Chapter Five

"Ah, Chief Inspector Gently, are you leaving so soon?" Raleigh's eyes were in shadow, but I could see the shark-like smile playing around his lips. Clutched in his hand was a dark shape – a gun. I stiffened. Raleigh stepped forwards, thumbing back the hammer. "And a friend, hello there, copper."

"Stand aside, Raleigh," I managed, feeling an old fire in my guts and remembering the path of another, older bullet. "We're leavin'."

"No. You're not." Raleigh gestured with the gun, pointing back behind us, "Get back in the pen, pig."

I stayed where I was. I hoped the glare I was giving Raleigh looked defiant, not terrified.

"John." Gently's voice was low. "Do as he says, John."

"'E needs a hospital," I snarled at Raleigh, ignoring Gently's warning, "And that's where we're goin'. You can disappear into the night fer all I care right now, but I'm taking 'im to a hospital." I took a step towards the door.

"So you're John Bacchus, in the flesh." Raleigh's voice hardened, "You're much smaller than I thought – and far stupider. Now go sit down before I blow a hole in your stomach and let you bleed out." I glared at him. "SIT DOWN!"

I staggered back to the wall and lowered Gently down as gently as I could. His breathing was worrying me; it was too rapid and too shallow. "Guv… are you OK?" I asked, as I slid down next to him.

He looked at me with eyes glazing over from pain and whispered, "Please tell me, John, please, please, please tell me you haven't come alone."

I couldn't meet his gaze, instead reaching over to check the wound on his head. He shook me off and cursed weakly. "John, you –"

"Shut up, Chief Inspector." Raleigh waved the gun dismissively at him. "I'll take that torch off you, John Bacchus. Just in case you decide to try something clever." I dug the torch out of my pocket and held it out. Raleigh snatched it away. "Hands on your head, John Bacchus."

He walked to the opening of the stall, blocking our way out. We were cornered. My heart was pounding and I remember thinking that I'd shield Gently from anything Raleigh did. I gulped, feeling my Adam's apple bobbing. "Listen to me, Raleigh," my voice was shaking, "Listen, you could just run now. No one's goin' to give you the money or the passport. Just leave and you won't be looking at twenty years for murder!"

Raleigh's laugh was dark, "Not where I'm aiming, John Bacchus." He cocked the gun again and pointed it at my leg. I swallowed. "Why did you come alone, John Bacchus?" he asked with mock-concern, "Surely Durham Police Station has enough officers to mount a proper rescue?"

"There's police on the way, Raleigh," I replied, but I knew I wasn't going to convince him, "They'll be comin'."

Raleigh tilted his head, "There's only one car and I ripped out the radio. You're not calling no one for help. Don't lie to me, John Bacchus; it could go very badly for you and your Chief Inspector."

"Leave 'im alone," Gently growled, "You will not touch him."

"I can do anything I like." Raleigh moved swiftly, lashing out with his gun. I let out a yell, twisting to try and avoid the blow. But there was nowhere to go. It caught me on the shoulder with the force of a hammer. Pain blossomed and split across my back. I dropped, retching.

"John!"

Raleigh grabbed my collar and slammed me against the wall of the loosebox. Straw floated down and I could feel the bruises already forming under my skin. I felt Raleigh's arm tauten as he prepared to repeat the manoeuvre.

"Stop!" It wasn't elegant, but Gently hauled himself between us, breaking Raleigh's grip. I fell against the loosebox wall, the hurt making my head spin. Raleigh snarled and moved towards Gently. I heard his breath catch as he waited for the blow, but evidently, Raleigh had decided that his point had been made.

He stepped back.

Immediately Gently was checking me, making sure I was awake. Honestly, I was probably more aware than he was. "I'm OK," I muttered, "Guv, don't worry about it."

But dread was lining my stomach with lead. Here we were; trapped, injured and alone. Gently was rapidly weakening and, while I knew I didn't have more than some nasty bruises, there was no way I would be able to take Raleigh by surprise. He had a gun and I didn't.

Nevertheless, I tried. "Raleigh, you don't need to do this."

Raleigh laughed and waved the gun, "Actually, I think I do." He thumbed back the hammer slowly, relishing the sound.

I swallowed.

The whole world narrowed down to the black hole of the barrel.

I couldn't hear what Raleigh said over the roaring of my ears.

I saw Gently start to move –

Raleigh fell sideways with a spray of blood. I yelped and scrambled backwards, staring at his crumpled form.

Then I looked up at the panting figure standing over us.

Rachel let her truncheon drop. Her hands were trembling and her face was very pale. "Are you alright?" she asked, voice shrill.

I nodded.

Rachel leant down and tugged out a pair of handcuffs. She bound Raleigh's hands and then felt for a pulse. "He's alive," she breathed, "But I don't know for how long…"

"Never mind him," I murmured, relief making me feel weak. "Rachel, I could kiss you right now."

"You're an idiot," Rachel snapped, "You bloody idiot." She left Raleigh on the floor and crouched beside Gently. He tried to bat her away ineffectually, but the glare that she directed was enough to probably fry several police chiefs. Actually, watching her administrations, I realised that Gently was rapidly slipping into semi-consciousness.

Stomach sinking, I squatted down beside her. "Guv, can you hear me?"

"Mm."

"Really, Guv, I need you to speak to me."

"Mm?"

"He needs a hospital – now. They both do." Rachel stood and wrenched her radio out of her pocket and began giving directions into it.

I sank down beside my boss. I was starting to panic a little inside. Gently looked like shit.

Rachel looked down at me, "An ambulance is on the way."

"Good. Can you go – go make sure they know where to go?" I didn't want to break down now, not now. "Please, Rachel."

Her gaze was soft and full of worry. "Are you sure, John?"

"Just go. Yell at them to get here faster," I said, "Here, give me your coat."

Rachel shrugged it off. I took it and made a pillow for Gently. He was boneless, fully out now. God, he was freezing.

"Hang on, Guv, hang on…"