Defender(86)

Without further warning, the peace disintegrated, and mayhem erupted.





CHAPTER 58





Alex Morgan caught sight of a man sprinting towards Lundt from Museum Station. He had a phone jammed against his ear, yelling into it while frantically waving his free arm above his head as he ran. The scene developed in excruciatingly slow motion. Morgan heard the distinct crackle of his earpiece filled by the shrill cry of one of the police officers on the other side of the park.

"All call-signs, this is Two. We've been spotted. I repeat, we've been spotted. We're blown!"

The first shots came from the north.

The unmistakable crack of low-velocity ammunition shattered the serenity of Wednesday afternoon. Against the first drops of rain peppering the silvery surface of the artifical lake, the gunfire was an avalanche. Sightseers sprinted from the park, the din of their fear underscoring the swell of gunfire. Morgan couldn't believe that so many were still so close by. Women and men screamed, desperate to be clear of the cross-fire.

At the very moment that the first shot was fired, Morgan saw a young woman, petrified with fear. Her pretty face full of terror, not knowing what was happening, or what to do. Morgan ran for her, ignoring everything else. He closed the distance to the girl with ease. Inseconds, he was there. He leapt, grabbed her firmly about the waist, and in one fluid motion took her to the ground, covering her with his body behind a bench and the merest scrap of cover that it offered. "Stay down, darlin'. Don't move!" he said. Then he was up again and moving.

"Please. Don't leave me!" she cried. But Morgan had disappeared.





* * *





From her suite, Arena Halls heard the shots.

It was impossible not to. Her room overlooked the park, and with the promise of imminent rain, she had left the balcony doors wide open to allow the sweet, fresh smell of the storm in, while she awaited news from Alex and Dave Sutherland.

As she ran onto the open balcony, she could see that the wind was building, whipping up the tree tops, its howl heralding the arrival of the storm. She instinctively crouched low, and grasping at the balustrade rail, peered through the glass to see what she could, through the thick, green canopy, just as the first heavy drops of rain began to fall.

There were more gun shots, and then more. Cracks and bangs bit through the howl of the growing winds. It sounded like Chinese New Year. People were screaming and she could see them fleeing across Elizabeth Street. The busy traffic came screeching to a halt as drivers swerved and braked to avoid them. One hand went to her mouth. Her breathing shallowed while her other hand grasped tightly to the railing. Oh, my God! What was happening down there? Alex!

There came a sharp, unexpected rap at her door. Shock rippled through Arena's body.

"New South Wales Police, Miss Halls," said an authoritative voice. "Could we come in? It's urgent."

There was a moment of uneasiness as Arena went toward the door, feeling both relieved and fearful. Police? But Alex hadn't mentioned anything about the Police coming for her. She stopped and stood rigid, inches from the door. If anybody, it would be Sutherland who would come for her. Or perhaps, with everything going on there'd been ...

More knocking, louder and more insistent. Thump. Thump. Thump. "Miss Halls, please," came the same deep voice. "We must talk to you.

There's been a change..."

"Yes?" said Arena. She opened the door.





* * *





Lundt was driven to action.

The Malfas had arrived from nowhere with guns drawn and Lundt's back-up crew had immediately stepped up. Now the park was awash with hornets of intermittent gunfire.

At the sound of the first shot, Lundt dropped into a well-practised fire position, wrenching the P99 from beneath his coat. He brought the weapon up and aimed directly at Cornell's chest. But like a myotonic goat seized by fright, the hapless civil servant's knees buckled under him and he fainted, falling straight into the Lake of Reflection. Lundt swore but didn't have time to hang about dealing with Cornell. The chance had passed. He had to get away from the middle of the shit storm. Ina split second he was on the move.





* * *





Gregory Cornell came to with a massive gulp for air and pulled himself from the water, coughing and spluttering like a young child who had slipped in the bath. He dragged his sodden, wretched body up onto the pool surround and, seeing that Lundt had disappeared, gathered all the strength he could muster and ran from the park.

He saw nothing but the exact tunnel of empty space that opened between trees, people and things, taking him away from the centre of the battle zone. He was on the verge of hysteria, scarcely able to comprehend what had happened or what he'd found himself in the middle of. He couldn't believe he was still alive but all he could think of was the inevitability of a shot from Lundt's gun. He imagined every detail: the sound of the shot meant for him, the crack as it fractured the air between the end of the barrel and his back. The wind forced from his lungs in an animal cry and his body contorted from the pain of that tapered fist of metal, taking him to the ground. Cornell let out an involuntary "No!" and kept running.