“He wouldn’t have shot Rachel, he won’t hurt women.”
“Fucking poof. When this is over I’ll sort him out and all.”
“Mark Cameron?” said Col incredulously.
“He doesn’t scare me.”
Col decided not to argue the point. If Alex wanted to commit suicide then so be it. Mark would blow his brains out before he got anywhere near him.
“I can’t compete with that sort of cash,” continued Alex. “If I had access to the compound and the business accounts then I could but I’d have to stump up four million just to match Ryan’s offer.” Two million on his head, he couldn’t believe it. That had to be the biggest contract he’d ever heard of. It made his half a million, which he’d thought impressive, look pathetic and in turn that made him look pathetic. But he was far from out. “I need to get out of here now before all the scumbags come crawling out of the woodwork. There’ll be a fucking race on to get to me first for that sort of cash.”
“It’s already in hand Boss. We move you this evening.”
“Where to?”
“A nice big house in the country. You’ll have your own private nurse and doctor. Katia will meet you there once you’re settled in.”
Alex smiled. Christ he missed her.
“She came up with a way to get you out of here. I think you’ll like it,” smiled Col. “But until then we keep the blinds closed and the door shut,” he said, lowering the white blinds, blocking out the sight of the porter mopping the corridor.
When the blinds had completely closed the porter put down his mop and wandered off to make a phone call.
Riley had been stuck on the roof of the nightclub seven hundred metres opposite the hospital for two hours and it was now seven in the evening. He’d chosen his location carefully. The nightclub didn’t open on a Monday night and there were no cameras. There was also a fire escape leading down to the alley below with numerous other alleys leading off it, so he had plenty of escape routes. The buildings all around him were businesses, no houses in the immediate vicinity and all of them had shut up shop for the day. There was no one to see him. From here he could see the main entrance - which he doubted very much Alex would use - A&E, maternity and outpatients. If necessary he could get down the fire escape quickly, run down the alley and up onto another building so he was facing the south side of the hospital, which had the quieter exits. Jez’s man on the inside was going to follow Alex and let him know which exit he was aiming for so he would have plenty of warning should he need to change position.
Fortunately the evening was dry and calm but he’d still brought an anemometer along with him, a small hand-held object used on boats to test wind speed. As he was over six hundred meters away a sudden strong wind could blow a round entirely off target and unpredictable wind vortexes were more likely in built-up areas. He was taking no chances. Ideally he would have liked to have been closer to his target. At this distance he had only a fifty percent probability of a successful strike but the surrounding area had forced his hand. However he was consoled by the fact that he’d never once missed, even when the odds were greater than this. He exhaled once slowly then breathed in as he looked down the sight and saw a pregnant woman waddling into maternity, the man by her side looking both excited and terrified, an overnight bag clutched in his hand. Riley swallowed hard, inhaled again and studied the front of A&E instead. If Alex came through the maternity exit he’d live because there was no way he was firing into there.
He did another check of the weapon to keep himself occupied. Ryan had done well, it was in perfect working order. Riley had dismantled it, cleaned it and put it back together himself just to get the feel of it and to make sure nothing went wrong. It was semi-automatic so if he did miss with the first shot he could get off a second quick enough. It also had a silencer so the shot wouldn’t be heard.
Riley shifted his legs slightly to get into a more comfortable position. He was used to doing this as part of a two-man team so it was even more important he kept fresh and alert without a second pair of eyes. He had an earpiece in so Jez’s man could let him know when Alex was on the move. That was the only help he was going to get, he wouldn’t be told until the last minute which exit he’d be leaving by.
Once again he scanned the surrounding rooftops. It was common knowledge that Alex was in this hospital and no doubt word of the contract Ryan had put out on him had got round by now so there might be others wanting to try the same thing and if they spotted him trying to take their prize they might just try and take him out too. But he was well-hidden; even from the next rooftop it would be difficult to see him.
Riley watched with amused interest as a figure in black scrambled up the side of a building to his left holding a case that no doubt contained a gun. Once the figure reached the top it sped to the edge of the rooftop, knelt down and opened the case. Riley was astounded by such incompetence. The roof the rival sniper had selected was quite low, exposed to the surrounding rooftops. It was also above a café that had a projected awning which could act as a shelter to its customers if it rained. The sniper would have to lean right out in order to shoot over it. It was a mad choice of location and no doubt the fool would fall off if he attempted to shoot anyone coming out of the hospital.
Leaving the idiot to it Riley scanned the rest of the rooftops. No sign of anyone else yet but there was still time.
“Ryan,” he said softly into the microphone on the wire leading into his ear. Ringing started up in his ear, cut off abruptly by Ryan’s voice. “Riley?”
“It looks like I’ve got company. There’s another sniper stationed on the north side of the hospital. What do you want me to do?”
“Leave him to it. If he gets Alex then all well and good. Anyone else there?”
“Not yet.”
“Only take them out if they’re a danger to you or anyone else. We don’t want that hospital becoming a shooting range.”
“Will do. Any word yet?”
“Not yet. I’ll keep you informed.”
The connection went dead and Riley returned to his vigil. The other sniper was still in his awkward position. Studying the man’s gun through the scope Riley saw it was old and not very well maintained. If he fired no doubt it would explode in his hands. The only person that sniper was going to hurt was himself.
Riley was surprised to hear footsteps behind him. Someone was coming up the fire escape.
Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he picked up the gun and retreated back against the wall, so he couldn’t be seen when whoever it was reached the rooftop. Gently as he could he put down the L6 and pulled out a SIG Sauer pistol with a silencer on the end. He watched as the man strode onto the roof, eyes constantly scanning the area. When he realised he wasn’t alone he reacted quickly. Instinctively he went low, reaching for the weapon concealed in his jacket pocket, but he was at a disadvantage.
“Stop,” ordered Riley.
When he saw the weapon in his hands the man did indeed stop, although he didn’t flinch. He just stared back at Riley steadily.
“Put your hands on your head and kneel down.”
The man obeyed, the essence of cool and calm. He was a strapping six footer who stood tall and proud with dark brown hair and ice blue eyes and appeared to be in his early-forties. Riley could tell he was a military man and was therefore reluctant to harm him.
“Which unit are you in?” said Riley.
“Paras. You?”
“I’m Regiment. You’re here for the contract?”
“I am,” he replied perfectly calmly.
“Listen, I’m not here for the money. Ryan Law’s my brother. We work together on this and you can have the cash. All I want is Alex dead.”
The man’s cool blue eyes studied him carefully, searching for any signs of design or artifice.
“If you don’t believe me I can call Ryan right now.” Riley slowly reached for the phone in his pocket and pulled it out. “Ryan,” he said, the phone leaping into life and h
e put it on speakerphone so the other man could hear.
“Riley?” crackled his brother’s voice.
“Ryan, I’ve got you on speakerphone here. There’s someone with me on the roof.”
“Who?” said Ryan, voice tight with tension.
Riley gestured at the other man for him to speak.
“Hayden Brody,” said the man.
“Hayden, long time no see,” replied Ryan’s voice.
“The last time we met must have been at Jumping Jacks five years ago.”
“I do believe it was Martina’s Bar three years ago,” replied Ryan.
It was the assurance Hayden wanted that he was indeed talking to Ryan Law and he relaxed a little. “I’m curious as to why your brother’s got a gun trained on me.”
“Has he? How rude. Listen Hayden, the money’s yours if you kill Alex Maguire. You’re good at what you do, I’ve no doubt you can kill him. Work with my brother and you’ll still get the full two mil, Riley isn’t in this for the cash. So you have three choices Hayden. Work with my brother and everyone is happy. Withdraw gracefully with no hard feelings or hurt my brother and pay with your life. What do you say?”
Hayden wasn’t stupid. “I’ll work with him. He’s Regiment, I can trust him.”
“Good man,” said Ryan, the affability returning to his voice. “Riley, get him up to speed. I’ll be back in touch when I’ve had word Alex is on the move.”
Riley hung up, put the phone back in his pocket then holstered the weapon. Both men got to their feet and shook hands.
“Sergeant Brody, Two Para,” said Hayden. “Or I used to be,” he mumbled.
“Corporal Cutter Sir.”
The use of the word ‘Sir’ pleased Hayden and he nodded. “Let’s not arse about here all day then, we’ve got a fucking cockroach to kill.”
Riley couldn’t help but smile.
CHAPTER 20
It was reassuring for Riley to be back as part of a two man team. Hayden was crouched by his side and seemed extremely confident and efficient. He’d even selected the same long range weapon as Riley, ideal for this distance complete with spotting scope, which he now gazed down intently. Hayden concentrated on the hospital, leaving Riley free to keep an eye on the surrounding area, on the lookout for fellow snipers. The idiot above the café was still perched above his awning and even from this distance Ryan could tell he wasn’t fully committed. His black-clad form had lost its coiled spring pose and he was leaning back against the wall, looking like he could fall asleep at any moment. There was no danger there.
“I’ve got movement,” Riley said quietly as he watched another figure in black mount the stairs of a building just west of them. This one appeared more professional. He kept low and sped to the edge of the roof before ducking down out of sight, no doubt to assemble his weapon. “This is getting ridiculous. There’s going to be dozens of us up here. When Alex comes out it’ll be carnage.”
“Then let’s hope he comes out soon,” replied Hayden, intent on getting his cash.
“At least we have the advantage. We’ll know which exit he’ll be coming out of…bugger it, there’s another one.”
He watched another black figure set up a spot two blocks to their right. From his trajectory, Riley surmised if he fired a shot it would plough right into the maternity unit. “He can’t fire from there, look what he’ll hit if he misses.”
Hayden nodded. “Fucking idiot.”
“He can’t.” Riley’s palms began to sweat as he recalled Zoe bleeding copiously, her swollen belly holding a child that was already dead and he put his eye to the sight and aimed at the figure on the rooftop.
“What are you doing?” whispered Hayden.
“Taking him out. He could kill a baby or a pregnant woman.”
“If you fire you might alert the others to our presence.”
“Only if they’re looking at him when I fire. The shot won’t be heard.”
“I think you should stand down.”
Riley wrestled with himself. This wasn’t in his remit and leaving a dead body lying on a roof could cause a lot of trouble.
“Ryan,” he said softly.
His phone burst into life, automatically dialling and for the third time his brother’s voice burst into life in his ear. “Yes Riley?”
“There are two more snipers up here with us. One’s in a bad spot. If he fires and misses it’ll go straight into maternity.”
“What are you saying?”
“I want to take him out before he kills an innocent bystander.”
“This is getting very complicated. I’ll leave it to your discretion Riley, just as long as you remain professional.”
“I will.”
Riley ended the call and aimed his weapon at the figure.
“Riley…,” began Hayden.
Before he could reply Riley had pulled the trigger. Through the sight he saw a spray of red then the figure fell. Hayden quickly scanned the other two figures to make sure they hadn’t seen anything but they seemed to be concentrated on the hospital. Riley felt he could breathe easier and turned his mind back to the task in hand, glad Hayden didn’t comment on his decision. He respected the man and didn’t want his censure.
Thirty minutes later a ringing in his ear started up. “Answer,” said Riley.
“He’s on the move,” said the voice of Barry, Jez’s man in the hospital. “He’s just left the ward and he’s taking the lift down to the ground floor. This sounds mental but I think he’s heading for one of the main exits.”
“He can’t be that stupid.”
“He’s in disguise. Long grey raincoat, short blond wig with a brown flat cap and glasses. He’s walking like an old man, probably struggling because of his injuries. It’s a good disguise. If I hadn’t seen him come out of his room myself I wouldn’t have known it was him.”
“Is he alone?”
“Yes. I’m taking the stairs, I can’t risk getting in the lift with him.”
“Make sure you don’t lose him.” He turned to Hayden. “Get ready, we’re on.”
Hayden’s sharp eyes gazed down the sight, entirely focused on the task in hand.
Riley heard the sound of loud footsteps and Barry began panting down the phone as he ran. “I’m at the bottom, the lift’s about to stop.” There was a brief pause during which Riley held his breath, praying he hadn’t lost him.
“He’s here,” said Barry with a tinge of relief. “He’s walking right through outpatients, bold as fucking brass. He’ll be with you in about thirty seconds. It’s really busy, he’s struggling to move through the crowd. He’s taking his time, not attracting any attention to himself.” Another pause. “He’s stopped for breath, he looks to be in pain. He’s on the move again. Twenty seconds.”
“Twenty seconds,” he repeated quietly to Hayden, who didn’t so much as move a muscle in response, but Riley knew he’d heard him.
“He’s nearly at the doors. Hold on, he’s being held up by a bloke on crutches, he’s stopped to let him pass…and he’s off again. He’s approaching the door now, there’s no one around him. The shot’s clear.”
“Long grey coat, short blond hair, brown flat cap and glasses,” Riley related to Hayden.
The second the figure emerged from the hospital, Hayden fired. They both watched as the man was flung onto his back and he stayed down, unmoving. Riley was impressed, the shot was perfect. While he lay prone on the pavement, Hayden pumped a second bullet into his chest.
Without a word Ryan and Hayden ducked down out of sight, packed away their weapons and rushed for the stairs, gone before the other snipers even realised what had happened.
“Ryan,” said Riley as they ran.
“Yes?” replied his brother’s voice.
“It’s done. Hayden took him out.”
“Congratulations,” he replied, voice dripping with pleasure. “Tell him he’s two million pounds richer.”
“I’ll pass on the good news,” said Riley, a grin in his voice.
Barry joined the rush to reach Alex’s body. As the shots had been silent no one had worked out what had happened.
Two doctors knelt by his side and Barry leaned in to get a closer look, he had to confirm he really was dead. His stomach dropped when he saw the wig lying on the ground beside the body. The face gazing up at the sky with vacant eyes wasn’t Alex’s.
“He’s gone, there’s nothing we can do,” said one of the doctors sadly.
“Oh holy fuck,” whispered Barry, rushing back inside while trying to pull his mobile phone out of his trousers. For some reason it got stuck and he yanked so hard he heard his pocket rip. “Come on, pick up, pick up,” he said as he negotiated the maze of corridors away from A&E into a quieter part of the hospital, heading for one of the exits at the rear.
“Well done Barry,” said Jez’s cheerful voice.
“I just saw the body and it wasn’t him,” he whispered into the phone. “They’d dressed someone up to look like him.”
“What?” bellowed Jez. “How the fuck did that happen? You were supposed to be watching him.”
“I had to clear up some puke on the ward, it took me a minute at the most. There was nothing I could do, I was supposed to be making out I worked there.”
“What time was this?”
“A couple of hours ago,” he panted, it being a struggle for him to walk quickly and talk at the same time.
“For fuck’s sake, he’ll be long gone by now.”
“Sorry,” said Barry, feeling nervous when he heard Ryan’s angry voice in the background demanding to know what was going on. There was a muffled exchange of voices, which grew in volume. Barry prayed they wouldn’t blame him for this huge fuck-up.
Barry exited the building, car keys in hand. He stopped in his tracks when he reached his car. “Oh shit. I just realised, the body.”
“What body?”
“When I was cleaning up the sick a body was wheeled out on a gurney, I bet that was him. I didn’t think anything of it, people die in hospitals all the time. Three old biddies have croaked it on the ward already this week.”
Shattered (Dividing Line #5) Page 18
