Most Wanted (2005)

Chapter Three: Life Catches Up

Days passed slowly, the weight of impending changes heavy on the Hind family. Life in Corby seemed to move in fits and starts, with moments of intense pressure followed by stretches of mundane routine. But underneath it all, things were shifting, each member of the family navigating their own paths, even as they remained tangled in one another’s lives.

It was just after three in the morning when Ray silently slipped out of bed. Elaine lay beside him, her breathing steady, unaware as he pulled on his clothes and made his way downstairs. The house was quiet, save for the creak of the floorboards as Ray moved towards the door. He picked up a burner phone from the sideboard, slipping it into his pocket before heading outside into the chilly early morning air.

The drive to the meeting point was familiar, his mind running through the details of the conversation to come. The industrial estate was dark, the only light coming from a distant streetlamp. Ray parked his car behind a row of abandoned warehouses, stepping out into the cold.

In the shadows, his brother Ernie stood waiting. Ernie wasn’t just family—he was a police sergeant, and while his badge might’ve signalled one thing, his actions told another story. Crooked, calculating, but still Ray’s brother.

“You’re late,” Ernie said, stepping forward from the darkness, his breath forming small clouds in the cold air.

Ray shrugged. “I’m here, aren’t I?”

They stood for a moment in silence, the tension palpable between them. Finally, Ernie handed Ray a folded piece of paper. “These are the ones. Fresh out of the system. Some of them you’ll know, some are new. Your call on who’s worth it.”

Ray unfolded the paper, scanning the names. They were mostly low-level criminals, but there were a few heavy hitters mixed in—people who might be useful for the new challenges ahead. He nodded, tucking the list into his jacket pocket. “Good list. Thanks.”

Ernie sighed, leaning against the wall. “It’s getting harder to keep things quiet, Ray. The lads in the station are starting to sniff around. I can’t keep covering for you forever.”

Ray glanced at his brother, his jaw tightening. “I know. But I need you now, more than ever. Chris is pulling out, and with these new crews coming into town, I’ve got to shore up the ranks. You’re the only one I can trust.”

Ernie let out a hollow laugh. “Trust. Right.” He rubbed his face with his hands, then looked at Ray with a rare softness. “You ever think about just packing it all in? Just… walking away?”

Ray didn’t answer immediately. He lit a cigarette, the smoke curling up into the cold night air. “Sometimes. But I can’t. Too deep in now.”

They stood in silence again, the distant hum of the town barely reaching them. Despite the tension, there was an unspoken bond between them—a sense of shared history, of growing up together in the same streets, even if their paths had diverged.

“How’s the family?” Ernie asked, his tone softer now.

“They’re alright,” Ray replied, his voice quiet. “Lee’s doing well with the football. Might make something of himself.”

Ernie smiled slightly. “Good lad. You should be proud.”

“I am. But it’s hard, you know? He doesn’t see it that way. Thinks I’ve never supported him.”

Ernie clapped a hand on Ray’s shoulder, squeezing it firmly. “We all make our choices, Ray. Doesn’t mean you don’t care.”

Ray took a final drag on his cigarette before flicking it away. “Yeah. Maybe you’re right.”