PART ONE: The Shadow Before

Chapter Ten: All An Illusion

Thoughts raced through my head as I made my way through the rat-runs behind the building. Everything back here seemed like part of some huge and ancient machine. Overhanging metal rails, pulleys, gears, metal stepladders and walkways, all running along narrow corridors in between stages. A lot of the stuff was old and rusted, but still usable. Occasionally I'd pass the slumped-over form of a homeless man.

So Hades had ordered the hit. That explained the cop uniforms. His men had pulled on the uniforms and entered the precinct unquestioned. Then, when they got inside, they opened fire. After taking out everyone in the precinct, they'd have found out I was out, and then they'd taken the next logical step. They'd headed for my home, without changing their uniforms.

It all fit neatly. It all made sense. But instead of closure, I was left with more questions. Who ordered the hit? How did they get hold of those cop uniforms? Where the hell did Mona fit into all this?

Mona.

My heart almost froze. I'd nearly forgotten about her. I broke into a run.

As I began to scale a rickety iron walkway, I heard the voices.

"No sign of Payne, boss," a voice called out into a walkie-talkie. There was a loud 'click' as he closed the message, then another as a fuzzy voice replied.

"Keep looking. He's somewhere behind the stage. Find him, and bring him to me. I want to work over that bastard personally."

Even beneath the fuzz of the static I recognised Hades' voice. Gruff, deep, and very angry.

"He's taken a few bullets and a nasty fall," the goon said. "He's looking a little rough. Don't know how much longer he'll be on his feet anyway."

"Take no chances," Hades commanded. "He's escaped before with worse. I'm sure you've heard what happened when he went after the family."

There was silence, then, "Yes, boss."

"Hit him in the leg. Both legs, if possible. And the arm. Make sure you disarm him. If he can get to a gun he'll find a way out. This man doesn't miss. I want him conscious when you bring him to me. I've got my tools here."

I crept silently up the stairs. After a short distance I could make out the shapes of the goons, standing on the walkway, peering around nervously. I slipped an arm inside my jacket.

"Okay," the goon said. "We'll keep an eye out."

As he released his finger from the send button, the harsh click bouncing off the thin wooden walls and vanishing up in the spidery rafters, I leapt into view and opened fire.

The walkie-talkie flew out of the goon's hand and rattled down on the walkway. From somewhere down the end I could hear Hades crying out hysterically. His words were lost in the hum of static.

The goons were fast. The walkie-talkie goon managed to get in a burst of Uzi before I'd even had time to react. They all flew over my head as I leapt forward, and my shot blew a neat hole in his jacket at the heart level. He let out a choked cry and fell to the floor. Three bullets hit his friend – two in the torso and one in the arm. He fumbled to the floor, making a desperate grab for the walkie-talkie. I walked forward.

"Boss," he choked, one slippery hand on his chest. He was bleeding like a stuck pig. "It's Payne. Back in the walkways up from the dressing room. It's.. oh, man…"

He released his finger from the send button and stared up at me hopelessly. Smiling, I reached down and pried the walkie-talkie from his bloody fingers. His eyes rolled backwards and he stuttered helplessly the word "Please."

I was just in time to hear Hades' colourful answer.

"What?" he cried. "What the hell is going on out there? Speak to me, Carlos! Speak to me!"

I waited until he was done, then I depressed the send button.

"Hades," I chuckled. "So this is what you're doing these days. I'd have thought you'd have maybe improved your boy's trigger fingers a little. I've seen clay pigeons put out more resistance."

"Payne," he snarled. "That you, Payne?"

"It ain't Lee Van Cleaf."

"You'll pay for this, you son of a bitch. I know exactly where you are. I'm going to send every man in this building after your scrawny hide, you know that? You're going to be nailed to the god-damn wall."

"Run, run, as fast as you can, you couldn't catch your own ass with both hands. I'm coming up to see you, Georgie. It's been a while. I've dropped the whole police brutality thing since then. I hope you've made your peace with the big guy."

Hades was on the brink of shooting the walkie-talkie. "You'll die here, Payne! You and the bitch!"

"Maybe," I said. "But I'll make damn sure you all come with me. Like your little friend here."

I pointed my gun at the squirming figure at my feet. He looked up at me wildly and began to cry, "No. Please, no. Please…"

"Got anything to say to your boss?" I held the walkie-talkie to his mouth.

"No, PLEASE!" he screamed.

I pulled the trigger. There was a crackle down the line. Then silence.

"See you round, big boy," I said, and threw the walkie-talkie over the side of the walkway. It hit the ground somewhere below and shattered. A damn shame, I thought. I'd have given anything to hear Hades' response to that one.

There was a loud thud from behind me. Rushing footsteps. Hades had wasted no time.

I followed the walkway along, and up the staircase, to the control room.

To be continued…