As the Alfa made off, a single headlight switched into life in the darkness at the side of the road. The motorcycle engine growled and pulled away into the slipstream of the Alfa, staying way back.
“So what is it with your little missions, Gerrard?”
“Mind your own business, woman.”
“I can’t. I’m a detective, remember? I’m going to see what you’re doing anyway. Left or right here?”
There came to a mini-roundabout which led straight ahead between the indigo expanses of empty fields, or back past more empty industrial space towards the main town centre a few miles away. “Left.” The town centre it was. Eva checked the rear view mirror. There was a speck of light a long way back, and some other traffic even further back. Nothing to worry about so far.
“I’m going to be direct, Gerrard. We haven’t got the time to mess around. You say you don’t want to hurt Maggie. I am going to take that at face value. So what’s the deal with your secret missions to the shop this afternoon, and now this drive?”
“The shop? What shop?” Gerrard looked at her, playing it dumb and mean. He did mean most of the time anyway, and he still managed to look handsome somehow. Looking dumb and mean worked well for him.
“I saw you, Gerrard. I was there.”
He turned and looked at her as she drove. His face didn’t move. Eva wondered what he would do. She tensed and looked over at him twice. By the third glance, he slackened his jaw and shook himself loose. “I was getting supplies. Some supplies Maggie doesn’t know about. They’re precautions.”
“Why doesn’t she know?”
“Maggie’s as tough as they come. A man-eater, a woman-eater, you know all that crap. The woman has killed for fun, did you know that?”
“I guessed. Once upon a time, I was on the menu.”
“Who says you’re not, now? Ha. But Maggie’s still a woman. And if Brian Gillespie insists on this hit, this situation could turn into a bloodbath. Maggie is a hard woman, but no one deserves what Brian is trying here. I was just getting ready to equalise the situation. I know people with some extra kit.”
“In that village?”
“No place is a village in this day and age, sweetheart.”
Eva wasn’t buying it one hundred percent yet, but she’d let Gerrard have his say before she judged. It didn’t entirely ring true though. “So you got what, air rifle pellets from the village shop? They’ll come in handy. Where are we going now?”
“I got more than air rifle pellets, sweetheart. Drive to the seafront, at the Southchurch end. I know some roughnecks who get stuff like we need. They’re expecting us.”
“You don’t get this, Gerrard. You’re trying to play the A team at the worst possible time.”
“Say what you’re going to say, for Christ’s sake. I wanted a break from all this hormonal crap, and then it follows me out for the ride.”
“Nice sexism, Gerrard. It really goes with your Top Gun styling. I’m talking about Kendra. Kendra is with the opposition.”
Gerrard looked at her and said nothing, but she felt the disbelief pouring off him. He was still in cynical mode.
“Nah. No way. She produced the photo with the old man snogging the gangster bitch, right? That doesn’t make any kind of sense to me. You know, Kendra and Maggie have been at it for months now. The old man must have known and turned a blind eye like he always did. The boys always thought he got a kick out of it. He did you know, like he did with some of them.”
Eva remembered a heated conversation back at Fenbrook Manor a few months back. “Yes. So I gathered. That’s not what I mean, Gerrard. Kendra isn’t just working for Maggie. She is a plant. She works for Brian, and she’s part of the team planning to hit Maggie. And she’d going to hit you and me, for that matter.”
“Bullshit. You’ve got to prove you’re worth your money, so you go and drag a crackpot fantasy like that out of your arse. Dream on. Those two are absolutely goo-goo about each other. It makes you sick - Sick that good looking girls like that are wasted on each other.”
“Kendra’s a good actress, that’s for sure.”
“You call that acting? They’re at it like rabbits. That’s better acting than Pacino.”
“Maybe Kendra bats for the other side, or she doesn’t mind sacrificing her preferences for the job, who knows. But I know what I heard.”
“Here we go, another yarn. Tell me then, what did you hear, detective?”
Eva turned towards the man, and even in her anger noticed his fine square jaw, the firmness of the lines of his cheeks, and the sharpness of his eyes. “I followed you to the village junk store, all the way through your little detour through the field, and I made it back to the house before you, too. When I got back, the house was locked. It wasn’t locked when I left. Why? They wanted to hear who was coming in. Like you said, they were busy together upstairs.”
“They’re always busy. Maggie has an appetite bigger than most red blooded males.”
“I know. But when I got there Kendra left the bedroom to make a call. Maggie shut the door on her, and Kendra didn’t know I was there. She was in the hallway on the first floor. I was hiding below on the stairs. She called somebody and said today would be a good day for the hit, and she described your movements, mine too and she sized up our likely threats. Her advice was detailed, and it was military in precision. We shouldn’t even be out here, Gerrard - the hit could be happening right now.”
“Sure it is. If you were worried you would have stayed there.”
“No, Gerrard. Kendra doesn’t know I know. I had to speak to you. If we’re all working against each other in that house, none of us stand a chance.”
Gerrard shook his head and fell silent. The street lamps flicked past outside and bathed them in intermittent orange light, and then darkness. A moment later, Gerrard looked back at her again.
“Today. You followed me?”
“Of course I did.”
“Not bad, detective. What we’re collecting now, we’ll have a fine chance against anyone. Kendra and Maggie don’t know about all of my connections.”
“You believe me then?”
“I’m not so sure. I think you’re all full of shit apart from Maggie. Maggie is exactly who she is. You and soldier girl, who knows about either of you. You’re in Maggie’s orbit, playing Maggie’s game. I’ll trust you for now, though by no means can I ever trust you fully. You know what they say, better the devil you know.”
“The devil you know wants to kill all of us, Gerrard.”
“It’s not going to happen.”
“But if we’re not back within fifteen minutes or so, there’s a fair chance she could have killed Maggie already.”
“Then put your foot on it, girl. If I was driving, we’d be there and back already.”
There was no way that was true. Even Lewis Hamilton couldn’t have made the round trip in ten minutes, but Eva was proud when it came to her driving and her car, so she took the dare. Gerrard was annoying but he was right, this was a game where no one could be trusted at all. The stakes were far too high. Eva pressed her foot to the floor. The speed limit was history.
They reached the Southchurch seafront, driving along past the tall terraced townhouses and wannabe boutique hotels which overlooked the seawall across the street. They passed the marine activity centre and the SeaScape bistro where she and Dan had dined a few times, and she couldn’t help thinking about him. As she thought about Dan, a strange pang of guilt set in, and angrily Eva tried to throw it out. Guilt! Where the hell did that come from? Dan had left her after all. Then she glanced at Gerrard, and she knew where the guilt came from. But she pressed it down inside. There wasn’t time for guilt. And there wasn’t time for the wrong kind of man.
“Slow down here. Pull in here.”
They were near the Mantraya Yoga building, a big corner plot townhouse where the corner of the building had been cutaway and a window installed to make the most of the excellent views towards the beginning of the N
orth Sea. Gerrard got out of the car before the engine was off. “Wait here.”
The chill set in. It was a feeling which always followed Eva into danger. She suddenly wondered if Gerrard was in on the hit with Kendra. Had she been wise or careful to share the information with him? Not really. She hadn’t been wise or careful since this terrible mess began. But what else was she supposed to do when she was stuck in the middle of it? She breathed and watched the streaming bright lights of the passing traffic and the silver moon reflected on the turbulent sea. She looked at the digital clock on the dash. Already Gerrard was taking an age – though in reality he’d probably only been gone for two minutes. She was far too tense, and needed a break. Maybe if she got out of the car, Gerrard would see her, stop mucking about and hurry back. Eva opened the door and stood up into the wind as the traffic surged past. The wind seized her mane of hair and whipped it in all directions. The rain had stopped but she was unprepared for the cold. She looked at the terraced house where Gerrard has disappeared, but he probably could not see her. The front windows were dark, so he had to be at the back of the house. She worried. Of course she worried – worrying was what she did best. Come on. She began to make for the front door when something changed. Something on the wind. The noise got her first. The whine of the distant motorbike altered, becoming louder and more insistent as it changed gear. Eva hesitated before she reached the door and then looked round, back towards the direction of town. There in the distance, by the low white hulk of the marine activity centre a motorbike was streaking along. The single bright light was growing. Eva looked at the light and the coolness in her body became freezing cold. “Oh shit…”
Seconds. There were mere seconds available. Eva’s mind was moving so much faster than her body could react. A little way back along the road and to her left the other terrace of houses and hotels were set just a little farther back from the road than the ones nearest her. Those had small front garden spaces, and terraces all marked by a front wall which could provide a fraction of protection. Here she was totally exposed. Eva moved. She was running now, flat out from a standing start. She ran towards the low garden walls – running in the same direction as the motorbike. The motorbike engine changed again, now slowing down as the rider spied the target. Run, just run. She made up some ground, but not much. She could now feel the bike slowing, time slowing down as the rider moved position in the saddle. No. Please. Not yet. The distance was too great. She dared not look up in case she accidentally hesitated, or in case she saw the fatal bullet. No. There was too much distance, so Eva did all she could. Like a rugby player going for the line, Eva dived flat through the air. The wind rushed all around her and the air flashed, and a noise like fireworks erupted and fell silent. Eva landed heavily, winded. Pain surged around her ribs and hips. Had she been hit? The pain was from the landing. There was no time for being stunned. Eva crawled low to the floor, and as the fireworks sounded again, threw herself behind the wall. Now she breathed. She was trapped. She was as good as dead. Would the rider dismount? She heard the engine growling. Then came a deep male voice shouting. No words, just an angry scream. The motorcycle roared into life, and Eva took a chance to peer up over the wall. Gerrard stood, jacket open with a big black shining pistol in his hand. He saw Eva and his face released from a twisted contortion into simple relief. He sprinted towards her, and seized her hand.
“Up. Get up and move. She might come back. Besides, shots have been fired. The police will be here soon.”
Gerrard’s jacket was full with bulk stuffed into the pockets. Whatever he’d picked up was stuffed into his jacket. Now was not the time for getting an itinerary.
“Shit. Look, the bike is coming back.”
Panic. Eva ran again, but Gerrard seized her hand again. He pulled her with him to the side of the house where she’d hidden before. They passed her original hiding space behind the low wall and she looked at it forlornly as Gerrard pulled her away.
“Faster!”
The bike was coming back quickly, its angry noise filling the air, filling the narrow gap between the terraces. Just as the bike was passing, Gerrard yanked Eva into the open porch way of the house’s side door. There was barely a recess, so they pressed into what there was. Gerrard pulled her to him. She was pressed tightly against his gym hardened body, his heavy jacket swaddling her arms either side. In that moment, she felt safe. The feeling lasted no more than two seconds, and then Gerrard let go and broke past her.
“She won’t be back, now. You were right, detective. They knew where we were.”
“They followed us,” said Eva.
The man nodded, his brow falling low over his eyes. The Alfa was open. Eva couldn’t help but watch Gerrard as he opened the door and let himself in. Eva shook her head at herself, and slid in beside him.
“Maggie’s in trouble…” said Gerrard. Eva didn’t say I told you so. As she started the car, her phone buzzed. Jess. Eva plucked the thing out of her pocket and tossed it into Gerrard’s lap as she swerved the Alfa aggressively out into the road. “Answer it, and stick it on speakerphone, will you.”
The man grunted and did as she asked.
“This is serious, Jess. I’ll call you when I need to, okay?”
“Eva, are you driving?”
“Yes,” she shouted. “I’m on the seafront… they just tried to shoot us.”
“Shoot you?! Are you being serious?”
“Of course I’m being bloody serious.”
Jess didn’t reply, but her tone changed.
“Eva, I’ve got reinforcements.”
Eva and Gerrard exchanged a glance. Neither of them looked happy.
“What do you mean, reinforcements, Jess?”
Eva’s driving went from bad and fast to worse and faster.
“I’ve briefed him, and he knows all about it. He’s with me in the office right now.”
“You what? Briefed who?!”
“You need him, Eva.”
“I’ve got to go and protect Maggie, Jess, this is serious.”
“This man will help you protect Maggie. Not only that, he can take out the opposition too.”
Like a Sat Nav with a new set of co-ordinates to deal with, Eva was recalculating her route. Not just her journey, but her business, and the rest of her life. It all seemed out of control. And she knew there was a very real chance that the rest of her life was going to be very short. Without indicating Eva swerved down a side road off the seafront. An oncoming car blared its horn loudly, and its wail faded after them. The smartphone slid off Gerrard’s lap and tumbled under Eva’s chair. There was a muffled noise at the other end. The call was effectively over.
“Where the hell are you going?”
“I need to go to my office. It will take thirty seconds.”
“Are you for real? Maggie’s going to get killed.”
“So is my assistant. Thirty seconds. I promise.”
Gerrard slapped a hand down over his face, and growled. Gerrard did anger well. It worked for him. But Eva wondered if he could do any emotion beyond it. Until now it had been all about the basics. The basics were survive and help Maggie, get paid and move on. It was as simple as that. Save Maggie and survive. Of course, Eva knew it was never going to be that simple, but now because of Jess, there was absolutely zero chance it was going to be that simple. The more players involved, the more danger there was, the more confusion caused, the more risk ensued ended up becoming the more blood spilt. Maybe she was being cynical, but bitter experience had long taught Eva that cynicism usually won. Now Jess had gone and introduced an unknown quantity, just as all hell was about to break loose…
Fourteen
Jess wilted under the weight and anger of Eva’s stare. Jess was blushing, unable to speak. Eva’s pale green eyes were wide, and stared – they did nothing but stare at her, and at the stranger dressed in black at her side. The stranger said nothing to promote or redeem himself. He said nothing at all. Jess felt like she used to do when presenting a new bo
yfriend to her mother. After a tense introduction, the vigilante – whose name he still had not shared, spoke in his customary gruff voice. His words were quick and clipped.
“Jess said you need help, and it looks like you do.”
Eva looked angrier still and gave Jess more angry eyes.
“I’m involved now, you understand.”
“Oh, I understand that part,” said Eva, heavy on the sarcasm.
“So, I’m going to help no matter what you say. I have the address, I know the situation, and I am committed to action.”
“It’s not your business. Stay out of this, whoever you are. Jess did wrong here. You could get yourself killed.”
The man shook his head. “No I won’t. But without my help, you might be the one getting killed.”
Jess saw the anger surge another couple of notches on Eva’s face. Arrogant one liners like that wouldn’t help the vigilante’s case. Jess had lived through the hellish chase through London in the summer, and saw Eva come through in flying colours. Even if she was losing her way these days, Jess knew Eva could handle herself. Eva looked like she was going to shout. Instead she looked up at the office clock. Jess followed her eyes and saw the second hand whirring round the clock face. Eva was sweating. She really didn’t look good.
“How much do you know about this?”
The man opened his mouth to reply, but Jess spoke instead.
“Eva, I told him everything. You need him right now. We all need him.”
“You’re wrong, Jess. I don’t need anyone. No one at all.”
Jess got the point Eva was making, and didn’t reply. Then Gerrard came in shouting, the office door shuddering on its hinges behind him.
“There’s no time for this shit! Come on!”
“He’s right,” said the man in black.
“You can shut up,” Eva said to the stranger. The stranger stayed cool and gave a shrug.
Better the Devil Page 10