Imperfection (DI Gardener 2)

“He can’t slip back to this place any longer. We know about it. As soon as he leaves here, we can set up roadblocks and we can have men on stations and airports. He’s going nowhere fast, so give him his moment of glory.”

“Listen to him, Mr Gardener. He’s talking sense.” Corndell stood with his arms folded, as if he had already won the battle.

Laura whined. One glance at her and Gardener knew Briggs was right. She could not hold that stance very much longer.

Gardener ran his hands down his face, thoroughly frustrated. Where the hell was Sean Reilly when he needed him?

Gardener raised his hands in the air. “Okay, you win, Mr Corndell. How are we going to play this?”

Chapter Fifty-nine

Corndell chuckled, he had them where he wanted them. And they hadn’t seen the half of it yet.

He drew his right hand toward his pocket, reassuring himself everything was in place, and that he maintained the advantage. He wondered how far he would be able to push it, making them dance to his merry tune.

Glancing at Laura, Corndell realized there was a slight amount of slack in the rope around her neck: time to ramp up the tension.

He turned. As he reached out for the lever, he had a shock of his own to deal with.

“No you don’t, sunshine,” said Sean Reilly, punching Corndell straight in the mouth, more than once.

Corndell fell back, crashing into the side of the box.

Reilly punched him once more and Corndell fell flat on his arse, winded and slightly dazed.

The Irishman grabbed Corndell by the scruff of his neck. “I haven’t finished with you, sunshine. I’m going out there to free my wee wife and then I’m coming back in here to finish you off.

Corndell’s head was swimming. He felt like he’d been hit by a battering ram.

Reilly grabbed his right hand, quickly handcuffing it to the rail running around the box.

“You’re going nowhere.”

Chapter Sixty

Gardener heard the crash as an aluminium ladder was thrown over the side of the box, landing in the soft earth with a clump. “Where the hell’s that come from?” Gardener peered up toward the box. He couldn’t see Corndell.

“What the hell are you up to, Corndell?” shouted Gardener, tramping forward, which wasn’t easy due to the soil underfoot. Was he about to play another game: allow them to try and save Laura but perhaps lower the column at the last second?

The silence was condemning.

“What fucking perverse game is he up to now?” Briggs asked Gardener.

“He isn’t up to anything,” said Reilly, appearing stage left. He headed straight for the ladder.

Gardener lurched forward and helped his partner part the ladder despite it being nowhere near stable enough to climb.

Briggs ran to help. “Where the hell is Corndell?”

“Don’t worry,” replied Reilly, “he isn’t going anywhere.”

Knowing his partner better than anyone, Gardener wondered if he’d already killed Corndell. It was a fleeting thought, so he doubted and dismissed it.

“Sir,” said Gardener to Briggs, “grab the other side of the ladder, let’s do the best we can. I doubt it will be stable enough but Laura has very little time left.”

The first time Reilly attempted to climb it, the ladder fell toward the pole, rocking it slightly, causing Laura some unnecessary panic. Gardener glanced upwards and his heart flew into his mouth as Laura rocked forward. Thankfully, she kept her balance.

“Jesus Christ!” shouted Reilly. “He’s a dead man when I’m through here.”