Revenge

although he couldn’t be one hundred per cent sure, as they were wisely wrapped in large coats. They hurried across the road. All three were laden with bags displaying the store’s well-known logo. Privileged shoppers, Tom thought to himself. Perhaps even someone famous. He’d heard before of the store opening exclusively just for film stars and celebrities to be able to shop without the crowds.
Out of curiosity, and seeing they were headed in the same direction, he accelerated his pace a little. He was only about fifty feet behind them but couldn’t distinguish whom he was following, although he had decided it was one man and two women by the way they walked. He felt a tinge of disappointment when, after going only a very short distance, the lights of a nearby Mercedes flashed, announcing the group ahead had arrived at their car.
Tom almost jumped out of his skin when the two men suddenly appeared from out of the shadows and he simultaneously heard the explosion of a gun and saw the man accompanying the two women fall to the ground.
Scarcely able to believe what he’d seen, he quickly ducked beside a parked car, while up ahead at least one woman was screaming. He rested his back against the side of the car and drew slow deep breaths to try and combat the sense of panic he was feeling. He was fairly sure he hadn’t been seen but was listening intently for any sound of advancing footsteps.
His focus went back to the woman who was still screaming. He couldn’t just stay hiding and ignore her screams. Crouched low, he snatched a quick look from the rear of the car. He could see one man standing with his hand extended, pointing a pistol at the two women, while the other man was pulling one of the women towards an open car door. She in turn was resisting and the second woman was pulling her in the opposite direction to the gunman. Both men were simultaneously shouting at the women, swearing at the one to let go and at the other to get in the car.
Tom returned to safety behind the car. For an instant he wondered if a movie was being filmed but there had been no cameras. He felt his heart pumping at a hundred miles an hour and was worried it was going to explode out of his chest. He recognized the feeling and fought to stay calm. But this wasn’t just the turn of an important card. He forced himself to once again breathe steadily and focus.
He fumbled inside his coat for his mobile phone and with an unsteady hand managed to dial 999. “A man’s been shot and they’re trying to kidnap a woman,” he said quietly but clearly, not wishing to attract the attention of the gunmen. “Back of Harrods and hurry.” The woman at the other end of the line tried to ask further questions. Tom cut her off with a firm and slightly desperate, “Please hurry.” Then repeated, “They’ve already shot one person.”
He risked a further glimpse. The sound of another shot made him jump. It brought the tug of war to a halt as the second woman collapsed to the ground. Tom had observed the rose emission of blood and fragments of skull, exploding from the back of her skull, and knew with absolute certainty she was dead.
The callous bastards, he thought, placing his phone on the kerb, careful to leave the line open. Shooting the man had been bad enough but now a helpless woman as well. Seething with anger and using the parked cars for cover, he managed to move within about twenty feet without being seen by the killers.
He had no idea how he could help but at the same time knew he had to do something. They were too busy to have spotted him and he knew surprise was his only chance of success. He didn’t like the odds and wished he’d had more of his father’s army training, as he sprung from behind the last of the cars that afforded cover. A year in the army cadet corps didn’t prepare you for this type of encounter.
Twenty feet became ten then six. He charged the man manhandling the woman into the car, as he was closest. Just as he launched himself, some sixth sense made the man turn towards him and Tom saw the look of horror on his twisted face. In something akin to a rugby tackle, he hit the man sideways on below the shoulder with his full thirteen stone. As they both fell to the ground, Tom was grateful to hear the thud of the man’s head as it hit the hard pavement. He rolled off the motionless body beneath him and sprung to his feet as fast as he could. He knew the second man, the one who had held the gun, was to his right and as he looked in his direction, he saw the open-mouthed look turn to anger and then the gun arm turn in his direction.
Tom was winded from his efforts and though his mind told him to move fast, his body was slowed down by too many years of inactivity. He made a half-hearted effort to lunge at the killer but knew he’d never make it in time, when suddenly the man was knocked off balance by the remaining female victim, who hurled her bags through the air like someone used to throwing the hammer in an athletics competition. The killer raised his arm to fend off the shopping bags and that gave Tom the extra time he needed to once again throw himself forward at the man’s legs, in another crude attempt at a rugby tackle. There was no repeat thud of head on pavement this time but there was the sweet sound of metal bouncing across concrete as the killer lost his gun. Tom felt the man beneath him kicking out trying to get free but at least