Free Meltdown by Andy McNab Page B

well.'
    'But what do I tell them? They'll want to know
how it happened.'
    'Say you were mugged.' It was almost as if he was
talking to a child. 'But don't get the police involved.
And call your brother. Tell him not to come back
here tonight.'
    Fergus feigned indifference as he walked over to
Siddie's body, but it was a deliberate move; it meant
that Teddy couldn't avoid seeing the body yet again
as they spoke. Teddy tried not to look down, but
then Fergus kneeled to take a closer look at his
handiwork.
    'Tell your brother to meet you at the hospital and
then go to a hotel. By the time you get back here
tomorrow the body will be gone. And so will we.'
    Teddy struggled to his feet, gasping as a new
wave of pain shot through his body. 'Look, there is something more . . .'
    Fergus had Teddy exactly where he wanted him;
all he needed to do now was reel him in. 'Not
interested. I'll call you about where to send the rest
of my fee. Whatever's going on here is not our
problem any more, mate. It's yours.'
    Teddy almost gagged as he spoke – he couldn't
help glancing down at Siddie's face, the eyes glazed
over now like those of a dead fish. 'I want to tell
you about it, I want you to stay involved, but I have
to speak to my brother first. I have to convince
him that it's the right thing to do. We're partners in
this. And . . . and it's . . . what we do . . . it's not
exactly . .. legal.'
    Fergus stood up before replying, looking Teddy
straight in the eye. 'You really think I expected
legal?' He glanced down at Siddie. 'Illegal doesn't
worry me as long as it's lucrative. Very lucrative.
But you'd better be quick, Teddy. We've got plenty
of other clients waiting out there. You want Danny
to drive you to the hospital?'
    Teddy shook his head. 'I'll manage.' He looked
over at Danny. 'Perhaps you could help me to my
car though?'
    'Yeah. No problem.'
    'Use the stairs, not the lift,' said Fergus to Danny.
'Best not to let anyone see him in that condition.' He
saw his grandson's raised eyebrows and nodded.
    Danny helped Teddy up and they started to make
their way towards the door, but then Teddy
stopped, turned, wincing with pain, and
looked at Fergus. 'The other two . . . they might
still .. .'
    'You don't have to worry about them. Danny's
taken care of them.'
    Teddy stared at Danny, then at Fergus, and then
back at Danny as he struggled to take in what they
had done that night.
    Danny just nodded and smiled and supported
Teddy as he shuffled slowly out of the apartment.
    As soon as they had gone, Fergus pulled out his
mobile and speed-dialled Lee's number. 'Are they
still out?'
    'Sleeping like babies.'
    'Give them another burst and then clear out.
Danny's on the way down with Teddy. I want him
to see exactly what we've done for him.'
    *
    Teddy spotted the two sprawled-out bodies the
moment Danny eased him around the turn at
the landing above.
    He froze. 'Are they . . . are they dead?'
    Danny shook his head. 'Stunned. They'll be out
for quite a while.'
    'But when they do come round . . . they might—'
    'They'll get out, Teddy, that's what they'll do. And
they won't come back.'
    They moved slowly down the stairs. When they
reached the landing, Teddy stopped by the two
bodies.
    Mr Muscles was snoring beneath Blubber Man,
who still had blood oozing from his face.
    Teddy's own face contorted in anger. He leaned
on Danny and then viciously kicked Blubber Man in
the guts.
    'Bastards!'
    Blubber Man didn't even stir, and Teddy was
ready to get in a few more kicks, but Danny pulled
him away.
    'Steady on. A few more of those might just wake
them,' he told him. 'Let's get you to hospital.'

14
    The atmosphere in the office at the coach yard was
thick with tension. Will had never before even considered
challenging his brother's unspoken
leadership and authority. But seeing Teddy's
bruised and battered face, and the way he kept
flinching as he got another jolt from his cracked
ribs, somehow made him seem vulnerable and a
little pathetic.
    And Will was