“I don’t see how. We’re not on the ground floor so I can’t exactly jump out the window. Besides, that sick bastard stole my shoes!” Isla wiggled one stockinged foot in front of her.
Bex took stock. She had been through Red Eyes’ clothes. He had a bunch of zip ties in his pocket, no doubt intended for use on both her and Isla while he used them as play toys. There were no other weapons, no phone, no keys apart from the swipe card he’d used on their room. And like Isla, she was also barefoot, although she doubted that Isla’s red-soled three inch heels would have helped her escape.
The only plus was their hands were unbound thanks to a trick Bex showed Isla. Holding her elbows apart and her arms stiff, she brought her hands from over her head to thump against her hip bones. The impact broke the zip ties. She had then used the long ends of her gaping, buttonless shirt, to tie into a knot below her midriff.
“What about you?” Isla asked. “Are you going to wait for back up?”
Bex shook her head. “I don’t know when or if any back up is coming, so I can’t count on that.” Bex’s attempt at sending a message had been hours ago, but there was no way of knowing who it had reached or what their response would be. “Downstairs is a bunch of schoolgirls who have been through a terrifying ordeal and they face much worse if Li’s plans come to fruition. If he discovers his plans have been breached, there’s a good chance he’ll remove them from here to someplace else and we may never find the next hiding place. I’ve got to do something while I can.”
“Quinn’s a good detective,” Isla said wistfully. “He solves more cases than he misses. He’ll find the girls.”
“If you believe that, then locate a safe hideaway here where Li’s goons won’t stumble over you and wait to be rescued.”
Isla raised herself from the bed, alarm written over her lovely features. “I’m not staying on my own. I’m coming with you. What’s the plan?”
“I’m going downstairs to check out the situation. If I can get the girls away safely, I’ll do that. If it’s too difficult or it looks like someone could get hurt, I’ll try to find a way out to get police back up.”
Bex checked Red Eyes’ tied limbs and gag one last time, and then she and Isla unlocked the door and edged out into the empty, darkened corridor. Occupancy lights along the hallway clicked on as they passed, providing just enough vision so they could make their way without stumbling.
At the end of the dormitory wing was a stairway. Bex pulled Isla to a stop. A faint whine of sirens could be heard in the distance.
“Police coming here?” Isla mouthed in her ear.
Bex shrugged. It was possible police would shortly arrive at the school. It was also possible the police car was on its way somewhere else. “I can’t risk it. I’m going on.”
“Are you sure this is a good idea?”
“I promise I won’t do anything rash. I just want to check the girls are still here and unharmed, then we’ll make our escape and alert the authorities so they can handle the rescue.”
The tiled flooring was cool to Bex’s feet as she inched downwards, Isla shadowing her. At the bottom of the stairs, a small entry revealed double glass doors leading to the outside. Two wings forked left and right. Bex and Isla hugged the nib wall, keeping out of sight of anyone exiting from either side through the double wooden doors that separated each wing.
“Which way?” Isla whispered.
Bex gripped the handgun more tightly. She could have asked Red Eyes which way to go, but she didn’t trust his answers. He had said there were two guards with the girls at all times, while the other two slept. Presumably, Red Eyes was supposed to be sleeping instead of visiting them. That meant there was one guard asleep and two on patrol. Plus Li if he was here.
“I’m not going to storm into either si…” Bex broke off as a young girl flew around the corner. Before slamming into them, she skidded to a halt, her soft-soled slippers barely making a sound. Her eyes darted quickly between Bex and Isla, lingering on the gun in Bex’s hand. Her softly-lidded eyes clung to Bex who recognized Xiu Lan Li with a start.
“Ms. Standing! Detective Wynter! Thank goodness you’re here. I don’t know what’s going on but I think Jian has done something stupid. Something really, really bad. Something that I hope you can fix.” Her voice was low and breathless. She cocked her head, her smooth, black tresses flowing over her shoulder. “I hear sirens. Does that mean the police are coming?”
“It could be. I sent a message earlier and it might have got through,” Bex explained. “Do you know what your cousin has done?”
Xiu Lan dropped her head, a black veil of hair hiding her expression. “I think he has lost face for our family. My father will be so disappointed.”
“Do you know if he’s got the kidnapped girls here? Are they being held behind those closed doors?”
Xiu Lan reached out, grabbing at Isla’s arm. “Yes, yes! Please! Come quickly! The girls need help.”
Chapter 33
Unmarked police car in transit
As they sped away from Fitzrovia, Quinn hit the lights and sirens. They met up with the Trojan vehicle at Felspar Street near the turn off to the school’s private driveway and parking lot. Quinn jumped out of the car to meet the Firearms Officers.
“Jimbo! Sorry to drag you out to this,” he greeted one of the officers he had worked with during his stint in the unit. Eli stayed put in the car.
“What’s the go?”
“We’re going to the aid of a police officer, last known to be at Fairbridge House College. There’s an armed suspect or suspects on the premises. Unfortunately, there are also plenty of unknowns for the situation. We’re going to have to suck this one and see what turns up. My partner knows the area, so we’ll lead the way. No lights, sirens or headlights as we make the approach. I’d like this to be as stealthy as possible.”
Relying on Eli’s directions Quinn drove into the school parking lot and the cars parked side by side.
“Go over the school layout one more time,” Quinn directed Eli.
“We’re parked in front of the admin building. The three-story building to the right hand side is for Year 8 classes. Further to the right are the tennis courts. Behind those, to the north, I believe, is the annex for the site manager. That’s where I presume Ron Thompson’s office is, but I’ve never actually visited the block.
“Behind the Year 8 classes and the admin building, you’ll come across three more blocks of classes, all double or triple story. Beyond them is the dormitory, backing onto the golf course. It’s set up for the sixth formers. Ground floor is divided into two wings, one with a canteen and the other a recreational area. Upstairs are the sleeping quarters. Behind the building is a small car park for the students.” Eli spoke with his eyes closed as he visualized the school’s design. His hands waved though the air as he pointed in various directions.
The two firearms officers gathered at the back of the armed response vehicle. They were already kitted up in body armor. From the back of the trunk they opened the firearms safe and sorted through a number of weapons.
Quinn looked away from Eli. “Eli, you need to stay in the car.”
Eli protested. “I’m not staying here while you rescue Bex.”
Quinn halted Eli with a hand on his shoulder. “Sorry, mate, I don’t think this just involves Wynter. She obviously stumbled onto something bigger than she anticipated.”
“What are you thinking, Quinn?”
“I don’t know for sure, but my gut tells me something big is going down. All the coincidences we’ve come across in this case lead back to Fairbridge.” Quinn peered through the windshield into the darkness that had fallen as the last streaks of pink faded. Their approach without headlights had enabled his vision to adjust to the shadows. No lights showed. He suspected there were motion detection lights around the buildings. The place was eerily silent.
His eyes tracked the blocky outlines of the administration offices and year 8 classrooms Eli had mentioned. There w
as no hint of movement, but it was possible there were eyes out there watching them.
“Staff and students are away for the long holidays. The school has no near neighbors. From what you describe that dormitory is the most isolated building on an isolated campus. That makes it a perfect hiding spot. And I wonder, what would somebody be hiding there?”
Eli paled. Lines pinched around his nose as he said, “You’re thinking of the girls? It’s been more than twenty-four hours since they were snatched. Do you really think the perps are keeping them here?”
Quinn rubbed a hand across his chin meditatively. “Possibly. It sounds crazy to kidnap the girls from the school and then bring them back here. On the other hand, its absolute isolation makes it a perfect base.”
“Bex might have just come across a cache of drugs or illegal weapons.”
“You’re right, Eli, so don’t get your hopes up. I could be barking up the wrong tree. Still, I don’t want you anywhere near the crime scene. The defense lawyers are going to scream that you’ve contaminated the evidence matrix. They’ll find every which way to get these bastards off the hook. We don’t want that.”
“I’ve got to see for myself.” Eli was breathing hard. His craggy features bunched, but whether to stop himself crying or hold in his anger, Quinn wasn’t sure.
“No you don’t. What you want is to put these bastards away until they rot in prison. Stay out of it and let me deal with it, Eli.”
The older man bowed his head.
Quinn slid out of the driver’s seat and approached the back of the Trojan vehicle. He watched Jimbo pull out a long distance rifle and reached into the gun safe to draw out a Glock handgun.
Jimbo stopped him. “You’re no longer with Firearms, Quinn.”
“It’s just a precaution.”
Quinn steadfastly returned Jimbo’s look. “I haven’t forgotten my training,” he insisted.
Jimbo hauled out a spare vest. “Then, for God’s sake, at least kit up!”
Chapter 34
Fairbridge House College, Bromley
Xiu Lan jerked and Isla stumbled to the right. As she did so, Xiu Lan’s arms snaked out, twisting Isla’s body so it butted against Xiu Lan’s like a shield as she secured Isla around the neck. A knife appeared in her other hand. She lifted it to Isla’s throat.
“Drop your weapon, Detective.”
Li! Red Eyes’ hadn’t corrected her assumption that Li Jian was in charge, not Li Xiu Lan! The Chinese woman’s face looked stark and ruthless, the knife blade sharp and deadly.
Bex’s gun wavered. Cursing herself for being too trusting, she bent and placed the weapon on the floor.
The doors leading into the right wing opened and an armed man poked his head out. “Boss, I’ve rounded up Hansen like you ordered, but Dorry’s missing.”
Xiu Lan hissed in frustration. “Forget him! He was obviously stupid enough to get himself caught by these two. Get the van ready. I want the girls rounded up. We’re leaving. This place is too dangerous now. But first, take this weapon.”
Xiu Lan kicked the illegal firearm out of Bex’s range and the man picked it up. He disappeared behind the wooden doors.
“I knew you were trouble the moment I saw you sprawled on the courtroom floor,” Xiu Lan snarled at Bex. “Why was a police officer at my cousin’s trial? I needed to know why you were suspicious. I made Jian send someone to follow you and sure enough you visited the school.”
Bex fought a wave of bitterness. “My visit had absolutely nothing to do with you and the kidnapped girls.”
Xiu Lan curled her lip with skeptical disdain. “If I believe that then I must believe there are waves without wind. I sent my cousin to find out how much you knew and keep you close. Of course he botched that up and you came back here. Snooping, always snooping until you found something. It seems a dog can’t help but eat shit and a detective can’t help investigating even when it gets her into trouble…”
Xiu Lan broke off as flashlights strobed the darkness beyond the glass exit doors. She flattened herself against the wall, Isla still captive. “I think your cavalry has arrived. Detective, you’re going to tell your fellow officers that your call was a hoax. That you’re not really in danger and that they can leave the premises,” Xiu Lan ordered. “I want you to convince the police to leave right now or Isla Standing’s life is forfeit.”
Heavy footfalls rumbled outside with resounding thuds.
“Talk fast.” Xiu Lan bared her teeth at Bex. “Get rid of them or I slit the lawyer’s throat. And then I’ll order my men to do the same to every single one of those girls inside.”
“Police! Open up!”
Tension stiffened Bex’s neck and sent pounding splinters of pain through her battered head as she sped to the glassed doors, holding her hands up so the police could see she was unarmed as they shined powerful flashlights through the glass. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She didn’t know if she could accomplish what Xiu Lan wanted.
“Don’t shoot! DCI Wynter here!” Bex called in her loudest voice. Gingerly she pushed through the door, continuing to hold her hands in the air. She had no warrant card to prove her claim, that had been taken from her along with her purse.
“Wynter? We got a call from you. You said people were dead. What’s going on?”
She recognized Quinn’s voice as a shadow stepped out of the dark backdrop. Their flashlights pooled around her, blinding her.
“I was on the premises when I caught an intruder. At least I thought it was an intruder. It turned out to be a staff member. I must have brushed up against the wall and hit my phone. I think you got a butt-dialed conversation and heard things out of context. Everything’s fine.” Her words sounded lame to her own ears. A fine sheen of perspiration broke out on her lip. Twenty-two girls and a woman’s life depended on her convincing Quinn to walk away. Not just any woman. Quinn’s ex-wife.
“But what are you doing at Fairbridge in the first place?” Quinn’s voice was suspicious.
“I came here to talk to the custodian. I’m investigating vandalism at the school.”
“Ron Thompson. You said he’d been killed.”
One of the men shined his flashlight through the open doorway. “We’d better take a look inside.”
“No!” she screeched. “Look, I’m not supposed to be here. I found Thompson on the floor. Dead drunk. Not killed. Just out cold. I left him back in his office and took his keys, so I don’t want to be caught trespassing. You understand, right, guys?” She infused her voice with playfulness. To her ears the words sounded overloud and flat in the muggy night air. She tried again. “I needed to have a look around the grounds. Instead of coming back later, I borrowed his keys.”
“On your phone message you said, ‘put down your weapon.’ What did you mean?”
“That was the intruder, who turned out to be one of the teachers. He thought I was breaking in and he came at me with a broom. I might have said weapon, but really it was just a broom. Like I said, it’s all a big misunderstanding, Quinn. Do you think if I really needed police back up I wouldn’t have called for it by now?”
“Why didn’t you answer your phone when Idris called back?”
“The battery’s probably dead. Honestly, Quinn, there’s nothing going on here. It was just a dead drunk custodian who’s probably still passed out and a startled teacher. Haven’t you got better things to do with your time than babysit me?” Bex turned her voice to acid. “You’re still in charge of the team until Monday, unless you need me to hold your hand?”
“Not bloody likely!” Quinn responded. “You’ve just wasted police resources, Wynter. I could charge you with trespass. At the very least, I’m going to write this up.”
“Fine. Do whatever you want. Just leave me in peace now.”
The humid air hung heavy with his unspoken accusations, almost like a crackling electrical current.
Her eyes scorched him. “That’s an order, DI Standing.”
He turned his back on her to
face the other two officers who had been waiting stoically.
“Sorry, Jimbo, I seem to have called you out on a wild goose chase. Let’s back on out.”
Chapter 35
Fairbridge House College, Bromley
As the three men retraced their steps towards the parking lot, Quinn found himself shaking his head. He was equal parts perplexed and irritated. His view that the school played a pivotal role in the kidnapping had buoyed him into believing he was on the cusp of finding the missing schoolgirls. Bex’s curt dismissal left him floundering and nursing a growing resentment at being sent away like a dog with its tail between its legs.
“The Yank’s your new boss?” Jimbo rasped near his ear. “Bit of a strange one. Does she always act that way?”
“No, this was manic even for the crazy Yank,” Quinn responded.
Jimbo’s question made him rethink his assumptions. Bex’d had all the answers to his questions, but somehow her story seemed like a bucket full of holes aimed at getting rid of him quickly. But why? Was it simply because she was so bloody-mindedly independent that she didn’t want Quinn stepping on her toes? Or had she stumbled onto clues at the school that solved the puzzle of the missing girls, but didn’t want to share the glory?
Bex’s words echoed in his head. “I found Thompson on the floor. Dead drunk.” He replayed Bex’s words again, slightly modified. “I found Thompson on the floor. Dead.”
Was Wynter trying to send him a cryptic message? Had her strange behavior actually been a cry for help?
The sudden thought brought him to an abrupt halt, causing Jimbo to stumble against him.
Quinn reviewed Eli’s instructions, visualizing the school’s layout in his mind. They were close to the group of outbuildings Eli had indicated were occupied by the school’s caretaker.
“Hang on a minute. While we’re here, let’s just take a detour,” he said.
They found the door with “Site Manager” stenciled on it hanging open, the wooden doorframe splintered. The heavy scent of death clung to them as, using their flashlights, they stormed the interior. When they rounded the corner into the alcove, their lights picked out two forms on the ground.
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