by Mark Arundel
Chapter 25
If the side that wins the auction then takes the contracted number of tricks, the pairing is said to have ‘made the contract’ and is awarded a score; otherwise, the contract is defeated and points are awarded to the opponents.
Stephen Bradshaw was relaxed, and cocky with it. His two goons looked pleased, too. They were probably happy to see me bleeding. Bradshaw was enjoying having the upper hand. It was clear he thought he had gained control.
I shouldn’t have been surprised to see them. I had wondered what had happened to them. At least it proved one thing. If they had had orders to kill Geoffrey then they didn’t have them anymore.
I knew how they had found us again. They followed the Russians. They must have watched them take Maria from her shop after the Russians had found the damaged parked car close by, and then tailed them to the villa.
They had probably been watching the villa and seen Geoffrey and Maria leave. They would have had more than enough opportunity to deal with Geoffrey if they had wanted to.
I smiled at Bradshaw and said, ‘Thanks for your help with the Russians.’
He smiled back and replied, ‘I knew you could handle it.’ He pointed at my blood-stained t-shirt. Without concern, he said, ‘You’re hurt.’
Geoffrey and Maria had walked up behind me but neither of them spoke. Geoffrey studied my blood-stained t-shirt. He asked, ‘Your stitches?’ I confirmed with a single nod.
Bradshaw said, ‘It’s time we talked.’
I said, ‘Let’s sit in the car.’
Bradshaw responded with a confident nod of approval and I began to walk towards him.
Geoffrey whispered ‘I’m scared; please, can we just leave.’
Maria didn’t say anything. I think she was still suffering following her ordeal at the hands of three Russians. After all, they had kidnapped her at the point of a gun.
Geoffrey’s plea for us to leave immediately—he wanted to escape from what he saw as potential danger—made me reconsider our position. The only danger I could see was that if Bradshaw now had orders to not only to kill Geoffrey but me, also. If that were the case then he might have waited to see what happened with the Russians before making a move, and now with me still alive and together again with Geoffrey, he could be planning to deal with us both at the same time.
I said, ‘Let’s sit in the 4x4; it’s closer and bigger.’ I maintained my friendly expression but in my mind, I was considering all the options and I allowed the back of my hand to brush the Glock covertly in my waistband. I wanted to be certain I could pull it quickly—if I had to.
I used the remote to unlock the doors and suggested to Geoffrey that he sit in the back with Maria.
I said to Bradshaw, ‘You and I can sit in the front. Your men can wait outside.
Bradshaw said, ‘No, alone; you and me alone.’
I said, ‘Well, the 4x4 belongs to Maria, so she won’t want to stay outside and Geoffrey’s scared, so he won’t either. I’ll make them hold their hands over their ears. Get in.’ Bradshaw looked at Treadwell and Baines and then he got in.
I pulled the driver’s door shut and put the key in the ignition at the same time.
Maria and Geoffrey sat quietly.
I said, ‘Cover your ears, children. Uncle Stephen and I need to have a little chat.’ Nobody laughed.
My torn stitches were smarting badly, so all I could manage myself was a weak chuckle.
Bradshaw said, ‘Your only way out of this now is to trust me.’
I asked, ‘Why’s that?’
He said, ‘We’ve been given the run around by Charlotte. She’s been protecting her boss. We’re going to make things right.’
I asked, ‘What the hell does that mean?’
Bradshaw glanced at Geoffrey on the back seat. It was clear the man from military intelligence was uncomfortable with the subject of this discussion.
He said, ‘Charlotte used to work with…,’ he paused. ‘That doesn’t matter. After Meriwether left, he and Charlotte remained close. They think they know it all but they don’t. They…’
I interrupted and said, ‘I don’t care about your personal infighting. You and Charlotte got me into this. Those Russians are very real and so is that assassin sent by China, and so are the local police. I’m lucky to be alive and so is Geoffrey. While you and Charlotte have been squabbling over whose ball it is, I’ve been scrapping for our lives. It doesn’t matter who gets the recognition for uncovering the traitor. Just get it done, so we can all go home.’
In that moment, I realised, by the abrupt change of expression on Bradshaw’s face that he understood something, which he had not understood before. Then he did something, which took me by surprise. He went for his gun. It was in a shoulder holster beneath his loose-fitting linen jacket. He actually got it out and almost targeted me with it before I reacted. I knocked the gun away with the back of my hand and then hit him hard with a chop to his throat. It made him choke and he flapped like a fish on the deck of a boat. I easily grappled the gun from his hand and then, concerned about Treadwell and Baines, fired the engine and spun away with the tyres spitting stones and dust. Fresh blood ran from the open gash across my ribs and I felt a sharp pain from the torn stitches.
I drove away fast. I wanted to put distance between us and Treadwell and Baines. In the village, I turned east and raced uphill to the roundabout where the last exit led us south along the coastline. I had already decided on where I was going to go.
Bradshaw held his hands to his throat while grimacing with pain. He kept making a strange clicking noise while he struggled to swallow.
I said, ‘The cartilage protecting your windpipe is damaged. It’s only bruising but it’ll be sore for a day or two.’ He didn’t reply. ‘Why did you pull the gun?’ He remained silent. ‘Bradshaw, tell me, what’s going on?’
The cars ahead began to slow. They had to wait for two cars that were exchanging a parking space. I slowed the 4x4 and stopped in the queue. Before I could react, Bradshaw opened his door and fled. I watched him dart across the road and then disappear up a side street. The traffic started to move. There was no point in going after him. I drove on.
Chapter 26
STEPHEN BRADSHAW
He ran across the road and onto the side street seeking cover behind a row of parked cars. He kept running. The road was steep and he tired quickly. His pace slowed and only then did he look back. He searched. Good, they weren’t behind him. The combination of his breathing and his heart rate sounded like a strong gale raging in his ears. He gently rubbed his painful throat and swallowed. It hurt. He realised he was sweating and pulled out a large white handkerchief which he dabbed along his hairline as though polishing something of great importance. He checked again but it was okay, they weren’t giving chase. He lit a cigarette and inhaled cautiously. It hurt. He took another slow drag and then threw it down. The burning cigarette rolled away on the dry slope leaving a wave of grey smoke that vanished in the sunlight.
‘Come and get me,’ he said.
‘Where are you?’ Treadwell asked.
Bradshaw didn’t know where he was. ‘Get in the car and come and find me,’ he said. He fought to keep the annoyance from his voice without success.
‘Can you give me any clues?’ Treadwell asked. He fought to keep the amusement from his voice. He also failed.
‘About a mile south along the seafront road,’ Bradshaw said. ‘Five minutes. I’ll flag you from the pavement.’ He ended the call. It hurt to speak. He gently rubbed his throat again and cursed softly. What was Charlotte playing at? It was all Meriwether’s doing. Of that, Bradshaw was certain. Why hadn’t they confided in him? His instructions had been plain: to carry out a sanctioned termination on Geoffrey Button. Then Charlotte had gotten involved, insisting on using this new man. There hadn’t even been any time for a proper briefing let alone any operational training. She knew all that. She had just waved it away with her usual ‘I know best’ attitude. He now realised the re
ason for the new man was to prevent anyone killing Button, not just by a sanctioned termination but by other intelligence agencies as well. Why hadn’t Charlotte told him? He swore again. He hadn’t imagined coming to Tenerife would be dangerous, not with Treadwell and Baines for protection. It could have led him to his death. All three of them could be dead. It would have all been Charlotte’s fault. The thought didn’t console him. This new man doesn’t know what’s going on either; this soldier with the gun and the karate chop.
Bradshaw now wished he had stayed at home. Even though his wife was already mentioning Christmas and making lists. There were lists for everything. Why did he have to have lists? Didn’t she understand his importance? He didn’t have time for her lists. When he got home, he would tell her.
He wondered, as he had done before, whether there was something going on between Charlotte and Meriwether. Why else had she remained so close and risked so much? Bradshaw dismissed the thought. Not that he cared anyway. He just wished they would leave him alone.
He had reached the seafront. The sun was strong and he was still sweating. He wiped his forehead again with his handkerchief. He saw the car approaching and recognised Treadwell and Baines smiling through the windscreen. He signalled to them by waving his handkerchief above his head. It looked like he was giving the surrender.
Who was the traitor the soldier mentioned? Perhaps they thought he was the traitor. Bradshaw dismissed the idea as he did with all ideas he didn’t like.
‘Get onto VX [VX: Vauxhall Cross],’ he told Baines. ‘I want to find them again. This isn’t over.’
Chapter 27
Overtricks are tricks taken above the contract level.
I turned to Geoffrey sitting on the back seat. He had listened carefully to everything Bradshaw had said. I asked, ‘...so, what do you make of that?’
Geoffrey replied, ‘It was as if he panicked. Do you think he knows who the traitor is? Perhaps, he knows more about it than we thought.’ I was becoming confused again. I began to consider the possibility that Geoffrey and I had only one way out, which wasn’t by trusting Charlotte.
Maria hadn’t spoken. I glanced back at her. Her face was sickly white and wet with sweat. She was shaking and her breathing was irregular. I recognised the symptoms. They were common following an emotional trauma. I’d seen it before.
I said, ‘Geoffrey, put your arm around Maria. She’s gone into shock and you need to hold her. Geoffrey didn’t reply, but in the mirror, I saw him do as I asked. He hugged her tightly and she closed her eyes.
The traffic ahead was moving smoothly, which allowed me to drive past the turning I wanted. My concern over going to my chosen destination was twofold. Firstly, there was a chance the person wouldn’t be home yet and secondly, and more importantly if they were home the property might have a police watch. Yes, we were returning to the family holiday apartment of Doctor Jennifer Smithson. Driving slowly I scanned the vicinity of the turning before pulling over. I studied the road in my mirrors. It looked all clear.
Geoffrey said, ‘We’re going to Doctor Smithson’s.’
I confirmed his deduction by saying, ‘If she’s home yet from the police station.’
I drove back and turned onto her road. I approached the gates slowly, which were still open from when I had broken them and then stopped alongside. I was prepared to see a policeman patrolling the area but the complex was quiet and police officer free. I reversed in gradually, still cautious, and parked by the wall in the same spot as before. We sat for a few minutes while I listened and watched. Happy it was safe; we got out and went over to Jennifer’s apartment. I looked through the windows and saw Jennifer walk into the kitchen. Deciding it was unlikely the police chief would have the spare manpower to send a guard and knowing that Doctor Smithson would vehemently refuse one anyway, I rang the doorbell.
She answered with a sanguine expression and pulled the door wide open. She said, ‘I didn’t expect to see you again.’ However, I got the feeling that secretively she was pleased I had returned.
I said, ‘Do you have a police guard?’
She shook her head and smiled. ‘They didn’t even offer one. You’re safe.’ She closed the door behind us and then turned back and saw me holding my blood-stained side. She said, ‘You’ve pulled your stitches out.’
I nodded and said, ‘Yes, I have but that can wait.’ I pointed at our estate agent companion and explained, ‘This is Maria. She’s had a frightening and emotional experience and I think she’s in shock.’
While Doctor Smithson started an examination of Maria she asked me, ‘What happened?
I said, ‘Three Russian men kidnapped her at gunpoint.’ Jennifer turned and looked at me aghast.
Geoffrey told her that I had rescued her. He didn’t mention that it was my fault the three Russians had kidnapped her in the first place. I smiled at him.
Jennifer continued her examination of Maria and I sat down and began my own close examination of my torn stitches. With my head bowed, my concentration was taken up by my wound, which meant the female voice took me completely by surprise.
‘Hello, again,’ she said. I spun rapidly to look and saw, standing in the balcony doorway, the slim, dark figure of Xing.
Chapter 28
In some countries, the rules require that after the hand is played for the first time, the players write the hands down on a score sheet, which can be consulted later if the cards are accidentally mixed up.
I stared at her. Although my hand had automatically gone for the Glock, I hadn’t pulled it.
She was still, with an open but expressionless face that held my eyes. Her hands were empty and outstretched with the palms turned upwards.
When I’d been deciding on whether to return to Doctor Jennifer Smithson’s I hadn’t thought about Xing, let alone believed it possible she might be there. Now, as I stared at her, I realised it was quite reasonable she should be there. After all, she was Jennifer’s patient and, after the local police released her, it was perfectly understandable for Jennifer to take Xing home with her. Naturally, she would want to ensure her patient recovered fully.
From Xing’s position, with her bullet wound, she probably realised staying close to a doctor was a good idea, and anyway, she would have needed somewhere to go while she waited for information on her target’s location. I was assuming Geoffrey was still her target and that nobody had called her off or that she had had a sudden change of heart.
The silence had already been too long. I knew my staring was obvious to everyone, although not the reason.
Xing had surprised me and now, as I looked at her, I felt the bite of attraction, which she had seeded earlier, squash my chest like a ten-tonne truck.
I fought to refocus. I considered if her open, friendly approach was genuine or the result of her not having a gun.
I remained seated and said, ‘I wasn’t expecting to see you again quite so soon.’
She came into the room and walked closer to me. Her finger pointed to my fresh blood and she said, ‘You’ve been fighting.’
I stood up and said, ‘Put your hands on your head.’
She silently obeyed and then she said, ‘If you’re not going to trust me you should kill me.’
I gave her a look, which said it was not such a bad idea and then I asked Geoffrey to search her.
Geoffrey said, ‘If it’s okay I’d rather not. I don’t want to get too close to her.’
I handed over the Glock and he took it. I said, ‘Point this at her; and if you do have to fire it make sure I’m out of the way first.’
Geoffrey held the gun with both hands just as I had taught him and moved to make the best angle of sight.
I ran my hands over Xing’s body to search for any concealed weapons. Her body moved gently against the pressure from my palms. The tension and anticipation between us sparked like a Catherine Wheel on bonfire night. She smelt of surgical spirit and honey blossom. My thorough search found nothing other than toned muscles and femi
nine curves.
I took the Glock back from Geoffrey. Xing stood motionless. Her hands remained on her head. She asked, ‘What now?’ I wondered if her ability to ask a good question was a skill that she had caught from Geoffrey.
I pointed the gun at her. I watched for a reaction. Her cool eyes never left mine.
Jennifer said, ‘What are you doing?’
I moved my arm and firmed up my aim but still, Xing’s eyes never flickered.
I said, ‘I’m going to tie you up, and then the good doctor can patch me up.’ I replaced the gun in my waistband and asked Jennifer if she had any rope or cord. There followed a disagreement over whether I should restrain Xing or not.
I said, ‘We’re not staying. We’re leaving once you’ve redone my stitches. It’s only for a few minutes. You can release her again as soon as we leave.’
Jennifer conceded to my wishes and found me two bathrobe ties. With Xing sitting in an armchair, and Geoffrey holding the gun, I tied her ankles and wrists together. I said to her, ‘Are you comfortable?’ She nodded and then she said, ‘What’s been happening since you left the yacht?’
I didn’t answer. I said to Jennifer, ‘Is Alicia’s father okay?’
Sounding like a doctor, she said, ‘Yes, he sustained a mild concussion, nothing serious.’ She added in a lighter voice, ‘I think his pride was more hurt.’