Sue drove them down New Hall Lane and into the Deepdale area. They soon pulled up outside the mill. Babik had asked Sue a few more questions about her hitman, but she’d batted them off with no worries. He could prove to be a regular asset, as long as Boldo could keep up his supply chain as promised.
They walked along the rear of the premises, where the building was blind with no windows, and the small rear yard was hidden from any nosy neighbours by a thick row of privet. Not that there were many neighbours, as most of the buildings around here were all commercial retail units.
Babik used a key to unlock the security chain, which allowed the bottom section of the fire escape to unfold and reach the ground. Once they were at the rear of the first-floor outer fire door, he rang Gill to let them in. Sue had asked him what the ‘other business’ was this morning, but he just told her that she would see soon enough. He had noted what he thought was a look of annoyance on her face, but it disappeared almost instantly. He ignored it, as he led her into the premises and into Gill’s private quarters.
Sitting in the same chair he’d used yesterday was Boldo. He stood up, and as Gill left them alone, Babik introduced Sue and then extolled her expertise, bringing Boldo up to date regarding the morning’s business down at Brockholes.
‘Wow, you run a slick outfit, Cornel. I think we are all going to make a lot of money here, and all over your island,’ Boldo said.
‘No offence, but may I have your phone?’ Boldo asked Sue.
Sue looked at Babik, who just shrugged. He wasn’t sure what was going on. Boldo then explained that he was a very secretive man, and when he met a new business associate he liked to control all the phones. That way, he couldn’t be accidentally photographed or recorded.
‘I can vouch for Sue,’ Babik said.
‘I truly mean no offence, but I feel that I must insist. Just this first time, if you please,’ Boldo said.
Babik was sure that Boldo hadn’t done the same when they first met, but knew that he was a very wary induvial and, as he didn’t want there to be a problem between them, he asked Sue to hand her phone over so they could get on. She did so, and stared intently at the device as she handed it over. But if she was worried about privacy, she needn’t have been, as Boldo paid it little attention as he placed it on the table in front of him. Babik noticed Sue’s shoulders relax as he did so.
*
Vinnie found a spot at the rear of Red Scar Industrial Estate, which was a large retail and commercial place on the east side of the city. In a quiet spot he found an overflowing rubbish container, which looked not to have been disturbed for a long time. In fact, the units near it all looked abandoned, too. He parked the car a little distance away, hidden from sight; he’d sort out its recovery later. He then returned to the overflowing skip and set it alight, then hurried back to the main service road and slowly walked away.
Once at a distance he thought was safe, he looked back over his shoulder and could see plumes of black smoke rising into the air. If Babik came with Sue to pick him up, he could point at the smoke. Hopefully, by then the fire brigade would be there and Babik wouldn’t want to hang around. Vinnie thought that actually, Babik would just send Sue out to get him on her own, but he had to play it safe. A lot was at stake here.
He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialled Sue’s number.
*
No sooner had Boldo put Sue’s phone on the table, than it rang and started to dance across the shiny surface. All three of them stared at it until Sue spoke. ‘It’ll be my man,’ she said.
Boldo picked it up and looked at the screen before he handed it back to Sue. She took the call which was very brief, and simply said, ‘See you in 10,’ before she hung up and put the phone back onto the table.
‘My man’s at Red Scar, he’s set the car on fire and needs collecting,’ she said.
But before Babik could reply, Gill popped her head around the door, and said, ‘Just to let you know that the two new girls have just arrived, I’ll settle them into their rooms.’
Babik thanked Gill, and Boldo said, ‘Excellent!’ before adding, ‘Come Cornel, I’ll introduce you.’ He picked up Sue’s phone. ‘We’ll only be a minute, Sue,’ he said, making it clear to Babik that he wanted Sue to wait in the room for them.
‘It’s OK, I’ll go and get my man,’ Sue said.
‘Just wait, please Sue. We’ll come with you, I want to meet your man,’ Boldo said.
Babik noted that Boldo didn’t wait for a reply, but turned briskly on his heels and headed to the door. Again, Babik shrugged at Sue as she plonked herself in Boldo’s chair with an audible sigh.
*
In his call, Vinnie told Sue that he would meet her by the main road which passed the entrance to the estate. He got the impression she was not alone, so didn’t risk asking her whether the women had arrived safely. He’d find out in 10 minutes. He then set off, walking away from the main site, and could hear the air horns of an emergency vehicle approaching from distance. Someone must have called in his rubbish fire. He took the opportunity to give Harry a quick ring and bring him up to date. When he’d finished, Harry added that he had seen Sue and Babik arrive at the front and walk around to the rear, but nothing else.
‘You got a view of the rear?’ Vinnie asked.
‘Can’t get near it, unfortunately, and the car park at the front is too small to get lost on,’ Harry answered.
‘Where are you then?’ Vinnie asked.
‘On Deepdale Mill Street itself, set back on the opposite side of the road with a long distant view of the approaches to it. Best I can find,’ Harry said.
Vinnie knew it would be difficult, and with little notice they couldn’t get anything more professional in place. They’d have to wing it. He just hoped Harry would see the women arrive, if they came whilst Sue was picking him up. Harry said he would stay vigilant whilst she was away.
Vinnie knew that this could go horribly wrong as easily as it could go right.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Babik followed Boldo into the hall and as soon as the door to Gill’s apartment closed behind them, he spun around and said, ‘Forget the girls for now.’
‘Never thought you wanted to see them; what’s going on?’
‘Not happy with your Sue woman,’ Boldo said.
‘Meaning what, exactly?’
‘I think she is a cop.’
Babik hadn’t seen that coming and thought it ironic, given the circumstances. He had to supress a smile. Boldo clearly had good instincts, but he dare not tell him the truth. He knew Sue was good, but telling Boldo that she used to be a cop before she became bent would not be an easy sell. So he argued her case and tried his best to reassure Boldo that he was right to be cautious; but wrong in Sue’s case.
‘I intend to find out the truth,’ Boldo said.
Babik gave one of his shrugs; he knew that there was nothing to find, but if looking kept his swarthy associate happy? Well, so be it.
‘If she is a cop, you know what this means?’ Boldo added.
Babik wasn’t sure if Boldo was being obvious here, but went along in order to appease him and asked, ‘What?’
‘It means that her hitman friend is also a cop.’
‘But if she if not a cop, and I can tell you that she is not; then he is also not a cop,’ Babik countered.
Boldo didn’t answer straight away, but after a pause, he said, ‘Granted, but let me ask you this: did the assassin show you any proof of death? Any camera phone photos of the women before they… went fishing?’
It was Babik’s time to stop and think. He had not seen such proof, and Babik said so, though their meeting at Brockholes had been brief, it did start to gnaw away a little. He would have expected it, had he not forgotten to ask. But truth be known, he trusted Sue so he had let his guard slip a little concerning her man. ‘Look, I trust Sue.’ It was all he could think to say, again; but Boldo had planted a seed of doubt.
‘We’ll soon find out when we al
l go to collect him, but we just need to be on our guard,’ Boldo said.
This time, Babik didn’t argue, but did ask, ‘How will you know, even if he does have photos to show us?’
‘I will know. Photos can be staged, but regardless, I will know. I have an infallible instinct, especially when it comes to sniffing out filth. I am never wrong,’ Boldo said.
Babik just nodded as he tried to shrug off Boldo’s suspicion. But the seed of doubt was starting to take root.
‘You armed?’ Boldo asked.
‘No, but there is one hidden under the floorboards in the first bedroom,’ Babik answered.
‘Just in case,’ Boldo said, and Babik rushed off down the corridor, where he retrieved the gun and re-joined Boldo near the door to Gill’s flat. They paused for a second and Babik turned to face Boldo. ‘I know you are wrong, but if you are right, I’ll sort it.’
‘OK, I suggest we pick her man up and head for somewhere quiet.’
‘I know the perfect spot, and it’s only two minutes away from where we are meeting him,’ Babik said.
‘So, let’s go meet him then,’ Boldo said, as they both walked back into the room.
Boldo said that he would hang on to Sue’s phone for a while and Babik could see that Sue was more than a little irritated. Perhaps he should step in and overrule Boldo? He was all for good security, but this fellow was taking it to extremes. He also felt guilty at letting Boldo place a doubt in him about Sue. But it would probably be safer to play along — and then he could tell him, “told you so!”
As they entered the car park, Babik grabbed the keys from Sue as Boldo headed towards the front passenger seat. Sue took the hint and got in the back behind him. She could keep an eye on Boldo, Babik thought.
As they drove down Ribbleton Avenue towards the Red Scar Industrial Estate’s main entrance, Sue pointed out her man walking towards them. Babik also saw him a moment later, and started to pull over. As they stopped, Boldo’s phone rang and he busied himself answering it, talking quietly. He turned away from Babik as did so. Sue opened the rear passenger door behind Boldo. Her Mr X rushed over and quickly got in.
‘Best get out of here, the fire brigade and the cops have just turned up,’ Mr X said.
Babik asked why, and he told him.
‘Best duck down until we are clear away,’ Babik said, and he saw him via his rear view mirror hunker down behind Boldo who was still turned away, whispering into his phone.
*
Vinnie did as instructed and slid down in his seat as far as he could go. He risked a glance at Sue and mouthed the words, ‘Everything OK?’
She shrugged. Vinnie nodded once towards the front passenger seat and mouthed, ‘Boldo?’ Sue gave him the tiniest of nods. He asked if the girls had arrived and she nodded once more.
He tried to hear what Boldo was saying, but couldn’t. Then, after a few seconds, Boldo stopped talking, having finished his call.
Vinnie couldn’t see where they were going, but he felt the car take a sharp turn and by the way it bounced around they were now on an unmade road. He tried to get a glimpse of Boldo, but couldn’t. His back was starting to ache now and as they had obviously turned off the main road he asked if it was safe to sit up. Babik said that it was, and pulled the car to a stop.
Vinnie reached into his pocket for his phone; Boldo was with them, the new girls were safe; it was time to call it in. But he didn’t know where they were.
He looked around desperately for a landmark, but saw none. He could hear traffic noise in the distance, so knew they were not far from the main road. But all he could see were built up mounds of earth at the side of the rough track they were on. The earth looked excavated, like the middle of a building site where the diggers had just finished their first day. He saw the Boldo man lean towards Babik and whisper something in his ear. He still only saw Boldo from the rear. Beyond that, he noticed that the track came to an end, a sort of cul-de-sac surrounded by high earth. ‘Where are we?’ he asked Sue as he fished his phone out at last. But Sue didn’t answer. She was staring forwards.
Vinnie instinctively looked ahead. Boldo was back in his seat, hidden behind his chair back and headrest. Babik had turned fully around from the driver’s side and was facing them both. Vinnie realised something was wrong as he pulled his mobile phone out in front of him and Babik spoke.
‘I’ll take that,’ he said.
‘Just need to make a call to a mate,’ Vinnie replied.
‘No you don’t,’ Babik said.
‘What?’ Vinnie shouted, as Babik pulled a semi-automatic pistol from his rear waistband and pointed it directly at his chest.
‘Phone, now,’ Babik demanded.
Vinnie handed it over.
‘And your gun; left hand, finger and thumb only, and very, very slowly.’
‘I’ve no longer got it,’ Vinnie said.
Then he saw the fire of discharge leap from the end of Babik’s gun, just before he heard the roar of its report.
Chapter Sixty-Three
Christine finished the paperwork for the new hire car and then rang June in the office to update her. Then, she headed out in the direction of Deepdale.
She had been looking for a derelict building the last time she was there, and it had been dark. Vinnie had said it was a working textile mill, situated in a recess off Deepdale Mill Street, so it should be easy to spot now. She wasn’t entirely sure what she would do when she found it, but twiddling her journalistic thumbs back at the hotel was not an option.
Once there, she soon found a likely-looking venue, set back from the road with a small car park in front. The building’s gable end faced the main road. She risked driving past twice, but couldn’t really see anything of note, so she started to look around for somewhere to park up, from where she might see some of the comings and goings.
It was then that she noticed an recess on the opposite side of the road. It had a lone car parked in it, but looked big enough to take two or three vehicles.
Then she recognised the place, it was where she’d found that punter’s van empty — the guy who had been thrown from the motorway bridge. Damn, if she’d only realised how close she’d been at the time! Then she got her second surprise. The lone car had someone in its driver’s seat. She was about to abort her turn, to try to find somewhere else, when she realised the driver was smiling and waving at her. It was Harry. She parked her car and joined him.
‘What’re you doing here?’ he asked, as she closed the passenger-side door. She told him and he said she could double up with him. Harry said he’d be glad of the company.
‘Any sign of the women?’ she asked.
‘No, but to be honest I could have missed them. Apart from the limited view there are an unusually large number of wagons that keep traversing this road and blocking the view.’
Christine asked if Harry had heard from Vinnie, and he told her that Vinnie had called him quickly as he was waiting for Sue to collect him from Red Scar. Harry also told her that he’d seen Sue leave the mill in a car with two men whom he took to be Boldo and Babik. But that was a while ago.
‘Did you get the car number?’ Christine asked instinctively, before feeling her cheeks redden as she remembered she was talking to a detective superintendent. But Harry didn’t show any annoyance and confirmed that he had. He added that he had also passed the details over the radio with strict instructions for patrols to note and report any sightings only, and not to intervene or show any undue attention or reaction to the vehicle. He was just awaiting confirmation that the women had arrived safely, then he could call in the armed arrest teams, which were circling the area.
Then Harry’s phone rang and Christine watched as he took the call. He didn’t say much, but appeared to be listening intently and Christine saw his visage darken. A long pause was followed by the words, ‘I’m close by, let me scope it out as you move the arrest teams up to Red Scar ready to be called in.’ Harry ended the call and turned to face Christine.
> ‘Women found?’ she proffered.
‘Not yet, but the car I saw leave here has just been seen turning down a rough track near Red Scar, with four on board.’
‘Sounds like they have picked up Vinnie,’ she said.
‘I know we should let Sue and Vinnie control things, but I don’t like the sound of this,’ Harry said.
Christine had to admit that neither did she, but she trusted Harry’s instincts just as she trusted Vinnie’s.
‘We going for a nosy?’ she asked.
‘Dead right, and I’m glad you are here, it will look less suspicious if we are seen. You can pretend to be my daughter,’ Harry said.
Christine was excited and fearful in equal measures, but it looked like she might get her scoop after all. She suggested that she drove, so Harry could work his phone or radio, should he need to.
*
Vinnie’s ears rang from the noise of the gun’s discharge in such a confined space. He looked with incredulity at the hole in the rear seat between him and Sue as it rained stuffing particles all around them.
‘Next time, it’ll be through your gut. Gun, now,’ Babik said. Vinnie was aware that Boldo was now looking directly at him, too, but only through his peripheral vision. He couldn’t take his eyes off the gun; Babik was aiming it at him at point blank range. He knew he had no options and couldn’t risk Sue’s life. The warning shot had narrowly missed her. He gingerly withdrew his gun as instructed and handed it over.
Vinnie had no idea what had gone wrong, but if he was compliant and remained in character, maybe he could talk this situation around. Babik took the gun and passed it to Boldo, who looked down as he checked it and then pointed it at Vinnie.
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