Flight of the Falcon (Byrdes of York #1)

16. Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Hugh

H ugh sat beside Imogen’s hospital bed, holding tightly to her left hand. His other hand was raking back and forth through his hair. He was barely holding it together. A phone call in the middle of the night was never welcome, but one telling him his best friend had been involved in a hit and run and was fighting for her life was definitely not on his to do list. Peter, their admin, was dead, having been killed in the same crash, and Gil was in another room of the hospital with a broken leg. He wiped his eyes and the moisture in them made his vision blurry.

The previous evening, Hugh had joined Falcon and his brother Raven in a quick meeting, where they’d swapped stories, and Raven had given them some food for thought. Afterwards, he and Fal had retired to bed. The phone call had awoken them at 2am. Hugh had bombed it down the motorway to Manchester Royal Infirmary where Imogen and Gil had been taken.

“I’ll come with you,” Falcon had stated, grabbing jeans and a sweater. Hugh leant over and gave him a quick kiss. “You can’t. You’re working with

Raven today, remember? You promised him.”

“I’m sure he would understand,” Falcon protested.

“I’m sure he would. But he needs your help today. Please, Falcon. Help your brother out, then come and join me. I…” He hesitated. “I’m not sure what I’ll do if Imogen…”

He broke off and Falcon swept him into his arms. They were both still shocked at the news they’d just received, and Hugh soaked up the comfort he was being offered.

“I’ll be okay,” he assured him.

“I know you will.” Falcon went over to the bowl beside the door in the living room. “Here, take my car. It’s parked in St Mary’s car park. It’s a grey Vauxhall Meriva.”

Hugh took the keys and memorized the registration number that Falcon rattled off. He hadn’t brought his own car to York. Depending on how things went at the hospital, he might have to go and collect it from his flat in Manchester.

“Does she have any family?” Falcon asked as Hugh finished getting ready. “Yes, a sister Lucinda. She lives in Paris. I’ll phone her once I have more news.

They’re twins, and I know she’ll want to be here for her sister.”

Falcon opened the door, then pulled Hugh in for a searing, possessive kiss. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“I’ll text you when I know more.”

Falcon nodded and Hugh had run into the night, desperate to get to Imogen’s side and find out what had happened to her and Gil.

Now sitting holding Imogen’s hand, Hugh slumped over slightly in his chair. He was tired. They’d only got two hours sleep the night before. His phone buzzed with a text. He turned it over. Lucinda.

I’m at the airport. My flight leaves in half-an-hour. How is she?

He’d phoned her shortly after he’d got to the hospital, and she’d assured him she’d be on the first flight out.

Still unconscious .

See you in a few hours.

He texted confirmation and put his phone down again. The door to Imogen’s room opened and he sat up quickly, his attention on who was entering

“No change?” DI Deidre Matlock came into the room and closed the door behind her.

He shook his head. Matlock had met him at the hospital entrance to give him the rundown of what had happened. Imogen, Peter and Gil were en route to Peter’s home to drop him off before returning to Imogen’s for the night. They’d been driving down Princess Gate when a lorry had swerved at them and pushed them into the way of an oncoming tram. Gil, who had been driving, hadn’t had a chance to pull out of its way before they were hit. The lorry driver had abandoned his cab and ran off towards St Peter’s Square.

“No, she’s still out of it,” he replied. DI Matlock was one of the better DIs on the Manchester force; they’d worked together a couple of times a few years earlier when he’d been assigned as a consultant to her station. They’d gotten on quite well, so much so that he still got an annual Christmas card from her and her wife Pat.

“Gil’s awake and asking to speak to you,” she said as she took the seat on the other side of Imogen. “He’s given his statement. I’ll stay with her if you want to go speak to him.”

He nodded and reluctantly got up, dropping a kiss on Imogen’s forehead.

“Her sister Lucinda is coming in from Paris soon to be with her. Can you make sure your guys know?”

She agreed and Hugh left the room, nodding at the young police officer who was guarding the door.

“Sir,” the man said in return.

He walked down the corridor to Gil’s room and allowed the officer on duty there to hold the door open for him. He was pleased to see the precautions being taken. Gil was sitting up in bed waiting for him.

“Imogen?” he asked straightaway as Hugh approached his bed.

“Still out of it,” Hugh replied. “She had surgery as soon as they brought her in, and the anaesthetic is still in her system.”

Gil sighed and leaned back on his pillows. “Shit, what a night. I’m sorry, Hugh. I couldn’t do anything.”

“You did what you could.”

“Peter still died though.”

“He did, but you can’t think of that, Gil. I’ve let his family know and they’ll sort things out from their end. Your brother needs you to phone him when you’re able to.” Gil’s brother Adrien lived in Australia. Unlike Lucinda, he was unable to get there like he wanted.

“I’ll phone him after this,” Gil replied. “It came out of left field. I didn’t even see the lorry until it was too late.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Gil. Nothing good ever comes of that.”

Gil nodded and was silent for a bit. “I think we must have been getting too close to finding Robert. Ian probably panicked and sent someone to stop us.”

Hugh agreed. DI Matlock had said something similar. They’d had a tip from one of the staff members, who had worked at the secure asylum where Ian had previously been held, to say that someone matching his description had been seen in another group home where the informant occasionally worked. Officers had gone to the home, only to find the ‘resident’ had recently been released. No other information was known about him.

“What’s the damage?” Hugh asked Gil as he looked at the other man. He had a leg in plaster and his head and torso were bandaged.

“Lucky.” Gil smiled for the first time since Hugh had entered the room. “Another few inches and I’d not have survived. As it was, I got away with a broken leg, cracked ribs, contusions down my right side and a slight concussion. I should be out of here in a day or so.”

“I’ve arranged with DI Matlock for you and Imogen to be under protection whilst you’re here. When you get out, you’re coming back to York with me – you and Imogen both – where I can keep an eye on you.”

“Now look here…” Gil bristled at Hugh’s commanding tone.

“No. I mean it, Gil. You’re a victim now and we need to keep you and Imogen alive. Matlock is going to liaise with the York police, and you’ll be protected. Falcon’s father has a house near the Minster that he’s said you can use. It already has a stair lift installed from the previous tenant, so you’ll be able to get up the stairs. I’ll persuade Lucinda to come with Imogen when she’s better…” he trailed off. When. Definitely when.

“Okay, okay,” Gil conceded to Hugh’s determination. “How are things in York?” Hugh spent the next hour bringing Gil up to date. He was as flabbergasted as

Hugh had been about what – or who – was in the black sarcophagus. When Hugh told him about Francis, having earlier gotten Falcon’s permission, Gil had been incredulous and didn’t believe him at first.

“Shit. We leave you alone for a few days and look what happens!” he exclaimed.

Despite their lively conversation, Hugh could see that Gil was fading and suggested he rest. He was just getting up to leave when there was a knock at the door and the police officer peeked in.

“Miss Imogen is awake now, sir, if you wish to go see her.”

“Thank you,” he replied, waving goodbye to Gil and rushing back to Imogen’s room.

Falcon

“Come through,” Falcon told his brother as he and Hugh entered his study hand in hand.

Hugh sat in his usual place on one of the sofas and Falcon went over to the wet bar in the corner. He pulled out his best whiskey. He had a feeling they were going to need it. He poured three drams over ice before handing the glasses around and joining Hugh on the sofa. Raven sat opposite them in the wingback chair Francis preferred.

“Salut!” he toasted and sipped his whiskey. The others did the same.

“What do you need, Venn?” he asked, leaning back against Hugh’s arm which was slung across the back of the sofa.

“Your help in confirming a sighting of Robert Swales.” He dropped this tidbit into a pool of silence.

“You’ve found him?” Hugh asked, removing his arm from around Falcon and leaning towards Raven. “Where?”

“In the Dales. Nidderdale to be precise. Only thing is I’m not one hundred per cent sure. Which is why I need Fal to come with me and check.”

“How–” Hugh started, before Falcon put his hand on his arm.

“Raven is named after the bird he shifts into,” Falcon said, smiling at his younger brother. He remembered the young boy he had been and his shock and awe when he’d first transformed into a raven. Then the pain which had followed afterwards as the doctors at the facility tried to work out how he ‘worked’.

“Wow!” was all Hugh said, looking at the other man in fascination.

Raven smirked. Falcon could see he was enjoying the other man’s reaction. “Falcon can ‘twin’ with me when I’m in my raven form, see through my eyes, talk to me etc. I need him to be with me, to confirm my sighting, then we can let Francis know.”

Hugh pulled his phone out of his pocket and brought up his contact for Robert Swales. The photo from last year’s agency newsletter was attached to his details. He handed the phone to Raven.

“That photo’s less than a year old. Is that who you saw?”

Raven squinted and looked at the picture. “I think so. I hesitate, only in that he doesn’t look like that now. He’s thin and looks undernourished. From what I could see his eyes were vacant. It’s why I need a second opinion.”

Hugh took his phone back and he replaced it in his pocket, yawning. Falcon finished his whiskey and put the glass down on the table in front of them.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” he told Raven. “If you come here for 8am we can get a good start.”

“Will do,” Raven replied, getting up. “I’ll drive us out a bit closer before I shift.

Pateley Bridge isn’t far from where I saw him, so we can find a quiet spot near there and seek him out.”

Falcon agreed and after seeing his brother out, turned his attention to Hugh. “Ready for bed?”

“I am. Am I staying?”

Falcon leaned in and kissed him possessively, pulling him close until he could feel his erection pushing against Hugh’s.

“Does that answer your question?”

Hugh’s reply was to take his hand and drag him out of the study in the direction of the bedroom. Groping and kissing on their way, they fell onto the bed in a tangle of limbs.

Falcon was brought back into the moment by Raven’s amusement. His mind was with Raven and his brother communicated through his brain that he’d rather not know what Falcon got up to in bed. He rested back in the car where he was sitting and answered that Raven should mind his own business. A cawing laugh was all he got in response.

Falcon soared above the moorlands, his ability allowing him to meld with his brother Raven as he flew northwards from their stopping point. He watched through Raven’s eyes as he scanned the fields and buildings below him. Coming into view was a large, converted barn with seats and a hot tub outside. They were in Nidderdale, and he was nearing their destination – a holiday complex at Dallow Barns.

Raven landed on the roof of one of the buildings. All of them were holiday lets and only one of them appeared occupied. Raven hopped to the ground, investigating anything he found on the floor, but his eyes were on the open doorway, where a woman appeared leading what looked like an old man.

“Come on, Rob,” she whispered. “Let’s go and enjoy some sunshine. You know, like you were always promising me. ‘We’ll go next year, Ginny,’ you always said, but next year never came. Your promises meant nothing, did they?”

The man cowered away from the woman as she pinched his arm between her fingers. He winced trying to move away, but he looked like he was drunk.

The woman, who Falcon knew to be Robert Swales’s wife Virginia, known as Ginny, led him to a chair and forced him to sit down. He struggled a little, but not much. Now he looked as though he was drugged.

See if you can get a bit closer , he instructed his brother. Raven cawed and hopped closer to where Robert was sitting.

“Shoo. Shoo!” Virginia flapped her hands at him. Raven cawed in protest but hopped backward.

“Filthy bird.” The woman spat at him. She sat next to Robert and began nattering at him again.

“When Ian comes and sees you, he’ll realise you’re in good hands with me. We’ll go away to France. You’ll like it there. We can go Chateau hunting like we said we would when we were younger. Ian’ll see that there’s no need to get rid of you like he threatened. You can be with me. We can be as we were again…”

Falcon stopped listening to her ramble on about how they could be together properly for the first time in years. He felt sorry for her in a way, knowing she’d been neglected by her husband for a long time. But this wasn’t the way to go about saving their marriage.

I’ve seen enough , he spoke into his brother’s mind. I’m going to step back now and phone Dad to let him know. See you back at the car .

Raven cawed and lifted off into the sky once more. Falcon gently disengaged from his brother’s mind and stared out of the car window.

He’d desperately wanted to go with Hugh this morning when he’d hared off to Manchester to be with Imogen. Hugh had argued that he needed to go with Raven if they were to find Robert and eventually, he’d agreed. He was glad he had now, as he could see that Robert was not in his right mind and needed medical treatment.

He pulled his phone out of the cup holder in Raven’s car and thumbed it on.

There was a new text from Hugh.

Imogen’s awake, but in a lot of pain. Lucinda will be here soon, I’ll let you know when she arrives. Any luck?

The text had come in half an hour ago. His fingers flying over the keys, Falcon replied quickly.

Found him, and his wife. Raven’s on his way back. Going to phone Francis. Will meet you in Manchester later today.

I miss you. I’ll send you my address so if I’m not at the hospital you can find me there.

After a couple more texts back and forwards, Falcon pressed the contact for Francis. He answered after a couple of rings.

“What news?” he immediately asked. Falcon and Raven had filled him in on their intentions over breakfast that morning.

“It’s definitely him,” Fal told his father. “Him and his wife. He’s not in a good state though, Dad. The sooner someone can get to him the better.”

“I’ll inform the police and arrange to go there myself,” Francis’s voice came over the loudspeaker just as the car door opened and Raven slid into the driver’s seat.

“Sooner rather than later,” Raven said, getting comfortable. “He didn’t look at all well.”

“I’ll do it now then. Falcon, how are Hugh’s friends?”

Falcon filled him in on what Hugh had told him about Imogen and Gil, before

Francis finished the call to go contact the police.

“Can you drop me off at the nearest station where I can get a train to Manchester?” Falcon asked his brother.

“I can do you one better,” he replied. “I’ll drive you there.”

“Thanks, bro,” he replied, his mind already with Hugh as Raven pulled out of their parking spot and headed for the main road which would put them on the road to Manchester.

He looked up the journey on his iPhone and texted Hugh that he should be there within a couple of hours all being well. His reply came in straight away.

Good, see you then.

He switched off his phone and leaned back in his seat. “I’m going to see if I can catch a couple of hours of sleep.”

Raven just nodded, his ear buds already in as he scanned the radio for a station to listen to. It wasn’t long before Falcon fell asleep.