Outside The Shadows by David Costa

Author:David Costa [Costa, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-12-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 20

West Belfast

‘I need to go to the toilet,’ said Mary. She couldn’t see her watch, and she estimated they’d been here for at least three hours. Her shoulders, back, and wrists were starting to hurt. She needed to move. She needed to get the circulation back.

‘No problem, little lady, there’s a bucket in the corner you can use,’ said Mariad Bailey with a smirk on her face.

‘But I need at least to be able to get the circulation of blood back into my arms and legs. The hand ties are tight, and my arms are going numb. My hands and fingers are tingling. If your bosses really want me to be in good condition when you hand me over, then at least untie me and let me walk about for a few minutes. There’s three of you with guns, so I would be mad to try anything stupid.’

Walsh stood up from the chair at the table and, standing behind Mary, he examined her hands and arms. He could see the skin around the ties had turned purple and bruised. Taking a clasp knife from his trouser pocket, he opened the blade, then cut through the ties.

‘Just remember you’re the one who said it would be stupid for you to do anything. I would hate to have to tell my bosses that you tried to escape, and we had to shoot you.’

Mary felt her arms fall loose by her sides. A sudden flow of blood through her wrists into her hands felt like an electric shock. She stood and shook her arms by her sides until she felt the tingling disappear. She turned to look Walsh in the eye.

‘I’m not stupid, but I think you all are. No matter what happens to me there are people out there looking for us right now, and they’ll find you. When that happens, we’ll see who the stupid people really are.’

All three kidnappers smiled. Mariad Bailey walked around Mary slowly. When she stood in front of her, she laughed.

‘If your friends are looking for us, and if they find us, you’ll never know cos I’ll put a bullet in your head before they get through those doors. We don’t know why our people want you, but we know you’re a tout for the Brits. You might have had a wonderful background working for the Provos during the war. That all adds up to nothing if you’re a tout.’

‘And if I’m not a tout, what do you think will happen then? The war is over, and the peace process is more important than your little army,’ replied Mary.

‘Enough of the chat, Mariad. This bitch will get what’s coming to her soon enough. We just need to concentrate on what we must do. Don’t let her get in your head,’ said Walsh.

Walsh grabbed Mary’s arms from behind and shoved her back down into the chair.

‘We’ll tie your hands again if you try anything. Remember, one of us will always be watching you, so as you say, let’s not be stupid,’ said Walsh.

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