Stealing Phoenix (32 page)

‘Yeah, something like that.’

‘Poor old Dad.’ Dragon began to snicker—his amusement spreading to his brother. ‘He won’t like jail. No fancy ladies to keep him happy.’

‘They’ll have to put him in a cell on his own—won’t have one big enough otherwise.’

‘Get this, though: I wouldn’t put it past him to
persuade
his way out in no time. We had better send him a lawyer— show our good intentions.’ Dragon’s suggestion sobered them both up.

‘You’re right—he must see that we did all that we could— and believe it too.’

Sirens echoed behind us. Dragon glanced in the mirror and deliberately took a turning that led to the river, away from our true destination. Heading over Tower Bridge, he then tried to lose the tail in the backstreets of Bermondsey.

Where are you?
Yves was desperate.

South of the river. Heading back to the Community eventually. But you can’t tell the others where that is, remember? I’d prefer to be held hostage than lose my link to my soulfinder.

Phee …

Promise!

Yes, OK. I’ll think of something else. Stay alive.

‘I think we need to swap cars.’ Dragon slowed outside a bikers’ pub, seeing two leather-clad heavies lounging on their saddles.

‘Can you take them out?’ Unicorn asked, tying a third piece of chiffon around my mouth as a gag.

‘No need. Let’s see if they’ll do swapsies.’ He snickered at his childish language as he pulled up abruptly and leapt out. ‘Hey, guys, want a new BMW? It’s hot but it smokes on the road.’

The bikers looked at each other, unable to believe their ears.

‘Just need to use your bikes for the night.’

Unicorn pulled me out of the car, gun hidden by my skirt.

‘What’s wrong with her?’ the bigger of the two men asked. He had to realize I was hardly there by choice.

Unicorn sighed. ‘Bikers with a conscience—who would’ve thought?’ He dug the barrel into my ribs. ‘Your choice, Phee: either freeze them or we kill them.’

I nodded, signalling I understood. I quickly reached for the two men’s minds and stopped time for them. Dragon shoved them off their seats and swung on the nearest bike. A helicopter circled overhead, spotlight dancing over the rooftops.

‘Hurry, they’re on to the car.’ Dragon kicked his bike into life.

‘What do we do with her?’ Unicorn held me up by a punishing grip on my upper arm.

‘Either dispose of her or keep her as a bargaining chip.’

Thinking quickly, Unicorn took his decision. ‘She’s probably already told them where we’re going, so I suppose she might still be useful as a hostage till we get our stuff from the Community.’ He cut the ties on my ankles, pulled my bound arms over his neck so I was draped on his back, then settled us both on the bike. He revved the engine. ‘Let’s go.’

The bikes surged away, leaving the two former owners sprawled by the open doors of the BMW.

There was no sign of pursuit when we arrived back at the estate. Everything seemed weirdly normal as news had not yet filtered back that the Seer had been caught. Dragon banged a hammer against the rusting climbing frame in the playground—our rudimentary alarm system.

‘Everyone get out!’ he shouted, as heads popped out of doors all over the complex. ‘Check the usual place for your instructions in three days’ time.’ This meant that a small ad would be placed in the window of a newsagent’s on the Mile End Road. A postcard advertising cleaning services, listing a non-functioning mobile number and an address, was the means by which we knew where we were supposed to head next after evacuating an old hide-out.

Community members were well trained. I could hear doors banging throughout the building as they picked up their already-packed bags and headed for the exits, leaving the usually locked gates yawning open. Tony peered out of his basement door and ducked back in quickly before my brothers noticed. Then I realized I could smell smoke.

‘The building’s on fire.’ Dragon scanned the rooftops. ‘Up there.’ He pointed to the ridge.

Unicorn unlooped my arms from around his neck and dropped me to my feet. I crouched down, shoulders screaming after the last twenty minutes of abuse as we had raced through the backstreets of the City. I was freezing even though it was a warm summer night. Perhaps they would leave me here. That would be nice.

But no luck. My brothers must have been discussing what next telepathically, for I was thrown over Dragon’s shoulder as they raced upstairs.

‘Do you think anyone else would have got to the stuff first?’ Dragon panted.

‘Nah. They wouldn’t dare.’ Unicorn pushed past a group of the Seer’s women who were descending with a rapid click-click of heels.

‘What’s going on?’ one asked, grabbing his sleeve. ‘There’s a fire up there. Can’t you do something?’

He ripped free. ‘Later. Just get out.’ His tone told them not to press for more information and they obediently made way for us and then carried on down the stairs. I could see a few concerned looks cast at me as I dangled over Dragon’s back, but no one was going to ask. We didn’t do that kind of thing in the Community.

Reaching the fifth floor, Unicorn drew out a bunch of keys. ‘What do you reckon: just the small stuff?’

Dumping me down like an unwanted suitcase, Dragon leant against the wall to regain his breath. ‘Yeah, no time to take the rest. The jewellery and the money should be enough to set up a new operation somewhere.’

Phee, watch out! I’m smoking them out.
Yves can’t have been able to see that I was tied up and could do nothing about his warning.

I’m trapped. Top floor.

The Seer’s apartment erupted in a sudden fl are. The rooftop fire had spread down a level.

‘What the—!’ Dragon yelled.

‘It’s her man—he’s here.’ Unicorn kicked open the door, releasing a belch of black fumes. ‘He’s burning the place out from the top down.’

Tell them not to go in. It’s wild fire—fast and hungry.

I used my bound hands to rip the gag free. ‘You mustn’t enter,’ I shouted, clawing the back of Dragon’s jacket as he prepared to make a mad dash for the strong box. ‘It’s not a normal blaze—it’s already out of control.’

Dragon pushed me away. ‘Your soulfinder did this, didn’t he? He’s after the money.’

‘And he’s not getting it.’ Unicorn took off his shirt, made a mask of the material and passed it to his brother.

Throwing the cloth over his face, Dragon didn’t wait—he launched into the burning room, disappearing into the smoke.

‘You’re both mad! Let’s get out of here while we still can!’ I tried to move past Unicorn to get to the stairs before the fire did.

‘You’re not going anywhere.’ Unicorn drew his gun. ‘Your soulfinder’s messed up everything for us. He’s not getting you too.’

Dragon staggered back out carrying the strong box from the storeroom, hands red with burns. ‘Kill the bitch,’ he said succinctly.

I took the only path left to me, running towards my old room at the far end of the walkway. A gun went off, a bullet hole appearing on the wall by my head. A cloud of smoke billowed between us, partially hiding me from sight. Another shot and I felt my leg give out from under me. White pain. A spear of lightning in my leg.

‘She’s down. Let’s go,’ Dragon said, coughing hard.

I came to a halt face-down on the concrete, bound hands caught awkwardly beneath me. I’d taken a bullet in my thigh. Unicorn was right. I wasn’t going anywhere.

I must have passed out momentarily. Calloused hands were slapping my cheek.

‘Phee, you need to wake up.’ It wasn’t Yves as I’d hoped but Tony who crouched over me, his newly whitened hair fl opping over his forehead. We were lying in a little clear space, the smoke seeming to curl away from us as if directed to leave us alone.

‘Tony?’

‘Yes,
dashur
. We are in big trouble. Stairwell is on fire.’

‘What are you doing up here?’

‘Saw them bring you up and thought I’d follow.’ He unknotted the binding on my wrists and helped me sit up. He used the same cloth to tie around my wound, though it was soon splotched red. I was losing a lot of blood. The pain lanced through me like glass spikes hammered into my flesh.

Phee, where are you?
Yves was still looking for me.

Still on the top floor.

He swore.
I didn’t know. You went silent.

I passed out. I’m well and truly trapped, Yves. Tony’s with me.

Your brothers were supposed to run out when the fire started, not run into the building!

That would be the reaction of normal people. They aren’t. What was that your brother said about your plans not taking other minds into account?

While I was talking to Yves, Tony had been looking for an escape route.

‘There’s a way down—the drainpipe.’ He pointed over the edge of the balcony. ‘Looks solid.’

‘Go for it.’ I didn’t bother to move. No way was I going to be able to climb to the ground with a bullet in my leg.

Tony hovered. ‘You should’ve left when I told you, Phee.’

‘Yeah, maybe I should’ve. But I wouldn’t’ve met my soulfinder, would I?’

‘I hope he was worth it.’ He patted my shoulder awkwardly, then tugged off my necklace and pocketed it. ‘I’m sorry,
dashur
.’

‘So am I.’

He swung on to the parapet. ‘Perhaps the firemen will come soon.’

Tears pooled in my eyes. ‘Perhaps.’
Tony’s coming down,
I told Yves.
Help him if you can.

The wiry Albanian thief had compensated for his injuries by developing strength in his good side, and it was this that came to his aid now. Clinging on one-handed like a monkey, he slung his belt round the pipe and slid out of sight. I had to see that he got there safely. Pulling myself up to the wall, I watched his head disappear.

Phee, down here!
Yves had spotted me. I found him standing in the centre of the playground, a lonely figure in front of the burning housing estate.
You next.

He was expecting me to follow Tony.

I can’t. I’m wounded. Got shot in the leg.
The limb in question was shaking. I leant heavily against the wall wondering vaguely what would get me first—blood loss or smoke. My lack of concern told me that I was lightheaded. The idea of passing out again seemed quite welcome.

Then I’m coming up for you.

No way.
Is Tony down?

Yves looked towards the foot of the building.
Yes. He’s running. Do you want me to stop him?

No, let him go. And don’t you even think of coming up. You couldn’t bring me out that way and we’d only both die.

But I started the fire—this is my fault!
He was tearing himself up about something he couldn’t now help. It would have been a good plan if it had worked, making us all flee the building.

It’s not your fault my brothers are psychos.

I can’t stand here and just watch! There has to be something I can do.

And then, suddenly, he wasn’t alone: his family arrived, sprinting into the playground through the open gate that led on to the street. I felt a huge wave of relief. At least they’d stop him doing something stupid. They gathered around him, burying him under their hugs. I sank against the parapet, pleased that the last thing I would see would be Yves surrounded by those that loved him.

You are not to give up, Phee!
Yves ordered me.
We’re getting you down from there.

I love you.

No sappy stuff
. That was Xav, joining our conversation.
We need you to get up onto the edge.

We’re going to float you down, Phoenix.
Mr Benedict’s voice was reassuring.

I wiped my eyes. My vision was beginning to blur. I could see the Benedicts and Sky surrounding Yves, arms on each other’s shoulders.