Once they were into clear water, Kevin changed the thrusters from reverse, and the boat moved graciously forward.
Roger could feel the power of the twin Volvo diesel engines surging through the water. It was a lot quieter than Roger expected, but he thought that might be Kevin not driving at full speed.
They had been at sea for around forty-five minutes when Kevin cut the engines and came back to the open deck.
“We’ve got some cargo to collect and then we’ll be dumping some cargo – you!”
Kevin picked up a large phone. Roger noticed some writing on it. ‘Iridium GO 9560 Satellite’
Kevin dialled a number and after a few seconds, Roger heard him say, “How’s it going? Yeah, fine. All ready. Usual co-ordinates.”
Fifteen minutes later, what looked like a fishing trawler came into view and made its way over to the boat.
Kevin could see two men on board and once both vessels were close, a small boat made its way over from the trawler with one man on board and unloaded ten boxes onto Kevin’s boat. Kevin handed over a briefcase and the men shook hands and the boat made its way back to the trawler.
Kevin laughed. “That’s the cash you left when we did the exchange. You just paid for my latest shipment.”
Vinny and Davy took the boxes below deck.
“Thanks to you, I’m going to make a tidy little profit. But back to the business at hand.”
“Now, you bastard, where’s Tyson’s body. What have you done with it?”
“I’m sorry he died but it was an accident. He escaped and knocked me unconscious and then fell into the swimming pool, as I explained to you. I’ve put his body in the kitchen freezer at the place where you picked me up. You’ll find him there.”
“Yeah. I better had find him there.”
“Okay, boys. Hold our guest for me.”
Vinny and Davy held Roger’s arms.
Kevin stood directly in front of Roger.
“This is for Tyson,” he said and directed a hard punch at Roger’s face. As his fist made contact, so did the large ring on the middle finger of his right hand and scraped across, breaking the skin as it went. Blood poured from inside Roger’s mouth.
Kevin swung again. And again. After several more blows, Roger lost consciousness.
Twenty minutes later, he was woken abruptly as he felt water being thrown in his face.
“Rise and shine, you fucker.”
As he regained his senses, Roger could feel something around both his feet. He looked down as best he could with the swelling to his face. His sight was a little fuzzy.
He could see the two plastic boxes he’d noticed earlier were round his feet and had been filled with concrete.
“We decided to treat you to some new shoes. This fast-setting concrete mix only takes ten minutes to set. The wonders of modern science.” Kevin laughed.
Vinny reached down and pulled off the plastic boxes as he lifted each of Roger’s feet up one by one. Then Vinny and Davy carried him to the edge of the platform at the rear of the boat. Roger could see his back was three inches from the edge.
As he looked round, he assessed the situation. Thoughts rushing through his mind.
Things are not looking good. He’s finally got me trapped. I’m on his boat with my feet wearing a pair of shoes made of concrete. Each block must weigh at least 40kg. My wrists are handcuffed in front of me, and this is real life, not a movie, so I don’t have a paperclip handy to undo the locks and save the day. Not that I’d know how to do it, even if I had one. We must be at least ten miles out to sea. So there’s little chance of the cavalry charging over the hill at the last moment. His two goons have dragged me to within a couple of inches of the edge of the platform on the rear of the boat. My back is to the ocean. All it will take is one push, and I’ll be in the water and going down fast. This is it. I never thought it would end like this.
Chapter Forty-Six
THE SEND OFF
“Okay Vinny, I think it’s time for our guest to leave us. Let’s give him a good send off,” said Kevin.
As Vinny moved forward to carry out the command, Roger looked at Kevin.
“What, getting your minions to do your dirty work? Not man enough to do it yourself? Losing your bottle in your old age?”
“I ain’t scared. You’re not the first person I’ve killed, and you won’t be the last.”
Kevin pointed his finger at Roger. “The next two will be your father and ex-wife. I’ve got a special treat in store for them.”
Roger bellowed at Kevin. “I lied! It wasn’t an accident. I killed Tyson. Looked him right in the eyes when I finished him. Why don’t you come and look me right in the eyes and do it yourself.”
Kevin’s face grew red with anger. “You’ve been dead lucky to stay alive until now. But your luck just deserted you. Now all you’re going to be is fucking dead.”
Kevin held up his fists in rage as he hobbled over, leaving his crutches behind, and stood inches from Roger’s face.
Normally, Roger was two inches taller than Kevin, but in the concrete shoes the gap was more like five.
“This is for Tyson,” Kevin said and raised his arms to push Roger backwards into the water.
As Kevin reached out to push him, Roger swung his handcuffed arms as high in the air as he could and brought them down over Kevin’s head and gripped them around his waist and pulled Kevin into the water with him.
The move took Kevin completely by surprise. Normally he might have been able to get out of the way, but with the plaster cast slowing him down, he wasn’t able to respond in
