Betrayed (32 page)

‘Aye, right. Tough shit. I’m sure they’ll find you eventually.’ He hung up.

The car swiftly crossed lanes and sped down the road then turned into a quieter street, pulling over at the kerb behind another car. Rosie watched as the doors opened and two burly men came out. Both had shaven heads, and one of them looked like someone had melted his face then moulded it back together in a hurry. They came towards the passenger door like hulking polar bears and yanked it open. Then, the brute with the melted face grabbed her by the hair and the scruff of her blouse and dragged her out. She didn’t even get time to put her feet out and tripped on the pavement. He pulled her up and slapped her face hard.

‘Get up, you stupid fuck. Stand up.’

‘I … I can’t.’ Rosie’s legs were giving way when she stood up and she tried to support herself on the car.

‘Fuck’s sake, Psycho. Just
drag
her to the fucking car then before anybody sees us,’ the other guy spat.

The melted face picked her up and Rosie felt his meaty fingers like a vice around her arms and her skin bruising as he dragged her to the car and threw her in the back like a rag doll. Then both the men got into the front.

‘Now don’t be daft enough to move a muscle back there,’ the driver said. ‘Because big Psycho here is just getting in the mood for a bit of fun. And believe me, you won’t like his kind of fun.’

Both cars drove out of the street and through a warren
of backstreets until they came to what looked like a row of multi-storey offices, each with underground car parking. They drove down the slope to one of them and into an almost empty car park. The tyres screeched as they sped around the tight bends taking them to the next level, then several more levels and in her panic Rosie lost count. Finally both cars pulled up sharp. The driver came out and opened the rear door and took out a gun. There were now two guns at Adrian’s head as he eased himself out of the car with his hands behind his back. Rosie waited as the driver and the man called Psycho got out and opened her door. She braced herself for being dragged out, but nothing happened.

‘Right. Out,’ the driver said. ‘And don’t fuck about. Stand up.’

Rosie gritted her teeth. Her cheek was on fire and she felt her bottom lip puffing up from the force of the slap. She took as deep a breath as she could and pulled herself out of the car. She looked up to where Adrian stood and their eyes met. He blinked in that way he had of communicating without speaking, wanting to show some kind of empathy or give her a sign that things would be all right. Or at least she hoped that’s what it was. Psycho grabbed a handful of her hair and pushed her forward to follow the others. They barged through swing doors and walked down a stone corridor, and along the way, through small windows, Rosie could see they were several floors up. She could make out the city and the river as the daylight faded. They hadn’t travelled
far. She wondered what Matt had done. He will have phoned Javier, she tried to console herself. Help would come. But they’d gone so fast out of the street, how in the hell would they find them here?

They were pushed into a tiny, stifling side room where there was only an air vent above the door. One of the men’s mobiles rang.

‘Yeah, boss. We’re here. They’re fine. Like little lambs, they’re so quiet. Okay.’ He hung up.

The driver looked at both of them.

‘We’re getting some company in a wee while, so you’ll be left alone for the moment. I suggest you kiss each other’s arses goodbye.’

Psycho frisked Adrian, took out his mobile phone, removed the battery and threw the phone on the floor. Then he grabbed Rosie’s bag and emptied the contents onto the floor, taking the battery from her phone. He frisked her roughly, squeezing her breasts so hard the pain shot through her, and grinning as he shoved his hand between her legs.

‘Can I shag her?’ he said, pulling at her jeans without taking his eyes off her face. ‘She’s quite shaggable.’

‘Nah. You’d better not,’ the driver said. ‘Big Jake didn’t say anything about shagging, so just stick to the brief.’

Psycho pushed her against the wall, lifting her off her feet, and started grinding himself up against her.

‘You don’t know what you’re missing, doll.’

Before Rosie could stop herself, she headbutted him, hearing his nose crack, and she instantly knew she’d made a huge mistake. Maybe the biggest she’d ever make. His face went purple with rage and he looked as though he was going to explode.

‘Fuck!’ he spat. ‘Ya wee bastard!’ Blood spouted from his nose.

The others burst out laughing.

‘Fuck me, Psycho. That’s the only kiss you’re getting, ya daft prick.’

He slapped both sides of her face so hard she saw stars. Then pain ripped through as he punched her hard on the barely healed stab wound where she’d been operated on a couple of months ago.

‘Come on to fuck, Psycho. Upstairs.’

They went out of the room and slammed the door, locking it three times.

Rosie tried to get to her feet but fell over. Adrian rushed towards her and lifted her, holding her close as he looked at her face. Tears filled her eyes.

‘Bastard!’ she said. ‘Oh, Adrian, I’m sorry for all this.’ Her face pressed against his chest.

‘Sssh, Rosie. Don’t worry. We will be all right.’

Rosie looked up at him.

‘No we won’t,’ she sniffed. ‘How are we going to get out of this? They’re going to kill us. That Psycho bastard –
where in the name of Christ did they get him from? They’re going to kill us. I know it.’

‘What about Matt? What happened to him?’

‘He left his mobile on the table at the bar and ran back to get it. Then as he was coming towards us he saw the car and I looked at him. I tried to signal with my hand to make him stay where he was and it seemed to work. He’s our only hope.’

‘He will have phoned Javier and the policeman. They will come.’

‘But they don’t know where we are.’

‘They will come. I know they will.’ He looked at Rosie and eased her away from him. ‘But listen to me.’ His fingers gently touched her face. ‘Some bad things are going to happen here to us before anyone comes … before this is over. So please. You must try to be brave. To be strong.’

Rosie nodded.

‘I’m scared.’

‘I know you are.’ He stroked her hair. ‘But it happens. People suffer pain and they have to be able to stand it. You must be strong. You
are
strong, and they will hurt you. But we will get through it. We have to.’

Rosie sniffed, sliding down the wall until she was hunkered down and then sitting on the stone floor. She felt cold and shivery even though her blouse was wet with sweat. She wiped blood from her mouth.

Adrian sat watching her, then he reached down and
turned back the cuff of his trousers and tore at the material. He produced a tiny cloth and unfolded it, taking something out of it.

‘What’s that?’ Rosie pulled herself up towards him. ‘A battery? Christ, Adrian! You’ve got a battery!’

‘Sssh, Rosie. I always have one extra, hidden, just in case. Since the war. Hurry. We don’t have much time.’ He slipped the battery into his mobile and switched it on, sticking it in his pocket for a second to muffle the start-up jingle.

‘Here. Phone Matt.’

‘Shit,’ Rosie said. ‘I need to think of his number. I have him on speed dial. Christ … 0777 …’ Then she reeled it off, thankful she remembered. ‘Right, that’s it.’

Matt answered after one ring.

‘Adrian. Fuck me! What the fuck?’

‘Sssh, Matt, it’s me. Listen. The guys in the Merc had a gun at Adrian’s head. They must have got him when he went to get our car. They were clocking us. Don’t know how. It’s Jake Cox. I think he’s coming here.’

‘Shit! Wait. Javier’s here. I’ve got him and the cops. They’re on it.’

‘Rosie?’ It was Javier.

‘Javier, I don’t have much time.’

‘Rosie, listen to me. Just tell me where you are.’

‘I don’t know. A car park – multi-storey place. They took us in two cars. We went down the main boulevard then turned right and through a load of streets. It looks like
several office blocks with parking. We’re up on like a fifth floor in a side room … Oh shit … Maybe it’s the fourth … or the second. I can’t remember. But I don’t know where it is.’

‘We came up six floors,’ Adrian said calmly.

‘Six floors, Javier,’ Rosie relayed the information.

‘It’s okay, Rosie. How many people? Have they hurt you?’

‘Just a slap. But there’s this headcase called Psycho and they’re waiting for people to come. It’s Jake Cox. He’s behind it. But I don’t know about the others. Hurry.’

‘Garcia’s men are on it. We left the table as soon as Matt called us, so they are now trying to locate where you are. We’ll find you.’

‘They’re going to kill us. For the shooting last year, they said. In Fuengirola.’ Rosie felt her voice breaking.

‘It’s okay. Garcia has people everywhere. They’re all over this.’

‘I need to go. They took the batteries out of our phones, but Adrian had one hidden in his clothes. But I must go in case they come.’

‘Don’t worry.’ Javier hung up.

Rosie and Adrian looked up at the sound of locks being turned. The door opened and Psycho walked in, followed by two gunmen.

‘Right. Let’s go.’ They ushered them out.

‘Where?’ Rosie couldn’t help asking.

Psycho grinned. ‘Does it fucking matter?’ He grabbed her
roughly and pushed her ahead of him, his hand gripping the back of her hair so tight it made her eyes water.

They were marched along another corridor and up a stone stair. Another three flights and Rosie could hardly breathe by the time they reached an emergency exit door. Psycho pushed on the bar and opened it, then shoved Rosie out onto the roof of the building. Her head swam as soon as she stepped out and could see the edge of the roof. As long as she could remember, her fevered nightmares had been plagued by falling off tall buildings or bridges, hanging on the edge of a cliff, or slipping down mountains. She was so afraid of heights she couldn’t cross a bridge or even climb a ladder. Her shrink pal told her it was a deep-rooted anxiety and it was all about losing control. She felt sick rising in her throat.

‘What’s the matter? You’re a bit white. You’re no’ scared of heights are you?’ Psycho pulled her across towards the edge of the building and Rosie thought she was going to pass out.

There was no barrier, just a single brick lip and the sheer drop. He dragged her, still holding her hair, then he pushed her again until she was teetering on the edge of the building, the streets and the moving traffic swirling before her. If she moved a muscle, she’d be off.

‘Please. Stop. I’m going to faint. I … I can’t … Please.’ Her legs gave way.

‘Get up. Stand up.’ He pulled her to her feet. ‘Look. It’s a
long way down. That’s what happens when you try to be a smart fucker.’ He forced her to stand just inches from the edge and pushed her body forward so one foot was almost over.

‘Please. Don’t.’ Rosie broke down.

Psycho pushed her to the ground, and left her sobbing as she crawled on her belly away from the edge.

Then he turned to Adrian, along with the other two men. One of them made him stand, then locked his arms behind his back while Psycho punched him in the gut, winding him. As Adrian doubled over, he punched his face and blood poured from his mouth. Then he hit the back of his legs with a pickaxe handle and he buckled to the ground.

At that moment, the door opened and Flinty Jackson walked in with a minder behind him. He stood surveying the scene then walked to the edge of the building and turned to face them.

‘So,’ Flinty said, coming towards Rosie. ‘
You’re
Rosie Gilmour. Tell me this. What are you actually doing over here in Seville?’ His icy blue eyes locked hers.

‘Nothing.’ Rosie cowered, waiting for him to kick her. ‘I was just monitoring the Rangers match fans. We do it all the time. Wherever they go. It’s nothing. It’s in case of hooliganism.’

‘Pish!’ He wiped beads of sweat from his suntanned forehead. ‘You’re into something. What are you investigating? What are you sticking your nose into this time? Big Jake
says we’ve to sort out your big Commie pal here for last year, and you, Gilmour, for all that carry-on in Glasgow with his cop mate, big Gavin Fox. So you’re well and truly fucked.’ He walked around her, and she doubled in two as he gave her a swift kick in the ribs. ‘But you could make your last few minutes easier by telling us why you’re here. Why were you at that cafe we were at today? Jake’s driver recognised you from last year. So you’re not that clever. You watching us? Because if you are, then you’ll know who you’re dealing with. You know what the UVF does with spies?’

‘We weren’t watching you,’ Rosie croaked, struggling to breathe. ‘We just happened to be there. We’re going to the match tonight. The tickets are back at the hotel.’

Flinty snorted a laugh and the others sniggered.

‘You’ll not be going to the match tonight, or any other night. Big Jake’s been waiting for this chance for ages. He can’t believe his luck.’ He jerked his head towards Adrian. ‘Stand him up, Psycho.’

They pulled Adrian to his feet. Two of the men held him tight as Psycho forced Adrian to hold his arm out straight. They forced him to the very edge of the building, so that if he took one step he was off. They pulled up the legs of his trousers, exposing his naked calves.

‘Keep him steady.’

Flinty’s minder stepped forward and handed him a blowtorch. Flinty sparked it into action and a yellow flame
appeared, then he adjusted a knob and the flame turned blue as it roared.

‘Oh Christ,’ Rosie said under her breath. ‘Oh Christ no.’

She watched as Flinty stood close to Adrian and turned the blowtorch on his leg for a split second. Adrian jumped with pain and almost fell off the building. The henchmen grinned and pulled him back. Then Flinty turned the torch on his other leg making him jump again, to the amusement of the thugs holding him.

‘Put his arms out straight,’ Flinty said.

Then he turned the torch on the underside of his forearm.

‘So. Now do you want to tell us why you’re here with that bitch?’