The Killer II by Jack Elgos Read Free Book Online

unlocking a large padlock securing a thick, heavy chain to the doors. He looked at Chopper for final approval and then pulled the doors wide open. The group of men walked into the barn and Liam watched as three of them dragged a greasy old tarp from a pile of wooden boxes.
    ‘Help yourself ,’ Chopper told him as the other bikers began removing the crates, placing them down individually in neat rows and levering the tops from the heavy wooden boxes.
    Liam took his time and carefully checked the contents of each crate in turn. The revolvers, automatic pistols, assault rifles and a couple of pump action shotguns he found there were all in perfect condition, every single one of them. They were exactly as he assumed the last shipment had been. Glancing up, he looked into the expectant face of Chopper. ‘All these are fine. You just make sure that every shipment is of the same quality or you can expect another visit. If the boys get any more surprises it won’t be a chat you’ll be having,’ he whispered.
    ‘Lock it up,’ the big man ordered and they walked back to the waiting motorcycles. Chopper took hold of Liam’s arm, pulling him close. ‘Hey Paddy, threaten me in front of my brothers again and you’re a fucking dead man,’ he snarled.
    ‘I’m not threatening - I’m fucking promising,’ Liam told him. ‘I may well be a dead ‘ un , but there’s plenty more men who’ll be willing to take my place. You just make sure they’re all good in future, every single one of them. Then there’ll be no need for any threats, or any shootings, or any fucking bombings. Have you got that mate?’
    The biker scowled as he spat in the dust, but nodded his agreement. ‘ Animal’ll take you back,’ he snapped.
    Well, at least that answered that question. Animal was a name. Liam watched as Chopper mounted his bike, kick-started it and rode away spraying dust and pebbles behind him. The other bikers followed.
    ‘Get on, and use the goggles,’ snapped Animal and a few seconds later Liam was again in darkness as the powerful motorcycle spun its rear wheel furiously and they left the barn in a cloud of dust, heading back towards the open road.
    The return journey didn’t seem to take all that long and Liam was soon deposited back on the curb outside the Sunbrite . ‘Helmet,’ demanded Animal. Liam passed it to him and then, without another word, he was gone, the sound of thunder decreasing to nothingness.

7
    The Killing Ground
     
    Liam was thirsty. It had been a dusty ride and the ‘Ice Cold Beer’ sign on the bar door was tempting. ‘Jesus, a beer would go down well just about now,’ he thought as he licked his parched lips, but he had more important things to do. ‘Right now man, you need to think, not drink.’ He bypassed the bar and took the short, brisk walk back to the privacy of his hotel room. He needed to be alone somewhere quiet, somewhere he could think, somewhere he could plan.
    Once inside the room he made a coffee and sat and thought. He had the extra intelligence Turner had requested, so now it was time to take McKee out – but where? ‘I don’t think I’ll ever find that fucker by himself. If he’s smart, and he doesn’t seem to be a stupid man, he’ll always have at least one other guy with him. How do I get at him alone? His home? No, there has to be security in the house, and possibly a wife too. The NORAID offices? No, that place will be crawling with security men, and they’d have guns. Way too fuckin ’ dangerous. You need to kill him, not yourself.’ He was getting nowhere fast. He closed his eyes tightly and lay flat on the bed, his hands pressed to his temples. ‘The car? Hmm, how about the car?’
    It was the obvious choice – the only choice. ‘This is how I do private,’ he recalled McKee saying. He had the chauffeur, but he also had that thick glass partition. ‘Still, a gun would be too loud. It’s got to be up close and it’s got to be The Killer .’ A grin spread