Page 130 of Hold On

“Can I take a look without them spotting me?” Ren asked Marco.

“Maybe. I’m a big guy. Just stand behind me at the door into the bar.”

Ren spoke into the phone. “Did you catch that?”

“Yes.”

“Stay on the line until I see who this is.”

He crept after Marco. One glance told Ren all he needed to know.Fuck.

Back in the the kitchen, Ren slumped on the chair. “Levan is here in the pub with Badri, Eldar and Otar.”

“I’ll try to speed up the team. If they’re eating, maybe the chef can delay the meal.”

“I’ll see what he can do.”

Foster ended the call. Ren gave Marco his phone back.

“Those guys who’ve ordered the meal aren’t the ones who kidnapped me but they all work for the guy in the suit who ordered the kidnap. A police team is on the way to the house. I have to get back inside so they don’t run before my colleagues get here. If you can delay the meal, it would help.”

“I can slow it down. And you could give them a puncture. But don’t tell anyone it was my idea. They don’t have run-flat tyres on that model. I know because it was one I was considering.”

It might not delay them for long if Levan called the house and asked to be picked up but it was worth doing. “Okay.”

Marco shouted to Alex. “Bring me a skewer.” Alex came over. “Take Alex to Dalesway. No one can see him so be careful. Go home afterwards. Don’t tell anyone what I asked you to do.”

Alex handed Ren the skewer.

“Alex’s car is nearest the Hyundai,” Marco said.

“You going to give it a puncture?” His eyes widened. “My car’s a red Corsa. I’ll open the boot and take something out of there to put on the back seat. You can slip in then.”

“Thank you.” Ren pushed to his feet. “Don’t take any risks. These men are dangerous. They’re probably armed. Those in the house definitely are.”

They both nodded.

The plan worked. The skewer went deep into a back tyre, and Ren pulled it out and kept low as he moved across to the rear of Alex’s car and climbed in the back.

“Don’t speed,” Ren said. “I’ll drop the skewer on the floor.”

“Okay.”

“Whereabouts do you live?”

“About five miles down the road from Dalesway.”

“Great, so you won’t have to turn round. Drop me off before the house comes into view, please. Don’t turn off your engine.”

“This is like something off the TV.” Alex could barely contain his excitement.

“Don’t tell anyone or say anything. It could put lives in danger if info gets out too soon.”

“I won’t say a word.”

Somehow Ren doubted that but hopefully it might not matter in a few hours.

Once Alex had driven away, Ren climbed over a gate into the field and ran, ignoring the pain in his feet. He pushed through the hedge and emerged at the side of the house. The two vans and the car—it was an S-Class—hadn’t moved. But when Ren looked at the drainpipe, he wasn’t sure he had the strength to haul himself up. Descending was easy in comparison.

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