Stephen Leather: Take Two

‘And tell them what?’ said Carolyn. ‘You’d drugged me and put me in a trunk? Would they have believed me? You’d be out on bail and then…’ She shrugged.

‘You figured I’d come after you and finish the job?’

‘That’s what you do, isn’t it?’ said Carolyn. ‘You killed Max Dunbar, right?’

Richards gestured at Halpin. ‘Mick here took care of him.’

‘And the truck driver.’

Halpin grinned. ‘Guilty as charged,’ he said.

‘You killed them both?’ asked Carolyn.

‘It had to be done,’ said Halpin. ‘But don’t dump that on me, little lady. You killed Reg when you climbed into his truck that night, and you signed Dunbar’s death warrant when you asked him to investigate Warwick.’

‘I think we’ve done enough talking,’ said Richards.

‘Warwick, please, we won’t say anything,’ said Carolyn. There were tears in her eyes and she brushed them away with the back of her hand.

‘Damn right you won’t,’ said Halpin.

‘Are you going to let him kill us, Warwick?’ said Carolyn, her voice trembling.

‘I’m afraid so, yes. I don’t have any choice. If you tell the cops I killed Cohen and Dunbar and Reg whatever-his-name-is, then I go away for ever.’

Carolyn nodded slowly. Then she smiled. ‘Then there’s something you need to know,’ she said. Her voice was firmer and more assertive.

‘What?’ said Richards.

‘The cops know everything. Or at least they do now.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘They’ve heard your confession. So it’s all over.’

‘Bollocks,’ said Richards.

‘The cops know everything,’ said Carolyn.

‘Like fuck they do,’ snarled Halpin.

‘They’ve heard every word,’ said Carter.

‘They’re bloody well wired, is that it?’ said Richards. He stepped forward, grabbed Carter’s shirt and ripped it open. Buttons burst off and clattered on the wooden floor. Richards stared at Carter’s muscular chest.

‘Darling, you’re so butch,’ Carter said and laughed. ‘Do you want to feel around in my shorts?’

Richards pushed Carter backwards and he tripped and fell heavily onto the floor. He was still laughing, even when Halpin pointed the gun at him.

Richards stepped towards Carolyn but she pointed a warning finger at his face. ‘Don’t you bloody well touch me, Warwick,’ she said. ‘I’m not wired. But the whole building is.’

‘Smile,’ said Carter, pointing up at the ceiling. ‘You’re on camera. Are you ready for your close-up?’

Richards looked around at the walls and ceiling. He didn’t see any cameras. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘The whole place is wired for sound and vision, Warwick. Has been since the weekend. The cops have you on film from the moment you walked in. The cameras are state-of-the-art. They’re tiny but they see everything.’

‘Bollocks,’ said Richards.

‘And every single thing you’ve said since you walked in here has been heard and recorded,’ said Carolyn. ‘It’s over.’

‘She’s full of shit, boss,’ said Halpin. ‘If it’s over, why aren’t the cops in here already?’

‘They are,’ said Carolyn. ‘They were here before you broke in. And if you look down, you’ll see a little red dot on your chest that shows just how close they are.’

Halpin looked down and cursed when he saw the laser dot hovering over his heart. He looked up at Richards. A similar dot was centered on his chest. ‘Boss?’

‘It’s over, mate,’ said Richards wearily. He raised his hands.

Two armed police officers in black coveralls and black Kevlar vests appeared from behind a shelving unit at the far end of the building. They were holding black carbines with laser sights on the top. ‘Armed police, drop your weapon!’ shouted one.

‘Do it, Mick,’ said Richards.

Halpin tossed the gun on the floor.

The door opened and Biddulph and Marriott walked in holding police radios. Biddulph smiled at Carolyn. ‘Nice work, Miss Castle,’ said the inspector. ‘We got it all, loud and clear.’

‘I like to think my supporting role helped,’ said Carter, getting up off the floor.

Half a dozen uniformed officers poured in through the door. Two of them pushed Halpin against a wall and handcuffed his hands behind his back.

Richards held out his hands to be cuffed. Biddulph waved for him to turn around. ‘I know this is a bit late, but I am sorry,’ Richards said to Carolyn.

‘Sorry for what?’ said Carolyn. ‘For killing Cohen? Max? Reg? For trying to kill me?’

‘For all of it, but mainly for you.’ Biddulph snapped on handcuffs. Two uniformed officers grabbed Richards by the arms.

‘Sorry doesn’t cut it,’ said Carolyn. ‘You’ll be an old man when you get out of prison. If you do ever get out.’

‘You could bring me a cake with a file in it.’

Carolyn laughed harshly and shook her head. ‘You think this is funny? You killed Cohen and you killed Reg and Max and you were sure as hell going to kill me and Terry so let’s not pretend you’re anything other than what you are. A scumbag gangster who’s finally going to get what’s coming to him.’

‘You know, I was sure Jenny had feelings for me.’ He shook his head sadly. ‘You’re one hell of an actress, Carolyn.’

‘I don’t need your approval, Warwick,’ said Carolyn. She brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear. ‘I just need you to spend the rest of your life behind bars. You do that and I’ll be satisfied.’