For the Sake of the Children: The first Chloe Webster thriller (Chloe Webster Thrillers Book 1)

by Alex Highcliffe

  ‘Mickey, you silly lad. What do you think you’re doing? How many people do you think have tried to do what you’ve just tried? Do you think I’ve just been lucky all these years? And what the hell do you think your mother would say if she was here now?’

  He ran the knife across Mickey’s throat and blood instantly appeared and dribbled down his neck like a line of red icicles. Mickey groaned and gurgled, but he was unable to make a coherent sound as he began to choke on his own blood. Drabble pulled the younger man close to him and held him until he died. He’d promised Mickey’s mother all those years ago that he’d look out for him, and somehow he’d failed, but what choice did he have? After laying him down gently on the cold ground, he stood up and headed off towards his car, brushing dust from his suit as he went.

  A tear stabbed at the corner of his eye.

  89

  ‘So here we are at last Miss Webster. Just you, me and lover boy here.’ Jez was clearly enjoying every minute of this and Chloe knew there was no way out for her now. She looked again at her father in the chair next to her but he was still unconscious. She felt completely alone and empty, all hope gone. Even the overwhelming sense of fear had eased. She closed her eyes and let happy memories fill her mind. Her mother appeared in her thoughts and she smiled as a sense of warmth and wellbeing overcame her body.

  I’m coming mum. I’m coming.

  ‘Why is she smiling?’ Ben sounded astonished. ‘We’re about to kill her and she’s smiling. What’s that all about?’

  ‘I guess she’s making peace with herself or something.’

  Chloe’s father moaned and began to sway from side to side in his chair. The tight bindings meant that the chair rocked with him, the wooden legs making a rhythmic clacking sound on the concrete floor of the warehouse.

  ‘Aye aye, dad’s awake is he?’ sneered Jez.

  Chloe opened her eyes and saw her father fall onto his side as the chair lost its balance and toppled over. His head hit the floor and it seemed to bring him back to full consciousness. The sight of his own daughter stood there with a noose around her neck made him cry out and begin to thrash wildly against the bindings that still secured him to the chair.

  ‘Come on Ben, this is great. We’ve got another spectator here. Give me a hand.’

  Together they pulled the chair back upright and carried it to the corner of the room, wedging it into the angle to prevent any more movement. Jack was still trying to release himself from the chair. He was obviously in some discomfort as he did so but it was also apparent that he would do anything to get out of that chair if he could.

  Jez laughed. ‘I’d just sit still if I were you old man. You’re never gonna get that tape off, it’s far too strong. Don’t worry, it’ll soon be your turn. Just sit back and enjoy the show.’

  But that was the last thing Jack intended to do. He continued to struggle and shout and the irritation on Jez’s face was obvious. He strolled back over to Jack and slapped him hard across the face.

  ‘Now pack it in,’ he shouted. ‘You might not believe this, but I could make this far worse for both of you than it already is.’

  ‘Dad, it’s okay, don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine.’ Chloe hated to see her father so agitated and her words made him stop and stare at her. She looked into his deep blue eyes and smiled. ‘I’ll be fine.’

  ‘Right, I’ve had enough of this,’ barked Jez. ‘It’s time to get this done and get out of here.’

  He marched over to Chloe and kicked the chair out from under her feet. It took a split second for her to realise what he’d done, but the grip around her neck quickly left her in no doubt. The suffocation was instant and as she thrashed around hopelessly, she could only hear her father’s desperate scream as the darkness surrounded her.

  90

  The Timer had waited a couple of minutes to give Mickey a chance to find a way in at the back of the warehouse. Once he’d entered the small reception area at the front, he knew instantly that something was happening. He could hear shouting. It sounded like an older man. Other voices could be heard too. And was that a female voice?

  What the hell is Drabble doing in there?

  A corridor led him from the reception area past a variety of large rooms. The place looked like it hadn’t been used for years, and vandals had seemingly enjoyed themselves pulling it to pieces. He followed the commotion that had greeted him when he first entered the building, sensing that it was coming from a room further down on the left hand side.

  More shouting, then a woman’s voice again. It sounded scared but reassuring. He couldn’t make out the exact words. As he moved nearer he heard a man’s voice which he instantly recognised. It was Jez. He paused as things went very quiet for a moment, and the next thing he heard made him flinch. A man let out a scream that was full of dread and fear, like nothing he had heard before. It was accompanied by yobbish cheering.

  He gripped his gun tightly and eased his way into the room from where the noise was emanating. The sight which greeted him was one that would stay with him for a very long time. A girl was hanging by the neck, her legs thrashing around involuntarily. Jez and another man were celebrating their catch, backs to the entrance, unaware of the Timer’s presence, whilst an older man sat bound to a chair in the corner, head bowed to the floor.

  It only took the Timer a few seconds for recognition to strike him. Standing next to Jez was a guy from the law firm. The name Ben rang a bell for some reason. And the girl on the rope, she was also from the law firm, the girl he’d been to see on Drabble’s behalf.

  Without hesitation the Timer did what he’d come here to do and shot Jez in the back of the head. Before the echo of the gunshot had even faded, his victim’s knees gave way and he crumpled to the floor in silence. Ben instinctively dived to the floor alongside him and covered his own head, already begging for his life. The Timer ran over to the girl and lifted her weight onto his shoulder. She let out a gasp as he did so and filled her lungs with air.

  ‘Don’t worry love, you’ll be okay. Looks like I’m just in time. Just try to keep still.’ He reached for his knife and sliced through the rope above her head, gently setting her down on the concrete. He looked at the man in the chair, who stared with disbelief, tears flowing down his face. The Timer turned to Ben.

  ‘What the fuck is going on here? Where’s Drabble?’

  ‘Please don’t shoot! I don’t know. He left ages ago.’

  The Timer pointed his gun at Ben’s head.

  ‘Don’t.’ It was the faintest of voices but the word was enough to stop him from pulling the trigger. He turned to see the girl looking up at him from the dusty floor.

  ‘It’s Miss Webster isn’t it? I see you managed to get yourself into a whole shit-load of trouble then? It doesn’t really surprise me; I was worried about you that first day we met at the law firm. A little too strong-willed for your own good I thought, especially to be mixed up with these people.’ He looked again at the man in the chair. ‘Who’s he?’

  ‘My father.’ Chloe was struggling to make herself heard. She was having difficulty swallowing, her throat felt like someone had poured sawdust down it and the pain was unrelenting. ‘Why are you here Mr Crawford? Actually, don’t tell me, I don’t care. And I guess that’s not your real name either…’

  The Timer winked at her and walked over to Jack, flicking his knife through the bindings which restrained him in the chair.

  ‘Go and see to your daughter Mr Webster. She’s had a nasty experience.’

  Jack said nothing. He limped across and knelt over his daughter. The first aid training he’d received in the army took over as he checked her out as best he could.

  The Timer returned his attention to Ben, who was still cowering on the floor like a scared child.

  ‘Miss Webster has asked me not to shoot you. What do you think about that?’

  Ben removed his hands from his head and peered up at the timer.

  ‘Well? What have you got to say to her? If you�
��d done that to me I’d want to kill you. I’d probably hang you up there myself.’

  Chloe could see Ben from where she was lying. He was visibly shaking, and all the colour had drained from his face. He said nothing.

  ‘No? Not a word for the lady? How about a sorry or a thank you?’

  Ben just looked forlorn and dropped his eyes to the ground.

  ‘You pathetic little fuck.’ The Timer’s kick connected with Ben’s jaw, emitting a sickening crack. He went over with a groan and didn’t move again.

  The Timer checked his watch, and then the sound of a child crying drifted into the room from the corridor beyond.

  91

  ‘George!’ Chloe was sure she recognised the voice. ‘Oh my God, it’s George. Where is he?’ She struggled to her feet despite her father’s protests and headed towards the corridor.

  ‘Be careful Miss Webster, we don’t know who else is around. Drabble could be anywhere.’ The Timer made it to the corridor before her and looked up and down it. There was certainly no sign of anyone else.

  ‘You stay here with your father. I’ll fetch the child.’

  Chloe nodded and sat down on the chair to which her father had been secured earlier. She simply didn’t have the energy to argue.

  ‘Are you okay dad? What did they do to you?’

  Her father sighed. He picked the other chair up and placed it next to his daughter. Sitting down he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him.

  ‘Like a silly old sod I was worried about you. I know I shouldn’t have interfered but this time I really was concerned. I went to your firm to speak to someone about you…’

  ‘You did what? Dad, why did you do that? Who did you talk to?’

  ‘Well at first I met this really nice fellow. Ray, I think his name was. He reassured me and said you were doing very well. Then he came in.’ He pointed at Ben who was still unconscious on the floor. ‘He wasn’t really telling me anything and so I made up a few things to spook him. Told him I knew about what he’d been doing. I said something about dodgy deals and money and anything else I thought would make him talk.’

  ‘Dad!’

  ‘I know, but I could see he was worried and I thought I was getting somewhere. And then he told me there was someone I needed to meet; someone who could put my mind at rest.’

  Chloe looked startled. ‘And who was that?’

  ‘Well I don’t know really. He took me to this snooker club and when I got there I saw this big bloke in a suit and after that I don’t remember anything. I reckon they must have battered me, judging by the pain I’m feeling now.’

  ‘Oh dad, we need to get you to hospital.’

  ‘Yes, and you. Get that neck checked out.’

  They smiled at each other, just as a young boy came toddling into the room.

  ‘Chloe!’ he shouted and ran to her. She took him in her arms and hugged him, oblivious to the throbbing around her neck.

  ‘See? I told you I’d come back for you didn’t I? Now George, there’s someone I want you to meet. This is my dad. His name’s Jack.’

  ‘Hello Jack,’ said George.

  ‘Well hello there little fellow. It’s very nice to meet you.’

  George grinned and buried his face into Chloe’s shoulder.

  ‘George, where’s the man who came to find you? Is he here?’ Chloe looked out into the corridor but could see no sign of the Timer from where she sat.

  ‘Gone,’ said George. ‘He told me to give this to you.’

  Chloe took the mobile phone from George. After pressing the three numbers, she placed it to her ear and waited for an answer.

  ‘Yes, hello. Police please.’

  I should have done this days ago.

  92

  The Timer smiled to himself as he left. Bloody kids. He loved them all and would never do anything to hurt them. It had always been his weakness, and when his own girls came along it just reinforced the feeling. Knowing George would be okay with the girl and her father, he now had to think of himself. It was time to go home and get his family out of here. Once they were safe, he could think about dealing with Drabble. He wasn’t sure yet exactly how he’d do that, but he knew it had to be done if he ever wanted to live without having to look constantly over his shoulder.

  He strolled out into the cool air, confident he was safe for the time being. Drabble had gone, Jez was dead, as were the two thugs at the club. So that just left Mickey. Mickey! He hadn’t given the lad another thought after he’d entered the warehouse. Where the hell was he?

  He ran back into the old building and quickly checked in the abandoned rooms. They were all empty as he expected. He noticed the girl on the phone as he passed by and knew he had to get out of here soon. Running back outside, he scanned the yard at the back of the warehouse.

  ‘Mickey!’ he called. ‘Mickey!’

  And then he saw him. He ran over to where Mickey lay, dropping to his knees and taking his friend’s head in his hands.

  ‘Mickey? Mickey? Wake up son, come on. Mickey!’ But he knew it was pointless. There was no sign of life. His body was already cold from the freezing winter air and a huge amount of blood had soaked the front of his jacket. A gaping wound across his neck looked angry and raw in the fading, late afternoon sunshine.

  ‘Ah, Jesus Mickey. What have you done?’

  It had to be Drabble. They must have run into each other when Drabble left. Mickey would have thought he could take him, but in truth he never stood a chance, especially without a gun. Drabble was not only big and strong, but he was a street-fighter. He’d grown up on some of the toughest streets in the city, and he knew how to look after himself.

  The Timer laid Mickey back down on the ground and walked away. Any doubt about his next move was gone. He had to get rid of Drabble. He owed it to Mickey. He owed it to the girl and her father. And he owed it to himself.

  93

  A pitiful groan told them that Ben was starting to come round. He rolled onto his side and looked over at the three of them sat waiting for the police to arrive. Chloe could see that his jaw was either broken or dislocated. It certainly didn’t look right in any case.

  ‘Why?’ she said, simply.

  ‘I had no choice.’ He winced as he spoke, clearly in considerable pain. His jaw didn’t move with the words, which were slurred and difficult to comprehend. ‘I didn’t want to get involved but you’ve seen what they’re like. They never take no for an answer. Ever.’

  Chloe felt just a tinge of sympathy. In a way they’d both fallen into the same trap. The wrong place at the wrong time. But she never would have become an integral part of the gang as Ben seems to have done.

  ‘What about Ray? Is he involved in all this too?’ His answer surprised her.

  ‘No. Ray’s just a difficult person to get along with. He’s not a bad man; he just likes to do a good job for his clients. He’ll get into trouble when the authorities start crawling all over this, but only for being stupid and closing his eyes to some pretty obvious signs.’

  ‘And Drake?’

  ‘No, he’s as straight as they come. Too busy to notice what was going on around him.’ He winced again and held his jaw. ‘My head hurts.’

  ‘This is very serious stuff you’ve been messing about with you know. I mean, children? What were you thinking Ben?’

  But he didn’t say anything else. He rested his head on the concrete, closed his eyes and lost consciousness. Chloe shuffled in her chair trying to get comfortable. George wouldn’t let go of her and his weight was starting to take its toll. Her father sat next to her silently, and she rested her head on his shoulder.

  The distant sirens were a welcome sound, quickly becoming deafening wails as blue lights flashed into the room from outside the window. Several burly officers streamed in and before long Ben was handcuffed and being taken away on a stretcher. A policewoman and a female social worker approached Chloe and asked her about the child. She explained who he was and they made to take him from her. />
  ‘No!’ cried George and hung on even tighter.

  Chloe put her mouth to his ear and spoke gently to him.

  ‘George, you need to go with these people. You are safe now I promise. I need to go to hospital to see a doctor and they’ll make me better. You do want me to get better don’t you George?’

  ‘Yes,’ he said simply, and released his grip. ‘Will you come and see me?’

  ‘Of course I will silly. And we need to find out how your mu…’ She stopped, suddenly remembering that Chelsie had been put into a coma. She looked at the social worker who smiled and nodded at her knowingly. ‘We need to go and see your mummy.’

  ‘Yes! Mummy!’ And with that he happily clasped the hand of the social worker and headed off to an ambulance.

  A couple of paramedics checked that Chloe had no obvious neck injuries and then helped her to her feet. She addressed the policewoman who was still there, no doubt waiting to question her. ‘Have you dealt with Mr Lightbody at the local authority? I told you about him on the phone.’

  ‘Don’t worry, Chloe, it’s all in hand. George is safe and everyone is being questioned. We’ll sort it all out. I’ll need to speak to you, and your father too, once you’re settled in hospital. I’ll follow you in the ambulance.’

  Good. That gives me just enough time to decide what I’m going to say, thought Chloe.