Hunted (25 page)

“You stupid fat bastard,” yelled Ryan.

“Sorry, I’m so sorry.”

“You’re making me really fucking mad,” said Ryan, stabbing Actaeon in the shoulder.

“I didn’t mean to,” shrieked Orion, tears running freely down his face. “Don’t hurt my friend, I can’t live without him.”

“Throw the keys to the cuffs over here and if you conveniently miss then this knife is going to end up in his ball sac. Are we clear?”

“Y…yes,” stammered Orion, fingers scrabbling at his trouser pocket. Eventually he managed to pull out the keys, sobbing quietly to himself, and threw them to Ryan. They landed right beside his leg and when Actaeon tried to take them he slammed his fist into his face, careful to hold him up to maintain his shield, just in case Orion decided to make a play for the gun.

“Stop hurting him, stop hurting him,” whimpered Orion, chewing on the nails of both hands.

Ryan was presented with a dilemma. He needed both hands to free himself but didn’t dare lower the knife from Actaeon’s throat.

Before he could decide on a course of action there was a noise right above their heads, the sound of running footsteps. The change in Orion came on as swiftly as it had before. The child in him disappeared, replaced by the hunter.

“Your wife’s here,” he said, a macabre smile splitting his face in two. “What you did to Actaeon I’m going to do to her tenfold.”

He lunged forward with surprising agility, snatched up the rifle and made for the stairs.

“Get back here Orion or I’ll kill your friend,” yelled Ryan.

But he ignored him and disappeared upstairs.

“Orion.” No answer. “Shit.” Ryan shoved Actaeon aside and jammed the key into the cuffs. It didn’t fit. It had been a ruse on Orion’s part to get him to put down the knife. “Oh no, please no, no, no,” he said, verging on panic. He grabbed Actaeon by the shirt front and dragged him up to a sitting position. “Where’s the fucking key?”

Actaeon released a wheezy chuckle. Enraged, Ryan ripped the eye from the optic nerve and shoved it into his mouth before punching him, breaking his jaw so he couldn’t spit it out.

“Chew on it or choke,” snarled Ryan as Actaeon’s one remaining eye bulged with horror.

Ryan looked towards the door as footsteps returned. Frantically he tried to drag Actaeon back to him but he was exhausted, the lack of sleep and food and the incredible strain taking its toll. They were in the room before he’d got his human shield back in place. He let Actaeon drop.

“Rachel,” he breathed.

CHAPTER 26

Rachel pulled off the night vision goggles, raced up to Ryan and threw her arms around his neck. “You’re alive, thank God, thank you God,” she said.

“You won’t believe how good it is to see you,” he said into her hair, holding her tight.

Tears shone in Rachel’s eyes “Yes I do.”

He crushed her to him, kissing her hard, until he recalled what they’d made him eat and he tore himself away. She gave him a quizzical look.

“There’s two of them, the other one just went upstairs. He’s armed,” explained Ryan.

“I’ll warn the others,” she said, getting on her radio.

“Others?”

“The usual,” she smiled humourlessly. “Riley too.”

Ryan felt better. They’d make mincemeat of Orion.

She tugged at the cuffs. “Where are the keys?”

“I don’t know. I thought I had them but they don’t fit,” he said, indicating the set Orion had given him on the floor.

“Jules,” she called over her shoulder.

He was doubly shocked when his sister walked into the room, knives out. “Is this the piece of shit who took you?” she said, slamming her foot into Actaeon’s ribs, who sounded to be choking.

“One of them. The other went up top. He was carrying a rifle,” replied Ryan.

“Then it’s time to go,” said Jules, keeping one eye on the door.

“We don’t know where the keys are,” said Rachel, holding onto Ryan’s hand, afraid if she let go he’d vanish.

“Allow me.”

Jules knelt beside Actaeon and plunged her blade into the left side of his belly. “Tell me where the key is or I’ll slit you open and make a party banner out of your intestines.”

“He can’t tell you, I broke his jaw,” said Ryan.

Jules shrugged. “Never mind, this is still fun,” she said, twisting the blade. She must have caused him intense pain because he passed out. She withdrew the knife and wiped it on his trousers before returning it to its sheath. “Then we’ve got to find the key.”

They began searching the room but found nothing.

“Any bolt cutters?” called Jules over her shoulder.

“No,” Rachel called back, her head buried in the metal locker. “But I did find this,” she said, withdrawing a pistol. “Would this be enough to get through the chain?”

Jules took it from her, checked the bullets in the clip and nodded. “Yes.”

“Now come on, you might hit me,” said Ryan, a little nervous.

“No worries big brother, I’m an excellent shot,” smiled Jules.

“But…”

“Ryan, we’ve no choice. We have to get you out of here before he comes back,” said Rachel.

“Oh…hell.”

“Now stay really still,” said Jules, aiming the gun at the chains, which he’d pulled as tight as he could in order to get as far from the line of fire as possible.

“Rachel, get to the back of the room, well out of the way,” said Ryan.

She obeyed, keeping one eye on the door. She’d never seen Ryan so jumpy before, cringing as Jules took aim. The first shot severed the left chain neatly and both he and Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. The second just nicked the side of the right chain before ploughing into the concrete beside his knee.

“Christ, be careful,” he exclaimed.

“Sorry and don’t shout, you’re ruining my concentration.” She fired again and Ryan’s right hand was released. The sense of freedom was immeasurable and he leapt to his feet, elated.

“Thanks,” he said to Jules.

“No problem. Let’s get out of here before the other one comes back.”

“Wait,” he said, delving into the metal cabinet. He took out Orion’s rifle and smiled down at it. Payback was so fucking good.

Jules rushed up the stairs first, still holding the pistol, Ryan and Rachel bringing up the rear. Ryan saw a metal door at the top, which Jules peeked out of, gun at the ready.

“All clear,” she said quietly.

Ryan slipped outside, breathing in the fresh air, revelling in the night, nature all around him. He gave Rachel’s hand a gentle squeeze, which was torn from his grasp. He whipped round just in time to see her startled face falling back down the stairs. A large shadow blocked her out. It seemed to smile at him before the door slammed shut in his face.

“Rachel,” he bellowed, pulling on the door, but it refused to open. “No.” Raising the rifle he shot at the lock. There was a ping and he kicked the door open then pelted back down the stairs.

Rachel lay on her back staring up the wooden stairs she’d just fallen down, the wind knocked out of her, wondering what the hell had happened. A chubby pink face loomed over her. It looked so childlike she thought it was benign, until it pointed a pistol at her.

“Hello Mrs Law.”

A loud bang from upstairs galvanised Orion into action. He dragged her up by her hair and pulled her back into the hide. Ryan and Jules rushed in, guns at the ready.

“Let her go,” Ryan growled, finger on the trigger.

“I don’t think so,” said Orion. “Shoe’s on the other fucking foot now, isn’t it?” He held her before him like a human shield, just as Ryan had with Actaeon, gun jammed under her chin.

“It’s me you want to hurt,” said Ryan.

“You’re right, it is, and I’m going to use someone you love to do it, just like you did to me with Actaeon.”

“Don’t you mean Brian?” said Rachel. “The police know who you are, both of you. They’re searching your homes as we speak.”

Orion began shuffling again, which terrified Ryan. The slightest movement could send a bullet ploughing upwards through Rachel’s skull. He swung his rifle to Actaeon. “Let her go or I’ll put a bullet through his head.” Ryan hoped his threat wasn’t an empty one, Actaeon was so still he could already be dead, whether that was because of being stabbed, his obstructed breathing or choking on his own eyeball, he couldn’t be sure.

“You’re not getting out of this one Gerard,” said Rachel. “But if you give yourself up they might go easier on you.”

Orion too realised that Actaeon was probably dead and released a groan of pain. “I don’t give a shit. What does it matter now? He’s gone.”

The crackle of the radio strapped to Rachel’s waist agitated the air.

“Rach, it’s okay. We’ve caught the bastard,” said Riley’s jubilant voice.

Rachel and Ryan’s gazes caught. “There’s three of them,” she said.

“Don’t touch it, not unless you want her pretty head splattered around the room,” said Orion when Jules’s hand moved to her own radio.

Slowly Jules retracted her hand.

Ryan could see Rachel’s own hand slowly creeping to the taser tucked into the back of her jeans. Her gaze was flat, almost emotionless, but Ryan knew this was just a control mechanism to keep herself calm.

“Who’s the third one Orion?” said Ryan loudly to distract him from what Rachel was doing. His fear was that if she did hit him with the taser it would send all his muscles into spasm, causing his finger to tighten on the trigger of the gun that was pressed to her head. He had to draw that gun off Rachel and onto something else. “Who else is working with you?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” he said maliciously.

“We are going to know, he’s been caught you idiot,” he retorted. “Knowing our friends there’s a good chance he’s already dead.” He gave a death’s head smile. “We’re not as nice as the police.”

Orion turned puce again as his temper soared. “No, you’re not taking him too. You’ve already taken Actaeon,” he spat, turning the gun from Rachel to Ryan.

“Now Rachel,” said Ryan calmly.

She knocked Orion’s arm away, simultaneously jamming the taser against her own side and pressing the button. The current passed through her and into Orion, who was holding onto her. A cramp-like pain engulfed her entire body, there was a loud bang as the gun went off and the next thing she knew she was falling again. When the taser fell from her hand the pain stopped but all she was capable of was lying there. From the corner of her eye she could see the mass of Orion’s body jiggling on the floor, eyes wide with shock.

“On your front fat boy,” said Jules, rolling him roughly onto his stomach and tying his hands behind his back with the chains that had tethered Ryan.

Ryan helped her sit up, his warm arms around her, his lips on her hair. “You okay Babe?”

She nodded, feeling her body slowly coming back to life. Orion was too because he was muttering and shifting about on the floor.

“Shut it,” said Jules, giving him a kick in the ribs.

“Bitch,” spat Orion.

“Prick.”

“Did anybody get shot?” said Rachel.

“No, the bullet went into the floor. Nice work sweetheart,” he said, kissing her forehead.

“Can we please get out of this hellhole now?”

“I would love nothing more,” smiled Ryan, helping her to her feet.

They all paused when they heard a voice calling them and they looked blankly at each other.

Jules realised where the voice was coming from and pulled the radio from her belt. “Riley, we’ve got Ryan. He’s fine. We’ve also found the killer’s lair.”

“I’ll meet them up top,” said Ryan.

“I’ll stay here and keep an eye on chuckles,” said Jules, lighting up a cigarette.

Ryan was about to tell her not to, it was a crime scene, but he lacked the energy. Instead he put an arm around her shoulders. “Thanks…sister.”

She stared at him with surprise before smiling. “You’re welcome.”

Together Ryan and Rachel limped up the stairs, holding onto each other, utterly exhausted. They emerged into the cool night air, both delighted to see the outside world again. Rachel gazed up at him and he ran his fingertips down her face.

“I knew you’d come,” he said, “even though you should have kept away. What you did was so dangerous.”

“There was no way I wasn’t coming. I’m just glad we got here in time,” she said, voice cracking with emotion.

He held onto her for all he was worth. “I wouldn’t have let a couple of puddings like them kill me when so many others have failed.” He felt her shudder against him, trying to smother her tears by burying her face in his chest. “How are the kids?” he said softly, pressing his face into her hair.

“Worried, especially Leah. They’re going to be so happy to see you.”

When she tried to kiss him he jerked his head away, still unable to bear the thought of her lips touching his after what he’d swallowed. Her eyes, which were blacker than the night, narrowed, filling with hurt and confusion. The sound of sirens approaching in the distance came to them on the air, cutting her off before she could question him.

“This is going to take some explaining,” he said.

“They’re going to be pissed off we came out here,” she replied, drying her eyes on the sleeves of her black jumper. “Ashley told us to leave it alone.”

“They’re only coppers, we’ll deal with them like we always do. After the people we’ve faced in the past they’ll be pushovers.”

“I suppose.”

Crashing in the bracken had Ryan pushing Rachel behind him and raising the rifle, but Riley emerged from the shadows leading someone with their hands bound behind their back, Battler, Bruiser, Mikey and Jez following.

“Thank Christ,” said Riley, shoving their captive into Bruiser’s arms and racing towards his brother. He gave him a big hug before stepping back to study him. “You okay?”

“Fine,” he replied as though he hadn’t just been held prisoner by a couple of cannibals. “Hello Jez,” he said when Jez threw himself at him too.

“Where’s Jules?” said Mikey.

“Down there keeping an eye on the lunatics who took me.”

“On her own?” said Mikey, eyes widening.

“Don’t worry, they’re not a threat,” said Ryan as he went rushing down the steps of the hide. “Who’s this?” he said, pointing to the bound man.

Bruiser shoved their prisoner forward and he fell onto his knees before Ryan.

“Well, it’s our esteemed mayor,” said Ryan flatly. Nothing would surprise him anymore. “He’s Gerard’s foreman. He hired the Marsh’s eldest son to work on the annex. Let me guess, he was going to be a victim too?”

“I’m saying fuck all,” he snapped. He was dressed in the same camouflage gear as Actaeon and Orion, his grey hair hidden by a cap.

Ryan looked down at him coldly before raising the rifle and aiming it at his head. “Would you care to revise your answer?”

“Yes he was,” shrieked Eddie. “Gerard wanted him, he thought he was pretty.”

Ryan grimaced. “But he moved away?”

“Yeah, lucky for him,” he grumbled. “All fit and feisty. We would have chased him good.” Eddie whimpered when the barrel of the gun was pressed to his forehead.

“Just one more word, please,” said Ryan.

Eddie wisely went quiet.