ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(76)

Looking around, Andrew noticed something that could offer a solution. On the wall, only a few feet away, was a small red panel with a film of glass at its centre. Written in ominous white font were the words: PRESS IN CASE OF FIRE.

There was no fire but Andrew wasted no time in pressing his thumb against the glass panel. It compressed within its red metal surroundings and a shrill alarm pierced the air. Andrew glanced back around the corner and watched the confusion percolate amongst the staff and members of the public. Even better, Andrew watched while a nurse walked up to the police officers and insisted that they left the ward along with everyone else. It didn’t look like they were willing but, thankfully, the nurse was persistent. Then something that did not occur to Andrew started to happen. Orderlies appeared and went about wheeling the various patients out of the wards. Andrew felt stupid that it hadn’t occurred to him that the whole hospital would be evacuated, patients and all – not just the staff.

Andrew watched while a young male orderly entered Bex’s room to bring her out. Andrew had no choice but to make his move. He dashed across the nurse’s area, dodging between preoccupied men and women that were unaware the fire was fictitious. He hopped out of the way of an oncoming gurney, shoes skidding on the polished floor, and then managed to barrel his body over to Bex’s room. He was just about to open the door when someone grabbed him from the side.

“Andrew.”

Andrew spun around with his fist raised, but lowered it when he saw it was Officer Dalton.

“You need to come with me,” she told him. “I take it the fire alarm was your doing?”

Andrew nodded. “I just need to see my daughter and then I’ll come with you.”

Dalton shook her head. “I can’t allow it. There’s police looking everywhere for you. I can’t risk anyone witnessing me doing anything other than taking you in, Andrew. I already gave you the chance to do what you needed to do. Now you need to keep your promise and come with me.”

Andrew pleaded. “Just let me say goodbye to my daughter. You can wait right outside the door.”

Once again Andrew managed to get the female officer to relent. Her face softened and she actually seemed annoyed at herself for being so soft. “Just don’t make me regret this, okay? I’ve already put myself in jeopardy for you.”

Andrew put his palm on the door to enter, but Dalton put a hand on his chest and stopped him. “Frankie?”

Andrew looked her in the eye and shook his head solemnly. “I couldn’t find him.”

Andrew pushed open the door and stepped inside. The first thing he saw was Bex lying in her bed. The second thing he saw was the orderly lying unconscious on the floor. The third thing he saw was Frankie standing to the side of him, a gun pointed at his face.

Frankie cocked the revolver’s hammer and smiled. “Glad you could finally join us, Andrew. The party’s about to end.”





Chapter Thirty


Andrew stared down the barrel of the gun. Something he never thought he’d ever find himself doing. Guns were completely outlawed in the United Kingdom, and he’d never seen one for real, but here he was now, close enough that he could smell the oil on the metal.

“Daddy!”

Bex was obviously terrified and Andrew didn’t want her to see that he was too. “It’s okay, sweetie,” he told her. “We’ll get this all worked out.”

“I hear you had a little run in with Dom?” said Frankie. “Right after you killed his bro. That was cold, man.” His upper lip twitched as he spoke.

Andrew put both hands above his head. It felt like the appropriate thing to do. “There’s police right outside the door, Frankie. Just give yourself up and there’s a chance you might not spend your entire life in jail.”

Frankie laughed. “Not going to happen. Got business to deal with first. But hey, why leave your little police officer friend waiting outside? Bring her in to join the fun.”

Andrew lowered his hands and raised his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

Frankie motioned at the door with his revolver. “Shout her. Tell her to get in here. But don’t make it obvious what’s going on.”

“No,” said Andrew in a firm voice. He would not bring anybody else into his mess. Dalton had already done enough for him as it was.

Frankie pointed the gun at Bex. “I ain’t asking, Andrew. Unless you want me to make an entrance in your daughter’s forehead, I’d do as you’re told.”