Deceit. [COMPLETED.]

Chapter 59

"The next level."
[TINA LAROCHE]

'Hi.'

Tina Laroche saw the number on her phone. She knew instinctively who it was and more to the point what the phone call was about.

The conversation was short but succinct.

'He's gone upstairs to talk to her.'

Tina sat on the bed of her hotel room listening to her friend's anguish.

Her mood swings had always been a constant heartache to her. One minute her friend was up and there was genuine hope for the future and then the next minute her friend's mood would plummet like an avalanche tumbling down the mountainside at breakneck speed.

'What did he say?' she asked.

'Nothing. He made an excuse and left but he's just told me that he's been talking to a detective.'

There was real bitterness in her friends voice.

'Apparently he's been hired by an insurance company. He is looking into the Namuesis. He says he has a contact in the office. I've just phoned Uri. I think we've got no choice. We are going to have to move up to the next level. Uri is going to move Adam tonight and then we are going to get Kirk out of here.'

Tina's heart skipped a beat.

Her friend's plan was actually going to go ahead. It was strange but she never actually thought it would until now.

Part of her was glad of course. Part of her knew that what they were doing was wrong on so many levels but what price do you place on a person's happiness. Especially when it was someone you cared about.

'I've e-mailed you some photos. You will need to hand them to his wife no later than tomorrow morning. Can you do that?'

Tina said that she could. She then told her friend that everything was set. That she had made contact with the little girl and that for her part, what she had been asked to do shouldn't be a problem.

'Then you are still with me?'

'Yes. After everything you have done for me I can't say no can I?'

'Do you want to?'

Tina hesitated. There really would be no turning back once the next part of the plan was activated. She, as well as her friend would be a wanted person. It would mean leaving everything behind and starting again in a different country.

'Because if you do,' said her friend. 'then tell me now. I need to know so I can get someone else.'

Her friend could be cutting at times. But it was her heart. It had grown cold over the years but no, she couldn't back down now. Not after everything they had both gone through. Tina owed her friend her life. She owed her at least a chance of making a future away from all the pain and suffering.

And then a question suddenly appeared that needed asking. Not just for her friend's sake but for Tina's.

'So do you love him?'

There was a pause filled by the static on the line.

'I don't know. I can't think straight. He's just left me sitting here. I thought I did. I thought we had something. Small maybe. A spark. But he's gone to her. He hasn't come back. I don't know. Maybe.'

Another silence and then.

'I just know that you have to be ready. I need to know that I can rely on you. It's different. Uri has changed. I need to know I can trust you. You need to be by your phone day and night in case I have to contact you. Things are fluid and we might have to move quickly.'

Another pause and then.

'I'm scared Tina. For both of us. We might have to go somewhere else, somewhere different. Somewhere where they can't find us.'

Tina's heart rate increased but not to the point of panic. She didn't do panic. That was why she was so good where she worked. Doctors could always rely on her.

But this was the first time she had ever heard her friend say that she was scared, another indication that things were coming to an end.

Tina reassured her down the phone that everything would be alright and that she was poised, waiting to be told when to move. She had already taken time off work. In fact she had already cleared out her apartment of everything that could ever be traced back to her and she was already in England sat here in a second rate hotel only a short distance drive away from where the Attwood's lived.

She also had all the necessary documents. They were good forgeries. No one would know.

She then listened patiently to how the new plan might work. It meant new possible timings to remember. A different airport to use. It also meant a change of scenery but it wasn't asking for much.

And it now meant buying a gun.

She was sure of that now. But she knew people. It wouldn't be hard to have one sent to a train station. She would collect it later. Her friend would pay.

As the call ended she couldn't help but look up to the ceiling and at a cobweb in the corner. There was no spider. Maybe he was already dead.

It drew a sigh.

Death to her was just a passage to another world. If she died tomorrow then at least she would be able to see her boy again.

She shut her eyes. She drew in a lungful of air. She breathed out slowly as she offered a silent prayer.

'Please God, oh merciful father forgive me for what I am about to do, forgive me for those I might have to kill and please Lord let my dear friend Jenny Stamford finally find the peace that she has been looking for.'

And after her prayer Tina Laroche then made a call to get a gun she now knew was inevitable that she might have to use.

+ + + + + + + + +

Wow! So the stakes could not be higher.

We are now here at that pivotal moment where anything is possible.

It all depends on what Kirk does next.

Or is this still outside of his control?

As always your comments make my day :)

Thank you all for getting this far x

Take care.
JU