Kevin fidgeted in his seat distractedly looking at his watch causing Carlos who was seated directly behind him to look at him worriedly. The break in the award ceremony had come and gone and there was till no sign of Jac, Gideon or James. Kevin sighed again and looked about him impatiently, thinking to himself that she was probably talking to friends and acquaintances, and she called him garrulous he thought indignantly. She could talk the hind leg off a donkey.
Again he looked at his watch as another break came and went and he began to feel uneasy, talking or not they should have been back now. Ignoring the disapproving looks from those around him, he turned to Carlos and whispered.
‘Where is she? She should be back here by now.’ He chewed at his lip then decided. ‘I’m going to look for her.’
‘Not without me you’re not.’ Carlos told him emphatically. He knew from long association just how determined Kevin could be when he had his mind set on something. They got up amid murmurs of disapproval from those seated around them. Kevin turned around and stared them down, glowering under his dark brows before hurriedly following Carlos up the aisle. They hailed a security guard as soon as they exited the auditorium.
‘Where’s the green rooms?’ Carlos asked abruptly. He didn’t want to worry Kevin any more than was necessary, but he had a bad feeling about this. He knew Jac wouldn’t have worried Kevin needlessly, and her prolonged absence was causing him a great deal of concern, call it instinct, call it gut feeling, but he felt in his bones something was wrong. If only he knew his own added urgency, sensed by Kevin was fuelling his friend and charges own unease.
‘Umm Sir? The green rooms?’
‘Yes, yes, the green rooms. You know….’Carlos wanted to strangle the young man.
‘Oh yeah, down there to the left…but sirs…’ he watched them make their way quickly in the direction he pointed to as he waved his hand into space, then with a shrug of his shoulders thought what the heck, I guess they’ll find what they are looking for. They came across another security man and this time got the information they needed. It seems Jac had been given a special room away from the others. It was a bit more private and not as accessible. Carlos felt the hair on the back of his neck prick. ‘This is not good, not good at all’ he whispered to himself.
‘Did you say something?’ Kevin turned from thanking the security man.
‘No Kev, come on lets go find this room.’ And he strode off leaving Kevin to catch up. They walked around a corner in a quiet backstage area. Carlos waved Kevin to a stop, now his instinct and training kicked in. Kevin went to move forward regardless, but Carlos yanked him back and whispered severely. ‘No, this is my territory now. You do as I say or I’ll knock you into next week. You got that?’
Kevin nodded. Now he was worried. If Carlos was uneasy about this, he was right to be worried, it just added to his premonition that something wasn’t right.
Carlos edged along the wall, from his jacket he withdrew a pistol. Kevin’s eyes bulged and he hissed. ‘Where did you get that and when?’
‘Since it became imperative that I needed it, and don’t think I won’t use it if I have to, because I will. Now shut up Kev for Christ’s sake, I need to concentrate.’
‘But can you use it?’
‘Kevin, I’m a friggin bodyguard for god’s sake, of course I can and I’m a crack shot. Now just shut up will you.’ Carlos hissed. He took note of the open door and the fact that it was quiet, unusually quiet. Kevin shuffled his feet in his agitation. ‘Stay put right there Kevin.’ He sensed Kevin about to protest. ‘You want me to put a bullet in you?’
Kevin nodded and whispered no, his face paling as he realised Carlos was serious.
‘Good.’ He edged his huge frame along the wall with surprising ease for a big man. And taking a deep breath he turned into the door frame pistol at the ready. For a moment he didn’t quite believe what his eyes saw. Then he knew his worst fears were realised. With a quick glance around and a sinking heart he summed up the situation taking in James’s deceased body and the blood that spilled from it. It pooled and ran in rivulets, like fingers spreading out it made macabre patterns on the tiled flooring. It jumped out garishly, stark against the backdrop of the floor.
‘Shit, shit. Shit. Oh James.’ He groaned quietly.
Dropping his stance he put his pistol back into his jacket. Kevin appeared at the doorway just as he dropped to his knees to feel James’s lifeless pulse at his neck.
‘We’ve got trouble kid.’ Carlos spoke in hushed tones. He was careful not to touch anything.
‘Oh Jesus Christ, oh my god.’ Kevin knelt next to Carlos his mind was at war, all these emotions swirling around. Seeing James dead on the floor and feeling sorrow and grief at that, the loss of someone who had become a friend, to the panic in his gut and the ice cold hand that gripped his heart squeezing it tight. His mind raced. Jax, oh god if James was dead, then what of his wife and where was Gideon?’
‘Carlos?’ Kevin managed a distressed groan.
‘Easy kid.’ Carlos said reading his mind. ‘Easy now Kev, I want you to ring Steve, asap got it. Do it now Kev.’
He took one look at Kevin’s stunned face and his immobile body rigid with shock and he yelled ‘Kevin now, do it now. I’m going to look around to see if I can find anything. And don’t touch anything, you got that?’ Time was of the essence now. His eyes met Kevin’s and although he felt his fear for Jac he had to move and move quickly. His training was taking over his emotional needs.
Kevin nodded beads of sweat appearing on his forehead as his heart raced. ‘Yeah…ok yeah I’ll ring Steve.’ He spoke like one in a trance. Carlos hated to leave him now but he knew he must. Before he left he placed a hand on Kevin’s shoulder.
‘I’m going to look around. We’ll find her Kev.’
Kevin looked up at him and Carlos flinched at the pain in his friend’s eyes as Kevin spoke bitterly. ‘Yeah, yeah I guess we will, but will she be alive? Unharmed? Is our worst nightmare about come true?’
Carlos knew nothing to say to ease the pain and he knew that useless platitudes wouldn’t work so he just squeezed his friends shoulder again and said softly. ‘Ring Steve Kev.’
He made his way out of the room and collared a pair of security guards. Succinctly he told them what had happened and gave instructions what to do as he commandeered a walkie talkie off them, somehow he figured he might need it. Then he set off down the passage to look for the exit door he knew the killer of James would have used. He moved stealthily in dread of what he might find, the death of James had shocked him, and he was just as apprehensive to Gideon’s fate. Ahead he spied a doorway, and drawing his pistol he backed up against the wall, ready to pounce around the corner. Taking a breath to steady himself he spun into the doorway and swore profusely. He spotted Gideon in acute agony dragging his wounded body across the alleyway, leaving smears and pools of blood in his wake. In three quick strides he was beside him, and had him turned over so he could check out his wounds. Carlos radioed for help using the walkie talkie.
**********************
Kevin watched Carlos’s retreating back. He looked down at James’s body and swallowed. He felt the walls of the room close in on him and spin. Like a man drunk he staggered to the door and clung on to it welcome solidness using it to steady himself and pull his way around it into the hallway. He leant back against the wall his chest heaving but his normally smiling green eyes were wild with anger, fear and panic.
‘Ok Kev, you gotta be calm boy.’ He whispered softly to himself. ‘Calm.’ With shaking hands he found his cell phone in his pocket and switched it on. Then with trembling fingers it took several attempts for him to dial Steve’s number. It didn’t take Steve long to make sense of Kevin’s distressed rambling. He was used to dealing with victims in shock and he had a knack of being able to make sense of what they wanted to say.
‘Ok Kevin. I’m on my way as we speak. I’ll get the our guys there pronto ok?’ All he heard was silence. ‘Kevin?’
‘Yeah I’m still here.’
Steve groaned silently recognising a man close to the edge. Just hold it together Kev he thought. Just for a little while longer but instead he said. ‘I won’t be long. You wait right there.’
Kevin looked blankly at the phone in his hand. He felt numb inside, but then he started to shiver as the shock hit him. Feverishly, with shaking hands he placed the phone in his jacket pocket. He felt a muscle in his cheek jerk spasmodically and he raised his fingers to still it’s twitching. He leaned back against the wall for support and closed his eyes, willing the tremors to go away. Gradually he felt them stop and he stood up a bit straighter. He pushed of the wall and found his legs a lot steadier. He turned around as he heard the sounds of people arriving on the scene. Three security men appeared. ‘Mr Richardson? The taller of them asked. Kevin nodded.
‘Your bodyguard just radioed in, the police are on the way. Now your welcome if you’d like to come with one of us to a private room till the detective in charge gets here. We’ll take over here now.’ Looking about him, he made a decision to find Carlos.
‘No..no I’ll be okay. I’ll just go find…’ he waved a hand in the direction Carlos had taken.
‘Do you think that’s wise sir?’ the tall one asked cutting in.
‘No, probably not, but I’m going anyway.’ And without a backward look he stood off. Leaving the three men left standing in his wake to shrug their shoulders at one another before they moved to secure the crime scene.
*********************
Carlos bent over Gideon.
‘He surprised us in the green room.’ Gideon spoke weakly in between gasps. ‘James didn’t stand a chance, he was shot before we knew what was happening. One of the security fellas here betrayed us, sold out for money, and that’s what it got him.’ He nodded in the direction of the other body. He winced as Carlos made him a touch more comfortable by sitting him up against the wall.
‘Jac?’ Carlos asked the dreaded question as he ripped strips of his shirt and started to bind Gideon’s bleeding legs.
‘He got her. I got the licence plate of the car, but only an idiot would expect him not to have another stashed away.’ He sucked him air through his gritted teeth as a wave of pain hit him.
‘Easy Gideon. Helps on its way.’
‘She snuck James’s cell phone from his jacket and stashed it up the sleeve of her dress. She’s quick witted is that girl. Arhhh shit that hurts.’ He groaned as Carlos tightened the make shift bandages.
‘Well that’s something.’ Carlos muttered. ‘Not much, but it’s something.’
‘Yeah, she’s just got to keep it hidden. Where’s Kevin?’ Gideon asked faintly.
‘I left him to ring the police and to get hold of Steve.’
‘Christ, what a mess Carlos, what a stinking bloody mess. That guy made fools out of us all.’ Gideon spoke weakly, the effort was telling on him. Again he winced and fought back the waves of faintness that threatened to overwhelm him. He tried to be lucid because he knew time was crucial and he had plenty of time later to succumb to his injuries.’ I think Steve’s on the right track with that profile of his.’‘ He took another steadying breath. ‘He a pro.’
‘Take it easy Gideon, don’t talk, save your strength.’ Carlos heard a sound behind him and he spun around gun slipping easily into his hand. ‘Shit Kevin.’ He was about to read him the riot act but relented when he saw Kevin’s white, pinched face. Gideon opened his eyes as Carlos moved startled and took in Kevin’s face through his own pain ridden senses. He had witnessed that look in the eyes of soldiers who had had their first taste of combat. The dull weary stunned look of shock that death put there. Kevin’s eyes flew to Carlos then to him and he made his way over to sit in a crumpled heap beside them.
‘I thought I told you to stay put?’ Carlos said not unkindly.
‘Yeah well you know me. There are security fellas there now.’ Kevin said dully as he slumped against the wall closing his eyes. He let his hand rest lightly on Gideon’s shoulder and with a bit of effort Gideon placed his larger hand in comfort on top of Kevin’s. They heard the wail of sirens in the distance that announced the arrival of the police and the paramedics and in moments the quietness of the alleyway was shattered as an ambulance screeched to a halt, escorted by several police cars. Their flashing lights illuminating the alleyway reflecting its walls with a brightly coloured glow that seemed strangely out of place amongst the tragedy. Carlos got to his feet and leant over to drag Kevin up, getting out of the paramedic’s way so they could go to work on Gideon. A shout above all the noise made them turn around as they saw Steve striding purposely towards them.
He laid a hand on Kevin’s shoulder. ‘God Kev, man what can I say.’
‘Jax was right, she always said she’d never be safe. No matter what we did she always knew that we could never totally protect her.’ He pushed a tired hand through his hair and looked down at the ground before looking up with dull sad eyes and scrubbing his face with his hands. ‘I know you’ve done everything you could Steve, but just keep at it. I want this guy caught and out of our lives and I want my wife back safe and unharmed. That’s what’s eating away at me. I hope to god she’ll be ok and he won’t harm her.’ Then his face tightened and his eyes filled with unshed tears. ‘She must be terrified out of her wits now and there is nothing I can do.’ He sucked in a deep breath to bring his unsteady emotions under control.
Steve patted Kevin’s shoulder. In this job all he ever got to see was pain and hurt and he thought it might be the right time after this case was over to take a long, long, vacation. ‘Take him inside Carlos, look I know it’s a lot to ask but can you stay here? I really want to talk to you both but I’ve got things that need doing immediately?’ He caught sight of the medics moving to take Gideon to the hospital. They placed the gurney in the ambulance. He yelled at another detective. ‘Dave you go with that ambulance. Don’t leave the hospital till you have a statement from him. You got that?’
‘Yeah got it.’
‘This is important ok?' He was the only one to have contact with this guy and live, he thought to himself as an idea hit him. ‘Oh and Dave?’
‘Yeah Steve?’
‘Arrange some protection for him, we want to take no chances.’
‘Will do. I’ll be in touch.’ With a quick discussion with the medics he leapt into the back of the ambulance and Steve watched it drive off sirens wailing. He turned back to Kevin and Carlos.
‘Are you worried about Gideon?’ Kevin asked as he leant tiredly back against the wall.
‘I dunno, better to be prepared I think. Look are you both ok with waiting here? I have to talk to forensic and question a few people. If it gets to late I’ll send you both home and see you there.’
Kevin felt like someone had clenched a hand about his heart at the mention of the word home. How he would get through the following days, he didn’t know. Biting his lip he nodded, unable to speak past the lump that was lodged in his throat.
Carlos took hold of his arm. ‘Come on Kev, lets get you inside and Steve?’
‘Yeah what can I do Carlos?’ Steve asked his kind face drawn and tired but prepared for a long drawn out night.
‘See that the press are kept at a good distance, we don’t need their intrusion at this point in time.’
‘I’ll see to it, now fellas I’ve got to go to work.’ He turned on heel and disappeared into the throng of police officers and started to give orders.
Kevin turned and watched him go till he disappeared in the circle of men about him. Carlos tugged at his arm pulling him inside.
‘Kev, come away now.’
‘Yeah.’ He sighed. ‘I have some phone calls to make I guess.’ He walked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, and at that moment he did.