All the Rage (30 page)

Michael rose unsteadily to his feet.

‘Drop the weapon,' he heard her say, prodding him in the side with the gun. ‘I ought to finish you right here, but little missy is hollering and squealing like a lame dog, so you can have your last goodbye, and then I'll end it for the both of you. Kind of poetic, don't you think? '

‘Kind of sick,' he answered, tossing the lead piping to the ground. This sudden movement gave him the split second he needed. With her eyes diverted, Michael jerked his arm and deflected the shotgun. With his other hand, he withdrew the scissors from his pocket and, in one swift action, plunged the twin blades upward into her thigh, as hard as he could. It was enough. Maggie's eyes popped, her face a contortion of shock and horror. She yelled and fell backward, firing off one barrel of the gun, which exploded in his ear and momentarily shattered his concentration. The cartridge propelled harmlessly over the roof of the barn. Michael reacted instinctively, his heart pounding, and in the next movement he furiously yanked the gun from the stricken woman. She gripped her leg, with the scissors still embedded in her flesh, cursing his name and writhing in agony. He didn't care if she bled to death.

He fumbled into her jacket pocket, pulling out a handful of cartridges. He reloaded his newly acquired weapon. In his haste, the rest of the cartridges fell to the ground. Dashing forward, he reached the double- fronted doors, which were open by a few feet, allowing him just enough space to squeeze through. Crouching down, he ran forward, frantically searching for cover in the deepening gloom of the building. He had been here before, so, zigzagging smartly, he made himself the smallest target possible in case of counter attack. Lord knows what he would find in this hell hole. Ducking behind the rear wing of the abandoned Lotus, he cautiously raised his head to get a better viewpoint. Fuck.

Barely fifteen feet away from him, Lauren commanded the arena, legs planted wide. By her side, a snarling Bruno pulled on the lead which she grasped tightly. The blade of a long knife flashed in her other hand. Even more alarmingly, Kara was slumped kneeling at Lauren's feet, with the blade at her throat. Michael knew in an instant that she was hurt. Blood smeared her blouse, and caked her tousled hair.

Michael stood tall, and raised the shotgun in defiance.

‘Let her go, Lauren,' he ordered. ‘Nobody needs to die. We can stop all of this right here and now. '

‘Where is Maggie? ' Lauren countered, her eyes staring with confusion.

Michael shook his head. ‘You're on your own, I'm afraid. Big sister is otherwise engaged. '

‘What have you done to her? I heard a shot. '

‘Figure it out all by yourself. ' He edged forward carefully, before halting in his tracks, as Lauren grabbed Kara by the hair and brandished the knife with hostile intent.

‘Don't come any closer, Michael. I won't hesitate to kill her, the bitch. '

He stepped back one pace, lowering the gun barrel so that it pointed in the direction of the dog. He could tell that Lauren was physically weakening, and that Bruno's brute strength was winning the battle to pull free from her grasp. Michael had perhaps two minutes grace.

‘Lauren, listen to me. Kara is innocent in all of this. Christ, she's like a daughter to me. Let her go. Take me instead. ' He was desperately praying to find answers that would bring a halt to this madness. ‘Why do you want to harm her? '

Lauren spat the words, ‘Because she is just like the rest. I know what's going on. '

‘What's going on, Lauren? You need to explain. '

Lauren curled her lip. 'I saw the both of you with my own eyes! '

‘Where? '

‘At the Blue Bar; and then outside that fancy restaurant, embracing and then kissing each other, I felt sick to the stomach seeing you so close. '

‘Jesus Christ! ' Michael's mind charged back and forth, trying to picture the scene of him and Kara in the street.
Oh, God.
‘You were there, watching us? '

Her eyes widened with anger. ‘First Julius betrayed me, and now you! Why do you all want to take advantage and then cruelly abandon me? What have I done to deserve this? Fools, all of you! No matter, it's payback time. '

‘Lauren, Lauren, you were mistaken,' he pleaded.

‘Mistaken?
Do you take me for a complete idiot? '

‘Listen to me, Lauren. You're unwell, and exhausted. Take a moment to hear me out. Please, I beg of you. ' Michael felt time slipping by too quickly. Kara was fading fast, and must have lost considerable blood. ‘I know of your past, and the anxiety you suffer. You're not aware of your true self. Come back to me, Lauren. I have not betrayed you. Drop the knife, please. Then we can get the expert medical help you require. I will not desert you, I promise. '

‘What is a
promise?
Such empty words, such a futile gesture…far too late, I'm afraid. '

‘No, Lauren. This is a genuine opportunity, so take it. Get help, and rebuild your life…with me! ' Right now he spewed out
anything
which entered his head. ‘Put your trust in me. Get away from those, like Maggie, who have always suppressed the past in case you found out the truth. '

‘Maggie? Maggie? What truth? '

He had to be brutal, it was his last chance: ‘The truth concerning your father's murder, Lauren. '

‘My father? '

Michael sighed deeply, and lowered the gun still further, stepping as safely as possible in her direction.
Slowly, slowly.
Bruno was so close he could feel the heat of his foul breath touching his skin. But it was vital that he expressed no apprehension, no backing down, of his own at this stage. He
had
to gain her trust.

‘Christ, Lauren. I'm so sorry. The truth has been hidden away for so many years; you really need to be strong for me. Can you live with the truth? ' He could almost reach out and rescue Kara in one swoop, but he hesitated. One false move and a bloodbath could ensue.

Lauren looked bewildered. What worried Michael was her ability to beas aggressive as a bully. She could turn in an instant. He was treading on very dangerous ground. Right now, he had no idea which “personality” was controlling her. He had to go with his gut instinct.

‘Tell me the fucking truth,' she demanded, ‘or so help me…'

Michael realised that she was in bitter conflict with her demons, those extreme alter personalities that shaped her volatile character. She was literally on a knife edge. So was Kara.

‘Lauren, you were not responsible for your father's killing. Yes, you hit him. Yes, you meant to hurt him. But it was your sister who actually did the deed. When she was alone with him, she discovered he was still breathing. This made her pick up the poker and finally smash him to death. She finished the job you started. This she did with vengeance in mind, for all the years of torture that he inflicted on both of you. He was
still
alive after you attacked him. '

‘No! No! ' Lauren's voice reached a pitiful crescendo.

Michael held out a comforting hand for her to take. ‘Don't you get it, Lauren? Listen to my words. I repeat: your father was
still
alive when you called Maggie for help. It was she who murdered him, but it was you who paid the ultimate sacrifice. And for
what
? '

From behind him, a voice boomed, ‘Liar! ! '

Michael turned abruptly and saw the hobbling bulk of Maggie stagger into the interior of the barn. In her hand, she carried the bloodied scissors that he had embedded in her leg just moments before.

Maggie seethed. ‘What has he been telling you? It's all lies. He's just trying to poison your brain against me. '

Lauren stayed silent, alternating her glare between the two of them, as if unsure of whom to believe. Big sister had the upper hand, Michael felt.

He spoke hurriedly. ‘Ask her, Lauren. Ask her why she found it necessary for you to go to prison for a crime you didn't actually commit. '

‘He's lying,' Maggie snarled. ‘He's just trying to get the girl released. Kill her, as you should have killed Antonia. '

Michael thought desperately. His position was considerably weakened, flanked on both sides by two unstable and violent women, and a dog hell-bent on sinking its teeth into anything that moved. He had to get them to squabble and doubt each other in order to draw attention away from Kara. Then he would make his move.

‘If I'm the liar,' he said, staring directly into Lauren's eyes ‘then how come your dear sister was also instrumental in the death of your brother, Patrick. ' He was at the last chance saloon.

‘Whaaat? '
Lauren screamed.

‘Do not believe him. Can't you see what he is doing to us? ' Maggie countered.

Michael became aware that Maggie had gained ground, stealthily closing in on him. He tried again, punching below the belt. ‘You don't necessarily need to believe me, Lauren. I only learnt the truth from someone who you can truly rely on. Your mother. '

Maggie laughed hysterically. ‘This man is evil, a monster. Release the dog, and that will be the end of it. We can still get away. '

‘No! Leave him alone! ' Kara's voice suddenly pierced the air. She stumbled to her feet, despite Lauren's struggle to control her. She spat blood. ‘He's trying to help you. '

‘The cunt…slit her throat! ' Maggie yelled. ‘Now! Do it now! Listen to your sister, before it is too late. '

‘Listen to your mother,' Michael retaliated. ‘Listen to your conscience. Above all, listen to your
heart.
You're not a killer, Lauren. I implore you, don't become one now. '

For the first time, Michael detected a whiff of victory.

‘Did you kill our father? Did you kill Patrick? ' Lauren asked, her voice trembling. Her eyes appeared cemented to those of Maggie, who visibly began to wilt from the cross-examination. Then she recovered.

‘I finished him off; he was already half-dead,' she said. Did you
want
him to survive, and live to rape you
again
? Is that what you wanted? ' Maggie stood like a stone statue. ‘It was a pleasure to see him dead. I'd waited years to get retribution for what happened to our brother. '

‘I…I thought he died in an accident,' Lauren said pitifully.

‘You were too young to remember. Before he ever got his filthy hands on you, I'd been at his mercy for years. That fatal day, you had gone to church with Mother, leaving me to look after Patrick. I knew what was coming. Father returned home drunk, and had me cornered at the top of the stairs. I was petrified and screaming for help, with him ripping at my underclothes. ' Maggie began to shake uncontrollably. ‘It should not have happened…I had no idea that, bless him, Patrick had climbed the stairs to see what was happening…he witnessed things he should never have seen…but as I fought for my life, our father shoved me angrily onto Patrick. I reached out in desperation, but…it was too late. He fell. I've had to live every day of my life with the knowledge that I was responsible for his death. Every day, Holy Mother of God. Not a single day has passed without me praying for his soul. When I had my chance for vengeance, I struck a blow for every one of our brother's precious lost years. '

Lauren shook her head in despair. Finally, she spoke with measured words, trying to come to terms with the confession.

‘I truly hated him, despised him; but look at the consequences of that fateful day. My mother has spent her entire life without speaking, and I have spent my entire life imprisoned, either in jail or in the confines of my fucking head. What was your punishment, Maggie? '

‘You have to understand, I did it for
you
, I did it to protect us all from a suffering far worse than if he had survived. I had a family, Lauren, a husband and two children, I couldn't possibly leave them…it was unthinkable. You were alone, damn it. As far as anyone cared, you
had
struck the fateful blows. He was a dead man, taking his last lingering breath. I just made sure the job was done. '

Michael took the narrow opportunity afforded him. ‘Lauren, give me the knife, it's all over. '

‘Marcus! ' Kara screamed.

At the far end of the barn, behind where Lauren swayed, still clutching at Bruno and Kara, Marcus appeared silhouetted in an open doorway, at the top of three concrete steps. He had removed the tarpaulin. Now defiant, he stood holding an unidentifiable object in his outstretched hand, above his head.

This turn of events threw Michael's plans into disarray. It reminded him tantalisingly of the confusion he had experienced on his last visit to the barn. At the time, he was sure that the interior of the building was foreshortened. He was in the process of measuring it out when Maggie first introduced herself. And he now realised, behind the tarpaulin that stretched from the full height to the full width of the interior, was a secret room hidden from view. His notion was proved correct. Now he had to contend with the boy, and his madcap solution, assuming there was one.