He pulled his gaze away, continuing onto the muddy path opposite. A magnificent white-painted building loomed in the distance. All he could do was head towards it, and he picked up his pace, pebbles crunching under his feet. An owl tooted and flutters of rain start to hit him in the face. As he neared the house, he could see no sign of security—or Sarah.
Dim lamps lit up the front of the magnificent house as he made a daring approach around the back. Maybe it was a trap. All was silent as he continued, conscious of the gravel crunching underneath his feet. He spotted a shadow and ran his hands down his back across the pistol as a man dressed in dark security attire came towards him. His instincts were to pull the gun and run into the darkness until he heard a shout.
“Brock, is that you?”
It was Sarah, and without contemplating any dangers, he ran towards her.
“Oh, Brock it is you, I knew you’d come!” shouted a tearful Sarah.
Kissing her on the brow, he wiped tears from her eyes.
“Thank the lord. I’ve been so worried about you. What took you so long?” she cried.
Brock opened his mouth to speak but the words didn’t flow.
“It was awful. I popped back to check on Lacy’s dog. The door was ajar and three men were waiting. I ran for the door and one of them grabbed me, pulling a gun on me. They bungled me into a black van like I was rubbish. It was a private ambulance. I was so scared. I had visions they were transporting me to hospital. I thought he was going to kill me right there. He sniggered at me. The tall man in the jeep parked outside the Shack that night.”
“How did you escape?”
Sarah sniffled, tears pouring down her face.
“An old woman helped me escape from the cell. Slipped me your number.”
Brock furrowed his brow and, conscious of the security guard approaching, whispered into her ear, “We need to leave, get away from security before he suspects something.”
The security man approached. “Hi, mate, cool jacket, didn’t realise you work at the exhibition centre. My brother is a security officer for them. Anyway, she’s pretty upset and told me very little. By rights, we should inform the police, but I’ve known her a long time and said her boyfriend was picking her up, said you’d deal with it. Presume that’s you?”
Brock nodded, hugging her.
“Good luck, Sarah. I don’t mean to kick you out, but we’re closed, and if I don’t, I might lose my job. Need a taxi?”
“No thanks, got a mate waiting around the corner.”
Trampling through the grass and woodland, they headed in the direction of the main road. Rain spat into their faces as they trudged on through the muddy landscape. Sarah sobbed, rubbing her sore eyes.
“There was no sign of Lacy’s dog anywhere. And what happened at the hospital?”
“I fled.”
“He sacked me on the spot, and as I was leaving, the entire hospital went into lockdown. Police pulled up within minutes. Everyone was hysterical.
“It got nasty. Someone fired a round of bullets at me and I ran, and that woman …”
“I don’t know who she was. What are we going to do, Brock? And that plaster on your face needs changing or it’ll get infected for sure.”
They took a shortcut through some trees, wading through bramble.
“I never mentioned it at the time, but someone else broke into my flat.”
Brock glanced away. “Don’t worry. I would have got here sooner if I’d known where your favourite place is. Cyclist gave me directions.”
“He could be police.”
“Doubt it.”
“That night at the Shack, I became suspicious after the black jeep followed me home. He parked on a road across the apartment. I saw it all through the window while making coffee and knew something wasn’t right.”
She adjusted her hair, trampling over tall brambles and kicking a twig out of the way. “I didn’t want to believe it. Guess I was stupid. Didn’t sleep a wink that night. It scared the living daylights out of me.”
Stepping out of the woodland into a road, Brock scouted around for the lay-by.
“The car’s around here somewhere”
“I have to admit, you seemed delusional, but I had a gut feeling you were telling the truth from the start. I guess I was afraid.”
“Where is this stupid car? It was me who broke into your place. I meant no harm. I was only looking around for you.”
A rustle from the bushes in the distance startled them, and a man in a mac appeared, seemingly heading towards them. Brock grabbed Sarah’s shoulder, pulling her behind a tree.
“Quiet, who else knows about your favourite place?” he asked.
“Only Lacy and she’s dead.”
“Maybe it was the cyclist earlier.”
The man crossed the road, disappearing into the woodland opposite.
“He didn’t see us. We should cross over the road and dip into the trees. I’m pretty sure the car will be here. Although it’s late. I hope he didn’t give up on me and drive off.”
“You’re lost, aren’t you?”
Brock didn’t answer.
“I know the lay-by you’re talking about. It’s by the roundabout, isn’t it? Follow me. Oh and your cut’s bleeding. You must have gashed it on one of the branches back there.”
Brock rolled his eyes, pulling her between the trees. A helicopter hovered in the distance, shining a bright light into distant woodland.
“We’ll sort it out at the car. The security guard must have alerted them.”
“He wouldn’t.”
“His brother worked at the exhibition centre. If he called him, he would.”
They picked up pace, brambles crunching at their feet.
“Did the tall guy do anything to you?”
She glanced away, giving a quick shake of her head.
“I awoke in this smelly cold cell, door bolted shut. I must have passed out on the way. The tall guy hovered, throwing a bottle of water over me, and I came to.”
“Don’t think about it, keep moving.”
“Strange as it seems, this old woman kept peering in. She was checking on me but I was in hysterics. She tried to calm me. He came in, demanding I tell him where you are. He wanted to know about your acquaintances.”
“That sicko,” said Brock.
“I didn’t tell him anything. I was too upset. It was early morning. I ate some disgusting sandwich he threw at me. The old woman came into the cell, slipping me money and bundling me into a taxi, so I headed here.”
“I blame myself. I should have grabbed you and forced you to come with me.”
“But I didn’t want to. I was foolish.”
They stepped into a small roundabout and Brock pointed towards a lay-by.
“Brock, I think he’s going to kill you.”
Brock ignored her as he looked at the empty layby.
Chapter 23
The street was bare as they both stood at the tiny roundabout, the autumn wind blowing violently into their faces. Sarah’s cheeks flushed as she held Brock tighter.
“Some trees rattled over there. I’m sure someone peered out. He stared right at us!”
“It must have been the wind.”
“No, someone wearing a balaclava. I’m scared.”
Brock pulled her towards the darkness of some trees and shouting erupted over the road.
“You took your time. Thought that lanky psycho had snatched you for sure. I was going to split until I turned on the car radio, realised you managed to escape. Attempting to kill the prime minister. Really?” said Ty, pulling off a black balaclava glancing and stepping their way.
Brock shook his head and Sarah glanced at him as he wandered across the street joining them.
“According to the radio station you shot two security pers
onnel, one critical. Car’s around the corner. We should make a move, every police officer in London is looking for you. See you managed to snatch her back,” he said, ogling at Sarah.
Brock stepped between them, narrowing his eyes at Ty, and headed for the car.
“I popped over to Rawlins’ house earlier,” said Ty. “Mentioned you were doing your stuff at the conference and ran the number by him. Sadly nothing came up.”
Brock lifted his head, staring at him in confusion.
“You blurted out some number in the Lake District,” Ty explained.
Sarah jumped into the back seat. “You’ve been to the Lake District? Why ever for?”
“Figured it could be an army number. Reckoned Rawlins could decipher it.”
“If it is, Rawlins is dead. He knew more than he was letting on. What exactly were you trying to achieve?”
Ty sunk into his seat, glancing forward. “Thought I was trying to help. But I gave Lady Ranskill a wide berth.”
Sarah glanced up. “Lady Ranskill?”
“You know her?”
Sarah nodded. “Some weeks ago, a man tried to check in the hospital reception, badly beaten up. I directed him to Casualty, but I overheard him say something about this woman to his friend. He didn’t appear at all keen. The reason I remember her is that her husband is a politician. He hit the papers some while back. Both nearly filed for bankruptcy.”
“Rawlins brought something else up,” said Ty.
“You should have given him a wide berth too,” Brock said.
“He wants the USB.”
Brock swallowed, and Sarah shot him a glance.
“What happened at the conference?” Ty asked.
“Oh, I saw Sighrus. He was terrified.”
Ty sunk into his seat, then sat up, pointing towards Sarah. “Wait, how did she get out?”
“I am here, you know. They detained me in some kind of cell, and an old woman helped me escape.”
Ty stared at her. “You were in police custody and an old woman helped you escape?”
Sarah leaned forward. “Oh, it wasn’t a police cell. There were no police around, only men in suits. And him.”
“MI5 perhaps? But how would someone escape from their custody?” said Ty.
“Unlikely, MI5 have no such authority to detain. And who is this old woman?” said Brock.
“She was so kind. She told me how much danger I was in and to get as far away from here as possible. She ordered a taxi for me.”
“A flaming taxi! Did you remember the registration by any chance?” Ty enquired.
“I remember very little,” Sarah said. “I scurried out of that place as fast I could. I was petrified. The driver was a young Asian man from Horizon Cabs. Very tall … his head practically reached the roof of the taxi. He was silent most of the time. Thank goodness, I thought to myself. If he spoke, I would have died.”
“I know Horizon Cabs. Well known in Richmond, we’ve brushed shoulders a few times,” said Ty.
“Richmond?” Brock said, curious. “Why book a cab this far out? Plenty in London itself.”
Sarah looked up. “I never mentioned London. The whole experience knocked all senses of where I was. But I distinctly remember seeing Richmond signs through the taxi window. I directed him to the heath after our call. I chose my favourite place as a code, in case your phone was listened into. I knew you’d come.”
Brock stepped back, running his hands through his hair.
“I remember going over the bridge with the scaffolding rigged up and …”
“Bridge? What bridge? Could it have been Vauxhall Bridge?”
“I’m pretty sure it was Richmond Bridge.”
Ty leaned over. “So what exactly are we going to do? I promised I’d meet my significant other about now. I can drive you somewhere if you like?”
Sarah coughed, butting in. “I remember now, something has come to my mind. I knew I’d seen that tall man before in the gym. Talking to Sergei one night. He was deep in conversation.”
“What’s he doing sniffing around our gym?” said Brock.
“Whoever this monster is, he’s certainly not acting within the law,” said Ty.
Brock glanced through the windscreen, pulling his lips into a smile.
Sarah continued, “The government should.”
“Don’t hold your hopes up on that one. I’ve seen first-hand how the system and corrupt people like him win every time,” said Ty.
“I’m still confused about him being in our gym,” Brock said. “What reason would he have? Before Lacy was killed, a girl called Helen approached me while in the ladies’ changing room and must have slipped this mobile into my pocket. Never felt a thing.”
“You crashed the ladies’ changing rooms?”
Brock growled, shaking his head. “I still can’t place her. There wasn’t a single girl in the gym called Helen. She wasn’t a regular or a member. It seems her sole intention was to alert me. How did she know I was coming? Shortly after, I received a call urging me to get out and this lunatic stormed in, spraying a round of bullets into the gym floor. She knew Lacy.”
There was silence, all glancing into space as if looking for answers. Ty jumped up.
“How we going to track her down?”
Brock waved the phone in the air. “Doubt we need to. I’ve got the phone, and whoever this girl is, I’m sure she’ll call. Might be a good idea to take a trip to this Richmond installation. Find out what it is.”
Sarah recoiled. “Are you crazy? I won’t let you. We’re fugitives on the run now and a madman after us. We’ll be gunned down on the spot.”
“If we do it properly, bide our time, and give it a few days to clear the air, we should be dandy. I’m sorry for dragging you into this monstrosity of a problem. Have you any family out of London you could hide out with? For your safety, I was thinking.”
“Wake up,” Sarah said, “I get snatched, held to ransom and hatch an escape from God knows where. A madman is after me and wants to kill me. And for all we know, probably runs the police. Nobody’s going to take me in. Anyway, I have no family. Whether you like it or not, I’m by your side on this one. I want to stop this madman too.”
“These are powerful people and it’s likely to get pretty scary. I suggest first thing in the morning we all leave London. For your safety, at least, get as far away from London as possible. Never to return.”
Sarah pulled a face, shaking her head.
“Leave London? I don’t believe a word of this, Brock. You’re not going to let him off the hook, not on your Nelly. I swore an oath of allegiance as a medical receptionist to protect the wellbeing of people and I shall. I’m in this too,” she said, plonking her backside hard on the backseat, shaking the car.
“Do you know what you’re saying, Sarah?” said Brock.
She slowly ran her hand through her hair, sinking further into the seat as tears dripped down her face. “I can’t go home. Police and security services agents will be all over it.”
“I should hand myself in and you’ll be safe,” Brock said.
“You’re talking rubbish and you know it,” Sarah snapped. “Stop blaming yourself—it’s his fault, the tall man. Something is wrong here and we owe it to the population to investigate it. And I need a damn good wash.”
Brock pulled Sarah towards him. “Me too. I’m disgusting. My body has bypassed showering for days. We should make a move. A hotel perhaps?”
“Bit of a risk for you both,” Ty said.
“Better than camping out here.”
Sarah sniffled, wiping her face across her shoulder. “He’s right, we should leave this place. We’re sitting ducks in Hampstead Heath. It’s usually crawling with police at night, you know, especially at dusk. The security guard may have clicked now. He only needs to chat with his brother or switch th
e radio on. Probably dobbed us in already, I mean, it is his job. You see, some trouble—vandals smashing up statues and uprooting trees—has put them on high alert. They’ll be thorough, likely extra numbers drafted in.”
“You could have mentioned this earlier,” grumbled Ty.
“She’s right. They’ll be out searching for sure. Let’s go. If this stolen mini gets radioed in it will attract attention.”
“Stolen?” interrupted Sarah.
Brock pulled himself up, nudging her. “It’s a long story, don’t blame him.”
“Park security is not the local rag, doubt they’d be able to radio a sausage through. They’d assume the Mini is legal,” said Ty.
“No, the park security and police collaborate, switching channels on the radios! We’re a target,” Brock said.
“We’ve been lucky, although it’s quiet here and the trouble was south of the heath. But it’s still risky,” said Sarah.
“Any more parks that aren’t patrolled by security?” said Ty.
“I doubt it. Vandals, homeless, terrorists, arsonists. They’re everywhere,” said Sarah, sniffing. “Talking about hotels, there’s a beautiful one further up the road. It’s been a long time since I hiked up to it. Hot warm showers. I could book a room, disguising myself somewhat, and you slip in from the back. Oh, I forgot, unless one of us has money.”
Ty pulled out a stolen credit card from his pocket, waving it in the air.
“Borrow my card.”
Sarah leaned over and snatched it, glancing at it.
“It’s not in your name. But maybe if I tried to arrange something with them. It’s just through those woods,” said Sarah.
Brock imagined a luxurious warm shower; he needed one. He pulled the card out of Sarah’s hand.
“We should walk. It’s easier hiking through the woods. The Mini would be a dead giveaway,” said Sarah.
“Still think the hotel might be risky. Police could do a door to door,” muttered Ty.
“More than a stolen car? Yeah right.”
“Alright you two,” Brock said. “If only one of us booked in as a single it would seem less suspicious. Meet us in the lay-by tomorrow, Ty. Let’s say 10 a.m. Have a safe drive to your girlfriend’s.”
Brock Steele Sphere Page 14
