Chapter 2
Aaron and Spence were out of the house early the next morning. Neither felt like eating, so they both had strong coffee with sugar.
It was not a long drive to Manhattan from Quantico, but Aaron needed to get a feel for the place, check where he was to deposit the money. They booked a twin hotel room, and Spencer stayed in it studying a map of the area where 326th Street was while Aaron went out to reconnoiter.
Spence had never been here before so it was all new for him. He checked the map carefully.
Opposite the end of the street where Aaron was to drop the money was a little alley way. He decided that that was the best place to watch the drop from. He was unhappy that Aaron was going to have to wait around for them to bring Sean to him. He was glad that he was going to be there. If anything went wrong………..
He tried not to think about that.
Aaron was back in the hotel early evening.
"The drop spot is easy to find," said Aaron, "I don't think there will be anyone around at one in the morning. It is mostly warehouses and industrial premises."
"I've seen an alley way on the map where I can watch from." said Spencer. "If you drive me to the other end of the alley about half an hour before, I can be in position and watch so nothing goes wrong." He picked up his gun and put it in his pocket. "I've been practicing!"
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It seemed a long time to wait. They ordered room service, but they were both too pent up to eat. Aaron was scared for his brother. There had been blood on the lock of hair that they sent. Aaron's mind just flew round in circles….what if…….
He didn't feel he could voice his fears. Spencer was already running on adrenalin. He was sitting on the very edge of the bed, rocking, and wringing his hands.
Aaron sat by him and took Spencer's hands in his.
"It's going to be ok, you know. I'll pay up, Sean goes free, and that's it." Aaron turned Spencer's face towards him. "It's going to be ok."
"Statistically, it's the best option, I know. But it's usually someone else, not you, who is in danger. I don't know how I would handle it if anything happened." Spencer's eyes were huge and frightened. "When I thought you were….."
Aaron squeezed his hands. "That's gone now, Spence. In the past. You don't have to think about that any more. He pulled Spencer close.
"You did the right thing, and because of that, I'm here. I'm alive."
Spencer clung to him, so grateful for the closeness, so afraid he would lose it, like he lost everyone he ever allowed himself to get close to.
His Dad,
His Mum,
Brady,
Gideon,
How would he cope if he lost Aaron?
The answer was simple. He wouldn't cope.
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Midnight.
Aaron and Spencer left the hotel room together. Neither spoke except Spencer as he directed Aaron to the back of the alley way where he was going to hide. Spencer got out of the car, and reached across to Aaron.
"Be careful." was all he said.
He gave his arm a squeeze and closed the car door. He jogged down the alley way to the other end. There was rubbish on the floor, and dumpsters all along its length. He found a place at the end that was a good vantage point, where he would not be visible to anyone in the street. He could see the bin from there, and he had a good view up and down the street. He tilted his watch towards the street light and checked the time.
12.35
He felt himself lose control of his breathing. He closed his eyes, and breathed carefully, trying not to hyperventilate. The last thing he needed now was to have a panic attack. Slowly he regained control. He was shaking with effort.
He checked the time again.
12.47
He saw Aaron park his car up the road, and get out and lean on the car. He had the money in a hold all over his shoulder. Spencer reached down to take his gun from his pocket.
But he never touched it.
It was at that moment that someone clubbed him on the back of the head.
Spencer moaned softly and fell to his knees. He wrapped his arms around his head.
The next blow hit him across the back of the neck.
Spencer fell forward into a pile of rubbish.
He didn't move again.
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12.44
Aaron leaned on the car for a few minutes, and checked the time.
12.48
He walked slowly towards the bin. He was nervous, his hands were shaking. He had done ransom drops before, but only with the local PD as back up. This time, there was only Spence.
He did not want to involve Spencer in this, but he couldn't stop him.
And Sean's life very likely depended on what happened in the next few minutes.
This had to go right.
12.52
He wished he had pulled rank and ordered Spence to stay in the hotel. But he knew that that would have been a waste of breath. Spencer's loyalty would not have allowed Aaron to do this alone.
He carefully didn't look towards the alley way.
He checked the time.
12.59
He waited for thirty seconds, and approached the bin. Without looking round, he dropped the hold all into the bin, and backed towards the wall that ran the length of the street.
The black van came round the corner at that moment. The van stopped next to the bin. Aaron waited.
Two men with masks and guns got out.
"Where's Sean?"
They ignored him, and walked past the bin without even looking in it. The guns were pointing ay Aaron. One of them carried a club.
The blood on it reflected the street lights.
Aaron felt a rush of fear.
"We told you to come alone!" one said.
"But we're kind of glad you didn't!" the other pointed the gun directly between Aaron's eyes. Aaron backed up to the wall and held his hands up. He was twisted round to face the wall, and his hands were tied behind his back.
The man with the club swung his weapon and hit him hard in the kidneys. With a cry he crashed to the floor. Unable to save himself, he hit the side of his face on the wall. He felt his nose bleed, and he tasted blood in his mouth.
He groaned with shock and pain.
He was pulled upright again, turning him to face them.
And the men took their masks off.
"Thank you so much for bringing Goldilocks with you!" one grinned. "That is an unexpected bonus."
Aaron knew instantly who they were.
And he knew they were unlikely to let them live.
The club was swung again into Aaron's stomach. He doubled up in agony and fell sideways. He drew his knees up to try to protect himself. Coughing and gagging, he instinctively tried to crawl out of reach, but the club crashed down onto the back of his head.
His last thoughts were of Spencer.
They had Spence,
And it was his fault.