Holy Island Trilogy 03 - The Final Countdown by Sheila Quigley

‘You know about them, don’t you? I mean, you really know they’re real? All this isn’t some crazy fucking dream I’m stuck in the middle of…I’m not going nuts, am I? Please tell me I’m not gonna end up in the fucking nut house forever.’ He reached his hand imploringly towards her.
    Thrusting the envelope into his hand, she said, ‘Yes, Danny, it’s all real, and you have no reason to doubt yourself. Trust me.’
    Danny felt like laughing his head off. Trust you? Easy enough said, Mrs…but no way!
    ‘You’re mixed up in something so huge, they’ll do their best to shut you up. Even though you’re nothing more than an irritating piece of fly shit on a wall to them.’
    ‘Nice.’ Danny glared at her.
    ‘Just get into the car, and go see Shelly.’ She scuttled towards him and pushed him in the direction of the car.
    ‘Get off me.’ He batted his hands at her.
    What the hell, he thought, who does she think she’s pushing, the old bat. I’m pissed right off with being ordered around by every fucking body. Seems it's all day every day now.
    ‘Danny, you have to go now. Trust me, there’s no more time left.’
    Convinced she was one of them, he said, holding his hands out in a placating gesture, ‘OK, OK, I get it… I’ll go.’ His intention though was to run as far away from her as he could.
    He looked towards the car. A large red Audi with blacked-out windows. He had no idea of who might be inside. Before he could move, the back door opened, cutting off his escape route. His heart gave a lurch.
    Hesitating, he turned back to the woman. ‘You sure it’s not them? I mean, I don’t even know you. You could easily be--’
    The next moment, he was grabbed by a pair of strong arms and dragged into the car.

NORWICH

CHAPTER TWENTY
    Ella hurried outside into the bike shed. Climbing onto her bike, she made for the exit hoping against hope that none of the guards were hanging about. There was a certain one who looked like he’d never seen a bath nor a barber for God knows how long, who had his eye on her, and if things went the way he seemed to be wanting them to, then her position here would be untenable. Even for the cause she would never go down that road ever again. To be truthful, though, it would never be expected of her.
    But it would be bad for all. Her job here had been instrumental in teaching them so much about the enemy, and so much was drawing to a head that to put a new girl in her place would be more than dangerous. It could be disastrous.
    Looking right then left, she turned on to the road and headed for Norwich. Most of the road was tree-lined, with fields behind the trees. It was very quiet, as usual. She met one oncoming car, and was only passed by two cars the whole four miles. Her heart was in her mouth as usual each time a car passed, in case somehow she’d been sussed out and they had come after her.
    Reaching the street where the safe house was, she pedalled quickly down and into the back yard. Opening the back door, she walked in and found Coral in the kitchen.
    ‘Phew,’ she said, removing her helmet. ‘I could really murder a cuppa, and I’m starving.’
    ‘Kettle’s still hot, love, and you can eat till your heart's content.’ Coral replied, making her way into the sitting room with a plate piled high with biscuits.
    ‘Who are those for?”
    ‘Guess.’
    ‘She’s arrived?’ Ella smiled.
    ‘Yup, and you’ll never guess what I did.’
    On the way into the sitting room, down a long corridor with doors on each side, Coral told Ella about her practically jumping on Brother David.
    ‘Wow, you surpassed yourself this time all right.’ Ella grinned, picking one of the biscuits off the plate.
    ‘Don’t I know it.’
    ‘Yeah, well, don’t fret too much. He’s a monk. I know he’ll forgive you, it’s his job.’
    ‘Hello, Ella.’ Smiling, Aunt May rose from her chair as Ella and Coral entered the room.
    ‘Aunt May.’ Ella hurried across the room and gave