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Authors: R. J. Harries
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responsible. Best, follow them in the Land Rover.â
He prodded Archer one last time and scowled before turning his back on them.
Sinclair and Clarke left without saying another word. Archer saw a renewed sense of urgency in their eyes and in their step. They all knew that time was running out. Reality had sunk in and the finality of what could happen to Becky if they failed hung over them like a dark cloud. Their fears were unspoken, but tension was written over their faces and bodies.
Haywood confirmed heâd just organised a launch on standby down-river. Best and Jones left to prepare the cars. Archer followed them to the garage in Adams Row.
They checked the cars over for fluids and air. Jones topped up the screen wash. The cars were already clean and polished. They drove to a small garage near Park Lane and filled them both up on Sinclairâs account. Then they drove back to Adams Row where they set the satellite navigation in the Land Rover Discovery to follow the Mercedes via the mobile phone. Jones put bottled water in the cars.
âIâm off for some food â anyone coming?â Jones said.
âIâll come. Mr Sinclair wonât allow food in the cars. It could be a long old wait,â Best said.
âIâm fine,â Archer said. âIâll watch the cars, you two go.â
Archer sat alone in the Land Rover. Contemplating what the kidnappersâ next move might be. They had to start driving around the park by two p.m. Then there would be a call with instructions to go somewhere. The first drop had been in the park, South Carriage Drive. The second was at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. They didnât venture too far off the given circuit. So the next drop could be Kensington or Bayswater.
Archer looked in the glove box for a map. Sure enough, there was a mini
London A to Z
at hand. He opened it and flicked through the pages until he found Hyde Park on pages seventy-three and seventy-four. He followed the circuit on the map. It covered a large area. There were too many options to consider. The next drop-off could be anywhere. He went over the events again in his mind, searching for clues, but found nothing but more questions.
Who was the kidnappersâ mastermind? What was their next move? Would they release Becky or would they kill her?
The nagging doubt of an inside job wasnât going away. But who could it be? If Becky just wanted to run away she had access to plenty of money. Taking on Sinclair was a dangerous game. The kidnappers were either brave or stupid. Most likely an organised gang of hardened criminals with plenty of muscle behind them. The odds of saving her were already slim and rapidly diminishing. They had to take a risk.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
At ten minutes to two Archer saw Clarke and Haywood walk across South Audley Street with expressionless faces and purposeful long strides. They wore dark grey suits, shirts without ties and dark sunglasses. They walked with an air of confidence and calm that was silently threatening. Violent mercenaries constantly ready to unleash mayhem wherever they went.
The two men carried identical light-grey canvas sailing bags over their shoulders. Each filled with five million Euros and weighing in at twenty kilos. Despite the obvious weight of the bags they walked normal and treated them casually. They placed them in the boot of the Mercedes and walked straight back to the penthouse without speaking. Jones watched them walk across the road and then pressed the remote to close the boot.
Archer climbed in the front of the S Class with Jones. Best flashed the lights from the Discovery, signalling that he was ready to follow. Jones turned the radio on, but kept the volume down low. As the two oâclock news started on Radio Two they drove down Upper Grosvenor Street towards Park Lane.
The traffic was slower than the previous ransom drop. It took them just under an hour to make three laps as a long trench of roadworks
He prodded Archer one last time and scowled before turning his back on them.
Sinclair and Clarke left without saying another word. Archer saw a renewed sense of urgency in their eyes and in their step. They all knew that time was running out. Reality had sunk in and the finality of what could happen to Becky if they failed hung over them like a dark cloud. Their fears were unspoken, but tension was written over their faces and bodies.
Haywood confirmed heâd just organised a launch on standby down-river. Best and Jones left to prepare the cars. Archer followed them to the garage in Adams Row.
They checked the cars over for fluids and air. Jones topped up the screen wash. The cars were already clean and polished. They drove to a small garage near Park Lane and filled them both up on Sinclairâs account. Then they drove back to Adams Row where they set the satellite navigation in the Land Rover Discovery to follow the Mercedes via the mobile phone. Jones put bottled water in the cars.
âIâm off for some food â anyone coming?â Jones said.
âIâll come. Mr Sinclair wonât allow food in the cars. It could be a long old wait,â Best said.
âIâm fine,â Archer said. âIâll watch the cars, you two go.â
Archer sat alone in the Land Rover. Contemplating what the kidnappersâ next move might be. They had to start driving around the park by two p.m. Then there would be a call with instructions to go somewhere. The first drop had been in the park, South Carriage Drive. The second was at the Hilton Hotel on Park Lane. They didnât venture too far off the given circuit. So the next drop could be Kensington or Bayswater.
Archer looked in the glove box for a map. Sure enough, there was a mini
London A to Z
at hand. He opened it and flicked through the pages until he found Hyde Park on pages seventy-three and seventy-four. He followed the circuit on the map. It covered a large area. There were too many options to consider. The next drop-off could be anywhere. He went over the events again in his mind, searching for clues, but found nothing but more questions.
Who was the kidnappersâ mastermind? What was their next move? Would they release Becky or would they kill her?
The nagging doubt of an inside job wasnât going away. But who could it be? If Becky just wanted to run away she had access to plenty of money. Taking on Sinclair was a dangerous game. The kidnappers were either brave or stupid. Most likely an organised gang of hardened criminals with plenty of muscle behind them. The odds of saving her were already slim and rapidly diminishing. They had to take a risk.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
At ten minutes to two Archer saw Clarke and Haywood walk across South Audley Street with expressionless faces and purposeful long strides. They wore dark grey suits, shirts without ties and dark sunglasses. They walked with an air of confidence and calm that was silently threatening. Violent mercenaries constantly ready to unleash mayhem wherever they went.
The two men carried identical light-grey canvas sailing bags over their shoulders. Each filled with five million Euros and weighing in at twenty kilos. Despite the obvious weight of the bags they walked normal and treated them casually. They placed them in the boot of the Mercedes and walked straight back to the penthouse without speaking. Jones watched them walk across the road and then pressed the remote to close the boot.
Archer climbed in the front of the S Class with Jones. Best flashed the lights from the Discovery, signalling that he was ready to follow. Jones turned the radio on, but kept the volume down low. As the two oâclock news started on Radio Two they drove down Upper Grosvenor Street towards Park Lane.
The traffic was slower than the previous ransom drop. It took them just under an hour to make three laps as a long trench of roadworks
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