Stone Fall
Page 16
The Volvo was parked outside behind the van Larson had used. The van’s hazard lights still blinked. Reg sat in the driver’s seat with Frank beside him. Melody had climbed in the back and was pulling the seat belt across Angel.
Harvey walked up the few steps to the pavement and stood beside the car. He turned and watched Adeo come up the steps, his huge legs hauling his massive weight. Harvey studied his face; he was, without question, related to Julios. It was like an old memory, like thinking of a face you used to know, but you can’t quite place the features correctly.
Adeo had Julios’ nose, his family nose, and his jawline was wide and strong like his brother’s had been. But Adeo’s brow was deeper, which gave him a dumb look. He was also bigger than Julios had been. Harvey remembered Julios telling him that he was the eldest of the two, and had cared for his younger sibling, as Hannah had cared for Harvey.
“Fond memories, Harvey?” said Stimson.
“Ancient history.”
“Talking of ancient history,” she gestured to the box.
“What’s the plan?”
“I call him, he tells us where to meet.“
“Then what?” asked Harvey.
“You give me the buddha, I go meet him.”
“And?”
“He shows himself, you take him out, Mills here gives me my daughter back.”
“Somebody needs to go to prison here,” said Frank. He’d climbed out of the car and stood leaning on the Audi’s roof. “You know the score, Stimson.”
“I don’t see why it needs to get nasty, Franky.”
Frank stared at her shaking his head.
“What?” said Stimson, “Surprised you’ve been outwitted by a woman all these years?”
Harvey stared at her too. She was worthy of a stare. She obviously looked after herself. Harvey judged her as early thirties, his age, but knew better. She’d been on the scene since he was young, he’d heard the stories.
Beneath her long fur coat, she wore a tight red dress and matching heels. She was strikingly beautiful with a figure that most men would fall for.
“It’s rude to stare, Harvey. Didn’t Julios teach you that?” said Stimson, turning to Harvey.
Adeo grinned.
“Your time’s up, Stimson. When this is over, you’ll be taking a holiday,” said Frank.
“That’s right, I need a break, some time with my daughter perhaps.”
“Her Majesty's pleasure, Stimson.”
“Oh, Franky.“
“Work with us, and I’ll see all things are considered.”
“All things are considered? What things, Frank?”
“The robbery for a start?”
“Wasn’t me.”
“Larson?”
“Larson who?”
“Lucas Larson, your number one.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never seen or spoken to anyone named Larson, have I, Adeo?”
The big man shook his head and jutted his lower lip out in denial.
“You have nothing on me, Carver.”
“People have died, you callous bitch.“
“I don’t think there’s much need for that kind of language in front of my daughter if you wouldn’t mind.”
“You can’t get away with this,” said Frank.
“I take you to Al Sayan, you let me go.”
“You take us to Al Sayan, you get your daughter back, that was the deal.”
A mobile phone began to ring. The noise came from Stimson’s clutch.
“Mind if I get this? It’s kind of life and death.”
She pulled the sleek looking smartphone from her bag, tapped the screen with a perfectly manicured nail and held the phone to her ear. Harvey saw the glistening earring beside the phone and the sparkling ring on her finger. He followed the contours of her body and saw the bright watch on her slender arm beneath the fur sleeve.
She pulled the phone from her ear, disconnected the call and put it back in her bag. She snapped the clutch shut with finality.
“Tower Bridge, one hour.”
22
Love Thy Beast
Melody, Frank and Reg travelled in the Volvo, while Harvey and Stimson rode in the little Porsche. The buddha rode in the Porsche’s small rear seat, and Adeo followed in the van.
“He wants me alone,” said Stimson.
“I’m sure he’s not the only man out there that wants you alone, Stimson.”
“I’m sure.” She smiled, pleased at his recognition of her looks.
“I’m sure there’s a few men out there ready to choke the life out of you,” said Harvey. He didn’t face her, he carried on looking out the window. He felt her smile fade.
“Any police on the scene and he hits the bang button,” she said.
“Any idea where he’s planted it?”
“He didn’t say.”
“Taxis?”
“He didn’t say.”
“So it could be nothing? He might not have anything.”
“Bit of risk though, Harvey, isn’t it?”
“Frank’s got the river police standing by, and there’ll be armed police all over.”
“What Al Sayan doesn’t know shouldn’t hurt him,” said Stimson.
“Oh it’ll hurt alright, but it won't be the police that hurts him.”
Stimson looked across at Harvey. “You’re not going to hand him over are you?”
“He’s got a debt to pay,” said Harvey.
There was a silence.
“And me?” said Stimson.
“What about you?”
“Haven’t I a debt to pay?”
“Not really. It's a transaction. You give me Al Sayan, and you get your daughter back. As you said, Frank probably doesn’t have anything on you anyway.”
“So he’ll stand by his word, will he?”
“Most honest man I know.”
“That doesn’t say much, you grew up with villains.”
“Pot, kettle,” said Harvey.
“Pot, kettle,” agreed Stimson.
“Ever wished you did something else?” asked Harvey.
“Like ordinary people?” replied Stimson. “No, I wasn't made for that life.” Stimson checked her rearview mirror.
“She’s still there,” said Harvey. “You can trust Melody.”
“She’s cute.”
Harvey didn’t reply. Melody overtook them on Upper Thames Street and sped off to get in position.
“Some might say,” replied Harvey.
“Have I come between y-“
“You’ve come between nothing, Stimson,” snapped Harvey. “What you have stepped into though is a team of very angry people who just lost their friend because of you. And I’ll be honest, I don’t know how long I can keep this friendly charade up for. It’s your fault we’re in this, and I’m doing my very best not to lean across this car and rip your throat out.”
“I had to.”
“Had to what?”
“Bring you into it,” replied Stimson. “You would have got wind of it anyway, you were supposed to fall for the decoy.”
“The manor house?”
“Yes, you should have been concentrating all your efforts into understanding how on earth anyone could carry out a heist in such a place.”
“That's ridiculous, I took one look and knew it was impossible.”
“Ah, but impossible is my speciality, right?”
“You go for the hard to get, I’ll give you that.”
“Is that what you are, Harvey? Hard to get?”
Harvey didn’t reply.
“If you’d have just stayed out in Essex, you’d have been fine,” said Stimson.
“You dumped a body in my house.”
“Al Sayan did. Killing’s not my style remember?”
“Right.”
“What about the fake cop?”
“Ah, that was me.”
“Not very well planned, I saw through it. Plus we got you on the dash cam.”
“It was last minute, you shouldn’t have followed us.”
“In fact, I’ve seen through all your plans and schemes.”
“It’s not been my finest hour, Harvey, I’ll admit that, but the stakes were high.”
“Angel.”
Stimson nodded.
“You need to disappear after this.”
“I know, I’ve made the arrangements.”
“Where?”
Stimson raised her eyebrows.
“Worth a try,” said Harvey.
“Join me?”
It was Harvey’s turn to give Stimson a look.
“Worth a try. I bet a man like you could take care of a girl like me. There must be a lot of women out there that sat and stared at you wondering what you’d be like. Wondered how it would feel to have a beast on top of them, what it would be like dancing with the devil. A moment of taboo ecstasy perhaps?” She paused. “How about it?”
“I’m not for hire.”
“I wouldn’t be paying, not cash anyway.”
Harvey heard a click on his ear-piece. “Mills in place.”
“ETA one minute,” replied Harvey.
“Is that her?” Stimson asked. “She’s a lucky girl.”
“I’m not her type.”
“But she’s yours?”
“Talk me through the plan.”
I stop the car here.” She pulled over in St Katherine’s Way, which was on the north side of Tower Bridge and on the opposite side of the road to the Tower of London. “I climb up those steps, walk to the middle of the bridge and give Al Sayan the buddha.”
“Then?”
“Then I come back, and your sweetheart gives me my daughter back.”
“And Al Sayan?”
“Not my problem.”
“Al Sayan is in position,” said Melody. “I have him in my sight.”
Harvey looked away from Stimson. “Sit tight Melody. He’s placed something somewhere.”
“Say again?”
“There’s one more package. His fall back plan.”
“But there were only three taxis?”
“I’m thinking the meeting on the bridge isn’t just a convenient location.”
“Say hello from me, won’t you?” said Stimson.
“Save the girly chat for when you see her and tell her yourself,” said Harvey, getting out of the car. “Grab the buddha and let’s go.”
“You’re going with me?”
“You don’t think I’m going to stand and watch you walk away with that thing do you?” Harvey strode towards the stairs up to the bridge. Stimson locked the car and chased after him.
“He’ll blow it up, all the people.“
“Harvey, are you sure about this?” said Melody over the comms.
“What people?” Harvey turned and squared up to her. “So far it’s all been about you, hasn’t it? And if it hasn’t been about you, it’s been about your daughter or you not going to prison, or you trying to break me down. You just lost Lucas Larson, a taxi driver lost his life, and God knows about the other two and what about all those people in Canary Wharf? And what about-“
“Denver?” said Stimson. “Is that it? You finally lost someone too, so now you’re mad. Well, good. That’s what we need, that's what this city needs right now is for Harvey Stone to get mad and stop Al Sayan.”
“So tell me where his next target is, tell me where I need to be.”
“You need to be up there with me, you need to chuck the lunatic off the bridge.”
“Is that what you want or is that what he wants?” said Harvey. Stimson closed her mouth. “That's it, isn’t it? He wants me, and you’re going to let him take me.”
Stimson didn’t reply.
“And with me out of the way, you can go back to being the spoiled little bitch who gets all the diamonds.”
“I don’t want all the diamonds.” Stimson pulled a ring off her finger and threw it at Harvey. “I just want my daughter.” She stood in front of Harvey looking helpless, dejected and broken.
“Let's go.”
Stimson didn’t move, she just stood there in the road.
“Don’t give me that, pick up your ring up and get up those stairs. If you were upset, you’d have been upset before I told you she was safe.”
Harvey climbed to the top of the stairs, stood on the bridge and looked along it. The shape and length of the bridge meant he couldn’t see to the middle from where he stood. But he could see where Melody said she’d be, on the top section intended for maintenance. If Melody said Al Sayan was there already, then he was there.
He began to walk. Stimson had slipped off her heels and ran to catch Harvey up.
“Give me the buddha.”
“No, I need to-“
“Give me the buddha, Stimson.” He held out his hand.
“Wow, I like it when you’re angry.” She passed him the buddha. She had removed it from the box and its covering. Harvey felt it. It felt like any old ornament you might find in any old house. It was just sickly green.
“I’m not angry,” said Harvey.
“What are you then? Moody, quiet, sultry?”
“I’m focused. I’m taking this bastard down, and you’re a distraction. Or is that your game too? Distract me so he can kill me?”
Stimson didn’t reply.
“You’re smart, I know you’re smart. You don’t have to prove it, I’m smart too.” He gestured with the buddha. “Walk in front and walk fast.”
Harvey saw Al Sayan from a hundred yards away and checked his comms were open. The Arab was unmistakable in Harvey’s mind now. As Harvey walked forwards, he saw a large bag by Al Sayan’s feet. Harvey hid nothing, not even with the rage that was boiling inside of him, feeding him.
“Mr Harvey, thank you for joining us.”
“Let's make this short, shall we?” said Harvey.
“That’s fine by me, I see you’ve brought me a gift, how kind.”
“Stimson is blocking my view,” said Melody.
“Don’t get too close to him, Stimson,” said Harvey.
“I’m not wearing my vest,” said Al Sayan. He looked down to the bag by his feet.
“Where’s the explosives?”
Stimson moved back away from him and stood beside Harvey.
“If I tell you that, I lose my upper hand.” Al Sayan smiled. “Can’t we just carry out the transaction without the need for all the games and power play?”
Harvey didn’t reply.
“I didn’t think so” Al Sayan continued. “I know you took the brat, the offspring of this tart. So I took my own precautions. If you give me the buddha, and I walk away, who’s to say your other little slut friend won't shoot me in the back?”
Harvey didn’t reply.
“That's what I thought, Mr Harvey,” said Al Sayan. “That’s why you’re going wear this vest until I’m safely out of the way. I’ll call Stimson’s phone when you can take it off, and we can all go on with our lives.”
“As long as you’re here in this country, you won't be safe.”
“I’ll take my chances, Mr Harvey,” said Al Sayan. “Put the vest on.” He slid the bag across to Harvey with his foot.
You win some, you lose some, Mr Harvey. Isn’t that what you say?”
“And what is it you say?”
“I don’t, I just win. Put it on.”
Harvey picked up the bag off the floor carefully and unzipped it.
“It’s quite safe to handle.”
Harvey saw the police boat in the water below him. It had stopped other smaller vessels from passing under the bridge, Frank had obviously made some calls. The police boat was small, and an officer stood on the rear deck waving his hands to the other larger boats, which were mostly tourist vessels. Groups of people stood on the decks and happily snapped away at the attraction, oblivious to the danger as Harvey donned the vest.
“Zip it up. It’s quite snug,” said Al Sayan. “It’s my own work.”
&nbs
p; Harvey didn’t reply. He slid the zipper up to his chest. Stimson looked on at him wide-eyed.
“What the hell are you doing, Harvey?” said Melody over the comms.
Harvey stared at Stimson. “This is what you wanted, wasn’t it?”
“No, it’s not.”
“Stimson leaves now,” said Harvey.
“I don’t think so,” replied AL Sayan.
“Where’s the detonator?”
“Hidden. Inside the vest. But it’s okay, it’s fully automatic. All I have to do is call the phone that’s connected, and-“
“And?”
“It’ll all be over,” said Al Sayan.
“I’ll find you.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” replied Al Sayan. “Now pass me my prize.”
Harvey stopped. He controlled his breathing but could feel his heart racing.
He held his hand out in front of him. The jade buddha stared back at him.
“Put it on the floor, Mr Harvey. I don’t trust you.”
Harvey swung his hand out to his left and held the buddha over the water.
“Ball’s in your court, Al Sayan,” said Harvey. “Tell your man to back down.”
“Harvey no, stop,” cried Melody over the comms. Harvey heard the tone of her voice, she was ready to break.
“Is this what you call a stalemate?” asked Al Sayan.
“No, it’s what I call you telling your man to back down.”
Al Sayan held his phone up. “If I dial this number, we all die.”
“That solves the problem then, doesn’t it?”
“Harvey, no,” Stimson pleaded. “Just give him the buddha.”
“You should listen to her, she’s wise.”
“She’s smart, not wise. If she was wise, we wouldn't be standing here.”
“If you drop the buddha, more people die,” said Al Sayan coldly.
“If I drop the buddha, you die.”
“And then the people die.”
“I guess you could call them martyrs then, because if you die too, how many more lives will be saved?”
“I’m tired of these games, Mr Harvey.” Al Sayan’s voice grew harsher. “Put the buddha on the floor, or the people die.”
Harvey didn’t reply.
“Please, Harvey, don’t do this,” said Melody.
“Why do you want this so badly? You don’t look like a collector.”
“What does a collector look like? Or another way of looking at it, Mr Harvey, could be what is it I’m collecting?”