The Lethal Target(50)

There was a further pause, then Lemski called out: ‘You will remain standing where you are, where we can see you!’

And where your sniper has got a clear shot at me, thought Jake.

‘We will release the MacClains. They will be coming out accompanied by some of my people. They will be armed. You will remain standing where you are until the MacClains have gone past you. If you attempt to move from that spot, we will shoot you and the MacClains. My men are expert shots. They will not miss.’

‘Don’t worry, I’ll stay here!’ Jake shouted back.

‘And we want to see Ms Graham standing next to you!’ called Lemski.

‘No!’ called back Jake.

‘Yes,’ said Lauren’s voice. Jake swung round and saw that Lauren had joined him.

‘Go away!’ he hissed.

‘No,’ she said. ‘We’re in this together. I’m not leaving without you.’

‘They’re going to kill me!’ Jake told her angrily.

Lauren forced a smile.

‘Then they might as well kill both of us,’ she said.

The sound of the front door of the cottage opening made them both turn their attention in that direction. Alec and Rona stepped forward, slowly, their hands on top of their heads. Behind them came three men holding automatic rifles. As Alec and Rona moved slowly forward, the three men made sure they kept behind the pair, using the MacClains as human shields. The party of five, with the MacClains at the front, came nearer and nearer. The men held their guns trained directly on Jake and Lauren the whole time. Finally, when they were about twenty metres away from Jake and Lauren, the three men stopped and let Alec and Rona walk on, still with their hands clasped on the tops of their heads.

‘Reckon we can make a run for it?’ asked Lauren.

‘Not with them that close,’ said Jake. ‘As soon as we turn to run, they’ll shoot us. And, if they want to keep us alive to act as their hostages, they’ll shoot us in the legs.’

‘Pity we haven’t got body armour leggings too,’ muttered Lauren.

Alec and Rona drew level with them. Jake could see the strain etched on both their faces.

‘Thank you,’ whispered Alec.

‘Later,’ said Jake.

‘Robbie and your wife are at Dr Patel’s,’ said Lauren.

‘Is he OK?’

‘He was hurt, but he’s in safe hands,’ said Lauren.

‘Keep moving!’ came Lemski’s shout from the cottage.

Alec and Rona walked on, passing Jake and Lauren.

‘Now, Mr Wells, bring the book to me!’ called Lemski. ‘You too, Ms Graham!’

‘Not until the MacClains are out of the way!’ called back Jake,

‘You are wasting time!’ snapped Lemski impatiently.

‘I’m making sure our bargain is kept!’ Jake called back.

He turned, and saw that Alec and Rona had speeded up, and had now taken refuge behind a rocky outcrop.

‘Time to go,’ said Jake.

He was just about to move forward, when there was the sound of a metallic click from behind the mound of earth where DS Stewart and PC Frierson were hiding. At once, one of the Russians turned and fired a burst from his automatic rifle into that direction, which ripped into and through the earth. There was a gurgling moan from behind the hillock, and then a deadly silence.

Jake and Lauren exchanged horrified, sickened looks. Stewart and Frierson were dead. Their back-up had gone.





Chapter 28



‘Put the bucket down on the ground, Mr Wells! Slowly! Or you will be next!’

Lemski’s voice rang out, echoing across the heath.

Jake put the metal bucket down.

‘Now walk towards my men!’

Jake looked at Lauren and gave her a rueful smile.

‘You should have stayed out of this. Now I’m going to have to rescue you all over again,’ he told her.

‘Move now!’ called Lemski, his voice more urgent this time. ‘And keep your hands in the air where we can see them! And hold the book up high the whole time!’

Jake and Lauren moved forward, hands and the book in the air. They reached the three armed Russians. One Russian grabbed Jake by the arm, while another took hold of Lauren’s shoulder. Then they hurried them towards the cottage while the third followed them at speed, moving backwards, rifle sweeping from side to side, ready to fire.

Once inside the cottage, the door slammed shut and was locked. Jake and Lauren found themselves face to face with Muir, who held a pistol and glowered at them.

‘You put us to a lot of trouble!’ he snarled.

‘But that trouble is over now, Mr Muir,’ said Lemski as he appeared from the stairs.

He walked over to Jake and took the book from his hand; then opened it to make sure Jake had brought the real book with him.