Free Breaking Point (The Point Series: Book 2) by Gerard Brennan Page B

just happened, you'd know I'm very fucking with it."
    Despite the weed-stink on his breath, Brian's eyes were wide and clearer than normal. Something had happened.
    "Was it a man with one ear?" Rachel asked.
    "Did he come here first? Are you okay?"
    "I'm fine."
    "How did you know?"
    "Our John figured it out. He called me earlier."
    Brian's eyes glistened. "We don't talk enough."
    "We can fix that. If we get out of here."
    "Can we?"
    "Please, Brian."
    "There's been too much left unsaid."
    "Brian!"
    "Okay. Okay. Let me grab a few things. There's a car we can use... maybe."
    "Whatever. Just get moving."
    As long as the one-eared psycho was out there, they couldn't rest.

Taxi Driver
    ––––––––
    F lagging a taxi had seemed like a good idea at the time. Owen figured the driver would be able to find Brian's address quicker than he could. At the very least, he'd have a Sat Nav in his car. Surely all taxi drivers had those?
    But not this guy. The driver was new to the job. He had the look of a man better suited to working outside; craggy, weather-beaten and strong. The radio handset he contacted the depot on looked like a toy in his oversized hand.
    "Mary, love, it's Shane in car... thirteen? I'm heading to Dundrum. Tell us, where's Murlough Mews?"
    Owen paid close attention to Mary's static-riddled reply. He'd driven through the wee village a couple of times hoping to catch Brian Morgan or Rachel O'Hare on the street and had a good map of the place in his head. The housing estate names hadn't stuck with him but he knew exactly where Mary on dispatch was sending Shane.
    "I'll give you twenty quid if you break the speed limit."
    Shane looked at Owen, his face crimped by an uncertain grin. He snorted and shook his head.
    "Seriously. I need to be there five minutes ago." Owen hooked a twenty out of his wallet, folded it and rubbed the two halves together. "Can you help me out?"
    "Not on this road. The cops have the hairdryers out here all the time. I can't keep my job if I get points on my licence."
    "Live a little."
    "I said no."
    Owen nodded and looked out the passenger door window. His damaged ear itched under the wool of his hat. The migraine poked at the back of his brain. He needed to get this guy to see things his way.
    "Pull over, then," Owen said.
    "Don't be a tool. We're halfway there on a country road. You'll not get another taxi to come out here."
    "Pull over."
    "So you can do me out of my fare? Fuck off."
    Owen twisted the twenty-pound note into a tight fuse. He drew his faux-Zippo lighter from the breast pocket in his coat and snapped it open.
    "You can't smoke in here," Shane said.
    Owen shrugged, lit the banknote at both ends and dropped it into a box of tissues on the dashboard. He grabbed the box of flames and threw it at Shane's feet.
    "Fuck ye!"
    Shane slammed his feet down on the brake and clutch. Tyres screeched on the badly laid tarmac. The front of the car nudged the ditch just before stopping. Shane leapt out of the car. Owen clambered over the gearstick and handbrake to bundle himself into the driver's seat. He kicked the fire out onto the road. A cluster of dying embers danced around the pedals.
    Shane's panic had receded. He tried to get back into the car. Owen swatted at the door lock but he wasn't quick enough. Shane grabbed a handful of Owen's coat and tried to haul him out of the car. Owen gripped Shane's middle finger and jerked it up and back. It snapped like uncooked spaghetti.
    Owen sped off, Shane's howls echoing in his good ear.

Leaving is the Hardest Thing to Do
    ––––––––
    "D id you pack the passports?" Brian asked.
    Rachel balled her fist, shook them at Brian and growled. "Passports, birth certificates, the cash you hide in your wardrobe for weed... I got everything, Brian. Let's go."
    Brian looked around the bedroom one last time. He'd grabbed a couple of extra T-shirts, underwear and some jeans. Thrown them in a plastic bag. It'd be enough to do him in the short