Page 131 of 36 Hours

Stacey pointed to the window.

Kim took a look and instantly understood why they had been reluctant to try any other method of entry. The workshop was filled with metal and tools. It was impossible to tell if anything else was rigged to cause her harm.

‘Okay, we need to think,’ Kim said, trying to find a solution. ‘Until we touch that door Nazeera is safe.’

‘Not really, boss,’ Penn said with a worried expression. ‘The beam it’s tied around is starting to sag.’

‘Shit,’ Kim said, taking another look. She hadn’t seen it but Penn had, and she was prepared to take his word for it.

‘Give me a minute,’ she said, stepping back from the building and looking at it from a distance.

Bryant had moved towards the window and was looking towards the ceiling.

‘Only one way, guv,’ he said, nodding to the roof.

‘Bryant, what the hell are you thinking?’

‘We need to be able to get in through the door because that’s the trap we know about. We have to disarm the threat because we know we can get her that way. We try any other way to get her and we don’t know what could happen.’

‘Makes sense but that beam ain’t waiting for the fire service,’ Penn said.

‘Then we’ll have to do it without,’ Bryant said, looking at the roof from every angle. Then he took a look around them.

‘Everyone, grab those pallets,’ he instructed.

‘Wanna explain why?’ Kim asked as she grabbed a wooden pallet and hauled it to where Bryant was laying the first one.

‘We need to get on the roof from this side of the building,’ he said, pointing to Penn. ‘If we approach from this side, we’ll be putting no more strain on that beam. If you and Stacey guide us to the right area, we can remove the roof tiles and grab the rope holding the anvil, giving you long enough to open the door and get Nazeera out of the way.’

‘Ludicrous,’ she said, shaking her head.

‘We gonna try it then?’

‘Got no choice,’ she said, grabbing another pallet.

With all four of them grabbing and stacking pallets, the pile was quickly high enough for Bryant and Penn to climb and mount the roof.

‘I need a guide,’ Bryant said. ‘So I know when we’re getting close.’

‘Stace, step back and stay level with them as they move towards the centre. I’ll stand in line with the beam so as soon as Stacey gets close to me, you should be close enough to start taking tiles off.’

Stacey got in place as Penn reached the roof and kneeled next to Bryant.

Kim got into position and fixed her gaze on the wooden beam. She could now see a difference. It was definitely bowing under the strain of the anvil.

‘Bryant, no pressure, but hurry the fuck up,’ she called.

‘Cheers, guv,’ he said tremulously.

For all his confidence in his own plan, the reality was clearly starting to set in for him. One false move and Nazeera’s hands were smashed to smithereens.

She could hear Bryant and Penn moving along the roof. From the corner of her eye, Stacey was getting closer.

Just a couple more steps.

Slowly.

One more step.