Border Lines

4

4The shouting outside grew louder. Voices howled over the churning wind.

Charlie was unarmed; all of his weapons bundled up in the back of the car with the rest of their arsenal. He turned to his brother. John at least had the foresight to bring some of his armoury with him. He pulled out two HK USP's. Charlie flexed his fingers, he wasn't totally defenceless. He fixed his attention on the door. The voices grew louder. John stepped in front of Rachel and Darcy. As long as he was standing nothing would harm them. All Charlie needed to do was make sure nobody got close enough to try.

The door opened and the room exploded with noise. Charlie waited, expecting an army. When they came he would launch every pew he could at the door. With his powers he felt the weight of the wood around him. Gathered up the force he would need to launch his attack. He counted in his head – three, two…

Charlie lifted his arms into the air, as they rose the pews around him rose too. His body trembled with the effort. He was ready to strike when a familiar frame obliterated the stream of outside light. The sound of heels striking the wooden floor seemed to echo over the noise outside. She was wearing a silver suit; new and expensive. There had always been something graceful and elegant about her but this was now amplified by genuine wealth and power.

The last time Charlie had seen Riva Morris, she was leaning over her dead husband after John had put a bullet in his head. Charlie hadn't expected to see her again. He certainly hadn't expected that she would be able to pull off an ambush. She was just one woman, but there were more outside, he could hear them. He dropped his hands. The pews bounced to the floor. Wood splintered, tiles cracked, and still she walked towards him unperturbed.

Behind him John was already taking aim. Riva stopped. She had an air of confidence about her, as though there was nothing untoward about visiting a decrepit old chapel in the middle of nowhere. Then her composure changed. She looked around, her eyes widening when they saw Rachel wrapping Darcy in her coat.

Maybe she wasn't expecting them to have arrived in time. Maybe she was hoping that Darcy would have died already. Either way Charlie was furious. He'd wronged Riva, not Darcy.

“You didn't do the job properly,” Charlie said, venom rich in his voice.

Riva took another bold step closer, trying to inspect the body from where she was. “What happened to him?”

“You tell us,” John replied, his guns still outstretched and promising.

“I'd lower your weapons if I were you, Mr Smith. I have a whole army of men outside ready to storm this place if I need it.”

“Is that like the army of men you had guarding your house?” John bit back. They'd taken more than a dozen of Riva's body guards before. If they had to they would do it again.

“You don't hurt Darcy and walk away,” Charlie warned her.

“I didn't do this. Father Darcy is an old friend of mine.” As hard as he tried, Charlie couldn't hear a lie in her tone.

“Charlie,” Rachel said, ignoring everything else. “We need to get him to a hospital.” There was enough desperation in her voice. She didn't need to say anything else.

“I have my helicopter outside,” Riva offered.

Charlie opened his mouth to say something witty and snide but nothing would come. He was trying to push the idea that she was responsible and yet the more he tried the less likely it seemed. It did raise a question though.

“What are you doing here?”

“I have an appointment.”

Charlie scoffed. “You have an appointment with Darcy?”

“No, I have an appointment with you. I'm sorry I'm late.” She stepped forward again. “Darcy arranged it for me. I knew you wouldn't hear me out if I approached you myself.”

“So what, you figured you'd hurt Darcy then ambush us here?”

“I have nothing to do with this. Darcy was going to mediate. Clearly we need it!”

“And why would he do that?”

“Because he knew what was at stake and what I would offer you.” She folded her arms – not intimidated, or just damn good at holding her nerve.

She had his interest. If she was telling the truth, then Darcy wanted him to hear her out. The last time he did this they ended up finding Rachel.

“You've got one minute.”

“Charlie,” Rachel warned behind him. He wasn't sure if she was annoyed he was stalling or annoyed he was listening to what Riva had to say.

“Let's hear you out,” Charlie said.

“Everything you need to get your daughter back. Advance payment of twenty thousand, upfront today. And twenty grand on top for each of you if you get the job done.”

Charlie's daughter had been missing for two years. Before now he'd been too much of a mess to find her. But with the right money he would be able to buy the information he needed. He was getting back on form, one job might just be enough. He couldn't hide his interest.

“And the job?” he said, already salivating at the prospect.

Riva shifted her stance. “That's need to know. You'll find out if you take it.”

“You seriously expect us to take a job we know nothing about?”

“It's a delicate matter. If you turn it down, I'll need to find someone else. No one can know I'm involved, so unless you make it happen, you don't need to know.”

That was the hook – hand them a box that they're only allowed to open if they keep it.

“So what if we say we're interested?”

“Charlie!” Rachel shouted. “We don't have time for this. Darcy doesn't have time.”

Riva inspected the patient. “I can get him to a good hospital in twenty minutes,” Riva said. “How long do you think he has?”

The cross lay in pieces on the altar. Even a few hours on that thing could have killed him. Charlie's thoughts raced through what was happening. If Riva had wanted a meeting, who else knew about it? Who would stage this whole scene and why? Darcy? Timing? The cross? None of it made any sense. Unless…

“Rachel,” Charlie said, trying to keep up with his thoughts. “How long would you say he's been up there?”

“I don't know, a day. Charlie, he's coming around.” Rachel knelt closer to Darcy's mouth. The priest's eyes fluttered but never opened. His fingers twitched and touched Rachel's.

“What's he saying?”

Rachel frowned. She looked to Charlie nonplussed. “He said 'redemption.' ”

The word struck Charlie. His body went cold. Slowly his eyes took in the cross and the chapel in a new light. Redemption. Darcy pushed Rachel's hand away. In that one gesture everything made sense.

They were here. And the only thing keeping them at bay was Riva's men. He lashed around, checking the weaknesses of the building. Where were they hiding? There wasn't time to play. He had to take charge. He had to get everyone out.

“Rach go with him.”

She rose, confused. “What?”

“Go with him!” he ordered. “He needs you to keep him alive.”

The look she gave him was fierce but he knew her doctor's instinct had already taken over. She'd look after Darcy because that was her nature.

Riva's men carried Darcy into the helicopter. Their weapons, their military training, was no longer a threat to him. He scanned the door way, the gaps in the wall and the distant fields. Somewhere they were waiting for him, he could feel it.

Rachel threw him a frustrated confused glare as she followed the men out. But he didn't have time to explain it to her.

“Go with her,” he told John.

John was more used to Charlie taking charge. He trusted Charlie, but even he was hesitating.

“I'll be safer on my own, you know I will. I'll call you when I'm done,” Charlie assured him. “Look after her. Look after them both, okay.”

John handed over his second g*n. It wouldn't help. They both knew that. But he never left Charlie without a weapon. Charlie took it, stuffing it into his jeans. He nodded at his brother as eager to see him leave as he was Rachel. This wasn't their fight.

John left the church. And for a brief moment Charlie was alone with the noise and the rain. Then his friends were gone. And the ones waiting for him came closer.