Cold Blood Read online

  I emerged from the cover of the bins and started towards the back of the building, away from the hotel. But Stedman wasn’t following. I turned back. It didn’t matter what he thought about the situation, or what he wanted out of it, because he was coming with me.

  ‘No, no … Nick, listen. My passport … it’s in the room …’

  I pushed him up against the wall. He kept perfectly still as I unzipped the outer gear and checked.

  He wasn’t lying.

  ‘Fuck’s sake. Switch on.’

  From the far end of the line came a loud crash, and the noise got louder still as the bins cannoned into each other like falling dominoes. The one nearest us toppled over completely.

  Fight or flight? It was a simple decision. We turned and ran. But not from Watch Man and his crew – from a fucking great bear, and we kept running. Neither of us wanted to become a substitute for its normal morning croissants.

  As we turned the corner onto the main drag I started to see the funny side. I shouted back to Stedman, if only to get him moving quicker. ‘It must have liked the smell of you yesterday. You should be flattered.’

  We slowed when we were within reach of the Radisson’s entrance.

  ‘Got your key card?’

  He nodded.

  ‘OK, this is the plan. Do what I say when I say it. Or I hand you straight back to the bear.’

  37

  Leila was heading for the taxi rank, dragging a well-worn black plastic suitcase behind her. She had spruced herself up since the Skype call. But a change of clothes and a fresh layer of make-up hadn’t done much to cover the bruising.

  Stedman stretched out his arm, but the love-fest looked like it was going to be short-lived.

  ‘Babe, thank God, I’ve been—’

  ‘Don’t come near me, asshole!’

  ‘Babe, please keep it down. Listen, I can—’

  She did quieten down. She leaned as close to Stedman’s face as she had to mine last night. ‘I don’t want to listen. Not to you. Not ever again.’

  Stedman was too concerned with his own self-justification to sense what had changed and what now had to happen. ‘I’m not the arsehole. Check out your shit-for-brains cousin. He forgot to tell you someone’s already got the place sewn up. All this shit is his fucking fault. We could have been killed back there.’

  They could sort this on their own time. Or not. I moved alongside them. ‘Where are they? You know?’

  She treated me to the same death stare she’d given Stedman. Then her eyes filled. She was becoming human again.

  So was he. ‘Babe, you all right?’

  After being completely wrapped up in his own defensive position, Stedman had finally noticed the marks and discovered he really was an arsehole.

  ‘What did they do to you?’

  ‘What do you think?’ She fought it, but the tears started to fall.

  Stedman wrapped his arms around her and Leila hugged him back. No matter how pissed off she was with him, she couldn’t resist the comfort.

  I made eye contact. ‘There’re no flights yet – it’s too early. We need to get off the street. Let’s all go to my room.’

  As I turned and made for the revolving door, two Toyota SUVs with flashing yellow roof lights and blue bear decals on virtually every panel sped past and disappeared down the service road.

  Jules chose that moment to emerge from the hotel, talking animatedly into her mobile. She killed the call when she caught sight of the two of them embracing. Her eyes widened at the sight of Leila’s bruises, then the mess Khorek’s floor had made of Sven’s onesie. Her mouth did too – until she made the very sensible decision not to ask any questions. She gestured at Stedman. ‘I’ve been trying to find him. The rest of them are out training. Gabriel’s got problems with his prosthetic.’ She studied the pair once more. I didn’t see much in the way of sympathy.

  Two foghorns blasted from somewhere along the service road. She turned back to me, unaffected by the noise. They’d been here too long. ‘Did he make the deal? They need to know what’s happening.’

  ‘Gabriel OK?’ One of us would give her the bad news soon, but she’d have to earn it.

  She swung instantly into doctor speak. ‘The socket on his prosthetic isn’t a great match, so he gets chafing. The chafing makes his stump swell. Most of the time, he puts up with it. That’s the problem with all of them. They won’t let on they’re in pain until it fells them. They think their own sheer bloody-mindedness is going to keep everything moving. I—’

  ‘Yeah, he’s in pain. Can it be sorted later?’

  There wasn’t time for the full BUPA-funded consultation. All I needed to know was that he wasn’t lying there with blood spurting all over the shop.

  ‘Well, yes, but I want to see for myself. If they’re going to—’

  ‘Where are they training?’

  ‘Just outside town. I’m on my way there now. The weather is closing in and they could do with the experience. If, of course, they are going. Did he make the deal?’

  ‘Good. I need to see Jack. Will you take us, once this lot’s sorted? Won’t be long.’

  It had better not be. My thoughts were still very much focused on Watch Man. Jules sensed the worst and turned to Leila: maybe she could get some sense out of her. There was no way she was about to say anything useful to Stedman.

  ‘Leila, do you know if—’

  ‘Fuck off,’ Leila spat, before Jules could finish.

  Stedman made a last futile attempt at a kiss. Maybe it was to soothe her, maybe it was an attempt at making up. Either way, it wasn’t welcome.

  ‘Fuck off, all of you. I’m done here. I’m going home.’

  Stedman tried to hold onto her but she shrugged off his hand.

  Jules realized that this particular patient was going downhill fast. ‘What’s happening, Nick? Tell me! Look at the state of her. I’m getting really concerned. Are the team going?’

  ‘He fucked up. The deal didn’t happen. Wait here.’

  I left Jules at the top of the steps and grabbed Stedman by his empty sleeve. ‘Mate, she’s not interested. Let her go. It’s safer for her. Remember, we’ve still got a problem.’

  I loosened my grip and moved away, back to Jules, as Leila’s cab left the rank.

  Jules was visibly upset, and that probably didn’t happen often. But she couldn’t give a fuck about these two. ‘What are we going to do now? They’ll be heartbroken. All this time, waiting, hoping …’ She dug around for her mobile.

  I jumped in before she could fuck the situation up even more. ‘Wait, not yet. It might not be over. I may have a way of getting the trip back on line – without Stedman.’

  She wasn’t convinced.

  ‘Jules, just hold the call. Give me a minute to sort him out and then I’ll explain. I’ll meet you in the lobby. They – you – need to know what’s going on, because it could affect you all. I’m not bullshitting, it’s serious, but there could be some good news here.’

  It wasn’t met with the smile of relief I was hoping for.

  ‘No Stedman?’

  Still nothing.

  ‘See you in a minute, yeah?’ I twisted the mobile out of her hand and bounced down the steps. I needed to get this fucker under control first.

  Jules turned back to the lobby. The expression on her face said she was trying to work out precisely what to say to me about ripping her mobile out of her hand. She didn’t seem able to find the words yet. But she would. That was what doctors did.

  I tugged at Stedman’s empty sleeve once more. ‘Let’s move. Nothing’s changed. We’ve still got to get out. Grab your passport and check out. Anything that doesn’t fit in a carry-on, just leave in your room.’

  We reached the door.

  ‘If the room is fucked up, sort it the best you can.’

  We filed into the lobby and I led him straight to the lifts. ‘I’ll meet you down here in fifteen, ready to move.’

  Jules was waiting by Reception. I gave h
er the mobile back. It was the closest I could come to a peace-offering. She still didn’t smile.

  ‘Right, here’s what happened. But when you explain to them, do not exaggerate, and at the same time don’t understate. OK?’

  ‘Don’t patronize me. Just tell me, for God’s sake.’

  Fair one. It was patronizing. But some people couldn’t stop themselves corrupting information they’d been given to pass on. I should have been making the call myself but I didn’t have time.

  We walked to the side of the lift shaft and I explained everything: why the deal hadn’t happened, why Leila’s face was fucked up, why the team might be in danger, and why Stedman and I were now leaving the island.

  Jules took in everything, hanging onto the glimmer of hope I gave her that the trip could still be on.

  ‘OK, Nick. Give me a couple of seconds.’ She sucked it all in and composed herself. ‘So, what now?’

  ‘Make the call. I’ve got to make one myself. And tuck yourself into a corner, out of plain view, in case the Barentsburg crew come looking for me and Stedman … and maybe make a connection with you from last night.’

  38

  I sat by the window in my room to get a signal on the sat phone, and cut away from Cauldwell’s mobile as it went into message mode for the second time since I’d been in the hotel.

  I fished the bit of paper with Rune’s sat phone number out of my neck wallet and checked every car that pulled up outside as I dialled.

  The yogurt-commercial voice clicked in so quickly it took me a moment to ping that it wasn’t a recorded message. I heard the wind blasting his handset. ‘Mate, Nick Stone.’

  ‘Ah, thank the goodness. I’ve been desperate to speak with you. I should have taken your number. I can’t get hold of Mr Cauldwell.’

  ‘No problem, we got each other now. Listen, can we meet at your place?’

  ‘Not possible, sadly. We are in Barneo. Mr Cauldwell said you come yesterday. Where is the delay?’

  ‘No worries.’ I tried to sound upbeat. ‘The team are almost ready to join you.’

  Rune gave me the Scandi version of a laugh. At least I’d made someone happy today.

  ‘Thank you. We cannot go from here without you guys. Is there a problem? Can I help?’

  ‘No, mate, it’s all good. All sorted.’

  ‘You must come, soon as you can. We cannot move without.’

  I couldn’t see why. But whatever it was that the team was supposed to be able to supply, this show needed to get on the road. ‘Great. How do they get there? You have the tickets? You need names, that sort of thing?’

  There was an awkward pause. Then: ‘I thought Mr Cauldwell had organized … Sorry, I … A little confused. You need to buy them there. Maybe Mr Cauldwell can help. But is very important you hurry – we have a short window. The weather comes up from south. If flights cannot see the runway, there is no flying. I told Mr Cauldwell, he needs to get everyone here very soon.’

  ‘What about kit? We haven’t—’

  ‘Nick, everything you need is here. Mr Cauldwell asked us to freight everything with us. You come with clothes, boots. You all need spare bindings, do not forget. On the ice, there are no ski stores.’ It must have been an ice-people joke. He liked that one.

  ‘OK, got it. I have two things for you. One, I’m dropping out.’

  Rune went up an octave. ‘But, Nick, we need you. That’s what Mr Cauldwell brought you in for. You got to—’

  ‘Mate, listen to me.’ I gave him a second to come back down. ‘Make sure the team think I’m now sponsoring the trip. It’s the only way I’m going to get them on board.’

  Rune just wanted the team there. ‘Sure, Nick, whatever we need to do, right? That father–son problem they have. We can help smooth that over.’

  ‘I’ll confirm our ETA in the next—’

  ‘I must know in two hours.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Also, please, no mention of what I’m about, or Armancore. Mr Cauldwell wouldn’t like that. Please remember.’

  I closed down the call, picked up my day sack and went back down to the lobby. Jules, mobile in hand, was scanning the area, doing what I’d asked her to do.

  She jumped to her feet. Impatience was taking over. But I wasn’t there to answer questions, I was there to get things done. ‘You talk to Jack?’

  She shook her head. ‘Just Will.’

  ‘How did he take it?’

  She looked at me like I’d landed from outer space. ‘How do you think? And how would you expect all of them to take it? Come on, for God’s sake, Nick.’

  I was going to have to grip her. ‘Listen, this situation is nothing to do with me. I’m still here, and I’m trying to rectify the fucking problem. So just take a breath. Please.’

  She got it. She took a breath. ‘Will … of course he’s worried. He’s worried about the trip, he’s worried about the situation we’re in, but he’s more worried about me.’

  I’d already thought about that. ‘It’s not a problem. You can fly out this morning with me and Stedman. Once you’re off the island, he can calm down.’

  She wasn’t mollified. ‘But Will? The team? I don’t want to just—’

  I held up my hand. ‘They’ll have to move quickly. There’s no time for more practice – they need to get out there and do it.’

  Her face lit up. ‘Nick, that’s so good to hear. But—’

  I put up a hand. ‘Stop. I’ll explain it all soon. ‘The kit’s already at Barneo. It’s all there, waiting for them. I’ll go and get Stedman. You need to call Will again, tell him they should pack their personal kit, boots and spare bindings for a move today.’

  The on switch had been thrown in the bit of her head that was marked Action. ‘On it. I’ll bring the minibus to the front and wait.’ She was already hitting the mobile keys with her thumb.

  ‘Jules?’

  She looked up. Her expression said she was back in the operating theatre.

  ‘Be careful. Outside. Be aware. OK?’

  She nodded, but her eyes had gone back to the keys.

  ‘Make sure they remember the bindings. There are no ski stores where they’re going.’

  She didn’t smile. It was almost like she’d heard it before.

  I headed for the lift, but spotted Stedman at the desk, checking out. I sat by the front window and waited for him, watching for the VW to roll up and to make sure nobody wanted to fuck around with it out there in the cold.

  Stedman joined me, gripping a heavy North Face bag. ‘You got your passport?’ I wasn’t going to let him put us through the same pantomime all over again.

  He couldn’t tap his pockets to emphasize the point because his hand was full of hold-all. ‘Yeah. Really.’

  ‘The room?’

  His face clouded. ‘The room is a bit … fucked up. There’s no blood. We’re in good shape.’

  ‘What about the rest of your clothes, and hers? She leave any?’

  He shook his head. ‘Leila tends to hang onto everything she can lay her hands on. Except men, obviously. My clothes are in laundry bags. I dumped them in the service area.’

  He didn’t bother to conceal how pleased he was with himself. At last he’d done something right.

  Jules arrived outside and took up the middle third of the taxi rank, making it very clear she wasn’t moving for anyone.

  It was probably the last time I was going to be alone with Stedman. ‘Remember, you’re in the shit with these people. You’re in the shit with everyone, for that matter. Let’s just sort this out and then you can put some distance between yourself and whatever might be coming your way.’

  I stood up, grabbed my day sack and checked the set-up outside one more time. ‘Let’s go.’

  We pushed our way through the revolving doors and down the steps. I shoved Stedman into the back of the VW, behind the passenger seat. He was pressed up against Jules’s medical bag, but at least he was out of the way.

  I climbed in beside her as sh
e put the minibus in gear. ‘You get hold of Will?’

  She was paying more attention to the indicator and the rear-view than to me. ‘They’re packing.’ She swung the wheel and put her foot down.

  39

  I kept an eye on Stedman in my wing mirror. He was staring aimlessly again, the side of his forehead pressed against the glass behind me. His head rocked from side to side as the VW pulled away. He was shutting up, like I’d asked him to, but not because he was being compliant.

  I talked to him over my shoulder, but didn’t look back. It was a habit I was trying to break. ‘Mate, you’ve got to get past all this shit. She’s still breathing, you’re still breathing, so you’re both still winning. You’ve got to keep thinking that, OK?’

  He didn’t even blink.

  Jules glanced away from the road. ‘Is it really going to happen?

  ‘If Jack will let it. And if he’s not too fucked up by their fond farewell.’ I tilted my head in the direction of her best mate in the back, who was still busy staring out of the window at nothing. ‘Him stepping away is good for you and the team, right?’

  She gave me a don’t-fuck-with-me look, then swapped it for something softer now that she was daring to believe Will might actually get what he needed. ‘Look, I’m not sure how you came to be here, but … I’ve seen a lot of loss, Nick. A lot. And I know two things. One, we all feel responsible for what happens to our loved ones, even in a war. And two, talking’s better than silence. We have to mourn. We have to take the internal experience of grief and express it outside ourselves. If you hold it in indefinitely, there will be consequences.

  ‘It’s a military thing, Nick, to grieve without properly mourning. But I guess you don’t need me to tell you that.’

  She glanced in the rear-view. Even though she was in lecture mode, she was taking my warning seriously.

  ‘Instead of being encouraged to express their grief outwardly, and come to terms with bad things they’re not necessarily responsible for, soldiers are told, “Get a grip,” and “Crack on.” Really helpful stuff like that. They often end up grieving deep within themselves, in isolation, instead of mourning outside. They can’t find a way to get past the pain and move on.’