Scott's car sped away from the Palace. He'd salvaged a set of keys from Josh's jacket pocket. The key-ring informed him that Josh was hiring a lock-up garage on an industrial estate in the city. It was all he had to go on so he had decided to check it out. It couldn't do any harm.
..............................
Dennis hung up his phone, his nervousness becoming more apparent. Josh wasn't answering. On his second call Josh had turned his phone off. Wherever Josh was, he didn't was to be tracked down.
"I told you he'd rip you off"
Dennis shot him a warning look. Kane was already fed up. He just wanted to get it over with. Find Kirsty. Wherever she was. From the impression he was getting, Dennis was just as in the dark about the whole plan.
"Might as well tell me what's going on now... or at least whatever you do know"
Kane probed for information. Anything to tell him what was happening with Kirsty. Dennis looked at him with a slightly less aggressive expression. As if he was already breaking.
"Josh was offering to have a word with a mutual acquaintance if I did this favour for him - all I had to do was deliver you and Kirsty...I thought it would be easy... compared to other stuff I've done..."
He glanced around anxiously. Kane was listening intently now.
"Anyway... this... acquaintance... he wasn't letting me out of our business... you know, the drugs..."
He lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. Kane looked at him curiously.
"Why would you want out?"
"I'm getting married... offered to give up the life of crime for her... this last job was meant to put an end to it - Josh was meant to have a word with this acquaintance, he would cut me out of our deal amicably and that would be an end to it..."
"I thought you were seeing Jackie West"
"Strictly speaking I am... but it was just a business thing... to get Josh onside... but then I met someone else and... well, you know how it is..."
Kane nodded. He knew only too well. Kirsty had made him rethink his whole life. If it hadn't been for her his life still wouldn't have a meaning. Most likely, he'd be one of the thugs working for people like Dennis. The sort of thugs that had sorted Scott out for Dennis on occasions. Then Scott had taken it out on him.
"...but Josh has left you high and dry"
"Looks that way, doesn't it"
He walked over to the door rolling it open. He needed some air. Things were getting too much. He fumbled in his pocket for his cigarette packet and withdrew one, proceeding to light it with a lighter from the other pocket.
"Look... you untie me now and I'll back you up... you know, in court... Josh is only going to win otherwise"
"You don't know what you're talking about... they'll lock me up for this... I'm trying to turn over a new leaf... this was supposed to be my last job..."
Dennis inhaled the smoke shakily.
"You don't have much choice though... either kill me or let me go...because I don't think Josh is going to get you out of this one... do you really want to be banged up for murder?"
Dennis walked further outside into the deserted road, taking a second puff on the cigarette before tossing it to the floor in annoyance, stamping it out. Turning around, he walked back towards Kane.
"Untie me now and it'd work in your favour... I know from experience"
"Yeah... I know all about your background - quite a surprise when I found out you were staying at my Mum's place though... she wasn't best pleased when I shed some light about what you were like though"
Kane nodded. Things were sliding into place gradually. Sylvia's hostility towards them. He could only guess that it had been Dennis who persuaded her not to throw them out. Besides, they were just easier to track down if they stayed out at the B+B.
Dennis pulled out a penknife from his jacket pocket, slitting the ropes binding Kane's ankles together.
"Do you know where Kirsty is?"
Dennis shook his head.
"Josh didn't say over the phone... I handed her over here... he must have driven her away somewhere... don't think he trusted me enough to tell me... can't think why"
He cut the rope tying Kane's arms. Almost as soon as he had done so a gunshot rang out and Kane closed his eyes as his face was covered with a warm, red liquid. He could hear Dennis slumping down and, opening his eyes, he could see Dennis had taken a direct hit through the skull.
"Sorry I took my time... traffic wasn't too good"
Scott lowered his gun as Kane stared numbly at the body in front of him. Scrambling to his feet, he pulled his blood-stained coat off, shakily throwing it over Dennis' head. Sickened at the sight. He could hardly bring himself to speak.
"Scott... what... what are you doing here?"
"I came to save your life so you'd better be grateful"
Kane looked at him numbly, not in a state to explain the whole situation, walking towards the door and out into the fresh air, throwing up violently as he reached the outside. Unable to make eye contact with Scott. He could feel Scott's eyes on him. No doubt Scott was relishing in his weakness.
..............................
POLICE STATION
Dani and Rhys walked into reception. They had given an account of events to Carter and several men had been dispatched to the Palace to find Josh.
"Look Dan... about everything... Angie, your Mum, Kirsty... Kane... I really didn't mean for everything to end up like this... I'm sorry..."
Dani smiled weakly. None of that seemed important anymore. Getting Kirsty back was the priority. Everything else could be sorted later.
"This family has been through enough trouble to last us a lifetime within the past couple of years"
Rhys nodded. Life in Summer Bay hadn't been the walk in the park he thought it would be.
"Yeah... we must be due some good luck by now"
Dani's smile faded. She looked at her father anxiously.
"Kirsty... you do think she'll be alright?"
"Yeah... of course she will"
He tried to sound confident but they could both hear the sound of uncertainty in his voice. But they had to stay positive. For the sake of holding together what was left of the family.
"I'm going to go and call home - see if Jade and Max are home yet... they deserve to know what's happening"
Rhys smiled thankfully at Dani. He could see a lot of her mother in her. She was strong. Stronger than he'd ever be. He just hoped they would be able to put the past behind them once Kirsty was found. That they could find some sort of happiness again as a family.
..............................
Kane and Scott drove in silence, Kane behind the wheel. He had insisted and Scott hadn't refused. He had been in a better mood, most likely because he had just succeeded in killing an old rival. Kane tried not to think about it. It was best to put the chain of events to the back of his head. It would drive him mad otherwise. Kane didn't know where he was going. Just that he was heading back to Summer Bay. Maybe something would have been heard about Kirsty by now. He became aware of sirens blaring behind them. He could see a couple of police cars in the wing mirror, indicating for him to pull over.
"Keep driving, ignore them"
Scott's commands boomed across the car, unnerving Kane further.
"Look, we've got to pull over - the police can help... all I'm doing is speeding... and it's not like I'm far over the limit... besides, we have to contact the police sooner or later and tell them what's happened"
Scott glanced across at his brother.
"I think there's more to it than just speeding"
"Meaning?"
"I sort of... nicked the car"
"You what?! You've just been let out, I thought you'd learnt after last time"
"That's just it... they didn't let me out"
Kane looked across at him in alarm, trying to determine whether Scott was serious.
"Oh, great. So not only am I speeding in a stolen car, but I'm also harbouring a wanted criminal... thanks for telling me so soon!"
Kane indicated to inform the police that he was pulling over and slowly applied pressure to the brake, turning onto the roadside.
"What are you doing?"
"Come on, we don't stand a chance"
Kane had no intention of getting himself into further strife. It wasn't his fault Scott had a habit of getting into trouble. He never learnt from his mistakes.
"Keep driving"
Scott's voice was forceful now.
"It's best if we just sort things out... trust me..."
"I said keep driving"
Kane could feel the unmistakable shape of a gun barrel pressing into his arm. Glancing across at his brother he could see he was deadly serious. The police cars were slowing down now. One in front, one behind. Placing his foot firmly back on the accelerator, he veered the car back onto the road, watching the speed dial climb higher.
"That's better... wasn't so hard was it?"
Kane swallowed back fear. This was the Scott he knew. Sure, he would fight with his life for his family, but he would always put himself first when it came down to it. He never changed. He recalled the times he had been beaten for Scott's pranks at home. He had never dared object. Never dared to tell on Scott.
"What now?"
"First we lose the cops... then we can find ourselves another vehicle and get as far from here as possible"
"Hang on... what do you mean we?"
"We're brothers aren't we - we stick together... we always have done... always will. Turn off the road here and we'll try and lose them"
Kane obeyed. The police were catching up again.
"No way - I have to find Kirsty before I go anywhere"
"You don't have to do anything... besides, we don't need anyone else cramping our style"
Kane knew it was no use trying to argue the strength of love. Scott would only laugh at him. He'd never understand. Besides, it wasn't the time to start a fight with Scott. Or the place. Not in a speeding car with a gun being pointed in his face. He was powerless to control what was happening. What he wanted more than anything was to find Kirsty. For this whole disaster to end. Just to see her again. If anything had happened to her he would never forgive himself.
..............................
Dennis hung up his phone, his nervousness becoming more apparent. Josh wasn't answering. On his second call Josh had turned his phone off. Wherever Josh was, he didn't was to be tracked down.
"I told you he'd rip you off"
Dennis shot him a warning look. Kane was already fed up. He just wanted to get it over with. Find Kirsty. Wherever she was. From the impression he was getting, Dennis was just as in the dark about the whole plan.
"Might as well tell me what's going on now... or at least whatever you do know"
Kane probed for information. Anything to tell him what was happening with Kirsty. Dennis looked at him with a slightly less aggressive expression. As if he was already breaking.
"Josh was offering to have a word with a mutual acquaintance if I did this favour for him - all I had to do was deliver you and Kirsty...I thought it would be easy... compared to other stuff I've done..."
He glanced around anxiously. Kane was listening intently now.
"Anyway... this... acquaintance... he wasn't letting me out of our business... you know, the drugs..."
He lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. Kane looked at him curiously.
"Why would you want out?"
"I'm getting married... offered to give up the life of crime for her... this last job was meant to put an end to it - Josh was meant to have a word with this acquaintance, he would cut me out of our deal amicably and that would be an end to it..."
"I thought you were seeing Jackie West"
"Strictly speaking I am... but it was just a business thing... to get Josh onside... but then I met someone else and... well, you know how it is..."
Kane nodded. He knew only too well. Kirsty had made him rethink his whole life. If it hadn't been for her his life still wouldn't have a meaning. Most likely, he'd be one of the thugs working for people like Dennis. The sort of thugs that had sorted Scott out for Dennis on occasions. Then Scott had taken it out on him.
"...but Josh has left you high and dry"
"Looks that way, doesn't it"
He walked over to the door rolling it open. He needed some air. Things were getting too much. He fumbled in his pocket for his cigarette packet and withdrew one, proceeding to light it with a lighter from the other pocket.
"Look... you untie me now and I'll back you up... you know, in court... Josh is only going to win otherwise"
"You don't know what you're talking about... they'll lock me up for this... I'm trying to turn over a new leaf... this was supposed to be my last job..."
Dennis inhaled the smoke shakily.
"You don't have much choice though... either kill me or let me go...because I don't think Josh is going to get you out of this one... do you really want to be banged up for murder?"
Dennis walked further outside into the deserted road, taking a second puff on the cigarette before tossing it to the floor in annoyance, stamping it out. Turning around, he walked back towards Kane.
"Untie me now and it'd work in your favour... I know from experience"
"Yeah... I know all about your background - quite a surprise when I found out you were staying at my Mum's place though... she wasn't best pleased when I shed some light about what you were like though"
Kane nodded. Things were sliding into place gradually. Sylvia's hostility towards them. He could only guess that it had been Dennis who persuaded her not to throw them out. Besides, they were just easier to track down if they stayed out at the B+B.
Dennis pulled out a penknife from his jacket pocket, slitting the ropes binding Kane's ankles together.
"Do you know where Kirsty is?"
Dennis shook his head.
"Josh didn't say over the phone... I handed her over here... he must have driven her away somewhere... don't think he trusted me enough to tell me... can't think why"
He cut the rope tying Kane's arms. Almost as soon as he had done so a gunshot rang out and Kane closed his eyes as his face was covered with a warm, red liquid. He could hear Dennis slumping down and, opening his eyes, he could see Dennis had taken a direct hit through the skull.
"Sorry I took my time... traffic wasn't too good"
Scott lowered his gun as Kane stared numbly at the body in front of him. Scrambling to his feet, he pulled his blood-stained coat off, shakily throwing it over Dennis' head. Sickened at the sight. He could hardly bring himself to speak.
"Scott... what... what are you doing here?"
"I came to save your life so you'd better be grateful"
Kane looked at him numbly, not in a state to explain the whole situation, walking towards the door and out into the fresh air, throwing up violently as he reached the outside. Unable to make eye contact with Scott. He could feel Scott's eyes on him. No doubt Scott was relishing in his weakness.
..............................
POLICE STATION
Dani and Rhys walked into reception. They had given an account of events to Carter and several men had been dispatched to the Palace to find Josh.
"Look Dan... about everything... Angie, your Mum, Kirsty... Kane... I really didn't mean for everything to end up like this... I'm sorry..."
Dani smiled weakly. None of that seemed important anymore. Getting Kirsty back was the priority. Everything else could be sorted later.
"This family has been through enough trouble to last us a lifetime within the past couple of years"
Rhys nodded. Life in Summer Bay hadn't been the walk in the park he thought it would be.
"Yeah... we must be due some good luck by now"
Dani's smile faded. She looked at her father anxiously.
"Kirsty... you do think she'll be alright?"
"Yeah... of course she will"
He tried to sound confident but they could both hear the sound of uncertainty in his voice. But they had to stay positive. For the sake of holding together what was left of the family.
"I'm going to go and call home - see if Jade and Max are home yet... they deserve to know what's happening"
Rhys smiled thankfully at Dani. He could see a lot of her mother in her. She was strong. Stronger than he'd ever be. He just hoped they would be able to put the past behind them once Kirsty was found. That they could find some sort of happiness again as a family.
..............................
Kane and Scott drove in silence, Kane behind the wheel. He had insisted and Scott hadn't refused. He had been in a better mood, most likely because he had just succeeded in killing an old rival. Kane tried not to think about it. It was best to put the chain of events to the back of his head. It would drive him mad otherwise. Kane didn't know where he was going. Just that he was heading back to Summer Bay. Maybe something would have been heard about Kirsty by now. He became aware of sirens blaring behind them. He could see a couple of police cars in the wing mirror, indicating for him to pull over.
"Keep driving, ignore them"
Scott's commands boomed across the car, unnerving Kane further.
"Look, we've got to pull over - the police can help... all I'm doing is speeding... and it's not like I'm far over the limit... besides, we have to contact the police sooner or later and tell them what's happened"
Scott glanced across at his brother.
"I think there's more to it than just speeding"
"Meaning?"
"I sort of... nicked the car"
"You what?! You've just been let out, I thought you'd learnt after last time"
"That's just it... they didn't let me out"
Kane looked across at him in alarm, trying to determine whether Scott was serious.
"Oh, great. So not only am I speeding in a stolen car, but I'm also harbouring a wanted criminal... thanks for telling me so soon!"
Kane indicated to inform the police that he was pulling over and slowly applied pressure to the brake, turning onto the roadside.
"What are you doing?"
"Come on, we don't stand a chance"
Kane had no intention of getting himself into further strife. It wasn't his fault Scott had a habit of getting into trouble. He never learnt from his mistakes.
"Keep driving"
Scott's voice was forceful now.
"It's best if we just sort things out... trust me..."
"I said keep driving"
Kane could feel the unmistakable shape of a gun barrel pressing into his arm. Glancing across at his brother he could see he was deadly serious. The police cars were slowing down now. One in front, one behind. Placing his foot firmly back on the accelerator, he veered the car back onto the road, watching the speed dial climb higher.
"That's better... wasn't so hard was it?"
Kane swallowed back fear. This was the Scott he knew. Sure, he would fight with his life for his family, but he would always put himself first when it came down to it. He never changed. He recalled the times he had been beaten for Scott's pranks at home. He had never dared object. Never dared to tell on Scott.
"What now?"
"First we lose the cops... then we can find ourselves another vehicle and get as far from here as possible"
"Hang on... what do you mean we?"
"We're brothers aren't we - we stick together... we always have done... always will. Turn off the road here and we'll try and lose them"
Kane obeyed. The police were catching up again.
"No way - I have to find Kirsty before I go anywhere"
"You don't have to do anything... besides, we don't need anyone else cramping our style"
Kane knew it was no use trying to argue the strength of love. Scott would only laugh at him. He'd never understand. Besides, it wasn't the time to start a fight with Scott. Or the place. Not in a speeding car with a gun being pointed in his face. He was powerless to control what was happening. What he wanted more than anything was to find Kirsty. For this whole disaster to end. Just to see her again. If anything had happened to her he would never forgive himself.
