by Helen Harper
‘You’re nicked,’ I said with satisfaction. I took a plastic cuff from my pocket and looped it round his wrists before yanking him to his feet and spinning him round to face me.
I looked him up and down, then pulled up his sleeve as far it would go. I couldn’t see the whole tattoo but I could see enough. I knew exactly who this was. Alive, and with his facial features intact, he was younger than I’d expected. His face still displayed the last vestiges of adolescent acne.
‘It might not feel like it right now but today’s your lucky day, Adam,’ I said.
His expression, which had been one of pure hatred, turned to blank astonishment. ‘How do you know my name?’
I answered his question with a smile, then marched him up the path towards Tallulah. We didn’t get very far before a group of police officers ran up.
‘You got him!’
I nodded. ‘I’m taking him away for questioning. Clear up the mess here and get the wheel moving again so those people in the pods can get down to solid ground.’ I continued moving, my grip on Adam’s arm tight and unyielding. There wasn’t a lot of time to spare and I couldn’t waste the precious seconds I had in unnecessary discussions.
Lukas appeared a moment later. He looked at Adam and his black eyes narrowed. ‘You’re no vampire,’ he said angrily. His hands curled into fists.
‘No,’ I said cheerfully. I kept moving, dragging Adam with me. ‘He’s not.’
‘Emma.’ Lukas’s voice was terse. ‘Will you stop for a moment, please?’
‘There’s no time. We have to get going.’
‘Get going where?’
I didn’t answer. Lukas put out a hand to stop me. When he touched my shoulder, I winced involuntarily and he froze. He raised his fingers and sniffed them. ‘I smell blood,’ he said darkly. ‘Your blood.’
I shook him off, reached the pavement and quickly looked both ways before crossing over to Tallulah.
‘Goddamnit, Emma!’ Lukas exploded. ‘What’s the rush? What’s going on?’
I opened the driver’s door, pulled back the seat and threw Adam into the back. ‘There’s no room in here!’ he protested. ‘And is that a fucking crossbow? What is this shit? This is against my human rights!’
‘He has a point,’ Lukas said. ‘An old Mini Cooper is hardly effective prisoner transport. There are plenty of police cars around. Use one of those, or let me get my car.’
‘There’s no time.’ I climbed in and fastened my seatbelt. I glanced at Lukas. ‘Are you coming or not?’
He offered me a black-eyed glare before walking round and getting into the passenger seat. Tallulah was already moving before he closed the door. ‘Emma…!’
I accelerated as I checked the clock and estimated our arrival time. The gang were due to enter the bank at 1.34pm. There wasn’t long to go. I accelerated harder. As I did so, my phone rang.
‘Are you going to answer that?’ Lukas enquired through gritted teeth.
‘It’s only Barnes,’ I said, swerving left and then right. I kept my eyes on the road but I could still feel his glare.
‘What,’ he bit out in a voice that was seething with anger, ‘the fuck is going on?’
‘Buckle up,’ I said. ‘And I’ll tell you.’
Chapter Fifteen
I gave him the condensed version. After I’d finished, Lukas folded his arms and glowered. ‘You have a bullet wound in your shoulder and you’re speeding through the streets of London? You need to get to a hospital.’
Adam piped up from the back seat. ‘That’s what you get from that story? That she’s been shot in the shoulder? How about the fact that she’s telling us she’s re-lived the same day three times? Or that I’m supposedly in collusion with a gang of bank robbers? I’ve never heard anything so fucking stupid.’
‘You might want to keep your voice down back there,’ I said. ‘The reason I know your name is from the tattoo on your arm. The one that I saw both times after you were shot in the face. What’s happened to Jane? Does she know you’re doing this?’
‘You’re a lying bitch. Have you been bugging the shop? Is that what this is?’
Lukas opened his mouth but I shook my head in warning. I waited, hoping Adam would reveal more. When he didn’t, I shrugged and glanced at Lukas. ‘You have a safety deposit box filled with information about me. At some point we’re going to have words about that.’
Lukas was silent for a moment. ‘What about the kiss?’ he asked finally, his voice tight with tension.
‘Pardon?’
‘Earlier you said something about a kiss.’
I concentrated harder on the road ahead. ‘That was yesterday, the second time I went through this. After you died, I was just happy to see you. That’s all.’ I sneaked a look in his direction. He wasn’t smiling but I was certain I saw the glitter of satisfaction in his eyes.
‘This is bullshit,’ Adam declared.
We zipped past the people carrying a bunch of brightly coloured helium balloons and chattering eagerly to each other. I turned onto the main road then I slammed on the brakes. ‘Wait here,’ I muttered.
I unclipped my seatbelt, jumped out and ran across the road. The mother, whose screams from yesterday still echoed through my head, was running an exasperated hand through her hair. ‘Look,’ she said into her phone, ‘I’m here with Alfie and we’re on our way to the park. I can’t stand here all day talking to you. I need that money back. I’ve got bills to pay.’
I sent her a sympathetic glance as I knelt down so I was face to face with little Alfie. He blinked up at me with blue eyes that perfectly matched the denim of his dungarees. His mum looked at me warily as I smiled at her. A moment later, I snatched the ball out of Alfie’s hands and strode away with it. He began to bawl while his mum yelled after me. ‘What do you think you’re doing? That’s my son’s! You stole my son’s football!’
I ignored her and got into Tallulah, throwing the ball into the back where it landed next to Adam. Up and down the street, people were staring at us.
‘And you think I’m a criminal,’ Adam muttered. ‘That nutter just robbed a kid’s toy.’
I’d omitted the small boy from my brief explanation earlier. I shrugged and got Tallulah moving again. Lukas sent me a curious frown but remained silent. I knew that his lack of censure meant he’d believed every word I’d told him. It was surprising how much that pleased me.
With eight minutes to spare, we pulled into the street where the Talismanic Bank was located. I spotted Fred ushering a few people away; they didn’t look very happy about it, but at least they were doing as they were told. When he caught sight of us, his expression transformed with relief.
I parked beside him, jumped out and snagged the crossbow. I was going to need it. ‘Good work,’ I said. I pointed to the back seat. ‘That’s Adam. I don’t know his last name but he’s under arrest. Charge him and take him to Supe Squad.’
‘We don’t have proper facilities to hold detainees,’ Fred protested.
I shook my head. ‘That doesn’t matter right now.’
‘What’s he under arrest for?’
I shrugged. ‘Impersonating a vampire.’
Fred blinked. ‘Is that illegal?’
Not in the slightest. I tossed him the car keys and chose not to answer. ‘Is the bank clear?’
‘Yes – but Mr Pralk is very upset.’
‘He’ll get over it.’
I ran toward the imposing building. Lukas ran with me. ‘I can get my people here,’ he began.
‘No.’
‘Emma…’
‘These people are prepared to kill. There’s not enough time to create adequate protection. I’ve thought about this over and over, Lukas. I could have called in an armed response unit but the result would be a bloodbath, even if they got here in time. Besides,’ I added in a harder voice, ‘if Devereau Webb is right, I’ve got one more shot at this day.’
‘And what happens if you die?’ Lukas asked, as we reached the bank’s steps.
‘Do you still resurrect? Does the day still reset?’
‘I don’t know,’ I replied grimly. I glanced at him. ‘But I’m not planning on dying.’
‘You’d better not,’ he growled.
I paused, meeting his eyes. ‘You’re in more danger of that than I am,’ I said quietly.
‘If it means I get a kiss, that’s a risk I’m willing to take.’
I frowned – and then we entered the bank where Mosburn Pralk was waiting.
Unlike the first time we’d met, the thin golden-skinned goblin looked angry rather than upset. ‘This is completely unorthodox,’ he hissed. ‘Supe Squad or not, I fail to see how the police can demand that we get rid of all our customers! And how the hell do you know what’s inside our safety deposit box in our own bank?’ His voice rose with every word. A vein was bulging at the side of his head; it was hard not to stare at it.
‘In little more than five minutes’ time,’ I said calmly, ‘three armed robbers will enter this building. They’re prepared to kill anyone who gets in their way, inside or outside the bank. Their target is the safety deposit box room. They’re planning to steal the box that belongs to the bank, the three boxes used by Lord Horvath,’ I nodded at Lukas, ‘the two boxes belonging to Lady Sullivan and the two belonging to Lord Fairfax, Lord McGuigan’s single box and also Lady Carr’s.’
My knowledge of the number of safety deposit boxes each supe leader owned caused Pralk to hesitate, though not for long. ‘How do you know all this?’ he asked, with the sort of faint sneer than only a goblin could pull off. This was a different man to the one I’d met the first time around. He was defensive and rather annoyed, but that was better than the terrified, grieving and horror-struck version.
‘Let’s just say I had a tip off.’ To suggest anything else would lead to more questions than I could answer.
‘You can trust DC Bellamy,’ Lukas interjected. ‘I give you my word that she is speaking the truth. This is a very serious matter.’
Pralk’s green eyes fixed on him. ‘Far be it for me to argue with Lord Horvath,’ he muttered. ‘Very well. How are you going to manage this situation?’
‘There are no customers left in the building?’ I asked.
‘None.’
‘And your employees?’
‘I’ve sent them all out, too. We have a muster point in the park down the road. They’re waiting there.’
I nodded. ‘Make sure they stay there and don’t come back.’ I looked round. ‘How do you operate the external shutters?’
‘There’s a button behind the first teller’s chair.’
‘Okay. How long do they take to close?’
Lukas looked at me sharply. ‘You’re planning to get the robbers inside and trap them here?’
‘Yep.’
‘Is that wise if they’re carrying guns?’
‘It is if you make damned sure you don’t get shot again.’
Lukas jerked his thumb at my shoulder. ‘Speak for yourself.’
Pralk started. I glanced down and saw a dark patch on my T-shirt. I wasn’t losing a lot of blood, but there was enough for me to know that I wouldn’t be wearing this T-shirt again.
I brushed off Lukas’s concern. ‘I’ll get it bandaged later.’ I raised my eyebrows at Pralk. ‘So? How long do the shutters take to close?’
He swallowed. He finally seemed to be taking matters seriously. ‘They’re designed to be used in an emergency. From the moment the button is pressed until the shutters are sealed is less than four seconds.’
I could work with that. ‘Thank you.’ I checked my watch. Three minutes to go. I nodded at the doors. ‘Go and join your staff in the park. Lord Horvath and I will manage on our own.’
Mosburn Pralk drew back his shoulders and his eyes took on a steely glint. He hadn’t risen to the lofty position of manager of the Talisman Bank for nothing. ‘I most certainly will not,’ he said stiffly. ‘This is my bank and I’m not leaving.’
‘You can trust us. It’s in your best interests to go.’
He glared at me and I sighed. There wasn’t enough time to argue. ‘Very well.’ I glanced round, checking the layout. ‘I’ll head behind that pillar. Lukas, you can take up position on the opposite side. Mr Pralk, if you take the bank teller’s chair behind the glass screen then you can control the shutters. The glass there isn’t bullet proof, so you’ll have to be careful.’
He stared. ‘How do you know the glass isn’t bullet proof?’
I didn’t waste time or breath in answering. ‘Make sure you wait until all three robbers are well inside before you close the shutters. We don’t want them escaping onto the street. My colleague evacuated most of the pedestrians but he’s gone now. The last thing we need is for any innocent passers-by to be caught in the crossfire. Or,’ I added, thinking of Margaret Wick, ‘taken hostage.’
Lukas looked at me grimly. ‘These guys are serious.’
‘Yeah,’ I said. My mouth flattened. ‘They are.’
Chapter Sixteen
I pressed my spine against the cool marble pillar and double-checked my crossbow. It was loaded and ready, though with any luck I wouldn’t have to use it. The gang would quickly realise that we’d trapped them. According to what Liza had seen on the CCTV footage from the first time the robbery took place, they’d only started shooting when Toffee, the Fairfax beta who’d been waiting in line, had decided to play hero and attack. If we could avoid anything similar happening, they might surrender. Might. It was unlikely, but I was still optimistic.
My biggest concern was Lukas. He’d already been killed once because of these bastards. I wasn’t sure I could cope with watching him die a second time.
I felt his eyes on me and glanced over. He flashed me a grin then blew me a kiss. I blinked and pulled back, feeling myself blush. Don’t be so stupid, Emma, I told myself. Carpe diem. I sucked in a breath, returned his look and blew him a kiss in return. His grin broadened. From the bank teller’s chair, Mosburn Pralk frowned.
I glanced at my watch. 1.33pm. I estimated that the gang were now seconds away. My heart thudded against my chest, my adrenaline firing on all cylinders. I shifted my weight onto the balls of my feet. Any second now. Any … second…
‘Hello? Is anyone there?’
I spun round, jumping out from behind the pillar with my crossbow raised. ‘Police!’ I yelled. Then I recognised the man: he was one of the McGuigan werewolves. The last time I’d seen him, he’d been lying by the exit on this very floor and he’d been very dead. Fuck.
‘Get out,’ I hissed.
The wolf stared at me. ‘Huh?’
‘Get. Out. Of. Here.’ I tried to use my innate power to compel him to leave but I was too tense. My words echoed emptily around the hall and he didn’t budge an inch.
‘I’ve got to deposit a cheque,’ he said with a tiny pout. ‘You can’t make me leave. I’ve got every right—’
Lukas stepped out from behind his pillar. ‘Leave. Turn round and go outside now.’ This time, the wolf paled and did as he was told. ‘See?’ Lukas offered me an arch grin. ‘Sometimes I have my uses.’
I managed a tight smile and waved him back to his hiding place. The gang would appear at any moment. In the next ten seconds or so all hell would break loose. I waited, poised and ready.
Nothing happened.
From behind the glass screen, Pralk looked at me pointedly, as if demanding to know what was going on. I avoided his eyes and checked my watch again: 1.34pm. It was time – so where were they?
I waited. More seconds ticked by and it was 1.35pm. What the hell was going on? I shook my head. What had changed?
A moment later, I had a chilling thought. The collision that had resulted in little Alfie’s death had caused a traffic jam. Anyone heading for this area would have been delayed. But I’d prevented the accident – and that meant that not only was Alfie alive but the roads were clear. The bank robbers would have arrived earlier than 1.34pm – except there was no sign of them. It wasn’t that
they were late; it was because they weren’t coming.
‘I don’t understand,’ I whispered. ‘I don’t understand why they haven’t come.’
Lukas looked concerned. Pralk merely glowered. ‘They’re not here, detective.’
I ground my teeth. ‘I know.’
‘My staff and customers have been thrown out, you have made dire warnings of death and larceny, and yet nobody is here. Nothing has happened.’ He flashed his green eyes at Lukas. ‘Lord Horvath, you told me I could trust this woman. I’m beginning to feel like this is nothing more than a very sick joke. Your supposed tip off…’
I pushed myself away from the pillar. ‘Tip off,’ I breathed. Goddamnit. Either someone outside had been keeping watch or it was indeed an inside job and one of the bank employees had contacted the robbers. Someone had seen Fred clear the street and speak to Pralk. Maybe they’d watched Lukas and me enter the bank’s front doors. It was the only thing that made sense. My tongue darted out to wet my dry lips. I’d screwed everything up. Fuck.
‘Emma?’ Lukas asked.
I cleared my throat and thought aloud. ‘The first time they came into the bank at 1.34pm. Everyone, including Adam, was killed inside this building. The only other death was Margaret Wick, and she was killed by a stray bullet.’
Pralk stared at me. Lukas waited.
‘The second time,’ I continued, ‘the van came down this street at high speed.’ I paused. ‘At high bloody speed.’ I passed a hand over my eyes. ‘They already knew the bank had been shuttered and they weren’t planning to stop. But when they saw Adam run up, they took the time to stop driving and shoot him. That’s when they must have grabbed Margaret Wick. Three robbers here, three on Westminster Bridge – but there was also that damned sniper. Where was the sniper when the robbery was taking place the first time around?’
‘What in the name of all that is holy are you talking about?’ Pralk asked.