Page 160 of Everything That Kills Me
“No. If you’re on your way, turn around.”
“No.”
“It’s a trap!”
“Then we’ll be ready. Any idea who?”
Thomas sighed. “The Craddock job? The guy who didn’t make the kill. I wondered.”
“Okay. Go with the plan.” Jack ended the call.
“So?” Zeph asked. “Is it a trap?”
“Yes.”
Zeph audibly gulped. “Thomas wants us to turn round.”
“We’re not going to, but I’ll leave you in a motorway service station and drive on alone.”
“You said you wouldn’t ever leave me again.”
“Yes, but—”
“So there was always going to be abut?” Zeph snapped.
“This is different. You’ll be in danger.”
“You’re not leaving me behind. Anyway, it’s probably too late.”
“What do you mean?”
“Whoever is luring you to Thomas’s is either following us or they’re there already, waiting for us to arrive. If I don’t arrive with you, they’ll be suspicious.”
“There’s no one following us.”
Zeph shot him a glance.
Jack shrugged. “Ingrained habit to keep an eye on my surroundings. Nor is there a tracker on the car. I looked for that too.” Along with checking for a bomb but he wouldn’t mention that.
“You’re absolutely certain?” Zeph asked.
“As certain as I can be.”
“So someone wants to kill you and Thomas. What’s the plan?”
Jack didn’t answer.
“Thereisa plan, right?”
“Better that you don’t know. I don’t want you anywhere near the house. If whoever this is catches you, threatens to kill you unless I put my gun down… Makes me shoot Thomas…”
“You have a gun?”
“Thomas will have left one for me. I don’t want you to drive straight there. I want you to drop me off, then go and park in the village next to the church. Empty your backpack onto the back seat and buy canned goods to put inside instead. Go for heavy cans like beans or soups. Tightly pack them. Leave it on the passenger seat against the door. If you see a cast iron pan, buy it. Put it between the bag and the door. Once those items are in the car, wander round. Go for a coffee. Wait for me to contact you. If it’s safe to come to the house, I’ll say 7850. Anything other than that, call the police.”
Zeph went very quiet. There was no way that Jack could risk him being near the house. Hopefully, this wouldn’t take long.
“What are you going to do?” Zeph asked.
