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“Plenty,” Jasper replied.
“In that case, Marcia will give you the signal.”
Jasper nodded to three of the men who promptly rose and walked briskly out of the room. Then he turned to me. “What else brings you here?”
I cut straight to the point. “I’m guessing you haven’t read the papers?”
Jasper shook his head. “Never do. It’s all propaganda. None of it is ‘news’; it’s all just shit repurposed to make sure everyone blames the little guy.” He floated a hand around himself. “And guess what, we’re the little guys.”
“Fair enough,” I replied, taking a seat on a withered, decaying bar stool. “Well, brace yourselves.”
A small group clustered around me as Marcia stood off to the side with her arms folded. Despite our joined forces, I had no idea if these guys were actually with me, or whether they’d gladly impale me on the spot the first chance they had.
“Ossian has been tampering with the Bas formula.”
All eyes demanded I continue.
“We think he’s been using opioids. I’ve got someone testing it as we speak.”
A sharp intake of breath made me pause.
“Go on,” Wilson bit out.
“I knew he was experimenting with botanicals, but not this. And I certainly didn’t know the new formula was in circulation.”
“Wait.” Arran held up his hand. “Are you saying Ossian has put lethal, addictive substances into the Bas formula and sold it?”
“It certainly appears that way,” I said.
“And the press knows?” someone else piped up.
“They don’t know, but they suspect. Crime rates have increased exponentially among what are basically our best customers. It’s too much of a coincidence. And the press has been following us for years, looking for a way in.”
Marcia stepped forward. “And I think they may have found one.”
“Where does that leave us?” Jasper asked. “Will the authorities believe we’re complicit?” He turned to Wilson. “Reg has worked for the Thorns for fifteen years. Will he be seen as an accomplice in all of this? And what about our plans? With all eyes on us, we won’t get away with this kind of destruction.”
“The authorities haven’t stepped foot on this soil in decades. They wouldn’t know what to look for. As for the Chief of Scotland Yard. He’s a key player. He isn’t going to send his men our way come hell or high water. Most of these stakeholders will stay as quiet as mice, hoping this whole thing blows over.”
“Meanwhile, their best employees are killing themselves and each other, all for a fast buck and a temporary high,” Wilson finished with a snort.
“If we remove Bas from the supply chain now,” Marcia said, “what then? We’ll have several hundred junkies on our hands, with no means of rehab to offer.”
“Then we have to be ready for that,” I replied.
Jasper squinted. “You got any ideas?”
I glanced from him to Marcia. “Not yet. But I will.” I stood again. “I have just one more favour to ask.”
“You’ve been pulling in a lot of those lately,” Wilson said in a voice loaded with warning.
“I need to get Vivian off the island. She’s hiding out at Minty’s right now, but she wants to leave. As soon as possible.”
“Why did she come here if she needs to leave already?” Arran said, but Jasper silenced him with a glare.
“Adele Lamont sent her. Anything beyond that, we don’t need to know.”
I felt a rush of gratitude to Jasper for his small show of respect. He must have known there was something between Vivian and me, and that my marriage was a sham. He’d never deigned to ask, but he knew.
