“Fine. I just need some women’s things,” she said, pointing at the boxes of tampons further down the aisle.
Just as she’d suspected he would, Battler appeared embarrassed. “Oh, okay. I’ll wait here.”
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “Thanks Battler. I love you.”
“Love you too,” he replied, a little surprised but pleased by the sudden show of affection.
She glanced through the doorway as she moved down the aisle and saw the skinny man standing near her children, his hand still stuck in his pocket. Bruiser hadn’t noticed him but why should he? The airport was heaving, they were surrounded by people. The man was just another face in the crowd, just another traveller waiting for a flight. If she didn’t do as Alex said then he would stab Ethan and vanish into the crowd before anyone had realised what had happened. She’d seen people stabbed before; often at first they didn’t know what had happened. There was confusion, followed by fear. She would not take the risk. She’d hand herself over to Alex if it meant her kids were safe.
Rachel stood before the boxes of tampons and sanitary towels, staring over the top of the shelf to get one last glimpse of her family. Aaron was on his gran’s knee, laughing as she bounced him up and down, Leah was showing Bruiser something in her magazine, who was trying to look interested and Ethan was sat beside his granddad playing with his toy robot. Rachel’s eyes filled with tears. Alex wanted her for one reason, to kill her. She was never going to see them again.
Her phone beeped and she pulled it out of her pocket. It‘s make your mind up time, the text message said. After taking one last look at her family she placed her mobile phone on top of a box of panty liners then turned and ran.
“Rachel,” she heard Battler call, but he was impeded from following by the people milling around outside the shops. He wasn’t built for speed and she soon lost him in the crowd. The airport was well signposted and she easily found her way to the north exit. Looking back over her shoulder Battler was nowhere in sight but the skinny man was following closely. As she ran through the exit he closed in on her and took her arm.
“This way,” he said, steering her towards the exit.
“If you hurt my kids I’ll fucking kill you,” she hissed.
“I didn’t touch them because you did as you were told.”
Something sharp was pressed into her side and looking down she saw he did indeed have a knife, a nasty jagged-looking thing composed of plastic to get through the metal detectors. It had been no idle threat.
“I recommend you continue to cooperate,” he said.
Outside waited a BMW with blacked-out windows. The rear door opened to reveal Alex.
“Hello Rach,” he said, looking unspeakably smug. “Get in.”
The skinny man shoved her into the back beside Alex and slammed the door shut before jumping into the front passenger seat. Col Sugar was driving.
“Thanks Gus,” Alex told the skinny man, who nodded in response.
“I’m here now. You leave my family alone,” she yelled in Alex’s face, furious.
“I’ve always admired your guts Rach but right now being mouthy isn’t going to help you.”
“How dare you threaten a four year old boy? Who are you? I don’t even recognise you anymore. The Alex Maguire I know and love would never have used a child like that,” she shouted as the car pulled away from kerb. “You nearly killed us all in that fire.”
“It went up like a bonfire, didn’t it?” he laughed.
She slapped him hard across the face. “You think this is fucking funny?”
He put a hand to his reddening cheek, face darkening with fury. “You’re already getting on my nerves.”
“Ow,” she cried when something was jabbed into her neck. Gus had reached round from the front seat and stuck a needle in her. Her vision swam, Alex fading before her eyes then she passed out, falling face down on his lap.
“Thank God for that,” sighed Alex, pushing her off him into the footwell.
CHAPTER 25
Battler returned to the shop out of breath after trying to chase Rachel through the airport. She’d completely vanished and he wasn’t afraid to admit to himself that he was terrified. He’d not alerted his brother to the situation yet, not wanting to scare the kids unless he really had to. He’d seen Rachel dump her phone on a shelf in the shop and thankfully it was still there, so he picked it up and began scrolling through the recent calls. The last call was from an unknown number. There was also a text message from an unknown number seconds after the call. It’s make your mind up time. Battler frowned at the screen. That was just the sort of thing Alex would say.
“Shit,” he sighed, taking out his own mobile phone.
Ryan had just had his burn redressed and was buttoning up his shirt when Mikey, Riley and Jez assembled in his room.
“Well?” Ryan demanded of them, fastening the buttons on his cuffs.
“They’re at the airport with Battler and Bruiser, they’re safe.”
“That’s a relief,” he said, perching on the edge of the bed to pull on his shoes, trying not to grimace at the pain in his shoulder.
Mikey tutted when his phone rang. “Yeah?” He listened in silence, eyes widening. “Oh shit.”
“What?” demanded Ryan, head snapping up and fear in his eyes.
“That was Battler. Rachel legged it out of the airport.”
“What?”
“Battler was with her in one of the airport shops getting some last minute things when she got a phone call. She told him it was the hotel manager. Then she hung up and just ran out of the airport. She left her mobile behind. There was a text message on it from an unknown number saying it’s make your mind up time.”
“Was she alone?” said Jez.
“Yes. Battler went after her but you’ve seen this size of him. He couldn’t catch her.”
“Where the hell did she go?” yelled Ryan.
“Battler thought she went outside.”
“The kids?”
“Fine as well as Gill and Rick. It’s just Rachel.”
“What’s Battler told them?”
“Nothing yet, not even Bruiser knows. He’s waiting for me to get back to him.”
“Oh Jesus Rachel,” Ryan sighed, burying his face in his hands. He took a deep breath and lifted his head to regard them. “So she gets a call, probably from Alex who somehow gets her to leave safety and go to him. He must have threatened the kids, it’s the only way she would have done that.”
“We’ll get her back,” said Jez, patting his brother’s shoulder.
“What about Gill and Rick and the kids?” said Mikey. “Do we still send them away?”
“Yes,” said Ryan.
“What if they won’t go without Rachel?”
“Give me your phone.”
Mikey handed Ryan his mobile so he could call Battler back.
“Battler, this is what I want you to do,” said Ryan. “Tell Gill and Rick that Rachel started feeling ill and has come back to the hospital to get checked over. They’re still to go abroad. Do not tell them she’s disappeared.”
“I don’t think they’ll believe it,” replied Battler’s uncertain voice.
“If they don’t they can phone me. Tell them Mikey and Jez themselves picked her up.”
“They won’t believe she went without saying goodbye.”
“Rick might not but the others will. I’m trusting you Battler to get them to safety.”
“I will.”
“Thank you.”
“I’m so sorry Ryan, it was the last thing I was expecting. I’ve let you down.”
“I don’t blame you. There’s no stopping Rachel when she gets an idea in her head, believe me, I know. When they’re settled abroad I need you and Bruiser back here. Call me if there’s any problems.”
When Ryan hung up Battler sighed and put his phone away, desperately trying to think up some tale there was a possibility Rick might actually believe.
“Where’s Rachel?” demande
d Rick when Battler returned alone.
“I’ve just left her with Mikey and Jez, they’ve taken her back to hospital,” he replied, the lie easily tripping off his tongue.
“Why?”
“She wasn’t feeling well. She’s gone back for another check-up, just to make sure it’s safe for her to fly.”
“What’s wrong with her?” said Gill.
“Just a bit of a headache and some blurred vision. She thought she might have concussion, she banged her head escaping from the fire. She told me to tell you not to worry, she doesn’t think it’s anything serious, she just wants to make doubly sure before flying out to a foreign country.”
Gill nodded approvingly. “Very sensible but that’s our Rachel. We’ll wait for her.”
“She said for you to go on ahead, she’ll meet you out there,” added Battler.
“I don’t believe this,” said Rick. “She wouldn’t have left without saying goodbye to her children.”
Leah nodded in agreement, looking scared.
“She didn’t want to worry you.”
Rick gave him a look that told him he didn’t trust him an inch. “I’m calling her.”
“You can’t, she left this behind,” he replied, holding up her phone.
“Then I’m calling Ryan,” he said with a suspicious frown.
“You’ll have to call Mikey’s phone, Ryan lost his in the fire. Here, use mine.”
Rick snatched the phone from him, mistrust in his eyes. Battler was relieved, let Ryan set him straight.
“Ryan, it’s Rick, is Rachel there? Battler said…” As Ryan spoke Rick looked like he’d been punched. He slowly nodded. “Yes, I understand. Bye,” he rasped before hanging up.
“Well?” said Gill.
“Rachel’s at the hospital, Ryan’s with her. They think she’ll be fine, she just needs a bit more rest before she can attempt a long journey. Doctor’s orders.” He hugged Leah. “See, she’ll be fine, she just needs some sleep. Your dad’s with her.”
“Oh, okay, but I wish she was coming.”
“I know but the next thing you know she’ll be with us sunning herself around the pool.” He picked up some of the bags and started marching away. “We’d better get to the departure gate or we’ll be late.”
“Wait,” said Gill, hurrying to catch up while carrying Aaron. “You’re sure she’s okay?”
“Fine. Now let’s go.”
He was so commanding they all did as he said without further protest. Battler walked alongside him.
“Promise me you’ll get my daughter back,” Rick quietly told him.
“We will, have no fear there.”
Rick grabbed Battler’s arm and stopped him in his tracks, allowing the others to go on ahead. “You kill Alex once and for all. I don’t want him hurting my little girl again. Do you understand me? Get rid of the bastard.”
Battler was shocked and a little saddened by this decent law-abiding man being reduced to ordering someone’s murder. He saw the shock in Rick’s eyes as he realised what he’d said.
“Now I understand how Rachel got sucked into that life so quickly. It’s easy wishing rid of someone when it benefits you. I hate the Maguires,” he said angrily before storming off after his family.
Despite his years of loyalty to the family, Battler couldn’t blame him.
“Ryan, calm down and think,” said Jez, grabbing him by the shoulders and giving him a firm shake. “What do we do?”
“I don’t fucking know,” he snarled, kicking over the bin. When the police officer on the door glanced through the window with a frown Ryan glared at him until he looked away.
“We need to get back to Manchester,” said Mikey. “That’s where he’ll take her, back to his home turf where he’s most comfortable and he’s got coppers in his pocket.”
“Did it occur to you that she could be dead already?” said Ryan, his voice cracking.
They were talking quietly so the police officer guarding the door wouldn’t overhear.
“She isn’t, you can’t think like that,” said Jez.
“He wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble just to kill her immediately,” said Riley from the back of the room. “He’s got plans.”
“You mean he’s going to torture her?” said Jez. “Yeah nice one Riley.”
“Not necessarily. He might intend to use her to draw Ryan out.”
“He knows the best way to hurt me is by taking her from me,” said Ryan, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms, trying not to give way to panic. Rachel needed him calm and thinking clearly. “Anyway Riley’s right, Alex has got a bigger plan than simply killing her. This is about revenge and he’s going to take his time and enjoy it. We have to go to Manchester.” He looked to Riley. “Maybe you should stay here? This is going to get rough.”
“I’m in.”
“You’d better stay, you might get hurt,” said Jez sarcastically.
Riley fixed him with a cool stare. “I bet I’ve seen more action and killed more people than you.”
“Yeah, you think you can take me on? Let’s go right now.”
“Stop being an idiot Jez. Riley could probably take all three of us on at once,” said Ryan. “He’s in the Regiment.”
“What Regiment?”
“The SAS so don’t doubt he can’t handle what we’re going to do,” Ryan snapped. “But Jez does have a point Riley. This is highly illegal and that’s something you’re not into.”
“Can I speak to you alone?” said Riley, his face a mask, giving nothing away.
Ryan nearly burst with impatience. “Alright but make it quick, we’ve got to get to Manchester. You two, go and book us on the next flight.”
Mikey and Jez left, the latter casting Riley a glare.
“You wanted to know about how I lost my baby?” said Riley.
Ryan nodded. “But only when you’re ready to tell.”
“I am now.” He took a deep breath, forming the words in his mind. He had to get it out while his mental defences allowed it. “My fiancée Zoe was pregnant with our daughter when an enemy of mine kidnapped and raped her before murdering them both.”
“Jesus Christ,” said a stunned Ryan.
“It happened right in front of me. They chained me to a radiator so I couldn’t escape, forced to watch while they did all that to her right in front of me. They made it last two hours, all the time Zoe screaming for me to save her when I couldn’t. Some friends of mine managed to get me out before they killed me too but they were too late to save Zoe and Maisie, that’s what we’d decided to call our little girl.”
“When was this?”
“Three years ago,” he said, jaw tense.
“Did you get the bastard who did it?”
“Not yet but I will. So you see, that’s why I need to help. I couldn’t save Zoe but I know I can help you save Rachel.”
Ryan patted his shoulder. “Alright, we’ll get Rachel back then we’ll find the bastard who killed Zoe. Together.”
“Thank you,” Riley quietly replied, attempting to push the memories of Zoe’s screaming aside.
“First I need to get past that nosey bastard copper,” said Ryan, gesturing to the door.
“Allow me,” said Riley before opening the door. “Alright Mate? Can we have a word?”
The officer nodded and stepped inside. Riley closed the door behind him then his fist connected with his jaw. The officer’s eyes rolled back in his head and he slid to the floor, Riley catching him before he hit the ground. Ryan was astonished by how fast it had happened, he doubted the copper even knew what had hit him, which could prove useful.
“Not very subtle, but effective,” said Ryan as they picked up the unconscious man between them and hauled him onto the bed. “Let’s get out of here before Boyle comes back.”
Seeing the man himself at the nurse’s station chatting up a pretty redhead they snuck down the back staircase, outside and into the back of the taxi Mikey and Jez had arranged.
“S
o where are we dropping Riley off?” said Jez from the front as they set off.
“Nowhere, he’s coming with us,” replied Ryan.
“But…” The look on Ryan’s face was enough to silence him so he settled back in his seat to sulk for the duration of the journey.
CHAPTER 26
Rachel was woken by a slap to the face.
“Wake up Rach, time to get out,” grinned Alex, looking extremely pleased with himself.
She groaned and pushed herself upright. “What did you give me? I feel like shit.”
“Just something to keep you quiet for the long drive back.”
“Where are we?” she said, attempting to focus her eyes.
“Manchester.”
She groaned again. So far from home.
He hauled her out of the car and she started to struggle, trying to knock him off balance but he just punched her in the stomach and threw her over his shoulder. He carried her into a stinking rundown redbrick terrace. Inside the floorboards were bare, the men’s weight causing them to creak and groan.
“I thought you might enjoy a little reunion,” said Alex, throwing her to the floor.
The air was knocked out of her, causing her aching head to pound.
“Rachel?” said a soft voice.
She pushed herself upright, her stomach threatening to evacuate all over the filthy floor. She strained her neck to look up, blinking when her vision swam out of focus. When it cleared she saw a terrified Beth sat on a stained magenta couch with an equally scared Alfie and Archie, Holly cradled in her arms. The little girl nestled into her mum sucking her thumb, eyes wide like saucers.
“Aren’t you going to say hello to your old friend?” said Alex.
“Beth, are you alright?” said Rachel calmly.
“Yes,” she whispered, so scared she could barely speak.
“What the hell are you doing Alex? Look at your kids, they’re terrified,” said Rachel.
“Blame that slag for that, she tried to take them from me. They’ve all got to learn that no one leaves me.”
“Who do you think you are?” she said, furious. “Martina would be ashamed of you. I’m just glad she’s not here to see your fall from grace.”
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