strands together,’ he told James. ‘But I think we’re close to working out how Hagar’s crew brings drugs into the country.’
41. CREWDSON
The allotments were at their quietest on weekday mornings. Fay and Ning sat in front of the shed in folding chairs, catching the sun and occasionally disturbed by the high-speed trains shooting past at the allotment’s far end.
‘We could go see a movie,’ Ning suggested.
‘I need to buy sun cream,’ Fay said. ‘My skin’s really fair. I’m gonna turn into a lobster.’
‘You don’t wanna see a movie?’
‘Warren’s gone to bed. We can all meet up and do something tonight,’ Fay suggested.
Warren was a nice guy, but Fay falling for him meant Ning risked getting pushed out of the picture. As she wondered about finding a way to make Fay and Warren break up, Ning picked up a text from James, saying that he’d just heard from Ryan.
Fay had her eyes closed and Ning was tapping out a reply when she noticed two young men striding their way. Sun coming from behind made it hard to see details, but Ning was instantly suspicious because allotments were a pastime for the middle-aged and elderly.
‘We’ve got company,’ Ning said, as she gave Fay’s knee a squeeze.
As Fay sat up straight, Ning realised it was Eli’s deputy, Shawn. Ning made sure she had her backpack within reach. The situation was super awkward, because Ning knew Eli and Hagar had made up, but she couldn’t tell Fay without breaking cover.
‘Afternoon, ladies,’ Shawn said, as he came within a couple of metres.
Fay squinted and held a hand over her brow. ‘How’d you find us?’ she asked.
Shawn laughed. ‘I like to know all about the people I do business with,’ he explained. ‘I had you trailed after our first meet-up.’
‘I don’t know why you’re here,’ Fay said dismissively. ‘You didn’t want Hagar’s shit, so I got rid of it.’
Shawn laughed. ‘And in such spectacular fashion.’
‘So what are you here for?’
Shawn laughed and spread his arms out wide. ‘Hagar’s put a bounty on you two ladies,’ he explained. ‘Although I expect my boss will waive the reward, as a gesture of goodwill.’
As Shawn and his buddy stopped walking, Ning saw three more guys closing from behind. She double-tapped her earlobe to activate her com, and sent James the text she’d been typing with the addition of SHAWN HERE NOW HOSTILE!!!
‘And what if I don’t want to come with you?’ Fay spat, as she glanced around nervously.
‘That’s why I brought my friends,’ Shawn said. ‘This can be civilised, or you can come kicking and screaming. But you’ll come.’
Fay and Ning glanced at one another. While nothing got said, it was clear neither of them wanted to go down without a fight.
Fay moved first, sending her plastic chair sideways as she sprang up. Ning dug her right hand in the dirt beside her chair and flicked a big clod up towards Shawn and his pal.
A natural runner, Fay sprang like a gazelle, deftly avoiding the lunging arm of Shawn’s accomplice and vaulting a strawberry patch on the next allotment. Ning was slower, but strong. As Shawn shielded his face from the flying earth, she went on the attack, grabbing her lightweight chair and using it as a battering ram. Shawn doubled up as the plastic leg hit him in the groin.
While Fay disappeared towards the allotment’s main gates, Ning charged in the other direction. A suntanned old-timer told Ning not to step in his broccoli and demanded to know what the devil was going on as she stumbled over his plot.
Ning was pissed off when she looked back. Shawn was still down, but the three guys who’d approached from behind were all on her case, presumably deterred from going after Fay by her sheer speed.
One of Ning’s pursuers moved way faster than the others and closed relentlessly. Realising she’d be caught in seconds, Ning stopped running, grabbed a stick out of the ground and snapped it to make a sharp point. She spread out wide, and waited.
‘See what you get,’ Ning taunted.
But it wasn’t just the sprinter’s legs that were fast. As Ning swung with the stick, he ducked, then thrust forwards from a low position. He almost head-butted Ning in the chest, but she managed to turn. As she set off again, she felt the man’s hand on her backpack and only broke free by letting it drop off her arm.
James’ voice sounded on the com in Ning’s ear. ‘Talk to me. What’s happening?’
Ning didn’t get to answer