Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (20 page)

The use of the word ‘Sir’ pleased Hayden and he nodded. “Let’s not arse about here all day then, we’ve got a fucking cockroach to kill.”

Riley couldn’t help but smile.

CHAPTER 20

It was reassuring for Riley to be back as part of a two man team. Hayden was crouched by his side and seemed extremely confident and efficient. He’d even selected the same long range weapon as Riley, ideal for this distance complete with spotting scope, which he now gazed down intently. Hayden concentrated on the hospital, leaving Riley free to keep an eye on the surrounding area, on the lookout for fellow snipers. The idiot above the café was still perched above his awning and even from this distance Ryan could tell he wasn’t fully committed. His black-clad form had lost its coiled spring pose and he was leaning back against the wall, looking like he could fall asleep at any moment. There was no danger there.

“I’ve got movement,” Riley said quietly as he watched another figure in black mount the stairs of a building just west of them. This one appeared more professional. He kept low and sped to the edge of the roof before ducking down out of sight, no doubt to assemble his weapon. “This is getting ridiculous. There’s going to be dozens of us up here. When Alex comes out it’ll be carnage.”

“Then let’s hope he comes out soon,” replied Hayden, intent on getting his cash.

“At least we have the advantage. We’ll know which exit he’ll be coming out of…bugger it, there’s another one.”

He watched another black figure set up a spot two blocks to their right. From his trajectory, Riley surmised if he fired a shot it would plough right into the maternity unit. “He can’t fire from there, look what he’ll hit if he misses.”

Hayden nodded. “Fucking idiot.”

“He can’t.” Riley’s palms began to sweat as he recalled Zoe bleeding copiously, her swollen belly holding a child that was already dead and he put his eye to the sight and aimed at the figure on the rooftop.

“What are you doing?” whispered Hayden.

“Taking him out. He could kill a baby or a pregnant woman.”

“If you fire you might alert the others to our presence.”

“Only if they’re looking at him when I fire. The shot won’t be heard.”

“I think you should stand down.”

Riley wrestled with himself. This wasn’t in his remit and leaving a dead body lying on a roof could cause a lot of trouble.

“Ryan,” he said softly.

His phone burst into life, automatically dialling and for the third time his brother’s voice burst into life in his ear. “Yes Riley?”

“There are two more snipers up here with us. One’s in a bad spot. If he fires and misses it’ll go straight into maternity.”

“What are you saying?”

“I want to take him out before he kills an innocent bystander.”

“This is getting very complicated. I’ll leave it to your discretion Riley, just as long as you remain professional.”

“I will.”

Riley ended the call and aimed his weapon at the figure.

“Riley…,” began Hayden.

Before he could reply Riley had pulled the trigger. Through the sight he saw a spray of red then the figure fell. Hayden quickly scanned the other two figures to make sure they hadn’t seen anything but they seemed to be concentrated on the hospital. Riley felt he could breathe easier and turned his mind back to the task in hand, glad Hayden didn’t comment on his decision. He respected the man and didn’t want his censure.

Thirty minutes later a ringing in his ear started up. “Answer,” said Riley.

“He’s on the move,” said the voice of Barry, Jez’s man in the hospital. “He’s just  left the ward and he’s taking the lift down to the ground floor. This sounds mental but I think he’s heading for one of the main exits.”

“He can’t be that stupid.”

“He’s in disguise. Long grey raincoat, short blond wig with a brown flat cap and glasses. He’s walking like an old man, probably struggling because of his injuries. It’s a good disguise. If I hadn’t seen him come out of his room myself I wouldn’t have known it was him.”

“Is he alone?”

“Yes. I’m taking the stairs, I can’t risk getting in the lift with him.”

“Make sure you don’t lose him.” He turned to Hayden. “Get ready, we’re on.”

Hayden’s sharp eyes gazed down the sight, entirely focused on the task in hand.

Riley heard the sound of loud footsteps and Barry began panting down the phone as he ran. “I’m at the bottom, the lift’s about to stop.” There was a brief pause during which Riley held his breath, praying he hadn’t lost him.

“He’s here,” said Barry with a tinge of relief. “He’s walking right through outpatients, bold as fucking brass. He’ll be with you in about thirty seconds. It’s really busy, he’s struggling to move through the crowd. He’s taking his time, not attracting any attention to himself.” Another pause. “He’s stopped for breath, he looks to be in pain. He’s on the move again. Twenty seconds.”

“Twenty seconds,” he repeated quietly to Hayden, who didn’t so much as move a muscle in response, but Riley knew he’d heard him.

“He’s nearly at the doors. Hold on, he’s being held up by a bloke on crutches, he’s stopped to let him pass…and he’s off again. He’s approaching the door now, there’s no one around him. The shot’s clear.”

“Long grey coat, short blond hair, brown flat cap and glasses,” Riley related to Hayden.

The second the figure emerged from the hospital, Hayden fired. They both watched as the man was flung onto his back and he stayed down, unmoving. Riley was impressed, the shot was perfect. While he lay prone on the pavement, Hayden pumped a second bullet into his chest.

Without a word Ryan and Hayden ducked down out of sight, packed away their weapons and rushed for the stairs, gone before the other snipers even realised what had happened.

“Ryan,” said Riley as they ran.

“Yes?” replied his brother’s voice.

“It’s done. Hayden took him out.”

“Congratulations,” he replied, voice dripping with pleasure. “Tell him he’s two million pounds richer.”

“I’ll pass on the good news,” said Riley, a grin in his voice.

Barry joined the rush to reach Alex’s body. As the shots had been silent no one had worked out what had happened.

Two doctors knelt by his side and Barry leaned in to get a closer look, he had to confirm he really was dead. His stomach dropped when he saw the wig lying on the ground beside the body. The face gazing up at the sky with vacant eyes wasn’t Alex’s.

“He’s gone, there’s nothing we can do,” said one of the doctors sadly.

“Oh holy fuck,” whispered Barry, rushing back inside while trying to pull his mobile phone out of his trousers. For some reason it got stuck and he yanked so hard he heard his pocket rip. “Come on, pick up, pick up,” he said as he negotiated the maze of corridors away from A&E into a quieter part of the hospital, heading for one of the exits at the rear.

“Well done Barry,” said Jez’s cheerful voice.

“I just saw the body and it wasn’t him,” he whispered into the phone. “They’d dressed someone up to look like him.”

“What?” bellowed Jez. “How the fuck did that happen? You were supposed to be watching him.”

“I had to clear up some puke on the ward, it took me a minute at the most. There was nothing I could do, I was supposed to be making out I worked there.”

“What time was this?”

“A couple of hours ago,” he panted, it being a struggle for him to walk quickly and talk at the same time.

“For fuck’s sake, he’ll be long gone by now.”

“Sorry,” said Barry, feeling nervous when he heard Ryan’s angry voice in the background demanding to know what was going on. There was a muffled exchange of voices, which grew in volume. Barry prayed they wouldn’t blame him for this huge fuck-up.

Barry exited the building, car keys in hand. He stopped in his tracks when he reached his car. “Oh shit. I just realised, the body.”

“What body?”

“When I was cleaning up the sick a body was wheeled out on a gurney, I bet that was him. I didn’t think anything of it, people die in hospitals all the time. Three old biddies have croaked it on the ward already this week.”

“Hey Barry,” called a voice.

He turned and, before he could process the fact that Col Sugar was stood before him, a blade had been plunged into his heart. Barry’s eyes bulged and the phone started to slip from his hand. Col caught it before it hit the ground then withdrew the knife and knocked him down, so he was hidden from view by his own car.

“Barry,” Jez yelled down the phone.

“Sorry, he’s unavailable.”

“Col you fucker, you killed him, didn’t you?”

“Just a drop in the ocean compared to what your brother’s done to me. Put him on the phone.”

Col patiently waited as he listened to the mutter of voices before the phone was passed over.

“Which poor bastard just got shot?” demanded Ryan.

“Just some sick homeless person willing to help out for food in his belly and a bit of medicine, much good it did him.”

“You cold bastard. What rock is Alex hiding under?”

“You sound angry Ryan. Not used to failure, are you?”

“Unlike Alex, no.”

“Not the genius you thought you were.”

“We hold the compound, the businesses, the muscle and the cash. What have you got except a loser with two holes in his belly. If I were you I wouldn’t be getting ahead of myself because of one little victory,” said Ryan before disconnecting.

Col scowled at the phone, annoyed he’d been cut off before he could have a really good gloat. He pocketed the phone and took a shortcut through some bushes leading off the hospital premises. He could hear the wail of sirens approaching. Someone must have finally twigged that Alex’s double had been murdered.

Battler and Bruiser had been ordered to wait outside Rachel’s door while she studied her reflection in the full length mirror. The move to the private hospital had done her the world of good. Now the constant threat of danger was gone she was rapidly improving, strong enough to stand and take walks around the garden. It had taken her some time but she’d finally plucked up the courage to see what scars she was going to be left with. She’d started with her face and thankfully the bruising was disappearing, her eyes finally looked properly open, the skin marred by yellow patches but all the swelling had gone. She’d skipped over the bandage around her neck, unable to deal with that yet. She let her nightgown slide to the floor and stood there naked except for a pair of light blue panties. The stab wounds were well on their way to healing, leaving small puckered marks surrounded by bruising. Ugly. The memory of Alex on top of her, pressing his hardness against her, his heavy body smothering her returned and she buried her face in her hands, bile creeping up her throat. The scar he’d left inside her was worse than the ones on her body. It was the betrayal that was the hardest thing to take. Somehow it was worse that it had been someone so close to her rather than a stranger. She recalled how he’d touched her thighs and leered over her stockings, how helpless she’d been to stop him. She also worried about her and Ryan. So far his caresses had been purely loving because of her fragile condition and she’d basked in them but one day he would want more and she prayed she was able to give herself to him. What if when her husband was on top of her the memory of Alex on top of her returned? Rachel lifted her head and stared defiantly back at her reflection. Alex Maguire would not break her, she wouldn’t allow it and she would certainly not let him destroy her relationship with Ryan.

She was disturbed by a knock. “Rachel, can I come in?” called Ryan’s voice through the door.

“Just a second,” she called back, pulling her nightgown back on, wanting to hide the scars. “Okay.”

Ryan walked into Rachel’s room with a heavy heart, feeling as though he’d let her down again but his spirits lifted when he saw she was back on her feet. “You’re up.”

“I thought it was about time,” she said, hobbling back to bed.

“Let me help,” he said, taking her arm.

Rachel thought she might explode with love as he fussed over her, helping her settle back into bed, plumping her pillows and tucking her in. She was slightly reassured. No force on earth, not even Alex Maguire, could stop her wanting this man.

“How did it go today?” she said.

“We failed Babe.”

Rachel’s smile dropped.

“Alex has gone underground,” he added.

“Good.”

“You’re pleased?”

“This way we can kill him personally. He’s just cheated himself out of a quick painless death because he can’t hide from us.”

“That is true.” He sat beside her and gave her a kiss.

“You look done in,” she said, stroking his cheek.

“I can’t sleep without you next to me.”

“I’ve been in here for two days. Surely I can leave now?”

“What does the doctor say?”

“She says I’m okay.”

“Rachel, what did she really say?” he asked in a strict teacher-like tone.

“That I have to stay in a bit longer,” she sighed. “Just a few more days.”

“Then that’s what you must do. It’ll pass before you know it.”