A deflated Red turned to Pippa. “You were saying? Partnership?”
Pippa’s dark eyes turned black. “If you will excuse me, I need the rest room.”
Red stared after her. What was that all about?
She eyed the phone. Cast a glance at the restroom door closing behind Pippa. She flicked the phone on. Impatiently watched the system load. Speed dialled.
“Jim? How’s the show going?”
“Anna and Jez are there as we speak, Guv,” Mackenzie reported. “She should be in the cells within the hour. Anyway, I thought you were going to be incommunicado tonight. Don’t you trust us to manage without you?”
Red forced a self-conscious laugh. “I’ve got every faith in you guys. You know that. Just being sociable.”
“How’s the meal?” Mackenzie asked. “Patterson’s again?”
“Again. Okay, see you in the morning, Jim.”
Red’s finger paused by the off button. She glanced at the restroom door, then laid the mobile face-down on the table, still on.
Chapter 134.
Nikki wrapped her arms around Harris’s shoulders, pulling him close. He thrust her away, glazed eyes staring into hers.
“Why, Nikki?”
She shrugged, a smile heavy with faux regret. “You wouldn’t understand.”
“Too right.” He searched her face for some display of remorse. Some kind of reasoning. “I loved you.”
Nikki choked back a sob. She reached out to straighten his tie. “And I loved you, Jez. I still do.”
“But those men...”
Nikki spluttered out a laugh, full of irony. “You think you know someone, right?”
Harris dragged his eyes up to meet hers. A tear rolled down his cheek. In a voice barely louder than a whisper, he repeated, “But I loved you. We were engaged.”
“Will they let me wear the ring in prison, do you think?”
Harris stared in bewilderment at Nikki. She seemed oblivious to reality.
“Don’t tell me you want it back?” Nikki put on her full modelling pout. “And you said you loved me!” She tugged the ring off her finger.
“Keep it.” He took Nikki’s arm. “Nikki, look at me. This isn’t a joke. We’re arresting you. For murder. For killing three men. One of them wasn’t even a bender!”
Nikki stared back. Said nothing.
“You’ll get life, Nikki. At least ten years.”
“Will you wait for me, honey?”
“Will I what?”
“There must be an old oak tree in Regent’s Park. I’ve got some yellow ribbon in my drawer. Take it now, then when the time comes— ”
Harris grabbed Nikki’s arms and shook her. “Insanity, it that it? Diminished responsibility? Nikki, I could say you were acting strange before. That I knew something was wrong with you. I’m a cop. They’ll take notice of my opinion.”
Nikki smiled at Harris. “Really? You’d do that for me? Just for me?”
The bedroom door opened. Kevin appeared, tossing a glass paperweight from one hand to the other.
“I’m hungry, Nikki.”
Nikki smiled sweetly. “Hold on. I’ll make you a sandwich.” To Harris, “Is that alright. Jez?”
Harris stared at Kevin. In a world of his own. Poor twat. He nodded at Nikki. “I’ll come with you.”
“What, to keep an eye on the bread knife?” Nikki giggled. “Don’t worry, Big Boy. I want yours intact for when I come out.”
Harris followed Nikki through to the kitchen. The paperweight struck him from behind. He was unconscious before he hit the ground.
Chapter 135.
“Sorry,” Red said as Pippa returned from the restroom. “You were saying? Italy?”
Pippa smiled at the waiter, hovering with the starters, inviting his approach. “Thank you so much.” She watched as the plates were laid before them. The smile vanished as the waiter backed away. Her eyes went straight to the phone. “Who did you call?”
Red put on her most innocent expression. “Call?”
“The phone has been moved, Cassandra. It was at forty-five degrees to the condiments set when I left. It’s now at ninety.”
“I must have moved the condiments.”
“No, they are exactly where they were. The mobile phone has been moved, not the salt and pepper pots.”
Red studied the offending mobile carefully. She held her right hand horizontally. Rocked it from side to side in the air.“Ninety, you say? I’d say one hundred, maybe one-ten.”
The glare told Red Pippa was not amused. “I was just tidying the table,” Red continued. “I saw the waiter was ready for us.”
Pippa maintained the matronly glare.
“Would I lie to you, Counsellor?”
“Evidently,” Pippa said. “If I pick the phone up and peruse the call register, what time will I see for the last call?”
Red shrugged. She thought, Could have deleted that. She said, “So check it if you don’t believe me.”
Pippa’s hand wavered, as if in two minds whether to rise to the challenge. She picked up the phone. Shot a triumphant glance at Red on finding it switched on. She hit the off button. Watched with silent satisfaction as it logged off, then slipped the mobile into her bag. Then as if nothing had happened, she said, “So, Tuscany. We have the Paris weekend in September, and the Lakes after Christmas with the children, but I was wondering about a spring break? Just the two of us?”
The conversation with James Mackenzie floated through Red’s mind. Don’t you trust us to manage without you? I’ve got every faith in you guys. You know that.
She glanced at Pippa’s bag, then managed a relaxed smile at Pippa. “Sure. Why not. The team can manage fine without me.”
Chapter 136.
DS Anna Hargreaves stared at the clock on her phone, watching the seconds tick by to the ten minute marker. Come on, Jezza. I’ve given you twice as long as I said I would. Don’t take the piss. She counted down the last fifteen seconds in her head. A final look up the corridor, willing Harris to emerge from the door with Nikki in tow.
Nothing.
She ran through the menu. Harris, Jez. Pressed dial. The no signal response. He’d switched his phone off. She silently cursed Harris’s stupidity. And her own, for agreeing to it. She should have known he was too besotted to make the arrest.
Anna paused outside the door. Hesitated. Rapped hard with her knuckles. “Jez. Time’s up. Let’s get it over with.” The door gave slightly under the pressure of her knock. She stood back. Waited. No answer.
She knocked again, harder. “I’m coming in, Jez.” She paused. No response.
She pushed against the door. It swung open, directly into the empty living room. A fresh breeze swept through from the kitchen. The kitchen was directly ahead. Empty. The window was wide open. She stared, taking in the scene. The dishes had been pushed to one side on the drainer, clearing a path to the window. On the fourth floor?
“Jez? Nikki?” Anna ran through to the kitchen, confirming what she already guessed. The fire escape.
Anna spun on her heels. Two doors to her left. She ran to the first. Pushed the door open. Pulled at the hanging light switch. An empty bathroom.
The next door beckoned. She grabbed at the handle. Pushed the door open. Her fingers found the light switch, flooding the bedroom with a warm orange glow. She stood, paralysed, in the doorway.
Harris lay spread-eagled on the bed. His hands tied either side of the headboard, his feet tied to the bed posts. Naked, a blonde wig covering his genitals.
Anna’s legs weakened at the knees as she saw the bread-knife beside him.
Chapter 137.
Pippa let her voice trail as she saw Red turn to watch the lights pass by the restaurant window. First one, then a second patrol car flash by in a blur of colour, tyres screeching as they rounded the corner. The strobes lit up the restaurant with blue flashes.
“Cass?” Pippa squeezed Red’s hand.
Red turned slowly back. “Sorry. It’s
just…”
“Do you think Superintendent Blake lusts after the blues and twos when he’s off duty? You’ve got to learn to let go.”
“Supposing something goes wrong?”
“Cass, really. You’ve got a fine team. All of them. Even, dare I say it, Terri Miller. Any one of them could bring in Nikki Marshall with one hand tied behind their back.”
Chapter 138.
Anna pulled herself upright. She drew deep breaths, taking in the scene before her. Jez Harris lay pale and still. Police training fought against personal emotion. She ran to the bedside, eyes averted from the blonde wig. She took the wrist of his right hand where it hung over the bed. A wave of relief as she felt a pulse.
She moved up to his face, feeling his temple. Harris stirred. Anna saw blood. Instinctively she depressed the pillow, letting the head roll gently to one side, revealing a vicious wound above the left ear.
“Jez?” Her mind raced. “Jez, can you hear me?” The phone came up on automatic, hitting the speed dial without even looking.
“Mac. We need an ambulance. It’s Jez. Head injury and…” She paused, her eyes reluctantly following his body down to the wig. She reached her hand out. Lifted the wig. A huge sigh of relief.“It’s okay, just a head injury.”
Anna turned to Harris. She took his hand. “Ambulance is on its way, mate.”
His eyes slowly closed again.
“That’s it Jez. Just rest.” Despite herself Anna’s eyes wandered back to the wig. She lifted it gingerly, just for as second. Took off her jacket and laid it over Harris.
“You’ll be fine, Big Boy.”
Chapter 139.
“Ms. Rose?”
Red turned to see the young waiter leaning in to her.
“Detective Chief Inspector Rose?” the waiter asked.
Red shot a mystified glance at Pippa. To the waiter, “That’s me. Is there a problem? Someone not paid their bill?”
It was the waiter’s turn to look mystified as Red’s attempt at humour failed to find its mark. “There’s a call for you.” He held out a cordless phone. “A DI Mackenzie? He said it was urgent. Of course, you’re welcome to come through the back for privacy.”
Red glanced at Pippa’s bag, then a daggers glance at Pippa. “It’s okay. I’ll take it here.” Into the phone, “Jim? It’s Red.”
Pippa watched Red’s expression run the gamut of emotions as Mackenzie explained the situation. She could only hear Red’s responses, but the succession of “Shit!”, “Holy shit!”, “Is he hurt?” and “Oh my God,” followed by “I’m on my way” was enough to confirm the meal was at an end.
Red slumped forward onto the table, face in her palms. “Jez is in an ambulance. Head injury. Anna’s with him. Nikki’s on the run with the brother in tow. The cameras have picked them up, snarled in traffic, heading for the embankment. Jim’s putting a patrol on the north bank of every bridge.” She looked up. “My phone, please, Counsellor.”
Pippa reached into her bag. “I hope Jeremy’s alright.”
Red took the phone, leaned across and pecked Pippa on the cheek. “Don’t wait up.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Of course I will.” Red paused, then, “But just so you don’t hear it first on the news, if things get out of hand,… Anna found an empty box in the bedroom. A 9mm ammunition box. Looks like Nikki Marshall may have a gun.”
Chapter 140.
Red stopped by her car, watching the alarm lights flash on and off. She opened the boot. Looked over the lid straight ahead, then turned to see behind her. A quick glance along the near side pavement and again across the road. Several people were about but no-one was too close.
She leaned in and began transferring miscellaneous items to one side, unearthing the cardboard shoe box. She placed it on the roof in open view, closed the boot lid and went to the front passenger door. That’s it, Red said to herself. Make it look like you’ve got all the time in the world.
She retrieved the shoe box. Leaned in through the door and put the container in the passenger foot well. A hand reached under the driver’s seat, feeling in the dark for the small packet taped to the under-frame. Her fingers worked it loose, and she placed it alongside the shoe box.
Another casual check of the phone as she sauntered around the front of the car to the driver’s door. She got in, loading her mobile into the hands-free unit. Hit the speed-dial for James Mackenzie and casually pulled away.
As Mackenzie answered, Red hit the emergency lamps button. The blue strobes lit up the road and cars either side. “Jim? I’m on the road. Do we have a direction?”
“On the Embankment, north heading east. We’ve got the chopper up and he’s tailing her. Three marked cars are monitoring from a distance, no blues and twos. Don’t want to alarm her and make her panic. We daren’t risk pulling her over in the congestion, just in case she is armed.”
“She knows me. If I can get to talk to her we might be able to avoid a showdown.”
“Head for Tower Bridge, Guv. That’s where we’re taking her.”
“Taking her?”
“We think she’s heading for the A3. London Bridge. Apparently Jez told Barry Taylor she has friends in Brighton. But we’re going to try force her to use Tower Bridge instead. Narrower road.”
“What if she crosses sooner?”
“She won’t. Traffic is heavy so she’s not going anywhere we don’t want her to. We’ve got two unmarked cars a little way in front of her and one tucked in just behind, which we’re using to slow traffic at the bridges. Blackfriars or London are the safe bets for the A3. We just need her to choose Tower Bridge instead.”
“That’s past the A3. Why would she?”
“Trust me, Guv, Head for Tower. You’re still in Mayfair, I take it?”
“Just.”
“Take the Mall and Strand. Go parallel to the Embankment as far as you can. You can use the blues there without tipping her off. Follow the A4 through to Monument. Then head down towards London Bridge, switch the lamps off, and head for Tower Bridge. We’ll slow the Embankment traffic to give you time to drop down ahead of her.”
“Then what? I can hardly pull her over on a crowded road if she’s carrying a firearm.”
“CO19 are en route for Tower Bridge, south side. We’ll have the bridge blocked, and contain her north as soon as she turns. The bridge is the only place we can pull her over safely without risk to civilians.”
“Sounds like you’ve got everything under control. How’s Jez?”
“Conscious. Mild concussion. Nothing serious. He’s more embarrassed than hurt.”
“I can imagine, letting his girlfriend abscond during an arrest. I bet Anna’s red-faced too.”
Mackenzie chuckled. “She is, but not for the reasons you’re thinking of, Guv. The medics told us that… Hold on.” A pause. “It’s okay. We thought she was going to try cross sooner, but she was just changing lanes. Now she’s in the nearside lane we’ll try keep her there. All the way through to Tower.”
“Roger that, Jim. Let me know if anything changes.”
Red floored the accelerator as the cars in front moved aside to let her through. She leant across and picked up the shoebox with her left hand. Flipped the lid and pulled out the cheap pair of shoes, digging about in the tissue beneath. She extracted the Smith and Wesson and laid it on the passenger seat, covering it with the shoebox lid. She leaned across and retrieved the smaller packet, brushed the shoes onto the floor, and tipped the bullets onto the passenger seat next to the weapon, covering them with a folder.
Her pulse raced, adrenalin building in anticipation. It was one thing to play Dirty Harry with Terri in the comfort of her office. Quite another to carry a loaded weapon on the streets of central London.
The Mall became Strand became Fleet Street. If CO19 got to Tower Bridge south before she did they’d never let her through. She stuck with Mackenzie’s route, cursing any vehicle slow to respond to the blue strobes.
Chapter 141.
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“Jim, I’m on Canon Street. Where is she now?”
“Upper Thames. Just past Southwark Bridge. I set up a fake incident at the bridge entrance so she had no choice but to carry on.”
“A fake incident?”
“Just a crowd of youths pretending to be drunk, playing in the road.”
Red laughed. “Nice one.”
“London Bridge next. Once she passes that she’s ours.”
“If,” said Red.
“Have you no faith, Guv?”
“Even you can’t steer a car by remote, Jim. I’m approaching King William Street now.”
“Roger that, Guv, The chopper spotted the strobes way back. There’s a patrol car holding the southbound lane open for you. The road is clear down to Lower Thames. We’ve slowed Upper Thames to a crawl. The lead cars are ten vehicles ahead so she won’t suspect anything. You have a clear run all the way through to Tower.”
“What if she takes London Bridge? The A3?”
Red acknowledged the patrol car with a wave as she accelerated onto King William Street southbound, not a single vehicle in her way.
“She can’t. There’s a broken down van and an RAC tow-truck blocking the entrance.”
“I see it, dead ahead. That’s a bit of luck.”
“Luck? Really, Guv. Let’s just say there’s not much wrong with that van. As soon as Nikki’s past he’ll close the bonnet and be out of there.”
Red laughed again. She turned on to Lower Thames, almost devoid of traffic in front. Behind her she could see the lead cars moving slowly forward.
“Supposing she doesn’t turn at Tower?”
“It’s the last bridge. Next crossing is Blackwall tunnel and the A2, Dover bound.”
“She might not know that. She might not be heading for Brighton. We’ll have to pull her if she tries to go past.”
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