ASBO: A Novel of Extreme Terror(79)

Bex struggled and squirmed while Frankie cackled almost uncontrollably. His laughter stopped when Rebecca struck his face with her hand. The slapping sound filled the room and was then followed by absolute silence.

Frankie got up off the bed and yelled “Slag!” at her. Then he lunged forward and punched her in the face. It wasn’t hard enough to knock her out cold, but it seemed to rattle her senses loose, eyes rolling about in her head.

Andrew couldn’t help but curse at Frankie, despite the fact it could lead to another gunshot or more brutality. His hatred was too much to contain. “You pathetic little bully. Taking things out on a helpless girl, all because you got passed around a kid’s jail like the TV remote. I bet you’ve got an arsehole like a clown’s pocket.”

Frankie pointed the gun at Andrew again. It was obvious that his comments were on the money. The words were getting through to him. This time, though, Frankie’s reaction was calmer. He lowered the gun away from Andrew.

Then pointed it at Bex.

And fired.





Chapter Thirty-One


Davie got off the bus at the stop nearest the hospital. It was only across the road and in less than a minute he was walking through the car park and heading for the main building. He didn’t know exactly where inside he would find Andrew or Frankie, but he knew that asking a member of staff would probably be a bad idea. When he saw the crowd gathering outside the hospital’s main entrance, accompanied by a shrill, ringing alarm, Davie knew that finding his brother might possibly be easier than he imagined. Something had happened inside the hospital and it would be a pretty safe bet that Frankie would be involved somehow.

There were hospital employees all over the road comforting patients on gurneys. There were also several police officers standing around grumpily. Davie would have to avoid them all if he had any chance of getting inside the hospital.

He stepped behind a row of cars and made his way forward in a crouch. There didn’t seem any possible way to make it through the main entrance without someone stopping him, and there was no other obvious way in. Perhaps there were rear entrances.

Davie snuck around the back of an ambulance and headed down one side of the hospital. There was a power generator inside a brick enclosure around the corner and, beyond that, a wall lined by many square windows. Even further ahead was something that was just what Davie needed: an open fire exit. Only trouble was a hospital employee standing there in a chef’s uniform, puffing a cigarette as though the ringing alarms were of no concern to him.

“Hey,” said Davie, approaching the man nonchalantly. “Having a sneaky fag?”

The man nodded. “I’d just finished my break when the fire alarms went off. Thought it was a good opportunity for another. Managed to buy another pack just as the gift shop was clearing out.”

“Won’t they be doing a role call or something?”

The man shrugged. “Probably. It’s just a false alarm, though. Do you see any fires?”

Davie shook his head. “In that case, can I go through?”

The man took a drag of his cigarette and blew the smoke in the air. “What is it tonight with people not using the main entrance?”

“What do you mean?”

“Just twenty minutes ago some dude was asking me the same question.”

“Really? What did he look like?”

The man narrowed his eyes. “Messed up. Face all ripped and shit. What’s it to you, kid, anyway?”

Davie thought of an answer. “I think it was err…my dad.”

The man nodded. “What was he in for?”

Davie continued the fabrication, seeing no other course of action. “He had an accident at the factory where he worked. That’s why his face was injured.”

The man took another drag on his cigarette and this time blew the smoke right into Davie’s face. “Really? You see that’s funny, because he told me he’d been in a car accident.”

Davie was stuck for an answer. Making stuff up had never been one of his talents and he’d obviously blown it this time. Before he even had chance to attempt another bluff the hospital employee had heard enough.

“Just get out of here, kid. I don’t know what’s going on tonight, but I’m not getting involved. Piss off out of here, now.”

Davie couldn’t afford to let the man go back inside and close the door. The hospital was currently deserted and would be the perfect time to reach his brother – if Frankie was indeed inside. It would also be the perfect time for his brother to kill Andrew and his family. Davie had to get through and keep that possibility from happening.