Bad Luck and Worse Choices by Gareth Lewis

Author:Gareth Lewis
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, crime, suspense, action, pulp, chase
Publisher: Gareth Lewis

Chapter 21

Joaquim lowered his gun. It was still pointed vaguely in Mindy’s direction, and his grip remained firm. ‘What do you know?’

Charlotte hadn’t drawn her gun, and didn’t want to. The fact Mindy’s wasn’t out offered some hope, if not as much as Charlotte might like.

‘The job was all a con,’ said Mindy, turning to glare at Harry. ‘Wasn’t it?’

Harry glanced weakly among them. ‘Sorry,’ he said, short of breath. ‘No choice.’

‘Wait,’ said Bart. ‘He set us up against these Russian nuts?’

‘You tortured and killed Spencer to learn it was him, didn’t you?’ said Joaquim.

‘I tortured him for the identity of our backer,’ Mindy said in a matter-of-fact tone. ‘I killed him because of his role in setting us up.’

‘Never supposed to...’ Harry had to fight for a breath. ‘...alert Kulakhin.’

‘These are Kulakhin’s people?’ said Joaquim. ‘Great. That’s just great. Thanks a lot.’

‘I take it this Kulakhin isn’t the kind who can be reasoned with,’ said Charlotte.

‘Not short of kneeling before him and offering your throat in hopes of a quick death.’

‘Spencer was supposed to have come to us after we’d cased the joint,’ said Mindy. ‘He’d claim to have uncovered the link to Kulakhin, he’d scrap the job, and we’d all walk away thinking we’d escaped a close shave. And Harry would keep the MCG machine.’

‘Why?’ asked Joaquim. ‘Has he got a buyer for it?’

‘Emily,’ said Charlotte.

‘Who?’ asked Bart.

‘His daughter. She was ill.’

‘Relapsed,’ said Harry. ‘Can’t afford the... places that can treat her.’

‘So you had us steal her treatment,’ said Joaquim.

‘Medical insurance not enough,’ Harry wheezed. ‘Please, take it to the doc.’ He fumbled in his pocket, his bloodied hand barely reaching it, and took out a piece of paper. He tried holding it out, but lacked the strength.

The gunshot was deafening in the confined space, crashing in on Charlotte from all sides. When she recovered her senses, she found the other similarly shaken.

Joaquim’s gun was back on Mindy, as she lowered hers. ‘Why?’ His question had an unsteady, tinny sound in the aftermath.

‘He betrayed us,’ Mindy growled. ‘Just like my old crew did to me. So yeah, I killed them. If you can’t have even a basic trust, then you have nothing. You’re not a crew. He had to die. And I was getting tired of listening to him. Will this be a problem?’

She met their gazes in turn. The gun remained at her side, but there was no doubt that could change.

‘Okay then,’ she said after a few moments. ‘I’m sorry this job was a lie. Maybe we’ll work together again.’

It probably wasn’t intended as a threat, but Charlotte breathed easier as Mindy walked out the door.

‘I never want to work with that psycho again,’ said Bart, rubbing his ears.

‘Shut up,’ said Joaquim, holstering his gun. ‘Or I’ll tell her you were recording us, and you’ll never work with anyone again.’ He headed for the door.

‘You’re going too?’ said Charlotte.

He stopped to look back. ‘Yes. The job’s blown. This safehouse has a dead body. I’m not relying on the gunshot not having been heard or reported.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.