Unfinished Business

by Heather Atkinson

  “You can’t speak to me like that,” blustered Hartley. “Tell him he can’t speak to me like that,” he said to Hillyard while Clarke stood behind him, shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter.

  “Can we stick to the topic in hand please?” said Hillyard. “Seth wants to talk to you Brodie so he’s going to talk to you.” He thrust his own phone back at him. “Don’t screw it up.”

  “I’ll only talk to him if you get Maggie Creegan down here.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Hartley.

  “Have you spent time with any of the Creegans?”

  “Well, no.”

  “I have and I understand how their weird family dynamic works. I might be able to stall him but she can talk him down.” He looked to Hillyard. “Ignore the beardy and get her down here. Now.”

  “I will not be spoken to like this,” said Hartley.

  They all ignored him as they looked to Hillyard for his decision.

  “Clarke, get her down here ASAP,” he eventually said.

  “Yes Sir,” said Clarke, looking pleased by this triumph over Hartley.

  “Lauren too,” called Brodie.

  Clarke looked to Hillyard for confirmation, who nodded.

  “You,” Hillyard told Brodie. “Talk to Seth and don’t agitate him.” He looked to Cass. “You’re secondary to all this, you can move further back.”

  “Miss Carlisle is my associate and she stays,” said Brodie.

  “She’s not needed.”

  “I need her and if she goes I go.”

  Hillyard’s scowl deepened as Brodie’s smile broadened.

  “Fine but you stay out of the way, understand?” Hillyard barked at her.

  “Perfectly,” she smoothly replied, not in the least bit bothered by his temper, which only made him angrier, his already puce face turning a fiery red.

  Brodie made the call, anger flooding his veins when he heard Seth’s voice.

  “Hey Jock. How’s it going?”

  Brodie’s grip on the phone tightened at the glee in his voice. “What the fuck are you playing at?”

  “I want to talk to you. I couldn’t stand the bollocks that arsehole was coming out with.”

  “I don’t blame you. Listen, it’s getting late and if this carries on for much longer I’m going to miss my dinner. I’ve already had to abandon a really tasty lasagne thanks to your antics. Now tell me what you want so this can end and we can all get on with our lives.”

  “You might be able to but Sarah and Mark won’t. They’re at the end of theirs.”

  “What do you think is going to be achieved by killing them?”

  “It’ll make me feel better. I’m going down for life for murder anyway, so why not enjoy myself first?”

  “You have a good point there. I know you hate Sarah but what’s Mark done? He’s your twin for Christ’s sake.”

  “He always thought he was better than me with his smart suits and his posh cars. I’m sick of him rubbing his wealth in my face. Well I’m the one with the power now. Do you know what he’s doing right now? He’s curled up in a ball, crying. Fucking poof.”

  “I agree, he’s a dweeb,” said Brodie. “But so are a lot of people. It doesn’t mean he deserves to die.”

  “Yes it does because I’m sick of the bastard lording it up,” he roared down the phone, forcing Brodie to hold it away from his ear. When he put it back he heard a slapping sound and a man grunting with pain. In the background was Sarah’s voice telling him to stop hurting Mark.

  “Alright Seth, take it easy,” said Brodie.

  The sounds stopped and Seth’s voice returned. “If you think you’re going to talk me out of this then you’re wrong.”

  “I’m not even going to try.”

  There was a beat of silence before Seth said, “you’re not?”

  “No because you won’t listen, you’ll go right ahead and do what you want, just like you’ve always done.”

  Hillyard frantically shook his head and waved his arms back and forth in the air but Brodie turned his back on him, he couldn’t concentrate with that dick prancing about like that.

  “So why are we even talking?” said Seth. “Why don’t I just put a bullet in both their heads?”

  “Because you know that by now the whole country’s watching. The Carver case has hit the national headlines, it’s huge news and now The Carver himself is holed up with two hostages and not just any hostages but his own twin brother and sister-in-law. You’re centre stage Seth and you’re fucking loving it.”

  “You’re right, I am,” he said, the grin clear in his voice. “I knew you’d get it Brodie. You might be a Jock prick but you’re an astute Jock prick.”

  “I know.” He decided not to mention the fact that Maggie was on her way, he thought it would be better if that remained a surprise. “Can I talk to Sarah?”

  “Why do you want to talk to that daft bitch?”

  “I just want to know that she’s holding up.”

  “Fine. Oy, come here you stupid tart. The Jock wants to talk to you,” Seth called. “Listen Jock, I’m putting you on speakerphone so I can hear everything you say.”

  “Fair enough.”

  “H…hello?”

  “Sarah, it’s Brodie.”

  “Help me please, he’s got a gun, he’s insane. He’s going to kill me and Mark.”

  “It’s okay Sarah, just take it easy. Try and keep calm.”

  “Calm? Are you serious? How am I supposed to keep calm?”

  “Don’t do anything to upset him, just do as he says.”

  “You have to do something. He’s going to kill us,” she cried, getting hysterical. “He’s going to murder us both in our own home. Help us, you have to help…”

  “That’s enough. Shut your fucking gob you silly cow,” said Seth. There was the sound of Sarah being dragged away, her voice growing fainter. “Sorry about that Brodie, she always was a drama queen.”

  “I understand what you mean,” he said conspiratorially. “But listen to me Seth. There are loads of police out here with guns. You’re not getting out of this alive unless you let Sarah and Mark go.”

  “Are you fucking thick? I’m going to prison for the rest of my life.”

  “That doesn’t mean you want to die. You can’t be the centre of attention if you’re six feet under. There’ll be a court case, it’ll be the trial of the century with you right at the centre of it all. Just think about it.”

  “Tempting.”

  “Course it is but you have to let them go first.”

  “Why? More kills will only add to my status.”

  “Because your mum won’t be happy.”

  “Why the fuck are you talking about her?” he said, voice low and savage.

  “She’s already going to lose one son, one of her twins. Don’t take the other. And what about Lauren? How will she cope without you or Mark? She needs her brothers.”

  “Oh…for fuck’s sake Brodie, I was having loads of fun and you’ve spoilt it.”

  “You know I’m right.”

  “Maybe but Mum wouldn’t give a shit if I killed Sarah.”

  Brodie was appalled when there was a scream followed by three gunshots.

  Everyone outside instinctively ducked and turned to look at the house.

  “Jesus Christ Seth, what have you done?” cried Brodie. “Seth?”

  “You bloody idiot, you just convinced him to shoot her,” exploded Hillyard.

  “Sshh, I can hear something,” said Brodie, straining to listen. “Sarah’s still alive, I can hear her crying.”

  “Don’t panic Jock, I only hit the wall,” said Seth, a smile in his voice. “Just a little warning shot across the bows.”

  “So she’s okay?”

  “Yeah. I hate her too much to put her out of her misery just yet.”

  “Alright Seth, well done. You shit us all up out here. Can we see Sarah and Mark, just to make sure they’re okay?”

  “No way am I rais
ing those blinds again with a load of armed coppers out there. You can talk to them instead.”

  “Brodie, we’re both okay,” said Sarah’s shaky voice. “It’s true, he shot the wall.”

  “Mark? Are you okay?”

  “Brodie, it’s not…”

  “Shut it,” snarled Seth and Mark went quiet.

  “It’s not what?” said Brodie.

  “It’s not…,” said Sarah before squealing.

  “Don’t hit her,” yelled Brodie.

  “You’re not one of those fucking sally’s who don’t like hurting women?” said Seth, tone mocking.

  “Too right I am and proud.”

  “Bet your friend with all that hair would like a nice spanking. Is she there, Cass?”

  “Yes,” he replied tightly.

  “You lucky bastard, nice little piece. Have you fucked her?”

  “That is none of your business.”

  “Tell me or I’ll put a bullet in Sarah’s stomach. It won’t kill her just yet but it will leave her in untold agony.”

  “Go fuck yourself,” said Brodie, eliciting more desperate shakes of the head from Hillyard.

  “I mean it Brodie. You’ve got three seconds.” There was the sound of a pistol being cocked and Sarah’s soft sobbing. “One, two…”

  “No.”

  “Lying’s not a good idea, not for poor little Sarah anyway. You’ve just earned her a traumatic abdominal wound.”

  “No wait. Alright, I have. Happy now?”

  “Was she good? Now you’ve only got two seconds to reply.”

  “Yes,” said Brodie, hating himself.

  “I knew it, she looked the type. I bet she moves like a pneumatic drill in the sack.”

  “Stop being disgusting and get back to the matter in hand.”

  “I’d love to have her in hand. I tell you what, I’ll take her in exchange for my brother. She’s a lot more interesting than him.”

  “No deal.”

  “What deal?” mouthed Hillyard.

  Brodie shook his head at him. “It’s not happening Seth.”

  “I’ll shoot my brother.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “Cold,” he exclaimed with delight. “I’m starting to like you more and more Jock. Or maybe you’re not cold. Maybe you’re in love with the tart.”

  “We’re here to talk about you Seth.”

  “That’ll be a yes then,” he laughed. “Fucking priceless. You are such a loser.”

  “I’m not the one trapped in a house with a load of sniper rifles trained on him.” When he saw one of Hillyard’s large, sausage-like fingers pointing down the street he turned and saw Maggie and Lauren getting out of a police car. “If you won’t think of Sarah and Mark, think of their kids, two innocent little girls. What will they do without their parents?”

  Seth howled with laughter. “Have you ever met those brats? They’re horrible kids. They won’t care if their parents are dead just as long as they still get spoilt bloody rotten, which they would by Sarah’s parents.”

  “Mummy’s here Seth,” he said.

  There was silence on the other end.

  “Seth?”

  “Yeah Jock, I’m here,” he said, sounding tired. “She’s going to want to talk to me, isn’t she?”

  “I’d say so,” he said, noting how tense Maggie looked but also how determined, her features practically absorbed by all the lines, she was frowning so hard.

  “How does she look?”

  “I’m not going to lie to you Seth, she doesn’t look pleased.”

  “Is Lauren there?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” he exclaimed. “This is only going to upset her.”

  “You really care about your sister, don’t you?”

  The heavy sigh on the other end convinced him that he did.

  “This is only going to cause her more pain and trauma. Hasn’t she had enough of that in her life?” pressed Brodie.

  Hillyard and Hartley were briefing Maggie, so Brodie knew he had very little time left to talk Seth down before he was forced to hand the call over.

  “Everything that happened to her when we were kids, it wasn’t my fault,” said Seth.

  Brodie sensed he was finally starting to open up. “No it wasn’t but you can do something about this. You can put an end to her pain.”

  On the other end he could sense Seth finally starting to waver, until a deep voice said, “give me the phone.”

  At first Brodie thought it was Hillyard, until he realised it was actually Maggie standing beside him with her hand extended.

  “Better put Her fucking Majesty on,” said Seth sarcastically.

  Brodie knew he’d lost him so he dumped the phone in her hand.

  “Seth you silly little sod. Stop all this nonsense right now and get out here,” chided Maggie.

  Hillyard sighed and buried his face in his hands.

  She glared at the front of the house as she spoke, as though daring it to defy her and continue sheltering the criminal. “You hurt all those women you dirty bastard, you’re just as bad as your father. Rotten, the pair of you.”

  “If he shoots them both I’m telling everyone it was your idea to bring her in,” Hillyard told Brodie.

  “Just give her a chance. She’s the only person he listens to,” said Brodie.

  Hillyard looked very doubtful.

  Lauren pushed past Clarke and ran to Brodie, throwing herself into his arms, drawing raised eyebrows from Clarke and Hillyard. He tried to give them a look that said it’s not what it looks like, but they didn’t seem to notice.

  “Don’t deny it, you’re the living spit of your dad in every way,” continued Maggie.

  Lauren looked up at Brodie, eyes wide with horror. “Someone’s got to take the phone off her, she’ll only make him angry, he’ll hurt Mark. Please.”

  Hillyard got there first and wrenched the phone from Maggie.

  “What are you doing?” she yelled at him.

  “You’re only making things worse, we told you not to agitate him,” yelled back Hillyard, deepening his voice in an attempt to match hers. “You had your chance and you blew it.”

  “Those are my sons in there,” she exclaimed, pointing at the house.

  “And we’re trying to get them out alive.”

  As they argued Lauren told Brodie, “let me talk. I can convince him to stop this.”

  He nodded. “Do it.”

  Lauren snatched the phone from Hillyard’s big hand. “Seth, it’s me.”

  “Hey, what are you doing?” said Hillyard.

  “Let her try, it can’t hurt,” said Clarke.

  “Why not?” said Hillyard, throwing his hands into the air. “Come one come all. Why don’t we let that shower down there have a go?” he said, pointing at the waiting press.

  “Seth please, stop this now,” said Lauren, letting her tears fall. “You’re making me upset. You know what happens when I get upset. I have to go back to hospital, I have to see that horrible Doctor Prosser again.”

  Brodie looked to Cass and nodded. Divining exactly what he wanted her to do she took out her phone and retreated back to the barrier to call a certain Liverpudlian criminal known as Tommy Shenka.

  Brodie hovered by Lauren’s shoulder, just about able to make out Seth’s voice, which was for once gentle.

  “I don’t want to lose my brothers,” she croaked. “I love you Seth. I love Mark too. Please, stop this.”

  Everyone looked expectantly at the house.

  “I love you too,” he said softly.

  Maggie snatched the phone from Lauren. “Get out here now you naughty little boy and stop being so silly. That’s your own brother in there. How dare you threaten him? Have you any idea how much you’re embarrassing me? Everyone knows what you’ve done, it’s all over the news. They all know a son of mine is a serial killer. I can’t believe it, the shame of it.”

  Even from where he was standing Brodie could hear the roar on the other end. Final
ly there was movement inside the house and the blind swayed back and forth, as though desperate hands were tugging at it. Finally it started to roll up and they saw Sarah at the window, Seth behind her, waving the gun, his hand shaking. The phone was pressed to his ear and he snarled the words into it.

  “Oh my God, he said he’s going to shoot her,” cried Maggie. “No Seth, don’t.”

  It all happened so fast Brodie hardly had time to take it in. He heard Hillyard say, “do it.” He just managed to grab Lauren and spin her round before Seth’s head snapped back and Sarah was running back and forth before the window, covered in his blood. Armed police rushed up the drive and burst through the front door.

  “Oh my God, my boy, you shot my boy,” cried Maggie, the phone slipping from her hand, her knees going weak. Brodie scooped up the phone and pocketed it before anyone could claim it as evidence.

  “No, Seth,” wailed Lauren, burying her face in Brodie’s chest and starting to cry.

  Hillyard just managed to catch Maggie before she hit the ground and she lay limp in his arms, her small eyes fixed on him accusingly. “You killed my boy,” she hissed before bursting into tears, a deep, hoarse sob that sounded like a JCB digger going full tilt.

  “I was left with no choice,” he replied, eyes fixed on the house. “He was going to kill your daughter-in-law and probably your other son,” said Hillyard. He looked relieved that it was all over and disturbed that it had ended in death, even if it was the bad guy’s death.

  One of the black-clad armed officers came to the door and gave the all-clear, waving the paramedics in.

  A couple of WPC’s led a still-wailing Maggie to the back of a waiting ambulance.

  “No, get off me,” screamed Lauren when more officers tried to coax her out of Brodie’s arms.

  “It’s okay Lauren, go with them. Your mother needs you,” he said.

  “I’m not going until I’ve seen Mark.”

  “It’s alright, look, he’s coming out.”

  Lauren shot out of Brodie’s arms, raced past the officers towards her brother and hurled herself at him. He threw off the blanket that had been wrapped around him and held onto her tight, kissing her hair.

  Brodie watched as Lauren looked up at Mark and went rigid, no doubt shocked by the sight of her other brother’s blood all over him.