Sins of the Master

by Catherine Taylor

  Striding to the window, he stared out at the dark, grey sky and just breathed, hating that he could be affected so badly. It was an indictment of how soft and weak he had become, caring too much and getting too close.

  His time with Lena should have taught him enough about the dangers of love. It was a catalyst for mistakes and losing the ability to think clearly. It brought uncertainty and when it was gone, it left a wound that refused to heal. If by some miracle he survived the oncoming chaos, he would never attach himself to anyone again. It was pain that he could do without.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  There was no traffic or any other activity. The narrow road was bordered on both sides by long grass, overgrowth and wire fences with rows of barbed wire at the top. Behind them were industrial buildings that lay neglected and silent.

  “I didn’t know there were any ghost towns in Wellington,” Mairead remarked.

  “This area was industrial once,” James explained. “And now it’s marked out for residential development.”

  “All those buildings doing nothing.”

  A long galvanised building loomed in the distance. On the side were large faded letters that read McKinnon Engineering.

  “That’s the one,” James said. “Gate should be open and we just drive around the back and wait.”

  His expectations proved true and they were soon parked on a large concrete area behind the building. Another wire fence at the back separated an overgrown stretch of land behind them. The long grass had grown through the fence and had begun to claim the edges of the concrete. Pallets and rusted metal frames were stacked near the building.

  The rain had stopped, leaving behind large pools of water spread over the ground. Mairead stared out at the miserable scene.

  “Wow, this day just keeps getting cheerier.”

  James grabbed her hand. “We’ll get through it, but you need to understand that this meeting will be short and sharp. You’re to stay in the car. Dylan will bring the girls to the car and once they’re in, we’ll be gone.”

  “And that’s the last we’ll see of Dylan,” Mairead added gravely. “Until they’re arresting him, or someone is gunning him down.”

  James didn’t reply but squeezed her hand tighter. Reaching across her, he opened the glove box and took out the pistol. Mairead watched with a mixture of disgust and trepidation as he brought it back behind him, tucking it into his belt.

  “Do we really have to have that thing with us?”

  “Yes. I’ll put it back once the girls are with us.”

  “You know,” Mairead said. “I still don’t understand how they knew Esther and I would be at her mother’s house that day.”

  “As Dylan said, they were probably staking it out.”

  Mairead screwed her face up. “I don’t know. We had that first break-in the same day, the real one where you had to go into the club, instead of being with me that day.”

  James grinned. “Now you’re getting paranoid. You heard what Dylan said. Our phones can’t be bugged. I made the arrangements with him over the phone.”

  “So no-one other than us knew that I was going to be with Esther?”

  “Only Vanessa, because she had to pick me up, because you had…” James frowned and turned back in his seat, scanning the view out the back window.

  “What’s wrong?” Mairead asked, turning back to see what he was looking for.

  He studied the terrain beyond the fence and then grinned. “Nothing. I caught a movement in the rear vision mirror, most likely a rabbit or bird.”

  When Mairead kept staring, he chuckled. “It’s alright, baby. We’re both jumpy. Dylan will be here soon and then you’ll have Tammy to contend with.”

  She nodded and smiled weakly, feeling her stomach becoming unsettled again.

  * * * * *

  The silence and tension was as tangible as the dark clouds outside. Esther and Tammy had both sensed the change in Dylan’s mood, and even Tammy was not prepared to test him. He stared out at the road behind his sunglasses, his mouth tightly pursed, navigating the 4WD about the steep, windy highway.

  Outside, the mountains were black and fogged with cloud. With the dark, grey sky and unrelenting rain, it seemed as if the colour had been drained from the world. Dylan’s black clothes added to the gloom, the bulk of his long coat making him seem larger than normal.

  He spoke to them suddenly, his voice low and stern. “Upon arrival, you will get out and get into James’ car immediately. I have work to do and we have said our goodbyes. I want no fuss from either of you. Is that clearly understood?”

  They answered together. “Yes, Daddy/Master.”

  An hour later, they were in an unfamiliar area and leaving the traffic behind. The rain had stopped and the country roads were quiet and mostly farmland until, they passed through a small town. On the other side, the road took them through an industrial area which gradually diminished to intermittent empty buildings and factories.

  Tammy groaned. “Are we nearly there?”

  “Yes.” He looked into the rear view mirror at Esther. “When we pull up, grab the bags out and take them straight to James’ car.”

  Esther sat up, quickly wiping her tears away. “Yes, Master.”

  Tammy nodded and looked down at her own pretty handbag, clutched in her lap. She played with the zip, pulling it open and quickly shutting it again, grinning at the glimpse of metal inside.

  The 4WD turned onto a narrow road. McKinnon Engineering was soon visible and Dylan began to make observations of the area. Slowing down, he steered them through the open wired gate and drove along past the right side of the building.

  The white Mitsubishi was parked up close to the building and James was getting out as he approached, going to the rear of the car and opening the boot. Dylan was surprised to see James so sombre. Mairead sat in front staring straight ahead, not even turning to look at them. Dylan parked the vehicle parallel with theirs, leaving the engine running as he got out.

  His skin prickled the moment his feet hit the concrete. Mairead still hadn’t turned to look at him. His gaze went to James, and he saw the tremble in his mouth and his dark eyes staring hard, without any sign of welcome.

  Esther had just got out when he blocked her way. “Stay there.”

  At that moment, the sun penetrated the thinning clouds and a glint of light in the bushes registered in his peripheral vision. That was now one position he was aware of, but the threat to Mairead had to be much closer.

  He grinned at James and spoke casually in French. “Behind her seat?”

  James didn’t look at him. “Oui.”

  Dylan had no doubt there would be others, but the immediate threat had to be removed first. He hoped that James had taken his advice about arming himself, because he would only be able to deal with one at a time. With Esther out of the car, the situation was already beyond control and had become one of keeping casualties to a minimum.

  One glance confirmed the door was unlocked as he blocked Esther’s path.

  “I’ll get the bags,” he said calmly, keeping his body turned to the car, obstructing any view as his hand slipped under his coat.

  With the Sentinel firmly in his grip, his other hand was snatching at the car handle. Throwing the door open, he fired the gun into the head of the black clad figure lying on the floor behind the front seats. Mairead screamed, just as his hearing caught the sound of two low, dull shots behind him. Swiftly Dylan spun back, aiming the gun toward the bushes at the fence.

  He fired and knew from the frenzied movement in the bushes that he had hit the mark. At the same time he saw James stumble back and fall on the other side of the car. Dylan ducked down and pushed past Esther who was crouching between the cars. He was nearly to the front of the Mitsubishi when he saw the shadow of the building extend out on the ground. Immediately, he aimed up and fired, not waiting to watch as another man fell from the roof.

  Two things then happened simultaneously. He saw Mairead scrambling across
the seat to get out the driver’s door to James. On the other side, the door to the 4WD opened. Opening Mairead’s door, he grabbed a fistful of her coat and pulled her back violently.

  “Stay there,” he yelled at her. “Fucking stay there.”

  He knew it was useless. She was hysterical, instantly scrambling back to get out to James, the moment he released her. He pulled his own door open and reached across, and seized Tammy’s wrist, wrenching her back into her seat.

  “Get down, stay down and don’t fucking move.”

  He slammed the door shut and turned his attention to the other car. Seizing the dead man’s clothes, he savagely dragged him from the car, watching for movement about him and aware that Mairead was now out on the other side of the car, completely in the open.

  One glance to Esther, satisfied him that she knew enough to stay still, though her face was white with terror. Pulling the body away from the car, he hurried to the other side. Mairead was crying, panic-stricken and clutching onto James who was soaked in blood. He was semi-conscious, breathing heavily and still trying to get up as he looked to Dylan desperately.

  “Get her out of here.”

  The moment Dylan touched her, Mairead turned on him wildly, hitting him and screaming.

  “I won’t leave him. I won’t fucking leave him.”

  Dylan seized her wrists. “Can you drive? Just tell me if you can fucking drive when I get James into the car.”

  She nodded hard through her crying and he threw the back door open. There was no time for any precautions as between them they got James into the backseat. He hurried around to the other side, threw the door open and hoisted Esther up from the ground and onto the seat beside him. Mairead got behind the wheel, already starting the car up.

  Dylan surveyed the area again and gasped silently as he saw a car come over a distant slope in the road. It was less than a kilometre away

  “They’re coming,” he told her. “Go fucking fast, stop for nothing and run any cunt over who tries to get in your way. I’m going to slow them down.”

  Pulling a phone from his coat, he put it in Esther’s hand. “Get emergency services, stay on the line and they’ll hone in on the co-ordinates. Find where James is hit and get pressure on it, until the bleeding stops.”

  Mairead was trying to get a look at James. Dylan glared at her. “Get going, now.”

  Two more shots suddenly rang out behind him, one straight after the other and differing in sound. Dylan slammed the door shut, spun back and was ready to fire at the man coming up behind him. He paused as he saw the man teeter on his feet with blood spurting from his neck. The gun fell from his hand and his body followed, hitting the ground solidly.

  Dylan swept his gaze about desperately, searching for another shooter, only to see the door to the 4WD was open again.

  He heard the shuffling on the concrete and Tammy came around the back of the vehicle towards him, a gun falling from her fingers and clattering to the ground. She was smiling, even as a dark stain began to slowly spread out across the front of her coat.

  “I got him, Daddy,” she cried softly. “He was sneaking up on you and I shot him.”

  She stood still, looking confused and slowly fell forward. Dylan lurched towards her, catching her limp body, in time to hear her sigh her last breath. Her head lolled back slowly onto his arm as her lifeless eyes stared up at him.

  Somewhere behind him he heard Esther screaming hysterically and the screech of the Mitsubishi taking off. He knew he was supposed to be doing something, but he couldn’t take his eyes from Tammy.

  It was just too strange holding her in his arms so easily, without some kind of fuss. All he seemed to be able to think about was how much he wanted her to giggle.

  He allowed himself to fall and sit on the ground, pulling her into his lap to cradle her and crush her soft, chubby body against himself. He was trembling as he kissed her hair and rocked her.

  “I’ll take you home, Tammy. It will all be alright. Daddy will take you home.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  The black SUV was rapidly gaining on them. Mairead’s foot crushed the accelerator as she wildly glanced between the rear view mirror and the junction ahead. In the distance was the intersecting road, the main highway, where she could see the massive logging truck that would soon be passing in front of her.

  Behind her, Esther was still crying while trying to assure James he would be alright. His silence was terrifying Mairead, making it harder to concentrate. In a moment, she had to make a decision to give up or keep going, knowing both choices had serious repercussions. A glance to the mirror set her pulse racing faster as she saw one of the men haul his upper body out through the side window, with what looked to be a rifle in his hands. It was enough to make up her mind.

  As the intersection loomed, she slowed a fraction, her focus now entirely upon the huge truck. If it was sitting on the speed limit, it would be doing ninety kilometres an hour, though she allowed for a hundred.

  There was a give-way sign and little road left ahead and Mairead steeled herself and flattened her foot to the floor, watching the speedometer until it was reaching a hundred and thirty. Looking to the truck, she gauged its distance from the intersection, comparing it to her own. It was going to be closer than she hoped. She willed herself to look away from the truck and fix her eyes on the road ahead, beyond the point where they would cross. Now all she had to do was maintain her speed and keep going.

  From the moment the car entered the intersection, everything became surreal. Her peripheral vision was filled with the monstrous front of the truck, directly to her side and bearing down on her. The blasting horn, the grinding of the engine and air brakes, were all swallowed up in Esther’s screams.

  The road was still stretched out in front of her, and Mairead had a vague realisation of the truck passing behind her, until the car jolted forward violently, wrenching the steering wheel from her grip. The car fishtailed across both sides of the road, as Mairead tried to regain control and resist applying the brakes. Somewhere in her head was all the repeated lectures James had given her about the mistakes people made in similar situations.

  Her foot was off the accelerator and only as the car veered to the side did she finally and very steadily push down on the brakes, while letting the car run along the ditch at the side and into a wire fence.

  They were thrown about until the car was dragged to a stop. Mairead was shaking violently clutching the steering wheel, as her stomach lurched. Struggling to open the door, she threw it open just in time to throw up in the grass. The cool air washed over her as she continued to retch and spit bile from her mouth.

  The monstrous grill of the truck kept rushing at her, over and over as if indelibly printed in her mind. She felt a hand clutch her shoulder, and when she could breathe again, she looked back over the seat to see Esther leaning forward, trying to talk, with no words coming out.

  “James?” Was all Mairead could manage herself.

  Esther nodded as Mairead shifted around and dared to look at the unconscious man in her arms. Esther was clutching him against her, and his face looked pale and distressed. Mairead watched his bloodied chest and saw the slight rise and fall. The bleeding seemed to have stopped. She reached out and touched him delicately, and felt sick again.

  Esther turned to look out the back window. Mairead released her seatbelt and pulled herself up to see as well.

  The truck was stopped and jack-knifed fifty or so metres from where they had crossed paths. A car door, a tyre and metal were strewn across the road, near the intersection. The rest of the car was crushed under the trailer. Further down, Mairead could see the truck driver climbing down from the cab. He staggered and sat down on the road, his arms resting on bent knees and his head hanging between them. She felt a surge of relief to see him and devastated for what he was going through.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  She couldn’t stop looking at him and a bitterness swept through her like an
avalanche.

  Esther was weeping, her voice stuttering as she continued trying to speak. “You did it… You… saved us.”

  Mairead stared at her, before returning her gaze to the twisted wreckage poking out from under the trailer. It occurred to her that she had just caused the death of all its occupants. She imagined the bodies within it and felt little more than a shiver to her already trembling body. There was no pity, no anger, nothing. When her eyes shifted to James she wanted to touch him again, but couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  “You have to go, Esther,” she said quietly. “The police will be on their way, and you should be gone before they get here. You can’t be caught up in this. You need to find Dylan and….”

  “She’s… dead,” Esther whispered, her face blank and her body shaking. “Tammy is dead. I saw her fall.”

  “Esther.” Mairead gripped her hand. “If the police find you here, they’re going to question you about Dylan.”

  Esther seemed to look right through her. “What do I do, Mairead?”

  “You get somewhere safe. You stay out of sight and you get hold of Dylan.”

  She nodded. “Yes.”

  Mairead sighed in frustration. “Esther, snap out of it, now. I need to know that you’re hearing what I’m telling you. Right now, Dylan is the only one who can help us and you need to get hold of him.”

  “I will. I’ll do it, I promise.” Esther breathed deeply. “You and James?”

  “We’re fine. Help will be here soon.”

  “Are you… are you alright, Mairead?”

  “Yes.”

  Esther gently shifted James onto the seat, before angrily forcing the door open in a hurry to get out. She breathed in the fresh air, holding on to the car for fear that her legs might give way. A few more breaths and she looked back into the car.

  “I’ll find him.”

  Mairead nodded absently, continuing to stare at James.