TWENTY-FOUR

 

JACK

I knew the warehouse like the back of my hand. I’d never forgotten what happened there. I just hoped it hadn’t changed much in the intervening years. If the person inside was who I thought it might be then he’d picked the warehouse for a reason. Had he been here since? Was I walking into a trap?

There was only going to be one way to find out. I parked up a couple of streets away and approached on foot. There was an alleyway that led to the side and I took it, clambering over the chain link fence that blocked my way. Once I was on the other side, I picked up speed, moving along the edge of the building next to me, calculating my odds.

Whoever it was, they were unlikely to be working alone. Hell, they might not even be there. It might be an attempt to lure me and Mr Sanders into the place before blowing it up. Anything was possible. We’d both made a lot of enemies in our time. I stopped when the warehouse loomed above me. From my hiding place, pressed against the metal shutters of a long closed factory, I could see the side door and the fire escape. It was rusty as hell but it was still there. Scanning the ground in front of it, I looked for any sign of life. Nothing. This was it, all or nothing.

I ran for the fire escape, taking it two steps at a time, moving as quietly as I could. I got to the roof without being shot which was a good start. There was a flat walkway along the edge of the roof, the scene of where it all ended last time. I ran along it, seeking out the skylight that looked down on the main space inside. I got to it seconds later, crouching down and peering through.

There she was, and it looked like she was alone. I watched for a while, waiting to see if anyone else appeared. She was tied to a chair, a gag in her mouth, her arm red. They’d cut her.

I clenched my fists. Whoever did that was going to pay for what they’d done. I was about to move when something cold and metal pressed to my forehead. “Get up slowly, Jack,” a voice said.

I flicked my eyes to the left. One pair of feet. Easy enough. Leaning in, I then pushed myself back, flicking my leg towards the feet before they could react. The gun didn’t fire but it swung towards me as I caught the ankles, sending the person they belonged to flying backwards. Then it fired, the noise making my ears ring. The bullet missed me by inches but it was the only chance they got.

I leapt forwards, landing on the man who I realised was wearing a police uniform. He was no cop. I landed a punch on his chin before he could react, then a second. He fell back and I kneed him in the chest, crushing him under me as he fell. From somewhere off to my left, I heard another bang as a gun fired. I looked up. Two men were running towards me from the fire escape.

I picked up the man under me, holding him up like a shield as they fired. His body bucked as they fired again, the bullets striking him as I threw myself to the floor. I rolled to the left, leaving his body behind. I got behind a metal vent, more bullets whizzing past me. Reaching into the vent, I yanked out the metal grill covering it. “Here goes nothing,” I muttered, dropping my feet into the hole and then pushing myself down. As long as nothing had changed, I should land in two, one, clang. I was down, inside the vent. I could hear the two men above, debating whether to follow me.

I didn’t have much time. I crawled along the vent, kicking off the next grill and dropping down into an empty storeroom. There was a metal cabinet to my right and I crouched behind it, waiting. A few seconds later, there was a thud as one, then the other dropped down into the room. “Where is he?” the first asked, taking a step in my direction.

“Here,” I replied, reaching out and yanking the gun from his hand. The second man raised his weapon as I twisted away and he caught his colleague in the chest, a bloom of red appearing as he slumped lifeless to the ground. Killing his companion had shocked him just long enough for me to close the gap between us and I got my hand under his chin, shoving it upwards, sending him slamming into the wall behind him. His head smacked into the concrete and he fell forwards, his eyes glazed.

I dropped the gun in disgust, running from the storeroom out into the main body of the warehouse. She looked up, her eyes wild as she saw it was me. She screamed into the gag. At first I thought it was because she’d seen me but too late I realised she was trying to warn me. I reached her side, leaning down to untie her.

A fist hit me square in the cheek from behind. Only one man was that quiet. I was still reeling from the blow when I saw him but I already knew who was going to be looking back at me. “Good to see you again, Drake,” I said, rubbing my cheek. “How’ve you been?”

“You knew he was alive,” he spat back at me. “You didn’t think I deserved to know?”

“I don’t owe you anything,” I replied. “How much are they paying you?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit. You couldn’t arrange all this. So what did they offer you? Money? Her?” I motioned at Bella behind me. “Me?”

“All three,” he replied, leaping forwards.

I was ready for him this time. His punch had hurt but it would take more than that to slow me down. I grabbed him as he came at me, twisting round until we both fell. He landed on top of me but by rocking my arms I was able to reverse our positions after a couple of punches had landed on my chest. Once I was on top, I pinned his arms under my knees, landing a swift blow to his chin. He snarled with rage, wriggling out from under me like a snake, crawling away.

I went after him just as he lashed out with his foot. It caught my ankles and I tripped, my face smacking into the ground and slowing me for long enough for him to dive onto my back. He wrapped his hands round my throat and began to choke me, his last mistake.

With a flick of my hands, I got under his fingers, turning his wrist until I felt a snap. He yelped with pain, falling away from me. Climbing to my feet, I got a kick into his chest, then another in his stomach. “Who hired you?” I screamed at him, grabbing him and dragging him to his feet. “Who hired you?”

“Fuck you,” he spat.

I threw him backwards, watching him hit the wall behind him. He slumped down and I put my foot to his ankle, pressing down hard. “I swear you’ll never walk again unless you tell me.” He roared with pain as I hovered just short of snapping the bone. “Tell me.”

“She didn’t tell me her name,” he said, the agony evident in his voice. “I swear.”

“You’re lying.”

“He’s not,” said a voice behind me.

I spun round and found myself looking at Detective Rikers. Bella was nowhere to be seen, her chair and her gone.

“You,” I said, pointing at her. “What are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.”

“Where’s Bella?”

“Safe, for now. It’s over, Jack. You lost.”

“Who are you?”

“I thought you’d have guessed by now. Here, see if this helps.”

She reached up and pulled at her hair. It came away in her hands, revealing a short blonde cut underneath. Yanking at her forehead, I realised that was coming away too. It was a mask, a mask so realistic I would never have guessed. As she peeled it away, I realised who it was at last.

“Zoe,” I said. “But you’re dead.”

“As dead as George,” she replied. “Where is he, Jack?”

“I don’t know.”

She waved her hand. “It doesn’t matter. “Drake, keep your gun on him, would you?”

I glanced behind me. Drake was on his feet, limping across to her, a pistol pointed at me the entire time.

“I could kill you,” Zoe continued. “But I think it’ll be more fun to leave you here. That way you can think about Bella while I take her with me so she can watch me kill her father. Goodbye, Jack.”

“Zoe,” I said as she began to walk away. She turned her head to glance at me. “This isn’t over.”

“Course not,” she laughed. “Still with the threats, even after all this time.”

Then she was gone, Drake too, leaving me standing alone in the warehouse. I ran out but they were already driving off. I ran to the street, looking left then right. A car was driving towards me and I stuck out my hand, forcing it to stop by running in front of it.

“What the hell?” the man inside said as I yanked open his door. “I nearly hit you, man.”

“Follow that car,” I said, pointing down the road.

“A chase,” he grinned. “All my life, I’ve wanted to be in a chase. What is this? FBI? CIA? KGB?”

“Just get moving,” I said, jumping over the bonnet and slipping into the passenger seat. “Don’t let them see you.”

“I can be cool,” he said, slipping on a pair of sunglasses, then quickly taking them off again. “Can’t see,” he said with a sheepish grin, setting off after Zoe’s car. “I’ve played Grand Theft Auto.”

“That’s great,” I said, staring out of the front of the car. “Easy, don’t get too close.”

“So who are you?” he asked. “MI5?”

“Yeah, sure,” I replied. “If you like.”

“Double cool.”

We followed them for nearly an hour, my heart racing the entire time. “Any idea where this road goes?” I asked as we headed out of the city.

“Sure I do,” he replied. “There’s a private airfield down here. I come down at weekends to watch the planes.”

“You’re certain?”

“Course I am. Last week there was a Cessna I’d not seen before. I can’t tell you how exciting that was.”

An airfield. So that was her plan. She was going to fly her out of the country. I couldn’t let that happen. “When we get there, you wait in the car for me, all right?”

“You got it mate.”

“Good. How far is it from here?”

“A couple of miles.”

“Great, hang back a bit, I don’t want them to see you.”

He did as I asked and I fell silent until the perimeter fence of the airfield appeared on the horizon. “Turn off down here,” I said, pointing to a single track road on the right. Once we were off the main road, I glanced towards the airfield. “Stop here. Once I’m in, you back up to the entrance and wait. Anyone asks, you’re out watching planes, all right?”

“Hey, they know my car here, there isn’t anyone going to worry about me.”

“Great. What’s your name?”

“Alfred. Alf.”

“You’re a big help, Alf. I appreciate it.”

“Hey, anything for my country. But if you ask me, you’re better off just driving in.”

“What?”

“Guy climbs through fence. Even I’d notice that. But guy walks in like he owns the place, I wouldn’t bat an eyelid.”

“You reckon?”

“Trust me,” he said, backing up to the main road and heading towards the security station at the entrance.

“I hope you’re right,” I said, wiping my face as we slowed to a halt, a security guard stepping out in front of me.

“You know you’re not allowed in,” the guard said as he walked round and looked in at the window. “Sorry, Alf, rules is rules.”

“I just thought you’d let me in seeing as I’ve got a plane to catch today.”

“Bullshit.”

“I have. Saved up for five years. The charter’s ready for me. Hanger three.”

“Are you serious?”

“Give them a ring if you don’t believe me.”

“I’ll do that,” the guard said, his eyes narrowing. He turned away, walking back to the booth.

“Go,” Alf muttered under his breath. “Out the door.”

I took the hint, slipping my door open and crouching down out of sight. The guard was on the phone, looking the other way as I slipped under the barrier and then I was in. I stood up at once, strolling across the tarmac as if I belonged there, waiting to see if the guard would notice me. Nothing happened. I was in.