Counterpoint Read Online Free PDF Page A

for 6.00am.
    He fell into a fitful sleep.
    Carla did not sleep much though, she
was thinking about her next move and listening for the sound of
vehicles or a helicopter. Either or both would mean Philippe and
his men were back on her trail already.
    She had to get back to her hideaway,
money was not a problem thanks to the contents of Philippe’s
wallet, but by morning, the area would be crawling with people
looking out for her. Once she got to Piedimonte Matese, she could
at least arrange to collect her car from the railway station,
nearby.
    Carla had caught the train to a number
of towns, depositing cash stolen from the drug deal into new
accounts. It was then that Philippe’s men caught her.
    She filed the problem with her
subconscious and drifted into a restless sleep.
    Sleepily, Max awoke, a few minutes
before 5.00am.
    Cancelling the alarm, he quietly
carried out his ablutions and then made breakfast. He knew Carla
was not asleep, but she did not attempt to speak until he called
her to the table, and then she only mumbled a thank you. Eating
quickly, she got up and dressed whilst Max cleared the table.
    Carla still had not come up with a plan
and did not want to answer any awkward questions, so avoided any
eye contact with Max that might start him off.
    Somewhat miffed at her unfriendly
attitude, Max started the van and headed for town. As they entered
town Max said unnecessarily that they had arrived and where did she
want to be dropped off.
    Part of him wanted to see the back of
her because she was impolite and moody. Deep down, he did not want
to lose her. Awareness of his conflicting feelings, made him cross
with himself.
    “ Pull yourself
together,” he thought. “One sniff of pussy and you lose it, get rid
of the bitch!”
    Carla replied, “See that street, by the
red car, just there will do!” She turned to pick up her bag and
briefcase, but Max braked hard throwing her off her feet.
    “Christ!” He exclaimed! “They are
getting out with guns!”
    Three men got out of the red car
leaving the driver and a passenger, as the camper van approached.
The nearest man had a handgun near his side. To Max’s untrained
eye, it looked like the gun was fitted with a suppressor.
    Carla had regained her balance and
shouted.
    “Turn left here, up the side
street.”
    Max turned without a second thought,
towards the side street. “Damn it!” He shouted. “We won’t get
through, it’s too narrow.”
    He carried on anyway. It was tight, so
tight that the wing mirrors alternately scraped the walls as the
van accelerated down the alley.
    The moment the van headed towards the
alley, the men leapt back into their car and the driver reversed
back up the road past the turning, then forward into it, blue smoke
pouring from the front tyres of the red car. They were in hot
pursuit, after the van.
    Carla’s plan, the one she was working
on all last night, suddenly hatched. She had that gift of inspired
thought under pressure, and it was only just in time.
    “Stop at the end of the alley so we can
open the cab doors and get out,” she shouted.
    Concentrating fully on keeping off the
walls, Max only managed a fleeting glance, towards Carla. What was
she up to? What was going on? Who were the men chasing him, and
why?
    Carla turned off the ignition and
pulled out the key causing the racing engine to cut out, she pushed
the gear lever into neutral as the van started to slow.
    Max did not have the opportunity to ask
why.
    The pursuing car, rammed into the van’s
tow bar, trying to push the van forward, out of the ally. Another
lightning mind had already anticipated Carla.
    Max braked hard as he approached the
road junction and stopped the van half in, half out of the
alley.
    Carla had already grabbed Max’s jacket,
her bag, and briefcase and was climbing around the front seat, to
get out. Max did the same and followed Carla in the main
street.
    There was no way for the light car to
push the 2 ton van forward out of the alley,