Выбрать главу

‘You know we can’t do anything while it’s dark,’ King said. ‘We’ll get killed trying.’

‘We’ll get killed no matter what.’

‘Don’t be so sure. I’ve managed to avoid it for ten years.’

She bowed her head. ‘I just don’t know if I was prepared for something like this.’

‘No-one’s prepared for this kind of thing.’

‘It seems you are.’

‘You don’t want to be me. I’m ready for anything because I’ve seen enough shit in my life to give a psychologist nightmares.’

‘That doesn’t sound like it’s good for you.’

‘It’s not.’

King leant out the door and glanced at the far end of the hallway. The daylight creeping into the factory floor had all but disappeared. Soon it would be night. He got his legs underneath him and clambered to his feet.

‘What are you doing?’ Kitchener said.

‘Heading into town for a bit.’

She looked puzzled. ‘What do you mean?’

‘How else do you want me to put it?’

‘I get it. But why?’

‘I’m not going to sit here and twiddle my thumbs. I’m just going to have a look around. Plus, I operate better alone.’

She also got to her feet. ‘Then I’m coming with you.’

‘No you’re not.’

She cocked her head. ‘Why not?’

‘I literally just explained.’

‘You operate better alone?’

‘That’s right.’

‘I don’t think that’s rational.’

‘Clearly you didn’t look hard enough into my file.’

He walked over to Kate and stuck his hand out, motioning for one of the assault rifles. She heaved one off the ground and handed it over. He slung it over his shoulder by the strap, kissed her on the lips, whispered that he would be back soon and turned to leave.

Kitchener stood blocking the doorway.

‘That’s not a good idea,’ he said.

‘I don’t like this, King,’ she said. ‘I saved both your lives, and now you’re just running off with one of our guns. What if you die out there?’

‘I won’t.’

‘How do you know?’

‘Because no-one will see me.’

‘That’s bullshit.’

‘That’s your opinion. Did you spend ten years in the Special Forces?’

‘No.’

‘Then move.’

He brushed past her, fed up with the stalling. Reluctantly, Kitchener moved to let him through.

‘You don’t have a phone,’ she said. ‘We have no way of knowing if you’re alright.’

‘I’ll be alright.’

He paused in the corridor, looking back. He made eye contact with Kate. She nodded her understanding. He smiled. Then he turned and walked out of the metal work factory, albeit much slower than he had the first night in Jameson. He hadn’t found himself on the end of multiple beatdowns back then.

Those were the days.

He let the cool night air wash over him, embracing the solitude. It was indescribable how much better it felt with no-one around. It was how he’d spent thousands of hours in combat. It felt natural. Like he was at home. Which he knew he should not relish in. He’d moved thousands of miles away from his past to start afresh, to clear his mind of all the horrors he’d seen. Now he found himself back in the same situation. Alone, armed. Heading into an area he knew was populated by men trying to kill him.

Old times were calling.

But he would not get into a firefight tonight. He had a single goal, which he hadn’t cared to disclose to either Kitchener or Kate. There was something he had to do, and no-one could be around to see it. He had a hunch, and over the years he’d learnt to never underestimate a hunch. He would take precautionary measures tonight, to ensure that he had the upper hand in whatever lay ahead.

That was how he’d stayed alive for years.

That was how he was here today.

He ducked into the forest and began the slow trawl back up to the main road. He would head into Jameson.

There was a man he needed to see.

CHAPTER 34

He returned exactly three hours later, in the dead of night. The moon was tucked away behind clouds, obscuring its soft glow. As a result the metal work factory was almost invisible in the darkness. He trudged across the dewy grass, breath steaming in front of his face.

A dozen feet out from the factory’s entrance, he heard the distinctive click of a safety catch flicking off. He froze, even though he knew who it was. Such a sound had been drilled into his head to signify imminent combat.

This time, it did not.

He calmed himself and said, ‘It’s me.’

Kitchener let out a sigh of relief from inside. She emerged from the black, M4 pointed at the ground.

‘I’ve never used anything like this before,’ she said. ‘I was worried I would have to.’

‘It’s pretty simple. Just point and hold the trigger. Anything in front of you won’t stand a chance.’

She stopped in her tracks. ‘What did you find?’

‘Nothing.’

‘Nothing at all?’

‘I told you. I was just doing some scouting. Nine times out of ten that turns up zip. I just wanted to see what’s going on in Jameson.’

‘What is going on in Jameson?’

‘Well, there’s a lot of people up, especially at this time of night. The ones I saw looked scared. The grenade at the motel definitely caused a scene. I’m not sure if people know about all the other dead people yet. That’ll all start coming out soon. When people don’t come home to their families.’

‘This is fucked,’ Kitchener whispered, more to herself than King. ‘My entire station…’

‘It must hurt.’

‘I don’t feel anything right now,’ she said. ‘I think I’m still in shock.’

‘Try and get some sleep.’

‘Where do we go from here? Even if we win.’

‘I don’t know about you, but I’m never setting foot in Jameson again.’

‘We might have something in common there.’

They headed inside. Kate came out to greet him while Kitchener ducked into the room. They hugged tight. He whispered something in her ear, and she nodded. Then they parted.

‘What’s the plan tomorrow?’ she said.

‘I don’t know. I’m still trying to work that out. I still feel like we’re at square one. We just know who the bad guys are now.’

‘That’s useful, at least.’

‘It might not be,’ he said. ‘They could be a hundred miles from here by now.’

‘I think it was for show,’ Kate said. ‘I don’t think he’s done here. We should go back to the plant.’

‘I should.’

‘Jason…’

He couldn’t help but smile. ‘Ah, this talk again.’

‘You know I want to stay with you.’

‘And I’m glad you do. But let’s get some sleep. I’m about to pass out.’

The office floor was far from comfortable, especially pressing into the dozens of bruises and cuts littering his skin. But he shifted his weight around until he found a position that felt somewhat bearable. Kate’s head lay on his chest, her cheek warm, calming him. Kitchener curled into a ball on the other side of the room. He took a deep breath and let all the worry and the anger and the repressed memories of years past wash away. The coming rest would be vital.

He had a gut feeling that he’d need it the next day.

CHAPTER 35

The night passed restlessly.

Despite his attempts, he barely managed more than a couple of hours of sleep. Kate dozed softly on his chest, utterly exhausted from the madness. He wasn’t sure how Kitchener slept. The room was too dark, and she stayed silent in the corner.

When faint daylight crept into the hallway he made his way out to the clearing and stared at the sun rising over the treetops. The trees were covered in frost. A thin fog had settled over everything, obscuring the sky. He heard the familiar morning calls of various birds and the creaking and groaning of the trunks as they swayed in the morning breeze.