Giles shrugged.
Seeing his usual uncaring attitude, Simmonds snapped, 'That is why the whole operation up north is being supervised by your brother Michael. If it’s hidden where we think, then they’ll recover it tonight while most of the islanders are in Berwick. Here.' Simmonds got up from the settee and walked over to a sixteenth-century chest. Using a tiny key taken from a chain around his neck, he opened a compartment at the back of the chest and drew out a wad of notes, which he handed to his son. 'Do what you do best. The casino’s open now.'
With a look of contempt, Giles snatched the money from his father’s hand and, without a backward glance, walked out.
Simmonds gritted his teeth. If Giles didn’t look so much like him, he would swear he was not his son. Even so, he’d still had a secret DNA test done which unfortunately had proved positive.
Michael was so much better material, just like his bastard peasant daughter, who was a rising star of the stock market. A little helping hand, unknown to her, had not gone amiss. He smiled. If Giles ever bumped into her, it would be like looking in a mirror. He would guess right off who she was.
Picking his phone up, he dialled a north-east number.
3.00 pm
Shelly stared at the half-full box. She had no idea how many bags she had put in. Each one had to be counted, and she found it hard to concentrate, especially with Danny’s eyes on her most of the time. Guilt weighed heavy on her mind, and pain wracked her body with every breath she took. Every time she moved, her nerves screamed in agony. Not for the first time she would have to empty the box out and start again.
Sighing, she tried to tip the box up, and couldn’t find the strength. Suddenly the box was taken out of her hands. She watched as the deadly packets were tipped onto the bench. Looking up, her eyes met Danny’s. 'Sorry,' she whispered – not for the box, but for the horror she had dragged him into.
Understanding, Danny give her a quick smile. He hadn’t forgiven her, and wasn’t sure if he ever would, but his heart ached for what had happened to her. He was still looking at Shelly when Cassie nudged him. He winced, and felt his knees wobble as pain washed over him. She had caught him in the ribs. He hung onto the bench. To give in meant to be dragged away. Already, four kids and one of the women were lying in the corner.
He felt a breath on his neck, and froze as the man with the gun said, 'Just give me any excuse to waste you.'
'Sorry,' Danny whispered, getting on with his work. He looked at Cassie and pulled a face.
As the gunman walked back to the middle of the room, Brother David and four other monks came into the hall, each carrying a tray with six bowls of soup. They delivered these to the top four tables, then went out for more.
'We should complain to the union about this, we get served last every time,' Danny whispered to the girls. Despite their plight, it raised a ghost of a smile from Cassie and Shelly, but the girl with the glasses and the long brown bunches just looked vacantly at him.
Tutting, Danny got on with his work, still racking his mind for ways to escape, while Cassie dreaded every passing minute, wondering exactly what was in store for her tonight. Shelly already knew.
4.15 pm
Mike and Kristina looked at each other as the boy turned to go. When he reached the door, Mike said, 'Tell the next one to wait, we’ll come for him when we’re ready.' The boy threw them a quick smile and a nod as he closed the door behind him.
They had been at it for hours and, after interviewing most of the school, they were down to the last four. 'He seemed like a nice kid,' Kristina said, smoothing the creases out of her pale blue linen dress.
Dry-washing his face with his hands, Mike replied. 'Yeah, but like most of them he never really knew Cassie. She hasn’t been here long enough to make much of an impression on them.'
'Well, there’s only a few left. Might as well get it over with.' When Mike nodded, Kristina got up and went to the door. She smiled at the four teenagers, three boys and a chubby girl with short red hair, and beckoned for the girl to come in.
When she was seated in front of them, Mike said, 'So, what’s your name?'
'Amber.' She looked from under her lids at Mike.
Guessing that she was quite shy, and probably bullied for her weight and the colour of her hair, which was really quite beautiful, Mike said gently, 'All right, Amber, I guess by now you’ll have heard what this is all about?'
The girl’s face flushed as she nodded. 'I… I saw her get into a car… I was late and I ran past her.'
Mike and Kristina looked at each other. 'At last,' Kristina muttered.
'OK.' Mike smiled at the girl. 'Take your time and tell us everything you can remember. Even if you think it’s not important, it might be.'
She paused for a moment, then said hesitantly, 'I... er... I didn’t really see much. Cassie was looking in the shop window when the car came up the road and turned. When I passed, she got in the car.' She shrugged. 'That’s all, really.'
'What colour was the car?' Kristina asked.
Amber bit her lip. 'Oh, dark, I think. Black or dark blue.'
'Did you notice the number plate?' Mike raised an eyebrow, hoping for the practically impossible.
She shook her head. 'No, sorry. I never looked.'
'It’s all right, Amber… Why would you? Did you see who else was in the car?'
'A girl, and two men.'
'Seen any of them before, Amber?' Kristina put in.
Turning to Kristina, Amber went on, 'Not the men, ‘cos it drove off too fast. I think I’ve seen the girl before though, but I can’t remember where. She’s not in our class. I think she’s too old, she might have left school.'
'Did Cassie get into the car willingly, or did it look like she was forced?'
'I think she just got in, like she knew them.'
'OK, Amber, you’re doing great. Now, can you tell us what the girl looked like?' Mike asked, leaning eagerly across the desk, praying that fate was finally dealing them a good card.
Amber chewed her lip for a moment. 'She’s got long black hair, and face rings.'
'Maria!' Mike said, turning his head to look at Kristina.
'Sounds like it to me. Amber, you’ve been a great help. Thank you.' Kristina smiled, and, basking in the praise, Amber beamed back at her.
When she had gone, Mike shrugged his jacket on. 'Come on, Kristina, we might catch her in the house this time.'
'What about the rest of them out there?'
Opening the door, Mike said to the three boys, 'Any of youse lot got anything to tell us? Do you even know Cassie?'
The boys looked at each other, shrugged in turn, then shook their heads. Stopping himself from asking if any of them had tongues in their mouths, Mike said, 'Right, lads, you can go now.'
He watched as the trio slumped away. Turning back, he waited while Kristina slipped a white bolero over her shoulders, then together they walked out to the car.
6.30 pm
Aunt May was looking out of her window as the coach arrived to take the villagers to Berwick Town Hall for the meeting. She still had time to go, and was actually in two minds. But she was worried about Smiler. He’d been missing most of the day. The bread had almost disappeared, nothing left but a crust, and she didn’t know if Smiler had been back and had a snack, or if Mike had taken sandwiches to work with him.
Should I go?
No. Can’t stand the bloody poncy idiots.
Anyhow, I can’t go unless I know Smiler’s safe.
She was about to slip her old blue cardigan on and have another wander round the village, when Mike walked in.
'Oh, thank God you’re back.'
'Why, what’s wrong?' Watching her heading for the door, Mike left his jacket on. He already had a feeling that this was something to do with Smiler.
'Did you take sandwiches to work today?'
'That’ll be a yes.'
'Then Smiler’s been missing all day. And that bloody Tiny.' She couldn’t keep the worry off h
er face as she looked at Mike.
'Ahh, fuck'
'Uh-hmm.'
'Sorry, Aunt May, it’s been one of those days. We actually have a lead, but can’t flaming well find her.'
'Oh, dear. So nothing at all?'
Mike shook his head.
'I’ve been with Jill most of the day. She’s in a right bloody state, the poor lass.'
'Yeah, I bet. Look, we better go and find our own missing ones.'
As they stepped out of the door, the bus went past. Aunt May stopped and watched. Noticing that it was full, she muttered, 'Bloody fools.'
Pleased that she hadn’t gone, but still not sure why, Mike hid a smile as they walked to the centre of the village. When they had reached Stables coffee shop, Mike said, 'You carry on round the streets, I’ll go down onto the beach.'
'Right, then. See you back here,' Aunt May answered, as she turned and walked off in the opposite direction.
6.50 pm
Aunt May had searched every street and alleyway, looking into back yards and every other place she could think of. She decided to go and look around the old monastery. The monastery was built in AD 635 for the Irish-born St Aidan, and around the early seven hundreds the Lindisfarne Gospels had been created there.
Aunt May was thinking of the Gospels when she reached the monastery. Most of the villagers' hearts were in the right place, but she just didn’t trust these strangers, who had turned up out of the blue and riled people up. A worthy cause, yes, but what were these people really after?
Although well-preserved in some places, the monastery was still a ruin. A large ruin though, with plenty of hiding places for a boy and a dog who didn’t want to be found.
She was just entering the main gate when she heard whispering voices. Pausing, she listened intently. It sounded like there were at least three of them. Then came the sound of digging.
Her heart rate increased. What are they doing? she wondered, as she hid behind one of the ancient walls and peeped round. Too late, she heard a sound behind her. She spun round, and saw a rush of movement. A moment later the blow to her head rendered her unconscious. Slowly she slid down the wall, first scraping the skin off her cheek, then snagging her blue cardigan on the rough stone.
6.55 pm
Mike had walked the full length of the beach towards Beal. He’d bumped into a lone man out with his dog, and remembered why the place seemed so deserted. Most of the islanders were at the meeting. Now back where he started, he set off in the other direction. As he turned a rocky outcrop, he noticed some markings in the flat damp sand. At first he ignored them, but they seemed to be everywhere, stretching from the land, across the sand to the water’s edge. Frowning, he studied the nearest set. They looked familiar, but no memory of them came rushing to his mind.
Moving on, he was puzzled. The markings seemed to go on and on. He scanned the beach, and spotted a small boy doodling in the sand with a large stick or twig. Mike frowned. Could that be Smiler?
He knew for sure a moment later, when a large dog came out of the sea, ran up to the boy and showered him with water as it gave a gigantic shake. The boy ignored the dog, and carried on with his frantic scrawling.
Mike sighed, pleased he’d found Smiler, but upset at what he was doing.
Looking at the marks again, and shocked by the amount, all in rigid lines of five, Mike muttered, 'The poor sod must have been at it for hours.' He looked back along the beach at Smiler. With a deep sigh, he headed off towards him.
When he reached him, Smiler was again talking in unintelligible quick time. 'Smiler,' Mike said, gently touching his shoulder. 'What’s all this?' He indicated the marks in the sand -- then found himself staring at them.
'No, can’t be!'
At the sound of Mike’s voice, as if someone had pressed a switch, Smiler stopped talking and scribbling.
'Mike!'
But Mike was walking back and forth, studying each identical section of marks from different angles. Suddenly he shouted, 'Dave!' Spinning round, he faced Smiler. For a moment he stared at him in wonder. 'How?'
Smiler shook his head as Tiny, hearing Mike shout, came bounding up. The dog jumped up to be patted. 'Yes, yes, hello, Tiny.' Mike stroked his head, but his eyes were still on Smiler. 'How?' he asked again.
'I don’t know. Those symbols have been burning in my head all day. But…' He looked around. As far as the eye could see the sand was covered in them. 'I don’t remember doing any of this,' he muttered, his voice shaky, his eyes wide and staring. Frightened at the scale of the markings, he ran his fingers through his hair. 'What does it mean?'
'It’s something we made up as kids. See the backwards-facing D? That’s for Dave. The three interlocking circles are also his sign. The number of wavy lines above them means danger. The more lines there are, the more danger he’s in.'
Smiler looked at the signs again. 'Looks like he’s in a hell of a lot of danger, then.'
Taking his phone out, Mike dialled Kristina. When she answered he said, 'That missing note, can you describe what was on it?'
'Looked like nothing more than a bunch of circles and some wavy lines. Why?'
'Send a couple of squad cars, packed with as many cops as you can squeeze in, to the monastery on the mainland. ASAP, no sirens or any noise. I’ll explain when I see you.' Without waiting for an answer, he snapped his phone shut.
Hurrying away, Mike said over his shoulder to Smiler, 'You go and find Aunt May. She’s worried sick about you. She’ll be somewhere in the village.'
He took off at a run, leaving a puzzled Smiler staring after him.
7.15 pm
Brother Josh’s lips moved in silent prayer as he walked down the hall. Shelly spotted him, and knew instinctively that he was coming for her. She froze, watching every step he made. She knew, in those steps her fate was sealed.
Cassie was also watching him. She couldn’t begin to imagine that they would kill her. She hung onto the hope that they would be rescued. But she also had a good idea of what was going to happen, and to her it was a fate worse than death. She started to sob.
Danny looked up, then stared from one girl to another. His heart rate speeded up. No way could he stand still and let this happen to either of them.
What to do?
His mind raced, rejecting everything he thought of. He knew that at this end of the hall were two sheds connected to the main building, where most of the pot was grown. He’d spotted a door from one of the sheds which led into the garden. But how the hell to get out of the garden, with those friggin' electronic gates controlling everyone who enters and everyone who leaves? Shit!
Brother Josh reached them.
Where’s the prat with the gun? Danny looked quickly round, but couldn’t see him. As Brother Josh took each girl by the arms, Danny reacted in typical Danny fashion.
7.20 pm
Mike stopped the car behind a thick hedgerow, where he knew he couldn’t be seen from the monastery. Taking a minute to whip off his white T-shirt, and shrugging into a black one which he kept in the car for emergencies, he quickly and quietly jumped out of the car, locked it, and ran along the road. The body had been found early yesterday morning in the yard that was used by a lot of policemen. Mike had a feeling that, if he was right, Dave wanted more than one person there when the body and the note were discovered. That had to mean there was someone in the station he didn’t trust. The CCTV camera had shown nothing, and still showed nothing four hours later, when someone went outside and had a look, and found the camera lens covered in grey tape.
Kristina had said there were thirty seconds of tape, showing a large man wearing a hood, who kept his head down as he ran across the yard. A minute later, the tape went blank. Whoever it was had shoved the large black dustbin under the camera to reach it.
It must have been Dave. His habit could have been mistaken for a hoodie.
He reached the door in the wall, which was also hidden from outside by overgrown ivy. He had to rummage amongst the leaves
until he found the door, and was pleased that it was unlocked. Obviously Dave’s doing.
Again, he wondered what the hell was going on, and why the note had disappeared. He froze. 'Shit,' he whispered, 'The note disappeared after Tony was in the office… Where the hell does he fit into all of this?'
Frowning, he opened the door, He remembered that it used to squeak, but no. It opened silently. Thank God. Dave must have oiled it. Closing the door behind him, he rearranged the ivy, then, hugging the wall, he ran to the first of the sheds and peered into the window just as Brother Josh reached Danny and the girls.
7.21 pm
Danny launched a fist at Brother Josh. It connected with the end of his chin, felling him immediately. Shocked, for a moment Danny could only stare. Too late, the option for action was lost as the gunman walked in.
'What the fuck?' He ran down towards them, his gun pointed at Danny.
Shaking, Danny held his hands up. 'He… he just collapsed, honest to God, he fainted or something. Yeah, that’s what must have happened, he fucking fainted, didn’t he?'
Cassie nodded. 'Yes, that’s what happened, he must be poorly. Do you think he’s poorly?' Her eyes were a picture of innocence as she looked at the gunman.
Ignoring her, he snarled, 'Get out of the way, bitch. You! ' He poked Danny in the ribs with his gun. Danny gritted his teeth, doing his best not to show any pain. 'Pick him up.' The gunman sneered in Danny’s face.
Trying hard to get a grip on his temper, Danny bent down and hauled Brother Josh to a standing position. He managed out of sheer stubbornness, but the pain made him feel like fainting. What stopped him was the fact that he knew, if he hit the deck, Ugly Fart Face Gunman wouldn’t waste the opportunity to get a few more kicks in. One more blow would probably crunch his rib cage to bits. He shivered inwardly at the picture. Can you walk with no ribs?
Christ, can you do anything with no ribs?
'Wait here,' the gunman snarled at Danny. Turning to the girls, he said, 'Follow me.'
'No.' Cassie backed away. 'No. I want to go home.'
He looked suspiciously at Cassie, before stealing a quick glance at Shelly, who stood with her head down. She was swaying, and looked as if she might collapse at any time. Taking a step forward, he thrust his face into Cassie’s, grabbed her arm and shook her hard. 'You been taking the goodies?' He frowned at her. 'Or palming them?'
Thorn In My Side Page 21
