ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(63)

Dalton stepped slightly ahead of her partner and looked at Andrew pityingly. “You should have left it to us, Andrew. They’ll pay for what they’ve done, I promise. But now you’re in a lot of trouble, too. There’s better ways to deal with people like Frankie and his friends. ”

“Bullshit,” Andrew spat. “You don’t really believe that. They’re all going to cover for each other and nothing will stick. Jordan was already pleading ignorant when I cornered him.”

“Cornered him and murdered him,” said Wardsley stepping up beside his partner.

Andrew examined both officers. If they were doing their jobs correctly, he would’ve already been in handcuffs by now, in their squad car and on his way to the station.

But they’re letting me talk, thought Andrew, which means they sympathise.

“Do either of you have children?” he asked the both of them.

Both of them shook their heads.

“Then you have no idea what you would you do in my situation.”

“Perhaps,” said Dalton, “but what I wouldn’t do is murder someone in a hospital in front of frightened members of the public.”

Andrew laughed. “Makes it sounds like you disagree with my methods more than my actions.”

The suggestion was met with silence. Andrew looked into Dalton’s eyes and tried to read what she was thinking, but he couldn’t.

“You’re going to go to prison, Mr Goodman,” said Wardsley. “How does that help Rebecca?”

“It doesn’t help her,” Andrew admitted. “But maybe by killing Jordan I’ve helped other people’s daughters. He was just a teenager; plenty of years ahead of him for terrorising more innocent people.”

“Maybe, you’re right,” said Wardsley, “but we still have to take you in.”

Andrew nodded. “And I’ll let you. Just let me finish what I started first.”

Both of the officer’s eyes went wide, shining in the darkness. Obviously the request had shocked them.

“I’m already going to prison,” Andrew explained. “Let me do some good before that happens. Let me make the world a safer place for other families so that they don’t end up like mine. Frankie is a cancer and I want to go and cut him out.”

“You’re insane to even ask such a thing,” said Wardsley. “It’s ridiculous and I would suggest you don’t say anything else. We are officers of the law.”

Dalton stepped aside, leaving the pathway open and clear. She motioned with an arm that Andrew was free to walk by her. “You do what you have to do,” she said, “but soon as you’re finished you hand yourself in and confess everything.”

Andrew nodded vigorously. “You have my word. Thank you.”

“What the f*ck are you doing, Laura?” Wardsley asked his partner. “You’ll end up doing a stretch with him. Have you lost your mind? We’re taking him in.”

“I’m just letting him do what we’re failing to do, Jack – making the streets safer. How many criminals have we seen walk free just to commit more crimes. How many killers are walking the streets right now laughing at how powerless we are? I for one am sick of it. It’s time someone hit back and showed these thugs that they don’t get to avoid all consequences for their actions.”

Wardsley shook his head, exasperated. “If anyone finds out…”

“No one will,” said Dalton, “and admit it – you want to see Frankie punished as well. Not just him but every arrogant little yob like him. We’ve been in the force almost ten years each, Jack. Wouldn’t you like them all to know that sometimes the victims bite back?”

Wardsley thought about things for a moment and then seemed to relax his shoulders. It was clear he was struggling with something internally, but it was also clear that he trusted his partner. He stepped aside from the path and nodded at Andrew. “I don’t know how you’re going to find him, but he’s been known to hang around with a local drug dealer, Damien Banks. 14 Middleton Mews.”

Andrew thanked the both of them and hurried past, sprinting down the path. But he stopped in his tracks before disappearing completely, halted by the sound of Officer Dalton’s voice.

“Penelope’s dead,” she told him. “We got word she died twenty minutes ago. The hospital have been trying to contact you. I’m sorry.”

Andrew said nothing, didn’t turn around, or even move. Instead he glared forward into the rain-soaked night with nothing else but murder on his mind. “I’ll see you both in the morning,” he said to the officers, then disappeared into the darkness.