before she could rise, a cloth was pressed over her mouth and the chemical stink made her gag. She forced herself not to inhale but the fumes were so powerful her head spun. In one hand she still clutched the shard of glass, which cut into the skin of her palm, the pain keeping her conscious. She lashed out with it, felt it slice through something and she heard Ben gasp with pain but the pressure on her face didn’t let up and the blackness started to close in on her.

  Vance burst through the door at the top of the stairs on the fourth floor, followed by Caleb. The smoke was thicker here as it rose through the building. They tore down the corridor towards Faith’s flat. When they were halfway there, they saw the door open and a large figure stride out with an unconscious Faith over their shoulder.

  “No,” cried Vance.

  “Stall them,” Ben told Amanda. Their plan had been to take all three but he realised that wouldn’t be possible now.

  She nodded and ran at them.

  “I’ll deal with her,” Caleb told Vance, shrugging off the oxygen tank and handing both it and the mask to him. “You get Faith.”

  Vance nodded, pulled on the breathing apparatus and ran down the corridor. Amanda tried to intercept him but Caleb grabbed her by the throat and pinned her up against the wall, allowing his brother to run by.

  Caleb groaned when she kicked him between the legs, causing him to release her and she dropped to the floor. When she tried to chase after Vance, he fought through his pain to kick her legs out from under her and she fell back down. Amanda rolled, leapt to her feet with astonishing speed and swept his legs out from under him. It was Caleb’s turn to drop and before he could rise she was on him, punching him in the face. He grabbed her mask and pulled, releasing it with a snap. She squealed wi
th pain as the force of it knocked her sideways.

  “You bastard,” she screeched, rolling out of his way when he tried to grab her.

  She jumped to her feet and the pair circled each other again, Caleb coughing from the smoke. He needed that breathing apparatus.

  Vance tore down the stairs after Ben. He couldn’t see him in the dark and smoke but he could hear his footsteps below.

  As they reached the second floor, Vance gained on Ben who not only had all his equipment to carry but Faith too. He could see her slung over Ben’s shoulder, unconscious.

  “Faith wake up,” he yelled but she didn’t respond.

  Ben charged through the door leading to the first floor and as Vance went through it something hard slammed into him. He gasped as all the air was pushed out of his body and he was thrown back against the wall. Before him was a large male firefighter. Beyond him Vance could make out Ben rushing down the corridor with Faith. He punched the firefighter in the stomach but it wasn’t enough to stop him from kicking him in the right leg. It was then Vance spotted something red in the darkness. A fire extinguisher. He picked it up and swung it into the firefighter’s face, who went flying sideways, crashing into the wall, his breathing apparatus broken.

  Vance leapt over his prone form and continued the chase but Ben had vanished from view. He raced down the stairs to the ground floor and into the deserted lobby. He paused to listen and heard footsteps not ahead but behind. Ben was taking Faith out the back way.

  He ran towards the fire exit at the rear of lobby and burst through the doors into the cool night air. He tore the breathing apparatus off his face and shrugged the tank off his back, dumping the lot on the ground.

  “Faith,” he yelled.

  There was the scream of a siren and the fire engine tore around the corner into the rear car park. It was only then he spotted Ben standing in the shadows under a tree with Faith still over his shoulder.

  “Faith,” bellowed Vance, racing across the car park as he watched the rear door of the fire engine open and Ben dump her limp form inside. With a triumphant smile he jumped in and slammed the door shut.

  Vance managed to grab hold of the driver’s door and tore it open, surprising the red-headed driver. He grabbed the driver and pulled, causing him to wrench the wheel to the right, sending the fire engine drifting across the car park with a screech of tyres. His intention was to drag the driver out of the truck but he had his seatbelt on, so it didn’t work. The driver righted the steering wheel, preventing the fire engine from crashing into three parked cars and lashed out at Vance with his foot, who gritted his teeth against the pain.

  “Faith, wake up, please,” he cried.

  When the driver wrenched the steering wheel to one side, Vance lost his grip and fell onto the tarmac. The driver’s door was slammed shut and the fire engine sped off, siren wailing, lights flashing, just missing the pizza delivery man on his scooter.

  Vance dragged himself to his feet and chased after the fire engine when it paused at the main doors so the other two firefighters could jump in but it set off again at speed, hit the road and vanished before he’d even made it to the front of the building.

  “Shit,” he yelled, doubling over to catch his breath, body aching, lungs burning.

  He straightened up at the sound of footsteps behind him, drawing back his fist when he saw what he thought was another firefighter.

  “It’s me,” exclaimed Caleb, holding out his hands.

  “They took her,” he panted. “They took Faith.”

  “Oh Christ,” he yelled, pulling off the breathing apparatus he’d taken from Amanda.

  “What about that bitch you were fighting? We could use her as leverage.”

  “Sorry, she got away when I was putting that on,” he said, holding up the mask. “I was choking on the smoke.”

  “Not your fault,” he said, patting his shoulder. “We need to get to the safehouse and tell the others.”

  “What about Faith?”

  “They took her as leverage. They’ll be in contact soon and we have to be ready. Have you got your car keys on you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then let’s go.”

  Ten minutes later they were banging on the door of the safehouse.

  “Who is it?” called Kevin’s voice.

  “It’s us,” replied Vance. “Open the bloody door.”

  He opened it and recoiled. “Jesus, you stink of smoke. What happened?”

  “Let us in and we’ll tell you.”

  “Sorry,” he said, opening the door wider. As they walked inside Kevin added, “Where’s Faith?”

  All the family were gathered together in the living room, looking anxious.

  “Why haven’t you answered Kev’s question?” said Abi, eyes wide and afraid. “Where’s Faith?”

  “Ben and the other firefighters attacked our apartment block. They came in wearing all the gear and throwing smoke canisters about. The building evacuated but me and Caleb got trapped in the lift. We got out and tried to stop it but….”

  “Stop what?” breathed Rose.

  “They took Faith,” he sighed, dragging his hands down his face.

  “Fuck,” yelled Kevin, kicking over the bin.

  Michael wrapped Abi in his arms, Jason punched the wall and Rose stared at them in shock.

  “We’ve got to get her back,” exclaimed Kevin.

  “We will,” said Vance. “But we’ve no idea where they’ve taken her.”

  “What about the church?”

  “They wouldn’t go there, not now we know about it. They’ve taken her to make us give them the product back. We have to wait for them to get in touch.”

  “We can’t just sit about and do nothing.”

  “Then what do you suggest?” On the surface Vance was cool and calm but inwardly he was frantic. Ben and his crew were going to be pretty pissed off and he hoped they didn’t take it out on Faith. “We don’t know where to start looking.”

  “Vance is right,” said Caleb in his reasonable tone. “We need to stay calm and wait for them to contact us and we need to decide how we’ll handle it when they do call.”

  “You have to tell the police,” said Rose.

  “We can’t do that Mum,” said Jason. “They’ll ask how this all started. We’ll have to tell them about the drugs and they’ll arrest us all.”

  “There’s always Young,” said Caleb.

  “What can one police officer do?” muttered Vance.

  “I don’t know but he might be able to help. It’s worth a try,” he pressed when Vance appeared uncertain.

  “All right, we’ll call him but first let’s come up with a plan. We need to get the product ready to move.”

  “We can’t just hand it back to them,” said Kevin.

  “That’s what we’ll allow them to think.”

  “Why are you staring at me?” frowned Kevin.

  “You’re the right size.”

  “For what?” Kevin swallowed hard, not liking the look in his brother’s eyes. He had the feeling he wouldn’t like whatever plan was brewing in his mind.

  “We could hide someone in it.”

  “I am not getting in a coffin,” he retorted. “I’m claustrophobic.”

  “Vance, you can’t do that to your brother,” said Rose. “It would be incredibly dangerous.”

  “Maybe you’re right,” he replied

  Kevin breathed a sigh of relief.

  “Caleb, call Young,” said Vance.

  He nodded, took out his phone and retreated into the corner of the room to talk.

  “They messed with our family,” Vance told them. “So now we’re going to return the favour. We’ll take a leaf out of Ben’s book.”

  “What do you mean by that?” said Rose, the darkness in Vance’s eyes making her uneasy. She could see how much pain he was in, his worry for Faith was tearing him apart. He would do anything to get her back and he wouldn’t care who he had to hurt. His entire life Faith had been h
is mainstay, his closest connection, the person he loved the most, even above his own mother and Rose was afraid of how far he’d go to bring her home.

  “He likes threatening innocent people,” said Vance. “So we’re going to do the same.”

  “No you’re not Vance,” said Rose. “You’re better than he is.”

  “No I’m not,” he glowered. “I’m a lot fucking worse, as he’s about to find out.”

  Matthew sat opposite Alice at a table in her favourite Italian restaurant on the promenade. He’d dumped all the work on his underlings so he could have this night with her. She sat opposite him looking incredibly pretty in a short light blue dress that rode delightfully up her slender thighs and he was looking forward to taking her home to bed. Finally it felt like they were reconnecting. This evening had only come about thanks to Faith, who had convinced Alice to give him another chance. With a smile, he watched her eat her chocolate mousse, licking the spoon suggestively.

  “Shall I get the bill?” he said, sliding his hand up her thigh under the table.

  “Oh yes,” she winked.

  “Could I have the bill please?” he asked a passing waiter.

  “Certainly Sir,” he replied.

  Matthew reached across the table to take Alice’s hand. “I’ve really enjoyed tonight.”

  “It’s not over yet,” she smiled.

  He beamed at her, loving the happiness that lit up her eyes.

  Alice’s smile fell when his phone started to ring.

  “You’re off duty,” she told him.

  “Relax,” he smiled. “My mum said she’d phone this evening to let me know how her hospital appointment went about her hip.”

  “Oh, yes I forgot,” she said, the smile returning.

  The number on the screen wasn’t his mum. In fact he didn’t recognise it but at least it wasn’t work. “Hello? Caleb, I’m in the middle of something…”

  Alice was a little alarmed when all the blood drained from Matthew’s face.

  “When was this?” He sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead. “Jesus Christ. Where are you now? Yes, I’ll be there,” he added before hanging up. He looked apologetically at Alice. “I’m afraid…”