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HARDLANDINGFIRSTCHAPTER
TrishElliottranherhandacrossherstomachforthehundredthtimesinceshe’d
leftthedoctor’ssurgery.Itdidn’tfeelasiftherewasanewlifegrowinginside
her,itwasfartooearlyforanymovementorkicks,fartoosoonforthebabytobe
makingitspresencefelt.ButTrishhadknown,knownattheverymomentthat
Jonathonhadcomeinsideher,thatthistime,afteryearsoftrying,shewas
pregnant.She’dboughtapregnancytestkittheverynextdaybutithadbeen
negative,andshe’dgoneoutthedayafterthatandithadalsobeennegative.But
Trishhadknown,deepdowninsideshe’dknown,andathirdpregnancytesthad
confirmedwhatherbodyhadbeentellingher.Shewaspregnant,atlast.
Shehadn’tsaidanythingtoherhusbandandshe’dleftitanothermonthuntil
she’dgonetoseeherdoctor,butnowtherewasnodoubt.Pregnant.She
whisperedthewordtoherselfassheparkedthecaratthesideoftheroad,
relishingthesoundofit.‘I’mpregnant,’shesaidsoftly.‘Iampregnant.Iam
havingababy.’Shewantedtorundownthestreetandtelleverybody,toshoutit
tothesky,tophoneeveryfriendandrelativeshehad.Butshealsoenjoyedthefact
theshehadsuchadelicioussecret.Sheknew.Thedoctorknew.Andthatwasall.
Forawhileatleast,thebabybelongedsolelytoher.
Sheswitchedofftheengineandshuffledacrosstositinthepassengerseat.Her
husbandlovedtodrive.Itwasn’tamachothing,itwasn’tthathedidn’ttrustherat
thewheel,itwasjustthatheenjoyeddrivingsomuchthatshewashappytolet
1
himdoit.Trishthoughtthatshewasprobablythebetterdriverofthetwo.She
tookmorecare,followedtheHighwayCodereligiously,checkedhermirrors
constantly,andwasalwayshappytoletothermotoristsgetaheadofher.
Jonathon,wellJonathondrovelikeaman,therewasnogettingawayfromit.But
heenjoyeddrivingsoshesatinthepassengerseatandwaitedforhimtoleavethe
office.
Thatwassomethingelsethatwasgoingtochange,shethoughtwithasmile.
Jonathonhadpromised,crossedhisheartandpromised,thatwhentheyhada
familyhe’dgetadeskjob.Nomorelatenights,nomoreweeksawayfromhome,
nomoreputtinghislifeontheline.He’dpromised.He’dtakearegularjob,with
regularhours,andhe’dbethereforherwhensheneededhim.Someoneelsecould
taketherisks,someoneelsecouldgettheglory.He’dbeahusbandandfather.A
familyman.He’dpromisedandshewouldkeephimtoit.
Shesawherhusbandwalkingalongthepavementtowardsthecarandshe
waved.Jonathongotintothecarandgaveherakissonthecheek.Ashepulled
away,Trishslippedherhandaroundhisneckandpushedherlipsagainsthis,
kissinghimdeeply.Hekissedherback,withpassion,andslidhishanddownto
cupherbreast.
‘Thatwasnice,’hesaidasshefinallyreleasedhim.
‘Youdeserveit,’shesaid.
‘Forwhat?’Hestartedtheengineandrevvedtheacceleratorashealwaysdid,
boy-racerstyle.
2
‘Forbeingsuchagoodhusband.’Shestrokedhisthighandsmiledtoherself.
Shewasn’tgoingtotellhimyet,notuntilthetimewasabsolutelyright.Thefood
wasintheboot,alltheingredientsforhisfavouritemeal.Andabottleofhis
favouritewine.She’donlyhaveasiptocelebrateandthatwouldbethelast
alcoholshe’dtouchuntilthebabywasborn.Shewasn’tgoingtodoanythingthat
wouldremotelyjeopardisethehealthofherchild.Theirchild.Thechildthey’d
beenwaitingforforalmostthreeyears.Theirdoctorhadinsistedthattherehad
beennomedicalreasonforherinabilitytoconceive.Shewasfine.Jonathonwas
fine.Therewasnoneedyetformedicalintervention,thedoctorhadsaid,theyjust
neededtokeeptrying.Theywerebothyoung,fitandhealthy.Jonathon’sjob
meantthathewasunderalotofstressmostofthetime,butotherthanthatallthey
neededwaslotsofsexandabitofgoodluck.They’dhadlotsofsexallright,
thoughtTrishwithasmile.Thesexhadalwaysbeengreat,fromthemoment
they’dmet.
‘Whatareyousmilingat?’askedJonathon,puttingthecaringearanddriving
awayfromthecurb.Hepushedhiswayintothetrafficwithoutindicating,waving
acarelessthankstoaBMWthathadtobrakesharplytolethimin.
‘Nothing,’shesaid.Shewantedtotellhimthereandthen,butshewanteditto
beperfect.Shewantedittobeamomentthatthey’dbothrememberforever.The
momentwhenshetoldhimthatshewaspregnant.Thattheywerepregnant.
3
‘Comeon,comeon,’mutteredJonathon.Aheadofthemwasasetoftraffic
lights.Jonathongroanedastheyturnedred.‘Seethat?’hesaid.‘Nowwe’restuck
here.’
‘There’snorush,’shesaid,pattinghisthigh.Shelookedacrossatherhusband
andsmiled.Hewassogood-looking,shethought.Tall,broad-shouldered,anda
mopofblackhairthatkeptfallingacrosshisface.Perfectteeth.Atoothpaste
advertsmile.
Hegrinnedather.Shelovedhisgrin.Itwasthegrinofamischievous
schoolboythathadnevergrownup.‘Whatisit?’heasked.
‘What?’
‘You.You’resmilinglikethecatthatgotthecream.’
Shewantedtotellhim.God,shewantedtotellhim.Shewantedtograbhim
andkisshimandhughimandtellhimthathewasgoingtobeafather.Butshe
justsmiledandshookherhead.‘Nothing,’shesaid.
Alargeblackmotorcyclepulledupnexttothem.Thepillionpassengerleaned
downsothathecouldlookintothecar.Trishthoughtforamomentthathewanted
toaskdirections,thenshesawthegunandfrowned.Itwassounexpectedthatfor
afewsecondsitdidn’tregister.Thentimeseemedtostopdeadandsheeverything
clearly.Shesawthegun.Adullgreyautomaticinabrownglovedhand.The
pillionpassengerwearingabrightredfullfacehelmetwithanblackvisor.The
driverwearingablackhelmet,hisvisoralsoimpenetrable.Menwithoutfaces.
Thedriverrevvedtheengine.Thepassengerheldthegunwithbothhands.
4
JonathonwasstilllookingatTrish,butasherfrowndeepenedhestartedtoturn,to
seewhatitwasthatshe’dseen.Ashemoved,thegunkickedandthewindow
explodedandcubesofglasssplatteredacrossTrish’sface.
TheexplosionwassoloudthatitdeafenedTrishandshefeltratherthanheard
thenexttwoshots.Herfacewaswetandshethoughtthatshe’dbeencutbutthen
sherealiseditwasn’therbloodbutherhusband’s.Herfaceandchestweresoaked
withhisbloodandshestartedtoscreamashetoppledforwardontothesteering
wheel.
***
Therewereeightofthemintheminibus,allwearingblueoverallsandtraining
shoesandbaseballcapswiththelogoofthepestcontrolcompanyabovethepeak.
Astheminibusstoppedatthegateaboredsecurityguardwithaclipboardwaited
untilthedriverwounddownthewindowandthenpeeredattheplasticIDcard
clippedtohisoverallpocket.Hedidaheadcountandmadeanoteonhis
clipboard.
‘Nooneoffsicktonightthen?’Onabadnightthere’donlybefourinthesquad.
Eightwasafullcomplement,andwiththecompanybarelypayingabove
minimumwagetheywereusuallyatleastonemanshort.Nowomen.Thework
wasunpleasantandphysicallydemanding,andwhilesexdiscriminationlaws
meantthatwomencouldn’tberefusedajob,fewmadeitbeyondthefirstnight.
5
‘Newblood,’saidthedriver.‘Stillkeen.’
Thesecurityguardshrugged.‘Yeah,Irememberkeen,’hesaidwearily.He
wasinhislatetwentiesbutlookedolderwithhairgreyingatthetemplesanda
spreadingwaistline.‘Okaygentlemen,holdyourIDcardswhereIcanseethem,
please.’
Themendidastheywereaskedandthesecurityguardshonehistorchatthe
cardsonebyone.Hewastoofarawaytocheckifthefacesofthemenmatched
thefacesonthecards,butevenifhehadcheckedhewouldhaveseennothing
wrong.AlotoftimehadbeenspenttomakesurethattheIDcardswerefaultless.
Thevanwasgenuine,asweretheoverallsandbaseballcaps.Theoriginal
occupantsofthevanwereintheirunderwearinadisusedfactoryineastLondon,
gaggedandboundandguardedbyanothermemberofthegang.Hewouldstay
withthemuntiltoldthatthejobwasdone.
Thefacesthatlookedbackatthesecurityguardhadtheboredresignationof
menabouttostarteighthoursoftediousnightwork.ThreewereWestIndian,
includingthedriver.Therestwerewhite,allofthemagedunderforty.Oneofthe
youngestyawned,showingamouthfulofbadteeth.
Thesecurityguardnoddedandsteppedbackfromtheminibus.Hewaved
acrossathiscolleagueandthewhitepolebarrierwithits‘STOP’signrosegently
up.Standingatthegatehouseweretwouniformedpolicemenwearingbullet-
proofvestsandcradlingblackHecklerandKochautomatics.Theywatchedthe
minibusdriveby,theirfingersinsidethetriggerguardsoftheirweapons.The
6
drivergavethemafriendlywaveanddrovetowardsthewarehouses.Overheada
BritishAirways747swoopedlow,itslandinggeardown,wheelsreadytobiteinto
therunway,enginesroaringinthenightsky.
ThemanwithbadteethduckedinvoluntarilyandoneoftheWestIndians
laughedandslappedhimontheback.‘Don’tfuckaround,’saidthemansitting
nexttothedriver.Hewasawide-shoulderedmaninhislatethirtieswithsandy
brownhaircroppedclosetohisskull.Hiseyesscannedthedarknessbetweenthe
warehouses.Hewasn’texpectingtrouble,virtuallyallthesecuritywasatthe
perimeteroftheairport.
Intherearoftheminibus,themenbeganpullingsportsbagsfromundertheir
seats.
‘Right,finalnamecheck,’saidthefrontseatpassenger.HisnamewasTed
Verityandhe’dbeenplanningtherobberyforthebestpartofthreemonths.
‘Archie,’hesaid.Heopenedtheglovecompartmentandtookoutaportable
scanner.Heswitcheditonandclippedittohisbelt.
‘Bert,’saidthemandirectlybehindVerity.HisrealnamewasJeffOwenand
he’dworkedwithVerityonmorethanadozenrobberies.OwenpulledaFairy
liquidbottleoutofhissportsbag.Hesniffedthetopandwrinkledhistwice-
brokennose.
Veritytookasecondscannerfromtheglovecompartment,switcheditonand
placeditonthedashboard.
7
‘Charlie,’saidthemannexttoOwen.HewasBobMacdonald,aformer
squaddiewho’dbeenkickedoutofthearmyforbullying.Veritydidn’tknow
Macdonaldwell,butOwenhadvouchedforhimandVeritytrustedOwenwithhis
life.Macdonaldpulledasawn-offshotgunfromhisholdallandslottedared
cartridgeintothebreech.
‘Doug,’saidthemannexttoMacdonald.Heshovedaclipintothebuttofa
handgunandpulledbacktheslider.HewastheyoungestoftheWestIndians,a
careercriminalwho’dgraduatedfromcartheftandprotectionracketstoarmed
robberyafterhe’ddoneasix-monthstretchinBrixtonprison.That’swhereVerity
hadmethimandspottedhispotential.
Thealphabeticalroll-callcontinued.AtoH.Theyoungguywiththebadteeth
wasEddie.Hehadarevolverinhisrightglovedhandandastunguninhisleft.
Eddiepressedthetriggerofthestungunandbluesparkscrackledbetweentwo
metalprongs.Thehighvoltagechargewasenoughtodisableamanwithout
causingpermanentinjury.ThetalllankyWestIndiannexttoEddiewasFred.He
hadatwin-barrelledsawn-offshotgun.Sittingonhisowninthebackcradlinga
pump-actionshotgunwasathirty-somethingGlaswegianwithashavedheadand
footballtattooshiddenbyhisoverallsleeves.HewasGeorgeandhehadan
annoyinghabitofcrackinghisknuckles.
TheWestIndiandriverwasHarry.Veritydidn’tknowwhatHarry’srealname
was.He’dknownthemanforfiveyearsandworkedwithhimonadozenjobsbut
hadonlyeverknownhimbyhisinitials,PJ.Hewasoneofthebestdriversin
8
LondonandclaimedtohaveoncebeenEltonJohn’spersonalchauffeur.Verity
noddedatP.J.andhebroughttheminibustoahalt.
‘Anyoneusesanynameotherthantheonesyou’vebeengivenandI’ll
personallyblowtheirheadoff,’saidVerity,turningaroundinhisseat.
‘RightTed,’calledGeorgefromthebackoftheminibus,thenheslappedhis
foreheadtheatrically.‘Shit,Iforgotalready.’
‘Veryfunny,’saidVerity.Hepulledasawn-offshotgunoutofhisbagand
flickedoffthesafety.‘Remember,wegoinhard;heartsandminds.Don’tgive
themtimetothink.Theysoundthealarmandwe’vegotlessthansixminutes
beforethebluesandtwosarriveandwe’reuptoourarsesinHecklers.Everybody
set?’
Thesixmeninthebacknodded.
‘Maskson,’saidVerity.
Thementookofftheirbaseballcapsandpulledonblackskimaskswithholes
foreyesandmouths.VeritynoddedatP.J.andtheWestIndiandroveforward.
Verity’sheartraced.Nomatterhowmanyjobshedid,nomatterhowmanytimes
he’dpiledinwithagun,thefearandexcitementalwayscoursedthroughhimlike
electricity.Nothingcomparedwiththehighofanarmedrobbery.Notevensex.
Allhissenseswereintensifiedasifhiswholebodyhadgoneintooverdrive.
Veritypulledonhisownmask.Heconnectedanearphonetothescannerand
slippedtheearpieceunderhismaskandintohisleftear.Juststatic.
9
P.J.turnedsharplytotherightandpulledupinfrontofthewarehouse.Verity
swungopenthedoorandjumpeddown,keepingthesawn-offclosetohisbody.
Theearpiecebuzzed.Asuspiciouspassengerinthearrivalsterminal.AnIC6
male.AnArab.Good,thoughtVerity,anythingthatdrewattentionawayfromthe
commercialareaoftheairportwasaGodsend.
Owenpulledbackthesidedoorandjumpedoutoftheminibus.Hehada
revolverstickinginthebeltofhisoveralls.Therestoftheteampiledoutand
rushedovertotheentrancetothewarehouse.Therewasalargeloadingareawith
spaceforthreetrucksbutthemetalshuttersweredown.Totherightoftheloading
baywasametaldoor.Themenstoodeithersideofthedoor,weaponsatthe
ready.
Veritywalkeduptothedoorandputhisglovedhandonthehandle.Thedoor
wasneverlocked,evenatnight.Thereweremenworkinginthewarehousetwenty
fourhoursaday,thoughtherewasonlyaskeletonstaffatnight.Fourmenat
most.Twoforklifttruckdrivers,asecurityguardandawarehouseman.Four
unarmedmeninchargeofawarehousecontainingthebestpartoftwentymillion
poundsworthofgoods.Veritysmiledtohimself.Liketakingcandyfromababy.
Veritypulledopenthedoorandrushedin,holdinghisshotgunhigh.Tothe
rightofthedoorwasasmallofficecontainingthreedesksandwall-to-wall
shelvingfiledwithcardboardfiles.Auniformedsecurityofficerwassittingatone
ofthedesks,readinganewspaper.Veritylevelledhisshotgunatthemanand
motionedwithitforthemantostandup.Asthemangottohisfeet,Eddierushed
10
byVerityandpressedtheprongsofthestungunagainsttheguard’sneckand
pressedthetrigger.Theguardwentintospasmandslumpedtothefloor.Eddie
caughthimashefellanddraggedhimbehindtheofficedoor.Hetookarollof
ducttapefromhisoverallpocketandusedittobindtheman’shandsandfeetas
therestofthemenfannedout,movingthroughthewarehouse.Itwasabouthalf
thesizeofafootballpitchwithcartonsofcardboardboxespiledhighonwooden
pallets.Mostoftheboxesweremarked‘Fragile’andcamefromtheFarEast.
Japan.Korea.HongKong.
AnorangeforklifttruckreversedaroundastackofboxesandDougranuptoit
andjammedhispistolagainsttheneckoftheoperator,amiddle-agedmanin
whiteoveralls.Douggrabbedtheman’scollarandpulledhimfromthevehicle,
thenclubbedhimacrosstheheadwiththegun.
Veritycouldhearthesecondforklifttruckwhininginthedistanceandhe
pointedinthedirectionofthesound.FredandtheGlaswegianranoff,their
trainingshoesmakingdullthudsontheconcretefloor.
Dougrolledtheforklifttruckdriverontohisfrontandwoundducttapearound
hismouthbeforebindinghisarms.
VeritymotionedatMacdonaldandOwentostartmovingthroughthestacked
pallets.Theywerelookingforthewarehouseman.
Thethreemenmovedsilentlythroughthewarehouse,theirweaponsatthe
ready.Macdonaldlookedathiswatch.‘Plentyoftime,’whisperedVerity.
‘Radio’squiet.’
11
Thesecondforklifttruckstopped,andtherewasabumpingsoundinthe
distanceasifsomethingsofthadhitthegroundhard.Thensilence.
Thethreemenstoppedandlistened.Offtotheirrighttheyheardasoft
whistling.Veritypointedandtheyheadedtowardsthenoise.
Thewarehousemanwasinhisearlythirtieswithrecedinghairandwire-framed
glasses.Hewasholdingapalmcomputerandmakingnoteswithasmallstylusas
hewhistledtohimself.Hewassoengrossedinthetinycomputerthathedidn’t
seethethreemaskedmenuntiltheywerealmostuponhim.Hisjawdroppedand
hetookhalfastepbackwards,thenVerityjammedhisshotgunintheman’s
stomach.‘Don’tsayaword,’hissedVerity.‘Doasyou’retoldandwe’llbeoutof
hereinafewminutes.’
Hegrabbedattheman’scollarwithhislefthand,swunghimaroundsothathe
wasfacinginthedirectionoftheoffice,thenfrog-marchedhimwiththeshotgun
pressedintothebaseofhisspine.‘There’snom-m-moneyhere,’theman
stammered.
‘Isaiddon’ttalk,’saidVerity.Herammedtheshotgunbarrelintotheman’s
backforemphasis.
Whentheyreachedtheofficethetwoforklifttruckdriverswerelyingonthe
groundoutsidethedoor,gaggedandboundwithgreyducttape.Owenwas
standingoverthem,hisguninonehand,theFairyLiquidbottleintheother.
Veritypushedthewarehousemantothefloornexttothetwoforklifttruck
drivers.Themanrolledontohisbackandhisglassesfelloff,clatteringonthe
12
concrete.Veritypointedhisshogunatthewarehouseman.‘TheIntelchips,’he
saidthroughgrittedteeth.‘TheonesthatcameinfromtheStatesthismorning.’
Voicesbuzzedinhisearpiece.APoliceNationalComputercheckontheArab.A
name,dateofbirth.Nationality.Iraqi.‘Bastardragheads,’mutteredVerity.
‘What?’saidthewarehouseman,totallyconfused.Hegropedforhisspectacles
withhisrighthand.
VeritynoddedatOwen.OwensqueezedtheFairyLiquidbottleandsprayedthe
contentsoverthethreemen.Macdonaldfrownedasherecognisedthesmell.
Petrol.Theforklifttruckdriversbuckedandkickedbutthewarehousemanjust
layonthefloorinshock,hishandclutchinghisspectacles.
Owenemptiedtheplasticbottle,thentossedittotheside.Hetookagunmetal
Zippofromthepocketofhisoverallsandflickeditopen.‘Youheardwhatthe
mansaid,nowwherearethechips?’Hespanthewheelofthelighterwithhis
thumbandwavedatwo-inchsmokeyflameoverthethreemen.
‘Archie,whatthehell’sgoingon?’shoutedMacdonald,takingasteptowards
Verity.‘Noonesaidweweregoingtosetfiretoanyone.’
‘You’vegotashotguninyourhands,thisisnodifferent.’
‘Haveyouseenwhatthirddegreeburnslooklike?’
VerityturnedandlevelledhisshotgunatMacdonald’slegs.‘Haveyouseen
whatakneecappinglookslike?’
13
Macdonaldraisedthebarrelofhisshotgunskywards,showingthathewasn’ta
threat.‘JustwishedI’dbeenfullybriefed,that’sall.’Heshrugged.‘You’reright.
Inforapenny...’
Thewarehousemanscrabbledonhisback,awayfromOwen.Owenfollowed
him,bendingdowntowavetheflamingZippoclosertohislegs.The
warehousemanbackedagainstthewalloftheoffice,hishandsupinfrontofhis
face.‘I’mnotsurehowcloseIcangetbeforeyougoupinflames,’saidOwen.
‘TheIntelchips,’hehissedatthewarehouseman.‘Wherearethey?’
‘I’llhavetocheckthecomputer,’stammeredthewarehouseman.Adarkstain
spreaddownhislefttrouserleg.
OwenclickedtheZipposhut,grabbedthewarehousemanbythescruffofthe
neckanddraggedhimovertotheofficedoor.Verityfollowed.Theearpiece
buzzedandcrackled.There’dbeenacarcrashoutsidethedeparturesterminal.
Twominicabshadcollidedandthedrivershadstartedfighting.Veritysmiled
underhisskimask.Themoredistractions,thebetter.
Eddiethrewthewarehousemanintotheoffice.OwnsnappedtheZipposhut.
‘You’vegottenseconds,thenit’sbarbecuetime,’hesnarled.Hegrabbedthe
warehousemanandpushedhimdownontoaswivelchair.
Thewarehouseman’shandstrembledoverthekeyboard.‘Ihavetothink,’he
said.‘I’monlythen-n-nightman.’
‘Thinkaboutthis,’saidOwen,lightingtheZippoagainandwavingtheflame
closetotheman’sface.
14
Thewarehousemanshrieked.‘Okay,okay,wait!’heshouted,stabbingatthe
keyboard.‘I’vegotit.’Hewipedhissweatingforeheadwiththearmofhiscoat.
‘RowG.SectionSix.Twelveb-b-boxes.’
Verityturnedtotheofficedoor.‘Fred,Doug!’hecalled.‘RowG.SectionSix.’
Theearpiecebuzzed.DespitethecleanPNCcheck,theArabwasbeingtakeninto
custody.
OwenclosedtheZippoandusedducttapetotiethewarehousemantothechair.
‘Id-d-didwhatyouwanted,d-d-didn’tI?’askedthewarehousemanfearfully.
Owenslappedapieceoftapeacrosstheman’smouth.
VeritypointedatOwen.‘TellP.J.togettheminibusready,’hesaid,then
joggedtowardsRowG.
‘I’lldoit,’saidMacdonald.
Veritystoppedinhistracks.HepointedaglovedfingeratMacdonald.‘Isaid
him.IfI’dwantedyoutodoitI’dhavetoldyou.’HepointedatOwen.‘Doit!’he
shouted.ThenhepointedatMacdonald.‘YoustaywithmewhereIcankeepmy
eyeonyou.’Verityjoggeddownthecentreaisle.MacdonaldandtheGlaswegian
followedhimwhileOwenrantowardsthefrontdoor.
Dougwasalreadysittingatthecontrolsofaforklifttruck.‘Heretheyare,’
shoutedFred,gesturingatapalletloadedwithcardboardboxes.
‘Comeon,getthemloadedandlet’sgetoutofhere!’shoutedVerity.The
boxescontainedthelatestPentiumchipsfromtheStates.AccordingtoVerity’s
15
manontheWestCoast,thereweretwenty-fourboxesintheshipmentworth
almostamillionpounds,wholesale.
Inthedistance,themetaldoorslammed.Theyallturnedatthesoundof
runningfeet.VerityandMacdonaldranintothemainaisleandsawOwen
hurtlingtowardsthem.‘Cops!’yelledOwen.‘There’scopseverywhere!’
Veritywhirledaround.‘What?’
‘They’vegotP.J.There’sarmedcopsallovertheplace.’
Verity’shanddroppedtowardshisscanner.Hecheckedthefrequencyandthe
volume.Everythingwasasitshouldbe.‘Theycan’tbe,’heshouted.
‘Theymusthavehitasilentalarm,’shoutedOwen.
Verityrantowardstheoffice,whereEddiewasstandingwithbothhandsonhis
pistol.‘Whatdowedo?’shoutedEddie.
Veritygesturedatthemetaldoor.Therewereboltstopandbottom.‘Lockit,’
hesaid.Eddieranoverandslidthebolts,thenduckedaway.Therewereno
windowsinthewarehousestructure,nowayofseeingwhatwasgoingonoutside.
Owenwaspantinghard.VerityputahandonOwen’sshoulder.‘Howmany?’he
asked.
‘Shit,Idon’tknow.Theywereallovertheminibus.Threeunmarkedcars.A
dozencops,maybe.Ididn’thangaroundtocount.’
Verityrushedintotheofficeandslappedthewarehousemanacrosstheface,the
rippedthetapeawayfromhismouth.‘Didyoutripanalarm?’heasked.
16
Thewarehousemanwasshaking.‘Howc-c-couldI?’hestammered.‘Youwere
w-w-watchingmeallthetime.Youknowyouwere.’
‘Whatarewegoingtodo?’askedEddie.
‘Shutthefuckupandletmethink,’saidVerity.
‘There’snothingwecando,’saidMacdonald.‘Ifthecopsareoutside,it’sall
over.’
VerityignoredhimandturnedtoOwen.‘YousaidtheyhadP.J?’
‘Hewasbentoverthebonnetofoneofthecars,oneofthecopswas
handcuffinghim.’
‘Didtheyseeyou?’
Owennodded.
‘Theminibuswasstillthere?’
Owennoddedagain.
‘Okay,’saidVerity.Ifthecopsknewthatthey’dbeenseenthentheyhadonly
seconds.Hegesturedwithhisshotgunatthetwomenonthefloor.‘Freetheir
legs,’hesaid.‘Anduntiethetwatinthechair.They’reourticketoutofhere.’
Eddierushedintotheoffice.FredandtheGlaswegianbentdownandripped
theducttapeawayfromthelegsoftheforklifttruckdrivers.
Veritystoodcradlinghisshotgunashestaredattheboltedmetaldoor.Ifthe
copsknewthattheywerearmed,theywouldn’tcomestormingin.Andifthey
wentoutwithhostages,thepolicewouldn’tbeabletoshoot.Veritytriedto
visualisethegeographyaroundthewarehouse.Sofarashecouldrecall,there
17
werenovantagepointsforsnipers,nohighgroundfromwheretheycouldbe
pickedoff.Itwouldallbeupcloseandpersonal,andthatmeantthecopswouldn’t
beabletofirewithoutriskingthehostages.Buttheyhadtomovequickly.‘Come
on,comeon!’heshouted.
Eddiepushedthewarehousemanoutoftheoffice.‘Thesecurityguard’sstill
outcold,’hesaid.
‘Three’senough,’saidVerity.
‘Enoughforwhat?’askedMacdonald.
‘Togetusoutofhere,’saidVerity.Hewentovertothewarehouseman.‘Give
metheducttape,’saidVerity,holdingouthishandtoOwen.Owentossedhim
therolloftape.ThewarehousemantriedtospeakputVeritypushedthebarrelof
theshotgununderhisnoseandtoldhimtoshutup.‘George,comeoverhere.’
TheGlaswegianstoodupandwalkedovertoVerity.‘Putyourshotgunagainst
thebackofhisneck.’TheGlaswegiandidashewastold,andVeritywoundduct
tapearoundtheweaponandaroundthewarehouseman’sneck.
‘Youusehimlikethatandit’skidnapping,’saidMacdonald.‘Shoothimand
it’scold-bloodedmurder.’
‘Ifthecopsletusgo,noone’llgethurt,’saidVerity.HenoddedatFred.‘Do
thesamewithhim,’gesturingattheforkliftdriver.TheWestIndianhauledthe
mantohisfeetandstartedfasteninghissawnoffshotguntotheman’sneckwith
tape.
‘Theywon’tletyouwalkoutofhere,’saidMacdonald.‘Evenwithhostages.’
18
‘Armedrobberywillgetustwelveyears,maybefifteen,’saidVerity.‘Ifagun
goesoffandoneofthesesadfucksgetsit,it’llbemanslaughter.Tentotwelve.
We’vegotnothingtolose.’
‘TedVerity,Iknowyoucanhearme,’saidavoice.Veritywhirledaroundin
surprise,thenrealisedthatthevoicehadcomethroughtheearpieceofthescanner.
Itwasbeingbroadcastonthepolicefrequency.‘Thisisthepolice.It’soverTed,
comeoutnowbeforethisgetsoutofhand.’
VerityroaredandranovertotheforklifttruckdriverthatFredwastyingup.
Heslammedhisshotgunagainsttheforklifttruckdriver’schin,thenkickedhim
betweenthelegs,hard.ThemanfellbackandVerityhithimagainashewent
down.
MacdonaldgrabbedVerity’sarmandpulledhimaway.‘Whatthehell’sgot
intoyou?’shoutedMacdonald.
Verityshookhimoff.Theearpiecebuzzedagain.‘There’sarmedpoliceout
here,Ted.There’snowhereforyoutogo.Leaveyourweaponswheretheyare
andcomeoutwithyourhandsintheair.Ifwehavetocomeinandgetyou,people
aregoingtogethurt.’
Atelephonebegantoringintheoffice.
‘Answerthephone,Ted,’saidthevoiceinVerity’sear.
‘It’sthecops,’saidtheGlaswegian.‘They’llbewantingtotalktous.’
EddiehurriedovertoVerity.
19
‘They’vealreadytalkedtous,’saidVerity.Heslappedthescanneronhisbelt.
‘Ontheradio.’
‘Howdidtheyknowwehadascanner?’askedEddie,hisfacejustinchesaway
fromVerity’s.Veritycouldsmellgarlicontheman’sbreath.
‘Theykneweverything,’saidVerity.‘We’vebeensetup.’Hesworeandthen
pushedEddieinthechest.‘Getthefuckawayfromme!’hesaid.
‘It’sover,’saidMacdonald.HeturnedtotheGlaswegian,lookingforhis
support.TheGlaswegianshruggedbutsaidnothing.‘Ifwegooutwithhostages,
they’llthrowawaythekey,’saidMacdonald.TheGlaswegian’sfingerwasonthe
triggeroftheshotgun.Mostofthebarrelwascoveredwithducttape,bindingitto
thebackofthewarehouseman’sneck.Themanwastremblingandthepieceof
ducttapeacrosshismouthpulsedinandoutashebreathed.
‘There’llthrowawaythekeyformeanyway,’saidtheGlaswegian.‘Onelook
atmyrecord.’Hejabbedtheshotgunagainstthewarehouseman’sneck.‘Let’s
justdowhatwe’vegottodo.’
Macdonaldgroanedandshookhishead.HenoddedatOwen.‘Jeff,helpme
outonthis.Thismadbastard’sgonnagetusallkilled.’
‘Nonames!’screamedVerity,brandishinghisshotgun.‘Nofuckingnames!’
‘Ted,’saidMacdonaldcalmly.‘Themknowingwhoweareistheleastofour
problems.’
20
‘He’sright,’saidDoug.‘Ifthecopsareoutsidethenit’sthankyouandgood
night.’Hegesturedatthedoorwithhishandgun.‘Thispeashooter’sgonnadome
nogoodagainstpigswithheavyartillery.’
‘We’renotgonnashootatthem,’shoutedVerity.‘Allwe’regonnadoistotell
themiftheytrytostopus,thehostagesgetit.Look,theminibusisoutthere.P.J.
isthere.Ifwemovenow,wecanstillgetoutofhere.Ifwekeepyappingthey’ll
befiringteargasandGodknowswhatelseinhere.’
Thephonestoppedringing.FredwenttostandbyDoug.TheGlaswegian
pulledthewarehousemanbacksothathewasclosertoVerity.Battlelineswere
beingdrawn.OwencursedandmovedovertoVerity,hissawn-offshotgunatthe
ready.HegesturedwithhischinforMacdonaldtojoinhimbutMacdonaldshook
hishead.
‘Eddie,’saidVerity.‘Getthehelloverhere.’
EddielookedacrossatthetwoWestIndians,thenatVerity.‘Ididn’tsignup
forashoot-out,’hesaid.‘Inandout,yousaid.’
‘Eddie,getoverhereorI’llshootyoumyself.’Eddiegrittedhisteeth.Verity
levelledhisshotgunatEddie’sgroin.‘IsweartoGod,’saidVerity.‘Getyour
fuckingarseoverhere.’
TearswelledupinEddie’seyesbuthedidashewastold.
‘Answerthephone,Ted,’saidthevoiceinVerity’sear.‘Whatwe’vegottosay
isbettersaidoverasecureline,right?Don’tyouagree?’
21
Verityrippedtheearpiecefromhisearandpointedattheforklifttruckdriver
onthefloor.‘Getashotguntapedtohisneck,now,’heshoutedatOwen,keeping
hisownweaponaimedinthedirectionoftheWestIndians.
Owengrabbedtherollofducttapeandpulledtheinjuredmantohisfeet.
‘Givemeahand,’hesaidtoEddie.
‘Ifyou’regoingtogothroughwiththis,I’moutofhere,’saidDoug.
‘You’renotgoinganywhere,’saidVerity.
‘Thisain’tnothreemusketeerthing,’saidDoug.‘Youdowhatyou’vegotto
do,butI’mwalkingoutnow.’
‘I’mwithhim,’saidFred,shiftinghisweightfromfoottofoot.
Thetelephonestartedtoringagain.
‘We’regoingouttheretogether,’saidVerity.
Eddiebeganwindingtapearoundtheforklifttruckdriver’sneck.
‘They’renotgoingtoletyoudriveaway,’saidMacdonald.
‘Theywon’thaveachoice,’saidVerity.‘Whataretheygoingtodo?Shootat
uswhilewe’vegottheseguysbytheshortandcurlies?’
‘Andwhatareyougogoingtodowhentheysaythere’snodeal?’said
Macdonald.‘Blowtheheadsoffcivilians?
‘They’lldeal,’saidVerity.
‘Ifthat’swhatyouthinkthenyoudon’tknowthecops.’
‘Doyou?’yelledVerity.‘Isthathowtheyknewwewerehere?Didyougrass
usup?’
22
‘Screwyou,Verity,’saidMacdonald.‘Idon’tneedthisshit.’
VeritypointedhisshotgunatMacdonald’smidriffandhisfingertightenedon
histrigger.Macdonaldswunghisownshotgunupsothatitwaslevelledat
Verity’sstomach.
‘Guys,forfuck’ssake!’shoutedOwen.‘We’reonthesamesidehere!’
‘We’reinthistogether,’saidVerity.‘Ifwesplitupnow,it’sover.’
‘It’soveranyway!’shoutedMacdonald.‘Youjustdon’tseeit.’
‘Bob,we’redamnedifwedoandwe’redamnedifwedon’t,’saidOwen.
MacdonaldsnarledatOwen,thoughhekepthisweaponaimedatVerity.‘You
toldmethiswasastraightrobbery,’hesaid.‘Inandoutbeforeanyonewasthe
wiser,yousaid.Nowwe’retakinghostages.’
‘Thecopsaregoingtosaywetookhostagesanyway,’saidOwencalmly.
‘Soonaswetiedthemupwewereholdingthemagainsttheirwill.Look,Ibrought
youinonthisbecauseyouwereacoolhead.Don’tletmedownnow.’
Thephonestoppedringingagain.Outsidethewarehousetheyheardrapid
footsteps.Thensilence.
Macdonaldnoddedslowlyandloweredhisweapon.‘Okay,’hesaid.
VeritystaredatMacdonald,thennoddedcurtly,acknowledgingMacdonald’s
changeofheart.‘Checkthedoor,’Veritysaid.‘Don’topenit,justlisten.
Macdonaldwalkedtowardsthedoor.AshepassedVerity,Macdonaldturned
suddenlyandslammedthecut-downstockofhisshotgunintotheman’sstomach.
ThebreathexplodedfromVerity’slungsandhedoubledover.Macdonaldbrought
23
thestockcrashingdownonthebackofVerity’sheadandVeritydroppedlikea
deadweight.
OwenstaredatMacdonaldinamazement.DougandFredcheered.The
Glaswegiantriedtoriphisshotgunawayfromthewarehouseman’sneckbutthe
ducttapeheldfirmandhecursed.Macdonaldswunghisshotguntowardsthe
Glaswegian.‘Don’teventhinkaboutit,Jock,’hesaid.
‘You’redead,’saidOwen.‘Whenhegetsholdofyou,you’llbewearingyour
ballsaroundyourneck.’
‘Ifwegoouttheretooledup,we’redeadanyway,’saidMacdonald.Hebacked
awayfromOwen.TheGlaswegianrippedhisshotgunfreewitharoar.Heaimedit
atMacdonaldasthewarehousemanslumpedtohisknees.
Macdonaldkeptbackingaway.‘I’venoproblemwithyou,Jock,’hesaid.‘Or
you,Jeff.Ijustwantoutofhere.’
Therewasaloudbangattheentranceandtheyalljumped.AstheGlaswegian
turnedtolookatthemetaldoor,Macdonaldsprinteddownthewarehouse.He
duckedbetweentwotoweringstacksofpallets,thenzigzaggedright,leftandright
again.Hedroppedtheshotgunandkickeditunderapallet,thensprintedtowards
therearofthewarehouse.Behindhimheheardthemetaldoorcrashopen
followedbythestaccatoshoutsofmenwhowereusedtotheirordersbeing
obeyed.‘ArmedPolice!Downonthefloor,now!Down,down,down!’
Macdonaldzigzaggedagain,andreachedthewarehousewall.Theemergency
exitwasatthemid-pointandMacdonaldrantowardsit.Fromthefrontofthe
24
warehouseheheardasingleshotgunblast,thenaburstofautomaticfire,then
moreshouts.Hewonderedwhohadfired.Owenwastoomuchofaprotoshootat
armedpolice.ItwasprobablytheGlaswegian.Macdonaldhopedthathehadn’t
hitanybodyandthatthepolicehadbeenfiringwarningshots.Apumpaction
shotgunagainsthalfadozenHecklerswasnocontestatall.
Macdonaldkickedthemetalbarinthemiddleofthedooranditsprangopen.
Analarmsoundedoffinthedistance.Thedoorbouncedbackandheshouldered
hiswaythrough.
‘Armedpolice!’shoutedaCockneyaccent.‘Dropyourweapon!’
Macdonaldstoppeddeadandraisedhishandsintheair.‘I’mnotcarryinga
weapon,dipshit!’heshouted,thenstoodwherehewas,breathingheavily.
‘Downontheground,keepyourhandswherewecanseethem!’shoutedthe
officer.Hewasinhismidtwenties,dressedallinblackwithaKevlarvestanda
blackbaseballcapwithPOLICEwrittenacrossitinwhitecapitalletters.Hehad
hisHeckleraimedatMacdonald’schest.Thereweretwomorearmedofficers
behindhim,bothwiththeirgunsaimedatMacdonald.
‘Canwealljustrelaxhere,’saidMacdonald.Hetookoffhisskimaskand
staredsullenlyatthethreearmedpoliceman.‘Okaynow?’hesaid.Theylookedat
himwithgrimfaces.
‘Downonthefloor!’saidtheoldestofthethree,gesturingwithhisHeckler.
25
‘Yeah,right,’saidMacdonald.‘Look,Idon’thavetimeforthis.’Hemovedto
walkbythem.TheCockneysworeathim,raisedhisweaponandslammedthebutt
againstthesideoftheMacdonald’shead.Macdonaldwentdownwithoutasound.
***
Macdonaldcametolyingonhisback,staringupatamaninawhitemaskwearing
adarkgreenanorak.HewasshiningasmallflashlightintoMacdonald’slefteye.
Macdonaldgroaned.Heheardthewailofasirenandrealisedthathewasinan
ambulance.Hegroanedagain.Hetriedtositupbuttheparamedicputahandin
themiddleofhischestandpushedhimbackdown.‘Liestill,you’vehadanasty
bangonthehead.’
‘Hehitme,’saidMacdonald.‘Whythehelldidhehitme?’
‘Becauseyouwereresistingarrest,youtwat,’saidaCockneyvoice.
Macdonaldtriedtositupagain.
‘Really,Sir,Iwouldn’t,’saidtheparamedic,pushinghimbackdown.‘There’s
agoodchanceofconcussion.We’regoingtohavetogiveyouascan.’
Macdonaldtriedtopushtheparamedicawaybuthisarmwouldn’tmovemore
thanafewinches.Helookeddown.Hiswristwashandcuffedtothemetalbarof
thecothewaslyingon.Hetriedtoraisehisotherhand.Thatwascuffed,too.The
copwho’dhithimwassittingnexttothecot,hisHecklercradledinhislap.He
26
hadalongfacewithdeep-seteyesandhe’dturnedthebaseballcaparoundsothat
thepeakwasattheback.‘Ishouldhavehityouharder,’hesaid.
‘Whatthehell’sgoingon?’askedMacdonald,groggily.
‘Yourmateshotoneofours,’saidthecop.‘You’reallgoingdownfor
attemptedmurderontopofarmedrobbery.’
‘He’sokay?’
‘Yourmate?Tookoneinthearm.He’lllive.’
‘Screwhim,healmostgotuskilled.Thecopwhowasshot.Isheokay?’
‘Nowyou’reworried,aren’tyou?’ThecopslappedhisKevlarvest.‘Vesttook
mostoftheshot,bitofdamagetohislowerjaw.Buttheintentwasthereand
you’reallinittogether.’
Macdonaldlaybackandstaredupattheroofoftheambulance.Theywere
movingatspeed,thesirenstillwailing,buthecouldtellthathewasn’thurttoo
badly.He’dbeenhitbefore,byexperts,andthebuttoftheHecklerhadn’tdone
anyseriousdamage.WhatworriedMacdonaldwaswhythejobhadgonesobadly
wrong.
TOBECONTINUED……
27
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