Someone Else's Conflict

by Alison Layland

  Lek barked a laugh. Didn’t move. ‘Why, Šojka?’ he replied in the same language. ‘This is why we’re here.’

  Jay steadied the gun in his hand, trying to aim at Lek while missing Vinko. Lek tightened his grip roughly.

  ‘My reactions are fast, remember, Šojka? You shoot and I shoot.’ He gave Vinko a slight shove and more blood oozed from his neck.

  ‘Let him go. I’ve got the money. Take it and I’ll give you more. Soon – tomorrow. Whatever you ask for. Don’t—’

  ‘It’s not about the money.’

  ‘But—’

  ‘I got you here. That’s what it’s about.’ He stared at Jay, holding him motionless. Out of the corner of his eye Jay saw the boy from Paševina, watching. ‘You took her. You turned Ivan against me. You took my freedom— No! Don’t argue. This is my time. Now it’s your turn to lose something.’ He shoved Vinko and the lad’s yelp of pain was like a knife to Jay’s old wound.

  ‘This won’t bring anything back! Let him go, Lek, for fuck’s sake. He’s nothing to do with it!’

  ‘He’s everything.’ Lek’s expression was impassive. He shook Vinko with each phrase. ‘He’s a worthless, lying little bastard. Like his father. But he matters to you.’

  Jay stared at Lek, and past him to the boy from Paševina. The boy gave the tiniest nod. Deal. Jay spread his arms, bracing himself against what was to come. ‘So it’s me you want.’

  ‘No, Jay, don’t!’ Vinko protested and Lek twisted his arms cruelly. Three pairs of eyes held Jay. Vinko’s scared but defiant, Lek’s cold, victorious; the boy’s merely curious.

  ‘Go on.’ Jay tightened the grip on the gun in his outstretched hand, ready to swing it round as soon as Lek shifted his attention from Vinko. ‘Take me. What are you waiting for?’

  Lek laughed again. ‘Oh, no. Not so simple, Šojka. I could have you. Easy. But dead men don’t feel guilt. Dead men don’t suffer.’

  The two men stared at one another, each waiting for the other to waver. Jay despaired. As soon as he moved, or as soon as Lek had enough of his game, Vinko would die or get seriously hurt. He knew Lek could do it. His arms began to tremble and ache but he held himself steady, terrified that any movement would be the other man’s cue. The cold air of the warehouse grew thick and heavy. He was aware of vague sounds from outside, but none of it mattered. Help seemed impossible. Without taking his eyes from Lek he was aware of the boy. He longed for him to intervene; knew that was impossible, too.

  Lek smiled slowly. ‘Ready for this, Šojka?’

  The silence that followed was sliced by a shrill sound from the phone lying on the window ledge behind Lek. He ignored it but the instant the tension was broken, Lek’s attention faltering briefly, Jay brought the gun round with nothing to lose, aimed just enough to miss Vinko, and fired. He was aware of two shots but in a frozen moment had no idea who had reacted first. He vaguely heard Lek’s gun clatter to the floor as, sick to his heart, he watched Vinko, his hair sticky with blood, sink to his knees.

  Before Jay could react, the lad shoved away, leaving the older man clutching his shoulder, lunged for his knife and plunged it into Lek before stumbling a few paces and sinking down again, his strength spent. Lek fell to the floor behind him.

  Hardly aware of what he was doing, Jay grabbed Lek’s gun and threw it and the one he was holding as hard as he could across the room, out of reach. He knelt by Vinko, tearing his own shirt off to staunch his wounds. He realised with relief that the stickiness in his hair was not the lad’s own blood and fought down panic as he pressed the fabric to his neck, not knowing whether he was doing any good or causing more damage. In his helplessness the years melted and he wondered when it would ever end.

  ‘It’s OK, Vinko, it’s all right.’

  ‘All right? It fucking hurts.’ His voice was small and he tried to smile but his attention was wavering. ‘But thanks. I’m sorry, I tried…’

  His eyes fluttered closed.

  ‘Shhh. Stay still. Stay awake. We’re safe, it’s going to be all right.’

  He willed Vinko to believe him, though he didn’t know himself if he was speaking the truth this time. He couldn’t look away but sensed the boy from Paševina had gone and hoped that was a good sign. Footsteps rang through the building and Jay called out that it was safe; heard himself shouting for help, an ambulance, as he felt Vinko getting weaker. Hushed voices grew louder, and with relief like a soft drop of rain in the desert of his fear, he heard Polly’s among them.

  ‘So that was you?’

  Polly nodded and squeezed his hand as they watched the medics carry the stretcher towards the waiting ambulance. Jay tried to shrug off the cumbersome shock blanket and follow. She held him, told him to stay where he was, sitting on the dirty floor against the wall. He was shaking.

  ‘He’s in the best place. You can’t do anything more right now.’

  ‘I want to go with him. I’ll answer all the questions they want, but later. Just—’

  ‘You’ll be following all right – you’re in shock yourself, Jay. Let go for a few moments. Give yourself a chance.’

  He relaxed slightly under her touch and shrugged, stared in the direction of the ambulance.

  ‘Tell me, what was he doing here? What were you doing here?’

  She glanced around, clearly as conscious as he was of the police activity around them. He was certain someone was listening to her words. Let them. They had nothing to hide now.

  ‘You didn’t imagine that either Vinko or I would just let you go like that? As soon as we realised you weren’t going to call us, he was off. I couldn’t have stopped him if I’d wanted to.’

  ‘I bet you hardly tried.’

  ‘Well, it seems he met Matt on the way out. You know, if it hadn’t been for Matt I might not have come. I mean, I can understand he was upset, of course, but… I’d phoned the police, the minute Vinko left. And then there was Matt, ranting and raving as if it was all my fault. I couldn’t take any more of him. I ran here – Vinko and I had worked out the most likely building while we were waiting for you. And I saw your scarf. Just before I literally bumped into Lucy. She told me how Vinko freed her and she’d seen you. Well, she thought you were one of them, but she doesn’t know you.’

  ‘An easy mistake to make.’

  ‘But I do. You know when it’s a crisis, you do things without thinking? I was sure it was you. No way could I just stand there, but I had no idea what to do either. I got her to tell me the way she’d come and by the time I got to the bottom of those stairs I saw sense and stopped, realised how stupid I was being. What use could I be? I’d only put myself, you, in more danger. I heard you and him. I couldn’t understand either of you, but I could hear Vinko was distressed and then the silence obviously meant some kind of stand-off. Vinko had given me those numbers and…and I had some mad notion that I could distract Lek; even if I couldn’t talk him round, at least give you some time. Oh, Jay.’ She squeezed his hand, close to tears. ‘I’m sorry, I could have killed Vinko.’

  ‘But you didn’t. You saved us.’ He glanced in the direction Vinko had been taken. ‘I hope.’

  Chapter 31

  The interview room was the same as the one she’d spent much of the previous day in – it may even have been the same one – and Jay looked alone, sitting at the bare, graffiti’d table. He was staring into space, fiddling with the collar of the regulation overalls. Marilyn recognised the gesture, remembering the way he twisted his scarf in his fingers. He turned and his expression brightened as the duty officer showed her in. She smiled back. He looked weary. She hesitated inside the door, watching him stand, glancing at the policeman by her side and unsure of the protocol.

  ‘Is it OK for us to have some privacy?’

  The officer nodded. ‘We’re just outside.’

  Oblivious to the door shutting behind her, she found herself in Jay’s arms, revelling in the feel and familiar smell of him.

  ‘I’m so glad you’ve come,’ he murmured.

/>   ‘I’d have stayed with you if they’d let me.’

  ‘I know.’

  ‘You shouldn’t be here! It’s not fair. You’re worn out.’

  ‘There’s a man dead. And a lot more for me to be complicit in.’

  ‘They can deal with that later! You’re not going anywhere, can’t they see that?’

  ‘Obviously not. And do you blame them, honestly?’

  She responded by kissing him, trying to forget their surroundings. He held her as if they’d never be parted again. They drew apart and sat close, holding one another’s hands tightly.

  ‘How’s Vinko?’ he asked. ‘They’ve told me he’s OK, but nothing more. “It’s you we’re here to talk about,” was all the reply I got. I’ve been going out of my mind. I’m desperate to see him.’

  ‘He’ll be fine. That wound’s more superficial than it looked; it was the loss of blood, on top of him being so exhausted, that was the danger.’

  ‘Apparently Vesna’s being a star.’

  ‘The proverbial protective tigress.’ Marilyn had warmed to Vesna, touched by the fondness she already felt for a nephew she’d only just met. ‘She’s got her solicitor looking after his case. And she’s hijacking both the hospital systems and the police investigation to establish definitively that he’s Ivan’s son. She’ll have him an identity before he’s in a fit state to know what to do with it. Apparently her home’s his, as soon as he’s able to go there and for as long as he wants it. She told me she’s not only pressing for leniency for his part, but she’ll have them on their knees apologising to him.’

  ‘What for?’ he asked with a smile.

  ‘She’ll find something.’ She turned serious. ‘She says she’s got to stop him apologising.’

  ‘He should know—’

  ‘You saw what he was like when we met – was it only yesterday morning? He really feels he betrayed you and that’s why Lek got to you, why all this happened. He even blames himself for his grandparents’ murder.’

  Jay looked down at their intertwined hands.

  ‘Will you be seeing him? If I can’t go, tell him from me – I really mean this, Polly – he’s got to stop talking like that. No more guilt. Tell him not to let Lek win.’

  His head was bowed, his face hidden.

  ‘Look at me, Jay.’

  He raised his eyes slowly.

  ‘Try telling yourself the same thing.’

  ‘But I’ve been such an idiot! If I’d listened to you, if we’d gone to the police when you said… Are you in trouble?’

  ‘Nothing serious.’ Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in Boris and Anja’s murder case. She’d been angry and frustrated with him, of course she had. She’d revealed details of his life, and regretted it. When she’d told them how he’d known Lek years ago and knew what the man was capable of, she’d meant to make it obvious he’d acted in self-defence. But apparently, knowing what the man was capable of gave Jay the perfect motive for wanting to kill him. She’d said little more, and looking at him now, his expression almost as haunted as when he’d told her about Paševina and all that led up to it, she was glad. ‘They haven’t charged you yet?’

  He shook his head with a sigh. ‘I think they’ll accept that Lek’s death was self-defence on both my part and Vinko’s. We shouldn’t have been there, we were both carrying offensive weapons, but… I don’t need to tell you.’ He drew away from her and leaned on the table, his head in his hands. ‘It was only this morning they finally dropped the talk of…of Anja and Boris’s murder. Direct involvement, anyway. Mihal Novak came round overnight, apparently, and confessed. Of course it was he and Lek who broke in, intending to do no more than threaten them, so he claims. They must have got frustrated that Vinko wasn’t doing more, about getting information from his grandparents or finding me. It seems Boris had a gun under the bed and Mihal panicked. I don’t know whether Lek shot Anja to get rid of a witness or some warped revenge because she was Zora’s sister. Neither would surprise me. But at least Mihal had the decency to confirm that Vinko knew nothing about it at the time. And I certainly didn’t.’

  Marilyn shuddered. ‘It took his confession? They didn’t believe you?’

  ‘Probably just wanted to make me sweat. I’m the sort of guy they’ll want to pin as much as possible on.’ He looked round at her. ‘I’m so sorry for putting you through all this, Polly.’

  ‘It’s not your fault.’

  ‘How can you say that? I’ve let you down and I’m sorry.’

  She tried to take his hand. He pulled away, sat up straight.

  ‘Please. Don’t get any more attached than you already are. I don’t deserve you. And you certainly don’t deserve me. In the opposite sense.’

  ‘I don’t blame you for anything.’

  He looked at her steadily. ‘Don’t you see how selfish I’ve been?’

  ‘I know what you’ve been through.’

  ‘There you are. Me.’

  ‘You were trying to protect Vinko. And there was Lucy and—’

  ‘And a chance literally to lay my ghosts to rest. Sod how it affects anyone else.’ He shook his head. ‘I find someone who matters to me – two people who matter to me – and it’s still all about myself. The boy from Paševina was there – he hasn’t been near me since with his horrors and his nightmares. Even during a sleepless night in this place. Perhaps I’ve done something right at last.’ He ran a hand through his hair. ‘But there we were with Vinko about to get his brains blown out and a little part of me could actually feel pleased to hear Lek claim I turned Ivan against him. See? Me, me, me.’

  He stood up and turned away.

  ‘I can live with that if you can.’

  He turned back to her. ‘Please, don’t make any daft promises. Give yourself time to think. I’m not worth it.’

  ‘You said it yourself, Jay. Don’t let him win.’

  ‘This isn’t a fairy story, Polly.’ He laughed. ‘I know, you’re thinking “You’re a fine one to talk about fairy stories, Jay Spinney.” It’s true, I am. And that’s why I don’t trust happy endings.’

  ‘It won’t work,’ she said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Stop trying to make it easy for me.’ He raised an eyebrow. ‘Easy to walk away.’

  ‘You think that’s what I want?’

  She shook her head. ‘No. But you’ve been saying it all along. “Just say the word and I’ll disappear and leave you in peace.” Well, I won’t make it that easy for you to run away again.’

  He tried to smile, then shook his head. ‘How long have we known each other? I’ve messed up your life enough even in that brief time.’

  ‘You’d do just that if you rejected me now. Come back here.’

  She motioned to the plastic chair. He stayed where he was.

  ‘Be realistic,’ he said.

  ‘I am. Listen. We’re trying to get you out of here. I’ve already given them my address as yours. Vesna would be prepared to put up bail money if it were needed.’

  ‘Thank you. It means a lot. But there’s no chance of bail.’

  ‘You don’t know that. I could be driving you home in a couple of days. Or sooner. They haven’t charged you yet. But whatever happens, I’ll be here.’

  His expression made her feel as if her words were nothing but irrational childish optimism.

  ‘Sit down, Jay.’

  He perched uneasily on the hard plastic chair, looking fearful and vulnerable. She touched his arm and his sudden smile filled her with relief.

  ‘You must be mad,’ he said as he took her hand. ‘But whatever you decide, haven’t you got work to be doing? Go on, prove I’m not messing up your life.’

  ‘In good time. I can hardly go back to Matt’s at the moment, can I?’

  ‘Then it’s up to me to get out of here and help you sort that building out, right?’

  As they held each other, she wondered momentarily why she’d been so quick to dismiss his suggestion of walking away. There was no questi
on. She was inextricably involved in his story now, and he’d claimed his part in hers.

  Chapter 32

  Jay becomes aware of someone in the grey cell, looks up and sees the boy standing watching him. A wave of anger, betrayal, hurt rushes through him and he simply looks back, knowing shouting will do no good. He takes the stupid flimsy slippers he’s been issued with and throws them in anger. The boy doesn’t flinch. Jay thinks of Polly, hoping that by strength of will he can make the boy go. It doesn’t work. His anger subsides, to be replaced by an overwhelming sadness and defeat.

  ‘I should have known,’ he says. ‘You told me before that you don’t keep your promises. I should have listened.’

  The boy shakes his head, smiling, and beckons for Jay to follow. His smile fades, but for that brief moment it had seemed warm, almost genuine. He has never smiled before. Jay is unsettled.

  As he walks down the rutted lane to Paševina, his anger returns. This is so unfair. He should refuse to go, but he can’t. He has tried to resist before. No effort of will can keep him away. It is rare that he is aware of reality this far along the road, but it makes no difference to the fear. The deep dread feels the same as always. He comes to the first outlying house and refuses to look. His eyes firmly on the dusty surface of the road a few paces ahead, he keeps walking. This is a mistake. He glances back. The walls are still pockmarked with the scars of war and in need of paint, but the roof is whole. The blazing sun reflects off glass in the windows and the garden looks tended. It jars. He is on guard, stares at the road ahead then suddenly turns back, as if he can trick the house into its accustomed dereliction. It remains stubbornly inhabited. He tries to smother the optimism. This is a trick.

  As he enters the village, the first thing he notices is people. No one is immediately visible out on the street, but he senses everyday activity. The houses and buildings here, too, are coming back to life. There are plenty of gaps where the damage was too great or the owners have not returned, and side alleys are still rubble-strewn and broken, but there is an undeniable sense of hope. He passes the building where Šojka once watched the boy die. He stops and looks round. This is where the boy usually vanishes, leaving him alone with his fears. He walks away more slowly this time, turning to smile at Jay again, a smile that lights up his face. He walks calmly into a nearby house.