Dying For LA by Ian Jones (top fiction books of all time .txt) 📕

Reed nodded his agreement grimly.

Keane at least looked ashamed.

‘I never meant for Kyle to get killed. I never wanted any of you hurt, I swear. But these guys, they are like a machine and once they get going there is no stopping them.’

‘Name them. Who are they?’

‘1-Too. Of course. You already knew that. But you caused them a lot of problems that’s why you gotta watch out. What went down in the subway caught everybody out, they want to know who the hell you are. And I can’t tell them anything. So I do too, who are you?’

John ignored the question; this wasn’t about him and he didn’t want Keane to know anything anyway.

‘What can you tell us about Pinsky? Why did he suddenly get involved?’ Reed asked.

‘I got no idea. He came out of the blue, I never heard of him before. All I know is that what they believed was gonna be easy has all gone to shit and there is some kind of problem with them running out of time. I meant it; I got no idea of anybody’s names. I guess there is a bunch of guys pulling the strings but Pinsky? I don’t know who the hell he is working for. And before you ask I don’t know where he is neither.’

At that point the mobile phone on the floor started to buzz. Keane strained to see who was calling but Reed swept it up and held it to the bars.

‘Important call right Ron?’

Keane stared at him.

‘You just don’t understand what you are doing Tom. You two got no idea who you are fucking with. Let me speak to them, I can calm it down. I can buy you some time to get away. If you don’t listen to me then it’s gonna be you next.’

Reed threw the phone over to John who stuck it in his pocket.

‘I think we’ll take the chance.’

Chapter Thirty-Five

They were back at the yard, unfortunately. Leo instructed them all to work on stripping and cleaning the guns, so that is what they were doing, pointlessly In Rico’s opinion as they were well maintained anyway.

But they did, because Leo asked, and because they were afraid of him, and took their time. Each man intent on avoiding any even minor error that could bring another burst of fury to their door.

Despite his brash exterior Leo was becoming increasingly anxious, it was clear. He was constantly staring at his mobile phone and seemed to be getting more and more frustrated as the hours passed. Rico guessed he was waiting for something but had no idea what it could be.

The hours passed. Finally, he exploded, first kicking and kicking at Yann’s lifeless sheet-covered body then picking up the office chair he had been killed in and hurling it out of the window in an explosion of shattered glass. The others sat watching, waiting. Leo whirled around, itching for some reaction but the four men just looked at him. Not one of them would even speak, let alone try to restrain him.

He stood there, breathing hard in and out, cheeks red which made the scarring look even worse. He pulled out a Makarov pistol and then started firing out the broken window. The others had no idea what he was shooting at. Leo emptied the clip, ejected it and snapped in another.

Rico looked at Sal.

The guns were in two large trunks, all the ammunition was in another which was open, but placed toward the centre of the room. There was no chance of getting any without Leo spotting it.

But they had the Glock.

Sal looked back then nodded upward, slowly.

‘Wait,’ mouthed Rico, while Leo’s attention was out the window.

But as abruptly as the burst of anger started, it ended. Leo shot a couple from the new clip then stopped, raised the gun up and put it back into his jacket pocket.

‘That’ll be hot,’ Rico thought absentmindedly as he waited for whatever onslaught came next.

But there was nothing.

Instead Leo walked over and grabbed a gun, an M16 that Rolf had been cleaning. He inspected it, worked the action a couple of times and then satisfied, handed it back.

‘Beer,’ he said.

‘Er … pardon?’ asked Sal, even more confused.

‘Beer. We need to have a beer. Just one. Well, maybe two but no more. Sitting in this … whatever it is …. Is no good. We go. Have a beer. While I wait for phone call.’

Rico snapped the AK-47 he had been working on back together and stood up.

‘Great idea.’

The others all got to their feet. For the first time since Leo arrived they were smiling. Leo noticed this and smiled back.

‘Yes, beer is good idea. Is there bar here?’

‘In the mall but it ain’t great. There’s a hotel down the street,’ Sal told him. ‘We never went in there but they probably got a bar.’’

‘Then let’s go. Is not far?’

‘No, not far at all. Just the other side of the street where we had breakfast.’

‘Then we walk. We do not want to be arrested. For driving drunk no!’

Leo laughed out loud. The others joined in, forced but it felt good, the tension draining.

‘Right! I follow you!’

Leo grandly swept an open hand toward the stairs and they set off. Sal suddenly stopped.

‘Leo, I got some money upstairs. I’d like to buy everyone a beer. You know, new beginnings and all.’

‘Fine. Is kind to offer. Thank you. But be quick.’

Sal ran off upstairs.

Rico watched him go, admiration growing for his friend. He knew exactly what Sal would be getting from upstairs and he was very glad to see it. He was happy to have a beer, but then they would be back here again and things were getting rapidly more unpredictable as every second passed.

***

Major Turner sat and listened carefully, occasionally making a note on a pad in front of him but keeping quiet, taking in every word.

They were in the OC having eaten lunch, and then taken a table on their own to the side.

Turner nodded