Alan felt he had drawn the long straw. The simple solution
was for all three to travel to Bristol together, but that made getting away
from the Jackson group more difficult. Travelling in two cars ensured that at
least one of the cars could get away. It also meant Alan had to drive one of
them - only he was insured to drive his - and he didn't know the area they were
headed for. Consequently he was travelling with Karen and determined to enjoy
every single minute of the experience. Karen, however, felt she had drawn a
very short straw indeed.
As all three crossed the main road to the car park they
noticed that Sam Jackson and the other two men responded by also crossing. The
short man, the one who had had his mobile phone more or less welded to his ear
since leaving the Council Hall snapped it shut and pushed it deep into his
jacket pocket. Alan noticed that the young ginger haired man clutched his left
side as he jogged across the road, dodging traffic. The thought crossed Alan's
mind that it was unusual for someone so young and fit looking to get a stitch
that easily.
As Alan and Karen belted up in his car he nodded to Karen.
'You were right, they’re all in one car, that's got to
help,' he said, watching the three men close the saloon car's doors.
'As long as they are the only ones here. For all we know
they may have other people waiting in the car park,' Karen replied, the
nervousness edging in her voice.
'Maybe, lets see if we can't even up the odds then,' said
Alan with a smile. He looked in his rear view mirror and saw that Jack was ready
to move, his exhaust belching a combination of diesel fumes and cool condensing
moisture from the atmosphere. Alan watched as Jack pulled away, encircling both
his and the car enclosing Sam Jackson, as if taunting the doctor. As Jack
approached the exit lane Alan engaged first gear and followed closely behind.
Karen, spinning in her seat, reported that the doctor's car had joined the fray
and was closing. At the exit they watched as Jack leaned out of the driver's
door window, speaking briefly to the attendant while passing the parking fee to
him, then driving off, turning left once he had cleared the raised steel
barrier.
With deliberation, Alan moved unhurriedly towards the
barrier, now returned to the lowered position. As he wound down the window the
attendant approached, flashing out his leather pouch, rattling loose change
with his left hand.
'Two pounds fifty, mate,' he said, rolling a ticket off an
antiquated machine. Alan smiled, not attempting to offer any money now he was
effectively blocking the exit. Jack's car disappeared around a bend several
hundred yards away.
'No problem. Look, I was wondering if you could help us.
The driver of the car behind is my sister's ex,' he said, flicking absently
towards Karen, 'he's being a bit of a pain, trying to track her and the kids
down, despite the court order. Flamin' police are no use either, never take any
notice,' he continued, pulling a ten pound note out of his wallet, 'so I was
wondering if you could delay him through the barrier for a couple of minutes so
that we can get away and not reveal where she’s staying now. You can keep the
change, if you like,' he concluded. The attendant smiled.
'Just leave it to me, mate. My cousin had a husband like
that, violent an' all. Kept tracking 'er down, makin' 'er come back to 'im for
more. Bloody tragic it is. Here, take your change. This'll be my pleasure
mate,' he replied, handing Alan a note and some loose coins before raising the
barrier.
Alan pulled out and quickly found a break in the traffic.
In his rear view mirror he saw the attendant fulfilling his promise,
deliberating every action.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright Ray Sullivan 2011
The characters, places and events described in this novel are fictitious and any resemblance to persons, places or events, past or present, is coincidence. All rights reserved
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