‘Maybe. But his death was a shock. It wasn’t... you know–’
‘He wasn’t killed by the mob,’ Ryker said. ‘I think that’s what you’re getting at.’
‘The mob. I hate that word. But you’re right. Cardo was loyal. He was important, and my father’s friends are in a panic now. Not just about who killed Cardo and why, but what the killer knows. And who could be next.’
‘Let me ask you a simple question, Eva.’
‘Okay.’
‘Do you know why Kim Walker was killed?’
‘Yes.’ Eva looked down at her feet. ‘No. I mean, I don’t know exactly. But I heard something.’
‘Tell me.’
Before she could answer, Ryker’s attention was grabbed by two figures emerging along the corridor twenty yards ahead. Two men. One was tall, with short dark hair, and a weathered and hardened face. With his Slavic features, he didn’t look dissimilar to Sergei except he was noticeably bigger in the frame. The other man was Buzzcut, the guy Ryker had knocked out at the construction site two days earlier.
Without any words spoken, Ryker knew why the men were there.
He’d been expecting the trap sooner or later.
‘It wasn’t me,’ Eva said. Her surprise looked genuine.
It didn’t matter one way or the other. The men were there either because of Eva or someone connected to her. Ryker stared over at the two men. They were approaching with caution, edging along the raised gangway. Ryker stole a glance behind him. The coast was still clear that way.
Ryker looked down at the men’s hands. As he did so, both men brought shiny black handguns into view.
Peter Winter had made himself clear: Ryker’s Colt was only to be used in life-or-death situations. As far as Ryker was concerned, this fitted the bill.
CHAPTER 39
Ryker was an easy target for the two men. As quick as he was with a gun, he was unlikely to have the time to pull off two shots before he was fired upon. Eva, though, she wasn’t a target, surely? And given the exposed position Ryker was in, that meant Eva was his only choice for cover.
With the Slav raising his gun upward, Ryker stooped behind Eva, grabbed her, and thrust her forward toward Buzzcut. Her hat went flying, down into the pit below. The sight of Eva hurtling toward Buzzcut was enough to momentarily distract him. That was all the time Ryker needed. Crouching and darting forward, he whipped out the Colt and fired off two shots, deliberately aiming low (he would never take a life when there was another option available). The bullets caught the Slav in his leg; one in his thigh, the other bang centre of his knee joint. He screamed as he collapsed to the floor.
Ryker burst toward Buzzcut, letting off two more hurried shots as he moved. He didn't hit with either, but the melee attack was enough to get the better of his foe. As Ryker barged into Buzzcut, there was a cascade of gunfire, but all the goons shots were wayward. Ryker sent the man tumbling over the edge of the walkway and the shooting stopped.
Down below, an angry bull leaped towards the fallen man, grunting and growling. Buzzcut screamed out and the beast hammered him against the metal door, the vibration rattling along the walkway and up through Ryker.
Ryker looked up from the pen, glanced quickly to his left then his right, weighing up his next move. His decision was made easier when another gunshot rang out. A bullet ricocheted off the metal gangway inches from Ryker’s feet, sending up a spray of sparks. Reflexively, Ryker ducked and scanned the area for the shooter – the shot certainly wasn’t from either of the goons, they were out of the game, and Eva was huddled on the floor.
The only possible place that the shot could have come from was in the direction Ryker and Eva had approached. Without another moment’s thought, Ryker moved quickly in the opposite direction – where Buzzcut and the Slav had come from.
Ryker soon found himself hurtling out onto the terraces of the bullring. Two more shots rang out as he raced through the stands towards another exit, the bullets thudding into the stone bleachers. The noise of gunfire in the enclosed theatre was booming and the sound bounced around the bowl for what seemed like seconds.
The cluster of teenagers and their teachers had stopped their lesson and were cowering down, panicked looks on their faces as Ryker darted along the stands. Ryker didn’t dare look back, but he knew the shooter must have come out into the open when he heard gasps from the onlookers.
Another gunshot blasted. Ryker was already throwing himself down the next stairwell. The bullet struck the wall by his face and dust and stone fragments burst into the air. Ryker quickly wiped the grit from his eyes and headed along the inner corridor of the cavernous interior.
In the maze of corridors, pens and anterooms, he was quite sure he could use his skills to fight back and win against whoever was shooting at him. The problem was the onlookers in the arena. Not only could they get caught in the crossfire but they’d also likely be straight on to the police. The safest option was for Ryker to get out of there while he had the chance.
Ryker used his instincts as he weaved through the labyrinth of corridors until he eventually came to an exit door. It was shut, but had a security barrier across its centre. A fire exit. Ryker pushed down on the bar, then cautiously stepped out into the blazing sunshine.
He heaved a sigh of relief as he stuffed his gun into his jeans, underneath his shirt. Then he began a steady march away from the bullring – running would only draw further attention to himself now that he was out in the streets again.
Ryker checked behind every few yards. Not long after, he saw two men emerge from the still open exit. It was too far to make them out in much detail, but they headed in the same direction as Ryker. They didn’t seem to be carrying guns, but then they wouldn’t be so foolish as to brandish their weapons out in the streets.
Ryker passed over the Puento Nuevo, glancing down at the canyon below. It gave Ryker one final thought. As he approached the end of the bridge, he noticed a stone staircase that wound down the side of the bridge to a lookout point. A narrow trail then led along the side of the cliff.
If he could lure the men down there...
Ryker descended the stairs. He stood and waited at the bottom, pulling himself up against the thick stone wall of the bridge. He had to be quick. The area was quiet, but the town was busy. He didn’t want a random passerby happening upon him as he shoved a man over the edge.
He heard footsteps on the stairs. Two sets. Ryker tensed, bracing himself to attack.
Then he quickly wound himself back down when a man and a woman came into view. Arm in arm, they sauntered off along the path.
Ryker stood for a few moments longer. No sign of the men. Then he heard an eruption of sound above. A police siren suddenly cut through the air. If the two attackers hadn’t already scarpered, they certainly would now.