For Your Own Protection(76)

‘Here we are,’ Sean said, as they approached the vast area of wasteland that was primed for a massive new housing development. ‘Right on time.’ He swung the car on to a gravel road built for construction traffic and slowed to a stop.

The area was totally deserted. There were no signs of life at all.

Matt looked at his watch as the time hit twelve o’clock. ‘Where the hell are they?’

Sean suddenly pointed over to the far right, where a van had cruised into view.

Matt prayed Beth and Charlie were in there, safe and well.

‘So what do we do now?’ Michael asked.

‘I’ll try Harvey again,’ Matt said.

‘It’s too late,’ Sean replied flatly.

Matt felt sick as he gripped his phone. Sean was right. It was too late. If Harvey was going to pull this off, he’d have been here by now. And he’d have called to let them know.

They’d have to do this without the drugs somehow.

Sean released the handbrake and drove at a slow twenty towards the waiting white van. The car rocked and bumped over potholes and the brick-strewn ground, coming to a stop some twenty metres away from the van. The front windows of the van were darkly tinted, the occupants hidden. It had sliding doors on the sides.

‘What now?’ Sean said.

Matt reached for the door handle. ‘We get out.’ Before Sean could reply, he’d stepped out of the car and was facing the van. Something deep inside had taken control. He no longer felt fear. He just wanted Beth and Charlie back. It was an all-consuming desire.

Michael joined him, standing at his shoulder, with Sean on his own on the other side of the car. Still there was no movement from inside the van.

‘We can do this,’ Michael said, placing a hand on Matt’s back.

Matt nodded.

They watched as the front doors of the van opened and two men climbed out. One of them Matt recognised immediately: Joseph Deed. His companion, although some way shorter than the mixed martial arts specialist, was also built like a castle keep – he might have been the guy who’d frisked him at the casino.

‘You got it all?’ Deed said, breaking the silence. His face was set like stone. The other man joined him, directing a hard stare at Sean.

How could Matt tell them they didn’t have the drugs?

‘Are Beth and Charlie alright?’ he asked, stalling for time.

‘They’re fine,’ Deed said. ‘Now answer my question, before that situation changes.’

He would have to tell them the truth. No matter what the consequences.

But not yet.

‘Sean, can you get the stuff out of the boot?’ Matt asked.

‘No,’ Deed said, stopping Sean dead in his tracks. ‘Just you,’ he said to Matt. ‘You get it. The other two, stay right where you are.’

Matt nodded, and moved around to the back of the car. He popped the boot and gazed down at the bags of money. He lifted out all four, dumping them on the ground. He paused before closing the boot, trying to eke out the process a little longer.

‘C’mon. Get on with it,’ Deed snapped.

‘Harvey, I trusted you,’ Matt muttered, as he slammed down on the boot lid. He turned to look back across the wasteland.

And then the car appeared.





CHAPTER FIFTY-EIGHT


Matt watched as the BMW headed straight for them.

Harvey?

He looked over at Sean and Michael, then at Deed, who ominously didn’t look concerned at all by the arrival of another vehicle.

Matt’s hopes dimmed.

The white BMW slowed to a stop just a few metres away, its tyres crunching on the gravel. Again, Matt caught Sean’s eye – he looked as tense as Matt felt.

Like the van, the car’s windows were darkly tinted, so it was impossible even at close quarters to determine who was behind the wheel.

The door opened, and Harvey got out.

He smiled at Matt, but there was something unnerving about his expression. He brushed down his jacket. ‘Matt, my man. Well, I said I’d be here, bruv, and here I am.’

Harvey turned and opened the back door.

Nick Samson stepped out. ‘Matt, good to see you again. Sean. Michael. Well, this is quite a reunion.’ He clasped his hands together and smiled.

Matt felt sick. It’s a trap. And Harvey is part of it.

‘You’re surprised to see me?’ Samson asked Matt.

‘I just want Beth and Charlie back,’ he replied. ‘So let’s do the exchange and we can go.’

‘I know, I know.’ He looked across at Sean. ‘Sean, how are you?’

‘Okay,’ Sean said warily.

Samson’s face darkened. ‘You thought you could cheat me, Sean. You and your banker friends. I’m sure you now realise your catastrophic error of judgement. I’m especially disappointed in you, Sean. You’ve been such a close associate for these past few years. I looked out for you. Even after that most unfortunate incident, when your poor colleague fell to his death after taking that rogue batch of coke. Adam, that was his name. Hey, Matt – wasn’t he a friend of yours?’

Matt looked at Sean, stunned.

‘I’m sorry, Matt. I’m so sorry,’ Sean whispered.

‘I looked out for you on that one, Sean. Made sure you didn’t get fingered. And then you betrayed me . . . You see,’ Samson continued, turning back to Matt, ‘people underestimate me at their peril. But I’m a businessman, an entrepreneur, not a monster. I only mess with people who mess with me. So these two,’ he said, pointing at Michael and Sean in turn, ‘and their friends – they messed with me big time, and they have paid the price.’