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Liam waited. “Mr O’Reilly, this is a police matter. If we have a leak as you believe, it will be plugged.”
As her Inspector and Taskforce leader left, her inspector took Frankie to one side. “Francesca, we can have you and the others in a safe house by tonight with armed officers.”
Frankie laughed. “Sorry, Police protection worked so well last time when no one thought we needed it. We were told we were worrying over nothing and that we were all safe and yet they found us. He wants revenge because I scarred him defending myself with one of my own knives. Please don’t tell me you can protect me. I knew this day would come. I can go stay with family in the States. My cousin Wendy married an American soldier recently and lives on an Army base. I can stay with her. No one will get me there. I just need to call her and tell her I’m coming and arrange cover for some up and coming meetings.” Johnson looked at her and could see her mind was made up.
The Inspector wasn’t happy but he had worked with her long enough to know when she had made up her mind. “Ok, I’ll get back to you later today with our plan and I will try and reach out to the others who were undercover with you. If you don’t like the plan, I will arrange an escort to the Airport.”
Frankie saw her colleagues out and made her way back into the living room as her phone beeped. “Emma and Charley are on their way home. We all went into different sections when the job was over. Charley moved into the Financial Crimes division and Emma is part of SCO19. We’ll be leaving when the girls get back. We’ll disappear until we can get a plan together. I’ll call Inspector Johnson and tell him not to worry about a plan and that I’m going to stay with my cousin until they can rebuild a case.”
Cace got up from the sofa and walked over to Frankie, trying to remain calm. As he stalked towards her, she could see the determination on his face as she backed into the dining table. “Think again, sweetheart. I know you don’t have a cousin called Wendy, even if your Inspector doesn’t!”
Frankie was about to respond but she realised she wasn’t sure what to say and just glared at him for a moment instead. “I’m not going to put you at risk. It’s the reason I cut you out of my life in the first place. We can handle this!”
They all turned as they heard the front door open. “Frankie, we’re back,” Charley shouted. As they walked into the living room, they could feel the tension.
“Oooh, what did we miss?” Emma asked as she poked her head around the door and looked around at the men in the room. They moved through the room to stand beside Frankie to back up their friend if she needed it after nudging past Cace.
Liam coughed to get everyone’s attention. “Ladies, I think we have a proposition you may like. The only question is, were you planning on separating when you leave here or staying together when you made your plans?”
“We stay together,” the women replied at once.
Liam laughed. “Ok then. Frankie, you know we have plenty of space at the Factory. Your Inspector knows about us and that the place is under renovation, but no one knows it’s habitable yet. Michael, you’re in charge of cameras feeds; do you need help setting up extra security cameras?”
“No Dad, it’s sorted. Cameras are on all sides of the building. I introduced myself to a few of the businesses and residents locally when we started building works. The noise was going to be daily, and we wanted the locals to approve the planning consents. We offered to upgrade their security at a discount or for free. We have access to cameras in a lot of the businesses in the high street and for three blocks around us, including the park.”
Liam grinned at his son. “Good lad. Ok then, is there a back way out of here?”
The women looked at each other but Charley spoke first. “I’ll call Mrs Mason who lives over the back. We can go through her house; she took us under her wing after we moved in.”
Liam looked at everyone. “Ok, here’s the plan. Michael goes back to the Factory to make sure you are happy with security there. Roger and Daniel can help you with anything you need. We’ll do this in stages. Riley and Lucas will move in here after they have taken Frankie’s car to Heathrow Airport and leave it in the long stay car park. We’ll book Frankie on the red eye to the States to visit her imaginary cousin. Then we’ll get train tickets for Charley and Emma to go to different places. The ladies will come with us to the Factory. Matt will go with Emma in her car and I’ll go with Charley in hers. We’ll check the cars over now and then pick you up outside Mrs. Mason’s. Ladies, pack enough clothes for a few weeks and whatever else you may need as you won’t be coming back here for a while.”
CHAPTER NINE
Matt opened the door to the loading bay with the remote he’d been given. “Emma, drive straight in when the shutters come up and park up on the left. Wait until the shutters come down before you get out.”
Charley pulled into the space next to Emma. She and Liam got out of her car. Matt and Liam watched as the women unpacked the cars. “Ladies, the boys will bring your stuff up. You know you only had to bring enough clothes for a couple of weeks. We do have washing machines here.”
Charley and Emma looked at each other and laughed. Emma looked up at Matt with a grin. “Oh gorgeous, we couldn’t not bring our toys.”
Cace opened the door to his apartment. Emma leaned over to Charley and whispered, “See, I told you we didn’t need to bring all our toys,” when she saw the weapons on his wall.
“So, this is where we’re staying then. I like it!” Emma stated as she walked around Cace’s apartment.
“Yes,” replied every man in the room.
“Jesus! It was only a question. Frankie, why do they think we need protecting?” Charley asked as she rolled her eyes.
“Don’t look at me, he still thinks I’m sixteen and need looking after.”
Cace raised an eyebrow. “Really Frankie, do you want to have that conversation now?”
She looked away. “Oh shut up. So, girls, what toys did you bring me?” Charley and Emma opened the bags, grinning as they watched the expression on every man’s face as they started pulling out their weapons.
“We weren’t sure how long we’d be staying so we bought sparring gloves, knives, batons, throwing stars… Oh, and my particular favourite, retractable staffs and our crossbows.” Emma opened the retractable staff with the press of a button.
Matt eyed Emma warily. “Well, isn’t that the sexiest thing I’ve seen in a long time. You spoken for?” Liam coughed, trying not to choke. He had never seen his oldest son react to a woman that quickly.
Emma blushed. “Depends, do you have a problem with women who may be able to kick your arse?”
