End of the road

The key caught Kevin just above the eye, hard enough to draw blood. As it clattered to the ground, he yelled "ow! You stupid old ... I ought to just ... what in Christ's name is it meant to be, anyway?"

"Hah," replied Molly, "Doesn't look much, does it. But it's all it took to spoil your little con-trick. It's what it looks like - a brass key. But at the same time, it's more than that. Your pile of junk on the other hand...well, I suppose even you would have to admit there's a lot less to it than meets the eye."

Molly paused, saw that her words had hit home. "Military mind-control machine? Do me a favour. A load of old electronic gear that probably doesn't even work - and what? Some rubbishy hypnosis tape.

"All the top-secret technology of a stage hypnotist," she sneered, then became placatory. "Come on son, give me the guns. So far, there's no real harm done, is there. Just a con-trick that's gone too far."

She doesn't know about those two lads, thought Adam, peering from round the corner. He's too far into this to give up.

But Kevin-the-former-Major showed every sign of thinking about what Molly had said. Had he momentarily forgotten he'd just killed two people? Was he playing for time, hoping to turn the situation to his advantage?

They didn't get to find out.

Just then, with a loud groan, Bob Hewson collapsed to his knees, clutching at his chest.

Kevin looked in Adam's direction, then spun back to face Molly, raising his guns. "Right, you double-crossing old bitch," he snarled.

As he turned, Adam ran forward and flung himself at the gunman.

Kevin twisted under his weight and they landed together on the stone floor.

In the confined space, there was an incredibly loud bang.

As the world went black, Adam thought he heard his gran screaming his name.



Part Three begins here.