He walked up to her and touched the weapon to the base of her throat. She felt the hard cold steel. Smelled oil and a hint of gun smoke, and his sweat pungent and acrid. ‘Sit down,’ he said, moving the gun away a little.
She did, trying not to betray the fear thick in her blood.
He took a step back, then another, the gun levelled at her but his hold on it unsteady. The drugs, whatever he was on, affecting his motor skills, or maybe it was the excitement.
‘We can sort something out,’ she said, her voice catching. She coughed to clear it. ‘Maybe you want to see your dad, but not like this. Think about it. I’m a police officer.’
‘A pig, yeah,’ he said, ‘two niggers and a pig. That’ll show him.’
‘Who?’
Her phone rang, a shocking blare of sound. He jabbed the gun at her. ‘Leave it.’
‘It’ll be work,’ she said. ‘If I don’t answer, they’ll be round here in minutes.’
He looked doubtful. The ringtone repeated.
‘It’s a safety thing, me on my own. They call, we answer. No answer – rapid response.’ She moved to get her phone but he said, ‘No,’ moved closer.
‘I’ll tell them I’m fine,’ she said, ‘clocking off, yeah. Done here. Then they’ll leave it. Your call, Connor, they won’t hang on for ever.’
‘You say anything…’ he threatened.
‘With a gun to my head? I’m not fuckin’ stupid.’
He gave a sharp nod and she pulled the handset from her pocket, her heart hurting in her chest, her pulse galloping. Glanced at the display, hit the green key and said, ‘Hi, Janet, everything’s OK here.’
Connor was poised, eyes locked on her, gun too.
Janet began to speak but Rachel kept on, ‘I’m going to clock off after this, nearly done, shocking migraine so I’ll go straight home.’
‘Migraine?’ said Janet. ‘Since when have-’
‘Like your Taisie, eh? Head’s banging fit to burst.’ Please please, fuckin’ get it. ‘Mrs Tandy’s out shopping so we’ll have a word with her in the morning.’
Connor began to make winding motions with his free hand.
‘What’s wrong?’ Janet said, very quietly.
Connor moved forward, the gun swinging in his hand, his face darkening.
‘Got to go,’ Rachel said.
She made a show of ending the call but immediately after pressing the button she activated the voice recorder and set the handset on the seat beside her.
So what’s the plan? she wanted to ask him. You stupid little shitbag. What? You kill me too? Or hold me hostage and escape in a helicopter to a boat waiting to whisk you and your dad away to a far-flung country with no extradition agreement, like some shit-stupid video game.
‘Can I ask you something?’ she said.