“Don’t know sir” said the guy almost waiting for something to happen to him for bringing bad news.
Bostock indicated that he wished to be left alone with a wave of the arm then walked towards his phone on the desk in front of him. He picked up the receiver and dialled a number almost smiling to his self at the thought of Alex Richards not losing his touch.
“Sounds like the boy hasn’t forgotten……….Hello Andrew its Ron here, long time no see are you busy?.............right ok well I might have a little job for you if you’re interested……..Libya hey well like I say this is a quick job and it pays well so let me know if you’re up for it……….let’s just say I want some loose ends tidying up and something disposed of very quickly and you’re the ideal man………ten thousand in sterling……good man I’ll send you the details through………thank you Andrew”
Bostock placed the phone back on the receiver and proceeded to light his cigar and pour himself another whiskey. At least with someone as experienced as Andrew Bristow there was a chance this issue that was now becoming messy would be sorted quickly.
Andrew Bristow dialled the number on his mobile phone whilst sipping back his coffee. As much as he wanted to distance himself from the dark goings on of Ron Bostock it was a quick and easy way of earning some decent money. Maybe he would make this his last job because to him killing people had less of an appeal than saving and helping them. He had changed as a person but the money was too tempting. First he would have to let his friend know there was a change in his plans. The ring tone ended then the answer machine kicked in on the other end.
“Hi Wyre its Andy here just letting you know I might be late arriving in Misrata. Something has come up but I’ll see you there in a few days”
Chapter 9
Alex and Wyre pulled up on top of the multi storey car park that overlooked the busy city centre that was bustling with shoppers. Alex had chosen this particular place because of that very reason. A busy reduced the risk of anything happening. Of course it didn’t eliminate the risk but Richards knew they had to now take some chances. Another meeting had been arranged except this time it was in the open. Alex knew from experience that if it was him working for Bostock it would be very difficult to attempt anything other than physically snatching both of them off the street. The detective made sure Wyre was clear on the route each of them had to take separately to get to their rendezvous point. Wyre felt uneasy going it alone but Alex reassured him that this wasn’t like the films where people get bundled into the back of vans in front of a few hundred onlookers. Although untouchable, Bostock didn’t want to attract attention. Again Alex’s experience reassured Wyre that nothing was likely to happen. Alex had chosen the route so it took each of them on foot through busy pedestrianized shopping areas and away from roads where it would be much more difficult to be followed or watched from a vehicle. He also tried to set the route so neither of them walked for maybe more than 30-50 yards before turning a corner. This would make it harder for anyone to watch them from the high buildings that make a typical British city. Bristol was good for this with its steep steps and narrow streets which led to the centre.
“I’ll see you in a few minutes Wyre and remember don’t stop for anyone and keep in touch using your earpiece”
Wyre nodded as Alex drove off to park the car nearer to their exit out of town and also made his way on foot.
“Ok Wyre I’m heading in your direction, do you see anyone suspicious?”
“No everything seems normal”
“Good! When were you due to go back to Libya Wyre?” asked Richards using conversation to ease the worry Wyre must be feeling.
“It was meant to be in three days- time. That reminds me I have to call someone to tell them I won’t be heading out”
“Who?” asked Alex with a slightly concerned tone in his voice.
“Oh just one of my teams security guys, he has called me to say he would be delayed flying out”
“Oh right!” replied Alex.
“I still can’t believe this is happening Alex……it just seemed like a living nightmare.
Alex never answered as they both kept up a quick pace because they were now just a few streets away from each other. Richards walked confidently but with hands in his jacket pockets. The innocent people he brushed past had no idea that his right hand was calmly caressing a 9mm browning pistol with his finger gently pressed on the trigger. Again his looks and mannerism betrayed the real man he actually was. This was demonstrated perfectly when in the corner of his eye he spotted someone stood discreetly in a window above one of the high street stores talking into what looked like an earpiece. He betrayed no emotion nor reacted to the person now watching him.
“Everything still ok Wyre?”
“Yes I’m nearly there”
Wyre’s heart was pounding as the destination they had agreed to meet each other was just around the next corner. As much as he was instructed by Richards not to eyeball anyone he couldn’t help but try and study everyone that walked past him, whether it was from behind him or walking near to him brushing shoulders. His body was tense as though any minute now he would be grabbed or a weapon pointed at him. At last Alex appeared around the corner walking towards him and they both sat down on the bench and waited for someone Alex knew well. A guy called Luca Samuel. Alex trusted him, having worked with him numerous times but realised Bostock would also know this and perhaps use this in his favour so remained on edge, hands in pockets. Alex studied the ambulance now parked a few yards down the street situated behind them and immediately smelt a rat. It was slowly making its way towards them and Alex knew it meant only one thing. As predicted Ron Bostock was trying something but Alex would wait for Luca to show. He didn’t tell Wyre because it was something he knew he could handle on his own.
*
“Alpha 1 this is Zulu 2 your delivery is on its way”
“Ok Zulu 2 I’m in position and waiting for the knock on the door”
Andy Bristow waited for further instructions which as usual came at the very last minute such was the job. He checked his sights then double checked his position was still not compromised. Totally relaxed and hardly breathing he allowed his mind to get into the zone and quietly lay there slumped on the sniper rifle. The view through the sight past the silencer was of a bench amongst the throngs of people who were out shopping and going about their daily business.
“Ok Alpha 1 your delivery is now 50 yards away and approaching the pick- up point”
Andy Bristow never answered but just concentrated on his targets coming into view amongst the blur of heads and clothing that passed through his vision. He knew these would be extremely difficult shots to take but he had taken similar ones before, hence why Bostock had called him in for this particular job. The figure of what was obviously one of Bostock’s men appeared on the top floor of one of the shops overlooking the bench and another one watching from the doorway of the bank on the corner. From the street behind, an ambulance slowly made its way through the pedestrians with its flashing blue lights on but no sirens. Andy knew what this was for and it meant the delivery was getting nearer. His earpiece burst into life as his focus returned to the bench.
“Alpha 1 your delivery has arrived, repeat your delivery has arrived. Light blue jeans dark blue jacket, black hair. Dark blue jeans, black leather jacket dark brown hair”
Bristow waited for a clear shot amongst the crowd as the two figures stood and chatted before turning to sit and face him. The shot was a hard one as Bristow had to wait for a gap and time it to a fraction of a second between heads and shoulders of shoppers. Alex had chosen well and knew anyone taking a shot at them would struggle. Bristow’s breathing became shallower as the people walking past the targets became blurred, almost invisible and his focus was on the bench only. Momentarily his concentration was broken by a figure approaching the two targets from the side with a weapon already pulled and ready to fire. He was one of Bostock’s and this was Andy’s cue to finish the job. With hi
s eyeball filling the sight, his finger gently stroked the trigger and the tendons took the strain preparing to pull it right back. It was then the victim on the left spun round on the bench to face the oncoming bullet. Bristow gasped as he instantly recognised the figure amongst the hundreds of others strolling past.
“Wyre…..Wyre Davis?……Zulu 2 this is Alpha 1 can you re-confirm the delivery is in position?”
Before the answer came Bristow gently turned the sight on the rifle to just zoom in closer on Wyre to do a definite ID on him.
“What the fucking hell is going on?” he murmured to his self as the trigger moved a few millimetres.
His earpiece came alive again.
“Alpha 1 this is Zulu 2 I can confirm the delivery is in position. Can you take the shot? Alpha 1, I repeat can you take the shot?
“This is Alpha 1 yes Zulu 2 I can take the shot”
Bristow re-focused his concentration and controlled his breathing once again. He could tell the targets were preparing to move and the guy with the weapon drawn was getting closer to them so it was now or never. His finger rested on the trigger, again tensed and this time was brought all the way back. Neither the weapon nor Bristow moved, as the bullet left the rifle taking down the target. Slightly moving the rifle to the right Bristow prepared for a second shot and with no hesitation fired the silent bullet towards its target.
*
“Wyre we need to move so on my mark I want you to get up and make your way straight down that street in front of us. I will be right behind you”
Wyre nodded and placed his feet firmly on the floor in preparation to move off as instructed. Alex watched and waited to see if there would be a reaction from anyone. As Wyre stood up a sound he knew all too well had him bent over double, his palms of his hands pressed against the limestone paving slabs of the pedestrianized. The thwack sound of a bullet hitting its target breaking flesh and bone, then a thud of someone falling had Alex removing his browning from his pocket and glancing to his right. There was Luca Samuel pistol in hand pointing it at Wyre. The only thing that stopped Alex opening fire was the hole in Luca’s head telling him that it wasn’t him that fired the shot. The thud was Luca’s body slamming against the pavement. The same thwack, then thud was heard except this time it was to Alex’s left. Again someone else was approaching them, this time with one hand stuffed in a jacket pocket but with a similar bullet hole through the head. Alex knew immediately it was a sniper but for some reason him and Wyre were not the targets and he seemed confused as to why this was. He also knew that whoever it was taking down Bostock’s men was an excellent shot so he had to get both him and Wyre out of there before the place turned into a chaotic bloodbath.
“Come on Wyre we have to go!”
Stuffing his weapon back into his jacket pocket Alex grabbed Wyre by the arm and pulled him off the floor. The noise of the ambulance being revved meant Bostock was going to try and snatch them both but as Alex guided Wyre towards the W H Smith shop opposite, the sound of the windscreen of the ambulance having neat little holes put in it had him glancing in the direction where the shots were coming from. He could see nothing. Shock had now taken over the crowd as the dead bodies of Luca Samuel and the others were being noticed as a few people gathered around to help them and give them first aid, oblivious to what had caused their injuries. Trying to be as inconspicuous as was possible both Alex and Wyre made their way through W H Smiths until they came to a door marked private staff only. Alex tried it but not surprisingly it was locked.
“Excuse me could you open this door please” he asked flashing his badge to a member of staff stacking books on a shelf.
Glancing at the badge, she swiped her key card and the door unlocked. They both walked down a small corridor to another door and on pushing it open entered a small room that resembled a staff room. Slight gasps were heard as they entered then left through an emergency exit. The long corridor they were now in was a main fire exit for all the stores in this certain part of the group of buildings that made up this part of the high street. Two more corridors joined it before it reached the street where a couple of hundred yards away Alex had parked the car. In no time at all and with hardly a word between them they were throwing their jackets onto the chair in the safe house. During the drive Alex was racking his brain as to who the shooter had been and why were they helping them. Wyre was visibly shook up by the whole incident and not because someone had tried to kill them. His reason was the same as the detective’s. Who was the shooter and this was surely the last chance they had had of finding out where his wife and son Oliver were being held and more importantly why. Even though Alex had warned him what these people were like he had still held out hope that they would want to talk. Wyre had even discussed with Alex the possibility of taking Oliver’s place if it meant his son would come to no harm. Even with the experience and supposed knowhow of Alex Richards, they were no closer to getting his family back.
“I’m not going to see them again am I?” asked Wyre sitting on the edge of the chair nervously playing with his fingers.
Richards placed his weapon on the table and pulled out a white plastic card from his jeans pocket.
Dialling a number on his phone he studied the card. It was a plain white card with two square holes at either end. It looked more like a bottle opener than an entry card to a room.
“Hi is that Ruben……….yes it’s Richards here………..fine, listen I need a favour have you still got that digital card reader?.......you have…..right I need you to take a look at one for me……..yes we can meet……..today would be better…..ok see you then”
Wyre looked at Richards intrigued at where the card had come from.
“What’s it for?” asked Wyre.
“It’s to gain entry to a room”
“A swipe card?”
“Similar! Its a magnetic card. The sort you hold up to be read by a scanner rather than a swipe card”
“Where did you get it?” asked Wyre now holding the card and examining it.
“From the guy with the hole in his head” said a voice stood behind the sofa, now holding a pistol to Alex’s head.
Richards never blinked or flinched as the muzzle of a weapon was pressed against the back of his head as he slowly lifted his arms up to show he was unarmed.
“The shooter I presume?” said Alex glancing at his pistol on the table.
Wyre dropped the card onto the floor as he stood in shock at the sight of his friend Andy standing there almost looking at Wyre for approval to shoot Richards.
“Andy what the hell are you doing here? Wait its ok he’s a friend and he’s trying to get my wife and son Oliver back, they’ve been taken” said Wyre, his face filled with terror and desperately trying to get his words out as quick as possible.
“Are you ok Wyre? You’re not being held here against your will are you?” asked Andy still holding the weapon to the detective’s head.
“No Andy this is detective Alex Richards he’s helping me find Oliver and Susan” said Wyre.
Andy trusted Wyre implicitly and knew he was a sincere person but Wyre noticed Andy’s expression change when he mentioned the name Alex Richards. He remained holding his weapon with finger on the trigger but lowered it. Richards remained seated and placed his hands back on his thighs in a relaxed manner but studied Andy Bristow carefully, a mutual distrust of one another could be felt, this being a result of years of having no choice but to trust no one just to survive. It was also because Bristow sensed a familiarity about the name Alex Richards and so did Alex with Andy. Wyre repeated his question still in amazement.
“What are you doing here Andy I don’t understand?”
Alex never took his eyes off Bristow as he answered Wyre’s question for him.
“He was sent to kill us by let me think…….Ron Bostock……what does he pay now for a double killing?”
Wyre looked at Andy in disbelief. The guy he had entrusted his life with so many times had been looking down a barrel
of a rifle, a breath away from taking them down. Wyre sat back down, his body draining of energy at the prospect of taking for granted the people he thought he knew but finding out he had no idea what they were all about. Wyre looked at Andy with searching eyes forcing the assassin to take a deep breath.
“It’s true Wyre I was sent to eliminate you and the detective here”
“Why?”
“In this game you never ask, you just get told. When I see it was you as the set target how do you think I felt?”
Wyre seemed to realise something, forcing him to sit on the edge of his seat, another questioning look etched on his face.
“Jesus Christ you killed two of Bostock’s men”
“Actually it was four” interrupted Alex, a very slight snigger evident.
Wyre stroked his chin, his face filled with concern and for a moment silence descended in the room.
“Are you on speaking terms with Bostock?” asked Alex.
“He speaks to me when he wants something doing yes” replied Andy.
Alex nodded and mulled over the answer.
“Wyre why has Bostock taken Oliver and Susan, what’s going on?” asked Andy worryingly, his demeanour clearly different when he spoke to Wyre than it was when he spoke to Alex.
Wyre began explaining what had happened since arriving back home from Libya and when they had last spoken only a few days ago. Alex meanwhile picked up his jacket off the chair and took out his phone and started dialling whilst giving Andy the white key card to look at.
“Do you know what this might be for or more importantly where?” asked Alex.
Andy took it off Alex and studied it carefully whilst listening to Wyre describing the incident in the library.
“I’m sorry I can’t help you. I have friends who could tell us”
“I bet you have” mumbled Alex.
The call went straight to Rubens answering machine so Alex waited patiently for Wyre to finish regaling the story. When there was a gap in the conversation Alex eased his way as only he could.
BEYOND THE SPRING Page 10