Betrayed (Powell Book 4) (10 page)

Powell had his doubts about meeting Hattie in a layby on a quiet country road, in case it was some form of trap, but equally he couldn’t afford to meet somewhere too public, where he might be spotted by the police. Nothing ventured, nothing gained was in his mind as he drove past the layby in his new BMW, hired by Brian at the airport.

Powell could see a car parked and what looked to be just one person sitting behind the wheel. He kept driving for a mile but there were no obvious signs of trouble.

He turned his car around and drove back past the layby one more time, checking there was no imminent danger in the other direction. Finally, having seen nothing to cause concern, he drove to the layby and stopped in front of the saloon car, which he thought was a Japanese make but in the dark, he couldn’t be certain. It wasn’t a car he recognised.

Powell left his engine running and switched his headlights to full beam. He could see the person in the driver’s seat throw up their hands to shield their eyes from the light. Powell was confident it was Hattie and there was no sign of anyone else in the car. The lights also revealed no one was lurking in the shadows on the side of the road, although there was no guarantee people weren’t hiding in the trees. He switched the lights back to dipped beam and waited. He had no intention of getting out of the car.

After a minute, Hattie stepped out of the car and peered in his direction, obviously seeking to confirm it was him. He rolled down his window and leaned out his head.

“Come over here, Hattie. It’s me,” he confirmed.

She smiled and walked towards his car. She opened the passenger door and sat beside Powell.

“Thanks for coming,” Hattie said. “I wasn’t sure you would want to meet me.”

Powell studied her face, looking for hints of betrayal but she smiled broadly and looked him straight in the eye. She was good at acting if this was any form of trap. “I don’t blame you for what happened,” he said, which wasn’t entirely true. He was remaining open minded. “I’m glad you got in contact. I wanted to talk to you.”

“I heard they let you out on bail. When’s the trial?”

“Not for several months.”

“The police interviewed me but I couldn’t tell them anything. I had no idea how the drugs came to be in your car.”

“Someone planted the drugs and then tipped off the police. Given the trouble I had with Tommy, he’d be my first choice of suspect.”

“I guess it could be him,” Hattie agreed. “He made no secret of the fact he didn’t like you. You were the first person to stand up to him.”

“Does Scott keep Tommy on a tight rein? I mean, would Tommy do something like this without Scott knowing?”

“I’m certain Scott wouldn’t allow Tommy to plant drugs in your car, if he knew what Tommy was planning. Scott isn’t like that.”

“Maybe,” Powell responded. “He didn’t share Hattie’s certainty.

“So where are you staying?” Hattie asked.

“I have a house in Hove.” No need to mention he had no intention of going back there in the near future. He turned off the engine, feeling more relaxed. “I need to ask you something. Why didn’t you say anything to me that day in the car? Your mother had told you why I was at Tintagel.”

“I’m not sure. I suppose I was trying to find out if you were a real friend or just doing a job. I hoped you would tell me the truth.”

“Did you tell Scott about me?”

“Goodness no, he would have made you leave immediately.”

“Who does the car belong to?”

“It’s Roger’s. He doesn’t mind me borrowing it from time to time.”

“Do you know a Stuart Brown?” Powell suddenly asked, hoping to catch her off guard.

Hattie seemed unfazed by the question. She thought for a moment before replying, “I don’t think so. We had a Stuart at the house for a time but his surname was Green.”

It took a second for Powell to make the connection. He took the photo from his pocket and showed it to Hattie. “Was this Stuart Green?”

“Yes. That’s Stuart.”

“His real name is Brown. He wasn’t very inventive with his name change.”

“Is he alright?” Hattie asked.

“He was found dead two weeks ago. He’d been shot by a bullet from the gun they found in my BMW.”

“My God! That’s terrible. Poor Stuart.” Then a light dawned on her face. “You surely don’t think Scott had something to do with his death?”

“I don’t know but I think we can assume whoever put the drugs in my car was also responsible for Stuart’s death. How else would they have the gun?”

Powell could see Hattie was churning the information around in her  brain. “This doesn’t make sense. Why would Scott want to kill Stuart? Someone else must be responsible.”

“I don’t know why Stuart had to die but he was a journalist and may have threatened to publish something, which Scott didn’t want published.

“Stuart was a journalist?”

“Yes and I suspect he was planning to write an expose about Scott.”

Again Hattie was thoughtful. “Perhaps Stuart shot himself,” she suggested.

“The police believe he was murdered. I’m surprised they haven’t been to the house, to interview you.”

“Perhaps the police have spoken with Scott. He wouldn’t want to worry the rest of us.”

“How very considerate of him,” Powell replied sarcastically.

“Scott’s not a bad man.”

Powell was sure Hattie had been genuinely shocked by the news of Stuart’s death but she seemed unable or unwilling to link his death to Scott.

“When was Stuart living at the house?” Powell asked.

“He was only there about a month. He left a few weeks ago.”

“Not long before he died. Why did he leave?”

“Scott told us Stuart decided he felt too isolated. We weren’t entirely surprised. He was always talking about missing the outside world.”

“And you didn’t know he’d been found dead? It was on the news.”

“As you know, we don’t really follow what’s going on in the rest of the world. That’s why we come to Tintagel.”

Powell knew it was quite possible for war to be declared and unless Scott shared the fact, no one else at Tintagel would be any the wiser. “Okay, so why did you want to meet me?”

“I was in the basement of the house and I heard Scott talking to Tommy. I heard my name mentioned, which was why I didn’t let them know I was there. Tommy was telling Scott, he didn’t trust me. He said I was getting too close to you. Tommy then asked Scott if he could deal with me before I became a problem. Scott said that wasn’t necessary but to keep an eye on me. He was going to talk to his friends in blue to see if they could do some more checking on you. He didn’t want anything to happen to me before I turned twenty one. When Tommy asked why not, Scott told him I was coming into a large inheritance.”

“Who are these friends in blue?”

“Well I assume he means someone in the police but I’ve not met any police friends of Scott.”

“Why haven’t you just left Tintagel? Why hang around if you feel you could be in danger?”

“It’s not as easy as that. I’ve already given Scott a lot of money. I never had any intention of giving him my inheritance but based on what Scott said, I’m not in any danger. At least not before my birthday. I know Scott keeps a great deal of cash in his safe. I thought I’d take back what he owes me.”

“And how exactly would you do that if it’s locked in a safe?”

“I thought you might be able to help me.”

When Powell heard the first shot, he instinctively grabbed for Hattie’s arm and pulled her body below the level of the windscreen. “Get down,” he shouted.

Several further shots broke the silence of the night but whoever was doing the shooting seemed to be a lousy shot as no bullets had entered the car.

Two people emerged from the trees pointing guns in Powell’s direction but they didn’t immediately fire, which suggested they perhaps weren’t intent on killing him. They obviously weren’t police officers as they had fired without giving any warning.

Powell turned the ignition key and thrust the car into reverse gear. He was met with the sound of metal grating on the road. They may not have been such bad shots after all. They had decimated the tyres and the wheel rims were scraping on the ground.

Despite the circumstances, Powell remembered Brian telling him to make sure he returned the car in good condition. He didn’t want to be stuck with a large bill for repairs. He wasn’t going to be happy.

One of the two shooters ran to the passenger side of the car and yanked open the door.

“Stop,” he yelled. “Or I’ll shoot her.”

Hattie was cowering from a gun pointing directly at her head.

Powell turned off the ignition. He was never going to get far in the car and had reached the conclusion whatever their plans, they didn’t intend to kill them, at least not right here and now.

Up close, Powell was able to recognise his assailants as Tommy and his sidekick Roger. Powell wondered if Scott was nearby.

“Step out of the car,” Tommy ordered.

Powell was pleased to oblige. Within the confines of the car he had no chance to deal with this threat. He stepped out of the car with his hands in the air and took a few steps towards Tommy.

“That’s close enough,” Tommy warned, pointing his gun at Powell’s chest.

Powell regretted having previously demonstrated his fighting skills. He no longer had surprise on his side and Tommy had no intention of letting him get close.

Tommy put his mobile to his ear. “We’re ready,” he said, never taking his eyes off Powell.

Powell stood still, not wanting to provoke the easily provoked Tommy. Powell had no doubts, Tommy would pull the trigger given half an excuse, even if his boss wanted him alive.

Hattie was standing nearby, looking scared. She had been a little naïve, hearing Scott telling Tommy to keep an eye on her and then obviously being followed to this meeting. She should have been more careful but then that was a tad unfair. She’d never been in MI5 or anything remotely similar.

After a minute, Powell heard a car approaching and the familiar Land Rover pulled alongside the parked cars. Scott was behind the wheel.

“Come over here Hattie,” Tommy instructed.

She did as she was told and Tommy turned her around, then tied her hands behind her back with a plastic tie.

“Turn around, Powell and put your hands behind your back. No funny business or I’ll kill the girl,” Tommy threatened.

Powell was calculating the odds of disarming both men but decided he couldn’t risk Hattie getting shot so did as instructed.

“Tie his hands, Roger,” Tommy ordered.

Powell offered no resistance and felt the plastic cut into his wrists. 

Tommy pulled open the rear door of the Land Rover. “Get in, Hattie,” he commanded, waving his gun at her to silence any argument.

Hattie climbed into the car with Tommy holding her arm. Once inside, she shuffled across the rear seat.

“Now your turn, Powell,” Tommy said, stepping back out of reach. As Powell slid onto the back seat, Scott was turned around in the driver’s seat pointing a gun at Hattie.

“Let’s get something straight,” Scott said. “Give us any trouble, even the sniff of trouble and the first person to be shot will be Hattie.”

Tommy sat in the passenger seat and aimed his gun at the backseat, allowing Scott to face forwards. Roger joined Powell on the backseat. He poked his gun into Powell’s ribs.

Scott glanced in his rear view mirror and then seemingly satisfied with what he saw, he accelerated away. 

Powell was uncertain why he had been taken alive. Hattie was a different matter. Scott didn’t want to give up on the millions she would inherit on her birthday. Although, how Scott could still expect to get her millions after what she had seen was another question. Perhaps he intended to resort to good old fashioned kidnapping and demand a ransom for her safe return. Her parents were certainly good for a few million.

They had been deposited in the rather dank and damp smelling basement of Tintagel. The room was cold and uninviting. They each still had their hands tied behind their backs with plastic ties but they now also had their ankles tied. They were sitting, propped up with their backs against one of the walls. Powell flexed his muscles to try and loosen the knots but without success.

There was a single light which allowed him to investigate their temporary jail and confirm there was no other way out. The large door at the top of the concrete stairs was the only entrance. The large room was empty except for a single metal chair in one corner.

What the hell was its purpose? Had it been used to ask questions of a previous captive? Had the young reporter been held down here prior to being murdered. 

“Perhaps we should shout for help,” Hattie suggested.

“These walls are very thick. You’d just be wasting your breath.”

“What are they going to do with us?” Hattie asked.

“I’m not sure. The fact they haven’t just handed me over to the police means they must need something.”

“Such as?”

“Perhaps they want to find out who I have told about their drugs business.”

“You sound like my mother. I know we all like to use a little but it’s not a business. It’s purely recreational use.”

“Hattie, trust me, this is a business. The other night I saw someone in the police hand over a very large amount of drugs to Scott.”

“Perhaps he was just stocking up a bit.”

“This was a suitcase full. I don’t know the street value but I guess it would be tens or possibly hundreds of thousands of pounds. That definitely constitutes a business.”

“Did you actually see what was in the suitcase?”

“No but they weren’t out admiring the view in the middle of the night.”

“How do you know they were police you saw giving the drugs to Scott? It doesn’t make sense.”

“It was definitely two police officers. I followed them back to Haywards Heath police station.”

“So why haven’t you told someone?”

“I have a friend in the security services. I told him and he’s trying to find out who the officers are.”

Hattie smiled. “So if your friend knows everything, will he look for you when he doesn’t hear from you?”

“Eventually.”

“That’s good.”

Powell didn’t want to crush Hattie’s hopes but he doubted they could just sit around waiting to be rescued. He tried to give a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. We’ll soon be out of here.”

“I hope so.”

Powell had been wanting the chance to ask Hattie something and now seemed as good a time as any. “Hattie, why did you ever join the commune?”

“Didn’t you ask me that before?”

“I think I probably did but we know each other better now. I’m intrigued what you saw in this place.”

“I love the freedom. I told you how life at home was always difficult. I was expected to follow a set of social rules about how I should behave. Who I should see and where I should go was dictated by my parents. My mother was trying to get me married to
the right sort of person
. I wasn’t remotely interested in marriage. The thought of promising in your early twenties to only have sex with the same one man for the rest of your life is absurd. It reached the point I couldn’t breathe.”

“Most teenagers face the same problems but don’t run away to join a commune.”

“I guess that just makes me different.”

“There was nothing specific at home you were trying to escape?”

“You mean, did my stepfather abuse me while I was growing up?”

The thought had entered Powell’s head. “Did he?”

“No. I don’t like him but he never touched me. He was never around enough when I was growing up to even notice I existed. He was too busy making money. He makes a lousy father but he didn’t do anything like that.”

Powell was relieved. In trying to understand why someone in Hattie’s privileged position would join a commune, he had considered the possibility she was escaping something as much as running towards something. “Does anyone ever come down here?” Powell asked, seeking to change the subject. 

“Unfortunately, no one ever comes down here.”

Powell had a moment of unease. He wasn’t sure what caused it but a shadow flickered across his memory and he knew there was something important, he was missing.

“You know what you said earlier about Stuart being shot?” Hattie continued. “Do you really think Scott was responsible?”

“It looks that way. As you can see, none of them are exactly averse to using guns.”

“I can’t believe Scott would kill anyone. He’s always talking about free love and respect for life.”

“Charles Manson was probably the same.”

“Who is he?” Hattie asked.

“He led a commune in California in the sixties. He and his small band of followers murdered a bunch of people, including an actress. It was big news at the time.”

“We aren’t going to kill anyone, even if Scott was to want us too, which I’m sure he wouldn’t.”

“I don’t think you know Scott as well as you think you do. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be tied up in here, with me.”

“Possibly but I know Scott really likes me. He won’t hurt me.”

“I don’t share your confidence. He was pointing a gun at you, threatening to kill you, just a short time ago.”

“That doesn’t mean he’d actually shoot me.”

Hattie was very naïve. Powell was uncertain if she was trying to convince herself Scott wouldn’t hurt her, or whether she really believed it to be true. She may be right. Scott might just have been using her as a means of ensuring Powell remained compliant. And there was still the matter of her inheritance.

“What about Tommy?” Powell quizzed. “Could he have killed Stuart?”

Hattie was thoughtful for a second. “Tommy used to be a soldier and has a nasty temper. I think he would be capable of shooting someone.”

“I agree. I know he’d shoot me if Scott tells him to. In fact, he might not wait to be told by Scott.”

“I’m sure Scott won’t let Tommy shoot either of us.”

“Well it might be best not to hang around to find out,” Powell said, climbing to his feet, using the wall behind his back for support.

The wall was made of stones set unevenly in concrete. Powell worked his way along the wall until he found a rough stone with a sharp edge. He started to rub the ties holding his hands against the edge of the stone. The ties were flush against his skin and as he tried to cut them, the stone was also cutting into his wrist.

He worked quickly, ignoring the pain and after a few minutes the plastic had started to tear. His hands were soon free and he turned his attention to his ankles. He lay on his back and lifting his feet in the air once again used the stone to cut the plastic.

Powell helped Hattie to her feet and was able to loosen the ties enough for her to get her hands free. When he checked her feet he found they hadn’t been tied as tightly as his and he was able to simply pull off the ties.

“Now what?” Hattie asked.

“Now you have to trust me,” Powell replied. “This may be our one and only chance to escape. We are both going to sit back down and pretend we are still tied up. When they return, I will deal with them and then we get the hell out of here as quickly as possible.”

“But there’s three of them, only one of you.”

“I will have surprise on my side. Now have a quick stretch and then sit back down. I’ll make it look like you are still tied up.”