Kiss and Die

Chapter 109

Run, Johnny, run. He staggered as he bounced off the walls of the hospital. He felt the adrenalin in his body as it met drug sedation head on and had nowhere to go. In the middle line they fought for ground. He ran down the corridor, his legs buckling. Click, clack.

He heard Mia’s voice. ‘Where’s Mann? He’s not in his room. Find him, quick.’

Mann didn’t know why but he knew he had to get away. Turn left at the end of the corridor, first right, now stay, stay, stay…breathe…wait, listen. Shush… He slid down the wall and stayed there. Click, clack…click, clack…

He crawled along on his hands and knees, his eyes struggling to keep focused, he was seeing double on double. His bandaged hand was bloody now.

He turned a corner and looked down the empty corridor – he could see the empty reception. He stood, found his balance, lurched on his feet and very carefully inched forward.

Now Ruby came click-clacking down the corridor, the urumi coiled in her hand. She would finish him off. She would flail him to death whilst he was lying in his hospital bed. Ruby could be anyone; nurse, patient, saviour, murderer. Ruby was Ruby.

He felt a hand on his arm, guiding, supporting. A young police officer looked at him. ‘You all right, Inspector?’

‘Yes. Where’s your car? I’m borrowing it.’ He took the keys from the flustered young officer. He staggered outside and unlocked the car door. He slipped into the driver’s seat and managed to manoeuvre his body into a position where he could drive. He switched on the engine, slammed it into reverse and then sped forward and away from the hospital.

He got halfway back to his flat when he got a call. It was CK.

‘Hello, Inspector. I heard about your unfortunate accident this evening. I do hope you will feel recovered enough to accept an invitation from me.’

‘I’m busy right now.’

‘Nursing your wounds? I have a friend here who wishes to talk to you.’

Mann heard Ng’s voice. ‘Genghis…don’t do it. They will kill me anyway.’

CK took back the phone. ‘That’s enough talk from Sergeant Ng. What he meant to say was that we have rekindled an old acquaintance, him and I, and now we have made a deal. You sign your father’s estate over to me and I will give you his life in exchange. Friendship is a dreadful thing, just like the love one feels for a woman, a daughter even. It weakens a man. It makes him vulnerable. But, your friend’s fate depends on you. How much is his life worth to you? I have the document ready. You just have to sign it. It means I take everything out of your hands. You no longer need to worry about your conscience. It will be as if you never knew. How does that sound?’

Mann heard an awful sound of Ng screaming and choking.

‘Meet me on the top floor of the Piccadilly Club in Central.’ CK hung up.