Page 49 of West (The Moral Compass 1)
Thiswholesituationjustkeeps getting worse and more bizarre. The phone call I received this morning at 5:00 was a warning. One that I couldn’t ignore and leave. I left Sutton instructions and a phone. I just pray she does exactly as I instructed in the letter. I have every faith in North and the guys that the Star Gazers sent over last night. My mother is there, too, and she is more switched on to shit like this than I’d care to think about.
You see, Mum was not always the small, petite, wealthy 'get my nails done on a Saturday' woman. She has a very similar job to me, and she is completely badass at it. That’s why it was Dad who was more worried about me not coming back. Mum always wanted me to settle down eventually, but sometimes there is a different plan and path to the one you think you are going to follow.
If I hadn’t literally bumped into Sutton at the station and then her interview for the company, I wouldn’t be sitting in this disgusting loft, watching over a derelict building with six other guys from both my old employer and my old regiment. This was my team. These were my nonblood brothers. We loved each other and would die for each other, and it didn’t matter what happened. No one would ever be left behind. Ever.
“There is movement on the east side of the building. I can see around thirty people all being herded into a corner,” Carl stated. “There are four more people out in front of the group. They must be Ralph’s men.”
The heat-seeking equipment we were using was the best in the world, thanks to Mark. We always were one step ahead on the tech side with him supporting what we did from a distance. You could say we were trialling his products, but these babies had been tested over and over before he gave them to us. He wouldn’t risk our lives for anything.
“Coms coming through the network. Someone’s making a call,” Daniel says, pushing his headphones against his head harder. He flicks a switch, and the audio changes so we all can hear.
“We’ve located the two precious flowers. They are hauled up in the flower garden,” a man with an American accent said.
“Do we have any clippers in the garden to do some pruning?” a man with an English accent says. I don’t recognise the voice.
“Yes, we have two sets of clippers. One is a very eager set of secateurs.”
A laugh broke from the English man, a deep, sick laugh. “Well, they must not cut off their heads. They are wanted still in bloom.”
“We will get your flowers tonight after all the lights are out.”
“Well, bring them to me straight away. My girlfriend is particularly keen on one of them.”
I know exactly what this means. We have bad apples in the house. I need to get everyone out, but I don’t know which of the guards are disloyal. There are a few of them in the house but only two who I know and trust.
I pull out my phone and dial Rick.
“Hey,” he answers. “Let me go somewhere quieter. Your mum is blending something in that bloody machine of hers. I’m not drinking it. I got the shits last time.” He laughs, but I knew he was just talking crap so that he could manoeuvre himself away.
“What’s up?” he asks quietly.
“How well do you know the guys that are with you?”
“Well. Daniel is a good lad, definitely not a problem. Big fucker, but no risk. He’s got a wife and kids. Joseph is the same. He’s been on the job now for a few years, and you’ve worked with him before. Remember?”
“Yeah, of course I remember Joe. What about the others?” I ask.
“Tom is back with us. He’s been away for a while at Her Majesty’s pleasure. And then there’s Geordie and Will. They are two guys I’ve not worked with before. Why, what’s up?”
“Two bad apples in the orchard, Rick, and they are due to fall tonight. I need you to get to North and let him know. Help him do what is needed to get the crop harvested and put away nicely. If that's okay, mate?”
“Message understood. I’ll make sure your trees are looked after don’t worry. What do you want me to do with any rotten fruit?”
“Don’t chop them up.” I laugh and hang up the phone.
I look back at the monitor and see four people walking backwards and forwards in front of the group. There is something bad going down in there, and I wish we could just go in and get them out. But it’s not that simple. We need more intel, and I need to know that Ralph is in there, too. If we don’t get him, then I fear we will never stop him, and this will only be a drop in the ocean. Sutton will never be safe, and he will also know we are onto him and go to ground. We only have one shot, so it has to be a sure thing.
It's mid-afternoon and there have been no more calls in or out from the building. North hasn’t called and my stomach is in knots. I pull out my phone and fire a text to North.
West: Hey Bro, what you up to today? Fancy going apple picking? You know Mum likes to make a pie when the family are home?
It’s a few minutes before I get a reply, and I’m ready to call Rick when a text comes through.
North: Maybe not today. I’ve got a lot going on. I’ve been picking flowers.
Chapter 38
Sutton
