Wrecking Crew

FIFTEEN

“Do you think it’s a trap?” Linda asked. She was sitting on the edge of the bed in Ed’s hotel room.

Stone nodded.

“I think it could be. At least we should proceed on that basis.”

“Hope for the best — plan for the worst,” Carter said with a stiff smile.

Linda stood up and immediately sat down again, unsure of how to escape the tension building in the room.

“So what’s the plan?”

Stone took the lead.

“Before we decide on a plan, I think we need to figure out what they’re up to.”

“What do you mean?” Linda asked.

“Well, this Helen Atkins has agreed to meet with Ed and she says that she has some information that she is prepared to share, but she wouldn’t say what it was. In itself that’s suspicious, but at the same time understandable. If she isn’t connected to the Wrecking Crew, and she doesn’t know Ed, then it makes sense for her to be guarded. She’s asked to meet Ed in a very public place — a coffee shop in The Oracle shopping center in Reading. So on the one hand she could be a regular person who is willing to help, but sensibly cautious. Conversely, it could be a trap — but if it is a trap, then it’s a very public place for whatever they have planned.”

“Well, if she’s just a helpful and concerned citizen, then there’s nothing to worry about,” Linda said, “but if she isn’t, then I’m confused about what they are planning to do. It’s a bit public for a killing or a kidnapping.”

“My thoughts exactly,” Stone nodded, “they may be planning to use the cover of a busy shopping mall to have a look at us before they make a move. If they’ve figured out that we’ve dropped off the grid, perhaps they want to follow us after the meeting and then set up an attack. Then again, that location can work to our advantage as well. I’ve got the website here… ”

He pointed at the laptop.

“The Oracle is a big place. The stores and food halls are on three floors, with loads of parking, and multiple exits. They can’t possibly have enough people to cover all eventualities. If we can get there early, we may be able to turn the tables on them.”

Carter sat forward.

“Follow one of them perhaps?”

Stone raised an eyebrow and tilted his head.

“Or take someone to one side and ask a few difficult questions. That was my thinking.”

“It’s still pretty risky,” Linda said.

“There’s a risk — I’ll give you that, but I think they chose the location carefully. It’s likely to be near to their base. The Oracle is probably somewhere that they’re familiar with, and we have to assume that they will have access to the CCTV as well. I admit that’s all bad for us, but on the other hand, they won’t be planning to launch an attack in such a busy place — so they may not consider that we will. And that’s gives us a significant advantage.”

Carter looked at Linda who gave a nod of approval.

“Ok, what’s the plan?”

“Do you still have those little two-way radios in the trunk of your car?”

Carter smiled.

“I never leave home without them.”

“Good! Atkins wants to meet at 5pm. It’ll be dark by then. If we leave now and take both cars, we can be there by three. That’ll give us a chance to get our bearings before the light fails.”

Stone turned the laptop so that Carter and Linda could see.

“The map shows two parking lots, so we split up when we get there. Ed, you take a slow walk around the mall and gradually make your way to the coffee bar. It will look like you are being naturally cautious. Meanwhile, I’ll come in from the opposite direction and shadow you from a good distance. It should give me a chance to spot any of their people.”

“And if you do?” Carter asked.

“I’ll use the radio to keep you informed as I go. These are dangerous people Ed, but they’re all mercenaries, and they know the deal. So I plan to assess the situation and react accordingly.”

Although he understood that they were heading into battle, Carter still grimaced at the implication.

“Go on, what’s the plan from there?”

“So… if everything looks ok, go ahead with the interview and get what you can from Helen Atkins. Otherwise, try to get her to reveal the location of the Wrecking Crew and its members. I’ll try and do the same with anyone I encounter.”

“Do you think Atkins will know where the Wrecking Crew operates from?”

Stone pushed back from the desk.

“Let’s hope so. At the end of the day, it’s what we’re after. We can’t take them down unless we can find them. This is our best lead so far.”

“I guess it’s as good a plan as any.”

“Excuse me… ” Linda spoke softly, “I just wondered what I was supposed to be doing during all these heroics.”

Stone sensed her irritation, but he pushed on anyway.

“I think you should stay in the car.”

“Oh, that’ll be nice,” she said, her face tight with repressed anger. “Perhaps you can open the window a little so I don’t suffocate.”

“Look Linda, it’s not like that… things could go south very quickly.”

“And you want helpless little Linda out of the way?” She snapped, “Perhaps I should stay here and watch television — I could do some ironing if you like!”

Stone closed his eyes in frustration. In a way she was right, he was trying to protect her — perhaps unfairly. However, they were short-handed and heading into a potentially fast-moving and dangerous situation. He had genuinely wanted to keep her in reserve, available but safe. He looked at her now and his heart almost broke. There were tears of humiliation in her eyes and her face spoke of betrayal and distrust.

“Look… I didn’t mean it that way… I want you there… I need you, but I wanted you to stay in the car and monitor our communications. Then, if they make a break for it, you’ll be ready to follow immediately. That was my plan… ” his voice tailed off unconvincingly.

“I’m a big girl, Stone. I have a brain, you know… I think I could help.”

“But you will be helping,” he said weakly, “monitoring the communications is very important.”

“Whatever… ”

She looked at her watch and exhaled noisily.

“We’d better get going then.”

“Linda, I… ”

Stone took one look at the anger in her face and gave up.

“Let’s go.”

The Wrecking Crew had travelled to the shopping mall in three vehicles. Helen Atkins had driven her BMW 5 series with The Fixer as a passenger. Kitten and Bunny followed close behind in their black Toyota Hilux. Peter White had set out a little earlier in a red Toyota Land cruiser. He had been sent to collect three lads from Second Chances. They had been waiting at the freeway service area along the way. Becka and Gordon McIntosh had remained at the office, as they were not required for the operation.

Because their trip to Reading was not a long one, the Crew arrived at The Oracle just after 4pm. They parked their cars close together in the Riverside parking lot, just yards from the entrance to the mall. The lights of the mall and parking lot combined with the fall fog to create a ghostly glow. As Peter White passed out photographs of the targets, The Fixer gave his final instructions.

“Ok, listen up… Helen, I want you to stroll around the stores for a bit. Make sure that you reach the coffee bar at 4.50pm. It’s on the Riverside walk, just over there. Buy a coffee and sit outside, so we can keep an eye on you. Ok?”

She nodded.

“When Carter gets here, you can tell him whatever you like — just as long as you keep him sitting at that table. Peter’s guys are all dressed as mall security guards. At the first opportunity they’ll surround Carter and arrest him for shoplifting.”

He rubbed his hands together and smiled.

“Taking him in such a busy place will make the incident seem righteous. People are far less likely to question a scuffle in public, than they would if they saw the same thing happening at night, in some dark alley. Once he’s outside, Kitten and Bunny will put him in the back of the Land Cruiser. After that—”

“I just walk back to my car?” Helen said, ignoring the grisly image of what would happen to Carter a little later.

“That’s right. Just do as I say and you’ll be fine. There’s no risk to you.”

He smiled and nodded dismissively towards the mall entrance.

“Off you go then.”

Once she was out of earshot, The Fixer turned to Peter White.

“Get your people spread out along the river walk. If they see this Eric Stone, he becomes their prime target. Do they appreciate how dangerous he is?”

“Yes Boss, I’ve briefed them carefully.”

The actor spoke in a calm voice that belied the tension he was feeling.

“You don’t need to worry — my people can all handle themselves.”

“They may need to. I heard this morning that Anton Stephens and his pet gorilla were found dead in his burned out car.”

“Oh!”

“Oh, indeed. I’m starting to suspect that Eric Stone has been busier than we had first thought. Not that it matters anymore. This ends now — right here.”

He shuffled his feet in silence, until The Fixer spoke again.

“You’d better stay on this side of the river so you can keep a look out. I’ll be around, observing from a distance.”

“Right, Boss.”

The Fixer watched Peter White stride away. Then he turned his attention to Kitten and Bunny.

“You two cover the parking lot. I want one of you at each end — and for Christ’s sake, keep out of sight.”

Once his huge bodyguards had silently shambled into position, The Fixer pulled his coat collar up around his face and began walking towards the north end of the mall. The plan was in place, now there was something else he had to do.

The journey along the M25 was horrendous, due to a combination of too many cars, foggy conditions and a couple of inattentive drivers. Stone fought his rising tension as the traffic slowed to a walking pace. Twice, their progress was reduced to miles of frustrating stops and starts, as three lines of cars attempted to merge into two, in an attempt to negotiate a minor shunt. Furthermore, the tension inside the car did little to improve his mood.

Stone wanted to apologise for his omission, for not considering her feelings, but he couldn’t find the words. The problem was that he was in love with this woman, and in his planning, he had subconsciously wanted to place her in a position of the least danger. It was a perfectly natural thing to do — for a man.

For Stone it was like opening a door for a lady, or making sure that the house is secure before bedtime, or placing a valuable ornament safely on a high shelf. It was just something that you did. Of course, Linda is not an ornament to be kept safe, and he was wrong to treat her as one. Conversely, shouldn’t a man try to protect his loved ones — or is that just too old school? Silently, Stone admitted that he was confused. In his frustration, he gently bumped his fist on the steering wheel.

He had tried to say sorry. He had wanted to move past this, to engage Linda in some bright and witty conversation — to make it all go away, but she had remained sullen and unresponsive. In the end he had to bite his tongue, for fear that he would lose his temper and verbally lash out.

As they stood in the hotel parking lot, Carter had leaned in close and gently patted his friend on the shoulder.

“Let it pass.”

Perhaps Linda heard the kindly comment he had whispered, and chose to take further offence. In any event, Carter was treated to a harsh glare as she threw herself into the passenger seat, thereby nominating Stone to drive to Reading. Now he speculated that perhaps Linda was simply reacting to her own tension about the dangerous situation that they were walking into. She had every reason to. Things were about to get deadly, and when they did, Stone would wish that he had done much more to protect Linda Smart.

After yet another delay as they negotiated their way past the school-run traffic, with seemingly endless lines of cars filled with busy parents and overexcited children, they arrived at The Oracle at 3.50pm. Using the wonders of the internet, they had already studied the layout of the mall and the surrounding area. Stone could see why it had been chosen as a location for the meet.

The Oracle was a complicated and confusing maze of stores and corridors, with dozens of exits and blind alleys. There was a large food court alongside the river and above that, two floors of stores. Overall, The Oracle contained more than eighty stores, twenty cafés and restaurants, and two parking lots, with twenty-three-hundred parking spaces. Each parking lot had a separate road exit. Both gave easy access to the main road, which would allow a determined driver to reach the fast escape of the M4 freeway, in just a few minutes. In truth, they were walking into a security nightmare, that couldn’t be safely secured with fifty people — and they only had three.

As they had planned, Carter parked in the Riverside parking lot, whilst Stone circled around to the much smaller Holly Brook parking lot, on the east side of the shopping center. Stone fitted his radio earpiece, and attached the microphone inside his right sleeve. By placing his right hand by his face, he could whisper into the microphone relatively undetected. Although he had used the system before, he still thought it was all very ‘Secret Service’. He took a moment to check the radio again — first calling Ed and then making sure that Linda’s set was working as well.

“Stay here and stay safe — please.”

He leaned forward to kiss her on the lips, but had to settle for a proffered cheek. He offered a final olive branch.

“I love you.”

“Likewise,” she mumbled without any real enthusiasm.

There was a crackle from the radio.

“You two do know this radio’s on?” Ed said.

They ignored the jibe.

“Disguises on people — I’m on my way in.”

Stone donned a baseball cap that he had purchased earlier from the freeway service area. Linda put on her floppy sun hat and then she slid low into her seat, until she was barely visible. He gave Linda a small wave and then jogged briskly across the parking lot towards the rear of the mall.

Using the back entrance, he quickly climbed the staircase to the third floor. As he had planned, he went directly into a bedding store, and bought two pillows, which the sales clerk fitted into an extra-large plastic shopping bag. Stone figured that anyone watching for them would be less likely to take notice of a shopper carrying such bulky purchases.

With his lightweight, but obvious shopping in hand, he casually walked back into the shopping area. By following the polished marble walkways and using the central escalators, he worked his way down through each floor. When he reached the first floor, he turned around and made his way back to the third floor again. He window-shopped as he walked, randomly crossing the walkways and occasionally pretending to look at something that may have taken his interest. All the while, he kept a watchful eye out for anyone else who was doing the same thing.

After forty-five minutes of searching, Carter’s voice crackled in his earpiece.

“I’m just crossing the bridge onto the river walk. I can see the coffee shop, there’s no sign of the woman yet.”

“Ok, Ed. I’m still checking. I haven’t seen anything yet.”

“And I’m sitting here doing some knitting,” Linda’s voice softly whispered into his ear.

Despite the jibe, Stone found himself smiling. He risked a reply.

“Oh, good! There are some socks in my bag that need darning.”

Linda blew a long raspberry in response.

Feeling happier, Stone found that there was a little more spring in his step. He was suddenly jolted back to reality as he walked by a mall security guard. Something in the man’s face was familiar and Stone realized that he had seen him somewhere recently, but in a very different setting. Although he couldn’t remember where, he was positive it was in a context inconsistent with being a trusted security guard. Alarm bells started to ring in Stone’s head and, making a huge effort to remain calm, he casually walked into the first store on his left. It was a kitchen supply store.

Once inside the store, Stone used a display stand for cover, so he could look out of the window unobserved. The security guard was on the opposite side of the 20-metre wide walkway, far to Stone’s right, but still in clear view. He was leaning against the wall at the entrance to a service passage, and looking hard and long at the face of each man that passed. The man was wearing an ill-fitting security uniform, and a clip-on lapel badge showing his photograph and name. The logo on the badge suggested a well-known security company, but to Stone something seemed amiss. Without the badge, the man was just wearing a blue jacket and pants, the sort of generic uniform that an actor might wear in a low budget film. If you changed the hat and badge, the uniform could suit a police officer, or suggest a military function — or a pretend security guard.

Stone didn’t take much interest in retail and fashion, but he was confident that a prestigious mall like The Oracle, would insist that their security guards dressed correctly. He guessed that they probably supplied their staff with smartly polished black leather shoes, with soft sticky soles, similar to those worn by most police forces. Such shoes would be sturdy and comfortable, suitable for a full day of walking, but light enough for chasing down a suspect. He was confident that The Oracle would never permit a security guard to wear brown canvas shoes, like those worn by the man he was looking at now.

He brought his right hand to his ear and whispered into his microphone.

“Do you see any security guards in an ill-fitting blue uniform?”

“Yes,” Carter answered. “I can see one leaning over the railings on the second floor. He hasn’t seen me yet.”

“There’s nobody here at the knitting club.”

Stone smiled again at Linda’s joke, but this time he didn’t comment. It was time to focus on the job in hand.

“There’s a guard up here on two, but he doesn’t fit. In a minute, I’m going to have a conversation with him. I’ll ask if he knows were his boss lives.”

“Take care,” Carter whispered.

“Will do.”

Stone carefully backed away from the window, then he turned and walked into the store in search of a suitable weapon. With a little help from an enthusiastic sales assistant, he quickly found exactly what he was looking for. He selected two items and paid with cash, politely refusing the offer of a bag or receipt. Moving back to the window, where he could keep a watchful eye on his target, Stone carefully prepared for his attack.

The security guard was getting bored. He had done several gigs for Peter White in the last year. Usually they involved following some married guy, and taking photos of him wrestling naked with his girlfriend. Twice, he had been allowed to get physical with someone, usually to get them to do what was wanted. He liked the physical stuff. He got a big thrill out of seeing some guy squirm and cry, and piss on himself, while his arm got twisted. This gig was already boring, and standing around looking for some old guys in a crowd wasn’t helping to ease his hangover. He didn’t like the stupid outfit that they made him wear, either. The collar itched, and the pants were too tight. It was a rushed job as well, and that was never a good thing. He’d got the call just a few hours ago, and if it weren’t for the money, he would have stayed in bed. As it was, he was hungry, tired, and his head hurt.

The security guard looked to his right, towards the kitchen supply store. He was supposed to be looking at faces, searching for the men in the photos. Yet, he still took a moment to check out the women — particularly the hot ones. There wasn’t much to see at this time of the day. There were just a few young mums pushing their prams. He spotted a cute redhead, wearing some very tight jeans. She paused for a short time outside the kitchen store, to make room for an older guy who was carrying a huge shopping bag. She did have a nice bum, he thought.

He casually looked to the left, but there was nothing of interest to see. He slowly swiveled his head back to the right, to watch the redhead again, but now the old guy was in the way. The security guard was surprised. He thought that the old guy must have moved unusually quickly, because suddenly he was a couple of yards away and walking quickly. The guy smiled reassuringly, and said ‘Excuse me’, and then his right hand shot forward with incredible speed.

An explosion of red dust hit the security guard full in the face. Instantly his eyes, nose, and mouth, were burning with incredible pain. Before he could take a breath, something slammed into his solar plexus with unbelievable force, driving the remaining air from his lungs.

Stone grabbed the helpless security guard, quickly pushing him backward along the corridor, and out through the emergency exit door. They were on a bare concrete landing at the top of the fire escape staircase. The stairs were dusty and unswept, and there was no visible sign of any security camera. Stone relaxed and gently lowered the security guard to the ground. He was wheezing from the punch to the gut, and coughing helplessly because of the cayenne pepper that Stone had just thrown into his face.

Taking care not to get any of the red dust on his own hands, Stone rolled the security guard onto his back, and roughly stripped the man of his shoes, pants, and underpants. When he tried to resist, perhaps fearing that he was about to be raped, Stone quickly subdued him with a second punch to the gut.

“Who sent you?” Stone demanded.

“My face is burning!” the man coughed and spat, his eyes and nose were running freely.

“Who sent you?” Stone asked again.

“Fuck off!”

Stone pulled the man’s right hand away from his face and stood on it, partly to add to his discomfort, but also to subdue him a little more. The man groaned and drummed his heals in pain. Then Stone pulled a wickedly sharp paring knife from his pocket. It was the second item that he had bought in the kitchen store. He leaned closer.

“Listen to me very carefully. This knife is very sharp.”

Stone pulled the flat of the blade across the man’s thigh before placing the sharp edge at the base of the security guard’s exposed penis.

“You will answer my questions, honestly and immediately. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?”

The man suddenly became very still, his streaming eyes and nose forgotten.

“Yes,” he croaked.

“Who sent you?”

“Peter White.”

“Who’s Peter White, how do you know him?”

“Sometimes I do work for a place called Second Chances — it’s in Aylesbury. Peter tells me what to do. I got a call from him this morning.”

“Describe him,” Stone snapped.

“He’s tall. A posh guy, about sixty-five, always wears a tweed jacket. He has a little beard on the end of his chin.”

“How do you contact him?”

“I don’t. He always contacts me when he has some work.”

The guard coughed again, he was having trouble breathing. Stone didn’t care.

“How many others are here?”

The man paused. Stone could see he was counting in his head.

“Six — I think.”

“You think?”

Stone increased the pressure on the knife. The guard squirmed in panic.

“Six… It’s definitely six — that’s all I saw.”

“Describe them,” Stone demanded.

“There’s Peter White, and there’s Jerry and Mike who I work with sometimes. They’re both wearing the same costume as me. Then there’s three other guys. I don’t know who they are. One has dark hair; he’s wearing a dark coat. The other two looked like twins. They’re real big with shaved heads.”

He squirmed some more, trying desperately to move away from the knife.

“That’s all I know, mister. Please don’t cut me!”

“Tell me about the Wrecking Crew.”

“Who?”

“The Wrecking Crew. Where is their base?”

Stone backed up the importance of the question with a poke from the knife.

“I’ve never heard of them — I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the man said with obvious panic in his voice.

“Tell me!”

He poked a little harder, drawing some blood with the tip of the knife.

“I don’t know — please, please. I don’t know.”

Stone eased the pressure slightly. He had decided that the security guard was telling the truth. If the positions were reversed, Eric thought that he would find it very difficult to lie. Unfortunately, it also fitted in with what they had found out so far. The Wrecking Crew was very good at maintaining separation and secrecy.

“What was the plan for today?” he asked.

“We were supposed to arrest you, and another guy, for shoplifting. Then take you out to a black Land Cruiser in the parking lot. That’s it — it’s all I know.”

Stone couldn’t think of anything else to ask, and he was aware that precious time was passing. He put the knife back in his coat pocket and gently pulled the man’s left hand down away from his face.

“I believe you,” Stone said in a soothing voice, “now just lay still, and you’ll get out of this alive.”

As soon as the man relaxed, Stone swung his fist in a fast wide arc, striking him on the side of his chin, with a perfect knockout punch. The guards head snapped violently to the right, and he instantly slumped into unconsciousness. Before rolling the man into the recovery position, Stone performed a quick search. He found a billfold, a small walkie-talkie, and a sheet of paper showing pictures of Carter, himself, and Linda.

Leaving his shopping bag behind, Stone walked back into the shopping mall. After he had shoved the security guard’s shoes, underpants and pants into the nearest waste bin, he checked in with Ed on the radio, quickly explaining what had just happened.

“Good job, Eric,” Carter said. “What now?”

“Well, it’s a safe bet that the other two security guards will know nothing more than this guy did. If I can take them out, it could give us a clear run at Helen Atkins. She may know something.”

“Ok,” Carter said, “I’m in a card store, opposite the coffee bar. I can’t see any woman waiting around, but there’s another security guard down here. He’s leaning on the railing near the bridge.”

“I’m still on two, but I can see him from here. You hang tight, Ed. I’ll try and deal with the guard on the first floor, then make my way down to you.”

“Got it.”

“Linda, are you ok?” Stone asked softly.

“Yes!” she snapped, then immediately she spoke more gently, “I’m sorry — I’m fine.”

“Listen… That security guard had pictures of all of us. That includes you, Linda. They know what you look like, so keep your eyes open. Lock the doors, and if you see someone suspicious, just drive away. Ok?”

“Don’t worry, I understand. And Eric… ”

“Yes?”

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“I love you both,” Carter cut in, “but can we please get on?”

Linda blew another raspberry.

Stone climbed off the escalator onto the first floor just in time to see the back of the fake security guard as he walked into the men’s restroom. He jogged across the concourse and walked in through the same door just a few seconds later. Pushing through the door into the apparently empty room, he saw something flash in his peripheral vision. Acting instinctively, in one smooth movement Stone blocked the blow and turned into the attack. A baton bounced off his raised forearm, causing some pain, but no significant damage. The security guard was temporarily thrown off balance, and Stone took the initiative by driving his fist into the man’s face. There was a satisfying crunch of breaking bone, and the man staggered backwards with his nose streaming blood.

It was a solid punch and Stone half-expected the man to go down, but he was obviously made of sterner stuff. With a shake of his head, he roared, and charged forward again. Stone ducked under the swinging baton, and as the attacker staggered by, he countered with a sharp kidney punch. Enraged, the fake security guard spun on his heel and charged again. Unable to avoid this third attack, Stone was driven backwards into an open cubicle, where he slid downwards until he was sitting on the toilet seat. With no room to maneuver or escape, Stone was suddenly at a dangerous disadvantage.

Street fighting is very different from traditional martial arts. Close combat is a dirty and uniquely violent engagement, where quick wits and aggression can overpower skill and training. This time there was something else to consider. Just one look into his assailant’s eyes, told Stone that this attacker intended to kill him. He had seen that look before. There was no logic behind that wild stare, and no compassion — just a lust for death and destruction. Stone knew, without any doubt at all, that he was fighting for his life.

Although he was too close to effectively use the baton, out of inexperience or anger, the guard continued to try to club Eric on the head. After the first two swings missed, he casually placed his left hand on the toilet paper dispenser for balance, and leaning forward, chopped down with the baton as hard as he could. Stone knew that his one chance of survival was to gain the upper hand quickly. With no room to move, he did the only thing he could. Stone took the massive blow on his left forearm, and then grabbed the guard’s broken nose with his right hand. Holding as tightly as he could, he viciously twisted and pulled at the man’s nose, grinding the broken bone and cartilage together.

Years of training had given Stone’s fingers immense strength, and even though his hand was slippery with blood, he was not about to let go. The guard let out a shrill scream and instantly dropped the baton. Then he started to claw frantically at Eric’s hand. Seeing an opening, Stone stood and jabbed the stiff fingers of his left hand into the attacker’s eyes. Temporarily blinded and in terrible pain, the guard spun away from the attack. The fight was not over; Stone knew that he had won but a temporary reprieve.

When the man presented his undefended back, Stone quickly looped his left arm around his neck, and pulled him into a chokehold. As he fell back onto the toilet seat, Stone raised his knees into the base of the guard’s back. Then he used his right arm to pull his left forearm tightly across the man’s neck. With his knees preventing the guard from gaining any purchase with his feet, Stone was easily able to choke him into unconsciousness.

No longer concerned about the welfare of his attacker, Stone maintained the chokehold for another minute, until he was sure that the man was either comatose, or dead — he didn’t check to see which. Luckily, nobody had tried to enter the restroom during the fight, so he was able to lock the cubical, vault over the door, and then wash his hands and leave, without being seen.

Flexing his battered left arm to try to restore some feeling, Eric clicked ‘send’ on his radio.

“Two down,” he whispered.

“Well done,” Carter replied. Linda didn’t comment.

Just then, the small walkie-talkie that Stone had taken from the first security guard crackled into life.

“Check in please — has anyone seen anything?” a cultured English voice asked.

There was a solitary reply.

“Jerry here. Nothing yet.”

Stone considered making a witty comment, or pretending to be one of the other security guards’, but he quickly dismissed the idea. For now, he preferred to keep the enemy guessing.

“Steve? Mike? Have you seen anything?”

Silence.

“Steve? Mike? Are you receiving?”

More silence.

“Jerry? Can you go and check on Steve and Mike, please?” the cultured voice asked politely.

“Ok,” Jerry replied in a slightly exasperated tone.

Stone quickly did the math, turned on his heel, and walked purposely towards the fire exit. He had decided that although there were three ways for Jerry to reach the first floor, the lift, the escalator, or the rear fire exit, the fire exit would be his most likely choice. He reasoned that the elevator was for old ladies, and cardiac patients, not fit aggressive men. The escalator was too exposed, being glass sided and in the center of the mall. Therefore, the fire exit stairs was Jerry’s most probable route. Eric figured that he had an 80 % chance of being right.

Once through the fire door, Stone went down the stairs two at a time until he reached the lower landing, then he stood back from the door and waited. Five seconds later Jerry burst through the fire exit, still clutching his walkie-talkie. Seeing someone at the bottom of the stairs, apparently coming in the opposite direction, he did the British thing. He stopped, politely stepped to the side, and mumbled ‘Sorry’. Then he looked at Eric’s face and his eyes were suddenly wide in surprise and recognition.

Stone reacted first. He took one quick stride forward and side-kicked Jerry’s leg, cleanly snapping the knee joint. Jerry screamed in agony, dropped his walkie-talkie, and fell to the floor clutching at his shattered leg. Stone casually stamped on the walkie-talkie until it was just a pile of shattered pieces, then he leaned forward and spoke in a voice as cold as steel.

“If you want to live, stay here.”

Jerry, already pasty faced and sweating, nodded feebly in response. Stone stepped through the door onto the ground floor of the mall, and called Carter again.

“Three down.”

“I can see a woman sitting outside the coffee bar,” Carter said, “I think it’s her.”

“I see her,” Stone replied. “Let’s go and have a chat.”

Carter arrived first, taking a seat and shaking hands with the woman. As Stone walked up, Carter turned and made the introductions.

“Eric. Allow me to introduce Helen Atkins.”

Stone circled around and stood behind Atkins, casually placing his hands firmly on her shoulders. It was a dominating and intimidating position, but one that an outsider would simply see as a loving husband standing behind his wife. She stiffened under his grip. Stone leaned forward and spoke quietly in her ear.

“In a minute you’re going to stand up and walk with us to my car. When we get there you’re going to tell me everything you know about the Wrecking Crew.”

“I will not!” She said firmly.

Stone and Carter shared a smile. Atkins had not asked what they were talking about, or attempted to deny her knowledge of the Wrecking Crew. She had simply refused to co-operate. Helen Atkins was a member of the Wrecking Crew! Stone leaned a little closer.

“Look around you, Helen. You’re on your own here. Your security men are all taking a little nap, and I have a very sharp knife.”

He tightened his grip on her shoulders.

“Did you ever hear of cutting off your nose to spite your face?”

She turned her head desperately; eyes wide in fear, but seeing no hope of rescue, her shoulders soon slumped in defeat.

“What do you want?” she whispered.

“Stand up and walk to my car, it’s in the parking lot behind you. If you do as I ask, you will not be harmed. You have my word.”

She stood stiffly. Carter quickly stepped forward and took her arm, as if to provide some support for someone feeling a little unwell. Stone walked a few paces behind, where he could keep an eye out for any attackers, and be ready in case Atkins decided to run. As they entered the parking lot, Helen Atkins turned defiantly and glared at Stone.

“You can’t win. You’re going to die. He won’t let you win — he never will.”

“Who won’t?” Carter asked, “Who won’t let us win?”

Helen Atkins said nothing, until they reached Stones car, then she pointed and smiled.

“You see — you can’t win,” she sneered.

Stone looked into the car and recoiled in shock. It was empty. Linda had disappeared.