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Liev and Jonesy were propped up at the bar in the Nags Head when the news came on the TV behind the bar. Both were just chatting about old times, but the news bulletin soon caught their attention.
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Braking new. There have been shootings in the small town of Tameworth. It is believed two, maybe three people have been involved. Police have cordoned off the area and are asking for witnesses to come forward.
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A Police hotline number rolled across the screen. Jonesy looked to Liev and began to speak.
“Is that what I think it is?”
“Shh. Let me hear the rest of it.” Liev said, as he was now thinking it had all kicked off without him.
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Also, in today's news. There has been a mysterious explosion at Palmer Industries. The fire service was called earlier this morning and it is believed it was started deliberately. No one from Palmer Industries has so far been able to be contacted over the explosion and the Police are treating it as suspicious. We will bring you more from these stories as they unfold.
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Liev frankly searched his pocket for his mobile, then realised he must have left it in his car.
“What’s wrong?” Jonesy asked.
“That was the place the kids were supposed to be at.”
“Shit man. We had better go.”
“My thoughts exactly. Have you got a mobile on you?”
“Yeah. Here.” Jonesy said, as he pulled his phone out of his back pocket and gave it to Liev.
Liev took it and pulled the card with Franks number on it out of his pocket. Then began to dial the number. He waited impatiently while the number went through and started to hear the phone on the other end ring.
Frank had just left their flat and was now outside just about to get in his car with Sharon not far behind. He had also seen the breaking news and wanted to get to Palmer Industries to see the extent of the damage. This new incident had changed everything. If the children were there, were they also involved in the explosion! Frank could hear his phone ring just as he was opening the driver's door to his car. He stood by the opened door and took out his phone. A number he did not recognise was displaying on the screen. Sharon got in and told him to hurry up. Frank pressed the answer button, not noticing an old friend coming up from behind him with two other men a little way back.
“Hello?”
“Frank, it is me, Liev.”
“It is about time. Have you seen the news?”
“Yes. What now?”
“Billy has followed the Smiths to a Service station just before the motorway. Tameworth services. Do you know it?”
“Yes, why?”
“I need you to check them out. They have a girl with them and are in a white van.”
“Who is she?”
“No id...”
“Hello Frankie.” Woody said, as he put his hand on Franks shoulder.
Frank jumped with the surprise and turned around to the sight of his old mate from way back when he was into all sorts of dodgy deals. Those days were long gone for Frank, now that he did not need the money, but Woody would never change. He liked the gangster image and was made to live the life of crime and enjoyed it.
“Woody. This really is not a good time.”
“I would like to say it was just a passing visit. But you have been upsetting some rather nasty people.”
“What are you talking about.”
“Frank... Frank.” Liev said, as he could now hear Frank talking to someone.
He continued to listen.
“Grecco would like a word with you.”
“Who?”
“You don’t know him. Strange, because he seems to know who you are. He sent you a letter some time ago now and told you to not snoop around. You have been snooping around Frank, and now he wants to have a little chat with you. His thinks you know things, and he wants it.”
“What are you waffling on about Woody. Look I am in a hurry so...”
Woody took the mobile out of franks hand.
“He will call you back.”
Then dropped the mobile on the floor and stamped on it.
“What the hell. Who do you think you are?”
“Frank, just get in the car. We are old mates, and I would hate to have to use force on you, but I will if try anything stupid.”
“Woody, listen to me. Whatever he is paying you, I will double it.”
“Frank, this is not about money. Grecco just wants to talk. If I, were you, I would just do as he wants?”
“Are you his dog then?”
“If you knew what I knew, you wouldn’t be so quick to judge. These Russians run the show now. I am just a pawn. But I would rather be alive as a pawn, not a dead one. Get it.”
“Yes, I get it Woody. You sold out to the Russians.”
“Business is business. You of all people should understand that.”
“Not when it comes to selling out your mates.”
“Just get in the car Frank.”
Frank got in the driver’s side with Sharon looking at him, confused.
“Who are these people Frank?”
“Don’t ask. Look, get hold of Liev. I will try to be back as soon as I can.”
“Where are they taking you?”
“I don’t know. Do not worry. I will smooth this over and be back before you know it.” Frank said, as leant over and kissed Sharon. “Now go, before they decide they want you along as well.”
Sharon quickly got out and watched from the side of the car as Woody got in. He smiled at her as he got in the passenger side as if he were enjoying her discomfort at Frank being taken. One of the other men got in the back as the other went back to the car they had come in. She watched as they all left, now wondering what she was supposed to do.
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“What’s happened?” Jonesy asked.
“I think some people Frank has upset have come for him.”
“Who?”
“All I got was a name, Grecco.”
“Means nothing to me.”
“Do you still have computers not linked to anything?”
“What, you mean so that we cannot be traced. Sure, why?”
“We need to do some sniffing around before we get in any deeper with this. I have a funny feeling the Russian mob are behind this, so do we really want to risk it?”
“I told you Liev, I have got your back. If you want to play with these guys, I am in.”
“You are a plonker.”
“Might as well have another beer first!”
“Okay, just one more. Then we had better start looking for this Grecco character. Something tells me this is just getting started.”
“Two pints of your best lager bar man.” Jonesy shouted across the bar.
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Brian had been driving up the motorway for an hour when the sudden need to pee came. He pulled into the next services. Then he heard the knock on the partition.
“Why are we stopping?” Casey shouted.
“I need a pee.” Brian shouted back.
They had stopped and changing places before they got on the motorway, as Casey needed to know more about what was going on. She had been talking with Shannon for the last hour and was amazed at how little these two knew about the outside world. They had been kept so isolated she was surprised they were not more messed up. Everything was new to them. They had looked at things on the internet, but not experienced anything for real. They knew bits and pieces about the outside world, but nothing in detail. The simple everyday things like, who were certain people and what was going on in the world. Ronald had only allowed access to knowledge-based information and the concepts of fame, religion, politics, and social media were completely alien to them. Maybe he was, in his strange way, trying to keep their minds pure! Casey thought, but whatever his reasons, to Casey, it was still wrong. She was now only glad they were free from that place.
Brian slid the side door open and the light again, stung their eyes in the gloom of the back of the van.
“It is all over the news, and you will never guess. Palmer industries has been blown to bits.”
“Did they say who did it?”
“No. Apparently no one is available to comment.”
“Good. That placed need to be destroyed.”
“And how are you lot? I see Billy is still sleeping.”
“I can wake him up?” Shannon said.
“You do what you want love, I need to pee, and I am too old to be wetting my knickers.”
“Brian! Do you have to be so rude?”
“Sorry, won't be a tick.”
Brian left and headed to the service station toilets.
“Where are we going?” Shannon asked.
“Scotland. We have some relatives up there. We think it would be the safest place for us all until we can figure out what to do next.”
“We need to go back.”
“Back, why? You heard Brian. The facility has been blown up.”
“No, not there. We need to find Sharon.”
“Sharon?”
“She is our mother.”
“How do you know this?”
“I have been mapping Billy's thoughts.”
“Mapping, what is that?”
“It is difficult to explain. It is like I can feel his mind inside mine and look at his thoughts and memories.”
“And this is how you know all this; about your mother I mean?” Casey asked, a little disappointed that Shannon now had a real mother.
“Yes. We need to go back and find her. She is in danger.”
“We really need to keep going north. The Police maybe looking for us and I think...” Shannon projected he will into Casey’s mind. “Yes, I see what you mean. We should go back. You deserve to know the truth and find your mother.”
“Thank you, Casey. I am going to wake Billy up now and get him to take us there.”
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Sharon had picked up Franks broken mobile phone. The screen had been shattered, but as she opened the back of it, could see the data card was still intact. She eased it out, then threw the now ruined mobile back on the floor, then went back inside the flat. She took her data card out of her mobile then placed Franks inside her own mobile, then pressed the on switch. Sharon waited for the screen to upload, which seemed to take forever. Then the screen saver popped back on. She scrolled through the phone for the last call. Thankfully, it had been saved to the data card, then Sharon rang the number.
Jonesy's mobile was now on the bar while they drank their beer. It suddenly began to chime into life, and they both looked at each other, not expecting a call.
“It won’t be for me.” Jonesy said.
Liev picked the phone up and answered the call.
“Hello?”
“This is Sharon, Franks wife.”
“What’s happened?”
“Frank has been taken. I don’t know by whom, but it sounds serious.”
“Where are you?”
“I’m at our flat in the town centre.”
“Give me the address and one hour, and I will come to you. Do you have access to a computer?”
“Yes, we have all of Billy’s gear here. He does his internet stuff from here.”
“Good. Give me the address.”
Sharon told him the address and they both rung off. She now sat down, but not before grabbing the Vodka bottle off the side cabinet. She was distraught at Frank being taken and needed to calm her nerves now that she was all alone. Something she had not been for a long time since all this had begun. Unscrewing the cap, she took a sip, then another larger one. So much had happened in such a short time she was struggling to cope and could feel her mind yelling at her, like she was going insane. Drinking had become her best friend for a while now and as the Vodka warmed her insides, she felt a little calmer, now able to cope with whatever was coming next!
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“Drink up Jonesy. It looks like we have our first job!”
They both swallowed down the last of the lager and headed out to the car park, and the drive back to Tameworth.
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Back inside the van, Billy had been brought out of his sleep, who was now freaking out.
“What have you done to me?” Billy shouted.
“Calm down Billy. We are your friends.” Casey said, trying to reassure this scared young guy.
Shannon leant over and touched his knee, and Billy reacted instantly.
“Don’t touch me you freak.” He said, as he recoiled to the back of the van. “Let me out. I want out.”
Brian had just come back to see the drama unfold inside the van.
“I see you lot are doing a good job with Billy then!” Brian said sarcastically.
“Brian, do something. He is panicking.”
Brian stood there, not knowing what he could do.
Blake reached over to Billy, as he cowered away trying to avoid being touched again. The reaction was instantaneous as Blake reached out and touched his shoulder. Like a switch being turned, Billy suddenly sat down and apart from his heavy breathing, was suddenly calm again. Everyone watched as his sat there, now calm. His breathing slowed, and he now seemed like he was in a drug like state.
“How did you... Don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. So, what are we going to do now?” Brian asked.
“We need to find out what he knows. We are going back to find their mother.”
“Mother! Did I miss something here? We are supposed to be getting away.”
“Shannon wants to go back to find her mother, and we are going to help her.”
“Are we now. Well, you can count me out.”
“Brian, we have to help them.”
“No, you have to help them. Me, I am going on a long holiday and what happened to, this is all illegal. We are so far in this; we will be lucky to not get sent to prison.”
“Stop being so melodramatic.”
“I need to pee again.”
“Well bugger off and pee and make yourself useful and bring back four coffees.”
Brian spun round and went back to the service station, confused as to why Casey had suddenly changed the plan to go to Scotland.
As soon as he went away, Shannon began to probe inside Billy's mind.
“Are you...” Casey began to say but did not need to ask any further at what Shannon was now doing. “Is he showing you anything?”
“Yes. Just give me a moment and I will tell you what I find.”
Shannon sat next to Billy while she looked into his eyes. Billy did not move, just stared back her. Transfixed by her gaze. Casey watched on at this strange scene, still not sure if she believed that a human could do this. But that was the big question that she could not figure out yet. All she knew about them was extraordinarily little. Only what she had seen in the short time they had got to know them. For all Casey knew, they could be dangerous. It did make sense now, why Ronald Chow would not let these two out into the world. Shannon had indicated she could do more, how much more, Casey had no idea yet, and was now thinking this might not be the best idea. She tried to hold onto the thought, but something inside her mind diverted the thoughts and, in her daydream, had not realised Shannon was now looking directly at her.
“Oh, sorry. I was miles away then. Did you find anything?”
“Yes. I know where she lives.”
“Your mother?”
“Yes. She has been looking for me since I was born. I was taken away from her, and she has been looking for me ever-since.”
“You sound sad. Shouldn’t you be happy?”
“I am. It is just Blake. She does not know he exists.”
“How is that possible?”
“We were twins, but the doctors thought he was a parasitic twin, not a real person. They waited until I was born before they were going to destroy him. Then we were taken away.”
“I am so sorry Shannon. We will help you; you do know that.”
“I know you will, but I feel that time is running out.”
“Have you seen anything else.”
“A little. There are people coming to find us, dangerous people who want our blood. Like Ronald, but much worse.”
“We won’t let them take you.”
“We may not have a choice, but to go with them.”
Brian suddenly appears back at the van.
“We off then.” Brian said, with a tray full of piping hot coffees.
“Did you see anywhere we could stay for the night on the way up here?” Casey asked, but still looking at Shannon.
“Yeah, about two junctions back there was a travel lodge. Why?”
“We need to rest up. Tomorrow we are going back to Tameworth and finding Shannon’s mother.”
“So, you are still going with that idea.”
“Brian, just get us to that hotel.”
“Okay, okay, just don’t complain when this all bits you on your backside.”
Casey turned and gave him a dirty look, then took the tray of coffee off him.
“Now would be a good time!”
“Okay, I am going.”
Brian slid the side door shut, then got in the front. He pulled away, still unsure they were doing the right thing, but if he were ever going to make this up to Casey, he knew he would have to go along with whatever she wanted to save his crumbling marriage.
Casey offered the coffees around and as the van lurked forward, they all sat back. Looking at each other like none of them knew what was really going to happen next.