The Front (43 page)

       
‘She fuckin’ will be when I get my hands on her!’ Mal spluttered. ‘Slag!’

       
Ged threw his hand across Mal’s mouth. ‘Will you listen to me, you bloody idiot! She’s scared! There’s something weird going on here. Think about it! I find out Linda’s here, and get a gun pulled on me for asking. And the next thing, we see the same man with Suzie. It’s not right, man!’

       
‘He’s right,’ Sam said. ‘Look how they’re gripping her arms. She’s in trouble!’

       
Mal looked around, his fury at Suzie turning to outrage at the men. ‘Bastards!’ he spat. ‘What do they think they’re playing at? They got no bleedin’ right. I’ll pan the bleedin’ lot of ’em if they hurt her!’

       
‘Shut up!’ Ged hissed. ‘They’ve got a bloody gun!’

       
‘So what am I supposed to do? Sit here and watch them take my Suzie away?’

       
‘You’ll fucking calm down,’ Ged said. ‘Now shut up before you give us away! Lee. Don’t start the car until they pull out, but as soon as they do, get after them. And for God’s sake, keep a bit of distance between us!’

Paul Dalton couldn’t believe his luck. First he’d found the Escort, then the silver BMW. Now the red-haired girl from the photo – and she did not look at all happy. In fact, she looked like she was being taken somewhere against her will. Something big was in the offing here. He could feel it in his gut.

       
He fidgeted excitedly as the BMW drove out of the car park, followed a full half-minute later by the Escort. As soon as they’d both disappeared around the corner, heading for the Parkway, he jumped up, dragging Eddie with him onto the road. Looking around in the vain hope that Jane and Vanda had waited, he was disappointed to see that they hadn’t. Pulling his mobile phone from his pocket, he tapped in the station number with shaking fingers.

       
‘Back-up?’ Eddie asked.

       
Paul shook his head. ‘I just need to speak to DCI Jackson.’

       
‘I hope for your sake you’re right about all this,’ Eddie said. ‘You’ve got to admit it was a bit easy, mate. A bit too convenient, like.’

       
‘Yeah, I know,’ Paul muttered. ‘But if I don’t follow it through I could be blowing the best chance of nailing the whole lot in one go.’

       
‘I think you’re in grave danger of making a complete prat of yourself,’ Eddie snorted. ‘Just keep my name out of it, eh?’

       
Paul grimaced, feeling queasy at the prospect of Eddie being right. But just as he began to contemplate hanging up, the phone was answered.

       
It was Sergeant Daly. Paul didn’t really know him, but had heard he was up the Super’s backside. He decided it’d be better not to tell him what he was doing, saying instead that he needed DCI Jackson’s mobile number to change an arrangement they had for the following day. If he was wrong about all this, he didn’t need to drag Jackson down with him.

       
Eddie turned to look as a car came up behind them, beeping its horn in short bursts. Seeing who it was, he tugged on Paul’s sleeve.

       
Paul turned with his finger in his ear and his face creased in concentration as he tried to memorize the number Sergeant Daly was reluctantly giving him. His face lit up when he saw Jane and Vanda.

       
‘Now that’s what I call brilliant timing!’ he grinned, snapping his phone shut after thanking Sergeant Daly. Jumping in the back with Eddie, he said, ‘Anyone got a pen? I need to write this number down quick.’

       
‘And follow those cars!’ Eddie added dramatically as Jane handed a pen across to Paul.

       
‘What?’ Vanda turned with a smile. ‘You serious?’

       
‘Too right!’ Paul said, writing the number on his hand. ‘Just turn right onto the Parkway and drive straight on. I’ll tell you what to do when I see what I’m looking for!’

       
Jane and Vanda looked at each other and gave a squeal of delight. Then Vanda threw the car into gear and roared onto the Parkway.

       
Paul phoned Jackson’s mobile number and waited impatiently for him to answer. ‘Come on . . . come on!’

       
‘It’s a good job we came back the same way,’ Jane said, beaming over the back of the seat. ‘I had a feeling we’d see you again tonight.’

       
Eddie grinned back at her. ‘Ladies, you are truly a gift from the gods!’

       
Jane turned to Vanda and winked. ‘I could get to like him!’

       
‘Hello?’ Paul barked into his phone. ‘DCI Jackson? It’s PC Dalton, sir. I’ve, er, got something you might find interesting.’

       
Praying he was right, he explained as best he could about the cars, then listened as Jackson told him what to do. They were to follow the cars until they reached their destination, then he was to call Jackson again and let him know where they were. But under no circumstance whatsoever was he to approach them, or let them see him.

       
Jane passed a tray of chicken chow mein and a little plastic fork into the back. ‘Here you go, lads, you must be starving. I’ll share Vanda’s.’

       
‘Make sure you remember that!’ Vanda said. ‘I don’t want to find you polishing my half off as well. I know what you’re like!’

       
‘I won’t!’ Jane promised, shovelling a sloppy forkful into her mouth. ‘Oh, this is great!’ she said around the food. ‘I’ve always wanted to do this! Oi, Starsky,’ she laughed, nudging Vanda. ‘Give this mutha some gas!’

25

Jackson downed his pint in one, then jumped to his feet like a man half his age. Mac watched with an incredulous look on his face.

       
‘By ’eck, Ted,’ he chortled. ‘That’s the fastest I’ve ever seen you move! Where’s the fire?’

       
‘Up your backside, if you don’t get yourself off that stool!’ Jackson said, pulling his overcoat on. ‘Come on!’

       
Mac managed half his drink, splashing a good amount down his moustache. Slamming his glass down, he struggled out from behind the table as Jackson steamed off towards the door. ‘Hold up, Ted!’ he shouted, almost breaking into a trot to catch up.

       
‘Bloody hell!’ he gasped, finally falling into step with his speedy friend halfway down the street. ‘What’s going on?’

       
Jackson finished tapping out the station number without breaking step. ‘That lad, Dalton – that was him on the phone. He’s following an Escort following a silver BMW up the Parkway. I told him to call me again when they get where they’re going, and I want to get something sorted, in case.

       
‘Hello, yes,’ he barked into the phone. ‘Get me Superintendent Clarke. Don’t prat about, man! It’s DCI Jackson and I want the Super – NOW!

       
‘Goddamned night staff!’ he grumbled, still marching as he gripped the phone to his ear. ‘Superintendent? DCI Jackson, sir. I’m on my way in with DS Macintosh. I’ll explain when we get there, but we need a car, a driver, and back-up – preferably armed response! No, sir, I’m not joking. This could be a major incident. Okay, sir. We’ll be there in two minutes.’

       
He snapped his phone shut and put a spurt on, almost breaking into a hop-and-skip run as he hurtled around the corner.

       
Mac valiantly stayed with him, his face purpling with exertion as sweat rolled down from his armpits by the bucketful. But he didn’t care. If Jackson had a gut feeling, there was definitely something to chase.

       
Sergeant Daly looked up sharply as they burst in and steamed straight through the internal door heading for the Super’s office.

       
Superintendent Clarke gestured at them to close the door and sit. Jackson plonked himself down and drummed his fingers on the desk.

       
‘What’s the urgency?’ Clarke asked, clasping his hands together and with his elbows on the desk. ‘And why, may I ask, do you need an ARU?’

       
‘There’s a good chance the men we want for the Singh shooting last week are heading down the Princess Parkway right now in two cars of the types positively ID’d by an eyewitness, sir,’ Jackson explained hurriedly. ‘There’s a PC following in a civvy car, sir, and I’ve good reason to believe there may be a major incident when they reach their destination.’

       
‘Involving the PC?’ Clarke asked, clearly alarmed.

       
‘No, sir. I’ve ordered him not to approach under any circumstances, but to call me as soon as they stop.’

       
‘You still haven’t convinced me you need an ARU,’ said Clarke. ‘You know I’ll have to justify whatever decision I make, so make it good.’

       
‘Sir, with respect, the longer we take, the further they’re going to get,’ Jackson said, impatiently glancing at his watch. ‘It’s going on fifteen minutes since I spoke to PC Dalton, and he was already on the move. Now, the men he’s following have a girl with them, and according to Dalton, she might well be being held against her will. That’s a potential kidnapping, sir. I know how it sounds, but I urge you to humour me on this. If I’m wrong, I’ll hand in my resignation first thing in the morning – later tonight, if you like! But if I’m right, we could pick up the whole gang in one go!’

       
Superintendent Clarke pursed his mouth as he contemplated the possible consequences of making the wrong decision. Finally, he nodded. ‘All right, Ted. But please be right about this because I don’t want to have to accept your resignation.’

       
Rising, he gestured them to the door. ‘Sort out your car and driver with Sergeant Daly. I’ll organize the ARU.’

       
‘Thanks, sir!’ Jackson released a sharp breath. ‘You won’t regret it.’

       
‘I hope not,’ Clarke said, dropping back into his seat and picking up his phone. ‘Oh, and Ted – get yourselves some bulletproofs, and take one for PC Dalton!’

       
‘Yes, sir. Thanks.’

26

Max turned off the Parkway and eased down the slip road heading for Wythenshawe.

       
‘I don’t see why you couldn’t bring her earlier,’ he grumbled at The Man who was in the back with Suzie. ‘I don’t like bringing my car down this end.’

       
The Man frowned at him in the rear-view. ‘I already told you, Marie was busy. You remember to bring the rose pruner?’ he asked.

       
Max patted his jacket pocket. ‘Yeah! And I hope none of these dirty white scally bastards down here touch my wheels, or I’ll be using it on them! So what’s the plan?’

       
The Man smiled at Suzie before answering. He’d taken a bit of a shine to her. He’d always liked real redheads, and beneath the fading bruises this one was a little beauty. But he especially admired the loyalty she’d displayed back there. That had earned his respect.

       
‘We’re gonna drop Red with Marie,’ he said. ‘Then we’ll go pay her boyfriend a visit.’ He slipped his arm along the back ledge, letting his fingers brush against Suzie’s thick hair. ‘Teach him a little lesson.’

       
‘You sure he’ll still be in?’ Jake asked, turning to look at Suzie with his strange eyes. He looked so evil in the half-light that she shuddered with fear.

       
‘He should be,’ she answered quietly, averting her eyes.

       
Looking out of the window, she tried to figure out everything that had happened since she’d been caught with the money. The Man’s behaviour was odd. They’d spent the past hour and a half in his flat waiting for someone called Marie to give them the all-clear. And he’d been the perfect host – lighting cigarettes for her and making her cups of coffee. She was very disorientated by it all: she certainly hadn’t expected considerate treatment like this from the man who had earlier kidnapped her and threatened her with a gun.

       
She began to wonder what he’d do with Mal when he found him and realized, with a brief stab of guilt, that she didn’t care as much as she should. She’d given everything to Mal, and all she’d asked in return was his loyalty – his love. Then he’d started all that with Elaine and didn’t even seem to care how much he’d hurt her, Suzie. For two years she’d put up with the beatings and verbal abuse. Well, now it was his turn! She looked forward to seeing how he coped when these men got their hands on him!

       
‘Which way is it?’ Max was asking.

       
‘Get to the lights, turn right off the roundabout and follow the first road off to the left,’ The Man told him, leaning forward to point. ‘It’s only two minutes from there. There’s a park on the left. Marie’s is opposite the gates halfway down.’

‘Where the bloody hell are they going now?’ Lee moaned for the fifth time in as many minutes. He turned onto the slip road, scowling petulantly and complaining loudly about the wild-goose chase.

       
‘And I need petrol!’ he went on, glaring around at everyone. ‘So youse had better get your dosh out ’cos I left mine with Elaine. Anyhow, I don’t see why I should have to pay. It’s not my bird we’re chasing!’

       
‘Will you stop fuckin’ whining!’ Mal yelled, pulling a handful of notes from his pocket and throwing them at Lee. ‘Here, y’ tight-fisted cunt! Now stop doin’ me head in!’

       
Lee swerved exaggeratedly, swiping at the money as it landed on his lap. ‘What y’ do that for, man! I coulda crashed!’

       
‘Will you just shut it, the pair of you!’ Ged yelled from the back. ‘Keep your damn’ eyes on the road, Lee, and stop pissing about or they’re gonna suss us! Jeezus!’ He hissed through gritted teeth. ‘What the fuck’s wrong with you two? You’ve been bickering like a pair of schoolgirls since we set off!’