“It’s not like that, Ed. We met by accident, it was completely random, we just hit it off — that’s all. I really like her, Ed. It’s early days yet, but I think that we may have something special.”
Carter’s lips tightened again, he closed his eyes to control his obvious anger. Stone said nothing. Eventually Carter spoke again, this time more quietly.
“Well, we can’t go back now. How much have you told her?”
“Only the basic details really. I mostly told her about Charles’ death being a forced suicide, caused by a group of very bad people. It was all generalizations, nothing specific.” Stone sat forward enthusiastically. “Look, I told her that it was a death that had to be avenged. She understands what that means, and she’s on board with it. I don’t want to put her in any danger, but we’re pretty thin on the ground just now. We may need an extra body at some point.”
Carter gave a long sigh, clear evidence of his obvious frustration.
“Ok Eric, but don’t tell her anything else until I’ve met her and Megan’s checked her out.” He gave Stone a hard look and spoke forcefully. “Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes — I understand,” Stone nodded enthusiastically.
“And no sex either!” Carter said sharply.
“WHAT?” Stone stood up.
Carter pointed a gun like finger with a wide smile.
“Gotcha!”
Stone sat down sheepishly.
“You’ll like her, Ed. I know you will. She’s cute — and really clever. We need her, we need a second pair of eyes on this — I’m sure she can help.”
“Ok — enough said. I look forward to meeting her.” He checked Stephens’s location on the smart phone before glancing at his watch. “Stephens is stopped at a bar in Ipswich at the moment. It’s almost eight, so we’d better get going.”
They travelled to Needham Market together in Stones car. After they turned off the A14 and onto the side road that led to the lake, Carter checked the smart phone again, and announced that Stephens was still stationary. Stone slowed the car as they neared the lake, ready to drive on by, but when he saw that the parking lot was empty he turned through the gate and came to a stop. The parking lot was just a simple flat gravel affair with four picnic benches lining the water’s edge. The parking area was approximately fifty yards on each side, a large square open space surrounded by untidy low-level bushes. The gateway was no more than a narrow gap in a high hedge, making the parking lot almost invisible to any passing traffic. Stone could see why Stephens chose this location to count his money and check his stock.
After turning off the headlights, Stone climbed out of the car and stood for three minutes, carefully looking around. The sky was heavy with cloud, stained a sickly sodium-yellow by the distant streetlights of Ipswich. Even so, the parking lot was almost completely dark. Satisfied that they were not being watched, Stone took the shotgun and the crossbow from the trunk and tucked them out of sight, behind the hedge on the left side of the parking lot. Carter checked the smart phone again, and softly called to Stone.
“They’ve moved, but stopped again. They’re at a different bar — still in Ipswich.”
Stone gave a silent wave of acknowledgement. Pulling a small flashlight from his jacket, he dropped to his knees and began scanning the gravel from a low angle. After a few minutes, he walked across to Carter.
“If it was you, counting money and sorting drugs, where would you park?”
Carter looked around, studying the layout in the gloom.
“On the left, I think. The road angles away slightly, so parking on the left will keep them in the shadows if a car passes. If they need to make a quick getaway, it is easier for a right-hand drive car to make a right turn.”
“I agree,” Stone nodded. “There are several sets of identical tire marks in the gravel, just there on the left. The same car has repeatedly parked here, in exactly the same spot. A little farther back, there’s around thirty cigarette ends on the ground. They’re all the same brand. I think that they will park on the left, and then someone will get out for a smoke. I think it will be Markov.”
“Why Markov?” Carter asked.
“Stephens is the boss; he’d smoke in his car if he wanted. I suspect he doesn’t smoke and won’t let anyone else smoke in his nice shiny Mercedes. They stop here to prepare for the next two stops, and Markov uses the time to get out and have a couple of smokes.”
Carter considered what Stone had said and nodded once.
“Makes sense to me. You’re the expert here Eric, what’s the plan?”
“Well first of all, it’s a good spot for an ambush. It’s secluded, and wherever they park, we’ll only be a few feet away. At worst, if they park on the wrong side, its dark enough and there’s decent ground cover, so I should be able to work around without being seen.”
He pointed to the right.
“I’ll put the shotgun behind that bush. It will be loaded with the safety off. Take the car, park it a little way down the road, and hoof it back as quickly as you can. When you get back, take the gun, and lay down behind those bushes.
“Wait for me to give you the signal,” Stone said firmly, “I’ll be on the left. When they get here, I intend to take down Markov first. I’ll do it fast and hard using the crossbow or my hands, whichever is safest. He’s too dangerous to take chances with.”
Stone patted his pocket.
“I’ve brought some cable-ties and a gag, so I can quickly disable him. After that, we can move on Stephens together. We’ll attack at the same time but from opposite sides of the car. If Stephens is still sitting in the car, come in at a forty-five-degree angle from the rear. That way he probably won’t catch you in his peripheral vision or see you in his mirrors. We have to assume he will be armed, so keep the shotgun handy until I have him secured. Ok?”
“Good plan,” Carter said tensely. He gave Stone a quick ‘thumbs up’, climbed into the car, and drove away.
Stone carefully checked the shotgun, before stashing it behind the bushes to the right of the parking lot. After loading the crossbow, he picked a well-concealed spot behind the low bushes on the left, where he could lay face down on the soft grass. He was ten yards from the pile of discarded cigarette ends. Five minutes later, Carter jogged breathlessly into the parking lot. In the eerie silence, the crunch of gravel under his shoes was alarmingly loud. He stopped after a few paces and looked around uncertainly, until Stone gave him a soft whistle. Carter turned and whispered.
“The GPS shows that they’re on the move. They hit the A14 just as I parked the car; I had to run all the way back. They’ll be here any minute!”
“Ok — go lay down behind the bush. The shotgun’s there. Remember it’s loaded and the safety’s off. Try to calm down, breathe easy for a second, and make sure that you don’t shoot me. Are you clear on the plan?”
“Yes, wait for your signal,” he nodded and walked away, disappearing into the darkness.
Stone lay still on the cool grass. He concentrated on slowing his own breathing and bringing his mind into sharp focus, ready for what was to come. Three minutes later the road was illuminated by the headlights of a fast approaching car. It was only the third car that they had seen since arriving at the parking lot. This one slowed as it neared before turning into the parking lot.
As the headlights swept across the bushes, Stone ducked his head and shut his eyes tightly, in an effort to preserve his night vision. The car pulled to the left and stopped about twenty-five yards away, exactly on the position that he had found the old tire tracks. Just before the driver turned off the headlights, Stone clearly saw the license plate. The car was a silver Mercedes and the license number was ANT 02 BET. Anton Stephens had arrived.