Kane stared at his brother, bewildered, an element of fear in his eyes. The last time he had visited his brother in prison was over a year ago. After he started seeing Kirsty he didn't feel like he needed Scott. Scott would only drag him back. Back into a life of crime. He was an expert at that.
Kirsty looked awkwardly across at Kane. She had heard all about Scott and his temper. The way he had frequently landed Kane in intensive care when he was younger. But surely he wouldn't do anything in hospital. He couldn't.
"Scott... hi"
He cleared his throat, nervously. He had no idea Scott had been released.
Scott reached into his coat slowly and Kane looked at him in alarm, possibilities flying through his head. Surely his own brother wasn't the one who had put him in that hospital bed. They were still family, despite everything that had happened. Scott grinned manically and withdrew his empty hand
"I'm joking bruv... lost your sense of humour or something?"
Kane sighed, continuing to eye his brother with suspicion, speaking through gritted teeth.
"Didn't know you were out"
"Got released early for good behaviour"
He pulled up a chair at the opposite side to the bed as Kirsty, slumping down, eyeing the girl opposite with curiosity. Making her nervous. Had Kane not been between them she'd have been terrified.
"What do you want, Scott?"
"What sort of question's that?! My brother's been shot and I have to have a reason to come for a visit?"
Kane didn't answer, knowing Scott never used to do anything selfless, but at the same time not wanting to insult his brother if he had reformed, unlikely as it looked. He hadn't even known he was getting out of prison.
"Doesn't look like you've done too badly for yourself bruv..."
Scott's eyes were still focused on Kirsty and she shuffled uneasily.
"I should probably get going... don't want to be late back"
She stood up, noting the slight smirk on Scott's face. No doubt relishing in his power over her. Kane reached up for her hand to stop her.
"No, you don't have to - "
Scott interrupts his brother.
"I guess I'll see you around then"
"Yeah... bye"
She debated whether or not to kiss Kane goodbye. She decided against it due to Scott's intimidating presence. Instead she squeezed his hand, leaving the room hurriedly, Scott's eyes following her to the door.
"You haven't done badly for yourself at all... I hear you're engaged - that was quick work... never saw you marrying and settling down quite so soon"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Nurse told me. Don't worry - I'm not psychic"
"Well, someone's got their wires crossed"
"So I'm not going to have to buy a new suit after all?"
Kane looked at him scornfully. Scott's arrival could only mean trouble. He could sound so patronising.
"So... how long are you planning on sticking around?"
"For as long as I fancy - thought it'd be nice to spend some time with my brother... I've hardly seen you since I got put away... well I can see why what with your new chick... but you and me used to be a team, remember? Us against the world... and when I catch up with whoever did this they'll wish they'd never set eyes on you"
Kane strained not to remember the past. He was ashamed of the things they had done together back then. Scott hadn't changed a bit. Still going on about them being a team. Claiming that they would always back one another up. The amount of trouble he'd got into due to Scott. The amount of lies he'd told to protect him when they were kids.
"Where are you staying?"
"What a question to ask! You've got a four bedroom house lying empty and I'm your favourite brother"
Kane frowned. Scott had a habit of backing him into corners. Forcing him to make decisions.
"You're my only brother... and no way are you staying at Rose's"
"It's not like she's there anymore - no need to talk as if the house still belongs to her"
Scott looked at Kane, a look of warning. Kane looked away, refusing to be swayed.
"I said no"
Scott's glare turns more hostile, his voice forceful.
"Look... mate... you should never have got that house anyway... Rose promised that I could have it when she kicked the bucket"
Kane muttered his response, disbelievingly.
"Yeah..."
"Yeah - her and Dad struck up a deal so that I'd get the house... they had it in writing and everything"
Kane recalled how Scott was always their Dad's favourite. They had done everything together. There had been a time when he had been jealous of the attention Scott received. Now he was just glad not to have played a part in their activities. It wasn't beyond belief that their Dad would have wanted Scott to inherit the house and that he had done some sort of deal with Rose. More likely, his Dad would have scared her into it. She and Scott had never been close. Her giving the house to him of free will seemed impossible.
"I didn't see your name written on the will... come to think of it you didn't even come to the funeral which shows how much you cared"
Scott's eyes glare menacingly at his brother, a warning not to push him further.
"That house is rightfully mine"
"The house is in my name. And it's staying in my name. And killing me is not going to get you my house either"
"You think it was me that shot you?!"
Kane looked at him, expressionless. He laughed in disbelief.
"Nah, I was at the other side of the country at the time - I received the call about it whilst I was in my hotel... so guess again at the mystery shooter..."
Scott stands up from his chair.
"I'll stay at the house until you're out of here... then we can discuss it properly... somewhere more... private"
Kane could tell what he meant. Scott would force him into the decision using violence. The only method of discussion he knew.
"I'm not giving you the keys"
"Who says I need keys?"
Scott walks out of the room. Kane lies helplessly in the hospital bed, beaten.
..............................
Carter and a constable walk up a hospital corridor.
"You were meant to be watching the room 24/7!"
"I needed the toilet"
"Then you should have called for relief... this is the victim of an attempted murder and I think a matter of life or death is more important than your bladder... if I find you off the job again you'll be on report... understand me?"
The officer looks embarrassed. He'd only left for a couple of minutes, after checking it was alright with Kane. Kane hadn't enjoyed being under surveillance anyway. The suspect would have to be mad to try something in the middle of a hospital.
"Sir"
The constable walks away and Carter pauses, withdrawing his phone. Scott approaches, walking past.
"Scott Phillips?"
He spins around.
"Who's asking?"
"Chief Inspector Carter"
"Oh, yeah... we've met before haven't we? Only you were Detective Inspector Carter back then... congratulations on the promotion..."
Carter ignored the patronising voice. He'd had dealings with Scott Phillips before. He would always try and talk himself off the hook.
"I need to ask you a few questions regarding your brother"
"Fire away"
"Where were you - "
Scott interrupts.
"At the time of the shooting? The other side of the country - my hotel will confirm it... I booked into a lovely little place after I was released... I'd recommend it"
"Could I have the contact details?"
"Sure... just tell them I recommended them to you... the owner's a good mate of mine"
Carter's face remained expressionless. Unimpressed by the young mans cocky attitude.
Scott scribbled an address onto a scrap of paper and handed it to him. Carter mutters his thanks through gritted teeth.
"Can I go now - I've got places to go... people to see... you know how it is"
Scott walked away up the corridor, without waiting for a reply.
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Kirsty enters, throwing her bag onto the sofa, before sitting down.
"Something wrong?"
Rhys approached from the kitchen
"What apart from my boyfriend being shot and all my friends and family being suspects?"
Rhys sat awkwardly next to her, putting his hand on her arm. She pulled away.
"Look Kirst... I know this isn't easy for you... but you've got your whole family for support"
"The only person I trust right now is Kane"
Her Dad looked uneasy. Hurt.
"I was here with Nick at the time... I wouldn't do anything like that... I wouldn't even know how to get hold of a gun"
Kirsty nodded. She didn't think he'd have the guts to pull the trigger, but he had still tried to stop them being together. That was enough in itself to drive a wedge between father and daughter.
"Nothing makes any sense at all Dad"
She looked at him, seeking any type of reassurance
"And just to make things worse Scott Phillips is back in the Bay... why is everything going wrong?"
She was in tears now. She hadn't slept properly since Kane was taken to hospital.
..............................
POLICE STATION
Carter enters.
"Sir... we've obtained new information..."
"Go on"
"We had a couple of officers take a look at Mr Phillips' car"
"Kane's?"
"Yeah... someone had cut the brake cables... whoever it was wasn't taking any chances"
"How do you know we're looking at the same person?"
"We don't... but I can't see two people taking a chance on his life on the same day... it's too big a coincidence"
"It's still a possibility... let me know what forensics get on the car"
"Sir."
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Morning
"Nick!"
Irene raised her voice and he emerged, bleary eyed from his bedroom, having just been awoken from a deep sleep.
"Did you do this?"
He walked forward, looking towards where she was indicating. A large dark stain on the pale carpet, clumsily disguised by the edge of the rug.
"Yeah... sorry... I meant to tidy that up... I just spilt a milkshake on it when I was watching the football"
"How long ago"
She frowned at the stain, doubtful that she could ever remove it. It looked like it had been there for a good few days.
"It was only two days ago"
"I thought you told the police you watched it with Rhys"
Nick looked up in alarm, realising his error.
"I... watched the start of the game here before I went over to the caravan park"
His tone of voice gave him away immediately.
"Did Rhys ask you to lie for him?"
"Not exactly... look, Rhys wouldn't do something like that... he hates Kane but he wouldn't have tried to kill him... we were just doing each other a favour by saying we were together at the time"
Irene shook her head at him, exasperated. He could win awards for his naivety. Rhys would have been one of the prime suspects and Nick was covering for him. As much as Irene doubted Rhys' ability to pull that trigger, she was all too aware of the seriousness of Nick's actions.
"You wouldn't have been a suspect anyway"
"I'm Seb's best mate... Kirsty dumping him for Kane... it devastated him"
He hadn't thought much about it at the time. Just that he had hated Kane when Seb had told him the full story. That he had felt like killing him just to do Seb a favour. Irene picked up her keys
"Come on"
"Where are we going?"
"You're going to tell the police everything you just told me"
"It'll just cause more trouble - what harm's it going to do?"
"Less harm than if you keep on lying"
He followed her reluctantly out to the car. It would place he and Rhys firmly back onto the suspect list, that much was obvious.
Kirsty looked awkwardly across at Kane. She had heard all about Scott and his temper. The way he had frequently landed Kane in intensive care when he was younger. But surely he wouldn't do anything in hospital. He couldn't.
"Scott... hi"
He cleared his throat, nervously. He had no idea Scott had been released.
Scott reached into his coat slowly and Kane looked at him in alarm, possibilities flying through his head. Surely his own brother wasn't the one who had put him in that hospital bed. They were still family, despite everything that had happened. Scott grinned manically and withdrew his empty hand
"I'm joking bruv... lost your sense of humour or something?"
Kane sighed, continuing to eye his brother with suspicion, speaking through gritted teeth.
"Didn't know you were out"
"Got released early for good behaviour"
He pulled up a chair at the opposite side to the bed as Kirsty, slumping down, eyeing the girl opposite with curiosity. Making her nervous. Had Kane not been between them she'd have been terrified.
"What do you want, Scott?"
"What sort of question's that?! My brother's been shot and I have to have a reason to come for a visit?"
Kane didn't answer, knowing Scott never used to do anything selfless, but at the same time not wanting to insult his brother if he had reformed, unlikely as it looked. He hadn't even known he was getting out of prison.
"Doesn't look like you've done too badly for yourself bruv..."
Scott's eyes were still focused on Kirsty and she shuffled uneasily.
"I should probably get going... don't want to be late back"
She stood up, noting the slight smirk on Scott's face. No doubt relishing in his power over her. Kane reached up for her hand to stop her.
"No, you don't have to - "
Scott interrupts his brother.
"I guess I'll see you around then"
"Yeah... bye"
She debated whether or not to kiss Kane goodbye. She decided against it due to Scott's intimidating presence. Instead she squeezed his hand, leaving the room hurriedly, Scott's eyes following her to the door.
"You haven't done badly for yourself at all... I hear you're engaged - that was quick work... never saw you marrying and settling down quite so soon"
"Where did you hear that?"
"Nurse told me. Don't worry - I'm not psychic"
"Well, someone's got their wires crossed"
"So I'm not going to have to buy a new suit after all?"
Kane looked at him scornfully. Scott's arrival could only mean trouble. He could sound so patronising.
"So... how long are you planning on sticking around?"
"For as long as I fancy - thought it'd be nice to spend some time with my brother... I've hardly seen you since I got put away... well I can see why what with your new chick... but you and me used to be a team, remember? Us against the world... and when I catch up with whoever did this they'll wish they'd never set eyes on you"
Kane strained not to remember the past. He was ashamed of the things they had done together back then. Scott hadn't changed a bit. Still going on about them being a team. Claiming that they would always back one another up. The amount of trouble he'd got into due to Scott. The amount of lies he'd told to protect him when they were kids.
"Where are you staying?"
"What a question to ask! You've got a four bedroom house lying empty and I'm your favourite brother"
Kane frowned. Scott had a habit of backing him into corners. Forcing him to make decisions.
"You're my only brother... and no way are you staying at Rose's"
"It's not like she's there anymore - no need to talk as if the house still belongs to her"
Scott looked at Kane, a look of warning. Kane looked away, refusing to be swayed.
"I said no"
Scott's glare turns more hostile, his voice forceful.
"Look... mate... you should never have got that house anyway... Rose promised that I could have it when she kicked the bucket"
Kane muttered his response, disbelievingly.
"Yeah..."
"Yeah - her and Dad struck up a deal so that I'd get the house... they had it in writing and everything"
Kane recalled how Scott was always their Dad's favourite. They had done everything together. There had been a time when he had been jealous of the attention Scott received. Now he was just glad not to have played a part in their activities. It wasn't beyond belief that their Dad would have wanted Scott to inherit the house and that he had done some sort of deal with Rose. More likely, his Dad would have scared her into it. She and Scott had never been close. Her giving the house to him of free will seemed impossible.
"I didn't see your name written on the will... come to think of it you didn't even come to the funeral which shows how much you cared"
Scott's eyes glare menacingly at his brother, a warning not to push him further.
"That house is rightfully mine"
"The house is in my name. And it's staying in my name. And killing me is not going to get you my house either"
"You think it was me that shot you?!"
Kane looked at him, expressionless. He laughed in disbelief.
"Nah, I was at the other side of the country at the time - I received the call about it whilst I was in my hotel... so guess again at the mystery shooter..."
Scott stands up from his chair.
"I'll stay at the house until you're out of here... then we can discuss it properly... somewhere more... private"
Kane could tell what he meant. Scott would force him into the decision using violence. The only method of discussion he knew.
"I'm not giving you the keys"
"Who says I need keys?"
Scott walks out of the room. Kane lies helplessly in the hospital bed, beaten.
..............................
Carter and a constable walk up a hospital corridor.
"You were meant to be watching the room 24/7!"
"I needed the toilet"
"Then you should have called for relief... this is the victim of an attempted murder and I think a matter of life or death is more important than your bladder... if I find you off the job again you'll be on report... understand me?"
The officer looks embarrassed. He'd only left for a couple of minutes, after checking it was alright with Kane. Kane hadn't enjoyed being under surveillance anyway. The suspect would have to be mad to try something in the middle of a hospital.
"Sir"
The constable walks away and Carter pauses, withdrawing his phone. Scott approaches, walking past.
"Scott Phillips?"
He spins around.
"Who's asking?"
"Chief Inspector Carter"
"Oh, yeah... we've met before haven't we? Only you were Detective Inspector Carter back then... congratulations on the promotion..."
Carter ignored the patronising voice. He'd had dealings with Scott Phillips before. He would always try and talk himself off the hook.
"I need to ask you a few questions regarding your brother"
"Fire away"
"Where were you - "
Scott interrupts.
"At the time of the shooting? The other side of the country - my hotel will confirm it... I booked into a lovely little place after I was released... I'd recommend it"
"Could I have the contact details?"
"Sure... just tell them I recommended them to you... the owner's a good mate of mine"
Carter's face remained expressionless. Unimpressed by the young mans cocky attitude.
Scott scribbled an address onto a scrap of paper and handed it to him. Carter mutters his thanks through gritted teeth.
"Can I go now - I've got places to go... people to see... you know how it is"
Scott walked away up the corridor, without waiting for a reply.
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Kirsty enters, throwing her bag onto the sofa, before sitting down.
"Something wrong?"
Rhys approached from the kitchen
"What apart from my boyfriend being shot and all my friends and family being suspects?"
Rhys sat awkwardly next to her, putting his hand on her arm. She pulled away.
"Look Kirst... I know this isn't easy for you... but you've got your whole family for support"
"The only person I trust right now is Kane"
Her Dad looked uneasy. Hurt.
"I was here with Nick at the time... I wouldn't do anything like that... I wouldn't even know how to get hold of a gun"
Kirsty nodded. She didn't think he'd have the guts to pull the trigger, but he had still tried to stop them being together. That was enough in itself to drive a wedge between father and daughter.
"Nothing makes any sense at all Dad"
She looked at him, seeking any type of reassurance
"And just to make things worse Scott Phillips is back in the Bay... why is everything going wrong?"
She was in tears now. She hadn't slept properly since Kane was taken to hospital.
..............................
POLICE STATION
Carter enters.
"Sir... we've obtained new information..."
"Go on"
"We had a couple of officers take a look at Mr Phillips' car"
"Kane's?"
"Yeah... someone had cut the brake cables... whoever it was wasn't taking any chances"
"How do you know we're looking at the same person?"
"We don't... but I can't see two people taking a chance on his life on the same day... it's too big a coincidence"
"It's still a possibility... let me know what forensics get on the car"
"Sir."
..............................
CARAVAN PARK
Morning
"Nick!"
Irene raised her voice and he emerged, bleary eyed from his bedroom, having just been awoken from a deep sleep.
"Did you do this?"
He walked forward, looking towards where she was indicating. A large dark stain on the pale carpet, clumsily disguised by the edge of the rug.
"Yeah... sorry... I meant to tidy that up... I just spilt a milkshake on it when I was watching the football"
"How long ago"
She frowned at the stain, doubtful that she could ever remove it. It looked like it had been there for a good few days.
"It was only two days ago"
"I thought you told the police you watched it with Rhys"
Nick looked up in alarm, realising his error.
"I... watched the start of the game here before I went over to the caravan park"
His tone of voice gave him away immediately.
"Did Rhys ask you to lie for him?"
"Not exactly... look, Rhys wouldn't do something like that... he hates Kane but he wouldn't have tried to kill him... we were just doing each other a favour by saying we were together at the time"
Irene shook her head at him, exasperated. He could win awards for his naivety. Rhys would have been one of the prime suspects and Nick was covering for him. As much as Irene doubted Rhys' ability to pull that trigger, she was all too aware of the seriousness of Nick's actions.
"You wouldn't have been a suspect anyway"
"I'm Seb's best mate... Kirsty dumping him for Kane... it devastated him"
He hadn't thought much about it at the time. Just that he had hated Kane when Seb had told him the full story. That he had felt like killing him just to do Seb a favour. Irene picked up her keys
"Come on"
"Where are we going?"
"You're going to tell the police everything you just told me"
"It'll just cause more trouble - what harm's it going to do?"
"Less harm than if you keep on lying"
He followed her reluctantly out to the car. It would place he and Rhys firmly back onto the suspect list, that much was obvious.