Safe Haven, page 20
Beth spat. "Ever heard of a toothbrush?" she said, looking at him with all the hate she could muster.
"Beth, Beth, Beth, my darling Beth. I'm going to enjoy this."
***
Mike, Lucy, Emma and Hughes all looked at the radio in horror as they heard Beth's cry for help. Hughes picked it up and tried to reach her several times, but to no avail. She was gone.
It was only a few minutes before a car screeched to a halt, just metres from them. Barnes climbed out and headed straight towards the barricade. "I'm going after her," he said.
"Barnes, calm down," replied Hughes. "We don't know what's happened, where she is or anything." He put his hand on the front of Barnes’ shoulder.
"I don't care. I need to go after her. Let me through." Barnes grabbed Hughes’ hand and pushed it away.
"Barnes, you'll end up dead, mate. You can't just go off into the night on a wild goose chase," pleaded Hughes.
"You think I've got anything to live for if she's gone? I'm going, and no one's stopping me." He shouldered his SA80 more comfortably and began to climb.
"Wait!" shouted Mike.
"You don't tell me what to do, Mike," said Barnes as he continued climbing.
"Barnes! Stop!"
As Barnes reached the roof of the Luton van he turned. "This is something I've got to do Mike. You should understand that more than anyone."
"I do mate. That's what I'm saying. Barney...Beth's one of us. There's no way we don't go after her, but let's do it right."
"C'mon," said Lucy, signalling for him to come back down, "Let's figure this out."
Hughes shone a torch on Barnes’ face and the stern, resolute expression mellowed. His head dropped and he began to climb back down. As he reached the floor, Emma put her arms around him. "Beth is family. We will get her back."
Mike smiled to himself, a few months before, his sister would have been talking him out of something like this, but now, she was ready for the fight as much as he was. He picked up the walkie-talkie. "Jules, it's Mike. We need George across at the pass right now!"
There was a pause.
"He's on his way. What's wrong?"
"Don't suppose you fancy coming across with him. I need a word?" asked Mike.
"We'll be there as soon as we can."
The broadcast went dead with a crackle.
Mike turned to the people gathering around in anticipation. "Okay, guys, we need to shift the barricade so we can get some vehicles through."
People immediately got to work. Hughes, Barnes, Lucy, and Emma all made a beeline for Mike. It was Emma who spoke. "Erm... You mind telling us what you're thinking? Or are you planning a surprise?"
Mike watched as people helped each other move heavy, cumbersome objects. The ones who were left, the ones who had not run out on them. They were good. They were decent. They were honourable. They were worth fighting for and alongside. He turned to his friends.
"I can guarantee they will have left guards where Beth was on watch. The first thing we do is capture at least one of them and get information," he said as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Say that's right. Say there are guards there and we capture them. What makes you think they'll tell us anything?" asked Hughes.
Mike looked towards Emma and then to Lucy in the light of the lanterns that had been lit to help the workers.
"They'll talk," he said and a grim smile appeared on his face.
"Okay," said Barnes. “What then?
"Then we go get Beth and the other look-out back."
"Jack... His name was Jack," said Hughes.
"Just as easy as that, eh Mike?" asked Barnes.
"Y'know what wins a war faster than anything, Barnes? It's being willing to do whatever it takes." Mike's eyes suddenly looked black as coal. "Beth is one of us. I don't care how many there are, I don't care how heavily armed they are, and I don't care what I have to do. She's coming back to us." There was a moment's intense silence, then Mike broke his gaze from the others. "I'm going to find Raj. Ask Jules to stay here when she arrives. I'll be back in a few minutes."
Mike walked across to the Ford Fiesta that Barnes had driven a few minutes earlier, climbed in and wheel spun away.
"No offence girls, ‘cos I love the guy like a brother. But he's a real fucking head case," said Hughes. Lucy and Emma just looked at him and got to work with the others dismantling the barricade. Barnes walked across to join his friend.
"I've been a soldier a long time, Barney. I've never seen anyone command as much respect as Mike, I love him, but I'm scared that one day we'll all follow him to oblivion."
***
Mike hugged Raj and Talikha tightly as he entered the infirmary. All three of them sat down. Raj knew Mike wouldn't just show up for a chat. Not now. Not when they were about to go to war. He spent several minutes explaining what had happened with Beth and the first part of his plan, then there was silence.
"So, my friend, you have not come down here to discuss tactics with a veterinarian. What is it we can do for you?" asked Raj.
"Raj. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important, and I hate this. Hate it. But, I know it will give us the best chance possible..." Mike looked at Raj, then at Talikha, then back to Raj. "I need Humphrey. He can sense when there are RAMs around and we will literally be in the dark. I also don't know if I might need him to track Beth. I would just feel a lot better having him with us than not."
Raj looked down at his hands as he pressed them together. He rocked back and forth in his chair before replying. "We are family Mike. After everything we have been through, we are family. Take Humphrey, I know you will protect him with your life."
Raj and Talikha both stood and headed out of the infirmary. Mike paused for a second to look back at Shaw who was fast asleep with half a smile on his face, then he followed them. They walked in silence down to the dock and boarded the yacht. They were greeted by the Labrador Retriever's characteristic woof which always sounded like it came from a dog twice his size. Raj turned a light on and Humphrey bounded up to the three of them, getting fussed by each in turn. Talikha placed the leash on his collar and kissed him on the head whispering something into his ear, before Raj knelt down in front of him. Humphrey licked Raj's face once, twice, three times, and Raj couldn't help but laugh, before kissing Humphrey firmly on his wet black nose.
"I love you, boy. Look after Mike," said Raj before taking the leash from Talikha and handing it over. "Take care, my friend."
"Thank you. Thank you both," said Mike as he turned and followed Humphrey along the dock. The pair of them continued; Humphrey was excited to be free from the small cabin, excited at the prospect of a fresh adventure. Mike looked back and saw Raj and Talikha holding each other close. He had asked the world of them and they had delivered.
"C'mon boy," he said, "we've got a lot to do before this night is over."
***
Fry's eyes were wild, mad, and it was not the whiskey, it wasn't a figment of TJ's imagination as they caught in the glow of the lamp light. It was something he had seen before only in those men with the blackest of souls. Beth was sitting on the couch, the false bravado not fooling anyone for a second. Fry took another swig straight from the bottle and droplets of amber fluid dripped from his mouth and whiskers as he pulled it from his lips and offered it to TJ.
"No thanks, boss," he said, hiding revulsion.
Fry regarded TJ for a few seconds and then smiled. "TJ," he began, "I want you to head up to the north encampment. We attack tonight!" he said proudly.
"Erm... Boss...are you sure?"
"Sure? Of course I'm fucking sure," he spat, taking another drink. "Me and Beth are going to have a wee chat. Then I'm going to get on the radio to you, and you're going to lead the attack from the north, while I lead the attack from the east." His eyes bore holes into TJ. "Beth here is going to help us no end. I won't be able to shut her up before I'm done," he said beginning to laugh.
"Do you want me to get the men prepared before I go?"
"Let them eat and rest for a while. They're ready as needs be," replied Fry sinking down onto the arm of the sofa.
TJ didn't argue. He didn't question. He left the house and felt a pang of relief that he didn't have to stay in that room one more moment. As little as he didn't want to head to the northern encampment and launch a night attack, he would take any hell over what was about to happen to Beth. The more distance between him and that house, the better.
He climbed into his Land Rover and picked up a large handset. He flicked it to channel 18.
"This is TJ. I'm on my way to you. Let the look-outs know. Over."
There was a pause then, "Roger that TJ, over and out."
Inside the house, Fry closed the living room door and pulled the curtains across. Before they shut, he glanced outside. His army...his men...how he despised them. He turned and looked at Beth. She still held her chin up. She still made believe she wasn't scared of him.
"Ohhh... you're a feisty one girl. I knew that the first time we met."
Fry walked through the inner door to the kitchen, only to reappear seconds later with two glasses. He placed them on the corner of the mantelpiece before sweeping all the rest of the small ornaments and photos off it. They crashed and clattered to the floor and Beth shook, but tried her best not to show it. He poured large measures into each glass and then placed one on the table in front of her, before taking a large gulp out of the other.
"I knew back at the hotel that you were someone I could talk to. You have spirit, Beth. I like a girl with spirit. My Juliet has spirit." He took another drink and licked his lips, letting the dirty red whiskers tickle the tip of his tongue. There was nothing about the man that Beth didn't find revolting. "Y'see Beth, what it boils down to is this. The measure of a man is judged by his successes. Now, you beat me in that fucking village. Then what should have been a simple smash and grab when my men came up here ended up being the cluster-fuck to end all cluster-fucks." He began to raise his voice, but a weird feeling inside Beth told her, it wasn't for her benefit. "Do you know how much that cost me? How many men? How many vehicles? How much fucking standing? That fucking Don and his whore of a daughter, they mocked me. They ridiculed me." Fry was roaring now, and Beth began to shake. There was something at work here more than just anger. Her breathing trembled and she did her best to stifle a sob. She was going to die tonight.
Fry walked across to the holdall by the side of the armchair and picked it up. As he walked back past Beth, she breathed in the same sickly odour she had noticed when she first entered the room. He placed the bag down, unzipped it and with his wide back to Beth he removed two objects and placed them on the wooden shelf. When he spoke again, it was at a normal volume. "Now...even now...I feel them judging me," he said stepping back from the mantelpiece and revealing the heads of The Don and Lorelei.
Beth screamed, tears flooded from her eyes and she got up on shaky legs and started to run out of the room. In two long strides, Fry caught her and clasped her arm, flinging her back down onto the sofa. She landed awkwardly, banging her head against the arm. She let out a mournful yelp as she continued to cry like a terrified child.
"You're going to help me change all that. You're going to tell me what I want to know to make sure that nothing goes wrong this time. Your friends are all going to die, Beth. Let's be sensible here. I've got a bigger army than you can imagine. Some of them are ex forces, experienced fighters. And you've got what? A handful of scared villagers?" His laugh boomed. "Your friends will die, but it's important that this victory is quick for me...and you, darling."
Beth brought her knees up to her chest and hugged them. Her crying continued as Fry took his glass and sat down next to her.
"All you need to do is tell me what I want to know, and this will all be over like a flash for you, and I promise you, your friends won't suffer either. They'll die quickly and with dignity. But if you don't tell me what I want Beth, then things will be bad." His eyes widened, he spoke with an eerie calmness. He took another drink before continuing. "Very, very bad Beth. Because me and Juliet will need to teach you a lesson, and Juliet's been in a really pissy mood lately. Haven't you my love?" he said looking across at the armchair and smiling.
Beth couldn't believe what was happening. A thousand times before, she had heard people use the words mad man, but it was always just an expression. Now though, she was with a true mad man. She had never felt fear like this, not even when she was naked and tied up in that dark garage.
"You're fucking insane," she said.
"You do not disrespect me in front of them and my woman," he yelled, almost spilling his drink as he shot to his feet. He placed his glass down on the table and plunged down again next to Beth ripping her shirt open as he pushed her onto her back, and exposing her torso and bra. He pulled a knife from the back of his belt and cut the bra, she tried to shield herself, but he pushed her arms down, and stretched them back over the arm of the chair. He straddled her and replaced the knife in his belt, while keeping her wrists pinned with his incredible strength. Then with his free hand, he placed his palm between her breasts.
"I can feel your heart. I'm no doctor Beth, but I don't think it's meant to beat that fast, darling," he said grinning again. He looked across to the armchair, "What?" he asked. Through her tears, Beth looked towards the empty chair. She looked to where Fry looked. There was nothing but an insane emptiness.
"Good idea my sweet," he said, removing his hand, and unbuckling his belt.
Beth started to writhe and kick, "What are you doing?" she pleaded through cries.
"All in good time, Beth, you'll see. All in good time," the grin reappeared on his face as he began to tie her hands together using his belt. When the knot was secure, he dragged her over to the door between the kitchen and living room. Reaching up he banged on the hollow wall above the frame with the butt of his dagger, to confirm his thoughts. "They don't build houses worth a shit anymore," he said, as he started gouging at the plasterboard through the ugly textured wallpaper. Within a minute there was a hole through to the other side. He threaded the belt and tied it firmly leaving Beth on tiptoes, with her arms stretched above her. Her torso and breasts only partially covered by the torn shirt. Fry walked across to the mantelpiece and turned the heads of The Don and Lorelei towards the doorway. Beth dropped her head and continued to weep. She raised her eyes again to see him angle the armchair round towards the door.
"There, that's better. My hands are free now," he said smiling before unleashing a fierce punch smashing into the bare flesh of Beth's stomach and making her wail with agony. "Yes," throwing another, "much," another, "fucking," another, "better." Bruise patterns began to appear instantly as the force of the blows left Beth wielding. The lack of breath stopped her tears for a while. "Now, Beth. Let's begin shall we?"
***
George made a beeline for Mike as soon as he arrived at the barricade. Mike put his arm around the older man and guided him out of earshot. "I need a couple of things from you George," he said, as the older man pulled his pipe from his pocket and began to dab down the tobacco with his thumb.
"Go ahead," said George, positioning the pipe in the corner of his mouth.
"You remember those nail balls I asked you to make?" George nodded. "I need those. I need some protective gloves, masks, goggles, whatever you can get your hands on."
George nodded again, "I'll see what I can do.” he said, lighting the pipe.
"That's the easy part, mate," said Mike. George looked up at him in the lantern light, awaiting the next part of the favour. "I need you to come with us." He paused trying to gauge George's reaction. "We're taking one of the mangonels. Nobody knows those things better than you. We might get just one shot before the fun starts. We can't screw it up George. Everything depends on us getting this right."
"So, you're going to launch an attack on a camp with God knows how many armed men in it... Just a few of you, backed up by me and a medieval siege weapon?"
"Yeah, pretty much," replied Mike.
George took a long suck on his pipe and ritually exhaled the smoke into the cold night air. "What makes you think for a second I would turn you down?" The older man smiled and began walking away. "Be ready in ten," he said, "I'll get what you need, then we'll set off."
Mike watched George walk away and he smiled to himself. He turned around to see Jules in conversation with Emma.
"Jules," he called, signalling for her to join him.
Jules looked at Emma with an expression of incredulity. "What the fuck stops him walking over here?" She walked across to where Mike was standing. "What is it?"
"Sit with me a minute, Jules," said Mike perching on one of the rocks. She sat down beside him and the two of them watched as the flurry of activity at the barricade continued. Mike took hold of Jules’ hand in both of his. "I know, I piss you off Jules. I know you don't like me much, but I have nothing but admiration for the way you looked after all those people back at the store. You are the only person who can take charge here. You are the only person who I trust to look after my family." Mike looked down at Jules’ hand as he held it in his and squeezed it gently. "Since meeting you and your people Jules, I've realised that there is still good out there. That there are still good people. I was wrong all this time. I thought I had to do everything by myself, I thought I could trust no one. But, you, George, even your fucking idiot brothers. Your hearts are good." Mike's eyes became teary, and Jules slid her hand out of his and put her arm around him. "Promise me if it gets to that stage, that you'll take my brother and sister and get out of here... That you'll hop on a boat or something and just slip into the night. Find somewhere safe, make a new start."
Jules squeezed his shoulder. "Firstly, I fuckin’ love you, y'daft prick. Second, of course I'll hold the fort down until you get back, but you will get back, make no mistake. And if for some reason, there's a bit of a delay, then yes, I'll take Sammy and Jake and we'll find somewhere safe until you find us... Good enough?" she said, still holding him as his tears fell onto the ground. He nodded. She leaned in and kissed the side of his head. "Now don't let anyone see you crying y'big girl's blouse. You're meant to be the fuckin’ hard man around here."
