TOYL

‘I’ll need to see some ID. Then you can have the name. We log all our deliveries electronically,’ she explained, as she tapped away on the keyboard. ‘That way we can keep track of everything.’
    ‘Lucky for us, eh,’ Gasnier joked, mainly for DS Davies’ benefit.
    ‘It’s a great system,’ the girl said, missing the sarcasm. ‘You said it went to who?’
    ‘Holden. Emma Holden.’
    ‘Emma Holden,’ the girl said, thinking out loud while tapping away at the keys. ‘Yes, here it is. The delivery was requested today and they paid by cash. Here’s the name.’ She turned the monitor around.
    Gasnier’s eyes narrowed. ‘Well, that is interesting.’

    ***

    ‘You can’t be serious about this,’ said Will, still horrified from the discovery of the gun underneath the seat.
    ‘It’s not loaded,’ Edward replied. ‘No one is going to get hurt.’
    ‘Where the hell did you get it?’
    ‘One of my friends. He belongs to a shooting club. He shoots competitively.’
    Will couldn’t believe this was happening. ‘What did you tell him you wanted the gun for?’
    ‘He didn’t ask. Just said to take care.’
    Will shook his head. ‘This is crazy, absolutely crazy. I think you’ve lost your mind.’
    ‘Will, this whole situation is crazy,’ Edward replied. ‘Compared to what has already happened, this might be the most sensible thing to do.’
    ‘My God, just listen to yourself, will you? We’re on the way to a house, about to threaten someone with a gun. Does that sound sensible?’
    ‘It’s the best way. The only way.’
    ‘No,’ Will countered, ‘it’s not. I’ve already told you.’
    ‘We’ll just scare him a little,’ said Edward, ignoring Will’s protests. ‘If he thinks we’re really serious, then he’ll take notice and leave Em alone.’
    ‘It won’t work. I’ve tried it before.’
    ‘This time will be different. This time we’ll really scare him.’
    ‘Hurt him, you mean?’
    ‘Of course not. We’ve just got to make him believe that we mean what we say. Look, we both know that he’s fragile. It shouldn’t take much to break him.’

    ***

    ‘I still think this is a bad idea,’ said Will, as they reached the apartment block.
    ‘Let’s just get this over with,’ Edward replied. ‘Give me the gun,’ he added, gesturing.
    Shaking his head, Will reached under the seat and pulled out the handgun, holding it by its very edge.
    ‘Don’t lift it up so people can see,’ Edward rebuked, grabbing hold of the weapon. He tucked the gun into his waistband and covered it with his jumper, as if he’d done it a million times before.
    ‘He might not be there,’ Will said.
    ‘He is.’
    ‘How do you know?’
    ‘I’ve had someone watching the place, to make sure he’s around.’
    ‘Bloody hell, Dad. This is madness.’
    ‘Come on,’ said Edward, ‘before I change my mind.’

    ***

    Edward and Will had no difficulty getting into the block – someone had wedged the door open with a traffic cone. Will followed his father up the stairs, hoping that by the time they reached the fourth floor he would have had a change of heart, realising just how foolish this all was. He wanted to turn around and walk away, but he had already let down one family member – and his dad shouldn’t be alone.
    When they reached Stuart’s flat the door was ajar.
    ‘Dad, are you sure?’ Will grabbed Edward’s arm as he reached to push the door open.
    ‘I’m sure,’ Edward said, although his voice was faltering. ‘Let’s get this over with, once and for all.’
    As they entered the flat, the first thing that hit Will was the total silence. It was eerie and he didn’t like it one bit.
    They moved down the entrance hall and turned to look in the lounge. The room was empty, so they continued past the bathroom and then towards the kitchen.
    ‘Stuart, we know you’re in here,’ Edward said, reaching for the gun and bringing it out from his trousers. Will hung back, but only a few feet. He glanced over his shoulder, paranoid that Stuart would come up from behind.
    They saw Stuart’s legs first, sticking out from behind the kitchen table.
    ‘My God,’ Will said, pushing past Edward into the kitchen. He looked at Stuart lying motionless on the kitchen floor, and then noticed the empty packets of paracetamol and the half-empty glass on the table. He looked back towards Edward, who was just staring, emotionless.
    Will rushed to Stuart’s side.
    ‘He’s still alive,’ he said,