Everything to Lose (24 page)

"Hey
mate. Ss'ure turn. Come an' get it while it's hot. Come on sonny," she called in her broad Melbourne accent.

She beckoned Gavin Shawlens to come on. He finished speaking to Lexy then he took his time to walk to the office. He planned to tell the woman to forget whatever Lisa had told her. He didn't want her services. When he reached the sliding door the woman reached forward and pulled him inside. When their faces met he looked horrified.

"Don't
freak out on me."

"Is
that you?"

"No
it's The Lone Ranger!"

"Oh
God I'm really glad to see you."

"Suitably
impressed?"

"Absolutely
but I prefer the original," Gavin said.

"Watch
it Shawlens. I might get to like you," Zoe replied.

"Is
he out cold?" Gavin asked when he saw Sidney McVickin on the floor.

"Permanently.
Did you complete your assignment?"

"Yes
who do you think?"

"The
big bad Buzzwall."

"Yes.
He allows them to order chemicals and equipment through the University purchase order system. For a hefty fee. It will be easy to audit purchases against his name. I've nicked a pile of paperwork bearing his signature. He's toast."

"Toast!
You watch too many movies my boy."

"I
thought that's what action people say."

"Look
what I've got for you," Zoe said and beamed a big smile.

She
held up the clear plastic pouch with the ring and knickers containing his blood. He took the bag from her and stuffed it into his trouser pocket.

"Thanks
Zoe. I don't know what to say."

"I
owe you a dinner will do fine."

"Done
deal."

"Dinner
for four. We can't forget Toni and Scott. Can you afford it? I'll help if it's a problem."

"No
problem. We'll all have a great night. It'll be my treat."

"Okay
Gavin my lovely boy. Are you ready to go?"

"How
do we get out?"

"Simple,
we stagger down to reception. I'll deal with the gorilla on the door. Toni is waiting in the car park. Out the side door, into the van, off we go."

"No
I mean how do we all get out?" Gavin said.

"What
do you mean?"

"The
little girl I told you about Lexy. She was forced to do what she did. She's a victim."

"I
thought you were the victim."

"All
the people in here are victims. I want to get them all out."

"Fuck
sake Shawlens I'm Special Forces not Social Services," she said with a strong hint of why bother me with this crap.

"I
want to get them all out."

"Do
you? Well it's not going to happen mate. Let's go."

"I'm
not moving."

Gavin
stood his ground in front of her and her hand wavered near his arm as if she was going to pull him into line. She looked at his face and saw despair. He was emotional about these people. Not thinking straight.

"I'll
call in the cavalry once we're off the pitch," Zoe conceded.

"It
won't work. One of them's a senior cop, they're protected."

"Enough
of this crap. MOVE."

This
time she grabbed his arm and yanked him forward. He braced his feet, twisted his arm around and she let it go. He stumbled a few steps backwards.

"I'm
not leaving without them."

"If
I have to drag you out by the fucking ears I'll do it."

Now
she was angry with him. Her patience snapped. He thought she would knock him unconscious and carry him out fireman style over her back. He knew she could do it. He dropped down to his knees and looked up at her. She saw water welling up in his eyes.

"Zoe,
please. I'm begging."

"Christ!
Shawlens get on your feet."

"This
place is hell. Most of them are kids."

"So
what? A life on the streets is worse."

"I
have to get them out," he pleaded.

"There's
nothing I can do about it for God's sake. Get real you idiot."

"Zoe,
you told me you saw the dead zone in Martin's eyes. I understand you now. I've seen it Lexy's eyes. Her childhood is dead and gone forever. She's not an adult yet and she doesn't know where she's supposed to be in this life."

She
grabbed his head by the hair and forced his head to look at the body of Sidney McVickin lying on the floor.

"Do you SEE that? Call the good guys and I'm going to jail. Is that what you want? Wake up stupid. Do you want ME to go to jail?"

She
pushed him hard toward the body and he fell down on his hands and knees.

"No.
I don't want that," he said quietly as he pushed up onto his feet.

"Look,
I'll think of something once we're out of here."

Gavin
turned toward the door and saw the glint from small eyes looking through the edge of the sliding door. He went over and pulled the door open. Lexy was waiting for him. Lexy took his hand and tried to pull him out into the hall. He pulled her to his side, put his arm around her and brought her into the office. Lexy hugged him as if he was her real father. She wanted her father. Gavin ran his hand through her hair and the lumps on her skull made his stomach turn. He kneeled down so their eyes met.

"I'm
very sorry Thao. I can't take you with me. I promise. I promise you I'll come back. I will come back for you."

His
heart melted as tears ran down Lexy's face and they hugged for the last time. Lexy had told Gavin her real name was Thao and that it means sweet flower that blooms at night.

The
Manager and two young girls came running over to the open door. Zoe pulled the gun from her jacket and aimed it at the Manager's head. Gavin raised his hand and told her he was okay. A small crowd gathered, craning their necks, looking at Zoe with inquisitive faces. Desperate faces, looking for hope, looking at Lisa's gun in her hand. Zoe pulled Gavin to one side.

"I'm
telling you Shawlens. If this goes tits up. I swear to God I'll have your guts for garters," she said under her breath.

Gavin
ushered everyone out of the office and away from the dead body.

"How
many hostiles still to be neutralised?" Zoe asked the Manager.

"Only
the doorman," he replied.

Zoe
pulled the blonde wig off her head and gave it to one of the young girls. She put the wig on her head and the other girls ran after her, excited, playing, having fun. Zoe pressed the communications bud in her ear.

"Toni.
Report."

"Boss.
Ready when you are."

"Change
of plan. We've got a bunch of captive adults and kids. Lecturer-boy here wants to set them free. How many?" Zoe asked Gavin.

"About
twenty people in total."

"No
can do with this van boss. Have I got time to get, I dunno … a bus?"

Zoe
looked back at Sidney McVickin's lifeless body.

"Negative
on time."

"Roger
that boss."

"We
need to go now."

Zoe
ran her hand back and forward over her hair to get rid of itchiness left by the tight-fitting wig. Her pageboy hair style ruffled up and she looked like she had just got out of bed. Her new dishevelled look was quite eye-catching.

"What's
the plan boss?"

"Thinking
deeply," Zoe replied.

"Listening
intensely," Toni added.

"Remember
Mozambique?" Zoe asked.

"Roger
that boss. Will that be the whole enchilada?"

"Of
course."

"Nice
one boss. One Mozambique to go. Coming up."

***

Quietly
and calmly Gavin, Zoe and the Manager gathered all the men, women and children together near the kitchen area. They were used to doing what the Manager told them to do without question.

There
was no noise and no discussion, as they stood in two rows with shortest at front and tallest at the back. Zoe took care of Big Eric in the reception room. When Toni told Zoe that everything was in place Zoe told everyone to cover their ears and close their eyes. For the first time ever a couple of the kids giggled to each other as if they were going to take part in a big game.

"Hit
it."

A
huge blast blew a ten-metre diameter hole in the wall of the office that backed onto the car park. Concrete dust filled the air as Zoe, Gavin and the Manager ushered the men, women and children out through the hole in the wall onto the car park. Gavin smiled as he hurried past Lisa's desk and saw that it was badly damaged.

One
minute later the air was full with the sound of all types of sirens, blues and twos, and horns as police, fire and rescue brigades, ambulance crews, emergency doctors, paramedics, and support services converged on the Club. Men and women in uniforms swarmed over the car park, running between cars and through the Club and factory. They were searching for injured and trapped.

Toni
had contacted Alan Cairn to obtain the Home Office response code for a major accident involving injury or loss of life. Toni calculated the response time to be four minutes before first responders would arrive on the scene. She raised the alarm and gave the code to all emergency channels then waited three minutes before she set off the explosive on the wall. While she waited Toni called Scott and told him the gig had gone down. Scott had control of Tyler Wattsin to make sure he didn't double cross Zoe. Scott let Tyler go.

As
Gavin, Zoe and the Manager slipped away in Toni's van they looked back to watch the children being carried and cared for by paramedics. The adults wrapped in blankets were questioned by police and paramedics. With two dead bodies, a huge haul of drugs and people trafficking to sort out. It was going to be a long night at the Old Bards Club in Southsea.

Gavin
told the Manager he should go back to his family. The Manager said his name was Bob McSwann. Gavin said his dues to the McVickins were cancelled. Bob thanked Gavin and Zoe but said he couldn't face his family after what he done to them. He said he would go to his parents.

Gavin
insisted he see his wife first so they drove Bob McSwann to his house. Before he got out of the van Gavin told him Laraine was one of his students and she told him about Jess. He told Bob to listen carefully to what Laraine had to say about Jess, to believe her and work with her to help Jess.

Bob
hesitated to get out of the van. He was ashamed, nervous and unsure. He'd walked out on his family. He left them to fend for themselves. Laraine had every right to keep her door shut.
Why
would
she
have
me
back
in
her
life
after
all
the
trouble
I've
caused
her
? He thought and he knew he was right.

He
stepped out of the van and stared at the front door. He edged sideways along the side of the van, away from the front door. He turned his back ready to run down the street. His front door swung open wide and an excited six-year-old girl in her pyjamas threw up her arms and shouted at the top of her voice.

"Mauumm!
My daddy's come home."

She
skipped over and leapt up into his arms. Laraine followed and the three hugged and cried together. Jess broke loose when she saw Gavin's face in the window of the van as it drove off. She blew a kiss to him then ran back to her dad.

"Are
you happy now?" Zoe asked Gavin.

"Yes
I am."

"You
know we've created an almighty shit-storm for Alan Cairn. His neck is in a noose. He'll be seriously hacked off."

"He
can sack me. I don't care."

"I
was only following orders, by the way," Toni piped up.

"The
McVickins will scatter to the four winds for now. When the dust settles they'll be back and they'll be looking for you. Just so you know. It's not finished," Zoe said to Gavin.