Swiftly

Ryker had freed himself from the net and intended to take advantage of Daniel's dizziness to the full. Grunting heavily he body-charged Daniel, knocking him to the ground and sending stars pin-wheeling before his eyes. Ryker paused briefly for the dust to clear before balling his fists and moving forward as if to finish the job. 'Leave him!' Shack confronted the big man. He stood with arms folded, legs set aggressively apart. Ryker's eyes suddenly flashed as he remembered every detail of Shack's face. 'Well, well, if it isn't the cocky kid who tangled with me at that Oyster place at Swiftly. You've done well, sonny boy - you set me up and I fell for it ... the trailer breakdown, the show-horse, the girl with the plummy accent ...' 'I've made a call on my mobile phone,' Sky chipped in, hot-eyed and flushed. She was still holding Sir Galahad by the broken halter. 'The police and RSPCA will be here at any minute.' Ryker's gaze was on her. 'So what would you like me to do, Miss Plummy Voice - stay?' Sky said, 'You can't get away. Your horse rustling days are over. Both you and your sickening trade are finished.' 'Nobody tells Tony Ryker what he can and cannot do!' His face darkened dangerously. 'You animal welfare people are all the same. You're an irritating bunch of do-gooders with empty lives. I can set up again ... anytime, anywhere. And believe me - I'll be long gone before the cops arrive.' 'We've got your partner,' Shack reminded him, tilting his head towards a wriggling Griggs. 'He won't be going anywhere.' 'So keep him. He suffers from nosebleeds and he's more trouble than he's worth.' Ryker took a couple of sideways steps towards the BMW. 'Don't make for the car,' Shack warned, 'or I'll -' 'You'll what?' Ryker focussed on him sharply. 'Set the dog on me?' Degsey was lying by the paddock gate, motionless. She seemed very cool and focussed and she was watching Ryker's movements. Mister Rafferty stood on the other side of the gate, sniffing briskly at the air. He had been reunited with his old friend and he capered and pranced excitedly behind the woodwork. 'I wouldn't pin your hopes on the dog,' Ryker went on, laughing without humour. 'That greyhound could barely manage a growl when we last met.' Daniel leaned against Sky as she helped him to his feet. He let out a wheezy groan as he clung to Sir Galahad's neck for support. Shack's eyes flicked briefly towards the group. It was a foolish lapse of concentration and time enough to allow Ryker to seize his escape opportunity. He lunged suddenly for the BMW's driving door and had his fingers curled around the handle and was yanking it open before Shack noticed the movement. He reacted but it was too late. Much too late. He hurled himself at Ryker in a cannonball dive - but the big man had expected the move and swung the half-open car door into his path. It crashed painfully into Shack's side, lifting his legs from under him and sending breath hissing through his teeth. He righted himself, clutching his ribs, hearing the BMW's engine throb into life and a noisy grating of gears as Ryker floored the accelerator. 'He's getting away!' Sky turned her gaze to Daniel. Daniel could only watch helplessly, waiting for his strength to return as he clung to Sir Galahad's mane. There was a smell of rubber in the air as a wave of dust surged from the car's powerful wheel spin. Shack managed to stagger clumsily away as he felt a wisp of air from the trailer whoosh past his face. The tiny wheels rumbled away from him; the still-lowered ramp bouncing and rattling over the uneven surface. Degsey was now standing by the paddock gate. She stretched and shook life into her taut muscles, knowing exactly what she must do... 'Can I have some help with this?' Sky released Sir Galahad's head-collar and was struggling both to hold the horse and attach the bridle. 'I'll do it,' Shack said. He was still rubbing his side but looked in far better shape than Daniel. Degsey sprang forward like a cork leaving a bottle, adopting her powerful racing stride as she flew past the group's legs. Shack, who had never seen her at full stretch before, let out a soft whistle of amazement. 'Jeez,' he murmured, the whistle causing his bruised ribs to grate painfully under his denim shirt, 'that's one hell of a fast greyhound.' 'The best.' Daniel straightened his back, working life into his shoulders. 'Flamin' devil dog ... ' Griggs jerked out the words as he wriggled against the ropes twistinto his side. A nosebleed had begun, the redness caking his nostrils and streaking to his lips as he corkscrewed his neck to glimpse Degsey. 'She's going after your boss,' Sky told him, accepting a leg-up from Shack and vaulting onto Sir Galahad's bare back. 'She'll have something planned - you can bet on it.' 'And you?' Daniel asked, the colour returning to his face. 'What are you planning to do?' Sir Galahad was gusting breath, one hoof pawing impaat the ground. 'Catch Mr Ryker,' Sky said simply. Daniel exchanged a worried glance with Shack, but neither spoke. They could both see that Sky looked determined, her eyes direct and steady - and they both knew there wasn't a word they could say that would stop her.