Page 129 of We Chase Shadows

Which is when Amy realizes that only one option remains.

Steve, her father-in-law, has shot Ernesto.

68

Ernesto, blood streaming from a leg wound, is refusing to scream in pain.

Amy is leading a bewildered-looking Connor Brooks from the bird shelter. Steve had expected him to resist a little more than he is. Perhaps he has good lawyers? Though, if so, why does he look so frightened?

‘Oh, Steve,’ says Ernesto from the forest floor. ‘We could have been such friends. But now? Friends don’t shoot friends.’

‘We’re not friends,’ says Steve. ‘I’ll get you an ambulance though.’

Ernesto nods. ‘Yes, probably best.’

Amy roughly pushes Connor Brooks to the floor, and there they all are. Steve working out how to ring for an ambulance with one hand on his gun. His beautiful daughter-in-law, gun aimed at the temple of one of the world’s most dangerous men. That dangerous man, shrivelling and shivering, and Ernesto, bleeding heavily, but maintaining an air of easy urbanity.

‘You shot Ernesto?’ says Amy. This is absolutely a fair observation in the circumstances. Amy doesn’t yet know what Steve knows. About the photograph.

‘I did,’ agrees Steve.

‘On purpose?’ Amy asks.

‘Of course on purpose,’ says Steve.

‘Well, I never know with you and guns,’ says Amy.

Steve takes umbrage at this. ‘You honestly think I can’t –’

‘Ambulance?’ says Ernesto.

Steve nods, and one-handedly calls 999. ‘Ambulance, please, Brockenhurst, gunshot wound. No, this is a different one. We’re by the RSPB shelter on the edge of Hollands Wood. Yes, he’s still breathing.’

‘Barely,’ says Ernesto.

Steve ends his call. With his gun still pointed at Ernesto, he tilts his head to Brooks. ‘You got anything to say, Mr Brooks?’

Connor Brooks looks at him, and up at Amy. He shakes his head. Not defiant. Scared.

‘There has been some mistake, I think, Steve,’ says Ernesto.

‘I was saying,’ says Amy. ‘Steve, you appear to have shot Ernesto?’

‘Agreed,’ says Steve.

‘I’m assuming you have a reason,’ says Amy.

‘Our hitman,’ says Steve.

‘The guy in the ditch?’ says Amy. ‘Blondie?’

‘One of the many guys in ditches in this little escapade,’ says Steve. ‘When Felicity showed me his picture, I knew I’d seen him before.’

Amy nods, ‘Uh huh. And so you shot Ernesto?’

‘I’m getting to that,’ says Steve. ‘I’ve always been pretty good at remembering faces. I was once watching Deal or No Deal with Debbie –’

‘Steve,’ says Amy. ‘I will shoot you if you don’t hurry up.’