Time Is Running Out

by Michael Wood

  Alone in a cubicle in the toilets on the ground floor of the police station, he took out his phone and looked at the screen. The message was from an unknown number, as were all the others he’d received today. His hands were shaking as he unlocked the phone. He took a deep breath and opened the message.

  He clamped a hand to his mouth as he saw the photograph of Jake grinning to the camera with his arm around his wife, who was bound and gagged. She was crying. She looked scared, frightened, and in pain. What had that bastard done to her? A worse thought: what was that bastard planning to do to her next?

  The message attached to the photo read:

  At the hospital now. It’ll all be over within the next half an hour.

  He hoped so. It pained him seeing his wife in such distress. He wanted her back. He needed her back. He couldn’t live without her. If he had to allow Matilda to die in order for his wife to live, then so be it. She didn’t have any children, and she was still struggling following James’s death. Her parents were still alive, and she had a sister, but they’d understand if she was killed in the line of duty. How would his girls cope without their mother?

  He turned off the phone and put it back in his pocket. He lifted the lid on the toilet and vomited.

  Chapter Sixty-Six

  ‘Can you believe any of this is happening?’ Sian said from the front passenger seat, staring out of the window at the dark Sheffield streets.

  Aaron had stepped outside the police station for some fresh air and saw Sian’s car was still in the car park. He went over, leaned down to look in the driver’s side window and saw his colleague in floods of tears. The emotion of the last few hours had finally caught up with her. He opened the door, pulled her out and held her tight against his chest. When she’d finished crying, he saw that her tears had soaked his jumper. He told her to get in the passenger seat and he’d drive her to the hospital.

  ‘All those kids in that school,’ Sian said as they pulled out the police car park. ‘There must have been more than twenty dead. To do something like that is beyond evil,’ she said, her voice filled with tears.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right? I can take you home to Stuart if you’d prefer.’

  ‘Of course I’d prefer to go home. I want nothing more to go to bed, snuggle up to Stuart and wake up tomorrow to find this has been a horrible dream. But … I can’t. I need to see this through. I’m not going to rest until I know that bastard is either in a cell or on a mortuary slab.’

  She dug in her pocket for a tissue and blew her nose. She turned to Aaron. ‘How are you?’

  ‘Numb,’ he answered quickly.

  ‘We haven’t spoken much lately, have we?’

  ‘We don’t work together anymore.’

  ‘How are things with you and Katrina?’

  ‘Over.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  ‘So am I. But, like you said at the time, it was of my own doing. I’ve only myself to blame.’

  ‘I shouldn’t have said that.’

  ‘Yes, you should. You were right. I cheated on my wife with a woman who obviously had a few screws loose. She kept asking me to leave Katrina and move in with her, but I wouldn’t, so she took her revenge. She lied about being pregnant, got her story in the papers and ruined my marriage.’ They pulled up at a red traffic light, which lit up the whole interior of the car. Aaron turned to Sian. ‘No. I ruined my marriage and I’m paying for it. It’s my fault. Nobody else’s.’

  ‘I’m sorry,’ she said again.

  ‘So am I.’

  Sian’s mobile pinged with the sound of an incoming email. She took out her phone and unlocked the screen. She cast her eyes along the message.

  ‘Oh my God,’ she exclaimed.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘Shaun said the governor of Wakefield Prison had got images of all the people who have been visiting Steve Harrison since he’s been inside. There haven’t been that many, but he’s emailed them through to me. Look who’s been to see him every two weeks for the past year!’ she said holding up her phone.

  ‘Fuck me!’ Aaron said.

  Chapter Sixty-Seven

  ‘PC Steve Harrison. Can you tell me what ward Matilda Darke is on please?’ Jake said. He stood at the reception desk on the ground floor of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital. He held his brother’s warrant card and was wearing his brother’s police uniform, though he’d had to change the shirt to hide the bloodstains. He tried his hardest not to look up at the CCTV cameras.

  While waiting, he used the hand sanitiser provided and smiled at the woman next to him in the queue for information. He was the very image of the dedicated copper.

  ‘She’s in the Neuro Critical Care Unit on K floor. The lifts are through the double doors on your left.’ The receptionist smiled.

  ‘Thank you,’ Jake said. He picked up the rucksack at his feet and headed for the lifts.

  A slow-moving lift and people getting on and off at every floor meant it seemed to take an age for Jake to reach K floor. Whenever someone entered, they looked at Jake as if they’d never seen a police officer before, giving him a lingering look before relaxing their face and proffering a reassuring smile as if they felt safer in the presence of a constable. They would all have heard of the shootings around the city today and would no doubt feel nervous about being away from the safety of their homes. However, getting into a lift with a copper seemed to give them a sense of security and their smiles were warm and genuine. Jake couldn’t help but smile back. He even helped one little old lady when she dropped her shopping bag and several packets of biscuits fell out.

  ‘Thank you, young man. They’re for my Henry. He’s got such a sweet touch.’

  ‘You’re welcome,’ Jake said, putting on his best sickly voice.

  The journey continued and finally the lift pinged, signalling K floor. He was glad to get out of the lift. It was warm in there. He could feel sweat running down his back and prickling his armpits. Was it the heat from being in such a confined space or was it the sense that he was nearing the end? He knew he’d never be able to escape from the hospital alive. Hopefully he’d done enough so he could get to Matilda in time before the police did. He could die happy knowing Matilda was dead and his brother had his revenge.

  The waiting area outside the bank of lifts was empty. Once the doors had closed behind him, he stood in the middle and allowed the silence, the warmth, the closeness to envelope him. This was an old hospital and badly in need of decorating. It was a depressing place. No wonder people walked around with glum expressions. All they had to cheer them up was generic lifeless prints on the dull walls, uncomfortable seats and an out-of-order vending machine.

  He went over to the map on the wall, found where the Neuro Critical Care department was, and set off down the maze of corridors.

  Chapter Sixty-Eight

  Aaron entered the car park at speed. They were both tossed about as they went over a speed bump. He didn’t bother parking, he merely pulled up and stopped outside the entrance. He and Sian jumped out and ran into the police station.

  ‘Where’s he likely to be?’ she asked.

  ‘I’ve no idea.’ He looked at his watch. ‘Try the canteen first?’

  ‘Good a place as any.’

  They headed for the canteen. Despite not being very tall, Sian charged off with such determination that six-foot Aaron had to trot to keep up with her. Sian was on a mission, and she refused to accept failure as an option.

  She pushed open the double doors with such force they slammed against the walls on either side. The canteen wasn’t packed, but those in there enjoying a much-needed cup of tea or a comforting bite to eat to keep them fuelled for whatever the rest of the day had to throw at them turned to look at the noise.

  Sian spotted him straight away. He was alone by the window, a mug of tea in front of him and a look of angst and worry on his young face.

  Sian had never felt such rage and anger before in her life. If she was plugged in, she could powe
r the entire station for a week. Everything around her seemed to fade away as she took short steps towards him. Her eyes didn’t leave him once. His couldn’t settle on her, they were frantically darting around the large room.

  When she reached the table he was sitting at, she stopped and glared at him with a deathly stare.

  ‘Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t put your head through that window right now,’ she said. Despite her body physically shaking, her voice was cool and calm, though there was a great anger waiting to erupt any moment.

  He didn’t say anything. A tear rolled down his cheek.

  ‘Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare cry after what you’ve caused today.’

  Aaron stepped forward. ‘Justin Rix, I am arresting you for conspiracy to murder. You do not have to say anything, but it may harm your defence if you do not mention, when questioned, something you later rely on in court. Anything you do say may be given in evidence.’

  ‘I really am sorry,’ he said, his voice cracking with emotion.

  Aaron grabbed him by the elbow and lifted him out of the seat. As they headed for the doors, all eyes were on the young PC. One of their own had been involved in a murderous rampage that had caused the senseless death of seven of their colleagues. It didn’t seem possible.

  Chapter Sixty-Nine

  PC Justin Rix was twenty-three years old. At six foot one, he looked clumsy, with large ears and a large nose in the centre of his pale face. His thick white-blond hair was stylishly spiked, and his complexion was smooth, as if a razor had never scraped across his chin.

  He sat at the table in the interview room in his uniform, his back straight, his eyes facing forwards. There wasn’t a single hint of emotion on his face.

  ‘I’m not saying anything until my solicitor gets here,’ he said. His voice was soft, and he refused to look up and make eye contact with Christian and Sian. He was leaning over the table, knotting his fingers together nervously.

  Christian slapped the photographs on the table in front of him. ‘You can’t deny this is you visiting Steve Harrison in Wakefield Prison.’

  Justin didn’t say anything.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘I’m perfectly allowed to visit anyone I like,’ he stated.

  ‘Why Steve?’

  He glanced quickly from Christian to Sian and back but didn’t answer.

  ‘Are you related to him?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Why have you been visiting him every two weeks for the past year?’ Christian barked.

  Sian placed a hand on Christian’s arm, telling him to step back. She pulled out a chair and sat at the table. Time was of the essence. It was important they located Jake before he could launch another attack, but it was obvious Justin was scared and shouting at him wasn’t going to get him to open up and reveal everything he knew. She hoped Featherstone was pulling out all the stops to protect Matilda. She couldn’t lose anyone else today.

  ‘You love him, don’t you?’ Sian said, her voice quiet and calm, almost serene. ‘You’ve been writing to him for a while and you’ve been acting as a messenger between Steve and Jake, setting up everything that’s happened today. I’m right, aren’t I?’

  Justin couldn’t hide his smile. ‘I do love him. He loves me too. He’s said so. We’re going to get married.’

  ‘For God’s sake,’ Christian said. He pulled out a chair and sat next to Sian.

  ‘You don’t know. You don’t understand,’ Justin exclaimed. ‘Steve is an intelligent, warm and loving bloke. He writes such beautiful letters. It was ages before he replied to me after I started writing, but once we got talking to each other, everything seemed to – I don’t know – fall into place.’

  ‘Did you tell him you were in the police force before his first letter to you?’ Sian asked.

  ‘Yes. I sent him a photo of me in my uniform. That’s when he wrote back. He told me I looked very smart and handsome. I think I’m awkward-looking, but Steve Harrison said I was handsome. I couldn’t believe it. I mean, have you seen him? He’s gorgeous. That smile.’ Justin’s face was beaming.

  ‘You weren’t at South Yorkshire Police then, were you?’

  ‘No. I was at West Yorkshire Police. It was Steve who said I should get a transfer here.’

  ‘Did he say why?’

  ‘He said it was a good station. He also said I’d be closer to his brother. He wanted me to look out for him.’

  ‘You passed messages to him?’

  ‘Yes. There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?’

  ‘Did you read the messages?’

  ‘No. They were in a sealed envelope.’

  ‘Did you have any idea what was going to happen today?’ Christian asked.

  ‘No,’ he answered quickly. ‘Hand on heart. I had no idea what was going to happen today. I was passing notes to Jake. I thought they were just Steve trying to get Jake to visit him again. I didn’t…’

  He words were lost to his tears. Sian reached forward and placed a hand on his arm.

  ‘Justin, did Steve ask you to forge a letter from a GP saying he had a rare cancer?’

  Eventually, Justin looked up. He nodded.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘He didn’t say.’

  ‘Didn’t you question him?’

  ‘No.’

  ‘Why not? Didn’t you think it was cruel to say someone had cancer when they didn’t?’

  ‘I did, but then I thought maybe it was Steve’s way of getting Jake to visit. If Jake thought he didn’t have long left to live then maybe he’d want to see Steve to say a final goodbye.’

  ‘Oh my God,’ Christian said, turning away.

  Sian took a deep breath. ‘When did you realise Jake was behind the events of today?’

  He wiped his eyes with his sleeves like a naughty schoolboy would. ‘Just after dinner time. He asked me if it was true that Matilda wasn’t dead. I said it was. He said Steve wanted her dead.’

  ‘Didn’t you ask why?’

  He shook his head.

  ‘The shooting at the Parkway was a distraction, wasn’t it?’ Christian asked.

  He nodded.

  ‘And what happened at the school?’

  ‘He wanted to kill his wife,’ Justin said quietly, looking down at the table.

  Sian took a deep breath. ‘Where is he now?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘Do you have a number for him?’

  ‘No. Every time he calls it’s from a different number.’

  ‘I think he’s going to go to the hospital and try to kill Matilda. Am I right?’

  Justin didn’t say anything, just looked down at the table and continued to play with his bony fingers. Sian jumped up to leave.

  ‘You can’t stop him,’ Justin shouted.

  Sian and Christian both turned back from where they stood in the doorway.

  ‘If he doesn’t kill her, then Steve will see it as a failure. He’ll think I haven’t done my job properly. He won’t want to be with me anymore,’ he said. There was a look of loss and desperation in his eyes.

  ‘I’ve got news for you, Justin,’ Christian spat.

  ‘We don’t have time for this.’ Sian grabbed Christian by the arm and pulled him out of the interview room.

  Justin Rix was to be charged with conspiracy to murder, and nobody was showing any compassion to a man who had orchestrated the cold murder of their friends and colleagues.

  ‘What was that word you used to describe people who love serial killers?’ Christian asked.

  ‘Hybristophilia.’

  ‘So, Justin fancied Steve, and Steve exploited the fact to suit his own ends.’

  Christian and Sian were still in the interview room. Neither of them wanted to return to the HMET suite. It didn’t feel the same anymore, having lost so many of their team that day.

  ‘He’s a great manipulator. We know that from the way he treated Faith Easter.’

  ‘I feel absolutely drained.’ Sian rubbed the temples on the side
of her head firmly, trying to stave off an encroaching headache.

  ‘If Jake has gone to the hospital to kill Matilda, let’s hope Porter’s got there before he has,’ Christian said.

  There was a light knock on the door. Finn Cotton was standing in the doorway with a mobile phone in his hand.

  ‘I’ve been through Justin’s mobile,’ he said, holding it aloft. ‘There have been a lot of calls and texts to Danny Hanson today.’

  ‘Shit,’ Christian said, bowing his head. ‘He’s been feeding information to the press. I bet that was Steve’s idea, too. That man is going to be in so much shit. Finn, get everything you can from that phone.’

  ‘Will do.’

  Sian looked at her watch. The waiting was the hardest part. She felt sick. Her heart was in her mouth with what could possibly be happening right now at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

  ‘I should be there.’

  ‘And risk what happened to Rory happening to you? I don’t think so. You’re better off here.’

  ‘I can’t sit around waiting.’ She kicked out at a chair, sending it toppling to the ground. ‘Matilda’s parents are there. Daniel is there. What if he’s got another bomb, Christian? What if he’s got a hand grenade or something? Who knows how many innocent people are going to die.’

  She turned and looked out of the window. It was dark, but the floodlights outside lit up the car park. It had been cleared of the dead bodies of her colleagues, but she could still see them in her mind’s eye. She turned around, putting her back to the scene of carnage, but it was in front of her too.

  Everything about this job, this station, was tainted now. It would never be the same again. Sian had no idea how she’d be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning and come to work in the aftermath of all this.

  The sound of screaming and shouting from the custody suite echoed down the corridor.

  ‘What the hell’s going on?’ Christian asked.