“It’s Benton,” he told her quietly.
She relaxed. “It’s okay, let him in.”
Bruiser opened the door and Benton frowned when he glared at him harder than usual.
“What’s your problem?” said Benton.
“Nothing,” muttered Bruiser sullenly.
With a shrug Benton walked past Bruiser into the house, glancing back over his shoulder, not wanting to turn his back on the ape.
“Hello Rachel,” he smiled.
“Hello. I’m surprised to see you here so late.”
“Sorry but it is rather urgent. Can I speak to you in private?”
“You can tell me anything in front of Bruiser.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. This is strictly confidential.”
“Very well. Could you give us a minute please Bruiser?”
“Alex said I wasn’t to leave you alone for a minute.”
“It’s okay, it’s only the superintendent.”
The minute Bruiser disappeared into the kitchen Benton’s expression changed to one of worry and it scared her.
“What is it?” she said.
“I’ve evidence that the person who shot Danny is definitely inside your firm, someone close.”
“What evidence?”
“A grass of mine.”
“Did they tell you who?”
“No, sorry. I need you to think Rachel, which one of them would want Danny out of the way? Who would benefit the most?”
“None of them, they wouldn’t do this to us.”
“Alex is in charge now.”
“Reluctantly. He wouldn’t hurt Danny.”
“What about Ryan or Jez? This could be a coup to take over.”
Ryan would never hurt me, she thought. “Your grass must have got it wrong.”
“He’s never been wrong before. Think about it Rachel, it makes perfect sense. The killer knew where you were having lunch and at what time. They knew what car you were driving even though you changed it regularly. It had to be someone in the family.”
“No, this is all wrong. The killer could just have followed us.”
“Rachel I’m right, it fits the evidence we have.”
She sank onto the couch, looking bewildered and scared.
“I can see you’ve had a shock. Let me get you a drink.”
He walked into the kitchen, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Was it possible someone she loved and trusted murdered Danny and tried to kill her? Benton was right, it was logical it was someone in the family but she couldn’t imagine any of them betraying her like that, not even the Laws.
She frowned when she heard the exchange of angry voices, followed by a thud. She raced into the kitchen just in time to see Benton hit Bruiser round the head with a bottle and he slumped to the floor, unconscious. A gun lay on the floor between them.
“What the hell is going on?” she exclaimed.
“I think I’ve just caught Danny’s murderer. He pulled this on me,” replied Benton, indicating the gun.
“Not Bruiser, no way.”
Benton stared down at his prone form. “He must have got bored being the hired help. Maybe he wants more power? After all, his brother was with you when the attack happened, he knew where you were and at what time.”
“Battler and Bruiser have been with this family since they were teenagers, they’re deeply loyal and Battler saved my life.”
“They were loyal to Frank but he’s gone and Battler could have saved your life as a ruse to keep your trust. They probably don’t like the new regime.”
“I don’t believe it, they stood with me and Danny against Jake and Terry.”
“Where is Battler now?”
“With Alex I think.”
“Then he’s in danger. This could be a plot to take him out too, eliminate all the family members with power at once.”
“This isn’t right…”
“Rachel there isn’t time. Phone Alex and I’ll call it in,” he said, pulling his mobile from his pocket.
Stunned, Rachel turned to retrieve her mobile phone from the coffee table but before she could reach it she threw herself to the floor as a bang echoed around the room, a sound she knew all too well. Turning she saw Bruiser with blood trickling down his forehead grappling with Benton, who had a gun in his hand.
“Run Rachel,” yelled Bruiser. “It’s Benton, he’s the one.”
But he was still woozy from the knock to the head and when Benton punched him he went down. Rachel scrambled to her feet as Benton grabbed the gun off Bruiser and fired but she veered into the dining room and the bullet slammed into the wall to the left of her head.
“Get back here you fucking bitch,” bellowed Benton, racing after her.
She tried to circle back round through the living room to the front door but Benton fired again and she had no choice but to run upstairs.
“Shit,” spat Benton, chasing after her. How had it gone so wrong? He was supposed to shoot her cleanly downstairs. Now he had to chase her through this big house with all its nooks and crannies and he had to finish the job quickly, someone would have heard the shots. He wished he’d decided on the silencer after all but he wanted to make it look spur of the moment and a silencer showed premeditation. Jesus, he couldn’t wait to put a bullet in her fucking chest too.
Alex, Mikey, Frankie, Battler and Ryan piled into Alex’s car, shoving Steve back in the boot.
“Bruiser’s not answering his mobile,” said Battler, a rare tremor in his voice.
“Neither is Rachel,” said Mikey, frantically redialling.
“I don’t fucking believe it,” said Ryan as Alex drove at warp speed. “I knew Benton was willing to try anything to bring us down but I didn’t think he’d stoop to murder”
“He’s a zealot,” said Alex grimly. “He probably thinks he’s performing a public service.”
“He wouldn’t be the first bizzie to murder someone,” interjected Frankie.
“The bastard killed my brother and now he’s going to kill Rachel,” said Alex.
He slammed his foot down on the accelerator to speed through an amber light, sending the car lurching forwards. Mikey was jolted forwards and Battler grabbed him by the scruff of his shirt and yanked him back before his face slammed into the back of Alex’s seat.
“Seat belt,” growled a very troubled Battler.
Rachel crouched in the dark of her bedroom, listening to Benton creeping about the house. She had no weapon, her taser downstairs in her handbag.
She held her breath, listening as he got closer and closer. There was the wail of sirens in the distance and her heart soared, help was on its way, someone must have heard the gunshots.
Apprehension struck her. What if they were on Benton’s side and were as bent as he was? Or what if they took his word over hers? He could make up any shit he liked and they’d believe it.
No time to worry about that now, he was almost here. She must do something, there was no way she was going to let him kill her like he’d killed Danny. Stay alive now, work out the details later. That was the plan.
“What the fuck?” said Ryan as Alex steered the car onto Rachel’s street to find it swamped with police.
They dumped the car at the kerb and leapt out, attempting to race up to Rachel’s front door but they were stopped at the bottom of the drive by a cordon of police officers.
“You can’t go in there,” said the most senior of the officers.
“What’s happening?” demanded Alex.
“Shots have been fired.”
Panic engulfed Ryan. “Rachel,” he bellowed, straining against the officers holding him back.
“No one’s getting in there until armed back-up arrives,” the officer told them.
“But Rachel’s in there, she could have been shot,” exclaimed Mikey.
“My brother too,” roared Battler in a rare moment of high emotion.
“It’s Superintendent Benton,” yelled Alex. “He killed my brother.”
> “Very funny.”
“It’s not a joke you wanker, it’s the truth and we can prove it.”
The officer frowned. “Are you serious?”
“Course I’m fucking serious. He killed Danny and he’s trying to kill Rachel. You have to go in there now. She could be dead already because of your arsing about.”
Alex’s words sent Ryan into a frenzy. “Let us in there if you’re too fucking scared you cowardly bastards,” he roared, attempting to break through the cordon again but he was pushed back to the road.
Another shot rang out and they all instinctively ducked.
“Get back,” shouted the officer.
“Cause a distraction,” Ryan told Alex and Mikey.
They hurled themselves back into the line of officers, who raced to push them back. While their attention was drawn Ryan, Frankie and Battler ran around the cordon, pelting up the driveway. When one officer tried to stop Ryan, Frankie head butted him and he dropped like a stone. Frankie stood waiting for the rest to rush him, coolly adjusting his cuffs.
“Bring it on you bastards,” he yelled at them.
Battler followed Ryan, knocking over anyone who got in his way but he was rugby tackled by two officers and went down like a felled tree. However Ryan was faster and he managed to dodge them all and raced into the house.
Rachel leapt out from her hiding place in the bedroom as Benton entered, simultaneously hitting the light switch. Benton blinked myopically in the sudden light and raised the gun and fired but he was momentarily blinded so the shot went wide and embedded itself harmlessly in the wall. Rachel threw herself at him, knocking the gun from his hand and it went skittering across the floor. He grabbed her by the throat and pinned her up against the wall, Rachel stunned by his strength. His eyes shined diabolically.
“You killed Danny,” she gasped, trying to prise his hand from her throat.
“Yes. I tried to kill you too but unfortunately I missed. I fucking hate you. No matter what I did you slipped through the net. Not even setting you up for murder was enough. Sorry Rachel, you’ve used up all your lives. This ends now. You will die but on the bright side you’ll be reunited with your bastard of a husband.”
“You fucker,” she snarled, kicking him in the crotch.
He released her with a groan and she followed the blow up with a punch to the face and he dropped to his knees. She made a dash for the gun but he grabbed her foot and she crashed to the floor, knocking the air from her lungs. Benton jumped up and ran for the weapon but a shape loomed in the doorway and Bruiser staggered into the room, blood dripping from a scalp wound. He put himself in front of Rachel and made a lunge for Benton, who snatched up the gun and fired. Bruiser fell, leaving Rachel a sitting duck.
“Die bitch,” he hissed before pulling the trigger.
Ryan sped into the room just in time to see Benton fire, the shot knocking Rachel onto her back as the bullet embedded itself in her chest.
“No,” he cried, running to her side.
“Don’t move Ryan,” ordered Benton, levelling the gun at him.
But Ryan ignored him as he knelt by Rachel’s side, her eyes closed, not moving.
“Rachel,” he exclaimed, the panic completely overwhelming. Too many thoughts crowded his mind at once for him to concentrate on a single one. He couldn’t lose the only person who meant anything to him.
“I said don’t move Ryan,” said Benton.
But Ryan didn’t even hear him as he assessed Rachel.
What appeared to be the entire Greater Manchester Police Force burst into the room, led by armed officers and Ryan ignored them too as he studied Rachel. Why was there no blood? Hope surged through him and he ripped open her blouse to reveal the Kevlar beneath, the bullet embedded in the armour. As he pulled open the vest her eyes flew open and she took in a ragged breath of air.
“Rachel, thank Christ,” he breathed.
He pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight, not caring what anyone thought.
She clung to him, shaking and trembling. “He killed Danny and he tried to kill me.”
“I know Sweetheart, I know,” he said, gently rocking her.
Benton’s jaw dropped open when he saw she was still alive and he was sorely tempted to shoot her again, despite the heavy police presence. Fortunately he had a back-up plan.
“Arrest her. She killed her husband and when I found out she tried to murder me.”
She stared at him, outraged. “You murdered Danny you bastard, you admitted it.”
DCI Richardson looked from one to the other.
“Don’t just stand there, arrest her,” barked Benton, “for murder and attempted murder.”
“He killed Danny and we can prove it,” interjected Ryan. “We have Steve Watts. He admitted that he plotted with Benton to take out Danny and Rachel. We even know where the gun came from.”
“Bullshit,” retorted Benton perfectly calmly. “She killed him, she wanted it all, didn’t you Rachel? Being the little woman wasn’t enough, you wanted complete control. I found out and she and her accomplice,” he said, indicating Bruiser still lying on the floor, “tried to kill me.”
Rachel sat up straight and winced as pain shot through her side, a rib must have been cracked by the force of the bullet.
“It’s not true, it was all him,” she said.
Richardson looked doubtful. “Nick her.”
Ryan stood before Rachel protectively, daring the officers to lay a finger on her.
“Nick him too, he’s probably in on it as well,” said Benton, pointing at Ryan.
Benton frowned when he heard his own voice ring out from the corner of the room. They turned to see Bruiser holding his mobile phone up in the air with one shaking bloodied hand, which showed vivid imagery of Benton pinning Rachel up against the wall by the throat and admitting he killed Danny Maguire.
Benton looked so angry his hair stood up on end. He raised the weapon, aiming it at Rachel and as Ryan pulled her out of the line of fire all the armed police rushed him at once. He was knocked to the ground, the weapon dropping from his hand and one of the officers picked it up and made it safe.
“Read him his rights and get him out of here,” Richardson ordered with relish. He’d always thought Benton was a wanker. He knelt before Rachel. “Are you okay?”
“I think I’ve cracked a rib. Am I under arrest?”
“No but I will need to ask you some questions. Actually, make that a lot of questions. Get yourself checked out at the hospital first.”
She nodded and Ryan helped her to her feet.
“Bruiser,” she said, rushing to his side. “Will he be alright?” she asked the paramedics, who had finally been let in.
“Looks like the bullet missed everything vital but he’s lost a lot of blood.”
She took Bruiser’s hand. “Thank you. You saved my life.”
He smiled weakly and gave her hand a squeeze. Battler charged into the room like a rampaging bull and hurried to his brother just as he was being loaded onto a stretcher, relieved to see him alive.
“Let’s get you to hospital,” Ryan told Rachel.
She clung onto him as they negotiated the stairs, fearing her legs would buckle at any moment as shock set in. Then they were outside in the cool night air and Mikey, Frankie and Alex were there.
“Rach, are you okay?” said Mikey, sweeping her into a hug.
“Yes, ow my ribs,” she groaned.
Alex spotted the bullet wedged in her vest and thought it poignant that she was hit in the same spot Danny was struck. “It’s good to see you safe Rach. Where’s Bruiser?”
“He was shot but the paramedics think he’ll be okay.”
They’re interrupted by a paramedic wanting to take her to hospital.
“We’ll come with you,” said Alex. He shook Ryan’s hand vigorously. “Thanks Mate.”
As Mikey and Alex led Rachel away she looked back over her shoulder at Ryan.
“Thanks,” she mouthed.
He watched her being led off and Frankie clapped a hand on his shoulder, knowing exactly what Ryan was thinking. “Come on Pal, I need to get out of here before the copper I malkied comes back. Let’s hand Freddie Krueger over to the bizzies then go for a drink.”
“Sounds good,” he murmured.
At the hospital Rachel was examined then released on the advice to take it easy. Fortunately only one rib was cracked however her departure was delayed by police officers wanting to interview her. She repeated her story three times before she was finally allowed to leave and the first place she went was to see Bruiser, who had been admitted to a private room on one of the wards, a tired and dishevelled Battler still by his side.
Bruiser was fast asleep, his shoulder heavily bandaged.
“How is he?” she asked Battler.
“The doctor said he’ll be fine. He’s tough,” he added proudly.
“He is that. He saved my life in there. I owe you both.”
“You don’t owe us anything, we were just doing our jobs and you’ll always have out loyalty, no matter who’s head of the family.”
“Thank you,” she croaked, eyes filling with tears.
Battler put his arm around her and she rested her head on his huge shoulder.
“It’s over now,” he said. “Danny’s killer has been caught and you can bring your little girl home.”
Rachel just nodded, suddenly unsure whether that was the right thing to do for Leah or herself for that matter.
“It’s swarming with press out there,” said Alex as he and Mikey strode into the room, “and the police are still crawling all over your house. If there’s anything in there that shouldn’t be you need to tell me now Rach.”
“There’s nothing illegal. Danny insisted we always kept our house free of anything like that.”
“That’s good. Well you won’t be able to go back there for a couple of nights. Mum says you can stay with her.”
Rachel thought of Martina’s loving mothering and was filled with warmth. “That sounds really good.”
“We’ll drive you there. Richardson says he wants to talk to you again tomorrow.”
Rachel sighed and nodded, knowing this was just the start of a very long path. There would be enquiries, investigations and trials. This was far from over.
Divided Loyalties Page 16
