Death Run (19 page)

The launch was big and powerful. It cut through the water heading straight for the wooden jetty by the causeway at the front of the castle.

“Friends of yours?” Halford shouted to Chance above the chatter of machine-gun fire.

“It's not Ardman,” Chance yelled back. “He sent Goddard for the SAS. That's hardly their style.”

As boat got closer, Chance had a better view of the two men standing at the prow. They wore dark suits and dark glasses. One was slightly short, a little stocky. The other was tall and lean with a face like a skull.

“I think things are getting complicated,” said Chance.

“You're telling me,” Halford replied. “I'm out of ammunition.”

From the battlements above, one of the guards fired on the boat. Bullets pinged off the deck and chipped the expensive paint.

Scevola did not flinch. He clicked his fingers and pointed at where the bullets had come from.

Another man in a suit and dark glasses rose into sight between Scevola and Ralph. He was holding a large, brutal-looking automatic rifle. The man barely took aim, firing from the hip. There was a cry from somewhere above Chance and a body tumbled from the battlements.

Bannock ran across the courtyard, taking advantage of the distraction to get past Halford and Chance. The body landed at his feet and he stared down at it, mouth open. Then he ran up the steps to the battlements and looked out at where the boat was now arriving at the jetty.

Moments later, Bannock was running back the way he had come.

While the remaining guards looked out at the boat, unsure what to do after Bannock's retreat, Chance ran across to Halford, throwing his rifle to him.

“Keep me covered,” he called as he kept running after Bannock and into the castle.

* * *

“We have to get out of here,” Bannock announced as soon as he was in the Tiger's study.

“What are you talking about?” the Tiger demanded. “We're almost ready to make the transfers.”

“Forget it. That boat—”

“What about it? Who is in it?”

Bannock's face was pale behind the red beard. “It's Cesare Scevola.”

The Tiger also paled. “We can do a deal. He just wants his money back.”

“Since when did Scevola only want his own money? I don't care what you're planning, but I'm getting out of here while I still can.”

Jade was amazed to see the big man so obviously scared. It was all she could do to keep from grinning. She could see that Rich was smiling too.

Bannock turned to leave. He stepped out of the room.

“You coward,” the Tiger called after him.

And Bannock was back – flying backwards into the study and landing in a crumpled heap on the floor.

John Chance stepped into the room, rubbing his knuckles. “I rather enjoyed that,” he admitted. “Hello Rich.”

Chance saw Jade too, nodding slightly to show it, but saying nothing.

From outside, the chatter of gunfire was now unrelenting. But it was getting louder – closer…

Bannock groaned and slowly got to his feet. His face was now as red and angry as his beard. He was holding a handgun. He advanced warily on Chance, who backed slowly away. As soon as he was close enough, Bannock swung the pistol in an arc. Chance ducked, throwing his arm up to try to deflect the blow. Even so, it caught him a nasty crack on the side of the head and Chance collapsed to his knees.

“No,” the Tiger said calmly as Bannock stepped forward to strike again.

“You're finished, Quilch,” Chance told the Tiger before Bannock could object. “Scevola and his people are here. Harm them and some rather influential Italian families will hunt you down and rip out your guts. And that's just for starters.”

“I told you,” Bannock hissed. “We should get out now.”

“I won't lose the money,” the Tiger insisted. “We don't have time—”

“You have plenty of time,” Chance told him. “I see you know about the diamond. But what you don't know is that the nine o'clock deadline was a bluff – a way of smoking out who the Tiger really is. And it worked. Run while you can. Hide, for a while. Spend the money quickly because if Scevola doesn't get you, Ardman will.”

The Tiger shook with anger. He stuffed the diamond and the magnifying glass into his jacket pocket. “Bring them,” he ordered. “All of them.”

It was a shock for Jade to realise he was talking to her. She nodded, trying to look like she was a butch mercenary working for a rich madman, and pushed Rich ahead of her, gesturing for the Banker to follow.

The only other guards were Bannock and the technician. Bannock motioned for Chance to follow, while the technician quickly closed the laptop and pushed it into a soft leather case.

“There isn't room for all of us in the helicopter,” Bannock said as they hurried down the corridor towards the castle courtyard.

“Then not all of us will be leaving,” the Tiger told
him. “Oh don't worry – I need you, Bannock. You're the only one of us here who can fly the thing.” He turned to the technician. “And I suppose I need you too. Which rather reduces the options.”

“Then let us go,” suggested Chance.

They emerged into the courtyard. The helicopter the Tiger had arrived in was standing to one side, a second helicopter from the raid on the school behind it. Across from them, several of Bannock's guards had taken cover and were trying to hold back Scevola's men. Slowly but surely the men in dark suits were advancing into the castle.

Behind them, Jade could see Ralph and Halford looking remarkably relaxed as they sat with their backs to one of the stone walls, watching the firefight. Ralph was smoking a cigar.

“You don't need us – not even the Banker,” Chance said. “Not now you've got the diamond.”

“I certainly don't need
you
,” the Tiger said.

Bannock levelled his gun at Chance. But the Tiger waved him away.

“I have a better idea. Call it insurance. You think Ardman will come after me? Well, then it is up to you to persuade him that isn't such a good idea.”

“And why would I do that?” Chance had to shout over the noise of the gunfire.

“Because I have your son as a hostage.”

Bannock was grinning as he turned towards Rich. “Take him to the helicopter.”

“No!” Chance shouted. “Wait! Take me instead. He's just a boy.”

The Tiger smiled. “Give me your gun,” he told Bannock. “Then get into the helicopter.” He glanced at Jade. “Yes, you too – if there's room.”

Bannock grabbed Rich and dragged him over to the helicopter. The technician ran ahead and pulled the side door open to allow Bannock to bundle Rich inside. Jade was close behind. She waited beside the open door.

The Tiger was covering Chance and the Banker with the gun. “So, this is goodbye. I do hope you manage to persuade Ardman that you should get the opportunity to see your son again.” He backed away towards the helicopter.

“I'm so sorry,” the Banker said.

“It's not over yet,” Chance told him.

Jade waited for the Tiger to get to the helicopter. She wondered if she should salute, but decided against it.

“It is a bit of a squash,” he said as he reached the door. “I think perhaps you can stay and help keep our Italian friends busy.”

“Sir,” Jade said as gruffly as possible. What now? She did the only thing she could think of. She held her hand out to the Tiger as he prepared to climb into the helicopter and demanded, “Gun.”

Without thinking, and needing both hands to climb in, he handed Jade his gun.

And as soon as he was inside, she leaned into the helicopter and pointed it squarely at the Tiger. “Don't move.”

The engines were powering into life. Bannock, at the controls, didn't see and couldn't hear what was happening behind him.

“Rich!” Jade yelled above the engines. “Get over here, come on!”

The technician was covering Rich with a gun. Jade yelled at him too. “Put that down or I shoot the Tiger.”

The technician quickly placed the gun on the floor. Rich scrambled across the helicopter. But just as he reached the door, the huge rotor blades began to swing. The noise and the draft distracted Jade for a
second. Just long enough for the Tiger to grab for the gun. Jade held on. Rich tried to help, and the gun skidded across the floor, out of everyone's reach. But the technician was picking up his gun again.

A shot hammered past Jade. Rich jumped. The Tiger lunged at him – caught him by the arm, dragging him back into the helicopter.

And the huge craft began to lift from the flagstones.

Chance and the Banker ran towards the helicopter, battling against the wind from the rotors. The Banker was knocked over backwards by the force of it. Jade leaped and grabbed for Rich as he dangled from the doorway. The Tiger still had one of Rich's arms. Jade had the other one and the help of gravity. But could she get Rich free before she too was lifted off the ground?

The Tiger was losing his grip. He clawed at Rich's arm, elbow, wrist, trying desperately to hold on. But when Chance reached past Jade and managed to get hold of Rich's shoulder, the battle was won. They all fell as the helicopter rose into the sky. The three of them – father, son and daughter landed in an untidy heap. Bruised, battered and laughing.

“I don't know why I'm laughing,” Rich said as they picked themselves up. He rubbed at his sore wrist. “That maniac got my watch!”

The gunfire had stopped. With the departure of the Tiger, his few remaining guards had given up. Scevola was talking angrily to Ralph. He snapped his fingers and pointed to the castle gates. The men in suits were heading back to their boat.

All except Ralph. He called something after Scevola and then walked slowly over to where Chance, the Banker, Halford, Jade and Rich were standing.

“Not a problem, I hope?” Chance said.

Ralph shrugged. “Scevola tells me this is all my fault and when he reports to his colleagues I will be held to account.”

“You don't seem very worried.”

“Not unduly.”

“Won't they kill you?” Rich asked.

“Only if Scevola delivers his report. Otherwise who is to say that it wasn't his fault and that I was lucky to escape with my life and my freedom?”

It was strangely quiet now the shooting had stopped and the helicopter was gone. The only noise was the
sound of the boat's engine. Rich could see through the main gateway that the boat was fading into the distance.

“And why might Scevola not deliver his report?” Halford asked.

The answer was the dull
thump
of an explosion. The distant boat had disappeared in a huge orange fireball. Black smoke billowed up into the sky.

“I gave him a present,” Ralph said, without turning to look. “And speaking of presents,” he said to Chance before anyone could comment, “I hope you will put in a good word for me with Mr Ardman. I could have got Scevola his money, but it would have meant the loss of a fine watch.”

“What do you mean?” Jade said.

“Don't ask me,” Rich said. “Lost mine already.”

“Actually,” Chance said, “I might put in a good word. If you
can
arrange for the loss of that watch.”

Ralph frowned. “Why? Where is it?”

The helicopter's radar had detected several other aircraft heading for the island of Calder. Bannock had been right, the Tiger thought – better to get out while they could. Scevola's men had been enough trouble. The SAS would be another story altogether.

And all he had lost was time. He had the satellite connection and laptop, he had the diamond with the account numbers and access codes. And, he realised as it beeped in his hand, he had the Chance boy's rather expensive watch.

Yes – all in all, not a bad day's work after all. He reached out to pat Bannock appreciatively on the shoulder. Bannock turned slightly and smiled through his fierce red beard.

The watch was still beeping. It felt hot in the Tiger's hand. The beeping was getting louder and more insistent, and the Tiger frowned. A rather nasty thought had just occurred to him.

“Open the door,” he yelled at the technician.

But his words were lost in the sound of the explosion. Debris rained down on the sea far below – plastic, metal, dead bodies… And a large diamond that made barely a splash as it hit the water and sank forever into its depths.

The three olive green helicopters only just fitted inside the castle next to the other helicopter. Maybe they were bored, Jade thought, but the SAS men had insisted on going through every room to check for the Tiger's guards. Every so often she could hear a
shout of “Clear!” or the
crump
of a grenade.

Ardman also seemed disappointed. And he seemed most disappointed to learn that Ralph had been responsible for the destruction of the Tiger's helicopter as the man fled.

“We couldn't have done it without him, sir,” Chance said.

“I'll vouch for that,” Halford agreed.

So, reluctantly, Ardman agreed to allow Ralph to leave and return to Krejikistan. “Just don't come back,” he said.

Police launches were arriving at the jetty, and Ralph said goodbye to them all before going to beg a lift back to the mainland. “The boat I came in also met with a slight accident,” he explained straight-faced to Ardman.

“I can imagine,” Ardman replied.

Ralph shook hands with Halford and Rich. He gave Jade a kiss on the cheek and then enfolded Chance in a sudden bear hug.

“That necklace he gave you,” Chance said as Ralph walked away.

“What about it?” Jade was still wearing it, she realised, under her guard's jacket.

“Nothing,” her father said. “I might have to take
off one of the glass beads, that's all.”

“Well,” Ardman sighed. “I suppose all's well that ends well. We won't be getting the money, but neither will the Tiger.” He looked at the Banker, who was standing a little sheepishly in the background. “Don't worry – we'll still honour our side of the bargain.”