With a shove in my back, he pushed me around to the driver’s side.
‘Get in,’ he ordered, opening the door before placing his hand on my head, pushing me down, and inside, the door slamming behind me. He moved to the passenger side, making himself comfortable, before turning to me.
‘Who are you, and how did you know I’d be at the car park?’
His steel eyes fixed on me, waiting. I couldn’t answer. And not just because I had lost my voice. The terror had frozen my body. I could barely breathe.
‘You have until the count of three,’ he said, lifting the gun over his arm, aiming at my chest. My eyes flickered around the car park. It was raining again, and though the bays were all full, there was no one to witness me being abducted. Though in the distance, I spotted several hospital workers having a crafty cigarette behind a steel pillar. Too far away to call, even if I could. I considered jumping out of the car, make a run for it. Then reasoned I would have a bullet in my back before I got far. And he would simply drive away over my body. The sound of the shot mistaken for a car backfiring.
‘Look at me, and answer,’ he said. ‘Two.’
I mouthed, ‘Can’t speak,’ and pointed to my throat. Still, I tried, ‘Lost my…’ The words trailed off. But he got the message. Settling back in his seat, he looked satisfied, grinning.
‘Okay, buckle in and drive,’ he said, tossing the ignition key to me and clipping his seat belt in. Then a sideways glance to me, ’I take it you can drive?’ A pause. ‘Yes, of course, you can. Nice manoeuvring in the police car park, by the way.’
It was a pity I couldn’t tell him I only had a provisional licence. Then perhaps not. He might have been tempted to kill me there and then. I figured the longer I was alive, the more chance I had of getting out of this mess. A mess I had got myself into because I wouldn't mind my own business. Why couldn’t I walk away? I didn’t know Jenna and didn't like her from what I had seen of her. I certainly didn’t want to die for the woman, that’s for sure. The husband might have had a very good reason for getting her knocked off; who was I to judge?
My hands trembled as I fired up the engine, my stomach flipping over, which was more than the engine was doing as it stalled. Taking a breath and holding it, I tried again, success.
I moved out of the bay, following the signs for the exit, pulling up at the lights turning red. Again, I considered throwing myself out. A sideward glance at the man, he had moved his body around towards me. His eyes glanced between the lights and my face. He nodded to the weapon, assuring me there was no chance of getting out. My left leg was juddering on the clutch, and the steering wheel felt sticky under my touch as I moved with the traffic in front.
‘Right at the roundabout,’ he said.
The lights green, I slipped into the correct lane in preparation to go right at the junction. Under other circumstances, while driving, I would have been pleased with my forward planning.
I followed his directions to take the next left after the junction continuing on that road, then following Cliff Peak’s signs. He relaxed beside me, though aware his eyes still assessed me. He had questions and perhaps was sitting there framing them. It must have been annoying for him. I couldn’t speak.
‘Keep your eyes on the road,’ he said as I glanced over. ‘Nod to my question if the answer is yes, shake if no. Do you understand?’
I nodded. I wasn’t deaf.
‘Are you an assassin? Were you there to take my target out?’
I glanced at him. Out where?
‘Are you an assassin?’
What? I wished I could have answered him. Though this will sound crazy, a small part of me was flattered. The look on my face brought a smile to his lips.
‘Guess not. Were you there by accident?’
I nodded again.
‘Did you know the woman?’
I shook my head, staring at the traffic lights ahead and thinking again. Maybe if they turned red, I could jump from the car before he realised what was happening.
‘Don’t even think about it.’
I guessed I must have telegraphed my intentions in my face.
’So, some stupid tart who knows fuck all tackled me, caused me to lose my hit and made me look fucking stupid.’
I nodded.
‘Take a right here,’ he snapped. ‘Have you provided the police with my description?’
I nodded. Hoping then there wouldn’t be much point in killing me.
‘That’s a no then,’ he laughed. ‘Can read you like a book.’ He turned back in his seat, looking ahead. ‘A very thin cheap book,’ he muttered. ‘You know you can get into fourth gear now?’
He was lucky I couldn’t talk. I would have told him this cheap thin book stopped him from killing a woman. I had probably ruined his reputation. Maybe he would never work again, so there. But I couldn’t tell him. My brain was working overtime, thinking of a way to get out of this. So far, I wasn’t coming up with anything. I didn’t want to die. It was clear I hadn’t given the whole save Jenna thing enough thought. I had plans for my life: pass my driving test, get famous, marry, children, and stuff
