“Survives?”
“Danika,” Sara replied coldly.
“Anton’s wife?”
“Yep,” Sara said, fixing him with a stare. “If Karl thinks he can just slide into Anton’s place without breaking step, he’ll be in for a shock.”
“She’ll try to take it on herself?”
“Absolutely,” she said, adopting a faraway look. “Although I expect Karl knows that too and will try and get the drop on her. If they both establish their positions, you shouldn’t need to worry about them for a while. They’ll tear the organisation apart vying for control.”
“And if one succeeds?” Caslin asked.
“Then have no doubt, you’ll find the other floating down the Ouse, in a couple of days…or not at all. Either way, with their connections, there will still be business to be done.”
“Business?” Caslin asked with no attempt to shield his contempt.
“Yes, business,” Sara replied.
“You think Danika will work with you, after what you did to her husband?”
Sara grinned, “Who says it was me? She’ll think it was Karl. His word will count for nothing once he makes his play.”
Caslin shook his head, “How the hell do you get any sleep at night?”
“It’s my job, Nate.”
“Speaking of which, since when have you been a field agent? I thought you were just a data monkey?”
“None of us are ever just anything,” Sara said. “My doctorate gave me a detailed knowledge of the Balkans. That’s what brought Anton and I together.”
“That holiday you mentioned, in Croatia, last year, was to do with him?” Caslin asked, Sara nodded. “I should have guessed. It was far too convenient for you to drop by unannounced-”
Sara reached out and gently touched his cheek, “I had to protect my asset but you should know, it’s not all smoke and mirrors, Nate. Not with you.”
“How can I know that?” he replied, leaving their contact for only a fraction longer before inclining his face away from her touch.
“I guess you can’t,” she replied, looking down. “Whether you choose to believe me or not, it’s the truth. I suppose it’s a question of faith.” Caslin was about to respond but they were interrupted.
“Your turn,” the vet stated, coming to stand before Sara. Caslin removed the gauze from her wound and made way, returning to Stefan. His leg was heavily bandaged and Caslin was pleased to see he was awake.
“How are you feeling?”
“Like I’ve been shot,” he replied with a half-smile.
“Funny that,” Caslin stated.
“The doc gave me something, I can already feel it kicking in.” Caslin glanced at Dave, cleaning Sara’s bullet wound.
“Hopefully, you’ll not start licking your balls.”
“Eh?”
“Forget it,” Caslin said under his breath.
“What’s the plan, little brother?” Stefan asked.
Caslin shrugged, “Working on it but…if I’m honest, I’m a bit out of my depth, here.”
“Stefan and I need to go silent for a while,” Sara said, speaking over the vet’s shoulder.
“By silent, you mean…”
“I mean vanish,” Sara confirmed.
“How do you suggest we arrange that?” Caslin asked.
“Stefan can come with me. In the meantime, you get back to work and do what you do…this evening however, stays between us.”
“Easy as that, huh?” Caslin said.
“Easy as,” Sara confirmed. “When can we move?” she asked the man working on getting the bullet out of her shoulder tissue, before hissing at the pain he was causing.
“How long before you have to?” he asked.
“Two, maybe three hours.”
The vet sucked air through his teeth, “I can patch you up but you’ve lost a fair bit of blood. Sooner rather than later, you’re going to have to stop for longer.”
“We only need to wait long enough to arrange an out, then we’re gone.”
“You’ll be okay here, for a while. That should give you some time. I’ll get you some food and water, while you wait.”
“Thanks,” Sara said. Turning her gaze to Caslin, she said, “You should get going before you’re missed. Probably, they’ll expect you to be with your father.” Caslin looked at her before glancing at Stefan.
“I can’t leave-”
“Yes, you can and you must,” Sara stated. “We’ll be alright. I’ll take care of Stefan. You have my word but you being here will only make it harder for us to slip out of York, unnoticed.”
“Where will you go?”
“I have resources behind me, remember?”
“And Stefan? Everyone’s looking for him.”
“He can call you in a couple of days, to tell you about his impromptu holiday. I’m sure he’ll be surprised when hearing about your father’s attack.”
“Seriously?” Caslin asked.
“It’ll fit, don’t worry.” Caslin had to admit that it was a plausible option, taking care of a number of the issues they faced. He looked at Stefan who met his gaze.
“Sounds good to me, little brother. I can’t see any other way out of this, not for me anyway.”
Caslin nodded his agreement, “Okay, I’ll go back to the hospital and be with dad.”
“How is he?” Stefan asked. With all that had occurred, Caslin hadn’t realised that his brother wouldn’t know about their father’s welfare.
“Banged up,” Caslin said. “He’s in a bad way. They put him into a medically induced coma. It’s a waiting game now.”
Stefan bobbed his head solemnly, “They came at us from the front and the back. Dad answered the door. I didn’t see it coming. I never thought they’d figure I’d be there. I-”
“What happened, happened. It’s too late to play the blame game. No-one wins at that.”
“Is it true…what you said about Mel?”
“Yes, I believe so.”
A tear ran down Stefan’s cheek, he tried to catch it with the back of his hand but missed, “I was trying to get her out, you know? We both wanted that. I thought we could do it. We were going to build something proper, for us and her kid.”
“You should’ve come to me-”
“I did but…” Stefan’s voice tailed off.
“I wasn’t ready to listen, was I?” Caslin said softly, a familiar wave of guilt washing over him. “I’m sorry, Stef. Really, I am.” Conversation stopped for a time, while Stefan reflected on his loss and Sara was stitched up. She was also given a shot of something, Caslin didn’t know what but he guessed it was for the pain.
“Dave here, could fix you up with some Oxycodone, if you need it?” Sara said to Caslin.
“Are you in pain?” the vet asked him.
Caslin shook his head, “No, I’ll be fine.” Although, if the truth were known, the voice in his head was screaming out to accept the offer.
“Pleased to hear it, Nate,” Sara said with a knowing look. “You should get going. The longer you’re off the grid, the less likely we are to pull this off.”
Caslin said goodbye to his brother, not knowing when they would next speak, let alone see each other again. He thanked the unnamed man for aiding them and lastly came to Sara. The other two distracted themselves, in order to give them some space but Caslin led her out into the corridor, ensuring their privacy.
“Promise me that you’ll take care of my brother.”
“I will,” she said. “Everything will show that he was out of the country when all this went down. He’ll be in the clear.”
“And you? Will I…will I see you again?”
“Do you want to?” she countered.
“I…I…think so.”
“Thanks Nate, that really pulls on a girl’s heartstrings,” Sara replied, with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that… it’s like you see the world through a blacklight.”
“I know. It’s a lot to
take in,” she said, looking to the floor, as if not wanting to say the words.
“I should go,” Caslin said quietly. Sara nodded but wouldn’t verbally agree. Her eyes welled up but she tried her hardest to hide the fact. Unlocking the bolts, he reached for the bar and pushed the door open. Stepping out into the night, he paused. Holding the door open with one hand, he looked back. “Yul Brynner.”
“What?” Sara said, touching the palm of her hand to her eye before looking across at him.
“The Magnificent Seven. It was Yul Brynner, not John Wayne,” Caslin said, forcing a smile.
“Are you sure?” she replied, with a nervous laugh.
“Positive.”
“You’ll have to prove that to me, one day.”
“It’s a date,” he said over his shoulder, turning and walking away as the door swung closed behind him.
Chapter 29
“Are you sure she didn’t suffer?”
“I don’t believe so,” Caslin said with sincerity. “What happened to Melissa was terrible but, in my opinion…a tragic accident. There was no-one to blame.” Suzanne Brooke glanced first to Hunter, before turning to meet his eye, seeking to judge whether he was being truthful or merely attempting to spare her more anguish.
“I would disagree with you there,” she said, her voice threatening to break. “I’m her mother. I should’ve done more.”
Caslin broke the eye contact, “As parents, we always think we can do more. I’ve lost count of the number of people who have said exactly that to me, over the years. To be honest, I’ve even said it myself.” Suzanne reached across and affectionately patted his knee.
“You’re a good man, Mr Caslin. One day it’ll probably come as a relief that I didn’t lose my Melissa to someone like…well, you know? Right now, though, it doesn’t help at all. Can you promise me?” Caslin cast an eye over the toddler, playing near to them, with the toys they had brought for her.
“To be honest, it can’t be proven either way. That said, all my years on the force...my experience, tells me that’s exactly what happened. I can only go where the evidence leads me. You might like to know that Melissa was looking to get out of the business and change her life, for the better.”
“Really?” Suzanne replied. “I’ve heard that many times before.”
“I spoke to people in and around her and I know it’s true. You were right, she was clean and often talked about her dreams for the future, one together with her daughter.” Caslin had decided not to bring up Stefan’s relationship with Melissa, for fear of over-complicating the narrative. To do so would no doubt lead to more questions and could, possibly, in Suzanne’s mind at least, affect his impartiality in the case.
“I’m pleased she was thinking of Isabel. Whatever was happening in her life, she always made time for her.” She nearly broke, then, her voice cracking but she held it together, if only just. It was evident, to Caslin, that the grandmother was doing all she could to maintain her composure for the toddler’s sake.
“It will get easier,” Caslin offered, the words sounded hollow and felt meaningless, as he uttered them.
“I’m sure,” she replied. Looking to her granddaughter and lowering her voice, her next question was but a whisper, “She keeps asking when her mummy’s coming home? I don’t know what to say, I really don’t.” Caslin said nothing. He didn’t have the words either. What do you tell a two-year old who is missing their mother, a mother who will never return?
After a moment, he said, “Show her as much love as possible.”
“No shortage of that, I can assure you,” Suzanne replied with a smile, one instantly matched by the little girl. At that point, Caslin saw Melissa in the child’s expression.
“I don’t wish to tell you what to-”
“No please,” she interrupted him, “do so. I’ll take anything that you have, right now.”
Caslin nodded, “When you feel able, do your best to talk about her mother as much as you can and encourage her to do likewise. That way, with a bit of luck, she’ll still feel her mother is a part of her life…and of yours.”
A final wave saw Suzanne Brooke close the door, as Caslin reached the end of the driveway. He unlocked the car, glancing at Hunter as she opened the passenger side door.
“It never gets easier, does it, Sir?” she said across the roof of the car, her eyes transfixed on the little girl, waving to them from the living room window. She waved back, smiling.
“Not ones like this, no,” he replied, also acknowledging Isabel before getting in. The visit was one he’d been dreading but the weight was lifting, at least in part. He could have left it to family liaison but not only was he adamant that he should take the time, it was also the perfect reason to vacate Fulford Road. Casting his mind back to the morning meeting, Caslin let out a deep sigh.
“That’s your take on it, is it?”
“It’s all in my report, Sir.”
“Hmmm,” DCS Broadfoot mused, almost inaudibly. Seconds later, he closed the file on his desk, drumming his fingers lightly, on the cover whilst he took in Caslin’s measure.
“It’s good to hear that your father will be making a full recovery.”
“Thank you, Sir. Physically, anyway,” Caslin replied. “It’ll take some time but, regarding his mental state…well, that’s a different matter altogether. The entire episode has been a lot for him to take in. I’m sure we’ll get there, though.”
“That generation were built of sterner stuff.”
“Yes, Sir. So, they often tell me.”
“No leads on the attacker?”
“Hunter’s working on it but there’s little to go on.”
“Any more word from your brother…,” he paused, searching for the name, “Stefan, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Not since the phone call, the day before yesterday, Sir, no,” Caslin offered, straight faced.
“Spain, wasn’t it?”
“Majorca, Sir.”
“Hmmm,” Broadfoot murmured again, absently eyeing something invisible on his desk. “Rather fortuitous that he missed the attack at your father’s house.”
“Not for my father,” Caslin replied.
“Quite so,” Broadfoot said, locking eyes with his inspector. “Upped and left without a word, then?”
“To me, Sir, that’s right but we’re not really close. About par for the course, really.”
“And your father?”
“He has no recollection of the two days prior to the attack, Sir. The doctors have said it may come back to him but…he’s not a young man.” Broadfoot’s gaze lingered on Caslin and the latter was unsure whether his credibility was about to be called into question. Then again, as both men knew, the reality wasn’t what had happened but what could be proven and on that, Caslin still held the majority of the cards.
“In any event, it would appear that Mark Rabiot is rapidly becoming yesterday’s news. Our media-driven society moves at breakneck speed. Today, everyone’s focused on an outbreak of internecine fighting.”
“Sir?”
“Amongst the rich and shameless of our local underworld,” Broadfoot explained. “Apparently, there’s a power grab under way and I’m minded to not let it get out of hand. It would be better if more of it didn’t spill over, onto the streets. Random beatings of known gang affiliates and an arson tells me it’s threatening to get out of hand. Any further escalation could bring unwanted attention to our city. Not wishing to rush you, Nathaniel, but it would be good to have you back in the office. All hands-on deck and all that.”
“Never a dull day, in York, Sir.”
“Well, I guess that just about clears it up,” Broadfoot said in an upbeat manner. Caslin almost made it to the door before the DCS called after him. “There is still the matter of the firearms.”
“Sir?” Caslin had asked innocently.
“I’m still waiting for an explanation as to how you ended up with an unregistered, eastern bloc Makarov in your possession.”
“M
y father’s attacker must have dropped it during their struggle. He’s a tough old bastard when he wants to be.”
Broadfoot frowned, “And you didn’t mention this before because…why, exactly?”
Caslin shrugged, “There was a lot going on, Sir. Emotional trauma and so forth, I guess. I secured the weapon and took charge of it. At that point, I was still unsure whether a suspect was on the premises. It would have been negligent of me to leave it in situ.”
“Under the circumstances, that seems…plausible. Drawing the weapon inside a public hospital, however, is not an insignificant matter, regardless of the circumstances. I’ll probably recommend nothing more than a reprimand be placed on your file but the final judgement will be out of my hands, you understand?”
“Absolutely, Sir.”
“What about your police-issued firearm?”
“What of it, Sir?”
“The weapon was returned to the armoury with far fewer rounds than you signed it out with.” Caslin drew a deep breath and pulled himself upright.
“It’s been a long time since I’d had a gun. I needed to get my eye in, for safety reasons if nothing else.”
“I considered that also,” Broadfoot replied. Caslin then made to leave but, once again, was stopped from doing so. “The thing is, I checked with the range and you aren’t logged in as attending at any time since drawing the weapon. Care to explain?” Caslin flicked his eyes towards Broadfoot and away again, shaking his head slightly.
“Administrative oversight?” he said softly. Broadfoot stood, resting balled fists on the desk in front of him. He stared hard at Caslin, almost forcing him to meet the gaze. It felt uncomfortable.
“My thoughts exactly,” Broadfoot stated, before re-seating himself. “Carry on.”
Caslin turned the key in the ignition and the engine fired into life. A now familiar grinding sound came to his ear whilst trying to select first. Casting one last glance towards the house, a curtain twitched, if only slightly, despite the windows being closed. There was no sign of Isabel. Suzanne Brooke had a difficult journey ahead of her. Hunter frowned as he fought with the gearbox. Giving up on first gear he selected third, second having become a distant memory. Repeatedly depressing the accelerator to generate enough revs, enabled him to move off without stalling but with a deafening roar of the engine. Thinking about it as they crawled away, the presence of Isabel should provide a measure of comfort to Suzanne, whilst coming to terms with the loss of her own daughter. Even bearing that in mind, he knew her personal trials were only just beginning.
Blacklight (Dark Yorkshire Book 2) Page 31
