‘You’ll turn Queen’s evidence?’
‘I dunno.’
‘It’s a two-way street.’
‘He’ll get round it. You’ll never get him to court. He’ll drop out of sight in Europe. Then, what about me? If there’s no trial?’
She tried to reassure him, ‘With your testimony and stuff we’ve got from Harper, we’ve a strong case. We know where Sulikov is. But we need to move quickly.’ A sudden swirl of unfairness caught hold of her. She was scared and sick of him threatening her. He wanted to deal – he could do it her way. ‘And absolutely nothing happens until you move that bloody gun. Do you know how hard it is to even think straight with you pointing that thing at me?’
‘How do I know you’re gonna do what you say?’
‘You don’t. But I’m being straight with you. You give us the information we need on Sulikov and we’ll get you into witness protection. As long as it all adds up.’
He lowered the gun. ‘What now?’
She felt like weeping. She cleared her throat, the sound was strange in her ears. ‘Now I take you in.’ She pressed her hands to her face, trying to calm herself. She rubbed at her forehead, rolled back her shoulders.
Movement caught her eye. On the horizon, where they had entered the field, a string of police cars appeared in view and among them Richard’s car. Oh, bloody Nora, Janine thought. It’s Thelma and Louise.
‘It’s a set-up!’ Stone screamed and raised the gun again.
‘No,’ Janine insisted. ‘Let me talk to them. I’ll send them away.’
‘You conned me!’
‘No! Lee, I didn’t, you’ve got to believe me. I’ll tell them.’ Without waiting for permission she switched on the police radio, activated the amplifier and spoke into the handset, ‘Richard, back off! Back off now! Get them all out of here.’
The line crackled then Richard’s voice. ‘Are you OK, Janine? Are you hurt?’
‘Never better.’ Her sarcasm felt white hot. ‘Lee Stone is coming in. But only if you get rid of the bloody cavalry.’
‘Are you sure you’re not hurt? We’ve had reports of gunfire.’
Listen to me, you fool, she thought. ‘Ten out of ten, Richard! And I’m the one with bloody hearing loss not you. Back off!’ she said clearly, fury tightening every syllable. ‘Back off. Now! We do not need an escort. Mr Stone will require legal services and complete protection. We will be treating him as a valuable witness. Now clear the area. That’s not a suggestion, that’s a bloody order!’
Seconds passed and then Richard replied. ‘Understood. You’ll follow us back?’
