Takedown

by Heather Atkinson

  This confession stung Faith deeply. “You were my friend,” she said, blinking back tears as the hurt part of her won out over the enraged part. “And you nearly got me and my family killed.”

  “I’d no idea it would go so far. I thought Ben and the others would nick the drugs, give them to us and we’d sell them on. I didn’t think it would turn into a war and that’s the God’s honest truth.”

  “I believe you Lil,” she said sadly.

  “I didn’t know that mental bitch would kill Dillon either. When that happened I got scared. I knew I was in deep but I didn’t know how to get out. So many times I thought about confessing to you but then things got even worse and I couldn’t. I thought you might kill me.”

  Faith was shocked. “I would never do that to you.”

  “But he could,” she said, gesturing to Vance. She looked back at Faith. “You wouldn’t have been able to do it personally but you could have given the order. I knew you had that in you.”

  “You’re wrong Lil because that’s not what I’m going to do. You’re going to pack up and leave and never come back. If we see you in this town again then you’ll end up in the sea.” A tear slid down her cheek as she made this pronouncement. “So please stay away. Don’t force me to do that.”

  Lil nodded sadly and gestured to the bar. “You remember when we worked together behind here? There was no one we couldn’t take on.”

  “Yeah, I remember,” she said with a fond smile. “They were good times.”

  “The bugger of it all is I don’t know how it went so wrong. Actually, that’s a lie. I do know. It was fucking credit cards and bank loans and the next thing I knew I was drowning in debt. I like the high life too much – champagne, designer clothes and shoes.” She chuckled humourlessly. “It’s only now I realise how pointless all that shit is.” She produced a bottle of white wine from the fridge. “One last drink, for old time’s sake?”

  Faith nodded.

  Lil poured and pushed a glass across the bar Faith. “Vance?” she said.

  “No thanks, I’m driving.”

  “Fair enough.” She looked to Caleb. “I’m sorry sweetheart,” she told him. “I’ve hurt you, haven’t I?”

  “No,” he retorted, his eyes telling a different story.

  She reached across the bar to pat his face. “I’m very fond of you Caleb, I always will be. You were one of my favourites.”

  “Just one in a long line, eh Lil?” he scowled.

  “Usually I’d have one night with a man and then drop them but I went back to you again and again, you were so good.”

  “For God’s sake, you never did get it, did you? It was never just about sex for me. I love you.”

  “I know,” she said gently. “And you shouldn’t. I could never return it.”

  Faith felt awful for him but there was nothing that could be done to soften the blow. He had to see the truth for himself.

  “I’ll wait in the car,” he told his siblings before looking back at Lil. “Have a nice life,” he snapped before stalking to the door, unlocking it and kicking it open before vanishing into the night.

  “We’re offering you a way out of your money troubles,” Faith told Lil when he’d gone. “You don’t deserve it but I want you to know that we’re not doing it for you. We’re doing it for us.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We want to buy the pub.”

  They dropped a sullen, silent Caleb off at his flat before heading back to their own apartment block, which they felt much safer about doing now that Ben and his crew were gone.

  “Poor Caleb,” said Faith as she and Vance walked into her flat. She’d bought a new place and, as she was so keen to move out, she’d already packed up all her stuff and was due to move the next morning, not that she had much to pack. Her life filled a few cardboard boxes. “He had his heart broken for the first time.”

  “He set himself up for a fall with that woman,” replied Vance, taking a can of lager out of the fridge. “She was always going to break his heart. I just didn’t think it would happen like that.”

  “She was my only friend,” said Faith sadly. “Other than you lot and Matthew. I can’t believe what she did.”

  “Like she said, she found herself in a situation that got out of control. I think we can all sympathise with that.”

  “I wasn’t expecting to hear that from you. I thought you’d be raging.”

  “I was at first but confronting her about it was just sad.”

  “You’re right, it was,” she sighed. “And we’ve got to tackle the Fairweathers yet. They were in on it with Mickey.”

  “Let’s put that off until tomorrow. We need a break, plus Caleb won’t be in the right head space and he needs to have all his faculties about him for tackling that pair.”

  “Good point.”

  “Do you want a drink?”

  “I’m gagging for a glass of wine. There’s an open bottle in the fridge. I’m just going for a quick shower.”

  “Okay.”

  While Vance headed into the kitchen, she padded through the flat towards the bathroom. The doorbell rang, making her frown. She wasn’t expecting anyone.

  Faith peered through the spyhole and cried out with surprise when the door was kicked open and whacked into her, knocking her back against the hallway wall.

  “Gordon,” she exclaimed loudly enough for Vance to hear when a huge figure waddled in. “What the hell are you doing?”

  “Keep your voice down,” replied Gordon, kicking the door shut.

  When he raised his arm, a gun in his hand, Faith thought she was dead. But he didn’t fire.

  “Mum wants a word with you,” he added.

  “Couldn’t she have just phoned? Why did you have to bust into my flat?”

  “Because she wants to talk to you about Harry Paisley and she thought you wouldn’t come.”

  “Why? I’ve already gone over that with Flo. I was nothing to do with it.”

  “Tell that to Mum,” he said, standing aside to allow a second figure to enter.

  Flo shuffled in wrapped in a duffle coat, scarf and gloves, feet encased in furry boots, hair protected from the elements by a beige trilby.

  “Hello Faith,” she said. “Are you alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good because we need to talk. Let’s not stand in the hallway like savages, let’s talk in comfort. I need to sit down, my arthritis is giving me jip.”

  “This way,” said Faith, holding her breath as she led them into her living room, expecting to feel a bullet slam into her back.

  “You’re moving?” said Flo, noting all the packed boxes.

  “Yes. I’ve bought a new flat. I don’t want to stay here after the fire.”

  “Understandable.”

  “Drink? I know you like to chat over a brew.”

  “Not this time.” She turned to her son. “Check the flat. I want to make sure we really are alone. Faith has a track record of not telling the truth.”

  Faith decided it would be wise to remain silent when Flo produced a gun from inside her coat and pointed it at her. She watched Gordon waddle about the flat, checking each room. Her heart started to thump when he went into the kitchen but he just came out again.

  “All clear,” he said.

  Faith wondered where Vance had gone. There were very few places to hide in the flat.

  “Good,” said Flo. She gestured to the couch with the gun. “Sit.”

  “Thanks,” said Faith a little sarcastically, taking a seat on one of the couches.

  Gordon sat beside his mother on the opposite couch, the gun never wavering from Faith.

  “Gordon mentioned this is something to do with Harry Paisley,” said Faith.

  Flo nodded, put her gun down on the couch and removed her hat, patting her neat silver hair. “A little bird told me you killed him.”

  “You know I couldn’t have done it Flo. I was in hospital when he vanished, you remember, after I was left fighting fo
r my life, thanks to Marlow.”

  “Yes, I do remember. I may be old but I’m not senile but this little bird told me you gave the order before you were attacked. Your brothers actually killed him but they were just the heavies. You were the one who decided his fate.”

  “Flo, I swear I didn’t. I don’t know what else to say but I really didn’t. The Wallace brothers…”

  “Don’t treat me like an idiot. Harry was a danger to you and you removed that danger. In a way I can respect that, it was a move I wouldn’t have hesitated to make myself but he was the only joy my old friend had in her entire life and you killed him.”

  “I didn’t.”

  Flo’s gaze turned to ice. “Gordon, if she says she didn’t do it one more time, shoot her in the knee.”

  “Which knee?” he replied.

  She rolled her eyes. “I really don’t mind. The decision is yours.”

  “Yes Mum,” he said, looking thrilled at the prospect.

  “That’s hardly fair,” said Faith. “You’re not even giving me a chance to defend myself.”

  “I don’t need to give you a chance,” said Flo. “I’ve already judged and decided you’re guilty.”

  “So what now Flo? After being judge and jury are you going to be executioner too?”

  “The problem is, I can’t believe a word you say. It seems you’re good at keeping secrets.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She opened her handbag and produced a photograph. Faith’s heart sank when she saw it was the same image of her and Vance having sex in the woods.

  “Let me guess,” said Faith. “The little bird who was chirping in your ear was my ex-boyfriend, Adam?”

  “Yes and before you say they’re photoshopped you should know I’ve had them analysed by an expert and he says they’re genuine. You’ve been having an incestuous relationship with your own brother. No wonder you were so desperate to get him out of prison. I expect it’s been going on a long time, hasn’t it?”

  “Yes but it’s not what you think.”

  “Oh this will be entertaining Gordon,” she said, patting her son’s arm. “Let’s see what excuse she comes up with to explain this one.”

  “I’m not related to Vance or any of the Chambers family. My real name is Brooke Olivia Maxwell. Wilf Chambers stole me from my real family when I was a baby.”

  Flo chuckled. “I’ve got to give you credit Faith, you’ve got a wonderful imagination.”

  “I’m not making this up and I can prove it. I have the results of the DNA tests on my phone and the article about my kidnapping.”

  “Not interested. To be honest, I don’t care if you have sex with all your brothers and your sister’s dog. What’s important about this photo is that it proves you’re a liar who will plummet to any low, disgusting depth.”

  “So, because of that photo, you believe I killed Harry?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry, I don’t want to do this to one of my best customers and I do like you Faith but I did warn you what would happen to the person who killed Harry.”

  “Oh for God’s sake, I di…”

  She recalled what Flo had told Gordon to do if she denied it again and promptly closed her mouth, to his disappointment. “So that’s why you joined forces with Mickey Gunning and the firefighters? You got those flash devices from Raven’s father, didn’t you?”

  “I know Nik of old, we’ve done business quite a few times. He’s bought a lot of weaponry off me over the years. He never hesitated to give me those flash devices when I asked. I thought they’d give the firefighters the upper hand. Mickey came to me for the guns for Ben and his crew to use as they had no idea how to get hold of any weapons themselves. He was a smart man Mickey, everyone always underestimated him. He knew I’d want revenge for Harry’s death, so he asked if I wanted to help. I had no idea you were acquainted with Raven though. You’re more in touch with the underworld than I realised.”

  “You thought the firefighters would do the job for you but they failed.”

  “I know you had them killed. That explosion wasn’t caused by a gas leak, I don’t care what the authorities say. I don’t think Mickey skipped the country to avoid being sent to prison either. I suspect you murdered him well before you took out the firefighters.”

  Faith refused to respond to this comment.

  Flo slowly rose to her feet, joints creaking and scooped up her gun. “It’s time to go Faith.”

  “You mean you’re going to take me out and kill me?”

  “Well, it would be a lot of hard work for Gordon getting your body all the way downstairs and across the car park to the car, he does have asthma. And I want to make you disappear as effectively as you made Harry disappear.”

  “And you’re worried about what my family will do if they find out you were responsible?”

  “I have no wish to fight that lot, not with my arthritis and I’m a slave to my bad back, aren’t I Gordon?”

  “Yeah,” he said. “A slave.” He waggled the gun at Faith. “On your feet.”

  She sighed and slowly rose, wondering when Vance was going to make his move.

  “You lead the way Faith,” said Flo, gun trained on her. “You don’t need to walk so slowly. I might be decrepit and Gordon might be a fat bastard but we’re not that knackered.”

  There was a bang and a rush of air. They all looked round to see the balcony doors had burst open. Vance charged through the doors with a knife in his hand and he hurled it at Gordon. The blade embedded itself in his heart with perfect precision. Faith and Flo watched in astonishment as he dropped to his knees, gurgling, the gun falling from his hand before he toppled forward, landing facedown in the thick carpet, which muffled the sound of his fall.

  “My boy,” cried Flo, swinging her gun from Faith to Vance.

  “No,” yelled Faith, whacking her hand into her frail, stick-thin arm, causing her to drop the weapon.

  Before Flo could recover, Faith punched her hard in the side of the face. She staggered and fell into Vance, who twisted her neck. There was a crack and she fell beside her son.

  Vance and Faith looked at the bodies of the Fairweathers in astonishment. It had happened so fast they were still processing it.

  Snapping himself out of his shock, Vance closed and locked the balcony doors and ran to Faith, enveloping her in his arms.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her.

  “Fine, thanks to you,” she breathed, burying her face in his chest. She smiled up at him. “The balcony was the one place he didn’t check.”

  “I ran out onto it when I heard them enter, taking one of the kitchen knives with me. It was the only weapon to hand.”

  “Where did you learn to throw a knife like that?”

  “Prison.”

  “Seriously?”

  He nodded. “Although I practiced with a handmade blade.”

  They kissed hard, adrenaline still pumping through them but the two corpses in the room doused their ardour.

  Faith released him and ran to the front door.

  “Gordon broke the lock,” she sighed. “But there’s still the chain,” she added, sliding it into the bracket. “We don’t want anyone walking in.”

  Vance fetched a chair from the kitchen and wedged it under the handle. “That’ll keep anyone out.”

  They returned to the living room and stared at the bodies in dismay.

  “I didn’t want it to come to this,” said Faith. “I always liked Flo, as psychotic as she was.”

  “They brought it on themselves and all for a fucking lemon like Harry Paisley. He wouldn’t have risked his life for them. And it’s two less people we need to worry about coming for us.”

  “There is that. How the hell are we going to get them out of here? We’re on the fourth floor.” She chewed her lip as she anxiously thought. “What about the Man in Black, who got rid of Lenny?”

  “The neighbours will ask questions if they see a couple of coffins being carried out of here. It worked with Lenny becaus
e his house was so private.”

  Faith nodded, running a hand through her hair. “You’re right.”

  Vance looked around the room and smiled. “Well, it’s common knowledge that you’re moving, so who’s going to notice another couple of boxes?”

  “Very true and Flo’s so frail she’d probably fit in a hat box but we’re going to need a shipping container for Gordon.”

  “Leave it with me, I’ve got an idea. At least they were clean kills, so we don’t have a mess to mop up.”

  Faith avoided all calls from family while Vance went out to get what they needed, not wanting to involve the others in this fresh hell. He returned with two packing trunks – one small and one extra large. First they stripped all personal items from the bodies that might identify them – phones, wallets, Flo’s handbag, keys and jewellery. Between them they managed to manoeuvre both bodies into them. Vance lifted Flo on his own and gently placed her inside but it required both of them to lift Gordon, Vance hooking his arms under his shoulders while Faith lifted his legs. She thought it was like something from a macabre film noir when they eventually managed to get him in the box but he landed on his side and the lid wouldn’t close. Finally they rolled him onto his back, Vance wiping his prints and DNA off the knife that was still sticking out of his chest and they closed the lids on both boxes and locked them.

  “Now what?” said Faith.

  “Now we get the removal men to carry them out for us along with everything else.”

  “I don’t know Vance, that’s a bit ballsy.”

  “The only other way is to carry them out between us and everyone might wonder why we’re doing that when we have a bunch of removal men coming.”

  “We can’t,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Can we?”

  “I think we have to.”

  “Yes, you’re right.” It would be nerve-wracking but also exciting. God, she hoped she wasn’t becoming a danger junkie. “Their car’s on the car park.”

  “I’ll take it to our friend who owns the scrapyard first thing in the morning.”

  “But the removal men aren’t coming until tomorrow. We’re stuck with two dead bodies in the flat overnight.”