Bloodstream: A gripping, unpredictable and shocking thriller

Murphy’s plan was to walk straight into the pub, grab Rossi and then let everyone sort themselves out with whatever else needed doing. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what DCI Stephens wanted to do, and instead she called in Authorised Firearm Officers to deal with the situation.

‘Do you really think this is wise?’

‘Yes,’ DCI Stephens replied, tapping the radio in her hand against one leg. ‘We have no idea what this man is actually capable of. If Rossi is with the guy, we neutralise him fast and work all that out later.’

It had taken Harris a few phone calls to find out where Rossi and Logan had gone. It was a departmental night out, with only those on shift at the hospital not in attendance. After twenty minutes of holding and being transferred to various wards Harris had managed to get the name of the pub on Hanover Street.

All three people mentioned by Houghton were inside, but Murphy had made sure everyone knew what the main objective was.

Remove Rossi from the situation and take down anyone who stopped that happening.

Murphy sat in his car, watching the entrance to the pub through the windscreen, waiting for the advance to begin. He crossed his fingers, looked across at DC Kirkham who was sitting beside him.

‘We go in straight after. Get Laura away and deal with her. Okay?’

DC Kirkham looked back at him, a shade or three lighter than his normal complexion. ‘She’s one of ours, sir.’

Murphy gave him a nod and turned back to the pub entrance. Placed his hand on the car-door handle and waited.

*     *     *

Rossi wasn’t sure if she was having a good time, or if the wine had gone to her head quicker than she’d realised. She hadn’t eaten yet, which was probably a bad idea, she thought, but she was already on her second glass. At that point, it wouldn’t really matter anyway, she decided.

Darren’s work friends were all welcoming, attempting to include her in conversations she was unable to contribute to. Mostly work stories – patients who had done strange things whilst coming out of anaesthetic, the sights they had seen. Nothing compared with what Rossi could tell them from her own work life, but it was nice to just be a part of it.

‘Before he’d even gone under he was being a pain,’ Ben said from the other side of the table, a childish grin on his face. His partner moved a little further towards him, her face upturned in a way which made Rossi want to roll her eyes. Utter devotion, hanging on every word. Rossi didn’t want to become that type. ‘It was all right until we were trying to wake him up. He’s trying to roll round and that, but can’t. And then he tries to grab me, right, and I’m like, shit, what do I do now? He looks me right in the eye and says, “Someone did something to my arse, didn’t they? I know they did. It’s doesn’t feel the same.” ’

Everyone round the table laughed, some louder than others. The girl he was with laughed longest, stroking his arm as she did so.

‘I had to spend ten minutes with him, telling him over and over that nothing had gone on with his arse. He was convinced of it though. You’ve got a similar one, haven’t you, Sam?’

Rossi laughed along, as Sam began to tell his story. Every now and again she would glance towards the door, wondering if escape was still an option.

‘Does this kind of thing happen a lot?’ Rossi said, turning to Darren and lowering her voice. ‘Getting together like this, I mean?’

‘Yeah, we try and do it once every couple of months or so. First time I’ve been able to bring someone in a while.’

‘So, there hasn’t been a string of women behind me to be judged against? I feel so special.’

Darren was stone-faced for a second, then smiled. ‘Yeah, you are.’

‘I wasn’t being serious,’ Rossi replied, unsure what to make of the conversation. ‘We’re being rude anyway, turn round.’ She flashed a smile, which disappeared as she faced back to the group, catching sight of a couple of people at their table glancing away, as if they had been listening to the conversation.

‘I’m going outside for a second,’ Rossi said, standing up and taking her bag. ‘Won’t be long.’ She stopped for a moment, then bent down and kissed Darren on the top of his head.

‘Hey, wait, you going outside?’ Ben said, making a smoking gesture with his fingers. ‘I’ll go with you.’

Rossi smiled and nodded, wondering what the hell she was going to say to Ben once outside.

‘We may as well go out on the terrace,’ Ben said, tucking his shirt back into his trousers. He bent down and kissed his partner’s forehead. ‘Be back in a minute. Yeah, the terrace is closer . . .’

Rossi followed Ben as he walked ahead, continuing to talk. She turned back to the table and saw Darren staring after her, his face blank until he realised she was looking at him. The smile was instant, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

‘Enjoying yourself?’ Ben said, lighting up a cigarette with a practised hand. ‘They can get a bit rowdy, this lot.’

‘Sounds like you’re one of the rowdy ones,’ Rossi replied, taking a drag on her cigarette and waiting for the whirly feeling to arrive, the result of only smoking every now and again.

‘Oh, I just tell the stories. Everyone in there knows them really. Just a way of being normal. Some of the stuff people say when they’re coming out of anaesthesia is just amazing. You learn all kinds of secrets.’

‘I bet. I’m also betting that it gets even louder as the night goes on. Not sure I can keep up. I think I should slow down. Wine isn’t the best thing to drink before eating.’

Ben gave a short laugh. ‘We usually end up grabbing something to eat in the pub eventually. Everyone gets to drinking and talking and they suddenly don’t want to move on.’

Rossi tried to look through the doors to their table, but the view was blocked by a couple of pillars. ‘Well, I don’t mind leading the charge for food.’

Ben laughed again, taking another drag on his cigarette. ‘How’s it going anyway? Any closer to catching the guy you were talking about the other day?’

Rossi wasted a few seconds smoking. ‘I can’t really talk about it. Enquiries are ongoing, as we say. We’ll have him soon enough.’

‘I’m sure you will,’ Ben replied, stubbing his cigarette out in the upright ashtray on the deck, then lighting another. ‘Always end up smoking two.’

Rossi’s head turned as she heard noise from inside, carrying over the music and voices. ‘Did you hear that?’

Ben moved forward, standing at the doors and peering into the pub. ‘Oh, no.’

*     *     *

Murphy waited a minute before moving out of the car and towards the pub. The noise over the radio was sporadic and unintelligible for the most part, voices banging into each other as people talked over one another, the chatter constant.

‘Table secure.’

That was all he was waiting for. Outside, other vehicle doors opened and shut, echoing in the now busy street. People holding shopping bags crowded round to see what was going on, a few uniforms keeping them from getting closer.

Murphy entered the pub, DCs Kirkham and Hale close on his heels. He stopped near the bar, waiting for the sergeant in charge of the AFOs to wave him over.

Ten to fifteen people were sitting at a table in the corner, AFOs surrounding them. As Murphy got closer, he saw the occupants with their hands interlocked behind their heads. There was a sudden shift in movement, as two officers all in black took down two people and forced them to the floor.

‘This isn’t right,’ screamed one, moving his head back as hands grabbed him. ‘You can’t just do this.’

Murphy looked round, trying to spot Rossi, but failing. ‘Where is she?’ He turned back to Kirkham and Hale who were also searching the room. Kirkham shook his head.

Murphy saw Darren Logan on the floor, his face pushed against the wooden boards, sticky with spilled drinks and God knows what else. Murphy suppressed a smirk as he saw the sight.

‘Got him,’ he said under his breath. He got a wave from the sergeant and walked directly to Darren who was being pulled to his feet. ‘Kirkham, take the other two. This one’s mine.’

Murphy faced Logan and almost smiled. ‘Darren Logan, I’m arresting you on suspicion of murder . . .’

‘What the hell is going on?’

‘You don’t have to say anything . . .’

‘I’ve got no idea what you’re talking about. Where’s Laura?’

Murphy stopped giving the caution and moved closer to Darren. ‘What did you say?’

‘Where’s Laura? She’ll tell you. This is all a mistake.’

‘Isn’t she here with you?’ Murphy said, looking round, making sure he hadn’t missed her.

‘No, she went outside with Ben for a smoke a few minutes ago. Please, I haven’t done anything wrong.’

Murphy’s stomach fell. ‘Ben Flanagan?’

Darren saw the change on Murphy’s face and began to nod his head. ‘Yes,’ he replied, a panicked tone to his voice now. ‘What’s happened? Why are you all doing this?’

*     *     *

Outside on the terrace, Rossi could hear that the noise inside the pub had increased, causing her to move closer to Ben to see if she could see what was going on. The music stopped; she heard familiar voices.

‘That sounds like . . .’

Ben stepped backwards onto the terrace, almost bumping into Rossi as he did so. He closed the doors, looking round for something.

‘What’s going on?’ Rossi said, seeing sweat appear on Ben’s face as he dragged a table in front of the doors. She saw his strength, until then hidden behind a boyish-looking body, now suddenly very worrying. ‘Tell me now, Ben.’

‘Just be quiet for a second. Let me think.’

Rossi began to back away. ‘Wait . . . merda.’

They’re here for a reason, Rossi thought. They’ve found something out.

‘No . . . no,’ Ben said, shifting the weighty table with little problem. ‘It’s not the time.’

‘They’ve worked out where the drugs came from. They’re from your hospital, aren’t they?’

People revealing things when they’re under the influence of anaesthetic. The way Ben was now acting. Rossi felt her stomach drop a few floors. ‘It’s you, isn’t it?’

‘Stop talking . . .’

‘Ben, listen to me,’ Rossi said, the shouts from inside the pub muffled now the doors were closed. ‘We can talk through this, okay? Get you out of here safely. You just have to listen to me.’

‘No, it’s too late for that. I can’t go anywhere yet. It’s not time. It’s not time.’

Rossi glanced round the terrace for something she could use. Her handbag was now on the floor, dropped from the table Ben had been trying to move.

‘I know it looks bad now, Ben, but trust me. We can get you through this, right? You just need to calm down and listen to me.’

‘Trust you?’ Ben said, turning on her. ‘You’re one of them. I know all about you and that bloke you work with. I know all your secrets. You lie to Darren. I know it. I can see it in you. And that big bastard you work with . . . I know everything about him. I’ve seen him.’

Rossi’s feet bumped into the wall behind her, she was unable to back away from him. ‘Ben, listen, we just have to be calm and work through this.’

‘Oh, “we” don’t need to do anything,’ Ben replied, walking towards Rossi and putting his hand into the inside pocket of his jacket. ‘I just need to get out of here so I can finish what I started.’