“What I was wearing didn’t give it away?”
“Sorry.”
“You will be.”
Delaney dragged Tag out by his backpack when Caleb gave the all clear, only for Tag to squirm free of it and bolt towards the ramp that led to the level below. To Delaney’s horror, Caleb took out his gun.
“Let him go,” Delaney snapped.
“Seriously?” Caleb stared at him.
“He dropped his backpack.I can…” As he watched Tag running off, he had a sudden thought and put his hand in his right pocket.The little fucker!“Pick us up on the way and bring his backpack.”
Delaney bolted after Tag who was fast, but Delaney was faster. A floor below, he brought him down. Two startled women were close by putting bags in their car and Delaney called out, “Police! Stay where you are.”
Delaney moved so he could roll Tag over. Blood trickled from a graze on his cheek, and he looked terrified. Delaney took the bag of diamonds from Tag and yanked him to his feet, pulling his arms behind his back.
“Youoweme,” Tag said.
“Not that much, you fucking idiot. Say anything else and you’re dead.”
Seconds later, Delaney was in the back of the Zafira with Tag, and they were heading out onto the street. He handed Tag a tissue to clean his face and when it still looked a mess, Delaney grabbed his hair and held him still while he did it. Delaney’s heart was still pounding hard.
The drive to Margate seemed to last twice as long as it should have. Tag had stayed quiet, sitting as far away from him as he could get. He sat clutching his backpack, staring out of the window. The entire journey was spent in silence. Whenever Caleb started to speak, Delaney shut him down and eventually, he got the message.
Simon pulled up just outside the town centre. Once Caleb got out of the car, Delaney dropped an envelope of money for Simon onto the front passenger seat. After he’d collected his bag from the boot, he tugged Tag from the vehicle along with the disguise he’d worn, and Simon drove away.
“Do you trust him to get rid of that gear you were wearing?” Tag said to Caleb who’d not taken his disguise from the car.
Caleb thumped him in the stomach. Tagoofedand doubled over.
“I’m not fucking happy about him,” Caleb said. “He’s seen too much.”
“I’ll deal with him.” Delaney had a tight hold of Tag’s arm.
When they reached Caleb’s car, Delaney paid him off too. Caleb stepped right into Tag’s space. “You open your mouth and you’re dead. You understand?”
Tag nodded.
Caleb drove off and Tag shuddered. “I don’t think much of your friends.”
“They don’t think much of you either.” Delaney let go of him. “Keep walking.”
Tag looked out at the churning sea, and rubbed his stomach as they headed out of town along the coast road going south.
“You could just let me go,” Tag muttered. “I’m not going to say anything.”
“What were you doing on Kirby Street?” Delaney asked.
“Thinking about buying a diamond tie pin.”
Despite being pissed off, he laughed. “Or?”
“Maybe a diamond stud for my ear.”
“Your ears aren’t pierced.”
“Not yet. Where are you taking me?”
