By Mark Peters
www.ponyboysplace.com
Authors Note:
This
is a fictional story which contains scenes depicting sexual acts between
males of different ages. To
all those who are reading this story on Nifty I encourage you to visit
their home page ( www.nifty.org ) and make Enjoy!
|
~ Chapter Thirteen ~
I
was woken by the irritating sound of something
squeaking, but couldn't think of what it might be, as
I was sure that there was nothing in my unit that would
make a noise like that. As
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around I realised,
however, that I wasn't at home; I was somewhere
entirely different. It was then that it dawned on me
that I wasn't even in a bed. I was sitting in a chair,
in a sterile looking room, alongside a teenage boy –-
who did happen to be in a bed –- and who was sitting
up and grinning at me. `Yeah,
it's about time you woke up,' Shane said to me.
`Fuck,
what time is it?' I groaned, while my aching body
protested as I went to sit up, so that I could check my
watch. It was only just past six in the morning, which
was an early start, especially for me.
`What's
wrong old man? Can't handle the pressure no more?' `I'll
give you a run for your money, punk . . . but just let
me iron out a few of these kinks and get myself a coffee
first,' I grumbled, as Shane grinned back at me. After
getting to my feet I did a few stretches, then perched
myself on the side of his bed, just as I had done the
night before. Shane looked up at me and smiled, but then
his face seemed to cloud over slightly, almost as if he
suddenly remembered why we were both here. `I'm
sorry about last night,' he said. `Don't
sweat it, mate. We all have our moments.' `Yeah
. . . but . . .' `Sshhh,'
I said. `It's okay to let things out every now and
then. It just shows we're all human. You've been
through a lot . . . you both have, so it's a perfectly
natural reaction.' `It
just seems so . . . what's the word . . . surreal, I
guess, that it's over and he's finally been locked
up.' `Yeah,
it is a bit.' `So,
what happens now? To him and, I guess, to me and
Jimmy?' Looking
at him sitting there, his cuts healing and his bruises
fading, it was easy to see the young man that was
emerging from boyhood. At times he looked to be little
more than a vulnerable kid, nervous and unsure of
himself, yet at other times what I could see was a
handsome lad with a quirky sense of humour, who was
really going to make a name for himself. It
was then that I realised that I had yet to call
Martin's parents last night, so I thought I had best
do that early this morning and make sure everything was
going to be okay. `Well,
mate, there's still a bit we have to do today, with
the first thing being that I just need to call some
friends of mine this morning and make sure it's okay
for you and Jimmy to stay with them for a little while.
At some stage today Jarvis will have a bail hearing, but
given the nature of what he's been up to we're
confident he'll be remanded in custody. After that, we
let the Police Prosecutor take over for the court
case.' `Where
are you going to take us?' `It's
a couple of hours' drive away. The place is right near
a beach, if that's any help. I'll let you know where
it is just as soon as we're on the way there,' I
said to him, before then lowering my voice and adding,
`I can't tell you straight away, just in case
someone we don't want to hear actually overhears us,
if you catch my meaning?' He
nodded his understanding. `In
the meantime, though, if there's anything else you can
remember that might help us with sealing the deal and
locking Jarvis up, that might be helpful.' `I've
actually been thinking about that,' he answered.
`Remember me telling you about Gus?' `Yeah,
of course.' `Well,
he was the one who sort of used to keep an eye on things
in the house and make sure everyone toed the line, coz
there wasn't anyone else who lived there with us, it
was just us kids. It could get pretty wild sometimes.
Anyhow, he also used to take us to see some of the
tricks when they booked us, know what I mean?' I
nodded, but didn't say anything. `If
you can find Gus then you should ask about the book that
he used to write everything down in for Jarvis . . . the
names of who we did, and when and where, and how much we
got. He had some sort of secret compartment for it in
his car. Jarvis used to look at it all the time to make
sure he wasn't being robbed or nothing. You find that,
you'll have everything you need, I reckon.' `I
suspect that you just may be right about that,' I
replied, as I quickly reached forward and put a hand
behind his neck, then pulled him closer and kissed his
forehead. I knew it was wrong, but what the heck, I
thought. `What
the fuck was that for?' he laughed. `Just
for being so awesome,' I replied. `You and your
boyfriend are amongst the bravest kids I know, and I
can't even begin to tell you how proud of you both
that I am.' `Thanks
Coop. I know that I ain't no hero, but it feels good
to know we helped.' `You
did more than just help, buddy. If it weren't for the
two of you being brave enough to speak up, there's no
way we would have been able to get what we have on him.
Hopefully now some of the others will talk to us as
well, and if they do it'll just be some more nails in
his coffin.' `Good!
I hope the bastard rots in hell!' `Now,
mate, I'm going to have to get going. I need a shower
and change of clothes before I head to the station.
Helen and I will be back sometime soon to talk to your
doctor about getting the clearance to bust you out of
here, okay. Then we'll whisk you and Jimmy away for a
while.' `Thanks
Coop; I can hardly wait,' he said, before quickly
throwing his arms around me and giving me a brief hug,
after which he let go of me and sat back, looking up at
me with what was almost an embarrassed expression on his
face. I
got to my feet and ruffled his hair, then said,
`I'll catch you later, kiddo.' *
*
* After
a quick cab ride back to my unit, grabbing a shower and
change of clothes, I decided it was late enough to give
Martin's parents, Beth and Tom, a call.
Tom
picked up on the first ring and we went through the
usual greetings and catch up, although I suspect that
Beth would have filled him on what I had been up to. `So,
Beth tells me you need a safe house for a couple of
kids,' he stated. For as long as I had known him he
had always been one to come straight to the point. `Errr,
yeah,' I answered. `They're witnesses in a case
we're working at the moment. The offender was arrested
yesterday, but we were just hoping to get the kids out
of the way for a little while.' `They're
not in any sort of trouble are they?' `No.
They've actually been helping us. But before you say
anything you really do need to know their full story . .
. I don't want to keep anything from you . . .' `I
appreciate that, son,' he replied. For
the next few minutes I proceeded to tell him the boys'
story . . . or as much as I knew of it, culminating in
Shane's bashing, Jimmy's calling us, and what had
happened with Jarvis. I also explained the situation
about how they might be in danger if anyone knew where
they were. That also had the potential to place both Tom
and Beth in jeopardy as well, but at least if I could
get the boys out of the city the chances of anyone being
able to find them would be extremely remote at best. I
knew it was a lot for him to take in, as well as risk,
but I also knew that both he and his wife weren't the
type of people who would turn their backs on someone in
need. In fact, I was actually counting on that. `How
old did you say these kids were?' `About
sixteen. They've both had it pretty tough for the past
few years, and neither knew how they would ever get out
of the cycle that their life seemed to have been
enveloped within. But they've both got good heads on
their shoulders and seem willing to break free of their
past. Shane is still in the hospital and under police
guard, but Jimmy has been helping in the garden with the
women he's being cared for by at the moment. They say
he's been a huge help.' `Well,
that sounds like they're good kids . . . maybe just in
need of some help and guidance, perhaps.' `Yes.
There's also one other thing I haven't mentioned
yet.' `Which
is?' `They're
boyfriends. I don't know if it's just the fact that
they came together under the circumstances they were in
and grew to depend on each other, or if it's something
deeper . . . I suspect it might be a combination of both
. . . but right now they need each other, and the last
thing I want to see happen is for them to be torn apart
by going into the foster system.' There
was a silence on the line for a few moments, as he
mulled things over in his mind, but just as I was about
to say something he said, `I understand totally, Rick.
You know we've never been ones to stand in the way of
young love, so we'd be happy to have them stay for a
while.' `Thank
you, Tom. That means so much to me.' `You're
welcome. Now, Beth said there was something else you
wanted to talk to us both about? Something about
Martin?' Now
it was my turn to go silent for a few moments. `Rick?' `Yeah,
I'm still here. Look, I wanted to tell you in person,
but you really should know. The long and the short of it
is that something happened this week that has brought it
all flooding back, well for me at least. There might be
a new lead in the case. My new police partner and I are
going to be looking back over everything, with our
Inspector's approval, and while I don't want any of
us to get our hopes up just yet, this could be the first
significant lead the police have had.' `That's
fantastic news. We've been waiting so long. But what
was it that happened? Can you say?' `Not
just at the moment. But I still would like to sit down
with the two of you and talk through it, if that's all
right . . . and . . .' `And
what?' `I
. . . ummm . . . I'd like to take a look through
Martin's things again, and possibly his computer . .
.' `Anything
you need, Rick. His room is . . .' As
far as I knew, Martin's room had not been touched in
five years, apart from a couple of times I had been in
there and had lain on his bed, or taken a look through
his wardrobe, trying
to remember his scent, trying to recapture whatever
essence I could find of the boy that I loved. The hurt
was still there, every time I thought about him, and I
knew that it would be there too for both Tom and Beth;
even more so. I
could hear by the tone in his voice that things were
still quite raw, but I also knew he would do whatever he
was asked, or give whatever was needed. I gave him all
the time he needed as he came to terms with my request. He
sniffed, then eventually said, `Whatever you need is
yours Rick . . . that goes without saying really. When
can we expect you?' `How
about we make it this afternoon, after you've finished
work? I'm going to be needed here for a bail hearing
today, then we'll pick the boys up and head north.' `Come
any time. I think I might take the day off now anyhow,
so just give us a call when you're on your way. And
Rick . . .' `Yes?' `You
do know that what's in the past is sometimes best left
there, don't you?' he asked quietly. `Yes,
Tom, that might be true, but when it comes bouncing back
into the present and bites me on the arse, threatens me,
or people I care about, I can't sit back and just do
nothing. If nothing else, I owe it to Martin to find who
killed him, and now that I'm a position to be able to
do something about that I'll do whatever I can to see
it through. I'll see you and Beth this afternoon.' *
* * Before
I left my unit I also quickly called Adam and caught him
already in traffic, on his way to the office. `Hey,
babe. How are you this morning? Get everything sorted
out last night?' he enquired. `Yeah,
it's all good,' I answered. `It's going to be a
busy day though.' `Yeah,
I know that feeling,' he laughed. We chatted for a
couple of minutes, before then disconnecting and I
hurried off toward the nearby bus stop, so I could take
the short trip to Bondi railway station. Helen
was waiting for me in the squad room at the station when
I arrived, which was a little after nine. `Did
we enjoy our sleep in this morning?' she teased. `Not
entirely. I was woken at about six by the sound of a
squeaking wheel on a hospital trolley.' `Hospital?' `Yeah
. . . I went and saw Shane last night,' I admitted.
`We talked for half the night and I ended up falling
asleep on a chair in his room.' `Well,
hopefully he'll be out of there today. How did you go
with Martin's parents? Are they prepared to take them
in?' `Yes,
it's all good. I spoke with Tom this morning and
they're expecting us sometime today. I said we would
pick up the boys after the hearing and let them know
when we're on the road.' `That
sounds like a plan. How about we go and bust Shane out
of there first thing this morning and drop him around to
Cathy's, so he can get reacquainted with his
boyfriend? Then we can pick them up from there later on
and hit the road.' `I
think they'd both like that,' I replied. It
was just then that the Inspector came into the squad
room. He was smiling, which for some reason made me
nervous. `Good
morning you two,' he chirped. `I've just had word
that the bail hearing has been set for eleven this
morning, and I want you to both be there. The good news
is, it's in front of Judge Price, and she has a
reputation of not going too easy on the perps when it
comes to these types of cases. I think we're going to
have a good day.' `I
like the sound of that,' Helen remarked. `I've
also spoken with `We've
called in some help, sir. So, yes, everything should
come together in time,' Helen said. `Excellent.
Excellent. Well, keep up the good work, you two. It
looks like you pair have the makings of quite a team.' `Thank
you, sir,' we chorused, as he retired to his office,
leaving Helen and me looking at each other with
expressions of amusement on our faces. `I
guess that means I better try and call Jimmy Tan and
Elvira again, to see where they are up to with it?'
she said quietly, once the boss was out of earshot. `Did
you try them yesterday afternoon?' `Yeah.
Elvira said she was tied up and would call me back, but
I couldn't get hold of Jimmy, just his voicemail.
I'll try him again this morning.' I
nodded, but I didn't say anything, as a somewhat
uneasy feeling began creeping into the pit of my
stomach. `Come
on then, how about we go and re-unite the love birds
while we've got the chance, then it will be about time
for us to head to court.' I
followed Helen out the door and to the lift, then down
to the lower level parking, before arriving at her car. `You've
gone quiet,' she remarked as she unlocked the doors.
`What's on your mind?' `Oh,
it's nothing,' I answered, even if I wasn't quite
convinced of that myself. She
looked across the roof of the car and studied me for a
moment, before shaking her head, opening the door and
climbing in. In
hardly any time at all we made it to the hospital and
found a parking space close by, before making our way up
to Shane's room, where an ever-present police guard
was on duty. It was one that we had seen on duty a
couple of times previously, although a different guard
to the one I had seen this morning. As we approached he
stood up. `Good
morning constable,' Helen said as we paused at the
door. `Good
morning ma'am, sir,' he said to us. `It seems that
someone inside here thinks he's being released today,
is that right?' he asked, while cocking a thumb toward
the door to Shane's room. `That's
the plan,' Helen replied. `He's caused us enough
grief, so we're shipping him out.' `Hey,
I heard that!' bellowed a voice coming from the depths
of the room. `Well,
you know it's true,' I called back. `Maybe we
should just drag you out of here and turn you over to
that Jimmy character for a while. I hear he takes real
good care of kids like you.' `What?
No . . . you wouldn't . . . would you?' Shane
exclaimed, at which I noticed the young constable's
eyes just about jumped out of his skull, before I left
them and walked into Shane's room. `You
can relax, constable,' I heard Helen say, trying to
smooth things out, before they truly got out of hand.
`Jimmy is his, let's say, accomplice. We're taking
them both into protective custody, at least until the
conclusion of this case. The two of them will be able to
drive someone else up the wall for a while.' `So,
if there's another one like this one; do the new
babysitters know what they've let themselves in
for?' the constable chuckled. `I
somehow doubt it,' Helen replied. When
I entered the room Shane was still lying on the bed,
wearing his hospital issue pyjamas, but I did notice
that his clothes were ready for him to change into,
hanging on a coat-hanger on the side of the cupboard
beside his bed. `Is
this really going to happen, Coop?' Shane quietly
asked me. `Just
as soon as we've got clearance from your doctor, pal.
Everything is arranged, so provided you've got the all
clear, we'll get you out of here and take you over to
where Jimmy is staying, so the two of you can catch up.
Then we'll get you both out of the city this
afternoon.' `I
still can't believe this is happening . . . it's
just . . .' `Yeah,
mate. I know,' I said to him. Just
then Helen came into the room and told us she was going
in search of Shane's doctor, while also telling Shane
it might be a good idea for him to have a quick shower
before he left, if that was possible. `Yeah,
okay,' replied, then rang the buzzer for a nurse,
while Helen hurried out on her errand. `Can't
you shower on your own?' I asked. `Not
very well. It still hurts to do a lot of things. Why? Do
you wanna come and scrub my back for me, or
something?' he smirked. `Hell
no!' I exclaimed. `You're still jailbait, kiddo.
And besides, I wouldn't want to piss Jimmy off . . . he'd have my balls
for breakfast!' As
we were both still laughing a young male nurse came into
the room and asked what was wrong. As Shane told him
what he needed I glanced at his name badge, which read
Nick. I also noticed him looking me up and down and so I
winked at him. He smiled in return, before turning his
attention back to Shane. `So,
a shower, eh? Are you going to behave yourself this
time?' `Yeah,
bro. I'm going to see my guy, so I've got to be good
today. Gotta save it all up . . . you know what I mean .
. . so there won't be no need to wash the walls down
again today' Shane teased. `Oh,
sweet Jesus,' I whispered. `You didn't, did
you?' Shane
could only grin at me. `And
I only turned my back for a minute too,' Nick giggled.
`Ahhh, to be sweet sixteen again!' I
had no idea what to say to that, and so, shaking my head
and chuckling to myself, with my mind filled with a
vision that I'd best not share with anyone, I walked
back out into the corridor to talk to the constable on
guard, while Shane gathered his belongings and came out
to shuffle down the hall to the shower, accompanied by
the lucky nurse. `He
going for a shower?' a deep female voice asked from
just behind me. `Yeah.
Shouldn't be too long,' I replied, as I turned to
find Helen standing there. `Good.
The Doc will be here in fifteen minutes or so. He rang
through to the nurse's station when they paged him and
they let me talk to him. Everything is good to go.' `That's
great. If he stays in here any longer we may have to
charge him with lewd conduct!' Helen
raised her eyebrows at me. `It's
probably best you don't know,' I simply replied. *
*
* The
doctor arrived about fifteen minutes later, just as
Shane and Nick returned from the shower. Shane's dark,
damp hair was uncombed, though patted down in a
haphazard way, while beads of water still clung to his
body, which could be seen as his pyjama top had remained
unbuttoned. As
Helen and the doctor started chatting about him he sat
on the bed and pulled off his top, then took the towel
and continued drying himself. Fading bruises could be
seen on his body and I figured that within a week or so
there would be no physical trace of the damage that had
been done to him. All that would remain would be any
lingering mental scars, although I suspected that once
he had returned to the loving arms of Jimmy even those
would soon be nothing but distant memories. `Yes,
yes,' I heard the doctor say to Helen. `He's
making excellent progress and I see no reason at all why
he can't be released today. What do you think, Shane?
Do you feel up to facing the world again?' `Too
bloody right,' he replied. `No offence, Doc, but
being stuck in here would drive a bleedin' saint
crazy!' `No
offence taken, lad. Now how about you finish dressing
while Detective Wheeler and I go and complete your
discharge paperwork?' After
they left the room there was just the three of us
remaining, but then Nick said, `I'll go find a
wheelchair so we can wheel you out of here.' `I
don't need no wheelchair,' Shane replied, with great
indignance. `Actually,
honey, you do. Rules are rules, even for tough punks
like you,' Nick replied, before he too left the room,
closing the door behind him as he did so. I had to admit
that I was beginning to like this guy. In
one swift action, and before I'd even had a chance to
react, Shane pulled down his pyjama bottoms and threw
them on the bed. `Oh,
Jesus kid. You don't waste any time, do you?' I
joked. `There's
only the quick and the dead around here,' he blurted
out in reply, but then seemed to realize what it was he
had said and added, `Errr . . . you know what I
mean.' `Yeah,
mate. I think I do.' He
was standing there in front of me, totally naked, and I
couldn't help but give him the once-over. He noticed,
of course, and grinned. `Like
what you see?' he teased, while giving his (uncut)
junk a bit of attention. `Well,
I'll say this much: that Jimmy sure is a lucky
bastard,' I replied, while trying my best to keep any
and all impure thoughts at bay. `Not
half as lucky as I am though,' he stated, while
picking up his cleaned boxer shorts and pulling them on,
before adding a clean, but rather daggy pair of jeans,
complete with rips in the legs, and then topping the
outfit off with a faded t-shirt. Now dressed in his
usual clothes he sat down on the bed and began pulling
on some socks, while I opened up the door. Moments
later Helen and the doctor returned, finding a fully
dressed Shane standing by the bed, while I was sitting
on the same chair that I had spent the night in. They
were closely followed by our friendly nurse, pushing an
empty wheelchair. `Okay
then, lad, we're all set,' the doctor cheerily
remarked. `You are now in the custody of the New South
Wales Police Force, at least until such times as they
see fit to turn you loose on society once more.' `What
does that mean?' Shane asked, turning to me. `It
means a judge has given us protective custody of you, so
we can keep you safe until Jarvis' trial is over,' I
replied. `And
after that?' `You're
a free man.' `Really?
I kind of like the sound of that. And I can be with
Jimmy?' `Yes,
mate. You can be with him. And then you can find a new
job and pay your taxes and be miserable, just like the
rest of us are!' I suggested. `Fuck
that!' Shane spat, which only earned him a smack up
the back of the head from Helen, who just happened to be
the one standing closest to him. `Oi!
What was that for?' he demanded. `Watch
your language, punk. You've got us to answer to
now!' Helen scolded. `Shi-i-te,
you're worse than me mother!' `Oh
baby, you have no idea!' Helen cooed, as the rest of
us could both only laugh. With
Shane now safely in our care we thanked his doctor, who
then left us, then I turned to Nick. `Okay,
I think it's time we took this guy off your hands, and
wheeled him out the door,' I said. `Be
my guest,' he replied. `Do you think you'll be
able to get him into the chair?' `Nah,
that's your job,' I answered. Flashing
us a wicked grin Nick then turned on Shane, who
instinctively stepped back, quickly coming up against
the bed and finding himself unable to get any further
away. `W-what
are you going to do?' Shane asked, almost fearfully. `Are
you going to behave?' Nick coolly asked. `What
if I don't?' In
a flash Nick's hand connected with Shane's ear.
`Owwwwww . . .' the kid said. `In
cases like this one, where I can't twist an arm up
behind their back, mostly because of other injuries, I
find that this method usually works well enough,' said
Nick. `So, my precious, all you've got to do is sit
that pretty little butt of yours in this here
wheelchair, and you'll be out of here in minutes.' `Orrright
. . . orright . . . orright,' Shane pleaded.
`Anything you say!' `That's
a good boy!' Nick whispered into his ear, while Helen
and I both looked on in amusement. With
Nick still holding onto his ear, Shane was maneuvered
around to where he could sit himself down, then he was
gently pushed backwards until he found himself backing
up against the chair. When his legs touched it, aided by
another gentle push from Nick, he overbalanced and
clumsily dropped onto it, just as Nick let go of him at
the same time. `There.
That wasn't too hard, was it?' Nick asked, as a
furious Shane looked up at him and vigorously rubbed at
his ear. `You're
a bastard!' Shane spat. `Oh,
is that the best you can do, honey? I've been called
lots of worse things than that!' Shane
glanced up at Helen, and then at me, and I'm sure he
was about to say something, but very wisely chose to
remain silent. `Okay
then, now that we've got that all sorted out, how
about we wheel you out of here, so these nice police
officers can continue doing their job?' Nick stated,
then immediately started pushing the wheelchair out the
door and down the corridor, in the direction of the main
entrance. Helen
and I followed behind and I could see that the two of
them were talking, with Nick leaning in close to Shane
as if to try and hear something the boy was saying. I
couldn't quite make out what was said, but could have
almost sworn that the word cunt
was thrown about in there somewhere. They were both
laughing, however, so I figured that all was well that
ended well. `What
do you think all that's about?' Helen asked as she
nudged me with her elbow. `Probably
another one of those things that falls into the it's
probably best you don't know category,' I simply
replied. *
*
* It
wasn't long before we reached the entrance to the
hospital, where, once we were outside Shane would be
officially in our care. Just
as we approached the sliding front doors I noticed Shane
put up his hand and tug on the sleeve of Nick's shirt. `What's
up?' I heard Nick ask his young charge as they stopped
in their tracks. Shane twisted in the chair and looked
back toward Helen and me. `That's
them two coppers,' he said, while pointing outside.
`The ones who kept coming around and creeping me
out.' We
looked out through the glass, where I could two men
walking toward the entrance, although they were still a
little way off. There was no mistaking that it was
Azzopardi and Ryan. `Fuck,
I wonder what the hell they are up to?' I heard Helen
curse. `What
I'm wondering is what they'll get up to once they
find Shane isn't here any more?' I remarked. Helen
glanced my way and it wasn't difficult to tell she was
concerned. `We
need to get the hell out of here,' she said. `And it
needs to be before they see us.' I
quickly looked around us to see if there was anywhere we
could go where we wouldn't be spotted. On one side of
the foyer we were in there was a reception area and
offices, while on the other side there were toilets, a
baby change room and a cafeteria. `Helen,
I think you need to use the rest room,' I said. `And
while you're in there Nick and I will change the
baby.' Helen
nodded grimly, while Nick said, `What?' clearly not
understanding just what was going on. `Just
follow my lead please Nick, and I'll explain all in a
few minutes,' I urged. As
our colleagues came closer Helen hurried us away. Nick
wheeled Shane into the baby change room and I followed,
while Helen headed for the Ladies room. I stopped the
door from closing completely, just keeping it open a
crack so that I could see the entrance and see when
Azzopardi and Ryan came into the building. `So,
now do you want to tell me what's going on?' Nick
demanded. `To
put it as simply as I can, those two are cops, but
we're pretty sure they bat for both sides. They've
been keeping tabs on Shane while he's been in here and
we're not exactly sure why. So, the longer we can keep
Shane out of their way, the happier we'll be.' He
looked from me to Shane and back again. `You're
serious, aren't you?' he asked. `Abso-fucking-lutely,'
I replied, while still watching the door. `These guys
are suspected of getting up to some pretty serious
mischief, so the less contact they have with pretty boy
here, the better.' Just
then I noticed the front doors slide open and the two of
them arrogantly stroll in, looking as if they were kings
of the world. As I watched them they didn't look
around at all, they simply walked through the foyer,
disappearing down the corridor. `Okay,
time to move,' I said to my two companions. `And
Shane, I think we can probably ditch the chair for the
last twenty yards to the front door, don't you?' `Hell
yeah. Just get me out of here,' he replied, before
turning to Nick. `Thanks man,' he said, `it's
been good.' `Anytime
pal. Stay out of trouble, eh?' Nick said, as he gave
Shane a quick hug. `We'll
see,' Shane chuckled. I
opened the door and stepped out into the foyer, then
crossed over to where I could look down the long
corridor. I could see Azzopardi and Ryan still walking
down its length, although they were almost at the point
where they would turn into another corridor and
disappear from view, which they did a few moments later. Turning
back toward where we had been hiding I saw Helen, Shane
and Nick all gathered outside the doors to the toilets. `They've
gone,' I said to them. `I think it's time we blew
this joint.' Reaching
out to Nick I shook his hand, offering my thanks, then
the three of us headed for the door, leaving him
standing there with the wheelchair. *
*
* `What
are you going to do now?' Shane asked us, sounding
quite concerned as we started to descend the front
steps. `When
they get to the room and find him gone, they'll come
searching,' Helen said to me. `And if he's out of
the hospital they might not be too worried about what
they have to do to keep him quiet, especially if they
really are on Jarvis' payroll.' `We
can't afford to let them see Shane, and we especially
can't afford to let them see where we take him,' I
offered. `How about we grab a cab, right now, while
they're still in there. They won't see us and
won't be able to follow. Then we'll come back later
for your car. Chances are they will have had to have
parked near to it as well, so even if they do come out
while we're catching a cab it'll take them a while
to get their car, so that should give us a head good
start.' `Good
idea,' Helen replied. `The taxi rank is just along
there,' she added, while pointing down the road.
`Let's go.' The
three of us hurried down the road and thankfully found a
cab waiting, so we bundled ourselves inside. Helen gave
the driver the address of Cathy's place and we were
soon on our way.
To be continued... |
Authors Note: |