Smithy woke to find himself in the back of a van, Maynard was out of sight but Smithy couldn't move.
'He's awake!' Maynard said as he climbed into the van, 'I've asked your friends outside for a car.'
'Why?' Smithy asked Maynard obviously had transport.
'Your friends will spend time trying to talk me out 'cos they think we're stuck here,' Maynard smiled. 'We'll be leaving shortly, they won't be expecting it.'
'You don't think you're just going to drive out of here do you!' Smithy asked whilst hoping SO19 were outside, 'Thank you Nick, I owe you one,' he thought.
'Yep! That's exactly what were going to do!'
'You're crazy! You won't get far.' Smithy knew SO19 would shoot him on sight if he tried to drive out.
'Not on my own but as you'll be in the back I think I'm safe,' Maynard smiled at him. 'So while we're waiting for Greg, tell me why you followed me in here, if you recognized my face you know my wrap sheet.'
'Did you hit the police car on purpose?' Smithy asked.
'Of course not, but hey who cares about a couple of pigs.' Maynard smiled at him again.
XX
'We could storm in but the building is huge,' Sgt Pollard told Adam, 'without knowing whereabouts of your sergeant is it's way too risky.'
'What about if we give him a car?' Adam asked.
'When he comes out we could take a shot, or you could follow him, either way it's a safer option than going in blind.'
'He's asked for a car but not any specifics, what car do you suggest?' Adam asked.
'It doesn't really matter as long as the windows aren't blacked out or reinforced.'
XX
'Did they survive?' Maynard asked.
'Do you care?' Smithy replied.
'No, but I think you do.'
'She was pregnant,' Smithy looked at Maynard, 'She lost the baby and she can't have kids now.'
'I...I'm sorry,' Maynard looked at his feet.
'Sure.'
'No, seriously I am, was it yours?'
'Yeah, it was.'
'I've got 3 kids, I never see them.' Maynard looked at Smithy, 'My ex won't let me near them.'
'Really, can't think why.' Smithy waited for him to knock him out again.
'My ex doesn't want the kids involved with a criminal,' Maynard answered oblivious to Smithy sarcasm, 'were you looking forward to being a Dad?'
'I didn't know, I don't think she did either.' Smithy looked down at his feet.
'Haven't you asked her?'
'If she ever wakes up and I get out of here I will,' Smithy looked at him.
'Well, my friend that's gonna depend on your friends out there,' Maynard got up to answerthe phone.
XX
'Mr Maynard,'
'Ms Masters,'
'How are you and Sgt Smith doing?' Jo asked.
'We're fine, we'd be better if you say that car is outside.' Maynard closed the door behind him as Smithy wasn't gagged.
'Not yet, it will be soon, we need a little more time.' Jo looked at Adam.
'You've got 1 hour or your pretty Sgt won't be so pretty.'
'You...'
'Call in 1 hour when the car is outside Ms Masters.'
'Jo,' Adam walked over to her.
'He says we've got 1 hour to get a car or Smithy will get hurt,' Jo told him.
'We'd better get that car,' Adam said.
'I'll brief my team,' sgt Pollard walked outside.
XX
'Time for us to go I think,' Maynard said as he got into the van.
'You haven't thought this thru,' Smithy told him.
'Yes I have, you're my insurance policy remember, hold tight,' Maynard laughed as he turned on the engine.
'What the the...' Gina and the SO19 team jumped out of the way as the van broke thru the garage door and out onto the road.
'Bloody hell,' Tony just got out of the way as the van screeched past him.
'J525TYO,' Nick said as he helped Tony up, listening as Gina put out a message to all officers to watch for the van.
'Tony, you OK' Adam asked.
'Yeah, I'm fine.'
Good, you and Nick get after them but be careful we don't know where Smithy is,' Adam told him.
'Sir,' they both replied as they ran to the area car.
'We'll make a sweep of the building first, incase he's left any surprises,' Sgt Pollard told Adam.
XXXXX
As the van came to a halt Smith found himself bathed in light as the back doors were opened.
'How you doing?' Maynard asked.
'Been better. Can I go see my girlfriend now?' Smithy had a feeling it was the most likely question to get him released.
'Ahhhh, isn't that sweet,' Greg poked his head around the door, 'I think we'll keep hold of you for just a litttle while longer,' he said as the two of them climbed into the van to remove Smithy.
'Don't bother fighting,' Maynard pulled out the shot gun again, 'do as you're told and you'll see her soon enough.'
Smithy didn't struggle, he did as he was told for now, as he was pushed into the boot he saw Maynard dousing the van with petrol and set it alight.
Smithy didn't see the explosion but he heard it, as he closed his eyes he said a small prayer that he'd get out in one peice, he knew if he didn't he'd not only have Cienna but her mum and Gina who would all kill him.
As they drove off Smithy tried to count the turnings and listen for anything that would tell him where he was going but the journey seemed to go on forever. By the time the car stopped Smithy wasn't sure they were still in London. The boot opened and Smithy saw that it was dark outside he guessed he'd been in the boot for at least an hour, before he could react a pillowcase was put over his head. As they pulled him up he could feel the gun in his ribs.
'Try anything and I'll shoot you,' Greg told him.
'I know,' he said as they led him to wherever they were taking him.
He heard the keys in the door and felt himself being taken into a room.
'What are you doing here?' a female voice said.
'It's OK...' he heard Greg saying as the door closed on him.
'Let's get you comfortable,' Maynard told him as he pulled of the pillowcase.