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Woody was now sat outside the Police station with his long-standing solicitor, who had collected a safe box for him on the way to helping him get released from custody.
“I know what is in that box.” Dean Ramsay said, as he handed it over to woody.
“Well, you shouldn't have looked.”
“You do know how much shit you are in and that dummy ass friend of yours saying the guns were his is just insane. He is going down for at least five to seven you know.”
“I could not care less, besides, he knows better than to grass me in.”
“This is only bail; they will still want you back tomorrow lunchtime.”
“That is all the time I need.”
“I had to bullshit my head off in there to get you out. Don’t go doing something stupid.”
“You did me good in there and I appreciate it, here.” Woody said, as he had opened the safe box and handed over two Grand to Dean.
Dean took the money and popped it in his jacket.
“Dare I ask what you need that for?”
“It is personal. Something I should have done time ago.”
“You do know you are heading straight to prison if you get caught with than gun.”
“That is not your concern, now I am in a hurry so...”
“Don’t you think you are getting a bit old for this gangster routine Woody. I am just telling you as an old friend. Just go home, and we will work out a good alibi tomorrow that might just see you get off.”
“Now who is talking bullshit. You know as well as I do once the old bill trace those guns; they will nail me and Tony for every unsolved crime going.”
“No, they won’t.”
“You make it sound like it is so simple. If you knew what I did, then you wouldn’t even be here helping me.”
“I know your late parents would not approve. Your dad was good to me.”
“Please, you will have me crying next. Do yourself a favour and forget what you have just seen. As far as you are concerned you did your job.”
“That is not far Woody. You know I will always try my best for you.”
“Yeah, I know. Look, if things work out, I will call you later today. If you do not hear from me, then take it as red I am not coming back.”
“Woody, just think about what you are doing.”
Woody held out his hand for Dean to shake.
“Goodbye Dean, and thanks for tonight. I owe you one.”
Dean got out and watched as Woody headed off into town, now regretting letting him talk him into getting him out, now knowing he had just helped him, and even got the weapon for him to commit whatever crime he was about to do.
The Hilton was not too far away, and Woody had one thing in his favour. The element of surprise, because he knew he would need it with all the security he knew Grecco had.
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Liev and Shannon pulled up outside the Hilton hotel. It had two ostentatious pillars outside that looked odd against the other hotels along the street. It was by far the most expensive hotel in the town and only the rich could afford its pricey rooms. A valet shot out of the door and looked surprised to see a van park up outside. Liev wound the window down to the sound of a young guy saying that deliveries were round to rear. Liev ignored him and got out and Shannon joined him. The valet looked puzzled.
“Deliveries...” He began to say, then went silent.
The valet got into the van and began to drive away, his mind gone all blank,
“You are good.” Liev said, as they walked towards the revolving doors, now hand in hand.
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Casey and Brian had asked the taxi driver to pull over on the opposite side of the road. Casey quickly counted out seven hundred pounds and handed it over. The driver flicked through it, knowing it was more than he was expecting, but was not complaining and before he could even turn and say thanks. Casey was getting out of the taxi, now stood staring over the road as she watched Shannon and Liev enter the hotel. Brian joined her as they both stood at a bus shelter.
“What now?” Brian said.
“We give it a minute, then go in.”
“Wouldn’t it be better to wait out here?” Brian said, as he jumped at the sound of the taxi driver bibbing his horn as he went past. “Idiot.” Brian said, as he turned to look at the driver waving out the window at them. “Did you see that?”
As Brian turned back to Casey she was gone, now walking over the road to the Hilton.
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Shannon and Liev were now at the reception desk. A well-dressed man looked them up and down and before they could even say anything, he told them they were fully booked. Liev looked at Shannon for her to do her thing, but even before he turned back to the receptionist, he could feel the energy coming from Shannon.
“Room 213. Here is the spare door entry pass. Now is there anything else I can do for you?”
Liev looked at them both in turn, as they both had a weird grin on their faces. He felt like he had just missed something.
“This is just weird.” Liev said, not believing it was possible to do what Shannon could clearly do.
“If you take the elevator to the fourth floor and go left, room 213 is just down there.” The receptionist told them as they walked towards the elevator.
“Thank you.” Shannon said, in a cocky voice.
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Casey was now looking through the side window next to the revolving doors as Brian joined her. She looked at the receptionist who was still smiling at Shannon and Liev who were now waiting for the elevator doors to open.
“What now?” Brian asked.
“We book a room. Take out five hundred. If we go in there looking like cheap skates, they will never give us a room.”
“I really don’t think that will work. Look at the place. We are not exactly dressed for it.”
“Stuff this.” Casey said, as she rushed inside.
“Shit.” Brian said, as he followed her in.
Casey could see the elevator doors just beginning to close as she got inside and bolted towards them. Ramming her arm inside, just as the doors nearly closed. They bounced twice on her arm, trying to close. Then opened again. Casey winced at the pain, but it was not as bad as she thought. Before she had time to move, Shannon dragged her inside, with Brian now dashing in as well. The doors closed.
“What the hell are you two doing?” Shannon moaned, now seeing two people that should ne be here.
“We have been following you.” Casey said, as she got her breath back.
“I know, and I told you what will happen if you do.”
“We don’t care.” Casey replied, as Liev was eyeing up Brian, not knowing who these two were, but judging by the way Shannon was talking to them, they knew each other.
“This is Liev. He is a...”
“It’s okay Shannon. They do not need to know who I am. Do you two know what is going on here?”
“We...we are trying to help.” Casey said, as Brian did not know what to say.
“When these doors open on the fourth level, there are going to be several guards wanting to know who we are, and if we don’t give them a damn good reason, they will...”
“Liev, it is okay.” Shannon said, pulling his arm down as he was now holding it out, pointing at these two idiots who had no idea what they were doing.
Liev pressed the emergency stop button on the lift. He needed time to think.
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Jonesy pulled up outside the hotel, then looked over to the others.
“Got any ideas on how we are getting in there?”
Blake began to open his door.
“Follow me. I can get us in.”
Jonesy watched Blake get out and shrugged his shoulders at the other two. The guns had been loaded and Jonesy handed one to Frank.
“Keep it hidden, just in case.”
Frank looked at the gun, then took it off Jonesy. Sharon looked at him with a realisation that this was getting out of hand.
“You can stay here, if this is too much for you?” Jonesy said, as he could see the fear in Sharon’s eyes.
“I don’t think I can go in.” She said, with a tremble to her voice.
“Frank, you stay with her.”
“But...”
“No buts. You are no good to me like this. If you see the old bill, or we are not out in twenty minutes, you two leave.”
“I...”
“No. Look at her. She is scared witless. Remember, twenty minutes and then go. Got it?”
Frank nodded, knowing it was the right thing to do, and even though he would have gone in, he too was scared.
Jonesy got out and followed Blake who was now at the reception desk. As Jonesy walked over to him, he looked at the bemused guy behind the counter. Blake began to walk towards the lift area and Jonesy followed. As they got there, the lift seemed to be making a noise.
“What is it?” Jonesy asked.
“I think Shannon is inside.”
Jonesy looked at the top of the lift display and could see a digital display saying it was stuck on the third floor.
“Come on, we can take the stairs.” Jonesy said, seeing the sign on a door next to the lifts.
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Woody walked up at the service area of the Hilton. It was the entrance he used on occasions to drop off coke for those with money to burn. It had been a long time since he had been here, having his mules to do this sort of work for him as he had climbed his way to the top of the drugs chain. They were normally bored millionaires wanting to have a party in private with prostitutes and had been a good source of income for a while now and Woody hoped one of the regular security guards was on tonight. They knew the score and for a twenty, would let them drop off the gear for them to take to whatever room ordered it. As he got out of his car, he could see a familiar face who was having a smoke. It was an odd time for even his dealers to be doing trade and it would probably cost him more than the usual twenty to get inside. Woody walked over and took a wedge from the safe box, then went over to the security guard, which was now stubbing out the cigarette and was about to head back inside.
“Hey Morris, it’s me. Woody.”
The guard turned around and stared out along the dark alley and could see Woody coming over.
“Well, I never thought I would see you tonight. How long has it been?” Morris said, as they shook hands.
“Got a special client tonight. Greg Bourneski ordered some gear.”
“Not that rich Bastard on the fourth floor. A right pain in the backside he has been. Comes here and takes over all our security equipment, and we must do his dog work. Even has them poor Bastards walking the streets outside.”
“No shit”
“Yeah, will be glad to see the back of him.”
“So, can I do a drop?”
“No can-do Woody. He has strict instruction to not let anyone in unless he has personally okayed it.”
“You know me Morris. I would never ask unless it was important.”
“Sorry Woody. Not worth my job, not unless you can verify he ordered it. I cannot do it Woody.”
Woody took the gun out and pointed it at Morris.
“It this verification enough for you?”
“What the hell Woody.”
“Open that fucking door, now.”
“You have no idea what you are doing. He has seven guards on that floor and access to all the CCTV.”
“Shut the fuck up and open the door.”
“It's your funeral mate.”
Morris swiped his pass over the keypad and the door clicked open.
“Radio, and that pass.”
Morris took his radio out of is top pocket and handed them to Woody.
“You do yourself a favour and disappear for an hour. This is going to get ugly.”
“Have you gone mad?”
“Yeah, now piss off.” Woody said, as he went through the security door, then it clicked shut behind him.
In front of him were several flights of stairs which he began to walk up. Keeping an ear out in case he had already been seen on the security cameras that were on each bend of the stairs, Woody felt the trouble coming before he had even reached the first floor.
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Grecco was suddenly woken by the head of his security. Dmitri was shaking his shoulder, as Grecco was still slumped in the chair with a half drank bottle of Vodka still in his hand.
“What?” He snapped.
“There is an intruder coming up the service stairwell, and two unknowns coming up the front stairs.”
Grecco took a swing from the bottle, then placed it next to the files on the coffee table. He stood up and rubbed his eyes while the information sunk in.
“So, they have a surprise for me. Go and take them out. If you locate the subjects, use the tranquillizers, but if there is trouble, make sure you save the male subject. We need him. The others...shoot to kill. Once you have the situation under control, ensure you collect the CCTV. We don’t want any of this to be recorded.”
“Yes sir.”
“Go and be careful. They could be dangerous as they had got this far already.”
Dmitri left. Grecco sat back down and looked at the files on the table. It was time to get ready to leave. He took another swig of the Vodka, then began stacking all the files in readiness to make a quick exit.
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Shannon leant forward and pressed the emergency button and the lift shuddered and began its journey again.
“What are you doing?” Liev said.
“Trust me.” Shannon replied.
Casey and Brain were now silent, oblivious to the danger that lay ahead on the next floor. The doors pinged to say that they were at the fourth level and began to open.
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Two of the guards had already left and were heading down the emergency stairwell while Dmitri and another guard, had set off for the main stairwell.
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As the doors opened, Liev popped his head outside and took a quick look.
“There are three guards along the corridor.”
Shannon put her hands to the side of her head and began to focus on them. A few seconds later, they heard shots being fired. Liev popped his head outside the lift again. Then looked back at the others.
“They have shot themselves!”
“Let’s go. You two are staying put. This does not concern you.”
Casey and Brian still did not say anything. They were both in shock and unsure of why they were even here now, and after hearing the guns being fired, just wanted to get away. Shannon and Liev left the elevator and as soon as she could, Casey was frantically pressing the lifts ground floor button.
“I told you we should have never come here.”
“Shut up Brian.” Casey replied, now thinking perhaps they should stay and help.
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Shannon and Liev walked over to the three guards who were now laying in front of door 213. Liev looked at Shannon, unsure of what was going to happen next.
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Woody stopped climbing the stairs. He had just heard a door being opened, then slam shut. He pointed his gun up the stairs and waited.
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Blake also stopped walking up the stairs. He too could hear footsteps running down the stairs above. Jonesy was so focused on following him, he nearly knocked him over.
“What is it?”
“Shh.” Is all Blake said, as he focused?
Suddenly a gunshot could be heard and then the sound of someone falling down the stairs could be heard. A door opened, then slammed shut.
“What the fuck. Did you...”
“Yes, but one of them got away.”
They continued up the stairwell at a slower pace.
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Casey suddenly pressed the button for the second floor.
“What are you doing?”
“We have to help them Brian.”
“No, we do not, and I will leave you here, if you won’t come with me.”
The doors pinged open, and Brian got out.
“Well, are you...”
From inside the lift Casey now watched as Brian fell to the floor. A bullet had just passed through his head. It happened so quick that she did not have time to react or reply that she was staying put. Brian was now laying right outside the lift doors, still staring right at her. Casey suddenly had a flash back of the image that Shannon had projected inside her mind. It was the same image that she already had stored inside her brain. Suddenly, a man dressed in a blue suit was standing next to Brian. He turned his head and looked at her. Everything felt like it was in slow motion, as she edged back again the elevator wall. Even the sight of the stranger now stood there, lifting his arm, and pointing the gun at her was all slowed down to an agonising speed. All Casey heard was the shot being fired.
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Liev turned the knob on the door, then slowly pushed it open. If there was someone inside waiting for them, then Shannon had better be quick in putting them under control. As the door slowly opened, Liev took a quick glance. No one was inside the room, so he edged his was in, with Shannon close behind.
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The noise was getting loader as the two security guards got closer. Woody knew they were just round the next set of stairs. He braced himself against the wall and readied himself. In the second it took to see the first guard, he began shooting. He knew he had killed the first, but the second guard was also ready and returned fire. Something thumped his arm, and he knew it was a bullet, but there was no pain. Woody kept firing until the gun was empty. The second guard came tumbling down the stairs and was now slumped over the first. The pain in his arm could now be felt, and he winced as he felt the wound, blood now pouring down his sleeve. He bent down and took the gun out of the guard’s hand and checked to see if it still had bullets left in it. Seeing it was still loaded, he carried on up the stairs.
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Blake was the first out of the stairwell onto the second floor. As he looked down the corridor, he could now see Dmitri looking his way, and the gun he was holding begin to point in his direction. Blake focused and watched as Dmitri began to fly through the air by unseen forces. His body smashed against the far wall and slumped to the floor, shattered by the impact. Blood was now coming out of his mouth and with a last exhale of air, he was gone.
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Liev looked round the room and could see a collection of files on the table, then moved over to the other door. Shannon walked over to the table and began picking up the files, flicking through them.
Grecco suddenly lunged out from behind a door Liev was standing near, and he grabbed Liev from behind and now had a gun pointing at his head.
“Don’t try anything stupid, or I will fire this bullet straight through his head.”
“Just do it.” Liev said to Shannon, who seemed relaxed.
She took the file she was holding and sat on the bed and began to flick through the pages.
“Did you hear me?” Grecco said.
“I heard you.” Shannon said, as she continued to read the file. “So, this is what it all was about?”
“You have no idea what you are messed up in. Now get up and move over there.”
“I think you are mistaken. It is you who have no idea what we can do.” Shannon replied, as she turned and looked at Grecco.
“What, what are you doing he said as he tried to pull the trigger on the gun, but his hand was frozen.”
“I am going to show you pain like you have never seen before.”
“Stop this. I will give you everything.”
“I don’t need anything from you.” She snarled, as she walked towards him, and Grecco suddenly finding himself floating off the floor.
“What is this?”
Liev backed away, while Grecco began to rise in the air.
Suddenly the door burst open, and Woody came in, who was now stood looking like he had seen a ghost at the sight of Grecco floating in the air.
“Help me Woody. They are insane.”
Woody did not reply. Then Blake burst through the doorway, nearly sending Woody flying, followed by Jonesy, who also looked stunned.
“Get me down. You are all crazy.”
“Shannon. Let him down.” Blake said.
“No. He has to die for what he has done to us.”
“This will not help us. We need to leave. The Police are on their way and this will change nothing.”
“Arr.” Grecco said, as blood began to trickle down his nose.
“Shannon, we must go.”
Liev had backed away towards the door next to Jonesy. This was one battle he did not want to be caught in. Jonesy flicked his head to say let's go. Liev did not need telling twice, as they backed out of the room into the corridor.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
“You can say that again. There is not enough money in the world worth getting involved with this shit.” Jonesy said, as they began to run towards the stairwell.
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Back in the hotel room, Shannon could feel her anger growing.
“What are you going to do with him?” Woody asked.
“I am going to kill him, slowly.”
“Woody, I will give you anything, just make her stop. Arr.”
Woody stared at Grecco, then turned the gun and fired a shot. Grecco instantly fell to the ground. Blake looked at his sister who was now laying on the floor, her chest now pouring with blood.
“Get me out of here.” Grecco said, as he tried to get up.
Woody went over to him and helped him to his feet.
“We need the files and that case.” Grecco told him, as he stood pointing at the coffee table.
Woody quickly shoved them all into the holdall next to the table, then gave it to Grecco, and then they both left the room.
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Blake was now knelt next to Shannon.
“What can I do. I need to heal you. There is so much blood, tell what to do.” Blake said, as he held his hand over the bullet wound in her chest.
“It is too late.” Shannon said, into his mind. “You must stop him, or he will continue...”
“Shannon... Shannon.” Blake said, shaking her with both hands on her shoulders. “Don’t leave me, wake up.” Blake yelled, as tears poured down his face.
As he knelt there next to his sister, he could feel the anger growing inside of him. All the time she had been alive he had felt a connection to her, like she was always there, even when they were apart. Now that feeling was gone, Shannon was dead. Blake shot to his feet, anger coursing through his veins. He now wanted to tear Grecco, limb from limb, and he would not stop until he had avenged her death.
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Woody helped Grecco down the corridor and into the stairwell.
“You are going to keep your promise. We had a deal right. I got you out of there.”
“Yes, yes of course Woody. I will give you what you want.” Grecco said, as he reached round and took his gun that was tucked inside his trousers. “Everything you want.”
“Good. Let’s get you...” Woody was about to say when he heard the shot and felt his stomach suddenly feel like it was on fire.
Grecco stood back and watched as Woody slowly slid down the wall and was now touching his stomach, as the blood poured out.
“You bastard.”
“Never trust a man like me Woody. I am way too greedy, and I always get what I want. At any cost.” Grecco said, as he fired a bullet into his head.
He felt better now that his head was clearing and wiped the blood away from his nose. He had been lucky and felt like Shannon could have crushed his entire body if she wanted to. It was time to leave. Just as he was running down the stairs, another of his guards who had been patrolling the outside, came running up the stairs.
“We...”
“No excuses. Where are the other guards?”
“All dead. There is me and the driver. The car is out the back ready to leave.”
“Good. Get the boy, then meet me there. We need to leave before the Police get here.”
Grecco carried on down the stairs while his guard continued up the stairwell.
Just as Grecco got to the emergency exit, he heard a gun fire, then the sound of someone falling down the stairs. He ran to the waiting Limo and got inside. Grecco fumbled through the holdall, looking for the case he had in already put in there earlier. Finding it under the files, he quickly opened it and took out a bottle of sedative. With trembling hands, he put it in between his knees and unwrapped a needle. Steadying his hand, Grecco pushed the end into the cork top of the bottle held with his knees. He pushed the plunger down in the needle and began to draw up some liquid. Just as he pulled the needle out, the passenger door flung open. Blake shot inside and lunged for Grecco’s neck. In the struggle, Grecco dropped the needle and at the same time was dragged into the floor well in the back of the Limo. The driver got out, ready to tackle Blake, but he was suddenly flung into the air and came crashing down on the rubbish bins a few yards away. Grecco felt with his hands for the needle as he was being choked.
“Die you bastard, die.” Blake shouted, as he throttled the man, he had who killed his sister.
Blake felt a sudden rush, as his head began to spin. His grip loosened on Grecco’s neck. Grecco edged away, coughing, and trying to breath. Blake then slumped down and was half over Grecco. The driver appeared at the door, covered in waste food.
“Get him off me you idiot and get me out of here.”
The driver responded and pulled Blake off him and wrestled with Blake, finally managing to prop him up in the back seat, then pulled the needle out of his side and looked at it, then Grecco.
“He will be under for twenty-four hours. Get onto the pilot and have the plane ready to leave in one hour.”
The driver shut the door and got in the front and began to make the call. Grecco eased himself back in the seat. He reached over and took a bottle of Vodka out of the central compartment in the seat, then closed the cover. Unscrewing the lid, he glanced over at Blake, then smiled. The car began to move forward out of the alley and back onto the main street, just as Police cars were pulling up to the front of the hotel. The Limo driver casually pulled away, just like nothing had happened.
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Liev and Jonesy were twenty yards down the street when they saw the first Police car go by.
“That was close.” Jonesy said, as they were both sweating and getting their breath back.
“You can say that again. I think it is time to stay low for a while.”
“What about the agency and the contract on your head.”
“I don’t think that will be a problem. Grecco will be dead now and so will the contract.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I would not have liked to have been in his shoes when that pair have finished with him.”
“Me either. So, what now?”
“I have an old lady to check on, then I am going to bed for two days to catch on my sleep. You?”
“The same, I guess. I bet my old lady doesn’t even know I had been gone all night.”
“Doris will, and I dare say she will be annoyed at me not being home to make her lunch.”
“Home? That does not sound like you. Are you getting settled?”
“Yeah, I think I am. It is quite nice having someone there to come home to.”
“Well, I never thought you, of all people would say that.”
“People change Jonesy. People change.” Liev said, as they continued walking down the street.
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Frank and Sharon were still waiting opposite the Hilton hotel, and were now watching as the Police piled out of the two squad cars and entered the hotel foyer.
“What now?” Sharon asked.
“Well looks like Liev and Jonesy have done one, judging by them walking off up the street. I think we should do the same.”
“What about Shannon and Blake?”
“Look, this is not what we wanted. They are by no means kids, are they! What can we offer them?”
“But they are our children. We cannot just leave them here.”
“You're right. We should go in there and tell the Police everything.”
“I didn’t mean that.”
“If we go in there and tell them what we know, they will most likely charge us with all sorts of shit. What good will that do for them, with us locked up!”
“So, what are you saying? We just drive away!”
“That is exactly what I am saying. We live and fight another day.”
“Can we do that!”
“Watch me.” Frank said, as he fiddled with the wires that were dangling from under the car steering column.
The Volvo grunted to life and Frank pulled off. It was getting light as he began to drive away from the hotel and as he looked on at the road ahead, he glanced at his hand then looked at Sharon.
“I can say one thing about all this. I won’t be forgetting about this in a hurry.”
Sharon did not reply, just looked forward as they drove away.