Doctor Who_ The King of Terror - Keith Topping [106]
‘And you’re not in The Italian Job either!’
‘Sorry, Captain,’ said the driver, Murphy. He looked scared. Paynter wasn’t.
He was looking forward to this.
One of the first things he had done once Landmott’s credentials had been established was ask the man what he knew about the Sons of Nostradamus.
That actually turned out to be quite a lot, including the address where most of the surviving members of the inner sanctum were hiding. A low-rent apartment in Northridge, said Landmott, get right over there, those guys’ll just be delighted to see you.
Expecting objections from Lethbridge-Stewart, Paynter had simply taken half a dozen men, some AK47s and an APC and gone off on a bug-hunt without authority.
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Just the way he and Mark had always done things.
The APC screeched to a halt and the door of the apartment was off its hinges within seconds. By the time Paynter entered the front room several shots had been fired. Two of the terrorists were slumped dead on the ground, blood pouring from head wounds. Three more were also on the floor, cowering in the corner, their hands raised dramatically above their heads in a gesture of unconditional surrender. Bill Quay and Sam Danvers were pinned to the near wall by Paynter’s men. They, too, were struggling vainly to surrender.
As Paynter came in the soldiers released the two men who fell to their knees, clutching their throats and gasping for breath.
‘Stand this one up,’ Paynter told Corporal Murphy, pointing to Quay. Murphy did so. ‘OK Def Leppard, where are the rest of your . . . ’ Paynter paused.
‘Your people.’
Quay didn’t respond quickly enough. Paynter caught him, viciously, across his face with a flick of both his leather gloves. Then Paynter removed his Browning and dramatically cocked the gun to Quay’s temple as the big man clutched his cheek. ‘I shall not ask you a third time,’ Paynter said, and he meant every word. Both Quay and Danvers knew that. So did Murphy and his men.
‘Newton and Hayley are dead,’ replied Bill Quay, his voice quivering with fear. ‘Nobody’s seen Nigel or Lynda for two days, they got out of the city if they had any sense. Ray and Jaguar were here half an hour ago, they went to get food.’
‘Who planted the bomb at UNIT?’ Paynter asked, quite softly and without any apparent menace.
Danvers began to speak but Paynter thrust him back against the wall, cracking the man’s head against it. ‘I don’t recall asking you anything,’ he said, before returning his attention to Quay. ‘Well?’
‘I did,’ Quay replied, closing his eyes. ‘Nigel and me and Chris. He pointed to one of the two bodies staining the carpet. ‘That’s Chris. We were just following orders.’
Paynter was silent for a moment and then turned to Murphy. ‘Ring this in.
Tell HQ we’ve got four terrorists and ask for transport.’
‘Four sir?’ asked Murphy.
‘Yes,’ replied Paynter. ‘This one’s coming for a little walk with me around the back.’ Bill Quay let out a horrified wail as he grabbed him by his long hair and dragged him away from the wall. ‘Come on then Just Following Orders,’
the captain shouted. ‘Let’s be having you.’
Quay attempted to snuggle against Paynter’s strong grip, but two rapid punches to the small of his back quietened his protests to a whimper. He tried to sit down, but Paynter hauled him back off the ground and dangled 202
him in midair, legs swinging wildly like those of a hanged man, for several seconds before pulling him towards the door. Paynter noticed Quay had lost control of his bowels. He didn’t care. He had shot men who had shat in their pants when facing execution before. No big deal.
Nothing would stop him from ending this miserable long-haired scum’s existence.
He turned, dragging the limp Quay behind him, to find the door barred by Corporal Murphy.
‘I can’t let you sir,’ said the little Irish driver, hoisting his rifle up to his shoulder. ‘It’s not right.’
Paynter was incredulous. ‘Get out of my effing way, Corporal, or I’ll shoot you as well as him.’
‘No you won’t sir,’ said Murphy, pointing the gun directly