Our time was up and I stood up and looked at Rich who took a deep breath ready for contact. I on the other hand turned to the lock and took out a spare key from my set after judging the size. I was right and slotted it into the lock but not all the way. Motioning to Rich he crossed the kitchen, leaving the knife on the side and was somehow silent on the sticky linoleum flooring. I placed the palm of my hand on the key and banged it hard upwards and turned it slightly. The lock clicked open and I swung it wide enough for the two of us to make our escape sliding the key out with me.
The sound had however alerted Ambrose, “Who’s there?” I heard him shout, as Rich and I were greeted with a fence. The soldier took no time grabbing the top of the wooden divide and vaulting over. I wasn’t as quick as him but managed to clamber over, landing in a frozen flowerbed on the other side.
Rich beckoned me towards the other side of a bungalow and I sprinted across the back of the house and hid around the corner. I heard Ambrose’s kitchen door swing open and slam hard into the wall, “I know you’re out there!”
I leant against the wall and took a deep breath, sweat running down the side of my face. Tilting my head I saw Rich suppressing a giggle like we were a bunch of kids. With his laughing face I couldn’t help but snort as the adrenaline in my system made me giddy. Like I said sometimes there’s too much excitement.
Chapter Twenty Six
Our escape wasn’t complete with hiding in the garden of Ambrose’s next door neighbours. We waited for about five minutes getting our breath and stifling laughter. Once we had calmed down, Rich opened the side gate of the house and we moved briskly to his car. Inside we let out another collective sigh of relief.
Parked on the driveway of his house sat Leo Ambrose’s maroon estate car. It was the sort of car that could be used as a sniper’s vehicle, with a lot of room in the back to lie down in. Rich passed me a bottle of water from backseat of his car. I took it gratefully. He drained his bottle quickly and spoke, keeping his eyes on the house, “Cut it a bit close there, John.”
“With the door? It’s a trick that I didn’t want to use because there is a possibility of leaving evidence but a ‘bump key’ is a very handy way to get into most locks like that.”
“Did you leave any evidence?”
I looked down at the key in my hand and then placed it back in the lock pick set, “I don’t think so.”
“Are you even allowed to carry one of them kits? I mean I know what a bump key is and all those things inside but I wouldn’t think to have one on me.”
Snapping the small wooden case shut and placing it back inside my jacket pocket I looked over at him, “Not in this country anyway eh? Technically you can carry it if you aren’t going to use it for criminal actions. Otherwise you can get a prison sentence for having one.”
“Well thank God you had it on you. I think you better call your friend on the force and tell them to get here soon. This guy is going to go rogue soon.”
I did as I was told and rang Spencer ostensibly to ask how the questioning was going but I quickly suggested to him that if Ambrose suspected that he was about to be brought in and saw any police it might push him further over the edge.
Spencer’s voice was loud down the speaker, “What do you mean he could go over the edge?”
“It’s a profile surely you recognise and understand that someone like this could have survivalist tendencies. If he is the shooter you are looking for or even not he may take offence at you trying to bring him in.”
“We’re sending round armed units to his home now, we don’t want this turning into some sort of siege or manhunt,” beneath the anger I could hear a note of desperation.
“Then I suggest hurrying up,” cancelling the call I leaned back in the seat. Both of us had reclined our seats back so it was difficult to see us sat in the car. Rich had parked down the street so as not to raise the suspicious nature of Ambrose.
Sitting in silence we waited and watched. I fidgeted as the pain in my legs returned as did the other aches across my body. Jumping the fence was probably a bad idea in my condition. Rich on the other hand was motionless but broke our tranquillity with a question, “Do you think he did it?”
“He fits the profile and he has the guns. It wouldn’t surprise me if this guy thought he was doing society a favour and taking out drug dealers.”
“I’m not so sure. I’ve just got a feeling this guy is more of a fantasist than an actual gunman. I mean I found guns and bullets in his bedroom which doesn’t surprise me but there was nothing that screamed madman.”
“Ambrose doesn’t have to be raving mad he could be methodical and assured. Did you see the table in the kitchen? It was full of papers about the shootings.”
Rich shook his head, “That could be more about his fantasy, wanting to stop the shooter. You heard him when he came in, he was raving. I think we may have pushed him too far to be honest.”
“We’re not the ones he spotted outside his work. Sure he chased us out of the house but I’m not even sure that he saw either one of us. His paranoia could be part of a psychosis that has lead to the shootings.”
“Well we’re about to find out how he copes,” he said pointing at the bright yellow police van that had driven onto the street. Rich had been clever in parking the car so we faced the entrance to the cul-de-sac, so we could leave quickly and see whoever arrived on the scene.
Both of us sat up slightly and watched as armed police officers came out of the back of the van. Two police cars arrived one of which parked across Ambrose’s driveway meaning that he wouldn’t be able to leave via his car. The police officers quickly began to try and set up a cordon, which I knew from experience would require more manpower than was on the scene at the moment.
“They’re gonna have some trouble pinning him in with the surrounding houses,” I pointed out.
“With the weaponry he has I’d be worried about going in for CQB,’ I nodded Close Quarters Battle would be very dangerous in that situation and Rich continued, ‘If he starts laying traps it could be a blood bath in there. You’d want him to come out peacefully.”
For a moment we looked at each other the same thought going through our heads. Would Ambrose surrender? Neither one of us wanted to answer it since we were on the same wavelength on the matter. Close quarters battle inside the bungalow could lead to a lot of needless deaths; I just hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Five minutes passed and the police moved further down the street towards us. Rich watched as two constables walked towards the car, “They may want us out of here.”
“Probably safer,” I replied as Rich pressed the button to automatically roll down his driver side window. The bitter cold quickly sent a shiver through me as I still had a cover of sweat on my body. It was past lunch and I was beginning to get hungry as well, which is strange to think of when you are in the middle of an armed standoff but that’s my body and mind for you.
The uniformed police were mere yards from our car when we heard the revving of an engine. Next there was gunfire, loud reports cracked out on the silent street. The shots were followed by the thud of metal on metal as the bullets hit the body of the police car covering the driveway, one stray shot shattering the back passenger window. Instinctively we all ducked except Rich who remained alert and it was he who saw a lime green motorbike screech out with a man who could only be Ambrose riding it, a large green rifle bag slung over his back and another tied to the seat.
“Sorry gents, got to go,” Rich shouted out of the opened window and we sped off following an armed man who no longer had anything to lose after proving he was willing to shoot at anyone.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Now I have had extensive training in vehicle pursuit and although I never worked traffic I believe I could have made a very good driver in trying to apprehend reckless and aggressive motorists. However I don’t think I would ever have been able to keep up with Rich. My soldier friend threw his car around as if he was racing in a rally
. In my entire life there had only been one person I’d ever seen drive as instinctively as him and that was one of my ex-girlfriend’s mother. That woman had nearly broken my shoulder flinging her car into corners, I swear I’d experienced more gravitational forces in that car than any plane or rollercoaster I’d been on.
We raced after the motorbike which wasn’t the most aesthetically appealing or speedy of models but Ambrose weaved it in and out of traffic as we moved out of the city travelling north. I didn’t want to break Rich’s concentration as he tried to keep us close to the gunman. It was over an hour before we saw the police helicopter become part of the chase.
Other vehicles had tried to slow him down as the North West Motorway Police Group had been called out. Rich occasionally grunted and eventually he eased the speed down whilst still keeping the motorbike in sight, “He’s heading towards the Lake District.”
I agreed with his estimation and took his speaking as sign that I could then open my mouth. I took out my phone and looked at the number of missed calls and texts from Spencer, it was nearly fifty different notifications and I’m sure he had even sent me an e-mail trying to get a response. Biting the bullet I returned his call, “Where the hell have you been?” he screamed at me.
“Why, what’s the matter?”
“I’m sure you know, in fact I’m positive that you’re in that chasing car that has been following Ambrose since he left his house.”
“Spencer he’s on his way to the Lake District. If he gets into a woodland area this could get a whole lot worse. Get on the blower and get people off the streets; he could want to go down in a hail of gunfire after taking as many people with him as possible.”
“I’m not in charge, Harper.”
“Just make sure it is done,” I said ending the call. Looking over at Rich I added, “I’m in a lot of trouble.”
Rich kept his eyes on the road ahead but responded with, “Don’t worry about it. If things go a little squiffy I’ll sort it out.”
“What do you mean by that?”
He didn’t reply and as the roads became smaller and winding as we approached the woodland he once again showed me a master class in driving. Ambrose must have been aware that we were following but riding the motorbike was tiring him and as we rose on one of the many hills we could see that there was a police roadblock set up in one of the villages. We’d been travelling so fast that I hadn’t managed to catch where we were but it didn’t matter as long as we caught Ambrose.
I was feeling some responsibility for his actions and I knew I shouldn’t since it wasn’t like I had put the gun in his hand and told him to shoot at the police. Yet I had pointed the police investigation in his direction and his paranoia wasn’t going to be helped by having Rich and I break into his home. I still had no idea how we were possibly going to stop him but it didn’t seem to bother my partner so I wasn’t too worried.
Ambrose slowed as he realised that there was a roadblock in his way. Rich punctuated the situation for him by braking and swinging the car to block the top of the hill. The gunman spun the bike to see us and for a second there was a standoff as he moved back in our direction before stopping. We couldn’t see his eyes as he had a jet-black helmet on, the visor reflecting the light that was fast fading on the winter day. Now we saw him from the front I could see that he was wearing camouflage trousers, boots and the combat vest from before on top of a green jacket.
I was peering over Rich’s shoulder and watched as he slowly shook his head as if challenging Ambrose. Our suspect wheeled his bike and creating a small cloud of tire smoke. In front of the motorbike a low grey stone wall and I saw no way for him to get over it, beyond the wall a rising hill of brown grass and a line of trees in the distance.
Rich reiterated his warning but Ambrose knew he was already in trouble and was not for coming in without a fight. His right arm went behind him to the bag and he fumbled on the zip, we were a lot closer than the police down the road. The distance was within range of his rifle easily and there would be no way for us to retreat or get close to him to disarm him before he drew. I however wasn’t counting on Rich opening his door and stepping out, drawing a revolver from his jacket pocket and unleashing two shots as he slowly walked towards Ambrose.
Now it was a distance that would be impossible to get an accurate shot on Ambrose but the bullets hit the ground near him enough for him to struggle even more. Rich was advancing and it was enough for Ambrose to ditch the bike and make a run for the wall. I unbuckled my seatbelt and ran to the boot of the car opening it in search of a weapon not wanting to give chase without something to protect myself with. Luckily there was a tire iron resting on the black carpet interior and I grabbed it, running to help my friend without thinking of the danger.
Rich was much more measured than me but was quickly moving towards Ambrose unleashing another shot as he began climbing over the wall. I angled my run now so I was going over the wall first, vaulting it with surprising nimbleness considering my physical condition. Landing on the hard half frozen earth I was glad I had put on my comfortable boots and not my shoes as I tried to gain traction.
Ambrose, now without his helmet, was over the wall and his heavy duty footwear was helping him as he ran. He was still struggling to take a gun out of the bag but slowly he was succeeding. I could see the walnut stock of a shotgun slowly coming into sight and it froze the blood in my veins. Rich was over the wall himself and he fired again, from my angle I could see him aim into the air which gave me confidence not to duck and increase my speed. Ambrose didn’t have that luxury and it slowed him again but he brought the weapon out.
I was now within thirty yards of the man and could easily be cut down by the shotgun but he was still trying to gain full control of it and I accelerated as best I could. Looking back I can honestly say it is one of the most stupid things I have ever done. My charge was insane especially considering I was armed with the most basic of weapons. I think Rich may have shouted to me but I don’t recall it, what I do remember was throwing the tire iron with unerring accuracy. It struck him just below the right kneecap and he screamed in pain.
Ambrose fell to the ground and his finger pulled the trigger, detonating a shot into the turf. It was enough to stop me but I gritted my teeth and tried to get closer, but now he raised the weapon towards me, “Don’t come any closer.”
I held up my hands feeling an uneasy pit in my stomach which wasn’t because of the lack of food. Rich was however calm as always in the face of danger and was now close with the pistol raised, “Drop it, Ambrose!”
This was the first time I could look upon the face of Lionel Ambrose. He was a pasty faced white male with a thick sheen of sweat on his face. Hair that was positively hippy-like compared to the shaven heads I had seen in Liverpool was plastered to his head. Narrow green eyes peered at me blinking repeatedly as perspiration ran down his face and hindered his vision. I took a step back slowly, which didn’t go down too well as he shouted me, “I said don’t move!”
Titling my head to the right I replied, “No you didn’t. You said not to come any closer, if anything I am doing more than you wanted.”
His eyes widened and his fingers twitched which scared me into realising I may have said one of the most stupid things in my life. It isn’t at all surprising to people that know me that I would do something like that, often I speak without thought but right then, with a gun pointed in my face, I probably should have been a little more delicate.
“He’s right, now drop the gun and come quietly,” Rich said, now within killing range with the pistol and in his experienced hands I was certain he could make the shot.
Ambrose rounded on Rich which made me feel slightly better that there wasn’t a loaded shotgun pointed at me but there was a degree of concern for my friend, “That’s my pistol,” Ambrose said when he recognised the revolver.
“I don’t think me taking your gun is your biggest problem right now. You hear those sirens? That’s an armed response unit coming
to take you to jail. How many people have you killed, Leo? Whatever the number you’re going to spend the rest of your life in prison,” said Rich as he stood in a firing stance, behind him the flashing lights of police vehicles.
“I fired into the car; I didn’t mean to kill anyone. I didn’t know,” Ambrose stammered out, his voice subdued. He wasn’t the tallest of men and seemed to have lost height with those words.
“How the hell didn’t you mean to kill anyone? You shot people in the head with a rifle,” Rich questioned.
“I just wanted to be free; I want to live in peace. You came to take me away. I was defending myself.”
Police officers were slowly approaching, armed men in the front, and I could hear helicopters hovering overhead. I decided to play it kinder than Rich, “Leo, if you put down the gun we can see what we can do for you. Please, it is for the best.”
“I killed coppers, I know you’d never take me in alive.”
“We don’t know that you killed any coppers, Leo.”
“But he said I did,” Ambrose whimpered.
This wasn’t right; my theory on him being the shooter would lend itself to a confident person, most likely a narcissistic personality. Ambrose had lost all confidence now he was cornered and what he was saying only confirmed my suspicions that there was more to this. His house didn’t lead towards my profile either, which meant either I was dramatically wrong about long distance serial killers or there was indeed another answer to this whole scenario.
The police armed response unit had completely surrounded us by now and I was sure they were about to order us all to the ground but my instincts told me that Leo was on the edge and one false step now could result in more bloodshed. I knew the marksmen around me would cut him down with expert accuracy due to extensive training but I was well aware that all it would take for him to cut Rich in half with the shotgun was a twitch of the finger.
A Shot In The Night (John Harper Series Book 2) Page 11
