Lace II (48 page)

Tony moved away from the window to the wall behind the door. “Okay, Judy, open it.”

Slowly, Judy opened the door and walked out. As she appeared, Colonel Aziz’s marksmen drew back into the shadowed doorways of the courtyard, out of sight. They couldn’t jump Tony because he had his gun in Judy’s back. If anyone shot Tony, Tony would probably shoot Judy as he died.

Judy stumbled along the corridor. Although fully dressed, she felt so naked and exposed, totally vulnerable as they moved into the courtyard. Tony walked behind her. His right hand held his SMG trained on her back and, with his left hand, he dragged Lili by her handcuffs.

They reached the courtyard beyond the room. Judy thought fast. She screamed, “My God, Tony, the police are on the roof!”

Tony looked up.

Judy threw herself to the ground, covering her face with her arms. Lili twisted herself from Tony’s grasp and flung herself to the ground. Tony was momentarily thrown off balance, and staggered.

There was a burst of gunfire, bullets ricocheted around the small stone-enclosed space, and then there was silence.

Judy uncovered her head and slowly looked up. First, she saw a pair of large, cheap black boots that belonged to a police gunman. Beyond them, she saw a rivulet of blood trickling into the center of the courtyard.

Tony lay dead on the stained stone flags in front of her. Suddenly, the courtyard was full of activity.

Judy picked herself up and ran to Lili. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?”

Lili shook her head. Crying, Judy beckoned to a policeman, who produced a knife and cut off Lili’s gag.

“Where are the keys to your handcuffs?”

“In Tony’s shirt pocket.”

Judy ran to the slumped figure of Tony and, with shaking hands, felt in his shirt pocket. She returned to Lili with the key, but her hands were shaking too severely to unlock the handcuffs. Colonel Aziz stepped forward, took the key from Judy and unlocked the handcuffs.

As soon as Lili’s hands were free, she flung her arms around Judy. “You did come for me,” Lili said, as she fought back tears of relief and happiness. “My real mother did come for me, in the end.”

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