The Profit Motive, page 27
part #2 of Sterling and Mason Series
Oliver Hetherington occupied a room on the second floor of a new wing at the back of the building. The lift deposited them in a wide corridor with pale cream walls. Kate’s footsteps on the grey tiled floor echoed. A cry from ahead made Adam hesitate. Was that a patient in pain? Then a scream of terror, unambiguous, made his pulse jump.
“Wait here,” he told Kate and ran toward the cry.
“What if it’s Dad?” Kate’s voice rose.
“Please Kate, I’ll deal with it,” he shouted over his shoulder.
A pair of swing doors with vision panels in them divided the corridor and Adam charged through them. A man burst out of a room twenty paces ahead and ran. Adam gave chase. At the door the man came from, he glanced into the room. A man sat on the floor, back resting against the wall, holding his bloodied neck. Should he stop to help, or catch the perpetrator? He was in a hospital, more capable help wasn’t far away, so he continued.
The figure disappeared through a fire exit at the far end of the corridor. Someone behind Adam shouted. Adam reached the exit before the door closed and flew down the stairs, glimpsing his quarry on the landing below. At the next turn, the man ahead slipped and fell the last few steps, landing in a heap at the bottom of the stairs. Adam let out a yell and pushed himself on.
By the time he reached the last flight, the man was on his feet, confronting Adam with a knife. Adam stopped. The parallels to the chase in the apartment block in Wenzhou had already struck him, but seeing his quarry reinforced the impression. It couldn’t be. Zhang wore a straggly beard which looked stuck-on but the eyes were unmistakable.
His reaction on seeing Adam told him he found the situation just as surreal. With a nasty grin, Zhang hefted the knife. Blood dripped from the blade onto the bottom step. Instead of retreating, Adam leaped forward, catching Zhang by surprise. His panicky lunge missed Adam, leaving him off balance. Adam, remembering the man’s power, grabbed his wrist and smashed his forearm into the side of Zhang’s head. The knife clattered to the floor and Zhang reeled back.
“Stop!” a voice from above shouted.
Adam ignored it and snatched the knife off the tiles.
“Stop, or I’ll shoot you, so help me.” The sound of an automatic being cocked gave the order power.
Adam froze and looked up. An automatic, resting on the bannister above, pointed straight at his chest.
“Drop it.”
The wail of the fire alarm filled the air as Zhang took his chance and leaped at the exit.
“He’s getting away!” Adam said.
“Stay where you are,” the man said, tension making his voice tight.
Adam dropped the knife and raised his hands.
The gunman stepped down the next flight of stairs, keeping the barrel on Adam’s chest. “Step off the stairs and stand facing the wall.”
“The guy you want has just—”
“Do you understand English?” the man said through gritted teeth.
Adam did as instructed.
“Hands against the wall, spread your arms and legs.” The man frisked Adam.
“My name is Adam Sterling. I’m—”
“Shut it.” The barrel of the automatic jabbed Adam in the back.
“—a friend of Byron’s and I’m standing in for him while he visits his brother.”
This eased the pressure from the pistol.
“Are you Carl?” Adam said.
“Byron didn’t mention he was taking a break.”
The pistol disappeared and Adam turned slowly, keeping his arms raised.
“Last minute decision. Can I lower my arms?”
“We’d better get after him.” Carl plunged through the exit and stood in the doorway, scanning the horizon.
“He’ll be long gone.”
“Shit!” He took a swing at the air and replaced the automatic in a shoulder holster.
“Who’s hurt?” Adam said.
“I’m not sure. I was having a piss and came straight down here. Shit!”
An excited voice called down the stairs. “Have you got him? The police are on the way.”
They made their way back to the top floor and followed a nervous nurse to the room containing Kate’s father. A trail of blood drops led from the door back into the room. Medics milled around a body on the floor and more people gathered around the bed. Adam searched for Kate. She stood behind the people surrounding the bed, a look of horror distorting her features.
CHAPTER 41
Manchester
Byron drove to Samuel’s wishing he were on the way home. He missed Louisa and the girls and he wasn’t sure he’d seen the back of Khan. Guys like him liked to get their hooks into you and once there… He told himself to stop worrying and slowed the car to take the corner into Samuel’s road. He didn’t want to arrive at his brother’s looking stressed.
Two cars sat on the drive and he parked behind a large SUV he guessed must be Samuel’s new car. The space for a wheelchair behind the driver’s seat and modified controls confirmed it. He rang the bell, wondering how Adam and Kate were getting on. The door opened and a grinning Louisa stood there. He froze for a long moment then a surge of joy propelled him forward and he seized her in an embrace.
Emitting sighs of pleasure, they held each other. His heart raced and for moments he remained oblivious to his surroundings. He inhaled the smell of her shampoo and perfume as he tried to absorb her warm body into his. Then he heard his daughters’ calls. He lowered Louisa to the floor and released her, crouching to catch them as they ran to him. Tears blurred his eyes as he smothered the girls in kisses.
“I invited a few others,” Samuel’s voice rumbled. “Hope you don’t mind.” His brother smiled from his chair, his wife and daughters flanking him.
Byron reached out and clasped his brother’s hand. “Too late if I do.” He winked, then rose to greet his sister-in-law and nieces, now grown into elegant young women.
The relief of seeing Louisa and the girls made the troubles of the last two weeks melt away and he sat at the kitchen table, listening to his daughters play with their cousins, while he caught up with his brother’s news. The sharp tone of his mobile silenced the conversation.
“Sorry.” He checked the caller display. Carl Ross. Had something gone wrong at the hospital? “I’ll have to take it.” Mouthing, “Sorry,” to Louisa he stepped into the hall and took the call.
“Carl?”
“Boss, can you get here?”
Carl’s tone made his insides tense. “What’s happened?”
“Someone’s stabbed Greg.”
“Shit! What about Oliver?”
Carl didn’t reply for a few moments. “Sorry, I focussed on dealing with the intruder, and when I came back there were medics everywhere. Greg looked in a bad way…”
“I’ll be straight over.”
After telling Louisa not to worry, he leaped in the car and drove off, almost catching the bumper on one of the gate posts. Greg had been with Byron’s firm a few years, ex-forces and a good man in a tight spot. He remembered meeting his pregnant wife at the last staff outing. “Shit!” He punched the dashboard and pushed the car, willing it to go faster as the big Volvo responded at its own pace.
The two mile drive to the hospital seemed to take an age. Eventually he saw the entrance and followed signs to the unit where they’d taken Oliver. Police cars with flashing lights clustered round the entrance. Byron abandoned the car and made his way to the entrance on foot. A small crowd stood to one side, watching the activity. Was the man who’d attacked Greg one of them? The hairs on his neck rose as he studied them. He should have asked Carl if he’d caught the intruder.
Inside, confusion reigned. Uniformed police and hospital staff mixed with visitors who asked questions in raised voices. Byron strode up to a sergeant and introduced himself.
“I’ll see if you can go up.” He turned away and spoke into a radio handset. After a short exchange, he gestured toward a pair of doors. “Stairs are through there, do you know where the ward is?”
Byron thanked him and took the stairs two at a time. He stepped out onto the second-floor corridor. Two armed policemen confronted him but, before he could introduce himself, Carl called out, “It’s okay, that’s my boss.”
Byron showed them identification and joined Carl. “So, what happened?”
“Greg got stabbed in the neck.”
“Where were you?”
“I went to the toilet. If you expect us to be here 24/7 you need to give me four more men. We’re struggling as it is.”
Byron held up a hand. “Yeah, I know. I’m not criticising you.”
“Right. When I got back, Greg lay on the floor, with a medic kneeling beside him. Somebody shouted that the attacker had gone down there.” He pointed at a door off the corridor. “I followed and caught up with… well I thought it was one of the intruders.”
“How many?”
“I thought two, but one’s your mate… Adam. And by the time I realised, the other guy got away.” Carl avoided his gaze. “Sorry, boss. You didn’t tell me he was coming.”
“So the attacker got away?”
Carl nodded.
“What about the client?” The thought of losing Oliver after all he’d been through made his skin tingle.
“He’s okay, Adam arrived before the guy could do anything.”
Byron took a deep breath, at least that was something. “Where’s Greg?”
“They’ve taken him to an operating theatre.” He led Byron through a maze of corridors to a nurse’s station.
She entered details on her keyboard and checked her monitor. “He’s in theatre now. I can’t really tell you anything apart from he’s in very good hands.”
Byron recognised the empty reassurance, but her expression told him the truth. He hadn’t lost a member of staff before. What could he tell the man’s wife? I persuaded your husband to do a babysitting job in Manchester and got him killed. He and Carl returned to the second floor in silence, each lost in his thoughts.
Kate watched Oliver’s chest rise and fall in time to the hiss of the ventilator. The nursing staff had changed the bloodstained bedding and gown and cleaned up the marks on the floor. Anger had replaced terror when she’d realised the blood wasn’t his. She was paying Byron to keep him safe. The rumble of his voice outside the door told her he’d returned and, releasing her father’s unresponsive hand, she joined him. He had his head near Adam’s and they spoke in low voices.
“How is he?” she said.
“They’ve operated and reckon he’ll pull through. He lost a lot of blood but fortunately the knife missed his carotid.” Byron looked to have aged.
“I’m sorry, does he have family?”
“His wife is on the way up with their five-week-old daughter.”
“Do you know what happened yet? I’m concerned the attacker got into the room.”
Byron turned to her. “Carl left him for less than five minutes.”
“But he left his post. I’m paying you to protect Dad.”
“You can’t have both men watch him 24/7.” Byron’s brows lowered. “We discussed this, and you were happy to have just two.”
“Yes, two who would keep Dad—”
“Greg put his life on the line, Kate,” Adam said. “None of us expected Zhang to turn up here. Bickering won’t help.”
Her anger drained. “Sorry, Byron, I’m worried about Dad.”
“Understandable.” He gave her a smile of sympathy. “I’ve spoken to the chief inspector who came earlier. They’re providing an armed guard, two men round the clock, and Carl’s also staying.”
“Thank you. Tell me if there’s anything I can do for Greg. I’ll get him a private room, and one for his family.”
“Don’t worry, I’ve sorted it, but thanks for the offer,” Byron said.
“What did the doctors say about Oliver?” Adam said.
“That’s good news. They’ve detected increased neural activity which suggests he’s recovering. They did a scan and, not only has the swelling gone, but there doesn’t seem to be any scarring.”
“Fantastic.” Adam beamed, making her insides flutter.
The consultant’s warning not to expect too much nagged at her, but Oliver was a fighter and wouldn’t give up. A figure appeared through the doors in the corridor and resentment mingled with guilt as Kate recognised her.
“Adam!” Siobhan ran to him. “Thank God you’re not hurt.”
Adam met her and swept her up in his arms. “Hey, I’m fine.” She clung to him and, after a few moments, he eased himself away. “Have they put you on this case?”
“No, but I heard a man with a knife attacked you. I expected to find you in a hospital bed.”
Adam laughed and kissed her. Kate glanced away, catching Byron’s gaze.
Adam separated from Siobhan. “One of Byron’s men scared him off.”
“How did he do that?”
Byron and Adam exchanged a look. “The guy realised he couldn’t take two of us.”
Siobhan turned to Kate. “He was trying to get at your dad?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry about doubting you when the man attacked you in your flat. I’ll speak to the chief constable and make sure we put a guard on you—”
“There’s no need, Chief Inspector. Byron’s taking care of me.”
Siobhan smiled at Byron. “He’ll be a match for any of our officers, and probably better than most, but a team—”
“One of your colleagues has sorted it,” Byron said.
Siobhan’s phone buzzed and, with an apology, she answered. “No, he’s fine… I’ll tell him… Thank you, see you later.” She ended the call and addressed Adam. “Martin sends his regards. I’m going to have to go back, seeing you’re unharmed.” After saying goodbye, she let Adam escort her out, the pair of them looking as if they belonged together. Kate’s breath caught as the sense of loss washed over her.
Siobhan’s words swirled around Adam’s head as he checked the spare room. It was the first time she’d told him she loved him and he wasn’t sure what to think. Kate had been more relaxed on the drive to her place, almost like she’d come to an accommodation. He wondered how long Byron would take to collect Greg’s family from the station and make sure they had everything they needed. The replacement patio doors looked capable of withstanding a determined attack. Someone had spent a serious amount on security. Besides the new gates, he’d spotted security cameras on the outside of the building.
Kate had the phone to her ear when he returned to the lounge. “How long ago?” She listened, eyes wide. “I’m on my way.” She ended the call. “We’ve got to go out, Adam.”
“Byron should be here—”
“There’s no time.” She threw on her jacket and rushed to the front door.
Adam followed; he’d hoped to get away and spend the evening with Siobhan. “Alarm,” he said, as Kate slammed the front door.
She hesitated a second then returned to set the alarm. They ran down the stairs, Adam keeping his curiosity in check until they reached the car. As they waited for the gates to open he said, “What’s the rush, is Oliver okay?”
Kate glanced at him, eyes brimming. “Simon, he’s been found—” a sob cut her off, and she dragged her sleeve across her eyes. “It looks like suicide.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Adam didn’t know what to say, but any gesture of sympathy would have to wait. She drove with a quiet intensity, overtaking everything in her path and racing through lights turning red. They drove south out of the city, passing the airport before leaving the motorway and entering a wealthy suburb Adam wasn’t familiar with. Large mansions surrounded by high walls bordered the tree-lined avenue and a blue light flashed outside a pair of open gates. Kate drove into the gateway, ignoring the uniformed officer who tried to stop her.
A police car, a van and an unmarked car stood on the gravel drive. The two-storey house with an attached garage looked new. Even though it was still bright outside, lights blazed from every window. Kate slewed to a stop, spraying gravel, then jumped out of the car, leaving the door open.
“Stop!” the policeman she’d passed shouted. Another advanced from the open door of the house.
Adam caught up with her and put a hand on her shoulder. “Kate, wait.”
“You can’t go in there, miss.”
She shook herself free. “I’m his sister.”
A large man in a rumpled suit appeared in the door. “Eddy!” Adam called.
“Adam. Ms Hetherington.” Eddy gave Kate a sympathetic smile. “It’s all right, Constable, let them in.”
“Right, Boss.”
Adam raised his eyebrows.
“Temporary, while they get a replacement for Siobhan.” Eddy led them into a wide hallway, bare apart from a bright rug on the tiled floor and a high-tech brushed steel hall-stand. A faint odour of tobacco hung in the background. “I’m sorry for your loss, Ms—”
“Where’s Simon?”
“They’ve removed the... an ambulance has taken him.” Blood suffused the policeman’s craggy features.
“What happened?” Kate’s voice sounded tight but her expression gave nothing away.
“A friend called round, they’d arranged to go for a meal. She couldn’t raise him and had a look round the back.” Eddy led them through the hallway into a large lounge. Two figures in white overalls stood inside the door packing equipment away. Bi-fold doors overlooking the back lawn faced the door into the room. One leaf stood open.
“We’re done, Eddy,” one of the white-suited figures said.
“Cheers, Tina.” Eddy walked to the centre of the room and stopped under a branched crystal chandelier hanging from a solid-looking hook in the ceiling four metres above the floor.
“He hung himself?” Kate said.
“Looks like it. We found a step-ladder and—”
“Simon wouldn’t do that, someone must have killed him.”
Eddy glanced at Adam. “That’s a possibility I can’t disregard, but he left a note.” He produced his notebook and read. “Sorry Kate, please forgive me.”
The blood drained from her face. “Where’s the note? I’d recognise his writing.”
