A Lonely Place to Die Page #4

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The only time they expose themselves|is at the hand-off.

Do you know where the pub is?

It's not a big village.|I'll find it.

When you get there,|you grab a table by the window.

If you can't find one,|you stand by the bar and you wait.

No one will approach you|until you sit down.

Don't try and guess who it's gonna be.

Think about nothing except that table.|Understand?

Yeah.

Don't look too confident.|Don't look too nervous either.

You find a middle ground. You let 'em|know that it's strictly business.

If they've got the girl,|they're gonna get paid.

- Let's hope they bring her.|- They will. They have to.

They'll keep her out of sight until they|see the money. That's where you come in.

You demand to see her|before you hand it over.

If they can get away|without making a trade, they will.

Leaving a body behind is a lot easier|than making a full exchange.

No one makes a move until we see|the girl. If I return without her...

Have you met her father?

I've heard of him by reputation.

- So you know that...|- He's got a pretty bad reputation.

Have a jolly up in Kosovo, did he?|Little bit of an ethnic spring clean?

Same as the rest of the Serbian wankers|that we slotted back in '99.

So trust me, yes,|I know who I'm dealing with.

Really?

When we make our move,|it's gonna be quick and loud.

Throw yourself on the floor cos he's|gonna go like f***ing Christian Bale.

Stay down till me or him picks you up.

All I care about is the girl.|We get her safe and quick.

Then we worry about her captors.

Your employers,|they wanna keep 'em alive?

- If possible.|- We'll see.

No shotguns.|I can't risk you hitting the girl.

It's loaded with solid shot, no spread.

We're English, Darko.|We leave friendly fire to the Yanks.

Hi. We... we need to...

We need to report a kidnapping|and three murders.

We'll get you up to Inverness|as quick as we can.

Constable Stewart will drive you.|He shouldn't be a minute.

They can take your statements,|give you medical attention.

I'll be just past the kitchen.|So don't worry, I'm not going anywhere.

- You said kitchen.|- Aye.

She could do with something to eat.

- I can't get through to Inverness.|- Why not?

It's a big country.|It all needs policing.

So call another station.

I've left a message. I'm sure the desk|sergeant will call back in a minute.

Chocolate cake. My wife's recipe.|I think you might just love it.

You Darko?

Yes.

You got something for me?

- That depends.|- Does it?

I've got the more valuable|merchandise. What have you got?

Money?

There'll always be money in the world,|mate. Plenty of that to go round.

But this little girl? Unique.

One of a kind.

- What are you trying to say?|- That we do things my way.

You brought the money?

Yeah.

Then this is how we're gonna do it.

I leave here now with the case|and check it with my associates.

All being well and good,

you'll receive a call telling you|where you can find the girl.

No.

- Then I'm gonna leave.|- Go?

You sure?

You're not gonna walk out of here|empty handed

without listening to what I have to say.

- I wouldn't f***ing bet on that, mate.|- I stake six million euros on it.

That's what you've got in the case?

We both know only fools fill cases|with counterfeit money,

fools who don't care to see|their children again. I'm no fool.

I'm glad to hear it. Because the same|thing happened to me a few years back.

I took a boy from his family|in Marseilles.

Well, it was a long negotiation|to say the least.

Went on for so long I made a mistake.

I bonded with the boy.

We became close.

He kept saying he wanted to come|and visit me when it was all over.

His parents decided to hand off|a bag full of shredded newspaper.

Police thought they were gonna catch us|during the drop-off.

Oh, no.

I took the boy out in the garden|to play a game of football.

I remember because he went in goal.

When he bent down to pick up the ball,|I shot him in the back of the head.

Quick. Painless.

Least I could do.

I buried him somewhere|in the southwest of France.

Parents are still looking for him,|last I heard.

Well done.

Like I said, I'm no fool.

Good.

Because that's a true story.

You see? Nothing to worry about.

- Anyone fancy a cup of tea?|- Tea?

Aye. Nothing like a brew|to set you straight.

No. No, I don't reckon|a brew's gonna do it this time.

You said you were gonna|get us to Inverness.

We wanna get out of here|as quickly as possible.

Understood.

Let me just get on to PC Stewart|and we'll see where he's got to.

- You don't have to be so rude.|- F*** rude! People are dead.

I wanna get out of this village,|out of this f***ing country.

And we will. Relax. We're safe now.

How long's he gonna take?|And where's this other officer?

Sure I can't tempt anyone with a cuppa?

We were supposed to be in a police car|15 minutes ago.

No, thanks! You're being paranoid.

Well, did you actually see him|call for help? Did you hear it?

- Why haven't they returned his call?|- It's only been ten minutes.

A lot can happen in ten minutes, Alison.

Are you ready to trust someone we've|just met after what we've been through?

What if he's keeping us busy while he|waits for his mates to finish us off?

Sh*t!

- What do we do?|- We should go.

- Let's wait five minutes, see if...|- How much longer do you wanna wait for?

Even if he's not in on it,|what good's he gonna do?

What can he protect us from? He's a fat|man with a badge armed with a biro.

No, I say we leave now.|We take our chances in the crowd.

OK.

Anna, we're just gonna go for a walk,|sweetheart.

What's going on?|Where are you going?

We're just...

- We're leaving.|- It's not safe.

- Well, we're going.|- Absolutely not.

You're my responsibility.|I'm not letting you out of my sight.

You can't keep us here.|If we wanna go, we'll go.

You want to walk out of here? Fine.|But I can't let you take the girl.

I mean it. You leave,|you leave without her.

Ed!

- Don't come any closer.|- Easy, lad, easy.

Don't do something|you'll have to pay for later.

Put the knife down. Right now.

What the...

Get down!

Stay low, stay low. Keep down.

PC Stewart. Come in, over.

Shots fired. I'm under attack.|I need you back at the station.

Get back against the wall!

- Is there a back door?|- Yes. You'll need keys.

Where?

Follow me.

Down! Get down!

Anna, quick.

Now what we have here|is a situation based on trust.

I trust you when you say|that you've brought the money.

And you have to trust me when I say|the girl is safe and somewhere nearby.

I can't even walk into to a newsagent

and buy a pack of cigarettes on trust,|my friend.

Now, if I can't do that,

how do you expect me|to let a man like you

walk out of here with a f***ing|retirement plan in a briefcase?

Man like me?

A kidnapper|and a child murderer, yes.

That's a bit personal.

You're a grown man, you can take it.|And this is business.

Like the man in the newsagent.

I hand him the money|because I can see what I'm buying.

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