Part 10 (1/2)

'Ask him where the f.u.c.k she is.'

Anna bent closer to his ear, still talking slowly and gently. His chest heaved beneath me.

I could make out the word 'Lilian' again, and then something like 'Christmas' or 'Christine'.

It was just starting to get interesting when there was a thunderous crash at the door.

I looked up. Another of those and it was going to part company with its frame.

19

I rolled off Slobo's supine body. 'Anna! The bathroom! Go in the bathroom!' Anything to keep her out of the line of sight of whoever was about to bomb-burst into the room.

She dived over Slobo and scrambled across to the other side of the bed.

I rolled onto the floor and jammed the web of my right hand onto the b.u.t.t of Lena's revolver in the waistband of my jeans.

Two crew-cut monsters exploded through the door, pistols drawn down, heads swivelling, trying to work out what to do next.

I sucked in my stomach, wrapped my thumb and three fingers round the grip of the revolver and pulled it out.

The boy to my left turned and brought his weapon into the aim. My eyes didn't move. My hand came up and his face blurred as my foresight became pin sharp. I squeezed the trigger as hard as I could to overcome the double action of the hammer. The round kicked off.

The other one dropped to a semi-squat as the back of his mate's head splattered against the grey wall behind him. He started firing. I had no idea what at.

Where was Anna?

I focused on my foresight once more. The hammer was back in the full-c.o.c.k position. He brought his weapon round. It completely obscured his face. It didn't matter. I pulled my trigger and he went down.

'Anna! Anna!'

She piled through the bathroom door as I got up.

Slobo was writhing on the bed. He'd taken some rounds. Our second uninvited guest must have seen the Desert Eagle within his reach and decided not to take any chances.

Anna looked at the two bodies. 'The BMW?'

'Tarasov's guys. The car was at the factory.'

Anna looked at Slobo. 'Oh, G.o.d ...'

His chest was still heaving, but not enough to keep him alive.

'Do you know where she is?'

'Yes.'

The noise from the corridor was even louder now. TVs had been cranked up to full volume so Slobo's neighbours could say they hadn't heard a thing.

'Did you get her new name?'

'No.'

'She must have one. The photos - they've got to be pa.s.sport photos.'

His eyes rolled. 'Tell him we want her new name. Tell him he's not in good shape, but I can save him if he gives us the name.'

I eased his head up to help him speak. This time, Anna didn't f.u.c.k around. Slobo was definitely on his last legs. We needed the answer fast.

'Tell him I can save him-'

'Sure, Nick, I'll tell him you're Florence Nightingale. Now shut up.' Her earlier tone had disappeared completely. She was giving Slobo the good news with both barrels.

He slurred a few words. Saliva dribbled from his mouth. His head went limp and his eyes stayed open.

'Did you get it?'

She nodded.

I let him go.

I stepped over the bodies and checked down the corridor. There was nothing that would slow us down.

I came back and looked her in the eye. 'Take a breath. Are you ready?'

She nodded.

'Good.' I gestured towards the first one I'd dropped. 'Check him for car keys.' I frisked the other guy's long leather coat and came up with the Beamer's.

We headed out into the corridor, the weapon still in my hand in case we had a drama. We ran down the stairs and out into the street. I pointed Anna to the right and I headed left, eyes peeled for a glint of blue.

She called out to me.

I turned to see her pointing at a vehicle that I couldn't see. Too many others were in the way.

I ran towards her, hitting the key fob until lights began to flash. 'You drive.' I threw her the keys. 'Lena's. Go, let's go! Go, let's go!'

20

Anna turned about four corners before we hit Const.i.tution Street again. I kept a look-out for any major drama on the street.

'I hope Irina's OK.'

Anna swerved to avoid an old guy on an unlit bike. 'You think they might have got to her first?'