by Bill Ward
“So what do you suggest we do?”
“I’ll go in alone and try to contain Victor. I don’t believe he will just shoot me so I should make it up to his room unharmed. We then need to coordinate that you take the door down and come up those stairs fast in say exactly ten minutes. Hopefully the diversion of your arrival will give me the opportunity to deal with Victor.”
“I can’t let you do that. We need to treat this as a kidnapping, contain the situation and start a negotiation with this Victor.”
“Inspector, right now this dangerous lunatic is upstairs with Afina, who he wants dead. He has a sick mind and we don’t have time to do it your way. He may well be slowly killing her right now so please let me get on and do what I do best.”
Powell took out his wallet and retrieved a small tool he hadn’t used for two years since he last locked himself out of his home. It took him less than a minute to open the front door while the Inspector watched with a disapproving face.
When the door eased open, Powell glanced at his watch. “I have nine thirty seven now. Cause the biggest disturbance possible at nine forty fifty. If you don’t want to come up the stairs then turn on all your sirens and just make a shed load of noise.”
“Okay, Powell. I’m sorry, I can’t give you a weapon.”
“That’s all right, I don’t need guns to take care of myself.”
Powell turned and slowly entered the house, listening for sounds from above. He heard someone female scream and swear. He wasn’t sure if it was Mara or Afina. He climbed the stairs swiftly on the balls of his feet, anxious to remain undetected for as long as possible. He guessed the scream had come from Afina’s old bedroom and he made it to outside Stefan’s lounge without detection. He turned the door handle and gently opened the door a few inches, half expecting to be challenged from inside but he could hear voices coming from Afina’s room so he opened the door enough to see inside and found himself staring into an empty room.
Powell prayed his luck would continue as he took a few steps into the room. Victor was probably focused on whatever he was doing to Afina but Powell hated to contemplate what he was going to find once inside the room.
The internal door to Afina’s bedroom was open and Powell could now hear clearly what was being said but as it was in Romanian he couldn’t actually understand anything! Despite the language barrier, he could at least detect both Afina and Mara were still alive. Having safely made it this far, there was little point in waiting for the police to come charging up the stairs.
CHAPTER FORTY NINE
Freed of her bonds, Afina tore off the tape from around her mouth. “You’re a sick bastard,” she swore at Victor. Seeing what he had done to Mara and knowing he had only just started, she was now more angry than scared. Thanks to Powell, her family was safe and she had only to worry about herself. Actually, that wasn’t true, she also had to worry about Mara, who had just selflessly convinced Victor to expend his anger on her body rather than Afina’s.
“It’s okay,” Mara said. “I don’t mind.”
“Don’t be stupid, Mara! Of course you fucking mind.”
Victor waved his gun at both girls. “I would love to watch you two bitches arguing further but I don’t have the time. “Afina, I suggest you tie Mara to the bed before I become impatient.”
“Fuck you,” Afina retorted. “I’m doing nothing to help your twisted games. Just shoot me if you want.”
“Perhaps you have a good idea, Afina. Let’s play a game. Tie Mara to the bed or I will shoot her.”
Afina was surprised by Victor’s suggestion. She was trying to protect Mara but now the only options were see her shot or see her beaten. She hesitated and Victor moved the gun menacingly towards Mara.
“This is your last chance, girls. I am going to count to ten and Mara had better be tied to the bed or she will learn what it is like to be shot in the knee. Believe me, it is agony. One, Two…” Victor counted slowly.
Mara lay down on the bed. “Tie me up, Afina. I don’t want to lose my knee.”
Victor said, “Three.”
Afina felt she had no damn choice and started to move toward the bed to do as instructed.
The calm was shattered by Powell hurtling through the door and throwing himself in a rugby like tackle at Victor’s body, knocking him off balance and sending him crashing to the floor.
Mara shot up from the bed and Afina stepped backwards in shock as the two men wrestled on the floor.
Victor still had the gun in his hand and used it as a club on the side of Powell’s head. There wasn’t much room for the two men as they were squashed between the bed, chair and furniture.
“Get out,” Powell screamed.
Afina was trapped in the corner, unable to get past the two men. She witnessed Victor again strike Powell’s head with the gun. She looked around for some form of weapon so she could help Powell.
Victor’s blows with the gun had achieved the desired effect and a dazed Powell was unable to resist Victor pushing him off his body. As Victor climbed unsteadily to his feet, he aimed the gun at Powell and Afina knew she had to do something. She picked up the chair and brought it down on Victor’s back. The impact had little effect.
Victor turned towards her, surprised by the new assault. He pointed the gun at her and Afina knew he was going to pull the trigger and this time there could be no escape.
Mara was now standing and when she saw Victor’s intent screamed, “Noooo,” at the top of her voice.
Victor turned towards Mara as she threw herself at him. He fired and the noise in the confined bedroom space was magnified to a terrible extent.
Afina saw the limp body of Mara fall against Victor and knock him to the ground. In the confined space, he struggled for a few seconds to push her away.
Powell had recovered some strength and climbed unsteadily to his feet just as Victor managed to push Mara aside. Powell saw Victor raise his gun and take aim but before he could fire, Powell threw himself forwards, using both his hands to pin Victor’s gun hand to the floor.
They rolled on the floor for a few seconds, neither able to gain the upper hand. Victor tried a head-butt but Powell was able to avoid it at the last moment.
Powell could see Victor’s exposed throat and releasing his right hand from the arm wrestling match with Victor’s gun hand, reverted to his basic MI5 training and chopped at the throat. The effect was immediate and Victor was desperately struggling to breathe. He dropped the gun and his hands instinctively went up to his throat, to the source of his pain.
Powell took the opportunity to grab Victor around his neck in an arm lock. He wrapped his legs around Victor’s body for greater leverage. Victor responded by desperately trying to claw at Powell’s arms and face as the grip tightened, slowly squeezing the life out of Victor.
There was the sudden sound of men rushing up the stairs shouting, “Police. Throw down your weapons and get on the floor.”
Powell kept hold of Victor’s throat, even when the police burst into the room. There had been no further resistance from Victor but he wasn’t going to repeat his error of letting him live, to come back seeking further revenge.
Afina could finally get to Mara. “She’s been shot, call an ambulance,” she shouted but deep inside she suspected it was already too late.
CHAPTER FIFTY
Twenty four hours had passed since the rescue of Afina and Powell had spent many of them at the hospital. Mara was on a life support system and her chances were less than fifty per cent.
Afina hadn’t left the room since arriving and was keeping vigil on Mara, refusing all suggestions she should go home and rest. Mara was in bed with tubes in her arms and hooked up to machines monitoring her heart beat and breathing. She looked surprisingly peaceful given the traumatic nature of a gunshot wound.
By the time the police had forced Powell to let go of Victor he was indeed certified as dead. Powell had zero regrets about his actions and Afina’s testimony combined with Mara’s being s
hot, was sufficient to exonerate him of any charge of using excessive force. Powell realised he had not changed as much as he had thought over the last twenty years because he had ended Victor’s life without a minute’s troubled thought, either at the time or since. It was further evidence that he was ready to return to a different line of work.
Powell even had a tinge of regret he had allowed Dimitry to live but at least he was going to spend the rest of his life in prison. Bella’s death had introduced him to a world he barely knew existed and he was determined to dedicate the remainder of his life to more than propping up a bar. He had spoken with Brian and his support was going to prove useful although it would naturally have to be unofficial. Brian even had a couple of potential projects, which sounded interesting but first Powell knew he must help Afina through the next few days, before he moved on to helping others in need of his services.
Afina had been quiet and withdrawn since Mara’s shooting and though she had expressed her gratitude to Powell, he was sure she was feeling terribly guilty. He tried to make her see it was purely Victor’s fault but she wasn’t really listening. He was going to encourage her to go home to Bucharest for a while, if not permanently, once Mara’s situation was resolved.
Powell walked to the coffee machine for the hundredth time and fetched two more terrible tasting drinks simply labelled as white coffee. His mobile rang and glancing at the caller, he saw it was Brian so decided to ignore the warning signs saying use of mobiles was forbidden, within the hospital.
“Hello, Brian. What’s up?”
“How is Mara doing?”
“Not great, she’s still in a coma but she has a fighting chance. Problem is the doctors have no idea if or when she might come out of the coma.”
“Sorry to hear that. I know it’s probably bad timing but I’m going to send you a file I’d like you to take a look at. I think it’s something you might be interested in.”
“Give me the brief story.”
“A woman with friends in high places married a Saudi citizen and they settled over here. Two children later he decides he’s no longer in love with her and has gone back home.”
“What do you need me for?”
“He’s taken the children with him and not allowing the mother any access. Everything possible has been done through official channels but unless someone helps her get her kids out of Saudi, she may never see them again.”
“Okay, I’ll read the file and speak to you soon.”
CHAPTER FIFTY ONE
The phone rang but Powell didn’t recognise the number.
“Powell,” he answered.
A male voice said, “Hello Mr. Powell, this is Doctor Roberts from Sussex Hospital. You are listed as next of kin for Mara Petrescu. Is that correct?”
Powell took in a deep breath. “That is correct. Do you have some news?” he asked anxiously.
“Yes Mr Powell, I have some good news. Miss Petrescu has awoken from her coma. She is very weak and it’s still early days but there is every reason to be positive.”
Powell was relieved and excited by the news. “Thank you, doctor. You’ve made my day.”
“Actually, that’s why I like to make these type of calls in person. I spend too much time delivering bad news.”
“She’s been in the coma for ten days, will there be any lasting effect?”
“There shouldn’t be but sometimes complications do arise.”
“Is she speaking?” He had found fifty thousand pounds in his bank account and he was pretty sure it must have been Mara who returned the money he had paid to Stefan. He was desperate for her to wake from the coma so he could say thanks.
“A little but she still needs to rest and recuperate so don’t expect any long conversations at first. I have to go now but feel free to have a brief visit as soon as is convenient.”
“Thanks again, doctor. You really have made my day.” As Powell ended the call he felt like a huge weight had been lifted from his shoulders.
His phone rang again before he could tell Afina the good news.
“Hello Brian. I guess you’re chasing me for an answer about the Bennett woman but first I have some good news. I just heard from the hospital and Mara is out of her coma. The doctor thinks she should make a full recovery.”
There was a pause at the other end of the phone before Brian spoke, “That is really good news but I’m afraid I’m the bearer of some not so good news. Dimitry has escaped. He was in court today to be charged with additional crimes and a couple of armed men helped him get away.”
“How the hell could that happen?” Powell asked angrily.
“They were professionals, Powell. They had automatic weapons, killed three people and injured several others. They knew what they were doing.”
Powell could barely believe what he was hearing. “Sorry, I know it’s not your fault. An escape like that takes a load of planning. How has that been possible with him locked up? Someone must have liaised between Dimitry and the men on the outside.”
“We’re looking closely at everyone who has contact with him but the likely source is the solicitor. He’s Romanian, been living in England for only a few months and not known to have been involved with any other high profile cases. He might be bent or they might simply have leaned on his family.”
“I wonder if Dimitry knows Powell and Danny are the same man?”
“There’s no real way of telling unless he turns up on your doorstep.”
“I can’t imagine he’ll come anywhere near Brighton but I’ll be careful. Anyway, I need to get on with the Bennett case so I expect to be travelling a great deal.”
“So you will help her?”
“I’ve done a bit of background research. The next step is to meet her before I make a final decision.”
“I’ll check when she’s available in the next few days and get back to you with some suggestions. She will be over the moon to hear you want to help, she’s really desperate.”
“I want to help but I haven’t made a final decision because I don’t want to go saying I will get her children back for her and then fail. That would be like torturing her further. I have to believe I can succeed before I take the job.”
“I understand. Listen, I’m sorry about the Dimitry news. Make sure Afina is safe.”
“Of course,” Powell replied a little tetchy. He didn’t need reminding to take care of Afina.
“There’s a massive manhunt taking place. As you can imagine, the boys in blue are feeling pretty sick he escaped and he’ll do well to evade capture for long.”
“Based on the organisation needed to break him out of the courtroom, I think we can safely assume he would also have had a plan for what happened once he was free, so I wouldn’t be confident the police will catch him. Anyway, thanks for letting me know, Brian. I need to get back to Afina.”
“Stay alert,” Brian warned. “You seem like a magnet for trouble recently.”
Powell ended the call. As he walked upstairs to Afina’s apartment, he was hoping Dimitry would stay away from Brighton but if he did turn up, he would hopefully still believe Danny was a friend. That would be ironic and almost comical.
“I have some very good news and some bad news,” Powell said, when Afina invited him in. “Which do you want to hear first?”
CHAPTER FIFTY TWO
Afina’s mother had enjoyed the three weeks of having no one else to cook or clean for but she had missed the girls and the apartment seemed very empty and quiet. She had always known the day would arrive when her girls would leave home but she had been caught by surprise with the suddenness with which it had happened.
She was looking forward to seeing Adriana, who was on her way back from the airport and was due back at school in two days. There were only two weeks of term left until the summer holidays and they had spoken about the possibility of her then spending some more time in England. For at least the next two weeks life would return to something like normal.
She suspected Afina
would be in England for a long time to come but that wasn’t a bad thing. She was confident Powell would look after Afina. He was a good man even if his eyes showed him to be a sad man. She wasn’t going to be surprised if one day in the future, Afina announced she and Powell were living together properly. There was a definite attraction between the two of them. She wasn’t sure how she felt about her daughter going out with someone older than she was. Still, there was no point telling Afina what to do as she would always choose her own path.
The knock at the door led to her rushing to the door in expectation of welcoming Adriana back home. For the first time in two weeks she didn’t bother putting the chain on the door before opening it to see who was outside. It probably would have made little difference because as soon as the door was ajar, a heavy boot kicked the door inwards, knocking her flying backwards as the door crashed into her body.
She was stunned by the impact of the door and lying on the hallway floor as two sets of arms grabbed her by each arm and dragged her along the ground into the living room. A chair was taken from the kitchen into the lounge and nothing was said, as her arms were tied behind the back of the chair.
She was feeling dazed and had a large swelling on her forehead. She slowly focused her mind on what was happening but decided to keep her eyes closed. She felt tape being wrapped around her mouth.
“Damn door hit her in the head, she’s barely conscious,” Bogdan said.
Dimitry took her chin in his hand and shook it from side to side. “Wake up woman, we need to talk to you.”
She stirred and slowly opened her eyes. She felt like asking who the fuck they were but the tape made it impossible and anyway, she knew in her heart who they were and why they were there. Afina had called and told her just a few days earlier that Dimitry had escaped from the English prison and would probably try to return to Bucharest.
