Three Steps to Hell (22 page)

“Okay, Sarge.”

“Oh, before I hang up call Sweetface out as well will you. Is your mobile charged up alright?”

“Yes Sarge it’s fine, I’ll call him, hey, hang on Sarge, the bugger’s managed to get through the fence, he’s into the grounds now so I’ll probably lose sight of him any minute.”

“On my way, you stay in the OP exactly where you are.”

Tom hurriedly ditched the receiver, dressed, grabbed what he needed and left the house.

He made good time and once on the East Point Road leading to Colmar Grounds, drove quietly without lights towards East Point Farm.

A few hundred yards before East Point Farm he went to pull into a small lay-by and saw a car parked up. He immediately recognised the car, it was Paul Dorsey’s. He parked up behind it. At first glance the car looked empty. As he approached it he saw that Dorsey was cowering down in the passenger seat making best efforts not to be seen. Tom approached the passenger door, pulled it open furiously and said,

“Dorsey, what the fuck is going on?”

Paul Dorsey appeared far more frightened than Tom had ever seen him. Tom grabbed him by the sleeve of his jacket, pulled him out of the car, stood face to face and spoke.

“You have exactly one minute to tell me what’s happening.”

Dorsey didn’t speak.

Tom pushed him back hard against the side of the car and landed him a fast and carefully aimed solid punch to the stomach.

Dorsey doubled over winded.

“Okay, okay Mr Lancaster, I know I shouldn’t have come, this was stupid, it’s Wayne, he’s fucking mad.”

Dorsey related quickly and briefly Wayne’s idea of getting into Colmar Grounds and the purpose behind it.

Just when Dorsey felt he had fully and totally regained composure, Tom landed him another full on powerful punch to his stomach. This time Dorsey doubled over and fell to the ground.

“You’d better not be fucking me about Paul,” Tom snarled aggressively.

“No, honest. I refused to help him and wasn’t going to have anything to do with it, then at the last minute I agreed to drive but that’s it.”

“That’s enough to get you a little stretch inside I think Paul.”

“No, no, I’ll go home this minute Mr Lancaster.”

“No, you’ll get up and sit in that car and don’t fucking move. If Evans comes back and I’m not with him you pretend the car won’t start, stall him and keep him here, you understand?”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever.”

“Do as I ask and I’ll try to keep you out of this Paul, now wait here, for your sake don’t fucking go anywhere.”

Tom started to walk off towards Colmar Grounds talking to Martin in the OP by radio very quietly to update him. Paul Dorsey ran up behind him. Tom turned round, scowled and was about to give him a mouthful when Dorsey blurted out, “He’s got a gun, Wayne’s got a bloody gun and ammo, I needed to tell you.”

“Bloody right you did, where is it?”

“He had it in a small rucksack, he’s mad, I reckon he’ll use it Sergeant.”

“Paul fuck off back to the car and do what you’ve been told.”

Dorsey ran back towards his car and Tom walked on wondering what the hell was going to confront him. He called Martin on his mobile and again updated him.

“Where’s Sweetface Martin?”

“On his way.”

“Tell him to get some back up too, but to bring them discreetly and quietly. The Alpington lads would be perfect, he could collect them from the hotel on the way, tell him it’s Evans who’s in there and he’s armed. They’ll see Dorsey in his car when they approach. Tell them to ignore him. Dave can park near to where I did. Tell them to approach quietly on foot with bloody good torches to hand in case we need them.”

“Do you want me to alert the Firearms Team to see if there’s an ARV (Armed Response Vehicle) about somewhere?”

“Christ no, don’t mention the gun on the radio Martin, that’s why I’m using the mobile at the moment. One mention of a gun and we’ll all be ordered to stop what we’re doing and wait God knows how long until an ARV arrives. The gun info is between us. I don’t think Evans is going to shoot me, he’s mad, but not that bloody mad. Going back to covert radio Martin.”

“Okay Sarge, take care.”

Tom approached the main gates and soon found that a part of the adjoining fence had been cut, probably with bolt croppers. He squeezed through and made his way slowly in the dark towards the main house. As he did so the moonlight glinted on a tiny metal object at the base of one of the hedgerows that lined the long driveway. Tom got closer and recognised it as a laser sensor across the drive, hedgerow to hedgerow and very well hidden. I hope Evans noticed that, Tom thought to himself as he stepped carefully over the beam. As Tom drew nearer to the house he could see some lights on and then heard a shot ring out in the quiet of the night. Then another but couldn’t easily identify where the sound had come from.

“Sarge are you okay?” came Martin’s voice over the mobile, “I heard two shots are you okay?”

“I’m fine Martin, don’t mention the shots over the radio, stay on the mobile as well if you can. When Dave gets here tell him there’s been a hole cut in the fence to the immediate left of the main gates.”

“I’ll get him on the phone and update him Sarge, don’t you think we should call an ARV?”

“No Martin, I’ve said no ARV, I’ll handle this.”

He passed one of the tarmac drives that led towards the office buildings. Luckily it was a perfectly clear night, the moon was full and giving sufficient light for Tom to be able to see where he was going without torchlight. There were some outside security lights on by the offices, one of these lit up a steel mesh gate which appeared to be open. Tom couldn’t see or hear any activity in the direction of the house or from the area of the offices. He decided to go through the open gate. As he did so, it quickly became apparent that this was a small but well-maintained path leading in the direction of the cliffs and cove. After a few minutes the path started to wind sharply and he started to descend the uneven steps which had been cut into the rock.

Tom heard what he thought was a shout a long way in the distance, followed by a sudden deep thud which he recognised immediately as a shot from a silenced firearm. The sounds probably carried some distance due to the still of the night and the proximity of the sea.

Tom continued down the winding path very carefully, slowly and quietly in the direction of the sounds he had heard. Everything was now quiet. The path widened and became level at one point and Tom saw the entrance to what he assumed was some sort of cave secured by large iron gates. Upon examination they were locked and he felt sure that the sounds that he had heard had been from further down the path near the water. He continued down more steps towards the sea. He could now see another much much larger cave opening into the rockface. In the moonlight he could also see a small sandy beach. In his earpiece he had a message from Martin that Sweetface had arrived with back up and they were making their way towards Colmar Grounds. Tom whispered to him to warn them of laser sensors in the drive.

The moon had cast its light across the sea, which glimmered and flickered in the darkness of the night. Could be really romantic, Tom thought to himself, if the circumstances were a bit different. Nature had created the most incredible glistening light show across the water. Tom had heard nothing more. He strained his ears to listen out for anything that might give him a clue as to what was happening down there with Evans. But, as he got lower and nearer, the sound of the heavy waves crashing onto the shore made it more and more difficult to rely on his hearing to warn him of any imminent danger. Tom felt a sudden heavy blow to the back of his head and then nothing more. Out cold.

Carlos and Rashid were having a difficult time manhandling Tom down the remaining few steps onto the beach. Once on the beach they took Tom into the huge cave, which had been cut deep into the rocks beneath the cliffs as a result of years and years of the continual and ferocious pounding of high tides.

“This guy’s a copper Carlos, I’m not happy with this, the place will soon be swarming with the bastards if he’s told them where he is.”

“Shut the fuck up Rashid, whatever happens we deal with it, his radio and mobile are now in the sea so perhaps we’re one step ahead. If it wasn’t for you messing up with this little shit…,” Carlos’s gaze diverted towards Evans who was bound and gagged in the corner of the cave.

“…Then we wouldn’t be in this situation would we? Now, we get him over by Evans tie and gag him as well and they can have a nice slow death together when the tide comes in.”

Carlos smiled to himself, the evil side of his imagination enjoying itself to the full.

“So how do you know this copper Rashid?”

“It’s Lancaster he came and questioned me in the house a few days back. Maria organised it because he wanted to ask me some questions about Evans, McDonald and Davidson.”

“Talking of Maria, where is she?” Carlos said thoughtfully.

“I rang her when you said Carlos, she should be down here any second.”

Whilst talking both men had managed to put Tom’s limp body in a sitting position against a rock right next to Evans who was conscious and watching but unable to make a sound due to the duct tape across his mouth. Tom was now similarly gagged and bound with a combination of thick rope and duct tape, both of which were kept in the rear of the cave for securing or repairing any crates found to be damaged when off loaded. At high tide a majority of the cave filled to a good depth allowing small vessels bringing drug deliveries to partly enter the cave and off load. Both Tom and Wayne Evans had been placed where they would very slowly drown as the tide filled that part of the cave in a few hours time.

“Rope them firmly together by the ankles Rashid. They can watch each other drown.”

At this point Tom started to come round. On opening his eyes his first image was of two people standing in front of him both in dark clothing wearing black ski masks which only revealed their eyes. He desperately fought to move his limbs but realised he was tied. He looked to his side and discovered that he was also roped to Evans. Both of them stared at each other in disbelief for a few seconds. Tom again tried to struggle but realised it was pointless. He looked back towards his captors and immediately behind them saw a face he had no problem in recognising.

Maria Peterson moved forward, stood directly in front of him and smiled, “Well my sexy little Policeman, it didn’t have to be like this, but you had to snoop didn’t you, what a waste!”

Tom couldn’t answer due to the duct tape across his mouth. He scowled at Maria.

“Oh dear you look a little upset Tom, my my I wonder why?”

She looked towards Carlos.

“Take the gag off him, let him talk to me.”

“Maria, we haven’t got time to waste playing silly games!”

She glared at Carlos.

“Shut up Carlos, do as I’ve asked and now.”

Carlos removed the tape from Tom’s mouth. Tom grimaced with pain as he did so.

“There Tom, anything to say?”

“Maria, this is pointless. Others know I am here, none of you have any chance of getting away with murdering the two of us, you’ll spend the rest of your days in prison, you know you will.”

“No, no, no Tom, we’re far too clever for that. We would know if anyone was coming after you. There are numerous laser sensors in the drive, the grounds and on this path. They trigger to my mobile. That’s how I knew someone else was here other than Evans. You clever man, you avoided the one in the drive but you missed the ones on the path.”

Tom’s heart sank. His hopes of being imminently freed and saved from this current treacherous situation diminished considerably at the thought of Sweetface and the Alpington guys being caught out by the other laser sensors. As well as his own self preservation he was worried about the danger they might face and would blame himself if they were killed or seriously injured. Shit, he thought to himself. Unable to move, unable to warn them or attract any attention at all, he was at a complete loss as to how to turn this situation around.

Maria moved closer, right up in front of him, bent down and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Tom tried to turn his head away but was unable to do so.

“Bye bye lover,” she said.

“Hey, by the way Tom your little friend here came armed tonight and took a couple of shots at my guys here. Didn’t help him much though he’s come off worse I think. He has to die for that, doesn’t he Tom? A nice slow death to teach him a lesson.”

“Maria you have a soft heart deep down, I’ve experienced it, you won’t be able to do this. What are you going to do, shoot us?”

“Oh no Tom, far too easy and quick. This area is completely submerged under sea water at high tide, you will both slowly but surely drown. It’s what I call a green killing because you’re recycled as fish food,” she laughed to herself. Carlos had also found that moderately amusing and started to laugh.

“Maria you’re not that sort of person, I don’t think deep down you really want to harm anyone.”

Carlos found this even more amusing and laughed out loud.

“You’re more of a fool than I thought Lancaster,” he shouted.

Maria smiled at Tom.

“Never did get to know me very well did you Tom, soft hearted eh? Let me show you the me you never saw.”

Maria looked towards Carlos, grinned and winked.

“Do you want to say it or shall I?”

Carlos looked at Evans and spoke only to say, “Hoy, moriras” (today you will die).

From inside her coat she took out a silenced pistol walked up to Evans and placed the barrel directly onto his forehead.

Tom shouted, “Maria don’t do this, there are other ways to sort this out.” Evans’ eyes emitted complete terror. She pulled the trigger. Evans’ body went completely limp slumped next to Tom, blood dripping across his face from the entry wound on his forehead.

“There you are Tom, executed in front of your very eyes. He deserved that. So what were you saying about my soft heart?”

With that she placed the gun directly on Tom’s right knee and again pulled the trigger. Tom screamed out in pain and almost passed out again. “There you go bleed to death instead. Drowning, bleeding to death, I don’t know which one suits you best so a bit of both,” she said.