And he couldn’t go home.
“Quick, think, think of something. Or you’re a dead man.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
THE PHONE CALL
Roger clicked the voice command function on the dashboard.
“Call Phil Jones.”
The phone rang six times. Roger silently prayed for it to be answered.
“Hello, this is Phil Jones.”
“Phil. It’s Roger Maynard. I’m in really deep shit. I went to visit Will Gleeson, but O’Connor and his son Tyson were there. They killed him in cold blood. Shot him right in front of me. I was sitting in my car. They spotted me. Now they’re chasing me. What do I do?”
“Okay. Look. Listen carefully. You mean you’re in a vehicle, and they are behind you in another vehicle. Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Yes.”
“Where are you? Tell me exactly.”
“I’m on Hills Road just past the railway station and heading towards the hospital. I might fucking need it if they catch me.”
“Listen carefully. Carry on along Hills Road. When you get to the hospital, instead of turning right at the roundabout go straight over. Then after about a mile, there’s a turning on the right towards Cherrywood old town.”
“Yes, I know the one.”
“Good. Take it, and then after a few yards get in the middle of the road so they can’t overtake you and slow right down to about ten miles an hour. Make them think you’re going to stop but just keep going at low speed.”
“What good will that do?”
“Trust me. It should take you about three or four minutes to get there. Don’t stop for anything. Keep this line open and tell me when you get to the roundabout at the hospital. Make sure whatever you do you stay on the line. If the phone cuts out, call me back, okay?”
“Whatever you say. Get me out of this mess, and I’ll pay you whatever you ask.”
“Don’t worry about the money. Let’s just make sure you’re safe.”
“Phil, I’m coming up to the hospital roundabout. Go straight over you said?”
“Yeah. Head straight over and then take the turn. Whatever you do don’t miss the turn. That’s important.”
What seemed like a lifetime but was only four minutes later, Roger turned right down Granhams Lane.
“Okay, Phil. I’ve turned right into the lane. What next?”
“Move to the centre of the road so they can’t pass you and slow right down to about ten miles an hour. Trust me. In a few seconds, I’m going to ask you to floor it. When I do whatever happens just go full speed. Are you in the Range Rover?”
“Yeah. How did you know?”
“Doesn’t matter.”
“They’re right behind me. What do I do?”
“Keep your nerve. Keep to the centre of the road and slow down.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Trust me. Do you have sports mode?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, engage it. Just a few more yards and then I want you to really floor it. Get ready. Three, two, one, NOW!”
As Roger’s right foot hit the accelerator, he felt sure he saw a small gap in the hedgerow on his left and a car parked there, but he wasn’t hanging around to find out. The Range Rover responded immediately, opening up a gap between the cars. The BMW seemed to have been caught by surprise, but it only took a second for the driver to respond.
Kevin O’Connor sped up to give chase then heard a large thud from under his vehicle. As he sped up to chase the Range Rover, it seemed like the steering had gone and the car was swaying from side to side. Something was wrong. As he tried to accelerate the car became more unresponsive and wouldn’t steer straight. He needed to stop and check what was wrong. As he slowed down, he noticed what looked like car headlights appear from a gap in the hedgerow of a field a few yards behind. Then a vehicle roared out from the gap and sped away in the direction he had just come from. He couldn’t see the registration number; it had been covered.
As Kevin examined the tyres of the BMW, he could see small hollow spikes. The car that had been hidden in the hedgerow gap. Someone in it must have had a police stinger.
“The bastard had help. How the fuck did he manage to arrange that?”
Kevin made a call to Joey’s garage on Fen Road. Someone would be there in fifteen minutes with a tow truck.
Tyson had managed to get the registration number of the Range Rover. As they waited, Kevin made a quick phone call to a contact who ran a private car parking company and had access to the DVLA database and would be able to obtain the details of the registered owner of the vehicle.
They needed to find out who had been in the Range Rover and what the game was. Then they could arrange a night-time visit and deal with the problem.
Roger was still on his mobile to Phil Jones.
“Wow! What just happened? They slowed down. Was that you I noticed in the hedgerow? What did you do?”
“Glad you’re safe. Let’s just say you were lucky I live nearby and I find it handy to keep a couple of police issue items in the boot.”
“I’m extremely grateful. They would have killed me.”
“And they still might if you go home. We need to ensure you’re safe. Is there anyone at your house?”
“No. With my daughter gone, I live alone.”
“Okay. Now whatever you do don’t go back there. I have a friend who runs a hotel. You might be best going there for tonight. Do you know the Milton Motel?”
“Yes. I’ve seen it.”
“Go there. Drive into the car park on the right-hand side of the hotel and go round to the back. On the left, you’ll see a silver metal door garage. Drive past it and park on the far side. Go
