Kang tilted his head on one side but he kept the gun pointed at Laura’s head. ‘Who sent you?’

  ‘No one sent me,’ said Ray. ‘It’s over, Teddy. Let her go and I’ll let you walk out of here alive.’

  ‘You’re not telling me what to do,’ said Kang, his finger tightening on the trigger.

  ‘I need you to listen to me very carefully, Teddy,’ said Ray. ‘You’ve got a gun, and I’ve got a gun. I’m pointing my gun at you and you’re pointing yours at her. So that’s a stalemate. What do they call it? A Mexican standoff?’

  ‘What the fuck are you talking about?’ Tears were running down Laura’s cheeks.

  ‘What I’m talking about is what happens next. If you pull that trigger then she dies, but so do you. Because the second, the absolute second, that you pull that trigger I will start shooting I won’t stop until every single bullet is in your head. Do you understand that?’

  ‘I understand, but she’ll be dead. And I don’t think you want that.’

  ‘You’re right. I don’t. So why don’t we stop this now. You let her go and I let you walk away. I don’t give a fuck about you, Teddy. Either way. Alive or dead, it’s the same to me.’

  Kang tapped the gun against Laura’s temple and she winced. ‘Why don’t you walk away and I’ll let her live?’

  ‘She and the boy are coming with me,’ said Ray. He waved the gun at Kang. ‘The only question is whether you are able to walk away, or not.’

  ‘You shoot me and I’ll still pull the trigger,’ said Kang.

  ‘Maybe,’ said Ray. ‘Or maybe I pull the trigger and you die instantaneously. Like flicking a switch.’

  Kang nodded. ‘It’s a gamble. Are you prepared to risk her life on a gamble?’

  Ray shrugged. ‘I’d prefer not to.’

  ‘So go away,’ said Kang. ‘Go away and the woman lives.’

  Ray shook his head. ‘She’s coming with me.’

  Kang said nothing for several seconds. ‘The men downstairs,’ he said eventually. ‘What have you done to them?’

  ‘One of them’s out cold. The one in the kitchen. The others…’ He shrugged.

  ‘You killed them?’

  ‘It was them or me,’ said Ray.

  Kang gritted his teeth.

  ‘Let her go, Teddy.’

  ‘Fuck you.’

  ‘Yeah, fuck you too. Teddy, either you pull that trigger and I shoot you. Or you try to shoot me and I shoot you. Either way, I shoot you. The only way I don’t shoot you is if you walk away now.’ He pointed his gun at Kang’s head. ‘Now stop fucking about and let her go.’

  CHAPTER 80

  ‘Shoot!’ shouted Moretti at the top of his voice. ‘What the hell are you waiting for?’ The Italian was at the edge of the penalty box, two defenders between him and the Chelsea goal. Moretti had made a long run after getting the ball from Wood, outrunning three Chelsea players before chipping the ball across to Gabe, who had been running parallel to him.

  The Chelsea goalkeeper had been wrong-footed and had slipped as he’d changed direction, sprawling across his goal line. Gabe had trapped the ball smoothly enough but had hesitated and given the keeper chance to spring to his feet. He made to pass the ball back to Wood but then swivelled and kicked the ball at the keeper. To the spectators it might have looked as if Gabe was trying to score but the keeper had no problem in pushing the ball above the crossbar.

  Moretti ran over to Gabe, red-faced and angry. ‘What the fuck was that?’ asked Moretti. ‘You had an open goal.’

  Gabe smiled thinly. ‘Sorry, mate. He was up like a fucking jack-in-the-box.’

  Moretti shook his head scornfully. ‘You had an open goal,’ he repeated.

  Gabe shrugged and jogged away. This time Wood retrieved the ball and placed it by the corner flag. Gabe waved at him. ‘I’ll take it, Jason!’ he shouted.

  Wood picked up the ball and held it to his chest. ‘Joe says I’m to take the corners.’

  ‘Yeah, well today I’m captain and I’m taking the kick.’

  Wood shook his head. ‘Gabe, Joe told me to take the corners. He wasn’t happy with the way you took that last one and he said it wasn’t to happen again. If you want to argue with him, that’s up to you.’ He nodded over at the touchline. Gabe turned to see McNamara standing on the pitch, shouting and pointing at Wood. His shouts were lost in the noise of the crowd, but it was clear the message he was trying to convey. Gabe shrugged. ‘Fine,’ he said. ‘Whatever.’

  He turned his back on Wood and jogged to the far corner of the penalty box. Moretti and Babacar were already in position, jostling for space. Armati and Fernandez had moved up and as Wood put the ball down on the ground and moved back, they broke left and right.

  Wood took three quick steps and sent the ball across the grass to Fernandez who immediately turned and passed it to Maplethorpe who had made a run from the halfway line and was unmarked. Maplethorpe charged forward with the ball seemingly glued to his feet until a defender ran to block his way. Maplethorpe feinted right but went left and as he passed the defender he chipped the ball high to Fernandez. Fernandez nodded the ball down to Armati and the Italian took one step before crossing it to Babacar. Babacar turned on the spot and hit the ball with so much force that the sound was heard at the back of the stadium. The ball shot through the air but the keeper was already jumping for it and it cannoned off his glove and over the crossbar. The United fans roared in frustration as Wood went to retrieve the ball again.

  Gabe wiped the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve. He looked up at the clock on the scoreboard. It was five minutes past four. Time seemed to be crawling at a snail’s pace. If he could just keep the score at 2-1, then everything would be all right. Maybe.

  CHAPTER 81

  Laura blinked away the tears’ knowing that she had to do something if she and Ollie were going to survive. Ray was pointing his gun at Kang but she didn’t believe that he would pull the trigger, not while Kang had his gun pressed against her head. She was fairly sure she had cut through most of the tape and that if she really made an effort she could break free of her bonds. But if she did that there was a good chance the man in the ski mask would pull the trigger.

  She stared at Ray, trying desperately to get eye contact. He was staring at the man by her side, his eyes hard.

  ‘Ray,’ she said quietly.

  He looked at her. ‘Don’t worry, Laura. I’ve got this.’

  ‘Just put your gun down like he says, Ray.’

  ‘If I do that, he’ll shoot me. Then you. I know what I’m doing, darling. Just be cool.’

  She narrowed her eyes, then stared at the floor. Back to him. Then to the floor. He frowned, wondering what she was doing. She gritted her teeth in frustration. Why didn’t he understand what she was trying to tell him? She stared at the floor again. Then back at his eyes. Then the floor. Then she let the clippers fall from her fingers.

  CHAPTER 82

  The United defence had been caught off guard and were scrambling to get after the Chelsea striker as he made his run down the right wing. The pass had been unexpected, more by luck than judgement, Gabe thought, but the striker was taking full advantage of the confusion.

  Maplethorpe was on the man’s heels and tried a tackle that would almost certainly have merited a yellow card if it had connected but the striker easily avoided it and sped on towards the United goal. Ronnie Watts was just in front of his goal line, his arms out to the side as he bounced on his tiptoes. He was totally focussed on the player with the ball, ignoring all the shouting and jostling that was going on around him. The player drew back his right foot to kick and Watts crouched, but then he flicked the ball to his right where another striker was charging across the penalty box. The pass was perfect, straight to the man’s head, and he hit it with a powerful snap that sent the ball powering towards the goal. Watts leapt and just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar and collective sighs wheezed around the stadium, followed by an outburst of tumultuous hand-clapping and cheers.

  Watts picked himself up and acknowledged the applause from the crowd as Gabe gritted his teeth in frustration. Chelsea were still ahead but 3-1 would have been so much better than 2-1 because if United scored just one more goal then Laura and Ollie would be dead.

  One of the Chelsea forwards retrieved the ball and got ready to take the corner. Gabe started jogging towards the United goal but McNamara screamed at him to stay where he was. Gabe stopped and looked over at the coach. McNamara pointed towards the centre spot. ‘The defence can handle it!’ shouted McNamara. ‘Stay put!’

  Gabe nodded and stood with his hands on his hips. The United defence clearly could handle it, that was the problem.

  The corner kick was high and wide and bounced a good ten feet away from the nearest Chelsea player. Mancini pounced on it and carefully passed it to Watts who kicked it towards the Chelsea goal. Armati snapped it up and started his run. Gabe knew that he should be running flat out to keep pace with the Italian but he ran just slowly enough so that Armati drew ahead. Armati looked over his shoulder to see where Gabe was and as he did a Chelsea defender shouldered him and he span around and rolled onto the grass. The defender got the ball under control and passed it to a midfielder who sent it back to the Chelsea keeper.

  Armati got to his feet and rubbed his hands on his shirt. He glared over at Gabe. ‘Where the hell were you?’ he shouted, but Gabe turned away without answering.

  CHAPTER 83

  Ray saw the metal object fall behind Laura and land on the carpet, soundlessly. His frown deepened. What was it? He still had his gun aimed at Kang’s head, his finger on the trigger, but he glanced down at the floor by Laura’s bare feet. Nail clippers, he realised. She’d been holding nail clippers. And she’d dropped them deliberately which meant she was trying to send him a message. He smiled at her. Clever girl. ‘How do we end this, Teddy?’ he asked.

  ‘You drop your gun. Then you get the fuck out of the house.’

  ‘I need to take her and the kid with me.’

  Kang shook his head. ‘They stay.’

  ‘How do I know you won’t kill them?’

  ‘You don’t have any choice, because if you stay they’re going to die anyway.’

  Ray nodded slowly, then lowered his gun. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘I’m going.’

  Kang gestured with his chin. ‘Throw the gun away. Do it.’

  Ray sighed. ‘Okay,’ he said. He tossed the Smith and Wesson onto the bed.

  Kang laughed harshly and pointed his gun at Ray. ‘How fucking stupid are you?’ spat Kang.

  Laura grunted as she pulled her arms apart. The last of the duct tape parted with a ripping sound and she reached up with both hands, pushing Kang’s gun away so that it pointed at the wall. He screamed at her but she gripped his wrist so tightly that her nails bit into his flesh.

  Ray pulled the Glock from his shoulder holster and pointed it at Kang’s head. He pulled the trigger twice. The ski mask collapsed and the back of his head splattered across the wall. Kang fell to the floor in a crumpled heap, his gun still in his hand.

  Laura lost her balance and started to fall but Ray rushed forward and caught her. He lowered her back onto the bed, put his pistol back in its holster, picked up the nail clippers and used them to cut away the duct tape binding her ankles. ‘Ollie,’ she gasped.

  ‘Are you okay?’ asked Ray.

  Laura stood up and hurried over to her son. She bent down and kissed him on the forehead. ‘Oh honey,’ she said. ‘It’s okay, it’s all okay now.’

  Ray went to join her at the sofa and cut the tape around the boy’s legs and then rolled him onto his side and cut the tape fastening his wrists. As soon as he was free, Ollie sat up and hugged Laura. ‘I was so scared,’ he said, his voice faltering.

  ‘It’s all right now, honey,’ said Laura, hugging him so hard that he gasped.

  Ray looked at his watch. It was almost ten past four. ‘We have to go,’ he said.

  ‘Who is he, mum?’ asked Ollie.

  ‘This is your Uncle Ray.’

  ‘My uncle. I thought Uncle Jake was my uncle.’

  ‘Uncle Jake is my brother,’ said Laura. ‘Uncle Ray is your daddy’s brother.’

  Ray solemnly stuck out his hand. ‘Pleased to meet you, Ollie,’ he said.

  Ollie shook his hand, his uncertainty showing in his face.

  ‘I’m going to carry you downstairs now, Ollie,’ said Ray. ‘I need you to do something for me.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m going to pick you up and carry you to the car,’ said Ray. ‘I want you to cover your eyes with your hands.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘Because there are some people downstairs who got hurt and it’s best you don’t see them.’

  ‘They’re not zombies?’

  Ray laughed. ‘No, kid, they’re not coming back to life, that’s for sure.’ He scooped up the boy. ‘Now cover your eyes.’

  Ray looked over at Laura. ‘Stay close to me,’ he said. ‘There’s no one downstairs who can hurt you but it’s not pretty.’

  She swallowed nervously and nodded. ‘Okay.’

  ‘We’re going to go downstairs and outside. We’re going to get into my Range Rover and we’ll go to the stadium.’

  ‘Why don’t we just call the police?’

  ‘Because I’m in no mood to start explaining what happened here today. And Gabe needs to know that you’re okay.’

  He held Ollie with his left arm and took his gun out with his right hand.

  ‘I thought you said there was no one downstairs,’ said Laura.

  ‘Better safe than sorry,’ said Ray, heading for the door. ‘Stay close.’

  CHAPTER 84

  Babacar had the ball and was charging towards the Chelsea goal. Gabe was over to his right and he called for a pass, but Babacar ignored him. A burly defender moved to block Babacar’s way but the Senegalese managed to get the ball between the man’s legs and past him in less than a second. The crowd roared its approval as yet again Babacar demonstrated why he was worth his £32 million transfer fee. Babacar drew back his leg to kick the ball to Moretti over on his left but it was a bluff and he started running to his right. Gabe shouted for the ball but Babacar ignored him.

  The keeper was off his line and shouting for back-up. He had his arms out and was on the balls of his feet, then he took two steps closer to Babacar, trying to limit his options.

  Babacar reached the edge of the penalty area and the keeper moved closer, waving his gloved hands. Gabe shouted again for the ball but Babacar paid him no attention. He went left, then right, then drew back his leg to shoot but before he could make the kick he was hit from behind by one of the Chelsea midfields, a wicked sliding tackle that took his left leg from underneath him.

  The ball rolled away and was scooped up by the keeper. Babacar rolled onto his back and held his injured ankle, his face contorted in agony. The referee blew his whistle and indicated a free kick, just outside the penalty box. Moretti was immediately in the referee’s face, shouting that the infraction had happened well inside the box and calling for a penalty. He was joined by Armati and the two Italians were waving their hands and shouting at the top of their voices. Gabe knew that they were right – Babacar had easily been inside the box when he had been brought down. The referee’s incongruous decision backed up Gabe’s suspicion that the man was also behind the plan to make sure that United lost.

  More United players crowded around the referee and he blew his whistle and waved them away. Gabe jogged over. ‘Guys, let it go,’ he said. ‘We’re wasting time here.’

  ‘The referee’s fucking blind!’ shouted Armati. ‘We all saw what happened.’ He glared over at the defender who had brought Babacar down and made a cut-throat gesture with his finger. The defender looked away.

  ‘It’s his call,’ said Gabe. ‘Right or wrong, he calls it as he sees it.’

  ‘He’s an idiot,’ said Armati. He pointed at the referee. ‘You’re a fucking idiot!’ he shouted. He grabbed his own crotch. ‘Mangia la minchia!’

  The referee’s face reddened and he walked over to Armati, pulling a yellow card from his shirt pocket. ‘You think I don’t know Italian?’ he shouted, waving the card in Armati’s face. ‘You’re booked. And you tell me to eat your dick again and you’ll be off. Are we clear?’

  Armati glared at the referee and then turned and jogged away.

  ‘Take the free kick,’ the referee said to Gabe. ‘And keep your team in line.’

  One of the Chelsea defenders kicked the ball over to Gabe and he placed it on the ground. The Chelsea defenders formed a line in the penalty box, most of them covering their groins. The keeper was back on his goal line shouting instructions. The players shuffled forward and the referee blew his whistle and pointed for them to get back beyond ten yards.

  Babacar got to his feet, tested his injured foot, then limped over to the edge of the penalty box. One of the midfielders jogged over to mark him. Moretti was over to Gabe’s right, also closely marked.

  The crowd was buzzing in anticipation. The defensive wall was shuffling forward again. Moretti was jostling with the defender, pushing him back and trying to tread on his feet.

  Gabe took two steps back, and took a quick look over towards Babacar. Babacar was testing his injured foot. He caught Gabe’s look and shook his head. He didn’t want the ball. Gabe looked over at Moretti. A defender was pulling Moretti’s shirt and the Italian was jabbing him in the chest with his elbow.

  Gabe started his run, hit the ball with all his might, and sent the ball powering over the wall and over the cross-bar. The keeper made a token jump but it was clear to everyone that the shot was going over. The Chelsea defence jeered at Gabe but he was already running back up the field. McNamara was standing at the side of the pitch, his arms outstretched. He was screaming something at Gabe but whatever he was shouting was lost in the noise of the crowd.

 

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