The Trojan Boy (29 page)
Authors: Ken McClure
Tags: #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Medical, #Suspense, #Thrillers
Kathleen looked affectionately at Avedissian then realised
the mess that his face was in. She held it between the palms of
her hands and said, 'I'll fetch a cloth.’ She returned from the
bathroom with a flannel soaked in cold water and began
dabbing gently at Avedissian's cuts. They are not too bad when
the blood has been cleared away,’ she assured him.
the mess that his face was in. She held it between the palms of
her hands and said, 'I'll fetch a cloth.’ She returned from the
bathroom with a flannel soaked in cold water and began
dabbing gently at Avedissian's cuts. They are not too bad when
the blood has been cleared away,’ she assured him.
'We'll have to get out of here,’ said Avedissian.
'Can't we wait until morning?'
Avedissian shook his head. 'You said that there were two
IRA
men. We don't know where the other one is.’
IRA
men. We don't know where the other one is.’
'Innes, the Tally Man,’ said Kathleen.
'He could be waiting nearby for Reagan to return, and when
he doesn't
he doesn't
'I hadn't considered that,’ said Kathleen. 'I had assumed that
Reagan had come on his own.'
Reagan had come on his own.'
'Get the boy ready,’ said Avedissian hauling himself to his
feet. He picked up the gun that Kathleen had let fall to the floor
and checked the clip. It was nearly empty. He picked up
Reagan's gun and opted for that instead.
feet. He picked up the gun that Kathleen had let fall to the floor
and checked the clip. It was nearly empty. He picked up
Reagan's gun and opted for that instead.
When they were ready to leave Avedissian switched out the
chalet lights and opened the curtains a little to peer out. It
seemed quiet enough but Avedissian was not convinced. He
changed his mind about them all leaving together and told
Kathleen to stay put with the child while he went out alone to
take a look around.
chalet lights and opened the curtains a little to peer out. It
seemed quiet enough but Avedissian was not convinced. He
changed his mind about them all leaving together and told
Kathleen to stay put with the child while he went out alone to
take a look around.
Avedissian squeezed out of the smallest possible opening of
the door and made for the nearest shadow in a crouching run.
It was the area between their chalet and the neighbouring
one. He paused for a moment before continuing along the
row, looking for signs of life in the grounds of the motel. He
found none and all the cars parked near the chalets seemed
to be empty.
the door and made for the nearest shadow in a crouching run.
It was the area between their chalet and the neighbouring
one. He paused for a moment before continuing along the
row, looking for signs of life in the grounds of the motel. He
found none and all the cars parked near the chalets seemed
to be empty.
He was about to return to Kathleen to tell her that it was safe
when he heard a car slow down on the road outside and turn
into the grounds. He pressed himself back into the shadows to
watch the new arrival pull up outside the front office. The driver got out and walked towards Reception. Avedissian's
heart missed a beat for he recognised the man. It was the man
he had seen at the stadium in Chicago. It was Innes! He had
come to find Reagan.
when he heard a car slow down on the road outside and turn
into the grounds. He pressed himself back into the shadows to
watch the new arrival pull up outside the front office. The driver got out and walked towards Reception. Avedissian's
heart missed a beat for he recognised the man. It was the man
he had seen at the stadium in Chicago. It was Innes! He had
come to find Reagan.
Avedissian was caught in two minds. His hand closed over
the butt of the pistol in his pocket. Should he kill Innes in cold blood when he re-emerged or should he return to Kathleen and
the boy? He heard the sound of raised voices coming from inside
Reception and moved to a position where he could see through
the glass. Innes and the slob were arguing heatedly about
something. The slob's wife joined him and Avedissian heard the
word 'police' mentioned as the slob picked up the phone. He
could see that Innes was still trying to reason with the man but
with little success. There had been too many strange enquiries
from people with foreign accents in the middle of the night and a
bomb had gone off earlier at the Plaza Hotel.
the butt of the pistol in his pocket. Should he kill Innes in cold blood when he re-emerged or should he return to Kathleen and
the boy? He heard the sound of raised voices coming from inside
Reception and moved to a position where he could see through
the glass. Innes and the slob were arguing heatedly about
something. The slob's wife joined him and Avedissian heard the
word 'police' mentioned as the slob picked up the phone. He
could see that Innes was still trying to reason with the man but
with little success. There had been too many strange enquiries
from people with foreign accents in the middle of the night and a
bomb had gone off earlier at the Plaza Hotel.
Avedissian decided that he was not going to be given the
chance to get Innes on his own and the thought of the police
being called to the motel sent him scurrying back along the
row. He paused outside each chalet to look through the
windows of the car parked there. Then he saw what he wanted
to see. One had been left with the keys in the ignition!
chance to get Innes on his own and the thought of the police
being called to the motel sent him scurrying back along the
row. He paused outside each chalet to look through the
windows of the car parked there. Then he saw what he wanted
to see. One had been left with the keys in the ignition!
Avedissian climbed into the driving seat and turned the key.
The engine turned noisily on the starter but did not fire. Sweat
broke out on his forehead as he tried again, his foot stabbing at
the accelerator, but still nothing. A face appeared at the chalet window but Avedissian was committed. He held his foot hard
down on the pedal and tried again. The engine turned over
with declining enthusiasm then fired with a roar of noise. At
the same moment he saw Kathleen and the boy running
towards him.
The engine turned noisily on the starter but did not fire. Sweat
broke out on his forehead as he tried again, his foot stabbing at
the accelerator, but still nothing. A face appeared at the chalet window but Avedissian was committed. He held his foot hard
down on the pedal and tried again. The engine turned over
with declining enthusiasm then fired with a roar of noise. At
the same moment he saw Kathleen and the boy running
towards him.
The car lurched forward and Avedissian leaned over to open
the passenger door. Kathleen flung herself inside clutching the
child to her. As Avedissian turned the car in a noisy and clumsy
three-point turn he caught a glimpse of a man appearing at the
chalet door; he was pulling on his trousers and yelling some
thing after them.
They screeched out of the gate and Kathleen looked back to
see Innes emerge from Reception. For a moment he was
framed in the light from inside, then she saw him run to his car.
TENthe passenger door. Kathleen flung herself inside clutching the
child to her. As Avedissian turned the car in a noisy and clumsy
three-point turn he caught a glimpse of a man appearing at the
chalet door; he was pulling on his trousers and yelling some
thing after them.
They screeched out of the gate and Kathleen looked back to
see Innes emerge from Reception. For a moment he was
framed in the light from inside, then she saw him run to his car.
Avedissian
had no idea at all where they were going,
only that they were going there fast. He checked the dials on
the facia and found the fuel gauge; it registered half full. That
was the only one that mattered right now. His foot went down hard on the brake as they came to a large, green
signboard and Kathleen had to slam her free hand against the
dashboard to stop herself being flung forward. Her other hand held the boy.
had no idea at all where they were going,
only that they were going there fast. He checked the dials on
the facia and found the fuel gauge; it registered half full. That
was the only one that mattered right now. His foot went down hard on the brake as they came to a large, green
signboard and Kathleen had to slam her free hand against the
dashboard to stop herself being flung forward. Her other hand held the boy.
'Fasten your belt,’ said Avedissian.
'When I get a chance.'
Avedissian read the sign then wrenched the wheel over to
the left and screeched off again down the slip road and out on
to the inter-state highway.
the left and screeched off again down the slip road and out on
to the inter-state highway.
'The speed limit is fifty-five,’ said Kathleen as she saw the needle climb to eighty.
Avedissian, whose nerves were at fever pitch, wanted to
snap angrily at Kathleen but saw that she was right. There
was no point in attracting the attention of the Highway
Patrol. He eased back on the pedal until their speed dropped to sixty and the tightness in his throat wore off. 'Can you see
anyone behind us?' he asked.
snap angrily at Kathleen but saw that she was right. There
was no point in attracting the attention of the Highway
Patrol. He eased back on the pedal until their speed dropped to sixty and the tightness in his throat wore off. 'Can you see
anyone behind us?' he asked.
Kathleen turned and looked. 'No, no one,’ she replied.
They came to an interchange and slowed. 'If you were
Innes what way would you guess at?' demanded Avedissian.
Innes what way would you guess at?' demanded Avedissian.
'East,’ said Kathleen.
'I'd say west
...
so we'll choose neither.' Avedissian
circled through the interchange and nosed the car out on to
the north-bound carriageway.
...
so we'll choose neither.' Avedissian
circled through the interchange and nosed the car out on to
the north-bound carriageway.
'What's to the north?' asked Kathleen.
'Very little. We need breathing space.'
An hour had passed when Avedissian turned on the radio to break a silence that he was beginning to find oppressive.
'How is the boy?' he asked.
'How is the boy?' he asked.
'Sleeping,’ replied Kathleen.
The simple exchange of words served to lessen the tension
in the car. Avedissian moved in his seat and altered the
position that he had maintained rigidly for the past hour without realising it. Kathleen kneaded her fingers into the
back of his neck and whispered, 'Is that better?'
in the car. Avedissian moved in his seat and altered the
position that he had maintained rigidly for the past hour without realising it. Kathleen kneaded her fingers into the
back of his neck and whispered, 'Is that better?'
'Much.'
'What do you think?' asked Kathleen, glancing behind.
Avedissian was reluctant to tempt fate but he replied, 'I
think we're safe for the time being. I reckon we gave Innes
the slip.'
think we're safe for the time being. I reckon we gave Innes
the slip.'
Kathleen leaned forward and changed the radio station to something more soothing than the avant-garde jazz that was
grating on her nerves.
grating on her nerves.
'I've been thinking,' said Avedissian. 'If we can still get the
money transferred, we can deal with Kell for your brother.'
money transferred, we can deal with Kell for your brother.'
'Do you mean it?' asked Kathleen.
'Assuming we get out of this alive, I don't see why not. But
he's not getting it all. Some of it is for the boy.'
he's not getting it all. Some of it is for the boy.'
'Did I tell you that I love you?' said Kathleen.
'No,’ replied Avedissian with a smile. 'You never did.'
'Well I do.'
'That could be a very mutual arrangement,’ said
Avedissian.
Avedissian.
Another hour on the highway and Avedissian said, 'We need
petrol.' He pulled off the freeway at the next service area and
filled the tank. He was paying the cashier when he saw the
reflection of a police car in the glass screen in front of him. He
watched it crawl into the station like a cat stalking birds.
petrol.' He pulled off the freeway at the next service area and
filled the tank. He was paying the cashier when he saw the
reflection of a police car in the glass screen in front of him. He
watched it crawl into the station like a cat stalking birds.
‘
There you go,’ said the cashier handing him his change,
unable to figure out what Avedissian was so intent on.
There you go,’ said the cashier handing him his change,
unable to figure out what Avedissian was so intent on.
Avedissian took the money without diverting his eyes. He
saw the patrol car creep past and park on the other side of the
station outside a building marked 'Hank's Diner' in red neon.
He pretended to count his change, but watched the two
officers out of the corner of his eye as they got out of the car
and stretched their limbs. They adjusted their caps and gun
belts before walking towards the diner and opening the door.
A blast of juke box sound escaped into the night before the
door closed again behind them.
saw the patrol car creep past and park on the other side of the
station outside a building marked 'Hank's Diner' in red neon.
He pretended to count his change, but watched the two
officers out of the corner of his eye as they got out of the car
and stretched their limbs. They adjusted their caps and gun
belts before walking towards the diner and opening the door.
A blast of juke box sound escaped into the night before the
door closed again behind them.
'Good-night,’ said Avedissian to the cashier.
'Safe journey,’ said the man with a puzzled look.
'I thought we were done for,’ said Kathleen as Avedissian got back into the car.
‘
They couldn't have looked at the licence plate,’ said
Avedissian. 'I suppose cars get stolen all the time in Kansas
City.'
They couldn't have looked at the licence plate,’ said
Avedissian. 'I suppose cars get stolen all the time in Kansas
City.'
‘
Thank God,’ said Kathleen. They drove on.
Thank God,’ said Kathleen. They drove on.
Despite the sentiment Avedissian could not help but feel that they were pushing their luck to unreasonable limits. On
impulse he decided to leave the freeway where they would
be less likely to meet highway patrol cars. What they needed, he decided, was a place to lie low for a couple of days. Time
enough for Innes and
NORAID
to lose the scent. Time enough
for him to try for the transfer of the money.
impulse he decided to leave the freeway where they would
be less likely to meet highway patrol cars. What they needed, he decided, was a place to lie low for a couple of days. Time
enough for Innes and
NORAID
to lose the scent. Time enough
for him to try for the transfer of the money.
'Do you know where we are?' asked Kathleen.
'Somewhere in Iowa.'
The night was ending. The comforting glow from the
instrument panel, which had made it the centre of their
world for the past few hours, was getting unfair competition from a huge sky.
instrument panel, which had made it the centre of their
world for the past few hours, was getting unfair competition from a huge sky.
'I've never seen anywhere so flat,’ said Kathleen as she
looked out at cornfields stretching to the horizon in all
directions. Half an hour later the sun was up, bleaching the
world yellow under a perfect hemisphere of blue.
looked out at cornfields stretching to the horizon in all
directions. Half an hour later the sun was up, bleaching the
world yellow under a perfect hemisphere of blue.
Avedissian parked the car discreetly round the side of a
diner near the outskirts of the city of Des Moines and
Kathleen woke up the boy. 'Breakfast time, my prince,' she
whispered in his ear. The boy awoke with a look of alarm on
his face but it quickly disappeared at the sight of Kathleen
although he reserved a more baleful look for Avedissian.
diner near the outskirts of the city of Des Moines and
Kathleen woke up the boy. 'Breakfast time, my prince,' she
whispered in his ear. The boy awoke with a look of alarm on
his face but it quickly disappeared at the sight of Kathleen
although he reserved a more baleful look for Avedissian.
Kathleen took the boy to the toilet while Avedissian
ordered food for them from a waitress who sucked the tip of
her pencil before writing each item down on her pad. She
read back the order and Avedissian nodded.
ordered food for them from a waitress who sucked the tip of
her pencil before writing each item down on her pad. She
read back the order and Avedissian nodded.
'We have washed our face and are feeling a lot better this
morning,' said Kathleen, returning with the boy, who now
seemed wide-awake and hungry. Avedissian smiled at both
of them. 'Eat up,' he said. 'We'll all feel better.' He was right,
they all did feel a great deal better with a large breakfast
inside them.
morning,' said Kathleen, returning with the boy, who now
seemed wide-awake and hungry. Avedissian smiled at both
of them. 'Eat up,' he said. 'We'll all feel better.' He was right,
they all did feel a great deal better with a large breakfast
inside them.
'Are we going to stay in the city?' asked Kathleen.
'No, we'll skirt round it, I think. But I would like to go to
the bank in the city. They must have a branch here and the
sooner we do it the better. I want to go alone and I don't want
to take the car into town in case we get spotted by some
eager-beaver patrolman. That means we have to find
somewhere for you and the boy to stay till I get back.'
the bank in the city. They must have a branch here and the
sooner we do it the better. I want to go alone and I don't want
to take the car into town in case we get spotted by some
eager-beaver patrolman. That means we have to find
somewhere for you and the boy to stay till I get back.'
'We could ask the waitress,' suggested Kathleen.
The waitress sucked her pencil while she thought and then said, 'Old Mrs Lehman, she runs a rooming house about two
miles north of here. She can probably fix you up.'
miles north of here. She can probably fix you up.'
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