“Did they ask if you’ve been in a car accident?”
“Yes,” he said, grinding his teeth together with rage.
“Oh, the irony.”
“I want to talk to Faith.”
“Of course.”
“Vance,” said her voice.
“Faith,” he breathed with relief. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. They’ve got me tied to a bed in a …”
Whatever she was about to say was cut off by Ben taking the phone from her. “I’m going to send you some directions. Follow them exactly. Any deviation from my instructions and I will cut off your sister’s left hand. A second deviation and I’ll take her right hand. After that, well, you get the picture.”
“You fucking bastard,” he yelled but Ben had hung up.
“What did he say?” said Caleb.
“He’s sending us instructions. If we deviate from them they’ll cut off her hands.”
“The sick twats,” yelled Kevin.
“I’m going to stab them in the fucking eyes,” cried Abi, flicking out her talons, her own eyes shiny with tears.
Vance’s phone beeped and he opened the message.
“They’ve sent a photo of Faith.”
They all gathered round to look at the image of Faith tied to a camp bed, her eyes flashing defiance.
“She looks unharmed,” said Caleb. “That’s something.”
“Let’s ensure she stays that way,” said Vance, feeling sick to his stomach.
The responsibility to set her free was weighing him down and he prayed he didn’t fail her. If anything happened to her because of his mistake he didn’t know how he’d live with himself. Vance crushed those thoughts. He would have the future he wanted with the woman he loved. Those arseholes were not going to take that from him.
His phone beeped again, indicating another message had arrived.
“Okay,” he said, clearing his throat to dispel the lump that had formed. “He’s sent me an address on Division Lane.”
“Millionaire’s road,” said Kevin. “It’s all mansions. They must be in one of them.”
“Unless they’re going to give us more directions when we get there,” said Caleb.
“I don’t think so,” said Vance. “They won’t want to drag this out. They’ve got jobs and families, people to notice if they’re gone for any length of time. By the morning this will be over. Jason, call Tariq and tell him to stand by. We’re on.”
“Will do.”
Vance looked to Abi. “Are you ready for this?”
She took a deep breath and nodded.
The brothers loaded the coffin into the back of the people carrier and set off, Vance driving. None of them spoke, tension filling the confined interior of the car.
“We’re coming up to the turn off for Division Lane,” said Vance. “Is everyone clear on what they have to do?”
“Yes,” said Caleb. He felt just as he had the night he and Faith had gone to kill Lenny Paisley. It was the same god-awful sick feeling. Life had never been the same after that night and he knew it was about to change again.
Vance pulled up at the kerb and sent Ben a message saying they’d arrived. A message was sent back telling them to drive three hundred metres down the road and pull onto the car park on the left. He read the message out loud to his siblings.
“Why didn’t they just give us the address?” said Kevin.
“Because they want to see us approach, to make sure we’ve come alone,” said Vance, steering the car back onto the deserted road. They passed large detached homes set back from the road, sheltered by trees, high walls and hedges until they reached a patch of wasteland, beyond which was the car park.
“Here we are,” said Vance, pulling onto it. They found themselves facing a large one-storey building
“Looks like it’s had a fire,” said Caleb, studying the building with the assistance of the car’s headlights.
“Which is why this lot know about it,” said Vance. “The message said to wait in the car.”
They watched as the front door of the warehouse opened and out walked two men, one bald and one with thick red hair.
“They’re the two who attacked us in the lift,” said Caleb.
“Bastards,” spat Kevin.
“Take it easy Kev,” Vance told him. “You need to keep your cool. Losing it will put Faith in danger.”
“Get out of the car Vance,” called the bald one. “The rest of you wait inside.”
Vance got out and held up his hands. He noted both firefighters held a pistol each.
“Where’s Faith?” he demanded.
“Inside,” said the bald one. “Don’t worry, she’s safe. You’d better not have brought any weapons. If you have it won’t go very well for her.”
“I’m clean. We all are.”
“Throw me the car keys.”
Vance obeyed, the firefighter catching them mid-air.
“Turn around and put your hands on the car.”
He obeyed and was efficiently patted down by the red-headed fireman.
“Where’s the product?” the bald one asked him.
“In the car.”
“Good. Caleb, you’re next.”
He got out and the process was repeated. Kevin was third and Jason last.
“Open up the back of the car,” said the red-headed one. “And then stand to one side.”
Vance opened the boot and the brothers stood together by the side of the car. The two firefighters smiled when they saw the coffin.
“Right you lot,” he told the brothers. “Bring it inside.”
The four of them resembled agitated pall-bearers as they hauled the coffin out of the car and carried it through the front door into a large empty room, Kevin’s legs trembling beneath the weight while his brothers bore it easily. A charred stench filled the air.
Once they were all inside, the bald one closed the door behind them and hit the lights.
“Be careful,” he told them. “There’s a couple of holes in the floor. We don’t want you going through it, as hilarious
