The orchestra struck up and taking a deep breath to steady myself I walked onstage to the applause of the audience. I knew there was a lot of sympathy for me in their clapping, I was living every celebrities nightmare. I waited a few seconds for the noise to subside before beginning to speak in a clear unhurried voice.
‘From his humble beginnings in the East End of London to his receiving of an Academy Award last year. Sir Michael has graced our screens with his talent and his gifts. An accomplished actor he has always brought variety to his roles making the characters he played believable and human. From his debut as the stiff upper class officer in Zulu, to that cockney lad in Alfie, to spy Harry Palmer who epitomised the birth of cool, to the tough underworld figure in Get Carter, to small town doctor in The Cider house rules. And who can forget his portrayal of a drunken professor in Educating Rita. He has always had the knack of playing characters with gritty realism. But has also managed to turn his hand to comedy, a true sign of his talent, for making people laugh is the hardest thing for an actor to do, sculpting the screenwriters words and make us laugh. Sir Michael you have scaled the heights of our acting profession, but you have never been lost your roots at heart you are still and always will be that cockney lad making good. It is a great honour for me to present this life time achievement award, to Sir Michael Caine.’
The audience erupted and stood to their feet in a standing ovation as Michael made his way up the stairs towards me. He smiled and leaned in to kiss my cheek. I hugged him before presenting him with the statuette. I moved back a few paces so Michael could bask in the crowd’s appreciation. The applause died down and he made his speech in his customary cockney accent. Before turning to bow to the crowd and turning towards me so I could escort him off stage.
Once in the wings we stood chatting for a few minutes till Michael was led away to the press conference waiting for him so he could answer a few questions before returning to his seat. Gideon and James appeared beside me ready to escort me back to the green room, where I would wait till a break in the broadcasting so I could move to sit back down next to Kevin and take my seat warmers place. I had an inward chuckle at the fact there was this glamorous woman sitting next to Kevin while I presented the award to Michael. I could see the rumours about us flying around the Internet now. We made our way to the green room allocated to us. I was given a room to myself to use for security reasons and outside of the door waiting was one of the events security guards, I recognised him from earlier on. He had stood watch while Gideon and James escorted me to the stage for the presentation of Michael’s award.
‘Ms Ryecroft you’ll be escorted back to your seat soon.’ He said as he stood aside and opened the door to the green room. ‘They’ve scheduled a break in about ten minutes. Refreshments are waiting so feel free to help yourself.’
‘Thank you’ I said as I walked in following James as Gideon trailed behind me. I walked over to the table and grabbed a bottle of water, I found I was suddenly dry in the throat. Gideon started to watch the show on the monitor. ‘Looks like there’s an ad break coming soon Jac.’
As soon as the words were out of his mouth someone rapped loudly on the door. James opened it cautiously but there was a whooshing sound and he staggered back into the room, his hand flew to his chest and came away reddened. He face registered his bewilderment then the realisation of what had occurred. It all happened so fast but it felt like slow motion as I watched him tumble to the ground, his flailing arms bringing the refreshment table crashing about him as he staggered against it. Bottles, cups and food went tumbling through the air adding to the general chaos. I rushed over to James wondering what had happened when a tall silent figure his head encased in a balaclava made his presence known. I looked up uncomprehending from James limp lifeless body to the silent figure standing over us, my eyes were drawn to the gun complete with silencer held competently his hand, the weapon had had killed James. Then I looked down stunned in shock as my hand came away blood smeared from James’s body and I felt like I had been kicked in the stomach. I could feel the colour drain away from my face and I raised my panicky eyes to Gideon’s distraught horror struck ones, he looked just as much in shock as I was. They never even had time to go for their guns. After all our planning and vigilance we had been taken by surprise.
‘You move over there, tie his hands up.’ he pointed at Gideon as he spoke to his accomplice, the event security guard. ‘Now don’t try anything silly or you’ll end up like your partner here.’ Gideon moved to resist and I spoke out hastily.
‘Gideon, please. Just do as he says.’ Gideon looked at me with rage and defeat burning in his eyes. I felt sick at heart, but I couldn’t let Gideon throw his life away, not now. Not after James had been so callously murdered in front of us. ‘It’ll be ok.’ I whispered before looking at the killer in shock. ‘How could you kill him?’ I asked fighting back the sob that was forming in my throat.’
‘Necessity.’ He spoke tonelessly without inflection. ‘Now get up.’ he waved his gun at me.
‘What if I refuse, are you going to shoot me as well?’ I asked bitterly my voice shaking with fear and anger and no small part of grief.
He sighed irritated but like a whip his voice cracked out. ‘Get up now Jacqueline or your friend here buys it.’
I hesitated and he moved his gun. ‘Ok, ok don’t. I’m getting up see. But just let me close James eyes, at least let me do that for him.’
He nodded coolly. ‘Hurry up.’
I kept my back to him as I leant over to close James’s eyes. ‘Goodbye James, and thank you, Thank you so very much.’ I spoke softly. I bent over to kiss his cheek contriving to let my hand slip into his open jacket and sneak his cell phone into my hand. Where on earth I was going to hide it I had no idea but it was a risk I had to take. I surreptitiously slipped it up the long sleeve of my gown, silently thanking Kevin for buying me this dress as a surprise. I took a gamble hoping I wouldn’t be tied up till I could hide it elsewhere on my body. Gideon watched impassively, he knew what I had done and I caught a look of approval in his eyes. It was an indefinable flicker that was quickly gone.
‘Ok enough of the soft stuff. Now get up.’
I glared at him as I scrambled unsteadily to my feet.
He laughed harshly. ‘Feisty aren’t you. I like a woman with fire.’
‘Well if you play with fire no doubt you’ll get yourself burnt.’ I snapped bitterly. ‘I hope it consumes you and you rot in hell.’
He stepped towards me and I forced myself hold my ground not to step backwards away from him. He grabbed hold of my chin in a none to gentle manner and forced me to look him in the eyes. I sensed Gideon’s restless movement behind me and I waved my hand to still him.
Ice blue eyes stared intently into mine. ‘Now let’s be a sensible girl and not make things difficult. You do as I ask and you won’t be hurt.’
I yanked my chin from his grasp and said sarcastically. ‘Oh I can see that, you’ve such a good track record haven’t you? What’s the body count now?’
I heard Gideon sigh behind me and say. ‘Jac, stop.’
But all the killer did was laugh humourlessly. ‘I’d like to let you speak my wildcat, but times short and we must be on our way. Now be a nice well behaved lady and do as you’re told. We are going to make our way out of here, quickly, no stalling or I’ll have to hurt your friend and you know what that means don’t you?’ I nodded. He looked over to his accomplice. ‘Check the door. All clear? OK lets go, you first Jacqueline.’
I walked out of the room with leaden steps, I glanced backwards at Gideon and then at James. Then biting my lip to stop myself from crumbling and giving way to the flood of tears that had seemed to be choking me I moved silently on.
‘Stop here.’ I felt the gun press into my back. ‘You, over there where I can watch you. You to my lady.’ He added facetiously. I pressed in close to Gideon for some comfort. Although his hands were bound, I leant against him. The rise and fall of his chest was comforting.
‘Is it clear?’
‘Yes sir, all is ready. The car is waiting.’
‘Good, well done. Ok move it people.’ He waved his gun in the direction of the open door and I walked towards it. Sure enough, there in the alley way was the waiting car. My heart sank upon seeing it. It brought home that I wasn’t in a nightmarish dream, this was real and happening to me right now. He opened the door of the car and turned to face us. Then he turned to his accomplice.
‘Well I guess this is adieu now. You’ve done very well, but I’m afraid I can’t leave any evidence of my dealings with you, so goodbye.’ He looked about at our appalled faces ‘ A pity having to kill the hired help.’ He spoke dispassionately.
The other man looked confused then frightened as a shot silently thudded into his body. He backed against the wall clasping his hands over his heart before silently sliding downwards into a crumpled heap on the pathway. All my eyes could see was a smear of red. The bright red of blood of the security man as it dripped and slid down the brickwork from the way his body had fallen. I felt myself sway as I dropped to my knees and was promptly sick, emptying my stomach onto the pavement as the horror hit me like a truck out of control. His killer reached into the dead man’s jacket and retrieved a packet that was obviously payment for his dirty work. Although he had sold his soul for money, he had paid for it with his life.
‘Jac.’ I heard Gideon’s panic through the red haze that filled my mind. ‘Jac!’ he yelled.
Still gasping for air I was yanked unceremoniously to my feet. ‘You’ll have to toughen up my lady.’
‘You arsehole, you callous bastard,’ I flung at him, but he just laughed. ‘What an aristocratic mouth you have my Lady.’
‘I’m not your lady.’ I said through gritted teeth. His grip on my arm tightened and I could feel the bones in my arm almost snap and I yelped in pain, again my mind filling with that white hot fog as the searing agony almost caused me to blackout.
‘Just so.’ He said with satisfaction as he released me before turning to point the gun at Gideon. He fired two bullets into Gideon’s kneecaps, bringing the big man down with a sickening thud making him scream out in pain and agony.
‘Gideon! I screamed. I could hear my frantic yelling echo about the alley way as I raced towards his collapsed body. ‘Gideon oh god Gideon.’ I sobbed as my hands frantically tried to stem the blood flow from his legs.
‘Jac’ he said weakly. ‘Jac’
Not listening I continued my feeble attempts. ‘Jax’ he said with a bit more strength to his voice. Kevin’s nickname for me penetrated my panic and I looked into his eyes. ‘I’ll be ok, I will. Remember what we taught you ok.’
I nodded as the tears fell freely down my cheeks. ‘Good girl, we’ll find you. I promise.’
‘Gideon.’ My voice cracked. Again I was roughly dragged to my feet and pushed aside, I wiped my blood soaked hands unintentionally on face, smearing its stickiness all over me. I could smell its cloying metallic tang in my nostrils and I wondered if I’d ever be free of its odour and smell fresh air again.
‘Quite the little heroine aren’t we?’ he said coldly.
‘I think I hate you.’ I hissed at him. He cuffed me about the head causing me to stagger.
‘You’ll be changing your tune my Lady.’ He said deliberately with enough menace to chill my heart. ‘Soon you’re be screaming my name.’ Then he grabbed hold of me and threw me like a rag doll into the car. My mind was reeling from all the emotional turmoil. The fear, the panic, the horror and maybe the worst was yet to come. Pale blue eyes looked into mine as he loomed closely over me, my heart skipped a beat in fear that I was next to die but he raised his gun and brought it down on my head and the world was plunged into darkness.