The diamond hunters, p.12
The Diamond Hunters, page 12
‘We could always go back to that bastard,’ Alicia said. ‘And make him talk.’
‘He’s too loyal to Richardson,’ Drake said. ‘He knew we’d find out about the security the moment we arrived. It’s just a big fuck you.’
‘So what’s the play?’ Mai asked. ‘Where do we go from here?’
Drake thought about it. He was stumped. If Jim Richardson lived here, then the diamond would be with him. It would be inside somewhere. They needed access, and quick. What the hell could they do?
Drake and the others watched some more. The guards were professional and capable, wearing long coats. Of course, firearms were illegal in the UK, but Drake wouldn’t be surprised if they were carrying. Richardson was obviously a very big deal.
What next?
‘There is one thing we could do,’ Mai said softly. ‘But it’s risky as hell.’
Drake perked up. ‘What’s that?’
Mai cleared her throat. ‘We could kidnap the bastard.’
Kinimaka looked blank. ‘We can’t get into his house.’
Mai shook her head. ‘No, I don’t mean from the house. I mean, we go for him when he goes out, when he visits a dealership. We wait, we follow, we… um… kidnap.’
‘That doesn’t help us get the diamond,’ Hayden said.
‘Oh, I have a plan for that too,’ Mai said.
‘Really?’ Drake said. ‘Because I can’t see-’
Mai stopped him with a wave and then explained her plan. Drake looked dubious. Hayden looked nonplussed. It didn’t go down well.
‘Can you think of anything else?’ Mai said. ‘I know it’s risky, but it’s all we’ve got.’
‘Risky?’ Dahl repeated. ‘It goes beyond risky. It’s one of the most dangerous things we’ve ever done. I like it,’ he added gleefully.
Mai inclined her head. ‘It’s late,’ she said. ‘Let’s get some sleep and wake up fresh in the morning. Then we wait for him to come out.’
‘And hope he doesn’t have too many guards with him,’ Drake said.
‘Do you think they’re armed?’ Alicia asked.
‘Good question,’ Hayden said. ‘I think they could be. So we’re gonna have to hit hard and be very precise.’
‘Not a problem,’ Dahl said.
‘They appear to be competent.’ Drake had been watching the guards. ‘Nabbing Richardson isn’t gonna be easy.’
‘But it’ll be good,’ Dahl said. ‘And it’ll keep us sharp.’
‘Need to watch out for the law too,’ Kenzie said.
‘That’s why it’ll have to be quick and exacting,’ Mai said. ‘It’ll take all our skills.’
The team sat back, accepting Mai’s plan. Drake tried to rack his brains to think of something else, something better, but nothing came to mind. He started to drift.
‘I can’t sleep,’ came Alicia’s throaty voice. ‘Anyone else having a problem?’
‘I wasn’t,’ Mai returned. ‘Now, I am.’
‘Shame,’ Alicia said.
‘You wanna talk about something?’ Kinimaka said. ‘I’m having trouble too.’
Drake sat up. ‘I was thinking,’ he said. ‘About where we’re at, where we’re going. The agency, I mean. The new venture. What do you guys see?’
Hayden answered first. ‘We’re building something from the ground up. It’s going to take time, but it’ll be worth it. This is just the beginning.’
‘But where’s it going?’ Drake asked. ‘What’s the goal?’
‘We have plenty of years ahead of us,’ Dahl said. ‘We can build it into something prestigious. Something that will make us comfortable as we get older.’
‘You mean like a pension?’ Drake said. ‘Because I don’t have one.’
‘Me neither,’ Dahl said. ‘Yeah, this could be our pension.’
‘Spear Solutions,’ Alicia said. ‘The agency of the future.’
‘I see no reason why we can’t make a success of it,’ Kinimaka said. ‘After all, we’ve done alright during the last few years.’
Drake sat forward. ‘So we’re building something to take us to retirement then? A legacy.’
‘Spear Solutions could be our legacy,’ Hayden said. ‘I like that.’
Drake liked it too. The conversation was easing his mind, putting it at rest. Somehow, he found it easier to breathe.
‘It’s been stressing me out big time,’ he said. ‘I need a goal.’
‘It’s better than working for the government,’ Kenzie said.
‘Damn right it is,’ Dahl said. ‘Now, we’re in control of our destinies.’
‘I enjoy being my own boss,’ Kinimaka said.
Hayden glanced at him. ‘I’m your boss,’ she said.
‘Me too,’ said Alicia.
Kinimaka grinned. ‘You know what I mean.’
The entire team nodded. They knew exactly what he meant.
‘We need a big job,’ Drake said. ‘Something well paid to give us a leg up. Money in the bank. That kind of thing.’
‘To be fair,’ Hayden said. ‘This job is pretty good. I think it’ll keep us solvent for at least six months. We get a few more like this, and we’re golden.’
‘It’s not complete yet,’ Kenzie said, a little ominously.
‘We’re already on the fourth diamond,’ Drake said. ‘I’d say it’s going pretty well.’
‘About retirement,’ Alicia said. ‘I mean, what the hell is that? I can’t even imagine it. What would I do with myself?’
‘You could watch Chris Hemsworth a lot more,’ Drake said, eyebrows lifting.
‘Now there’s a thought. I like it already.’
‘I think the conversations taken a morose turn,’ Hayden said. ‘Retirement’s years away. We’ve got a ton of missions before that. Years.’
Drake looked at Dahl. ‘Some may retire earlier than others.’
The Swede gave him the finger. ‘Never fitter, mate. Never fitter.’
Drake felt the same. It was odd, he thought, thinking so deeply about the future. He wasn’t sure why he was doing it. Something to do with the new agency had unsettled him. It had started things churning in his mind. The conversation they were having definitely helped. It helped him see things more clearly.
‘I think the future’s bright,’ Hayden said. ‘Sabrina’s a good hire as secretary. She keeps things going while we’re away. We already have a new job in two weeks’ time, and then someone wants to hire us two weeks after that. We can always split up if we have to. This agency is on the up.’
‘Good job Crouch is in a position to help us,’ Drake said. ‘We need more contacts.’
‘And we’ll get them,’ Hayden said. ‘Remember the archaeologist from the Hellhound job? Kerry Roberts? She’s putting in a good word for us everywhere. We’ll get some kind of gig off the back of that, I’m sure. There’re dozens of possibilities already.’
Drake felt lifted. It was just what he needed. It also showed that some others were thinking along the same lines, particularly Hayden, which proved he wasn’t mad. He addressed the whole car.
‘Keep moving forward,’ he said. ‘Keep fighting. If something knocks you down, get right back up again. That’s our motto.’
There were murmurs of agreement, something sarcastic from Dahl. But that didn’t matter. It was friendly banter. Drake dished it out just the same. The important point was – everyone got what he was saying. They were a team, and they all agreed.
He glanced out the window. It was time to work for that fourth diamond.
CHAPTER TWENTY SIX
Drake followed a big black Range Rover all the way from Jim Richardson’s house into the heart of Manchester. They had a photo of Richardson from the internet, but weren’t entirely sure he was in the vehicle. All they’d been able to see from their vantage point was the car emerging from a garage and then being populated by five men. One appeared to be older, a bit taller, and straggly-haired. That would be Richardson. It was a safe bet, he thought.
They tailed the vehicle carefully, once losing it at the lights and having to drive hard to catch up. The Range Rover twisted and turned its way through the choked streets, taking its time. They appeared to be in no hurry.
Drake followed as best he could. Sometimes the flow of traffic was good to him; sometimes it was evil. Too many poor drivers didn’t help. But he kept his cool, breathing deeply. The sun was out today, glaring strongly through the windscreen, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Drake clicked the air conditioning into gear.
The Range Rover turned onto a small industrial estate. Drake knew that one of the firm’s most prestigious car dealerships was situated here. He motioned to the others.
‘Get ready,’ he said. ‘We’re almost there.’
‘When do we take him?’ Kinimaka asked.
‘It’ll be more private if we wait until he’s inside,’ Mai said. ‘Less chance of someone seeing and calling the cops.’
Drake nodded. They followed the black vehicle along a few roads lined with cars, passing trucks and vans. Eventually, the car reached the bottom of a road and indicated left before turning down a gently sloping entryway. Drake drove to the kerb, finding the closest parking space on the road. Quickly, the team climbed out.
They stepped into a warm, still day and walked to the entryway, started down it towards the dealership. There was gleaming metal everywhere, and two car cleaners working in the parking area. The front windows glared, reflecting the sun. Drake couldn’t see anything through them.
What he did see were five men climbing out of the Range Rover and walking towards a side door. At this range, Drake recognised Richardson. The man stood out clearly. He didn’t speak, but his guards — four of them — ranged around him.
The entourage opened the side door and walked through. Drake and his team headed for the front doors in a hurry, hoping to see where they went. They reached the doors and pushed through, hurrying into the cool interior. To Drake’s far right, the five suited men came through the side door, walked to the centre of the showroom, and then headed up a wide flight of stairs. They were silent, not looking at the salespeople’s offices, not deigning to glance at the one salesman who stood near the stairs. He watched them go.
Drake hovered near the doors. The salesman saw them and started moving over. Drake cursed his luck.
‘Can I help you all?’ the guy asked. ‘Looking for something in particular?’
Drake shook his head. ‘We’re just browsing,’ he said.
The salesperson looked like he’d seen it all before. His face closed down, and he moved away, tagging them as tire kickers. Drake and the others walked further into the showroom, watching the salesman go.
He disappeared into an office.
This was it. Drake strode towards the stairs, the others at his back. Together, they climbed twelve risers and found themselves on a mezzanine that overlooked the floor below. The passage ran left and right. Drake counted three doors to the right, four to the left.
They didn’t hang around. They strode to the first door on the right, opened it, and found it empty. The next room was also empty. The last room contained a man in a shirt and tie busy poring over sets of figures. He barely looked up when Drake popped his head around the door.
‘Sorry,’ he said aimlessly.
They strode to the left. The first room contained a salesperson, a man wearing a jacket and tie. The second room had a ‘Manager’s’ plaque fixed to it. Drake checked that one too, but the man didn’t even look up. The third room was empty, which left only one room to try.
They converged on the room. Drake reached for the door handle, ready to fight. He twisted it and pushed open the door, walked inside.
Beyond were six people. Four guards, Jim Richardson, and a salesman wearing a pink shirt. It looked like Richardson was in a serious conversation with the salesperson. Maybe he was their man in this dealership, someone looking out for a more criminally minded client. Richardson didn’t look around when the door opened, but everyone else did.
Drake pounced into the room, taking on the nearest guard. He punched the man in the throat and then kneed him in the groin, making him gasp and fold. Alicia followed Drake inside, closely followed by Mai. The two women struck out, aiming punches and kicks at vulnerable areas, trying to debilitate. Dahl and Kinimaka came next, rushing the remaining guards, trying to grab them.
The guards instinctively reached for their waistbands. Metal gleamed. They were carrying knives at least. Drake’s team had hit them hard though, forcing them into defensive positions and bullying them. The guards had to cover up; they couldn’t strike out.
Drake elbowed his opponent in the top of the head. He fell to his knees, grunting hard. Drake got a view of Richardson and the salesman beyond. The salesman was reaching for a phone.
‘I’m calling the police,’ he yelled.
Richardson’s hand struck out like a striking snake, staying the man’s hand. ‘Don’t. Let us handle this.’
The pink-shirted man hesitated, replaced the phone and stood back. He looked terrified. Richardson calmly watched the fight.
Drake pushed his advantage. He kicked the prone man in the ribs and then in the head, trying to knock him unconscious. By now Kenzie and Hayden had also entered the room, but couldn’t get close to an opponent. Drake’s opponent covered up, still very much alert. Drake bent down to do more damage.
Dahl barrelled his opponent in the midriff, giving him no chance to retaliate. He punched high and low, making the man concentrate on the attack. He didn’t let up. The man backed into a filing cabinet with a crunch. Kinimaka took two punches to the body in order to get close, then grabbed his man and threw him hard against a wall. Plaster crunched. A man-sized delve appeared in the wall. The man collapsed to the floor, moving weakly. Kinimaka stepped in to finish him off.
Mai whirled and kicked as best she could in the tight space. She sent her opponent stumbling and wheeling backwards, right into the desk. The man fell across it. Mai damaged both his knees and watched him slither to the ground, groaning.
Alicia targeted her enemy’s head, battering him left and right. He couldn’t do anything but cover up and back away. He struck the desk too, but held his ground, deflecting well. Alicia kicked his right thigh, giving him a dead leg, then jumped up and delivered a front kick to his sternum. The man dropped like a sack of potatoes, folding in on himself. High-pitched gasps rang around the room.
Drake’s team had their opponents on the ropes. They were battering them, hitting with speed and precision. Most of the guards were down, and none of them were on the attack.
Drake smashed his man into the desk one more time, concentrating on the head. The man’s eyes rolled up. He flipped the guy over and secured him with zip ties, looked up to see what was happening with the others.
Despite clearly losing, Jim Richardson hadn’t moved. He still stood stoically behind the desk. The salesperson with him just looked terrified. Richardson looked indifferent.
Mai finished her opponent off with a spin kick to the face. Alicia knelt on her man’s neck until he turned purple and passed out. Kinimaka picked his man up off the floor and threw him once more, creating another delve in the plaster wall. The guards were beaten, and now the team concentrated on neutralising them with their zip ties.
Drake turned his attention to Richardson. He relieved his opponent of his knife and handgun and walked towards the boss.
‘I’ll make it simple,’ Drake said. ‘We want the Joan of Arc diamond, the one Henry Purves gave you. If you give it to us, you live; if not…’ Drake brandished the knife. ‘You see? Simple.’
Richardson stared at him. ‘All you want is the diamond?’
‘That’s it, and a cast-iron guarantee you’ll stay quiet about it. Otherwise, we’ll be back.’
Richardson didn’t look intimidated, more nonplussed. ‘All you want is the diamond?’ he repeated.
Drake nodded. The team hauled the guards to their feet. Several of them swayed, barely able to stand. Dahl was examining his knuckles as though he’d bruised one of them.
‘Where is the diamond?’ Drake asked.
‘Well, I don’t have it on me,’ Richardson said sarcastically. ‘It’s back at the house.’
‘Where?’
‘In my library, on a shelf.’
‘You call ahead. Tell them you’re coming, and to let us through.’
Richardson nodded. He took out his phone, now warily eyeing Drake’s gun. As he made the call, the guards were all relieved of their weapons, now standing sullenly around the room. Kenzie and Hayden stood by the door.
Five minutes later, they were ready to go.
Drake ushered Richardson out of the office, and they exited the dealership through the front door. They walked fast and smoothly, passing all the closed doors and threading their way through an empty showroom. Outside, they walked directly to Richardson’s car. Dahl took the driving seat, and the guards and Richardson were all bundled in. Drake and the others went to their own vehicle.
Minutes passed, and then they were driving, Dahl leading the way. It wasn’t a long drive back to Richardson’s house, but the traffic was heavy. Everyone was tense, especially in Dahl’s car, where the atmosphere was dire. Richardson didn’t say a word the entire way home, and neither did the Swede, though they were all still connected by the comms.
Finally, they arrived at Richardson’s house and parked up outside. They bundled the entire entourage of boss and guards out of the Range Rover and faced the open gate.
It seemed all of Richardson’s guards were waiting.
CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN
A tense silence hung over the grounds.
Drake grabbed hold of Richardson and put a gun to his head. Then he walked through the gates with his team trailing behind. Richardson didn’t say a word. Drake counted eight guards waiting for them, all with their hands on the butts of their guns. They stared, hard-faced, just waiting for something to happen.
