“How many what?” Tyler asked, what game was this?
“How many,” Spalding repeated, “You tell me that and Carson is free to go.” Tyler’s mind raced, what was he looking for? There was one number that came to mind, but not even Spalding could know about that, so what was he asking for?
“I don’t know what you want,” he said. Spalding leaned forward so his face came out of the shadows high above. Their eyes met for the first time and there was no mistaking the mirthful madness in those of Spalding.
“The FBI are on their way as we speak,” Spalding said, “We don’t have time for playing around. How many?”
“The FBI don’t know we’re here,” Tyler said, a knot of worry that he had lured Sarah here too coming to mind.
“How many?” Spalding asked again and Tyler looked to Carson, seeing the first signs he was waking up.
“You have to give me more,” Tyler said, “I don’t know what you want!” Spalding looked ahead out through a gap in the wall high above Tyler and then looked back down to the journalist.
“They’re here,” Spalding said, “Last chance, How many?” They met eyes once more and Spalding was no longer playful. It was serious now and Tyler felt the failure to save Carson Lemond twist in his gut. He shook his head to Spading, he didn’t have an answer for him. Spalding shrugged and suddenly there was a knife in his hand, the light gleaming on the spotless blade. Before Tyler could say a thing Spalding turned and threw the knife with an expert arm. It entered Carson’s neck and it must have hit the jackpot of the jugular dead on. Blood flowed in torrents from Carson and his waking body shuddered and started to keel until it became overbalanced and he fell from the high pipe to the dusty concrete floor below. The thud was sickening and all the time he was flying a night blue of blood sprayed all over the air.
Tyler looked back to Spalding.
“I kept my end of the bargain,” Spalding said and then he ran with a speed unexpected in such a large man and dived out through a loading platform and disappeared into the night sky. Tyler heard a loud splash in the water outside moments later and then heard the car doors closing outside. Spalding hadn’t been lying, the FBI were here and he was in a closed off warehouse with the body of a murdered wanted fugitive. He had to get out of here. And fast.
Chapter 41
“I DON’T LIKE THIS,” Malick said when Sarah and he pulled up outside the warehouse. “I’m calling this in.”
“No!” Sarah said but when she looked into his eyes she saw his resolve.
“It’s too dangerous, Sarah. If we don’t call for backup, I’m not letting you go in there at all,” he said.
“Fine,” Sarah snapped, she couldn’t believe he was doing this right now, “But I’m going in now so you better call it in quick and then get out to support me.” True to her word Sarah jumped from the car leaving Malick grabbing for the radio.
Sarah ran the length of the front of the building and glanced down each alley first before returning to the front door. By this time Malick was out with her and they both had guns drawn.
“You okay?” she asked him. He nodded but it didn't instil her with much confidence.
“I’m going in, keep an ear out for me calling for you,” Sarah said and Malick nodded.
Sarah slipped in through the open door silently and took a couple of steps inside, keeping close to the wall. She could smell the blood in the air at once, it was fresh and pungent. Something bad had happened here, had she just missed her chance again!
Her eyes scanned the floor as her throat constricted and she held her breath. She was going to see something horrendous, of that she was sure. Then a noise from above caught on the air and she looked up, someone was up there, climbing on the old gangways towards the sides of the building.
“Stop! FBI! Malick, he's headed for the right side of the building!” Sarah called out. The figure hesitated a moment and then glanced back down at her. Sarah was shocked to see the face of Tyler Ford. She looked at him in disbelief; what the hell was going on here?
“I can explain later Sarah,” Tyler whispered down, his voice barely reaching her in the gloom. Waves of confusion crashed over Sarah and she froze unable to decide what to do. She couldn’t think straight, she was feeling both betrayed and terrified at the same time. Was Tyler the ‘Agrarian’? Was he playing with her all along?
“I said stop, FBI!” she shouted up to him. He was clamouring through a broken window and she had a shot, her finger tensed on the trigger and then...
He was gone, out through the window. Malick would see him and take him into custody. She ran back out the door to back her partner up at the side of the building. She was surprised when she came out to see Malick off to one side, down in a marksmen kneeling position and he fired off a shot without any warning at all.
Then he suddenly was on the ground, curled up in a ball and trembling but... Had she seen him glance her way just before he did this? Was she in his peripheral vision? She came over to him and crouched down,
“Malick are you okay?” she asked and she looked to the building. There was no sign of anyone and she knew Tyler would be getting away by now. As if to punctuate this though the sound of a motorbike revving up came from nearby and the screech of tires and it was gone. Sirens were wailing in the near distance as the patrol cars began to arrive at the scene.
“I thought I was fine,” Malick said, “Even
