by Arnot, Tim
Adam looked around. The small alleyway was deserted, and there was no one in the road that he could see.
‘No!’ he hissed again.
‘Then come this way, quick!’ the voice hissed, and a hand reached out and pulled him through the gap. It was Lance Corporal Steve Barker.
‘Colin said you were back,’ he said. ‘Listen, I’m really sorry about your sister and your dad, but…’
‘Hang on,’ Adam said, ‘Colin said I was back?’ Colin again! Was there anyone he hadn’t told? So much for keeping quiet!
‘Yeah.’
‘Look, what the hell is going on? What are you doing here?’
‘Trying to avoid being caught,’ he said.
‘And why might that be?’
‘Well, your sister, Flick…’
‘Yes?’
‘She escaped. Last night.’
‘WHAT?’ Adam almost shouted. Now he understood why they had been keen to be somewhere that the mayor wasn’t. ‘When? Where did she go?’
Just then the town clock struck the half hour. Shit! Oh eight thirty: He’d missed the rendezvous.
‘Listen,’ he said urgently, ‘we’ve got to get out of here. I’ve got some mates waiting, and I was supposed to meet them at oh eight thirty. We were here to bust Flick out. Where’s Jim? We need to get him too.’
‘I’m here,’ said a voice from behind a stable door. ‘We didn’t want to both show ourselves, you know, in case.’
‘Ok, good. Thanks for what you did guys, but I don’t know if the team will wait for us or for how long, so we’ve got to skedaddle. Top of Southampton Street; there’s transport waiting. Come on!’
The three men crept out through the gap in the fence and back into Church Street.
‘Okay, now they are looking for two men in Watch uniforms, not two men in civilian clothes and one in black…’
They had strolled down into the market square and were well on their way up Southampton Street, when they heard something in a side street. Two voices arguing, one of them shouting. It was Mayor Griffin.
They pressed back against the wall.
‘What the hell is the mayor doing down there, and who’s that with him?’ Ross whispered.
‘It sounds like… Joe?’ Adam whispered back.
‘Oh crap. Joe was the one who gave Flick the key so she could escape. This is bad. This is really bad.’
Adam peered around the corner.
‘Shit,’ he whispered. Two of the mayor’s heavies were holding Joe down while Griffin yelled at him. Something glinted in his hand as he waved it around.
‘What’s he doing?’ Barker asked.
Before Adam could answer, Mayor Griffin thrust his hand at Joe, who gargled briefly before slumping to the ground.
‘Fuck!’ Adam realised what he had just seen.
‘Oi you! Come here!’ Griffin must have spotted them.
‘Run!’ Adam yelled, and the three of them set off at full pelt. They had a head start over the two thugs now chasing them, but it was not a long one, and the thugs were closing the distance to Steve Barker, who was starting to lag behind. As they broke out of the street onto the grass, Adam saw the APC. It was already moving off.
‘What the hell is that?’ Jim Ross yelled, slowing down.
‘Keep running,’ Adam yelled, waving his arms frantically.
The truck swung round, the rear door already opening. As it approached them, eight Kingsmen in full battle armour disgorged from the back, hitting the ground running. They quickly surrounded the three men, guns raised, and ordered them to stop and put their hands up.
‘What the hell have you done?’ Steve Barker shouted, looking wildly around. The two thugs were still coming.
‘In the truck, quick!’ one of the Kingsmen ordered.
‘It’s okay,’ Adam hissed, ‘you’ll see.’
Four of the Kingsmen prodded the three men into the back of the truck, and the ramp came up behind them. That left four men outside to deal with the two wheezing heavies, and Adam pressed his nose to the window to watch.
‘Mayor wants those three,’ one of the heavies wheezed. ‘They let the prisoner escape.’
‘Yes, well, we’ve got them, thank you very much.’ Adam realised that it was Dixon speaking. ‘And we have our own… methods… to extract information, which I’m sure are more reliable than your… mayor’s.’ She said that last word with disdain.
Adam turned to the two Watchmen. ‘Scream,’ he hissed. ‘Scream like they’re really hurting you bad.’
‘Why? Oh…’
They caught on, and screamed for all they were worth. After a minute, Adam hissed again, ‘That’s enough, don’t overdo it!’ Then he giggled, falling back against the side of the truck in relief. ‘You should have seen their faces!’
The ramp dropped open and Dixon climbed in.
‘That was quick thinking,’ she said. Then she turned to the two Watchmen, ‘You the two that were guarding the jail?’ she asked.
They nodded.
‘Good. We need to talk…’
29
Posse
‘THERE ARE TWO things we need to know as a matter of urgency,’ Lieutenant Dixon addressed her small band of Kingsmen. They were all in the back of the armoured truck, along with the two Watchmen that Adam had rounded up. It was still parked in the same place. ‘First, what are Griffin and his gang of thugs going to do next. Second, where has Felicity Carter gone. Then we have to find her before she either does something stupid, or Griffin and his thugs find her, whichever comes first. Now, what do we know?’
‘He’s going to go after her for sure,’ said Corporal Ross, the senior of the two Watchmen. ‘One thing Griffin really likes to do is gloat, and Flick escaping has rubbed his face in it. Of course that puts a lot of us in the firing line too…’ He looked from face to face, ending up staring directly at the lieutenant.
‘You’ll stick with us for now,’ Dixon replied. Then she looked at Adam, ‘Do we know which way Felicity is likely to have gone?’
Ross answered. ‘Stanley–that is, Constable Wilder–was convinced that she would go south. He was on duty at the south gate. He won’t tell you if she went that way; he probably won’t even tell me if he thinks I’m working for you.’
‘If she went south, I think I know where she will have gone,’ Adam said.
‘Where’s that then?’ Dixon prompted.
‘There’s an old abandoned village at the bottom of the ridge, close to the white horse. There’s a cottage; when we were kids we used to go out there on our bikes to play. It’s a good two hours on foot though, even in daylight. But I’m sure that’s where she’d head.’
‘And does Griffin know about this place?’
‘Not unless somebody told him. His son Joe might… Oh.’
‘Joe was Felicity’s… friend, yes?’ Dixon asked.
Adam nodded.
‘He organised the escape,’ Ross said. ‘Got the key and tossed it through the window. Being the mayor’s son didn’t count for much where Griffin was concerned, and we watched him murder him in cold blood. His own son! What sort of a man does that?’ Tears rolled down his face.
There was silence as they all contemplated that thought.
‘So what resources does he have? Vehicles? Dogs? Men? Horses?’ Dixon asked.
‘He did have a steam powered Daimler,’ Ross said. ‘But it was a real old banger, literally. Wouldn’t do more than ten miles per hour, and the boiler gave out after about ten minutes.’ He looked round the inside of the wagon, ‘But it’s not been seen for a few years. There are horses in the stables and he’s got dozens of men. There are attack dogs up at the house, but I don’t know how many, and I don’t know how good they are for tracking. We’ve never had a manhunt before.’
‘I think our first port of call will be the cottage that Cadet Carter spoke of, but let’s see what Griffin does first. That’ll tell us a lot about him and his capabilities.’
‘I still need to know wh
at happened to Dad and Rosie too,’ Adam said.
‘Yes, I haven’t forgotten. Corporal, what can you tell us about the night of the fire? And don’t forget, the mayor can’t get at you or your family for anything you say in here.’
Lance Corporal Steve Barker described the events of the past few weeks, before turning to Adam. ‘Sorry, mate. Really, really sorry.’
Adam nodded.
‘Do you know what became of the others? Rosie and Nicholas?’ Lieutenant Dixon asked.
‘We never saw no bodies, if that’s what you mean. When the fire was out, nobody could get near–there was always a thug there telling us to get lost.’
‘Any chance they could have got out?’
‘Well, it’s always possible. If Flick did, they could have. But then where did they go? Somebody must have seen or heard something, or looked after them.’
‘We’re assuming that they were inside. Any chance they weren’t?’
‘Just went for a stroll in the middle of the night, you mean? I suppose it’s possible, but not likely.’
‘Maybe some guests turned up and they had to see to them?’
‘The gates were locked, so nobody had just come or gone that way. Anyway, the mayor did a right number on them a few days before, turned them over with his thugs. Said it was an “inspection”. After that all their guests left in a hurry, and there was nobody staying, far as anyone knows.’
‘So we need to get inside that inn and see for ourselves; figure out what really happened?’
‘I’d say so, yes.’
‘Okay, I need two volunteers… Socko and Barnes. You’ll stay here and get access to the inn. I want to know everything about what happened by the time we get back with Felicity.’
‘I want to stay too,’ Adam butted in. He saw the withering look that Lieutenant Dixon gave him, and added a belated ‘ma’am.’
‘I’m sure you do, cadet,’ she replied. ‘But it’s better for everyone if you stay with us. You know your sister and what she’s likely to do. Plus she’s more likely to give herself up if she sees you with us.’
‘Yes, ma'am,’ Adam agreed reluctantly.
‘Ma’am, they’re on the move!’ Sergeant Wailing interrupted.
They turned their attention to the windows. Sure enough the mayor and his thugs were riding out. At least, the mayor was riding out on a chocolate brown horse; his thugs were walking, or trotting to keep up. One of the thugs had a German Shepherd on a long leash, and it was leading them out towards the south gate.
‘So they have a tracker, that’s very interesting. Let’s follow them and see where they go.’ Dixon turned to the driver. ‘Follow that posse, but keep a discreet distance.’
The truck moved slowly off, with the people in the back craning forward over the shoulders of those in front, in order to see out through the windscreen.
‘Get up close to them at the gate; I want them to feel intimidated,’ Dixon ordered. ‘They’re going to feel like it’s a race, except we know where we’re going and they don’t. Also, it’ll stop them beating the guards on the gate for letting Felicity past.’
The dog spent a long time sniffing around the guard post before deciding that the trail went through the gate. Adam could see the mayor shouting at the two Watchmen, who just stared back blankly. When he raised his riding crop as if to strike, Dixon slammed her fist down. ‘Enough of this!’ She popped the hatch on the roof of the truck and stuck her head out.
‘Get out of my road!’ she shouted. ‘We’re about the king’s business and you’re holding us up! Leave those men alone and be on your way!’
The mayor snarled at her, ‘Next time, Kingsman.’ He turned his horse and rode off after the dog and its handler. The herd of thugs followed in his wake, jeering and shouting.
The truck rolled up to the checkpoint, and dropped the rear ramp.
‘Carter and you two with me,’ she said, indicating the two Watch corporals, ‘Socko and Barnes, get your kit, we’ll drop you off here. Get the locals on-side and take all the help you can get. I don’t know how many of Griffin’s men are still around, but assume there are hostiles.’
‘Yes ma’am,’ they chorused, and set to.
They disembarked from the truck, and the lieutenant went around the side to talk to the two guards.
‘I’m sure you know who we’re looking for,’ Dixon said.
Stanley stepped forward. ‘Thank you for your intervention with the mayor just then, but I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he said.
‘Felicity Carter, escaped from the jail in the night, believed to have fled the town and come this way.’
‘Nope. Can’t say the name rings a bell. Ain’t been nobody out through these gates all night, excepting the mayor just before you.’
Adam came out from behind the truck, followed by the two Watch corporals. ‘Stanley, it’s me: Adam,’ he said.
‘Adam Carter? Is that you?’ Stanley replied, squinting. ‘Thought you was disappeared.’
‘Look, we know Flick didn’t do it. And we know about Joe,’ Adam said.
Stanley glanced at corporal Ross. ‘Corp?’
He nodded. ‘Griffin murdered Joe. We saw it with our own eyes.’
Stanley staggered back as if he’d been physically struck. ‘The sick bastard,’ he muttered. ‘Okay. Yeah she came through this way. We gave her a bite and a change of clothing and she left. Oh, and a pushbike. Griffin thinks she’s on foot, but she’s going a lot faster than they think.’
‘Thank you, Constable Wilder. Now, what time would you say she left here?’
‘Well, she got here, what, about a quarter to one, and left, what would you say, around two?’ He looked questioningly at his colleague, who nodded.
‘Thank you, that’s been most helpful,’ Dixon said. ‘Now I’m going to leave two of my men here; they’re going to try and find out what really happened. See to it they get whatever help they need, would you?’
‘Tell Captain Marley I said I’ll vouch for ‘em,’ Corporal Ross chimed in.
‘Will do, ma’am,’ said Stanley, saluting, ‘and I hope you find her before that bastard does.’
‘So do I, constable, so do I.’
The four who were not staying re-boarded the truck, and they set off through the gate.
‘Which way did they go? I hope someone was paying attention!’ Dixon called out.
‘They’ve just reached the main road. Looks like they’re turning right, towards Swindon…’
‘Swindon? I really hope she’s not going there!’ She looked at Adam.
Adam shook his head. ‘I wouldn’t have thought so. There’s a lane on the left about a mile on, leads straight to the ridge. My bet is she went that way.’
‘Is there another route to get to this cottage of yours? I don’t really want to rush past them–it’ll give the game away that we know where we’re going. And this thing leaves a trail a mile wide!’
‘Yes, ma’am. If we go back the other way, there’s another turning. It’s quite a bit further, but it’ll take us there.’
‘That’s no problem; we can travel much faster than they can.’ She addressed the driver, ‘Keep them in sight, but don’t get real close. Once we’re sure they’ve taken Carter’s left turn, double back and we’ll take this other road. Carter knows the way…’
30
Staying Ahead
WHEN FLICK WOKE up, it was already light and the sun was well up in the sky. She’d still had the nightmares–images of her father and Rosie burning in the inn–but nevertheless she felt more rested than she had in days. She shifted uncomfortably on the cold ground, her aching muscles screaming with every movement. The bare earthen floor in the cottage might be softer than the cold flag stones of her cell, but it didn’t compare with a soft bed.
She pulled the bag over to her and had a look inside. There was bread and cheese and cold meat wrapped in wax paper, apples, a full water bottle, several knives, and a bundle of six fully made arrows. No
wonder the bag had been heavy! It looked as if Joe had gone to her workshop and grabbed whatever he could find. She munched on the bread and some of the cheese while she examined the contents of the bag.
She pulled out the arrows and turned them over in her hand, feeling the balance. The threads tying on the fletchings formed coloured bands; blue, yellow, red, yellow. These were Rosie’s colours. She’d made the arrows up for her in the early spring, but they’d never gone hunting together with them, and now they never would. Memories of Rosie came flooding back, and a tear splashed the back of her hand, making a tiny clean spot.
The jail!
Shit! By now they must have discovered that she was missing, and be out looking for her. They wouldn’t know which way she’d gone, so that might give her some time. But what if they had dogs? Did Griffin have dogs? Dogs were still very rare after The Collapse, when most had died along with their owners or been killed for food. But had she heard barking at the big house? She couldn’t remember. But knowing Mayor Griffin, they would as likely be attack dogs as tracker dogs; more likely probably, but still best to assume the worst. They would find her scent and come straight here. But she was on a bike; could dogs still track someone on a bike? She didn’t know. Best to assume they could.
So, best case? They were looking in the wrong direction. Worst case? They would be here any minute. At least they would be on foot, and she had the advantage of a bike.
She needed to be gone from here quickly, so she repacked the bag, and went to the loose panel where her bow was hidden. She pulled back the panel and the bow was there, just where she’d left it, but there was also a scrap of paper attached to it. She pulled it off and read it.
Remember where I told you to go?
I will find you.
S.
It must be a message from Shea. That meant he had been here. How long ago, she wondered, and which way did he go? She recalled the conversation they’d had that time, when he’d talked about his life in Bristol. He’d said it would be safe there, so that’s where she must go. The only trouble was, she didn’t know how to get there.