He rolled himself backwards out of danger and straightened up directly behind Mike ignoring his complaining knees. His timing was such that he was just in time to witness the bandaged hand catching light. A shot went off and he felt a sense of relief that he’d moved so quickly as the hail of bullets started to thunder in the confines of the courtyard. He watched dazed as his brother sprinted in a straight line towards Mike, his head down and eyes piercing, passing Helen who appeared frozen in her tracks.

Joe tackled Mike round the waist at the same instance as Frank chopped down on his wrist causing him to drop the weapon. They all fell to the ground and the Hardy brothers patted out the remaining flames and pinned him to the concrete. Mike had lost his mustache and both eyebrows, and the front of his hair was singed.

"Good works boys," they heard Kyle say and looked up to see he’d jogged up beside them, "this is a certain promotion for me!"

Frank and Joe looked back with their mouth’s hanging open.

"Don’t worry, I’ll put a good word in for the both of you as well," he insisted and laughed heartily while clapping them both on the shoulder.

The Hardy brothers turned their gaze on one another, not even bothering to mask the revulsion and disgust they both felt.

The gate suddenly burst open and several armed and uniformed police officers swarmed in.

"Well, they took their time. The British police have a real sense of urgency don’t they?" remarked Frank.

"Erm…yes," said Kyle vaguely, eyeing his fellow officers.

"KIWI? MARK?" shouted Frank suddenly, making Joe jump as his head was very close to his older brother’s mouth, "what’s going on?"

Now that the situation with Mike was under control and Kyle was applying handcuffs to their prisoner, they’d realized that something was amiss - both Rob and Helen were recumbent on the floor of the courtyard - Rob was sporting a growing and worrying looking red patch on his shoulder.

Kiwi looked across at Mark and Rob, abandoned Helen and crawled across to offer his assistance. He saw Mark had finished ripping open his brother’s shirt and was therefore not a little surprised when Mark sat back on his haunches, a grin starting to play across his face.

"Mark, what’s wrong?" he asked.

Mark’s hand waved vaguely towards his brother and he started to laugh, unable to speak.

Kiwi frowned and he took a look at Rob for himself.

His shoulder had been hit and had been bleeding heavily, but was now only seeping - the wound was apparently nothing more than a deep scratch. The most amazing thing was that he had obviously received a shot to the chest, but the bullet had hit his bronze cross at an angle and had ricochet off, rendering a deep but harmless furrow in the metal. Rob was looking back at Kiwi, pale, stunned and shocked, but otherwise unhurt.

"You okay Mate?" asked Kiwi, laughing heartily himself now.

"I am without a doubt the luckiest man alive!" muttered Rob.

Mark had stopped laughing abruptly as he’d noticed Helen lying motionless on the ground, Frank and Joe starting to bend over her.

"Oh no. What happened?" he asked moving hurriedly towards her.

"Just feinted I think," Kiwi answered, pressing a folded handkerchief to Rob’s injured shoulder before helping him to his feet. Noticing Mike being led away by Kyle, he saw another man in uniform approaching the Inspector and his prisoner. This second man had an aura of ‘authority’ about him and Kyle had slowed down and was fair creeping towards him, his face blanching.

Frank was dropping his jacket over Helen as she began to stir. They all leaned over her expectantly as her eyes fluttered open. She looked up at them and blinked a couple of times. "What happened Alex?" she asked Frank, obviously confused.

Frank’s cheeks flushed and everyone looked uncomfortable, "take it easy Helen, you’ve had a bit of a shock," he answered.

Hearing his voice, she groaned slightly and put her hands over her face, obviously starting to remember. "ROB!" she shouted out and struggled into a seated position.

"Don’t panic, I’m here," he said crouching down.

"But I thought…"

"You thought wrong," he corrected.

"But I saw a bullet hit you in the chest, how…" Her eyes narrowed and she wrenched his shirt aside and saw the damage to his cross, "you’re one lucky, lucky bloke," she muttered and fingered the ring hanging next to it, equally amazed that this had escaped unscathed too.

"That’s what I just said," he grinned.

"Do any of you young people require medical attention?" asked a deep voice.

They looked up and Kiwi recognized the man in uniform who had been approaching Kyle and his prisoner. The Inspector and Mike we’re now standing next to him, both silent. Mike’s eyes settled on the ring, as Helen twirled it. Kyle was avoiding eye contact with any of them.

The officer waved one of the other policemen across, handed Mike over and he was led away towards a waiting ambulance to have his minor burns treated.

"No, I think we’re all fine, apart from cut’s and bruises – no thanks to you guys of course!" Frank snapped. "We have a friend who is a Chief of Police at home, and he would NEVER have left us in the lurch like that!"

"Now just one minute, my boy, no one left you ‘in the lurch’ as you put it, we were here within ten minutes of receiving your radioed call for assistance…"

Joe and Kiwi both snorted and shook their heads in disbelief.

"Ten minutes?" Kiwi scoffed. "You were called a good three quarters of an hour before that, and you knew all along what was happening – we could have been killed today!"

The officer raised his hand for silence. "Which of you young men is Mark?" asked the officer sternly, scanning their faces. "Someone named Mark called in the complaint."

"I’m Mark," the younger Randall brother volunteered, raising his hand, "and I think Helen, Rob and myself may be able to shine a light on what’s been happening and who is responsible for all this confusion." He looked pointedly at Kyle and drew himself up to his full height - for what it was worth. Kyle looked at the floor and started fidgeting.

"I wish you would," prompted the officer.

Mark recalled the whole story, right from when they purchased to ring, to their chance meeting with Kyle and the way in which he hired the young American detectives. Frank and Kiwi filling in the gaps the other three were ignorant of – they gaped at Joe when the story was relayed of his kidnapping.

By the end, all seven were on their feet and staring accusingly at Kyle.

"I got a result didn’t I?" he stated boldly, "whatever happened, no harm was done and I got a result."

"THAT DOES IT!" Rob roared and reared at Kyle. Mark grabbed his brother’s arm and pulled him back, "MARK…SO HELP ME, IF YOU DON’T…" he didn’t get to finish.

Mark took a solid step forward and socked Kyle straight in the face. Kyle flew off of his feet and hit the ground hard on his backside, his nose and mouth instantly starting to bleed.

Rob looked at his brother stunned, newfound respect etched across his face.

Kyle bought a shaking hand up to his face, seeing it come away bloody. Looking up at his superior, his eyes started watering. "You’re a witness! You saw what he did - he assaulted me – I want him arrested!"

The officer looked at Mark whose fists were still rolled into tight balls, "sorry, old man, what I saw was a foolish man falling on his arse!"

***

Joe gave his tonsils another short spray with the green antiseptic liquid and swallowed hard. Frank looked into his face and grinned. "You okay buddy?" he asked.

Joe shrugged noncommittally and watched Kiwi’s departing back as he exited the room, accompanied by a female police officer. He stood aside for a second and held the door open to allow Rob to pass. As he drew level, he and Kiwi nodded at each other.

"How’d it go?" Frank asked the older Randall brother as he plonked down into the seat the New Zealander had just vacated across from him.

Frank eyed the front of his friend’s shirt, which was now held together with a couple of safety pins. A large, white, gauze, bandage could be seen protruding from underneath the collar.

"My head’s whirring," Rob answered. "I’m going to get some coffee. Anyone else want something?"

They were sitting in the large canteen at the Birmingham Police Station, taking it in turns to give their statements. Mark, Frank Helen and Rob had completed theirs and had been gone for three quarters of an hour respectively.

Detective Chief Inspector Morgan (as he had finally introduced himself) didn’t quite know what to do with Joe until Frank suggested he be given the use of a computer. He had therefore departed to commandeer a PC.

Helen and Mark were sitting at another table, a little away from the main group. They’re heads were close together and they were talking quietly - out of earshot of the other three.

Joe consulted his watch again and sighed. He got up and started pacing impatiently up and down. After five minutes, he sat back down and started tapping a rhythm out on the floor with his heel. Suddenly he ceased rapping and sat upright in his seat having remembered something. His hands went up to his neck, pulled the leather thong over his head and untied the fake ring from the string.

Helen looked up with a start when, a second later, he was bringing his hand down on her shoulder to gain her attention. He grinned and dropped the ring in front of her.

"Thanks Joe," she said quietly, and stood up and gave him a peck on the cheek. As she looked away to push the ring onto her finger, Mark caught Joe’s eye and winked.

The door opened again and they all looked up to see Detective Chief Morgan entering the room. He looked at Joe and approached the table.

"Sorry about the delay, we had to set up the computer in one of the interview rooms. If you’ll accompany me now, we’ll get this over and done with and then you can then all go home."

Frank’s eyes lit upon two large men who were hovering in the doorway looking in. They seemed to be paying particular attention to Joe, both staring at him with startled expressions on their faces. When the younger Hardy brother caught their eye, they both turned their attention to Rob instead. Finally they walked away down the corridor, not have said a word.

"Who was that?" Frank asked Morgan.

"Those two gentlemen were Mike Gregg’s legal representatives, obviously wanting to give the prosecution witnesses the once over." He stopped and frowned, "they didn’t stay very long - perhaps they’ve decided he’s too high-risk to offer legal assistance."

***

Joe and Morgan re-entered the cafeteria some time later to find Kiwi had returned from his interview. Morgan noted that all six young people appeared mentally as well as physically tired.

The detective raised his hands. "Clearly, this has been an arduous day for you all, but I need to have a quick chat before I can let you go. Will you all kindly follow me and we’ll get this over and done with as quickly as possible."

They all groaned as one, climbed to their feet and trudged out after him. He led them to a small meeting room and indicated for them to take a seat. They’re conversation fell silent and they all looked at the Detective Chief Inspector expectantly.

Morgan swept his gaze over their faces to satisfy himself that he now had their full attention before beginning. "Mr Gregg has confessed to all your accusations…"

A cheer erupted from everyone barr Helen and Joe, but the Detective raised his palm up for silence, "…EXCEPT…[all was quiet once again]…for the first kidnapping of Joseph. He is also claiming diminished responsibility due to mitigating circumstances."

"WHAT!" exclaimed Mark, "what mitigating circumstances?" he spat acidly.

"He claims he was receiving verbal threats and suffering physical violence at the hands of unnamed assailants whom he stole the ring from - someone who held a private collection of stolen artifacts."

Kiwi, Joe and Frank exchanged knowing looks. "That sounds familiar," agreed Frank and told the Detective of his experience in the cupboard in Mike’s apartment.

"Wait a minute," spoke up Rob, "I’m confused! We didn’t buy the ring from Mart..erm…Mike, we bought it from that Alan bloke."

"Mr Gregg informed us that he sold the stolen artifacts to Alan Black immediately after stealing them from his unnamed assailants. He asked the late Mr Black to hand back the goods to him, but in the meantime the ring had been sold on to you."

"And that was when they decided to rig the car’s brakes to fail?" asked Frank.

"Yes. Mr Gregg had no idea Alex Morris was killed in that smash. You completely fooled him Frank."

Kiwi glanced across at Frank. "So, what Martin…sorry, Mike is saying is that he was being pressured into stalking us to get the ring back?" asked Kiwi.

"Exactly," nodded Morgan. "Also, he’s been examined by a doctor who has reported that Mr Gregg has extensive bruising to his upper and lower torso."

Joe slid his pad of paper across to Frank. "Who are these mystery assailants?" he quoted from the notebook.

"Mr Gregg refuses to disclose that information. He says he is in fear for his life."

"And the rest of the museum pieces?"

"We couldn’t find them - Mr Gregg has apparently handed them back to the original perpetrator."

"This is messy…" muttered Frank. He slumped back in his chair thoughtfully and slapped the top of his legs. "Wait a minute…" he said, sitting upright again. "You said Mike denied having kidnapped Joe that first time?"

"Yes. Why, what are you thinking?"

"What I’m thinking is that Joe was kidnapped by the ‘original’ burglars."

Joe leaned over and took the pad from Frank and began writing again. However, he stopped when Kiwi asked a question that was identical to the one he was about to ask:

"But, if that was the case, Frank mate, why didn’t they just hold onto Joe and use him as a bargaining chip?"

"Maybe they didn’t realize Joe was involved, or, maybe they’ve got a conscience?"

Joe showed his paper to Kiwi. "They did apologize," Kiwi quoted, "and gave me £2000."

"That’s true, and they said they’d kidnapped Joe by accident and brought him home safely – if a little drugged up and sick."

Joe feverishly scribbled again and showed it to Kiwi. "He got the impression the leader of the gang considered it almost ‘rude’ that he’d been taken from the park by his two friends." said the New Zealander.

"Are you certain there were three men?"

"He’s fairly certain. He got a fleeting glance at two big men before being hit and he heard three voices after coming round."

"Yeah, it was two men who forced themselves into Mike’s flat that day as well," Frank confirmed and then started thinking about Mike Gregg again. "What about the rest of Mike Gregg’s goons, have they been picked up?" he asked.

"Not as yet, but it shouldn’t be long, we’ve collected plenty of evidence from the warehouse and we are now in possession of Mr Gregg’s address book."

"Maybe one of those guys will tell us who Mike’s attackers were."

There was a lull in the conversation, everyone lost in his/her own thoughts.

"I’m going to wake up in a minute aren’t I?" asked a small voice.

They stared at Helen who’d been silent the whole time, her eyes flashing from one face to the other as she followed the quick moving discussion. She was sitting forward in her seat, leaning against the table with her chin on her hand.

"I’m going to wake up, and all of this is going to have been one long, horrible nightmare. I’m going to open my eyes, look across at Alex and go: I just had the most weird dream!"

Everyone was still struck dumb.

"At least, I seriously hope that’s what’s going to happen because this can’t continue." She lifted her head, laying her arm down on the veneered tabletop. "I thought we’d caught Alex’s killer, only to find out now that someone else had a hand in his death - albeit indirectly; someone whose been running around out there laughing at us the whole time; someone who could come back at any point and pick us all off; someone whose even more evil than Mike!"

Frank cleared his throat. "That’s not going to happen Helen. We’re close to catching these people…" he began, laying his hand on hers.

Helen yanked her arm back as though she’d received an electric shock, and leaned away from him. "I’ve been hearing those promises for over a week now Frank, and I’m SICK OF IT!" She kicked her chair back on its wheels and stood up. "I’ve had enough," she spat and started for the door. Mark made a lunge for her but she pulled herself free. "I’m going for a walk!" she announced.

"I don’t think that’s a jolly good idea Mrs Morris, not at this late an hour." said Morgan.

She didn’t look back. "Bite me!" she snapped, coining one of Joe’s expressions. Exiting through the door, she slammed it loudly behind her.

Joe looked at his brother and saw his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down. He nudged him gently under the table with his foot but Frank wouldn’t look in his direction, his eyes instead remaining glued to the shiny surface of the table. Joe could tell he was upset, but was valiantly trying to hide it - the fingers of his hand twitching. Everyone was embarrassed.

"What do you want us to do?" asked Frank finally without looking up at the detective, his voice sounding throaty.

"Nothing. You’re officially off the case."

Joe shifted in his chair and started to scribble ten to the dozen, clearly unhappy.

"In fact, you chaps were never officially on the case. Tomorrow, we’ll be visiting Mrs Morris’s house to pickup any evidence you collected and our ‘borrowed’ equipment."

"Anything else?" asked Frank, defeated.

"Yes. The truck driver whose metal bar inflicted the fatal wound to Mr Morris has been charged with dangerous driving. He was actually charged the same night Mr Morris died, but apparently Inspector Kyle kept that piece of information to himself."

Rob growled and slumped back in his seat.

"Talking of Kyle…" began Mark, instinctively placing a restraining hand on his brother’s arm, "…what’s going to happen to him?"

"He’s been suspended, pending a full disciplinary hearing. It’s not expected he will return to duty and he may be facing criminal charges."

"And Mark?" asked Rob.

"What do you mean?"

"Will Mark face any charges, for punching Kyle?"

Detective Chief Morgan’s face remained totally expressionless, "No." he said in a monotone voice.

"What? Kyle’s not pressing charges?" Rob exclaimed amazed.

"He wants to, but with the fellow on suspension, we’re too short handed to process the paperwork. Your brother won’t be hearing from us about that particular matter." He looked across at Mark and winked, "but, don’t make a habit of it old man!" he warned.