The concrete shoes and Roger’s tight grip on Kevin ensured they plummeted as Kevin desperately tried to break free, but Roger’s grip was so tight he could barely move. He tried to headbutt Roger and kick out, but he was restricted by the plaster cast. Roger knew he had to hold on whatever happened. He was going to drown, and he was determined to take Kevin with him. If he didn’t, his father and ex-wife would both be dead within a week.
As the two men descended below the waves into the freezing water, Kevin tried every trick he could think of to escape but whatever he did, Roger continued his vice-like grip.
Kevin’s two helpers were shining their torches into the water but couldn’t see anything.
“Are you going in after them?” asked Davy.
“Not fucking likely.”
Just then they spotted a large boat nearing on them. It was closer than they realised as their concentration had been elsewhere. It was the coastguard, and they didn’t have time to dump the six kilos of heroin and the cartons filled with 100,000 bags of monkey dust they had below deck.
Without Kevin to show them what to do, both men were lost. As members of the coastguard were on board, how would they explain the two plastic boxes with powdery remnants and the two sacks of cement?
It seemed likely they would be spending quite a few years behind bars, but perhaps it was a better choice than the watery grave that awaited their boss.
It had been over a minute and without the sharp intake of breath, Kevin’s lungs were about to give out. With all of the blows and struggling he had received, Roger was also coming to the end of his breath but still managing to hold on as Kevin tried to breathe in but couldn’t, and slowly his body went limp.
Roger was aware Kevin might be faking, hoping Roger would loosen his grip. He couldn’t allow that to happen so would continue to fight for every second, for every inch they descended. He knew he only had seconds to live, but the deeper they fell, the less chance Kevin would have to make it back to the surface.
The water was getting darker on every side as the two figures descended. It must have been nearly two minutes and the darkness was encasing them. Roger knew it was too late for either of them. Kevin’s body was now still and become a dead weight. They were past the point of no return. There was no chance either could possibly make it back to the surface alive.
Roger knew by the time the concrete shoes hit the bottom that he and Kevin would be dead.
He couldn’t hold his breath much longer and was prepared for the inevitable. Just a handful of seconds left.
Then Roger heard a familiar girl’s voice.
“I’m here, Daddy, waiting for you.”
The End
Book Four
Thank Your Lucky Stars
Lee Wood
http://leewoodauthor.com
The Trentbridge Tales series
Book One: MR LUCKY
Book Two: LUCKY BREAK
Book Three: DEAD LUCKY
Book Four: THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS
Chapter One
Daniel Zugravescu is on his way home after a twelve-hour night shift when he notices a disturbing sight and stops his vehicle.
Rufus glances up at the man beating the living daylights out of him with a stick. He can't understand why he is being punished. He's always given complete and unconditional love.
The man raises the stick higher this time. Rufus fears it will hurt far more. He closes his eyes to avoid seeing the moment of impact.
Suddenly he hears the voice of a stranger.
"Leave the dog alone."
The stick stays high in the air.
"What's it got to do with you?" the man asks as he twists his head round.
"You don't hurt animals."
"He's my dog. I'll do as I want."
"If you hit the dog again, I'll take the stick and hit you with it."
The man squares up to his unwelcome opponent. Although about half his age, the man facing him is not well built. The man is confident he's fit enough to take him in a fight. His bravado rises. "I'd like to see you try."
Daniel walks towards the man, taking an illegal pepper spray from his jacket pocket. As a security guard who visits empty buildings at all hours of the night, it is a wise thing to carry.
He aims at the man's face and presses down the nozzle. The burst of hot peppers hits the intended target, burning everything it touches.
"ARRRRRGGHHH!"
Daniel steps forward and hits the temporarily blinded man with as much force as he can muster.
The man goes down and cowers, getting into the foetal position as he frantically rubs his eyes.
Daniel grabs the stick and hits the man several times.
"How do you like the taste of your own medicine?"
He walks over to the dog, a young Dalmatian, and strokes him gently.
"Don't worry, fella. You're safe now."
He takes the dog’s lead and walks the animal away.
As a parting shot, Daniel can't resist and gives the man a hard kick.
He opens the passenger door of his small van.
"C'mon boy, hop in."
The dog jumps onto the seat with his tail wagging. Daniel strokes his head.
"What a good boy."
Daniel isn't someone who makes friends easily. In the two years since he moved to Trentbridge from Romania, there isn't anyone he feels close to. He finds it hard to connect with people.
A dog would make a perfect companion. His mind goes back to the dog he had when he was growing up. Unfortunately living in a tiny one-room bedsit makes it impossible, much as he would like to.
But there is a place where this beautiful four-legged creature will be given a new home and loved.
He drives to the edge of town to a dog rescue centre called A Dog for Life. He heard about them on the local radio station. The
