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There’s general murmur of agreement, and a couple of the men head off with Rome to the kitchen in search of supplies.
“What’s the story on the girl down there?” Tony mutters from behind me.
“She’s our intruder,” I reply. “Turns out she has an interesting tale to tell.”
“Care to share?”
“I’ll just get her something to eat since everyone else seems busy. See you in the office?”
“Fair enough. I need to fill you in about Jenna as well. And Constable Prattface. He’s had a bit of an accident.”
I smirk. I knew Tony wouldn’t be able to keep his hands off that bastard.
Tony
I wait for Jack in the office along the hallway, passing the time brewing a pot of coffee. I’m just pouring myself a cup when he enters, so I wave the jug in his general direction.
He nods and settles behind his desk. “Black,” he says, as if I didn’t know how he likes it.
I pass him a cup, then lean on the windowsill to drink mine. “So, what’s her story then?”
He fills me in on the details, and his suspicions that Beth Sampson might turn out to be Ruth’s long-lost sister.
“The police thing is awkward,” I observe. The understatement of the century.
“Tell me about it.” He groans. He really doesn’t need to spell it out. Family aside, our prisoner’s police connections are potentially dangerous. She can’t be allowed to return to her colleagues and spill all she knows about us. Not that it’s much, by the sound of it. She’s only really seen three of us, Jack, Moses, and myself, but simply reporting her abduction and interrogation will be enough to bring the law down on us.
“What does Aaron say?” I wonder aloud.
“Haven’t told him yet. That comes next.” Jack checks his watch. “I daresay he’ll be here any minute. But really, it’s up to Ethan to decide what happens.”
Ethan Savage, Aaron’s elder brother, is the head of our organisation. His word is law, and he’ll do what he thinks is best to protect the firm. That may not bode well for the girl downstairs.
“It would be better if she wasn’t here,” I point out. “If she never knew about Beth…”
Jack doesn’t argue, but I fear the genie is out of the bottle already. I don’t doubt we can scare the hell out of Ruth Lowison. It sounds like Jack already did. but there’s no guarantee she’ll give up on her quest. She’s clearly got the scent in her nose, and if she continues to dig, all roads will lead her back here, probably with the police at her back.
Jack isn’t saying it out loud, but we both know we need a more permanent solution.
He abruptly changes the subject. “So, how did your day go? What’s the story about Jenna Delaney?”
“Not sure,” I reply, finishing my coffee and reaching for a refill. “As far as we can tell, trade’s as good as it ever was, but for some reason she hasn’t paid her dues for a couple of months. She says it’s just a cash flow thing, but I’m not so sure. I’ve brought the books away with me and I’ll have a look through them later. Meanwhile, I gave her a week to pay up.”
“Or what?” he asks.
“You know what,” I reply.
Jack grimaces. Neither of us could be described as a chuckly teddy bear, but hurting women is unpalatable to say the least. We don’t relish the prospect of enforcing this debt.
“Fucking hell,” Jack growls. “Let’s hope she pays up, then.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Jack’s expression lightens. “And Constable Prattface?”
This is much simpler. “Had a slight breathing difficulty. And he’s not quite so pretty anymore. I doubt he’ll go near Jenna again, but if he does, I’ll kill him next time.”
Jack clearly approves. “That would do the world a service. And I’ll be having a chat with Sergeant Morris before long, remind him of his obligations if he prefers to keep that CCTV footage just between us.”
