Hope Never Dies Read online

  Kingsly watched and waited, trying to clarify to himself when the best time would be to make a hit. He surmised that Davies now knew that the money still existed and was making an effort to retrieve it for himself. He had to take them out if he had any chance at all of the money. It was reasonably safe to assume that everyone, and by that, he meant his colleagues, would expect him by now to be back in Manchester and if necessary, he could arrange an alibi. He watched and waited but he was unable to hear much of the conversations that were being held. Body language was playing a large part and he could see that Chen and White were terrified, whilst Reed and the other guy whose name he could not recall, were enjoying themselves. They even had White tied up.

  Suddenly, the French windows were pushed open and Chen was pushed out, immediately followed by her two captors who pushed her towards the jetty. Shit, thought Kingsly, they’re going to drown her. He acted immediately.

  CHAPTER 35

  He aimed accurately and hit Ellwood in the leg. He watched him fall on the jetty and scream in agony. He smiled to himself. Another scumbag biting the dust, he thought, although he knew that Ellwood would survive this shot. He saw Reed push Chen to the ground and run back into the house. The girl soon picked herself up and dashed back into the house. Almost immediately, he saw all the house lights being extinguished. He waited about fifteen minutes or so before going for another reconnaissance around the house. He could not decipher anything through the darkness and so he had no alternative. He had to smoke them out, as it were.

  *

  Reed took out a knife from his waistband and making as little noise as possible, he opened the French window, stepping out very quietly whilst still watching Kingsly hovering over Ellwood. He would be able to run at him in just a few seconds giving Kingsly no time to react. He poised himself to do just that but at that very moment, an extraordinarily loud sound, akin to the wailing of a Banshee, disturbed the tranquillity of the night. Both Kingsly and Reed suddenly looked up, Kingsly finding his gun, but having no time to do anything with it before Ned White, for all his years, ran blindingly quickly at Reed, arms still handcuffed behind his back, and aimeed a full drop-kick into Reed’s midriff, connecting perfectly. The sheer heavy impact of the collision overbalanced Reed and he was knocked against the wooden guardrail on the decking, which immediately gave way, causing him to fall directly into the lake.

  Kingsly looked helplessly on. The place looked more like the aftermath of a terrorist attack, one man (Ellwood) lying helplessly on the jetty with a bullet wound in his leg, another man (White) lying further up the decking near to the house, moaning and not being able to move, a young woman (Chen) apparently administering to him with yet another man (Reed) screaming from somewhere below in the lake. However, Kingsly had to think quickly. He had to gain the confidence of Chen and White, he had to think of an excuse to get Reed away and without revealing that he was ever here. The latter was going to be difficult as only he and White could possibly have shot the thug and it was unlikely that White would ever agree to admit to that. Before he could come to any sort of an answer, Kim and Ned had produced a rather large torch and were scouring the lake for Reed, who could be seen hauling himself out of the lake some thirty yards away. Kingsly approached Kim and handed her the gun

  “Keep it pointed at Reed,” he instructed, pointing at the man emerging from the lake. Kim had not had any experience of guns but chose not to argue the matter now considering the gravity of the situation. Kingsly got hold of Reed and pushed him towards his colleague. He turned his back on Kim and Ned before speaking to them quietly and firmly.

  “Right you two, I’ve now got you for kidnapping, attempted rape, theft and false imprisonment and I’m sure I could come up with plenty more given more time.” He paused. “Get your mate sorted out and clear off now. Tomorrow I shall be coming after you, so get your arses out of here now” Neither of them argued, Reed helped Ellwood to his feet amidst shouts and profanities from the latter. They both hobbled towards their car. Kingsly watched them go and disappear out of sight before returning to the cottage in his own car. He was greeted with the sight of the two of them sat in the lounge on the settee. Ned was still naked but Kim had slipped on a sweater and the jeans from the bedroom. Ned’s hands were still encumbered by the handcuffs. Kingsly went to his car and brought out a large pair of cutters, freeing Ned easily. Ned thanked him for what he had done for them. Kim was deep in thought and Ned decided to make some more tea. The kettle started to boil and he poured the water into three mugs containing teabags and took them into the lounge. No sooner had they sat down, when Kingsly began to speak,

  “You know why they were here, don’t you”

  They both looked blankly at him.

  “Come on, you two, don’t be so flaming naïve. Everyone knows that blank pieces of paper were hurled off the mountain, and that, Mr White, puts you totally back in the frame for the possession of stolen money, if not theft. That is something that you have clamed not to know anything about for the last for the last few days. It could only have been you who swapped the money and you had to be fully aware of what you were doing.”

  It was Kim, who spoke “Look inspector”

  “Sergeant”

  “Look sergeant, we have just gone through a very harrowing and terrifying experience. It is not appropriate at this time to be questioning us. We have agreed to go to the police station tomorrow and we shall make a full statement then.”

  “Admitting that you stole the money”

  “We are admitting no such thing, either now or tomorrow”

  “The evidence is now such is that you are likely to be charged with possession of stolen goods if not the theft itself” Kingsly watched their impassive faces. He continued, changing his tone significantly,

  “Look, help me a little and I can really help you. I know that you did not steal any money. I believe Neil Haslam did. Talk to me unofficially, come clean and it may well be that there will be no charges to answer”

  “Go outside and make sure those bastards have not returned” she replied. He smiled, and knowing the reason for this, rose from his seat and left the room. As soon as he left, she said to Ned

  “We said earlier that we would tell them the truth about the money. We’ve nothing to lose by telling him now, particularly if it’s off the record, although nothing is really off the record with them. I say that we tell him now, with the proviso that if he turns awkward, our statements tomorrow or later today will reflect that.”

  Ned agreed with her, his usual stance when Kim was adamant about something. He attempted to raise himself off the settee but winced at the pain coming from his back and hips

  “Are you all right, Ned?”

  “Yeh, I’m okay. It’s just that doing drop kicks and landing on your back is not particularly recommended for old farts like me”

  He went into the bedroom and soon returned dressed in a blue t-shirt and white shorts. He moved towards the door very gingerly and watched Kingsly returning. He resumed his seat after some further painful manoeuvres. Kim sat next to him with Kingsly sitting on the other main chair. Kim began to deliberate

  “What we are going to tell you is the truth and the whole story over the last few days. We are talking to you in a total unofficial capacity and depending upon the reaction that we receive we reserve our right to refuse to make any sort of statement. And you know of course that I am a solicitor”

  Kingsly replied in a very conciliatory manner “I understand what you are saying and if what I think has happened is correct, then I don’t think there is anything to worry about.”

  Ned continued,

  “We have the money safe in a bank as you know. We put it there because we were confused and frightened by all these unscrupulous bastards who were coming after us and threatened us” Ned poured out the story to him, how two bags had come to mixed up in the restaurant, their s
urprise when they found the money, their horror at Kim’s car being broken into, how Haslam had come to their apartment, threatened them and had them followed the following morning, and that the police had suspected them of robbing a company, that they had never heard of. They felt that they had no alternative but to flee for a day or two. They were surprised that they had been found at the top of a mountain and realised that if they could be found in such a remote spot, then they really had nowhere to run.

  Kingsly listened intently with interrupting. Now he knew how these two hapless beings became involved and whilst they were guilty of numerous crimes, they would have to take the gamble with his colleagues. He knew now how to play the next few hours.

  “What you have told me” he said, “simply confirms that you have been the innocents in this all along. If you can show some goodwill by handing in the money before your interview later this morning, it will auger well for both of you”

  He paused for a short while before continuing.

  “Those two man who were here earlier are two henchmen for a vicious villain in Manchester”

  “Yes, we know, Neil Haslam.”

  “No, not Haslam but a man called Theodore Davies, Vic for short. We think Haslam was working for Davies. Do you want to report the incident? It might be better for you if you didn’t and then they will not have any real reason for coming after you. It’ll be me that they want and I can look after myself with both them and Davies. God knows how Davies will react when he learns that two of his trusted men have been sent packing with their tails between their legs, with various degrees of injuries. You know, I take it that you aware that the man on the mountain was also one of Davies’ men and he is in hospital with a broken leg.”

  Kim and Ned decided to take Kingsly’s advice. Kingsly reminded them that they should not mention it or of his visit at the interview tomorrow. Tiredness was now catching up on Kim and Ned and they simply nodded.

  “I think we should rest now for what remains of the night and regroup tomorrow morning to finalise plans. I’ll stay here just in case Mr Reed and his mate should return”

  Kim made no resistance when Ned followed her into the bedroom and they both almost collapsed into their respective sides of the bed. There was no attempt at any foreplay by either of them and they both fell into a somewhat fitful sleep.

  In the living room, Kingsly made himself comfortable on the settee, but sleep was far from his mind. His plans were about to come to fruition.

  CHAPTER 36

  It was Ned’s intention to be up the first and prepare breakfast for the three of them, so that Kim could have something of a lie-in. However, when he awoke he noticed that she had gone. He found her in the kitchen making toast and coffee with Kingsly watching. He joined them as they all sat round the kitchen table with their food and drink. Kingsly was the first to speak, and after the usual pleasantries, he said

  “This is the plan, if you want to change any of it then please say so. We all travel into Kendal this morning and retrieve the money from the bank before your interview with Inspector Parker and Constable Beaumont. You may have to ring them to delay coming into the station, say that you’re not feeling well or something. And we can be at the bank as soon as it opens”

  These plans were agreed and they were soon ready to leave. Arrangements went to plan and they collected the money from the bank without any ensuing problems. Kingsly was quick to take possession of the money with almost indecent haste. He told Kim and Ned that he would meet them back at the nick and they should drive straight there. They entered their respective cars and Kingsly watched them leave in the direction of Windermere and Ambleside.

  *

  On arrival at the police station they were ushered into the interview room that was used the previous evening. Howard Parker and Hannah Beaumont entered almost immediately. It was Parker who opened the discussions

  “Whilst this interview is defined that you are helping us with our enquiries and will be treated by us as unofficial, you may if you so wish, have a solicitor present”

  Kim replied “Thank you but may I remind you once again that I am a solicitor and whilst I cannot officially act as one, I can certainly advise and will if necessary. What I would like to say is that we are going to truthfully appraise you of the situation since Friday. Where our actions seem to be somewhat unusual and questionable, it is because that we were not thinking straight due to the traumatic and terrifying circumstances that has confronted us”

  Spoken like a true solicitor, thought Ned and immediately regretted thinking it because it sounded so patronising. He related the story, just as he had earlier this morning to Kingsly, leaving very little out and was uninterrupted until almost the end when he told the policemen that the money was now in the hands of Sergeant Kingsly, who, by now, should have arrived at the police station with it.

  “Will you please excuse us for a moment?” asked Parker. He gestured Hannah to leave the office with him.

  “I thought Kingsly was back in Manchester last night” he said to Hannah

  “So did I! You told him to go”

  “Then why was he in Kendal this morning? No need to answer, I think we all know. Check up to see if he has reported here this morning, I’ll be in Dan Bishop’s office”. They went their separate ways. Parker had not been in Bishop’s office very long when Hannah burst in.

  “He’s not reported here this morning, and he had not contacted anyone in Manchester. Nobody has seen him since he was at the bank with Chen and White.”

  “Confirm with those two exactly what he did and where he went. Dan” continued Parker, “can you put an immediate call out to see if he has been sighted?”

  “Right away”. He left the office.

  Hannah reported back that Chen and White left the bank first and Kingsly had told them that he would be right behind them on their way here. They say that they never saw any sign of him following them!”

  “It looks as though he’s got away with it. Get on to our nick, Hannah and get them to watch for Kingsly. It’s my guess that he’ll be heading somewhere in the city”

  He went back to the interviewing room. With a stern and serious voice he said,

  “I want to know all your dealings and conversations with Sergeant Kingsly from the moment you left Manchester on Saturday morning and don’t leave anything out”

  They repeated what they had previously said.

  Parker boomed at them “Don’t fart around with me. I want to know how Kingsly knew you would be at the bank this morning.”

  Neither Kim nor Ned spoke.

  “Look, you two, it would appear that Kingsly has now disappeared with the money and if you don’t co-operate

  and tell me the truth, it is likely that you will be charged with the theft of the money, God knows, we have enough to charge you”

  Kim looked at Ned, resigned to their fate and told him to tell of the events of last night. Ned did so leaving nothing out. Parker informed them that there would have to be a further interview primarily relating to the activities of Sergeant Kingsly but arrangements would be made when they were home. Once outside the police station and in their car, Kim leant back in the passenger seat and said

  “Let’s just go home”

  “You seem to forgetting one thing. This is not our car. Leave it with me” He made a phone call to the car rental company and received authority to hand in the car at Manchester Airport, where they would pick up Kim’s Audi. They bought some sandwiches and bottled water to consume on the journey. They chose to drive straight down the M6 motorway as it might be less congested, than the Manchester Motorway Ring. When making that decision they were unaware of the queue of standing traffic on the M6, after the M61 junction and had no chance to reroute. Eventually the queue moved slowly past a horrendous accident involving a lorry with a Polish registration and a grey Ford Mon
deo, both of which were in flames, together with the flashing lights of police cars, ambulances and two fire engines. Kim and Ned looked in horror as they drove slowly passed sympathising for the poor souls who may have perished in that accident.

  CHAPTER 37

  After watching Kim and Ned leave for Ambleside, Kingsly headed south towards the M6. His intention was to go directly to Manchester Airport and catch the first flight to Spain or some equally warm destination. He considered other airports where there was a better likelihood of him not being recognised but flight frequency would probably be considerably less. His plan had paid off and he was elated. However, he failed to notice a nondescript BMW and a Nissan Qashqai following him and trailing him down the motorway.

  *

  Davies, whose main rise to notoriety was recriminations and retribution, had unleashed verbal fury when he learnt that Kingsly had shot Pauly. The injured thug had been left at the entrance to the hospital by Reed. Ellwood would know not to grass. But Davies’s wanted Kingsly’s arse and knew that by the end of the day he would get his hands on the money and teach Kingsly a lesson at the same time. Whilst travelling down the M6, he worked out exactly where, when and by whom he could extract his revenge. His plans fell apart when he received a mobile call in his car from Jimmy Reed.

  “Boss, Kingsly’s not gone down the M61. He’s carrying on down the M6”

  Cunt, muttered Davies, travelling a mile or so behind. He quickly improvised a fresh plan, told Reed what to do and terminated the call. He turned towards Manchester on the M61

  *

  Reed fully understood his instructions and smiled to himself. It would be a pleasure to carry them out particularly after what Kingsly had done to his mate and he knew exactly how to execute his orders. He accelerated the Qashqai until he caught up with Kingsly. It did not take long for him to see his opportunity. He moved to the outside lane and pulled level. Timing his actions to the second, he yanked the steering wheel on his car to the left forcing Kingsly’s Mondeo into the front of the Polish juggernaut where it hit the lorry just forward of the front wheels. Debris flew everywhere from both the lorry and car, followed by a muted explosion. The flames though, were visible through Reed’s rear view mirror. He continued at a moderate pace down the M6, turning off at the next junction. He made a phone call