The Trojan Boy (33 page)
Authors: Ken McClure
Tags: #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Medical, #Suspense, #Thrillers
Innes reflected on the day as he drove on through the
gathering darkness. It had been well worthwhile having a
talk to the cashier at the gas station. A bit of flattery and a
ten-dollar bill and the jerk had remembered that the En
glishman had seemed distracted on the night in question. It was not until the story had broken afterwards, said the man,
that he had realised that it had been a police car coming into
the station that had worried him.
gathering darkness. It had been well worthwhile having a
talk to the cashier at the gas station. A bit of flattery and a
ten-dollar bill and the jerk had remembered that the En
glishman had seemed distracted on the night in question. It was not until the story had broken afterwards, said the man,
that he had realised that it had been a police car coming into
the station that had worried him.
To Innes this had been a gem of information, a golden nugget. If the Englishman had suffered a fright at the gas
station the chances were that he would have left the freeway
at the first available opportunity. He, Innes, would do the same. The jerk had also volunteered the information that 'a
couple of other guys' had been asking about the Englishman
that morning. They had wanted to know which direction he
had gone off in. 'What did you tell them?' Innes had asked.
'North,’ the man had replied.
station the chances were that he would have left the freeway
at the first available opportunity. He, Innes, would do the same. The jerk had also volunteered the information that 'a
couple of other guys' had been asking about the Englishman
that morning. They had wanted to know which direction he
had gone off in. 'What did you tell them?' Innes had asked.
'North,’ the man had replied.
Guessing at an average speed and knowing the time that
the Englishman had left the gas station he had made an estimate of where he and the O'Neill woman would have
been at around breakfast-time, assuming they had in fact
left the freeway at the first turn-off. He had found the correct
diner at the third attempt.
the Englishman had left the gas station he had made an estimate of where he and the O'Neill woman would have
been at around breakfast-time, assuming they had in fact
left the freeway at the first turn-off. He had found the correct
diner at the third attempt.
The waitress had been a bonus: not only had she known
what direction the English folks had gone off in, she had
known exactly where they had been going.
what direction the English folks had gone off in, she had
known exactly where they had been going.
The Lehman woman had been a bit of a disappointment,
however, with her story of St Louis, Missouri. There was just
no way that the Englishman was going to head south
through Kansas again in that car of his. The question was, which way would he be heading? A rough calculation of the
mileage since the gas station on the freeway said that he must
have been running low on fuel when he left the Lehman
place. A local gas station perhaps?
however, with her story of St Louis, Missouri. There was just
no way that the Englishman was going to head south
through Kansas again in that car of his. The question was, which way would he be heading? A rough calculation of the
mileage since the gas station on the freeway said that he must
have been running low on fuel when he left the Lehman
place. A local gas station perhaps?
The Englishman had been remembered at the second gas station he had asked at. He had bought a route map and was
heading north. If he had bought a route map he must have been planning to travel long distances on country roads.
heading north. If he had bought a route map he must have been planning to travel long distances on country roads.
Innes slowed as he saw an obstruction ahead in the road. A
break-down truck and a police patrol vehicle were blocking
the way ahead. A patrolman stepped out in the road and
waved him down. Innes opened the window and waited for
the explanation.
break-down truck and a police patrol vehicle were blocking
the way ahead. A patrolman stepped out in the road and
waved him down. Innes opened the window and waited for
the explanation.
'Won't keep you long,' said the policeman. 'We're just
pulling a vehicle out of the field. Goddam joy-riders!'
pulling a vehicle out of the field. Goddam joy-riders!'
Innes smiled and nodded. It was his policy to say as little as
possible in an accent that would immediately mark him out
as being different. Anonymity was to be courted at all times.
It was the reason he had been so successful over the years. No
one ever remembered him.
possible in an accent that would immediately mark him out
as being different. Anonymity was to be courted at all times.
It was the reason he had been so successful over the years. No
one ever remembered him.
He watched idly as the winch on the recovery truck hauled
the car out of the field, then the smile faded from his face and
his hands gripped the wheel tightly. This car had not been
abandoned by joy-riders. He knew this car. He knew it very
well. Perhaps its occupants were nearby . . . The patrolman
waved him on.
the car out of the field, then the smile faded from his face and
his hands gripped the wheel tightly. This car had not been
abandoned by joy-riders. He knew this car. He knew it very
well. Perhaps its occupants were nearby . . . The patrolman
waved him on.
Minnie put Harry to bed and then served dinner for
Avedissian and Feldman. At any other time Avedissian
would have enjoyed the meal, for the food was good and the
company congenial, but the circumstances of his current predicament destroyed his appetite and weighed heavily on
his mind. 'Have you decided?' he asked Feldman.
Avedissian and Feldman. At any other time Avedissian
would have enjoyed the meal, for the food was good and the
company congenial, but the circumstances of his current predicament destroyed his appetite and weighed heavily on
his mind. 'Have you decided?' he asked Feldman.
Feldman played briefly with his fork before saying, 'I'm
not going to call the police. Whoever you three are, you seem
to care about each other an awful lot so I just can't believe
you've done anything too bad. When your wife is ready to
travel I'll run you over to Ames and you can make your own
arrangements from there.'
not going to call the police. Whoever you three are, you seem
to care about each other an awful lot so I just can't believe
you've done anything too bad. When your wife is ready to
travel I'll run you over to Ames and you can make your own
arrangements from there.'
Thanks,' said Avedissian. It came from the heart. His appetite returned and he ate what was in front of him with new relish. He did not even feel nervous when the phone
rang.
rang.
Minnie came into the room and said, 'It's Marty, Doc.'
Feldman left to take the call. Minnie cleared away
Avedissian's plate and asked, 'How was it?'
Feldman left to take the call. Minnie cleared away
Avedissian's plate and asked, 'How was it?'
'Best meal I've eaten in a long time,' replied Avedissian.
Minnie flushed with pleasure and said, 'Pity your wife
wasn't well enough to enjoy it too.'
wasn't well enough to enjoy it too.'
Feldman came back into the room. He waited until Minnie
had gone out with the dishes before saying urgently, 'That was Marty, the man who brought you here. He said that the police have pulled a car out of a field a few miles down the
road. They thought some kids had dumped it there after
stealing it, but when they checked out the plates they found
it had been taken from Kansas City by an English couple who
are wanted for murder. They think that they must be in the
area. Marty remembered that you were English. He rang to
point that out. It is your car isn't it?'
had gone out with the dishes before saying urgently, 'That was Marty, the man who brought you here. He said that the police have pulled a car out of a field a few miles down the
road. They thought some kids had dumped it there after
stealing it, but when they checked out the plates they found
it had been taken from Kansas City by an English couple who
are wanted for murder. They think that they must be in the
area. Marty remembered that you were English. He rang to
point that out. It is your car isn't it?'
Avedissian confirmed it.
'You killed someone?' asked Feldman as if unwilling to
believe it himself.
believe it himself.
'Only to stop him killing us,' replied Avedissian.
'Surely, if it was self-defence, you should give yourselves
up and tell the police everything?' said Feldman.
up and tell the police everything?' said Feldman.
Avedissian shook his head and said, 'Believe me. It isn't
that simple. A whole lot of people want us dead. In some ways the police are the least of our worries.'
that simple. A whole lot of people want us dead. In some ways the police are the least of our worries.'
Feldman shrugged and said, 'The "least of your worries"
could be here real soon.'
could be here real soon.'
'We'll have to get out of here,' said Avedissian.
'If you must go, leave your wife and the boy.'
'They are in danger too,' said Avedissian. 'We'll all have to
go-'
go-'
'How?'
Avedissian looked embarrassed. He said, 'I'm afraid I am
going to have to ask for your car.'
going to have to ask for your car.'
Feldman shrugged in resignation and did not force
Avedissian to elaborate on what he meant. He said, The keys
are on the table by the door, I put gas in it this morning.'
Avedissian to elaborate on what he meant. He said, The keys
are on the table by the door, I put gas in it this morning.'
'I'm sorry. I really am,' said Avedissian.
'I'll have Minnie get the boy ready,' said Feldman.
Avedissian woke Kathleen gently and found to his relief
that she was not too sleepy from the medication. 'We'll have
to go,' he whispered. 'Can you stand?'
that she was not too sleepy from the medication. 'We'll have
to go,' he whispered. 'Can you stand?'
Feldman and Minnie looked at the pathetic trio at the door
and stood back to let them pass. 'I hope you know what you
are doing,' said Feldman.
and stood back to let them pass. 'I hope you know what you
are doing,' said Feldman.
'I can assure you we don't have an alternative,' said
Avedissian. 'Thanks for everything.'
Avedissian. 'Thanks for everything.'
As they walked down the path Feldman called after them,
'If it's any comfort, Minnie and I are going to bed now. We'll
find the car gone
...
in the morning.'
'If it's any comfort, Minnie and I are going to bed now. We'll
find the car gone
...
in the morning.'
Avedissian helped Kathleen into the back of Feldman's car
and put Harry in beside her to cuddle up tight. He did not look
back as they drove off.
and put Harry in beside her to cuddle up tight. He did not look
back as they drove off.
Kathleen was lucid but felt tired. The snake bite and the
subsequent anti-serum therapy had taken their toll in
physical terms and the thought of yet another night of
travelling on the run had brought her spirits to a low ebb. She
had her arm round Harry but her head rested against the
window and she gazed idly out at the night as they headed for
the far edge of town.
subsequent anti-serum therapy had taken their toll in
physical terms and the thought of yet another night of
travelling on the run had brought her spirits to a low ebb. She
had her arm round Harry but her head rested against the
window and she gazed idly out at the night as they headed for
the far edge of town.
Avedissian slowed as they came to a crossroads, and she idly took in the name of the bar on the corner, 'The Nitelite'.
There was a man coming out of it. He was wearing a raincoat
and looked, at once, strangely incongruous yet familiar. How
ridiculous, she thought and then, as the man looked directly
back at her, she screamed.
There was a man coming out of it. He was wearing a raincoat
and looked, at once, strangely incongruous yet familiar. How
ridiculous, she thought and then, as the man looked directly
back at her, she screamed.
Avedissian was startled out of his wits and temporarily lost
control of the wheel. 'What is it?' he demanded as he
corrected the car.
control of the wheel. 'What is it?' he demanded as he
corrected the car.
'Innes! . . . It's Innes!' said Kathleen, verging on hysteria.
'Where? What are you talking about?'
'Coming out of the bar! It was him! I saw him!'
Avedissian found Kathleen's fear infectious. 'Did he see
you?' he snapped.
you?' he snapped.
'He looked right at me!' replied Kathleen.
Avedissian put his foot down and turned the headlights to
full beam. 'Of all the rotten luck,' he muttered, swinging the
wheel over to the right to recover a rear wheel drift. The road
was narrow and winding and the car was wide and softly
sprung. On corners it behaved like a three-legged cow in a
sand pit. He cursed again as its rear end slid away from him
and Kathleen and the boy were flung across the car once
more. 'Can you see anything behind us?' he gasped.
full beam. 'Of all the rotten luck,' he muttered, swinging the
wheel over to the right to recover a rear wheel drift. The road
was narrow and winding and the car was wide and softly
sprung. On corners it behaved like a three-legged cow in a
sand pit. He cursed again as its rear end slid away from him
and Kathleen and the boy were flung across the car once
more. 'Can you see anything behind us?' he gasped.
Kathleen had to strain to turn her head, for the effort
involved in just combating the erratic motion of the car and
holding on to Harry had used up what little energy she had.
The fact that she was desperately afraid had done nothing to
help matters and now she felt exhausted and distinctly
woozy. She looked out of the back window at the blackness.
'No, nothing,’ she said. But, as she said it, she caught a
momentary glimpse of a headlight beam somewhere behind
them. She corrected herself and Avedissian pushed himself
and the car even closer to their limit.
involved in just combating the erratic motion of the car and
holding on to Harry had used up what little energy she had.
The fact that she was desperately afraid had done nothing to
help matters and now she felt exhausted and distinctly
woozy. She looked out of the back window at the blackness.
'No, nothing,’ she said. But, as she said it, she caught a
momentary glimpse of a headlight beam somewhere behind
them. She corrected herself and Avedissian pushed himself
and the car even closer to their limit.
A wall loomed up at them out of the night and Avedissian
hit the brakes and flung the wheel over in a last-ditch attempt to negotiate the bend. The front of the car refused to hold the
line and they slid over the road and into the stonework. The
impact crushed the near-side wing and deformed the wheel
arch so that it was touching the tyre as he tried to drive on. A
strong smell of burning rubber filled the car and Avedissian
took his foot off the pedal. There was a bang as the tyre burst
and the wheel started to run on its rim.
hit the brakes and flung the wheel over in a last-ditch attempt to negotiate the bend. The front of the car refused to hold the
line and they slid over the road and into the stonework. The
impact crushed the near-side wing and deformed the wheel
arch so that it was touching the tyre as he tried to drive on. A
strong smell of burning rubber filled the car and Avedissian
took his foot off the pedal. There was a bang as the tyre burst
and the wheel started to run on its rim.
At the very last moment, as he was preparing to stop, he
saw a farm track leading off to the left and swung the car off
on to it. He limped up the track with all the lights off. The
track terminated after thirty metres or so, outside a large
barn. There seemed to be no other building near it. They
were sitting in silence when they heard Innes's car roar past
on the road.
saw a farm track leading off to the left and swung the car off
on to it. He limped up the track with all the lights off. The
track terminated after thirty metres or so, outside a large
barn. There seemed to be no other building near it. They
were sitting in silence when they heard Innes's car roar past
on the road.
'What do we do now?' asked Kathleen in a voice that
suggested that she was barely in control of herself.
suggested that she was barely in control of herself.
'Let's have a look at this place,’ replied Avedissian. He still
had the gun he had taken from Reagan so that put him on
equal terms with Innes if it came down to that. It was
Kathleen and the boy who were the problem. If he could find
somewhere for them to be safe, he would take his chances with
the Tally Man.
had the gun he had taken from Reagan so that put him on
equal terms with Innes if it came down to that. It was
Kathleen and the boy who were the problem. If he could find
somewhere for them to be safe, he would take his chances with
the Tally Man.
There were two giant doors at the front of the barn and a smaller one at the side. Avedissian tried the small one and
found it unlocked. He looked inside but could not see anything
in the dark. 'Come inside,’ he said to Kathleen. He closed the
door behind them and felt on the wall for a light switch. The
barn turned out to be a garage for heavy farm machinery. Two
combine harvesters sat side by side like sleeping giants.
found it unlocked. He looked inside but could not see anything
in the dark. 'Come inside,’ he said to Kathleen. He closed the
door behind them and felt on the wall for a light switch. The
barn turned out to be a garage for heavy farm machinery. Two
combine harvesters sat side by side like sleeping giants.
Take Harry and get up into the cab of this one!' said
Avedissian. He helped Kathleen mount the ladder and then
pushed Harry up after her. 'Now keep well down!' he said.
'Whatever happens, keep down!' He returned to the small door
and locked it from the inside. To get in, Innes would have to use
the main doors, and that was exactly what he wanted. He
memorised the position of the other harvester and then
switched out the light to make his way to it in the blackness. He
spoke to Kathleen as he felt his way up the ladder to the cab,
trying to reassure her that things were going to be all right, but he got the feeling that he was fighting a losing battle. Kathleen
sounded ill. She couldn't take much more.
Avedissian. He helped Kathleen mount the ladder and then
pushed Harry up after her. 'Now keep well down!' he said.
'Whatever happens, keep down!' He returned to the small door
and locked it from the inside. To get in, Innes would have to use
the main doors, and that was exactly what he wanted. He
memorised the position of the other harvester and then
switched out the light to make his way to it in the blackness. He
spoke to Kathleen as he felt his way up the ladder to the cab,
trying to reassure her that things were going to be all right, but he got the feeling that he was fighting a losing battle. Kathleen
sounded ill. She couldn't take much more.
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