Page 132 of Tell No One
“Me maybe, but not your baby.” Tag glanced at the case.
Delaney would be happy if he never had to look at that rifle again.
By the time they were in their seats, Tag seemed on the verge of collapse. But he didn’t moan or complain. Delaney put him next to the window. Their bags were in the luggage rack immediately behind them, but he’d kept the things he just bought.
“How are you feeling?” Delaney asked.
“You haven’t dumped me yet, so happy.”
Delaney took a foam neck pillow out of the bag and handed it to him. “The seat reclines a little. Try and get some rest.”
Tag put the pillow around his neck and leaned back. “Can you tell me what happened?”
Delaney quietly whispered to him as the train left the station, going over the events of the day. Tag didn’t ask any questions, but smiled when Delaney told him about Rafiq and Ahsan.
“I’m glad for them.”
“You were brilliant,” Delaney said. “I wasn’t.”
“You gave me the vest. That saved me. You couldn’t have known the Frenchman would come up behind to grab another trophy. You stopped the other shots hitting me.”
“But not this one.” Delaney reached towards Tag’s chest but didn’t touch him. He reran what had happened, wondering if there was anything else he could have done. “It was supposed to be Feely’s shot. I was in position to make sure he missed, but the American fired. He didn’t miss and nor did I.”
“Were they shocked?”
“Feely thought I’d hit the American by accident. The American knew I hadn’t. Then when Feely was down as well, they both fell silent. Once I had their rifles out of reach, I cable-tied their arms and legs, then treated their injuries.”
“Nothing life threatening?”
“I had my instructions.”
“I wonder if any of them will talk.”
A steward came to see if they wanted anything to eat. Delaney ordered a meal and a coffee. Tag just asked for water.
“There’s something in that bag for you,” Delaney told him. “Not quite everything you asked for.”
Tag smiled as he took out a Crunchie, Wispa, Flake, Aero, Rolos and a packet of cheese and onion crisps. When he pulled out the plush otter with the cub on its chest, his eyes widened.
“You bought me a soft toy?” he whispered.
“It looked like the otter you made.”
Tag clutched it and turned his face away. “Thank you.”
Delaney could see in the window that Tag was crying. Delaney couldn’t remember the last time he’d cried.
The journey was uneventful. Delaney dozed for a while. They were safe on the train. It wasn’t due to stop, but if it did, Delaney would wake. He still had his gun in his pocket.
When Tag next opened his eyes, the train was slowing down and it was night time, though never truly dark in London. He’d hoped he’d feel better, but he didn’t. Moving was going to be difficult.
“I was just about to wake you,” Delaney said.
“Have you eaten all my chocolate?”
Delaney smiled. “It’s back in the bag. Want me to put the otter in there too?”
Tag handed it over along with the neck pillow. “Was I holding on to the otter?”
