Andy McNab - Payback

But Elena wasn’t there. She was downstairs, having a heart-to-heart with Jane Brooker. Jane and her husband Dave – affectionately known as Dave the Rave by the residents of Foxcroft – made sure they were on hand to talk or to listen if one of the kids in their care needed them.

They were worried about Elena. They knew her dad had left the country a lot sooner than expected but they didn’t know why. But Joey Omolodon wasn’t their concern. His daughter was, and she had seemed quiet and withdrawn since seeing off her dad at Heathrow. So Jane had suggested a cup of tea and a ‘little chat’.

Elena was up for it. She liked Jane and talking to her was always good, even though this time she couldn’t mention what was really on her mind.

They were in the quiet room and Jane was pouring herself a second cup of tea.

Upstairs in Elena’s bedroom, a soft ping sounded on her computer. An e-mail had arrived.

Benny drove into the golf course car park and began to check out the vehicles.

‘Stand by. Stand by! That’s Newman’s Discovery in the car park. Looks like a wedding in the clubhouse.’

Fran immediately came on the net:

‘Fran’s ten minutes away. Check the course first. Look for Watts. If you see him and he’s outside, take the shot. Don’t wait for us, just do it. Paul, get out of that jam and back us.’

Danny had watched the red Nissan Almera pull into the car park and come to a halt, just as he had watched a number of others arrive since Fergus had set off down the fairway. Every vehicle had brought late arrivals for the wedding party.

For a moment he didn’t pay too much attention; he was enjoying the view from his new vantage point. It was almost last light, and in the quickening darkness he had moved to the other side of the clubhouse, where a kids’ playground was situated.

Danny was perched on top of a tall slide. He still had a view of the car park and the fairway. Best of all he could now see the function room where the wedding reception was being held. He was watching the dancing and thinking to himself that if most of the people throwing themselves about to the music could actually see what they looked like they would never have got out of their seats.

Glancing over at the car again, Danny saw that the driver had gone round to the raised tailgate. Probably getting the wedding present, he thought as he turned back to his private view of the party and saw one of the bridesmaids take an inelegant tumble onto her backside.

Hunched over the rear of the Nissan, Benny was unzipping his ready bag. Inside was a bivvy bag and warm clothing in case he had to spend an unexpected night out in the cuds. He pushed all that aside and reached for his MP5 SD machine gun, the suppressed version of the MP5.

The two weapons look identical except for the SD’s big fat barrel, which sucks up all the gases that push the round along the barrel and make much of the bang when it escapes the muzzle. The remaining noise is the crack as the bullet leaves the barrel faster than the speed of sound. On the SD the rounds are slower, subsonic and virtually silent. Not that Benny was interested in the science, just the silence.

He pulled back the cocking handle to expose the 9mm round that was already in the chamber. He knew that the weapon – and the pistol in his belt holster – was always made ready, but he always checked to be absolutely certain. The last thing he needed when he was close to a target was to squeeze the trigger and hear nothing more than a click.

Up on the slide, Danny suddenly noticed his grandfather and Kev Newman about thirty metres down the fairway. They had stopped and were talking quietly. Danny’s attention was suddenly grabbed as the lights on the Nissan flashed. The driver had closed the tailgate and pressed the key fob to lock up. He was walking towards the clubhouse, and before he disappeared from view Danny saw that he was holding something dark down at his side. Another present for the happy couple.

Jane said all the right things about Elena and the situation with her dad. She didn’t criticize Joey, or even blame him for letting Elena down. She concentrated on the positive, saying that hopefully Elena and her dad would be able to rebuild their relationship at some time, but that for now she needed to think of herself and focus on her own future.

Elena knew she was right, and she enjoyed the chat, but right now she was finding it almost impossible to focus on anything but Danny, and what was happening to him.

Jane loved a good old chinwag and was all set to put the kettle on for another cup of tea when Elena made her excuses, saying she had a lot of schoolwork to get through.

She hurried up the stairs, went into her room and saw instantly that she had an e-mail. She knew exactly who it was from and her eyes widened as she read the brief but chilling message.

Your friends in great danger, must leave Hereford now. TELL THEM!

Elena’s hands were shaking as she reached for the new mobile phone Danny had given her.

Big Kev was trying to help his old mate, like he always had before. He had listened in silence as they walked up the course and Fergus warned him of the twin dangers of Fincham and the mysterious woman, who both appeared to be closing in on the truth. ‘I had to let you know you’re in danger, mate. So that you’re prepared. Like you said, you’ve got family.’

As they neared the clubhouse, Kev stopped. ‘There must be some record somewhere of you being recruited as a K. If you could get to it.’

‘I’ve been racking my brains,’ said Fergus. ‘Look, I’ll give you a phone number. It’s secure. If you think of anything-’

The phone in Fergus’s pocket began to ring. Loudly.

Danny heard the ring and as he looked towards his grandfather and Big Kev, he saw the man from the Nissan appear at the corner of the clubhouse and then dodge quickly back. And in that brief moment Danny saw that the man was carrying a weapon. He knew that shouting a warning would be wrong: he had to use the vital seconds the gunman would take to prepare for the kill. Noiselessly, he climbed down the slide.

Benny couldn’t believe his luck: Watts and Newman together. He would take them both out. No problem. He stood back from the corner, put the weapon to his shoulder and took two deep breaths to steady his hold, while easing off the safety catch with his right thumb. He would wait a few more seconds as the DJ inside the clubhouse talked up the next record, and when the music began he would turn and fire. Benny leaned forwards into the weapon, both eyes open for a close-up aim, and waited. He could hear the murmur of conversation. Just a few seconds more…

Fergus knew the call was from Elena – she was the only one who had the number. He gestured to Kev that they should get off the golf course, and as they began to walk he pressed the answer call button and put the phone to his ear.

‘Hello?’

Elena’s voice was calm but urgent. ‘They know where you’ve gone! Get out!’

Fergus hit the end call button; he knew all he needed to know. As he jammed the phone back in his pocket, he felt Big Kev’s hand on his arm. He stopped walking and looked at his friend.

‘I’ve got it,’ said Kev excitedly. ‘A place. Of course, a place. You need to-’

They both heard the movement from the corner of the clubhouse. As they looked towards it, they saw the gunman taking aim.

Danny crashed into Benny at full tilt. They went sprawling onto the grass, Danny’s eyes watering with pain from the impact. He could see nothing as Benny rolled on top of him, but he felt the cold steel of the weapon and grabbed it. Four hands clung to the machine gun, and Benny viciously head-butted Danny as he bucked and twisted, trying to wrench the weapon free.