Costa Crew 3: Make or Break

Chapter 15 - Where Your Loyalties Lie

"That should be Ted and Lisa," Becky whispered as she heard a knock on the door. "Either that or Amelia's found me."

"I hardly think Amelia would knock on the door," Alex pointed out.

"Identify!" John shouted.

"Ted, ask away," came the response.

"Why did I call you an idiot when we played Resistance?" asked Becky.

"Because I voted with the wrong card," replied Ted.

John went to open the door and Becky put her arm out to stop him. "Don't. That's wrong. Something's up."

Paul, Charlotte, Hannah and Alex all aimed their guns at the door. "Becky, get behind me," ordered Paul.

Becky took a step back as Alex quickly opened the door. Ted and Lisa rushed in. "What's wrong?" asked Paul.

Ted gestured behind him. "Don't let him out of your sight."

Paul frowned as Raymond Drake stepped into the safehouse, hands raised. "Now," he began. "Let's talk about this, sir."

***

"So," Amelia said dramatically. "You must be Agent Holland."

Lindsey stared directly at Amelia, her expression unreadable. The last thing she remembered was Connelly marching her out of the prison at gunpoint, into an unmarked van. Then he must have knocked her out, because the next thing she knew she was waking up in what had probably been a storeroom, but was now completely destroyed. The only thing still intact was the chair that she sat cuffed to.

Connelly stepped back as Amelia walked forward to face Lindsey. "I hear John Goodman sent you to keep an eye on me?" she continued. "That's low, even for him. Good thing Ewan found your sneaky little phone."

"If you're going to kill me, please just do it," Lindsey muttered. "I can't stand all those 'look at me and my evil plan' speeches."

Amelia shook her head. "We're not finished with you yet. I have a few questions regarding the whereabouts of Rebecca Hidgens."

Lindsey simply stared straight forward. Amelia sighed. "Come on, Lindsey, don't make me do this the hard way. Just tell me where Hidgens is and you can go."

"Hard pass," replied Lindsey.

"Last chance," Amelia snarled. "Don't try to be noble. Tell me where Rebecca Hidgens is hiding or I'll make sure you suffer for it."

"Do your worst," Lindsey said coldly.

Amelia smirked slyly. "Oh, I'm glad you said that," she laughed. "I'm really glad you said that."

She strutted to stand beside Lindsey before bending down so that they were eye level. "I know we don't know each other personally," she hissed. "But you're an MI5 Agent. And I've yet to meet one of them who hasn't pissed me off. So I know you deserve what's coming to you."

Amelia wrapped her arm round Lindsey's throat, unable to help the buzz she felt as she watched Lindsey begin to struggle. "This can end whenever you like," she whispered softly. "Just tell me where Hidgens is and it'll all be over."

Lindsey didn't say a word. "Right then," said Amelia. "Let's keep going."

***

"You'd better have a bloody good reason for being here," Paul snapped, not lowering his gun.

Drake raised an eyebrow. "First of all, I do. Second, you're one to talk. You're the one harbouring a fugitive."

He stared directly at Becky, who stepped forward. "If you're here to take me back to prison, at least listen to what I have to say first."

"I don't have time for that," Drake replied. "I know you're innocent. You see, Amelia Murphy-"

"Is alive," finished Paul. "How the hell did you figure that out?"

Drake frowned. "I figured it out when she threatened to blow my brains out if I didn't do what she told me. How the hell did you figure it out?"

"Detective work," replied Becky with a shrug. "So you've actually seen Amelia?"

Drake nodded. "She wants you dead, Miss Hidgens. Badly. I've to arrest you then call her. God knows what she's planned for after that."

"So you're here to take me back," Becky sighed. "Even though you know I'm innocent."

Drake shook his head. "I came to warn you. And...to help. However I can."

"You should know by now that I don't trust you one bit," snapped Paul.

"I don't blame you," Drake sighed. "I've been an idiot. But I take my job seriously. Sometimes too seriously. And I've been doing that recently. I should have reached out to you earlier, because frankly I'm clueless on the Curt Hidgens case. And I know Murphy couldn't have managed all of this without associates in the police."

"Drake, are you feeling okay?" asked Charlotte.

"Something DS Green said," Drake admitted. "About doing your job being more important than the rank you do it at. That's something I need to remember in future. Hunt's more concerned with public image than with actual justice. That wasn't what I signed up for. But it's what I ended up becoming."

Paul finally lowered his gun. Charlotte, Hannah and Alex followed suit. Drake lowered his hands and gave a sigh of relief. "I've had enough people holding guns to my head for the time being."

***

"All right," Lindsey managed to say, coughing up blood. "I'll talk."

Amelia smirked triumphantly as she passed the knife, now dripping with blood, back to Connelly. "I'm listening."

Lindsey spent a few more seconds coughing before she was finally able to speak. "You know she'll beat you. If she doesn't want to be found, you won't find her. Because she's not alone. She's part of a team of people who trust and care for each other, and have each other's backs. People who would lay down their lives for each other. You push away everyone who cares about you. And that's why you'll lose, in the end."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Good, you got that out of your system. Now, tell me where Hidgens is."

"I said I'd talk," spat Lindsey, every word a struggle. "I talked."

"You're on thin ice," snarled Amelia, grabbing the knife from Connelly. "The next words to come out of your mouth had better be an address."

"Weren't you listening to that bit about laying down our lives?" Lindsey coughed. "I'd rather die."

Amelia's fists tightened and her scowl hardened. "So be it," she snarled, driving the knife straight through Lindsey's heart.

Connelly recoiled at the sight of Lindsey's slumped over body. Amelia turned to him, hands covered in blood, still holding the knife. "I'm sorry, I know you're more of a behind the scenes person. It's just that Anthony's in Glasgow doing a job right now, otherwise I'd have him help me out. He'll be sad he missed this, he loves this kind of thing."

Connelly shook his head. "It's fine. Just… a shame you didn't find out where Hidgens is."

Before Amelia could answer, her phone vibrated. As she pulled it out of her pocket and saw the notification, her eyes lit up and her face split into a broad grin. "Oh, this is a good day," she laughed. "This is one glorious day."

RAYMOND DRAKE
1 NEW MESSAGE
I'VE FOUND HIDGENS.