Simpson had not prepared an elaborate backup plan but the years of experience had taught him to identify an additional escape route, in case of unforeseen trouble. As he rounded the bend in the corridor, he turned to his left and smashed the fire alarm he had noticed earlier. Next to it was an emergency exit and he pushed the bar on the door to open and was immediately met by a blast of icy cold air from outside. He had loosened his grip on Melanie in order to open the door and she was struggling to get free.
“If you want to live much longer, stop this,” he threatened as he gripped her tightly and pushed the barrel of the gun to her ear. “I prefer to take you with me but if I have to leave you behind, you won’t be breathing.”
She stopped struggling and he managed to drag her outside as he slammed the door shut behind them.
Tom, Miller and Bob Taylor all moved forward in unison the moment they lost sight of Simpson. A careful approach turned into a run when they heard the alarm. Miller surveyed the corridor ahead and seeing no sign of Simpson guessed he had used the fire exit. He opened the door and peered out into the cold cautiously. He realized the door emerged onto the edge of the hospital car park. A bullet spat against the wall and he quickly drew back within the hospital. He had just had time to spot Simpson beside a car with an open door, pointing a gun in his direction. At the same time he was trying to push Melanie into the car.
Other doors along the corridor were opening and a mixture of nurses and patients were peering out trying to establish if the alarm was for real. “It’s okay,” Miller tried to assure everyone. “Please go back inside. I accidentally broke the alarm.” He turned back to Taylor. “Bob, keep everyone away from the car park and let the boys know what’s happened. I’m going after Simpson.”
“I’m coming with you,” Tom stated firmly.
Miller started to object but from the look on Tom’s face knew he would be wasting his breadth, so settled for delivering some advice. “Okay but keep behind me and your head down.”
Taylor moved a little way down the corridor and made a call on his mobile.
Miller opened the emergency exit door once more and glanced nervously to where he had last seen Simpson. Tom was right behind looking over his shoulder. Simpson was now inside his car and Melanie could be seen seated beside him. She was staring in their direction with a look of horror on her face.
Miller shouted back to Taylor. “Bob, he’s driving a white Audi and he’s got Melanie Adams in the passenger seat so tell them to take care.”
Without waiting for a response, Miller was off and running, quickly followed by Tom.
Simpson was pulling away at speed from the parking space he had occupied and never saw the car that was crawling along the lane looking for somewhere to park. Simpson’s Audi barged the other car out of the way as their wings collided but the collision had slowed him.
Miller lunged for the door but the Audi accelerated and he was prone on the ground before he really knew what had happened. Swearing, he regained his feet and saw that Tom was chasing the car down the next parking lane.
The car couldn’t accelerate to any truly great speed as the parking lanes were short and then required a hundred and eighty degree turn. By running directly across the lanes Tom was quickly able to get ahead of the Audi and stood in the lane as the car approached. At the last second he realized it had been a stupid idea to stand in the middle of the lane, somehow expecting that Simpson would come to a halt, just because he was standing there. Simpson had already saved his life once but it was now evident he would happily run Tom down, if he stood in the way any longer. Tom threw himself to the side just in time.
He regained his feet and cut through two more lines of cars, to see the Audi once again heading directly towards him. He felt completely powerless to intervene as the Audi roared past and he saw the imploring face of Melanie at the window.
He watched as Simpson negotiated the last lane of cars and then was at the exit to the car park. Tom could hear the approaching sirens that confirmed the arrival of reinforcements but Simpson was accelerating towards the exit and safety.
He looked around and saw a man about to get into a silver BMW. Without thinking he rushed at the man and pushed him aside.
“I need your car,” Tom screamed. He tore the key from his grasp as he pushed him aside. The man seemed too stunned to react and in the time it took him to regain his composure, Tom was already seated behind the wheel and accelerating away.
Miller joined the man a minute later and they both stared after the BMW, as it disappeared into the distance.
Simpson glanced in his mirror and could see the BMW giving chase. A police car with flashing lights and alarm ringing arrived at the car park entrance at the same moment he was about to exit. The police driver spotted the Audi and flung his car across the exit to try and block his escape. Simpson floored the accelerator and crashed into the rear of the police car and managed to keep going, as the police car was spun around by the crash, just leaving enough room for Simpson to continue.
The BMW followed him through the space and accelerated right up to his tail.
