The Pursuit of Emma, Dave Moyer [best contemporary novels txt] 📗

good to see you,’ I said, grabbing her and pulling her towards me. She didn’t resist. There were tears in her eyes. There was so much to say but there would (hopefully) be time for all that. I looked into her eyes, happier than I had ever felt and kissed her lips.

What a kiss. Every emotion I had ever felt for her came rushing back and I could feel my eyes welling up. We kissed for what seemed like an eternity and eventually pulled apart. I wanted to kiss her once more but time prevented us. It seemed to say so much without words. I told her how much I still loved her and I forgave her and she managed to communicate how sorry she was and how worried she was about our new situation.

‘Tom...I’m so...’

‘I know...me too...but what do we do now?’

I looked down at my watch. Three minutes had gone. Emma looked terrified but she was thinking hard about what to do.

‘Do we run, do we threaten them?’ I asked, knowing that neither would work.

‘No, you are going to do it.’

‘How?’

‘I’ll help you. You have done loads to find my money and note. You can do this. The only hard part is the safe... well apart from the security, reception and the cameras.’

‘Oh good.’

‘Give me your phone,’ she said quickly. She took it from me and used it to search on the internet. It must have taken her two minutes to find everything she wanted which left me pacing impatiently. I knew she would be planning something but it was killing me not to know what. At long last she spoke.

‘Right...we don’t have much time, so listen. Reception first. It looks like there are three ladies that work there according to the website. Lisa, Jennifer (so call her Jenny) and Sharon. You have to go in like you’ve known them for years. Now, Jim Kendrick has two sons that work there so you will have to avoid them but I reckon you could pass as a nephew. Kendrick is fifty-three now so you would be the right sort of age. And you certainly look the part.’

I stared open mouthed at her. She was incredible. In two minutes flat she had come up with the beginnings of a plan. That could work.

‘OK, so what shall I say? I have a meeting with him or something?’

‘No, definitely not. Meetings are booked in which means there will be a record of it somewhere and when there isn’t, that will raise questions. You need something they wouldn’t question...’ She was running a thousand ideas through her mind. Quickly Emma, quickly.

‘No wait I’ve got it! You’re not a nephew; they would have heard about you. You are his son. But an illegitimate son. You have to try and hide it but burst the information out suddenly and they will be shocked by it. Tell them Kendrick doesn’t want anyone knowing about it and you’re to head up to his office straight away. They will question it but if you sell it right, that might work.’

‘...might work?’

‘Will work. It’s all about confidence.’

‘OK, so let’s say I get inside. I have to get up to his office and get inside his safe without him seeing me, even though he will most likely be in his office!’ My clock indicated there was only three minutes of precious planning time left.

‘How do I open the safe?’ It was optimistic to think that she could explain the details of advanced safe-cracking in 180 seconds but it was worth a shot.

‘You don’t. I’m not sure I could break that safe, but you definitely won’t be able to do it,’ she said calmly. ‘The TL30 is one of the most advanced safes around. It is voice activated, as well as pin-code and finger print sensitive. You can’t open it.’

‘So we are screwed. How do I get it open?’

‘You get him to open it.’

I was extremely confused. I didn’t have enough time to wrap my head around this. Not for the first time, I was completely out of my depth.

‘Write this on your phone. Flat 3b, Berry fields.’ That’s literally five minutes from here if you drive. Knock on the door twice. When they ask “who is it,” say “I am a friend of Jessica Swain and I need your help”. They will ask for a password and you say “Pluto is a dwarf planet.” They will get you an ID that should do the rest. It will take no more than ten minutes of your hour and it will work!’

My mouth fell open once more. What the hell did that all mean? No time to find out. I did what she said and wrote it all on my phone.

‘Is that your real name? Jessica?’ I asked slowly.

‘Jessica Swain is just a cover identity from years ago. But it will help you. We better get back quickly.’

And that was that. She explained exactly what I would have to do with the ID as we walked back to the building and we paused for a second outside 14 Parlour Street.

‘I am so sorry again. You can do this baby. I know I am asking you to commit a serious crime and if you want to run, do it now, but I believe in you.’ She moved in close and kissed me again, just as passionately as before.

I could do it. I had to do it because the alternative was not worth thinking about.

‘Time to be brilliant... again,’ I joked quietly, trying to summon up my courage.

‘You are brilliant in so many ways... I love you,’ cried Emma, a soft tear falling from her beautiful eye.

‘I love you too.’

There was time for one final kiss before the door opened and she walked up the steps and into the house. She turned, smiled bravely and disappeared inside. Vitali was left at the door, looking down on me.

‘Your one hour starts...now.’

‘Wait...can I borrow your car?’

Vitali looked taken aback but almost impressed by my bold-faced cheek. I could see him considering it and then smiling. He fished in his pocket, pulled out a key and tossed it down to me. ‘Don’t scratch it,’ he chuckled, more to himself than to me.

*****

Looking at the car keys, the key-ring told me it was a Mercedes and pressing the unlock button indicated which one it was. I raced to it, and leapt inside, too preoccupied to notice what a beautiful bit of craftsmanship it was. As luck would have it, I had seen Berry fields on my journey in and knew exactly how to get there. West London is not known for its expansive greenery so when you see a large grassy park on what looks like a newly built housing development, it tends to stick in the mind. I remember thinking that it would be a great place to raise kids and wondering if I would ever get the chance to have any.

I found Flat 3 less than four minutes after my countdown had begun and was pounding on the door in record time.

Presently a croaky voice spoke. ‘Who is it?’ It wasn’t a welcoming voice, but it certainly wasn’t rude. There was a touch of South-African in there I thought, but whoever was behind the door had clearly been living in England for a long time.

‘Hi, I’m a friend of...Jessica Swain and I need your help. She sent me.’

There was a small pause before the voice spoke again. ‘If that is the case I am assuming she gave you a password.’

Had I been in a less critical situation I would have felt embarrassed saying such a random phrase but I was in trouble and needed help so I shouted, ‘Pluto is a dwarf planet!’

The door swung open immediately to reveal a small, elderly man. He must have been mid-sixties and no more than five foot four. He welcomed me now with all the kindness of a close relative.

‘Come in dear boy. Please sit down. Can I get you tea or coffee?’

‘Neither, listen I have no time. I need an ID badge. Police or MI6 or something.’

‘Of course, I can sort you out with that, but come and sit. You must want a drink?’

‘No thanks, please, I’m in a rush.’

‘Everyone is in a rush nowadays. What is the hurry?’

‘Trust me, it’s life or death.’

He looked at me quizzically and muttered, ‘Yours?’

‘Jessica’s!’

He didn’t say another word but he rushed about his business. He used a small webcam to take a photo of me and two minutes later I had a police detective badge and ID card that looked as realistic as Jack’s one. Perfect. I used my iPhone to find a postcode quickly for C&M investors, whilst he was making up my ID. It wasn’t far away.

I was beginning to feel impatient but I didn’t feel I could rush him. I looked around his room and tried to take in what I was seeing. It looked more like a science lab then a room in a flat. There were all manner of electrical items plugged in and what looked like scientific experiments happening left, right and centre. It felt like Q's office in the James Bond movies. This man was clearly obsessed by his work and, as a result, was probably very good at it.

I picked up a silver tube, which was longer than a fountain pen but not much wider. It had a button on the side of it and I was very close to pressing it.

‘What does this do?’ I asked, spinning the item in my fingers.

‘BE CAREFUL!’ he shouted. ‘That is a laser-pen.’

‘What, one of those things that shows pretty patterns on the wall...’

‘No, like one of those things that can cut through six inches of solid steel with a burning laser. And it’s under patent so be careful!’

I stopped twirling it at once and put it back where I found it, like a bomb disposal worker carrying a backpack out of Heathrow. That would teach me for being impatient. He was finished a minute later. I attempted to offer him money but he shook his head and pushed me out the door.

‘God speed,’ he whispered as I left.

I drove like a crazed lunatic, which I must have been, and abandoned the Mercedes on the edge of the street. The chances of that being there without a ticket were limited but I didn’t care. I looked at my watch. It was almost eleven minutes into my precious hour. I needed to get going.

Confidence. Confidence. Confidence.

I breezed through the door, careful to keep my head down so the cameras wouldn’t get a clear look at my face. I could end up facing a jail sentence if this went wrong. I shuddered to think how many bad people the Kozlovs knew in prison. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen.

‘Which one is Jenny or Jennifer?’ I asked quietly.

An attractive, mid-thirties women looked up and smiled.

‘Hi there Sir, can I help?’

‘Are you Jenny?’

‘I am.’

‘Jim said you were the only one I could trust. I need to talk to you privately. It’s important.’

I had deliberately made it as cryptic as possible. It occurred to me that if I dropped her boss’s name in the conversation it would intrigue her and make her talk to me.

‘Well, yes Sir... Sharon do you want to take your lunch now?’ she asked to her only other colleague on the reception desk. Sharon looked confused but she must have got a look from Jenny, so she smiled and disappeared.

‘OK, we are alone. How can I help you?’ she asked. The thought that Jim Kendrick would have praised her individually was too exciting for her.

‘Listen this is really important. Can you keep a secret?’ I said quietly.

‘Of course Sir, what is it?’

‘Jim asked me to come and meet him here today, but no one can know about it.’

‘Mr Kendrick is not to be disturbed all day; he has important work to do.’

‘Exactly. He doesn’t have work to do. That is for my meeting.’ I looked at her