CHAPTER 15

Alfie swallowed back fear.

"Kids, would you go to your room please"

Scott stood back up, looking to Alfie as the two children fled, largely out of fear of the figure who had given them that daunting smile other than their fathers hasty instruction.

"Nice kids... you must be proud..."

"Hi..."

A young woman entered cautiously through the front door and walked into the lounge.

"...sorry, I didn't realise we had visitors"

Richie smiled faintly, tugging at his collar in an attempt to loosen the collar. All of a sudden he was boiling hot. Stress always did that to him.

"This is... Scott and Kane... they're Richie's boys..."

Her smile faded rapidly. She'd heard the stories. The nightmare that was Alfie's family. And she wanted nothing to do with them. Especially as she knew Scott was on the run.

"Oh"

"Nice to meet you"

Scott turned on the charm, smiling at her. But she blanked him completely.

"Alfie, could I have a word?"

"Sure... excuse me a moment"

He walked past Scott and Kane into the hallway, where Sandra joined him, closing the door.

...........................

Josh opened his eyes, hazily looking around the hospital room, his eyes adjusting to the brightness and focusing on the figure at his bedside.

"Dan..."

He couldn't help but smile. But she didn't return the look. Much as she was relieved that he had pulled through the mixture of love and hate she had towards him left her feeling numb and confused.

"Where's Kirsty?"

She had her hand pressing down on his neck as he lay, vulnerable, on the bed.

"I don't know what you're talking about"

"I heard you on the phone"

So she knew.

"I was only trying to help Dan... you've got to believe me"

"Josh!"

Her raised voice attracted the attention of the nurse on duty, who promptly asked her to leave. Scowling, she went to sit out in the waiting room whilst Josh got some 'rest' after his 'disturbing ordeal'.

...........................

Late night

Kane filled up a glass of water from the kitchen tap. He couldn't quite believe what Scott had dragged him into this time.

"Hi"

He spun round to face Alfie, relieved that it wasn't Scott sneaking around the house at all hours.

"Hey... I was just grabbing a drink..."

"Yeah... go ahead... look, do you know how long you and Scott'll be sticking around?"

"Like he said... until you get us out of here"

He shuffled uneasily. He wasn't enjoying repeating Scott's words. He'd leave that second if he could. But with Scott on his back nothing was that easy.

Alfie nodded and walked back in the direction of his office.

"So what you doing?"

"Work... I couldn't sleep"

He sat down at his desk, unnerved by Kane's presence in the door frame.

"You got another job besides the boatyard?"

"Hmm... the boatyard's a bit of a hobby... it runs itself"

A hobby. Kane knew Alfie had money, but to refer to owning an entire business as a 'hobby' amazed him.

"So what are you working on?"

"I'm an architect... just checking over some plans for commercial development on the edge of town"

"Anything interesting?"

"Hmm... looks like Mackay's gonna be getting it's own HMV... and a Myers"

"Cool"

Alfie bent back over the plans. Just a few more alterations to make before the builders descended on the area and one of the largest developments to hit the town would be in construction. His largest project to date.

"Look... I'm sorry... about Scott... he can be a bit full-on sometimes"

"He takes after his father"

Kane nodded in agreement, taking a seat on the opposite side of the desk.

"He doesn't mean to be so..."

"Twisted?"

"Hmm... he just wants to get out of here - start a new life..."

Kane wished it was totally true, but he knew Scott was planning another life of crime in another country. And when he was done there he'd move on to wreck more havoc

"And you... what do you want?"

"I haven't got much choice"

"There's always a choice... you can't let him control your life... that's why I cut my ties with the family years ago"

"It's not that easy"

Kane stood up, walking out of the office and heading back to the lounge. He had happily accepted a sofa, but Scott had insisted on sleeping in a 'proper' bed, so Joe had moved into Kylie's room for the night and Scott had made himself at home.

...........................

Dani ran out into the hospital corridor, gasping for breath as she ran into a police officer and recited what Josh had just told her. He'd given her an address, a house on an empty, condemned, estate. He had left Kirsty there before he drove back to the Bay. Dani could tell he wasn't lying. She knew him well enough. Besides, he was still on deaths door.

...........................

Alfie approached Scott nervously as he stuffed breakfast into his mouth, leafing through the paper, chuckling to himself at the idiots who went on crime sprees and got themselves nicked. Alfie cleared his throat and Scott glanced upwards.

"Tomorrow... I can arrange for you to get out by boat... just across to Papua New Guinea"

"And what are you proposing we do over there?"

Scott folded his arms stubbornly. He wanted to get around the world, somewhere he'd never be found.

"The cops aren't gonna be looking for you over there... grab a flight to America, Spain, Britain... anywhere you fancy"

"So... what do you reckon bro? I fancy America myself... always fancied meeting the Mafia... nice bunch of guys so I heard"

Kane looked at him, expressionless.

"Yeah... great"

At least Scott would be at home over there. But even the thought of leaving the country made him feel ill. Scott ignored his unenthusiastic reaction.

"Tomorrows too late though... it's too risky"

"And today's too soon"

"You own a boatyard... you're the boss... you can so anything there so don't tell me it's not possible"

Alfie nodded, too scared of Scott to refuse.

"I'll see what I can do"

..............................

Later

Scott and Kane drove down a country road, out of town. Alfie was bringing the boat around to another inlet so they could board without risk of being seen. He was still edgy about being caught though. He'd never been one to break the law. The last thing he wanted was for all his employees to see him smuggling an escaped criminal out of the country or there would be hell to pay.

Kane jumps as tyres screech and a black car pulls out directly in front of them. Scott puts all his effort into avoiding a collision and Kane sits back as the car lurches into a violent halt.

"You alright?"

Scott speaks gruffly, trying to sound uncaring. Kane nods, swallowing back fear as Scott raises his hand to the ignition, glancing through the wing mirror at the other vehicle. He can't see inside. The windows are blacked out. But a door is opening.

"Let's get out of here then"

He turns the key. The engine starts and fails. He tries again and the car doesn't respond.

"Don't do this to me..."

He was already looking concerned. Panicking. Kane rarely saw him like this. So unsettled. It wasn't in his nature. He withdrew the gun from his waistband seconds too late as the window shattered and he found himself staring down the barrel of a shotgun.

"Not a good idea mate"

Another hand took hold of his gun and Scott reluctantly released it from his grasp. The door of the car swung open and Scott looked out at the man, complete with balaclava to conceal his identity.

"Get out"

Scott obeyed, swearing that the man would get what was coming to him one day. No one spoke to him and got away with it.

"You too"

Kane knew the instruction was aimed at him. He opened his door and he and Scott were led at gunpoint to the second vehicle. The back door was opened for them and they climbed in. There was someone else in the drivers seat. In dark clothes, accompanied by dark glasses. Hair concealed beneath a chauffeur's cap. Whoever it was didn't acknowledge their presence. The passenger door opened and the second man climbed back in. The press of a button and a glass sheet rose, forming a barrier between those in the front and those in the back. Words were exchanged between those in the front and the car started, heading back towards the city.

.................................

The cops smash the door to the building in and officers swarm in, occupying each room in the house, one by one. Each room empty. Not a sign of life. Not a sign of Kirsty.