BREAK ME FREE (16 page)

Asleep, Serge fell through the door. He woke up flat on his back. Serge stared at an angry Tanya. A mischievous grin broke across his face. “Morning.”

“You’re a bastard, Serge.”

“Why?”

“You were all over that slob.”

“I was not.” Serge rolled onto his side. He rubbed his forehead. “Was I?”

“You had wandering hands. It I hadn’t walked in the room when I did, I would hate to think of what might have happened.”

“I would never do such a thing.” Serge carefully climbed to his feet. He grabbed the door frame to steady himself. “Look, I didn’t even want to go out last night. It was your idea.”

“Is this what you’re like when you go out? Fucking any whore that looks at you?”

“Of course not.” Serge picked up his case.
“I’m not that lucky for a start.”

“Never again?”

“Of course not.”

* * * *

Tanya sat watching the television as Serge lay asleep on the bed. The knock on the door caused her to reluctantly miss the end of her soap opera as she answered the door. “Oh hi, Malc.”

“Damn, I was hoping you would be wearing that bikini again.”

“Oh go away.”

Malcolm handed her a handbag. “I just brought back your handbag.”

“Oh, thanks. I had no idea I had left it.”

“How are you feeling after last night?”

“Yeah, we have ironed out our differences. He’s fast asleep nursing a hangover.”

“Good.
It was kinda my fault. It was me who got chatting to them.”

“Oh really.” Tanya laughed playfully punched Malcolm in the chest. “Here’s me thinking your face was a picture of innocence.”

“As a big sorry, me and Julia want to invite you to dinner tonight.”

“I’ll ask Serge.”

“Tell him there won’t be any alcohol, not unless he wants it of course.”

“I don’t think he’ll be drinking somehow.”

Malcolm leaned forward and kissed Tanya on her cheek. “Ok, see you later.”

* * * *

Tanya walked back in to the bedroom wearing a smile. “It was Malcolm. I left my handbag at their place.”

“You have a cheek, Tanya.”

“What?”

“Accusing me of all sorts when you, yourself, are every bit as guilty as me.’’

”What are you talking about?”

“I’ve seen the way you look at Malcolm.
You’d love to straddle him.”

Tanya dismissively threw her hand into the air. “Oh
, fuck off Serge.”

“Just admit it. I’ve seen you undress him with your eyes.”

“You’re full of bullshit.”

Serge began to laugh. “See, see what it feels like to feel the injustice of being accused of such things.”

”I wouldn’t cheat on you.”

“I wouldn’t on you either.”

“Don’t you dare try and compare the two. You were about to kiss her last night. Don’t lie.”

“Listen to yourself, you sound paranoid.”

Tanya felt an anger swelling in her gut. “You had your arm around her with your legs entwined while whispering sweet nothings into her ear.”

“I was out of my mind
… I’m sorry. But you have to admit you’re a major flirt, even when you’re sober.”

“What?”

“It’s not your fault. It’s part of your makeup.”

“You calling me a whore?”

“No.”

“Yes you are, you just called me a whore.”

“There’s a subtle difference.”

Tanya pointed towards the door. “Leave
, Serge. And don’t come back until you accept responsibility for your actions …. Childish prick.”

“After all I have done for you, and you’re throwing me out?”

“Yes, you can whinge about the injustice as you wait for the train by yourself.”

“This is my present from Beatrice and Bruce. You leave.”

Tanya opened the door. “Shouldn’t have fucked up then, should you.”

“I’m sorry, but I’m not going anywhere.”

“Fine, I’ll go.”

“No, no. I’m going.”

* * * *

Behind the reception desk, Julia held the phone receiver to her ear. She dropped the receiver onto the desk as she watched an upset Tanya pace across the marble tiles. “Tanya?” Standing from her chair, she dashed across the floor. “Tanya, where are you going?”

“Leave me alone.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Serge and I have broken up.

Julia put her arm around Tanya, slowing her to a stop. “No, no you haven’t. Come on let’s take you back.”

“No we’re finished. He’s no better than the rest of them.”

“You’re tired and emotional. He is probably the same.”

“He’s stubborn and won’t admit he is wrong.” Tanya pushed her face into Julia’s shoulder. “Then he tries to put the blame on me.”

“Men are all alike.”

”I just want him to be perfect.”

“Come back to our apartment. You can calm down and make your decision once you have had time to think it through.” Julia watched Tanya push a tear from her eye. “No one makes such important decisions on a whim.”

“Do not tell Serge …. You promise?”

“That’s fine.”

* * * *

Serge paced down the street with his bag hooked over his shoulder. He felt blinded by rage and grew angrier with every step. Stepping into a bus shelter, he kicked out at the plastic wall, shouting in anger as it rattled.

“Excuse me, I’m going to have to ask you to stop.”

“What?” Serge swung around and glared at the traffic warden. “Oh, sorry.”

“Any more and I would feel obliged to report you to the police.”

“I’m sorry, I had an argument with the missus.” Serge felt the traffic warden’s prolonged glare. “OK, I’ve stopped.”

“Right…. I suggest you go and have a sit down.”

Serge cringed as he watched the warden walk into distance. “Don’t look back
… Don’t look back.” He then saw the warden glance over his shoulder. “Shit.” Serge picked up his bag and paced in the opposite direction.

Standing in the corridor, Julia knocked on Serge’s door. “Serge it’s me Julia, can I come in?” There wasn’t a sound. “I’m just coming to check the smoke detector.
She used the master key and let herself inside. The room was silent and Serge was absent. “Fuck.” Her mobile rang, “Hello?”

“Looking back through the cameras, I have
him leaving via the gym entrance … twenty minutes ago.”

“Right, I’m going to stay with Tanya. You track Serge down.”

* * * *

Tanya’s pillow felt damp with tears as she woke. The door rattled to a knock. She sat up and wiped a tear from her eye.
“Serge?”

“No, It’s me, Julia.”

“Oh.”

“Bless, we need to get you two back together.”

“It’s doing no one any good to continue being angry. I’ll go and talk to him.”

“I
… I’ve just knocked on Serge’s door. He isn’t there.”

“He isn’t?”

“Any idea where he could be?” Julia watched Tanya slowly shake her head. “Don’t panic, we’ll get him.”

The lights in the room went off. Julia placed her hand on Tanya’s shoulder. “Never, ever buy an old hotel
… No matter how much you love Serge.” She stood from the bed and blindly walked to the cupboard where she found a torch. “The generator is in the cold room. I’ll be only two minutes. Stay here.”

Carrying his travel bag, Bentham paced down the stairs of his home.
He walked straight into Roxanna in the hallway.

“You’re having an affair.”

“For God’s sake.”

“You’re always going here there and everywhere.”

Bentham rolled his eyes. “That’s my job, you know that.”

“Who is she?”

“There is no one. Now please I have to go.”

“Who is Tanya? How do you know her?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Roxanna held up a hand full of pictures, all of them which were of Tanya. “This blonde bimbo.”

“They’re from my case notes. How did you get them?” Bentham tried to snatch them from Tanya, but she moved out of reach.

“I thought you said you could never watch porn sta
rring blondes, never mind sleep with them?”

“Aren’t you listening? She is a part of a case.”

“Whatever. How come I found her pictures on the bathroom floor?”

“Look, I know this looks bad, but listen.” Bentham’s cheeks reddened through embarrassment. “I was
… inspecting them.”

“Wanking over them
, more like.”

“It might look like that, but my eyes getting worse, and the bathroom is the brightest room in the house
… anyway, if I was wanking over them, then do you think I would be stupid enough to leave them on the floor after I’d finish?”

“Yes. Yes I do. You know why?”

“Why?”

“It was the night you forgot about the football being an early kickoff. Remember? You fell down the stairs with your pants around your ankles.” Roxanna scrunched up the picture and threw at Bentham. “I’m so disappointed in you.”

“I know … I should never let work interfere with my home life.”

“What the hell are you doing, anyway?”

“It was … It was,” Bentham glanced away. “It was just a danger wank, OK.” He couldn’t meet her eyes as he reached for the door. “Now I have to go … I’m a disgrace.”

“Bloody Jose has left the country now, so I can’t even have revenge sex.”

“I haven’t cheated. If you want revenge, just print off a few pictures of Jose.” Bentham opened the front door. The cold air rushed into the house. The yellow lights of the car flashed as he unlocked it. “Shit, my phone is upstairs.” He pointed at his sports bag. “Can you just put that in boot of the car. Be careful, my sidearm is in there.”

“Shouldn’t have told me, I might shoot the bitch.” Roxanna sighed as she picked up the sports bag. “What has she got that I haven’t?”

* * * *

Norman walked towards the headlamps of the parked car. He opened the car door and slipped onto the seat. “So, Dave? Are you going to inform me what’s going on?”

“We’re in a hurry.”

“I think that’s fucking obvious but I had one foot in the bath when you told me to get ready.”

“Vlad has been clocked heading North on the M6.”

“Right.”

“There has been a positive sighting of Serge in Aberdeen.”

Norman fixed his belt as Bentham rejoined the traffic. “By who?”

”A traffic Warden.”

“So, looks like this weekend it’s going to be at the family reunion.”

“Don’t you just hate family get togethers?”

“Almost as much as I hate traffic wardens.”

Alone in the darkest room she had ever been in.
Tanya heard the vibration and flashing screen of Julia mobile. Leaning over she saw a number. “I recognise that number,” A cold shiver came over her. “Vlad.” In the darkness she ran for the door. Tanya’s breathing began to strain with panic. Sweat oozed from her pores. She blindly searched for the knob of the door. Suddenly the door opened causing Tanya to scream.

“Hey hey, it’s me. Malcolm!”

“No.”

“Scared of the dark hey?” Malcolm put his arms around Tanya. “It’s just the damp from the rain last night. Always happens in this wing
.”

“Get off me.”

The dull bass from the petrol generator caused the power to come back on. “Hey, what’s all this about? Mind telling me what’s going on?”

“I’m going.”

Malcolm stepped in the way of the door. “I’m sorry, I can’t let you do that.”

Stamping on Malcolm’s foot with her stiletto heel, Tanya then launched her head into his face.
Malcolm stumbled backwards before falling to the floor. Tanya jumped over but felt her ankle being grabbed. Digging her nails into the door frame, Tanya pulled herself free. Only to be faced by Julia.

“Now, Darling, don’t make this any harder than it is.”

Tanya pushed Julia back with both her hands, but got entangled as she tried to fight her way through Julia’s grasping hands. Feeling Julia’s arms around her neck, Tanya sunk her teeth into the flesh of her hand, forcing her to let go.

Sprinting for the door, Tanya suddenly had her feet taken from under her by the diving Malcolm.
Tanya squealed as she face slammed into the oak floorboards. Holding her face she flipped on to her back. Seeing Malcolm’s face gawping up her skirt, she launched a kick straight into his forehead.

Climbing back onto her feet, she ran out of the open door for her freedom, sprinting down the dark corridor. The lights dimmed and flickered as the rain continued to dampen the fuses. Rounding a corner, Tanya ran straight into the arms of a familiar face. “Vlad.”

“Hiya, Petal.”

“No, No!” Tanya’s screams were subdued by Vlad’s hand. She kicked out and stamped at his feet. But Igor grabbed her legs and her two kidnappers carried her between them.

“Right, we need a way to get her out of here without causing a scene.”

Igor glanced over his shoulder. “We need a service corridor or something.”

“First of all we need to shut this slut up. Drop her legs Igor.” Vladimir struggled to contain the fighting Tanya. Grabbing her by the hair, he slammed her head into the wall, rendering her unconscious.

* * * *

The storm had picked up and lightning added flashes of light to the dark corridor. Vladimir and Igor carried Tanya between them. The pair stopped as a shadowy figure stood in the dimly lit corridor.

“Where is the money?”

“ Ah, you must be Julia.”

“Yes.”

“She was escaping, I caught her myself. So I don’t owe you a penny.”

“We had a deal.”

Vlad dropped Tanya on her head. “Just as well for you I’m a fair man.” Delving into his pocket, he tossed Julia the keys to his Porsche. “There is fifty grand worth of metal there. Take it.”

“That wasn’t the deal. I want the full hundred grand, in cash
.”

“Have you got Serge, then?”

“The pair fell out before we had a chance to grab them.”

Vladimir became interested and stepped towards Julia. “Fell out over what?”

“He slept with another guest.”

“I bet she was a tank.”

“If you mean big, she was.”

Vladimir clapped his hands as he laughed. “Gotta love it. The guy never learns.”

“The money, Vladimir.”

“You only fulfilled half the contract. So then you only get half the money.”

“Then I’m calling the police and you all can go down with the rest of them.”

“Would you fuck do that
? You were harbouring a fugitive. You’re in it with the rest of us.”

“I want the money, or the girl stays.”

Vladimir glanced at Igor. “Give her the money to shut the bitch up.” Igor opened his jacked and pulled out his silenced pistol.

“Ok, I think I’ll take the Porsche.”

“Nah, you know what, I think I’ll keep the car.”

Igor pulled the trigger. The muted shots whistled from the muzzle of the silencer. Thuds of the bullets hitting Julia in her chest were followed by a crash as her lifeless body collapsed into a table.

Vlad stepped over Julia’s body. “I’d give her the car, but I just filled tank.” He glanced towards the sound of a closing door. “Check it out, Igor.”

Igor paced towards the room and pushed the door open. Inside, he saw Malcolm whimpering on the floor, shaking his hands as blood poured from his nose. “Got another, Vlad. He looks like he’s taken a beating.”

“You know what to do.”

Two bullets from Igor’s pistol whizzed through the air, striking Malcolm in the gut. A final shot put him out of his writhing pain.

Vladimir called to Igor, “Get the bodies inside.” He dragged Tanya inside the room. He spotted a Persian rug. “Oh Tanya, I hope you’re not too tall to fit inside that. Or I might have to cut those long legs of yours off.”