"Anything your end, Pete?” Miller asked into his walkie-talkie.
"Car park's quiet."
"Anything, Steve?"
"Nothing much happening here."
Maybe this was going to be a waste of time.
"Someone with black dog starting to move up hill,” Miller reported with little interest. "About thirty yards behind target. Could be a woman. Difficult to tell at this distance."
"I see him,” Taylor responded. "Looks harmless.” No killer was going to turn up with man's best friend for company. Tom was now only fifty yards away from the van.
"Land Rover with tinted windows has just entered park and is heading in your direction,” Taylor heard Steve announce over his radio. “A bit late for a visit.”
There was a few seconds silence then Pete advised, "I can see Land Rover. It's parking up now."
Taylor tensed. He was the nearest to go to Pete's aid if it was required.
"Don't panic, guys. Middle aged woman and small mongrel just got out the Land Rover. The mongrel looks like it's probably her husband."
Taylor smiled. He was beginning to get the feeling this was going to be a waste of time.
Miller's attention had been diverted by listening to the report of the Land Rover. He noticed, in the last few seconds the person walking the dog had cut in half the distance between himself and Tom. The stride was purposeful. Then again so was everybody’s given the weather.
"Couple and two kids starting up hill,” Miller reported.
He could see Dave emerge from the trees up ahead and begin to walk casually in the direction of the car park. He was aiming to reach the car park at about the same time as Tom. Simpson was walking back down the hill in Tom’s direction.
"We have a jogger running up path from pond,” Miller said suddenly. He sounded concerned for the first time. "Looks like a youngish woman. She's closing fast on target. Bob, keep an eye on her."
What the hell! Sam was getting close to her target when she saw a man in a suit wearing an open coat walking from the trees towards the car park. She became instantly concerned. Men in suits don't go for walks in the park after a day at the office. They go home and change first, especially when it’s freezing cold. This man was probably still working and that spelled trouble.
She was near enough to shoot. She needed to make her mind up quickly. There might not be a second chance. She'd hope there was some explanation for the man's behaviour other than what she feared. She put her hand inside her jacket to the shoulder holster she was wearing.
Tom heard the approaching pounding feet of the jogger. He glanced nervously behind, drawn to the sound of the feet. The figure was wearing a balaclava and was barely distinguishable but he realized it was the shape of a woman advancing towards him. She seemed vaguely familiar.
He was trying to recollect the girl from the shop when the next second he felt Simpson's shoulder barging into him, sending him sprawling to the hard ground. He heard the muted crack of a silenced gun, saw Simpson fall to the ground. Not again he said to himself, as he looked up from where he lay to see a gun pointing at him. He rolled and rolled, fearing it was a waste of time and cursing the fact he'd been stupid enough to listen to Miller.
The black Labrador jumped on the man on the ground. He was barking like mad and generally having the time of his life. Humans weren't normally so obliging as to roll around playing on the ground.
"Simpson's been shot,” Miller yelled into his radio as he ran. "It's the woman with the dog. Get her, Bob."
He saw Taylor dive out the front of the ice cream van. Miller still had at least one hundred yards to cover. Knew he'd never make it in time as he saw the woman level her gun on Tom. She hesitated for a second. The dog was in her way. It was only momentary and then Miller saw the dog go limp. He hadn't heard the shot but knew who the woman's next target would be. Miller lifted his gun to fire at least hoping to cause a distraction.
"Damn,” he cursed. What's the bloody jogger doing? He watched as the jogger threw herself at the woman with the gun, not really believing what he was seeing. The two of them fell to the ground.
Miller could see Taylor sprinting towards the action. Just as well, because he was slowing down. He regretted the amount of time spent behind a desk in recent years.
"Shit!” The woman was bloody escaping down the hill.
"Boss, what the hell's going on?"
"Steve, get an ambulance and then call the cavalry. Our suspect is escaping down towards ponds. We are giving chase. Stay in your car and maintain your position for the moment."
You're mine, Sam was thinking, as she aimed at Tom rolling on the ground. She cursed the dog for being in her line of fire and shot it through the head. The dog had been Eduardo’s idea. He had also provided the weapon.
She had been aware of the jogger but not unduly concerned by her close proximity. She knew instantly who was responsible, when the body crashed into her with such force, that it drove all the breath from her lungs even before she hit the hard ground. Her gun skidded away out of reach.
Her attacker had landed on top and her arms were flailing at her body and face in a frenzied attack. Sam parried the blows. Her left hand grabbed the jogger’s collar while her right punched up into the solar plexus. The jogger gasped and Sam grasped a leg and threw
