From out of the bag, the rifle was produced. Elias was further away than the owner had anticipated but still within an acceptable range. Nonetheless, the task was made more difficult by Elias’s jagged movements on stage.

The owner fed the rifle through the gap in the window and looked through the sight at the back of the lawyer’s head. Adjusted the range and let his aim relax. How he would love to blow Charlie Priest’s head off as well, but although he had seen Elinor go to Priest’s flat more than once, that wasn’t the plan.

The owner moved the gun upwards towards the stage where Elias was staring into the distance, staring straight up at the control box. He couldn’t possibly see him from there, could he?

The owner was irritated. Priest had got to his feet and was shouting across the theatre, cutting through the confession. Couldn’t that interfering bastard contain himself for just a few minutes?

The owner took aim, this had to be ended sooner than planned but there was enough on tape to run past every social media channel invented and watch Elias’s fate go viral in a matter of hours.

Priest was waving his arms around and heading for the stage. It was now or never.

This is for Elinor!

The rifle kicked back as the bullet exploded from the muzzle and thundered through the air until it met its target. Priest was already on the floor, but Elias was getting up! The bullet had hit his shoulder and sent him sprawling backwards but it wasn’t a kill shot.

Panicked, the owner took aim again.

*

Priest watched with astonishment as Dominique flew backwards. He knew straightaway what had happened. After six months training with the National Police Firearms Training Centre in Kent as a young police officer, he knew what a gunshot sounded like.

He ducked behind the seat and looked out to where the shot had been fired from. The control box, below the circle. Shit! He could see the gun jutting out and the shooter was leaning forward to get a better view.

Behind him, he heard Dominique slump to the floor.

Then a further shot ricocheted off a seat near him and he ducked down low to the floor. He had nothing to return fire with but if the shooter wanted to hit me he would have done it by now. A fourth shot rang out, further away this time. Priest tried to see through the gap in the seats but it was impossible.

He started to crawl under them towards the aisle where a dull EXIT sign hung on the wall but he knew it was too late. The shooter would be long gone by the time he reached the door.

Chapter 57

Chapter 57