Bad Blood Rising

by Eva Carmichael

  “Dancing?”

  “No, Angie, not dancing. I was thinking you could help Erica in the office. What do you think?”

  Angie turned to face her brother. She was smiling.

  “That sounds good. When do I start?”

  THIRTY-TWO

  David Glendenning was in a foul mood. It was the opening night of the Emerald Club. He had been looking forward to it for days. It had been a shock when Lydia announced her father was having a birthday dinner that same night and they were both invited. David reluctantly agreed to attend, after all he couldn’t say no to the Chief Constable, but he was determined to go to the club that evening, however late.

  Lydia’s parents lived in an impressive detached Edwardian house set in three acres of grounds. The family’s wealth came from Lydia’s mother, Sonja. Sonja was not generous with her money however, a trait shared by her daughter. Although David enjoyed the benefits of a wealthy lifestyle, Lydia had always made it quite clear that it was her money, not his.

  David knew the evening would be the same routine as it had been every year with Sonja taking credit for the meal, even though she had employed the best caterers in the county. David had recently taken the police exams and was hoping George would confirm his promotion during the evening. If he had been successful, this would make him one of the youngest inspectors in the Force.

  “Darling, there you are,” Sonja greeted her daughter, kissing her lightly on the cheek. “Let me get you a drink.” She nodded to David by way of acknowledgement. “Vodka, isn’t it? What about you, David?”

  “I’ll have the same, Sonja,” David smiled, sitting on the elegant brocade couch next to his wife. David had always admired the house, the sheer size, the location, the décor, everything about it screamed money. Lots and lots of money.

  “Who else has Daddy invited?” Lydia asked casually.

  “The Fitzpatricks are coming, of course,” Sonja said, handing out the drinks, “and Geoffrey and Amanda Lawrence, although why on earth your father wants to have that dreadful man at his table I cannot imagine.”

  “Geoffrey Lawrence is a Chief Superintendent,” David said. “He’s tipped to take over eventually when George retires.”

  “Well, he’ll have a long wait. George won’t be retiring for some time yet.”

  “Where is Daddy? We have a present for him.”

  “He’ll be down in a minute, darling. He’s in the study making a phone call.”

  As if on cue, George Butterfield strode into the room. He was a large man, both in height and girth, with an unmistakeable aura of authority. His once black hair was now speckled with grey giving him an imposing dignity. His hazel eyes were exactly the same colour as those of his daughter.

  “Ah, there you both are. So glad you could make it,” he greeted, holding out his arms to welcome his daughter.

  Lydia ran to her father and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Happy birthday, Daddy,” she cried as she handed him a card, together with a white envelope.

  “What’s this?” George smiled as he tore it open.

  Inside was confirmation for a three night stay at St Andrew’s Golf Hotel, together with three rounds of golf for two people. “Darling, that’s perfect,” George beamed. “Thank you. Thank you both. I’ll really enjoy this.”

  “Will you be taking Mummy with you?”

  “I don’t think your mother is quite ready for three days golfing, dear. No, I think I might ask Geoffrey Lawrence, he’s a keen golfer. He’s coming to dinner tonight.”

  “Yes, Mummy said.”

  “David, if you have a minute, I’d like a word in private, please,” George smiled. “We can go up to my study.”

  “Daddy, your guests will be here any time. Can’t police business wait until later?”

  “Darling, the others won’t be here for half an hour yet. This won’t take long, I promise. David?”

  David rose from the couch and followed his father-in-law up the impressive staircase and along the minstrel gallery to the study. Once inside, George closed the door and walked over to his desk.

  “Sit down,” he said, his tone suddenly becoming stern. “You and I need to talk.”

  “George, what’s wrong?” David asked anxiously as he sat on the chair across from George’s desk.

  “Wrong? What’s wrong? I’ll tell you what’s wrong, you lying, cheating little bastard.”

  “I don’t know what you mean,” David protested, rising from his chair.

  “Sit down. You sit down and you listen to what I have to say.”

  David sank back into his chair.

  “I know you’ve been having an affair, David. I don’t know her name but I do know she is some creature selling sex on the street.”

  “That’s a lie,” David protested. “I’ve never…”

  “Don’t you fucking lie to me. Don’t you dare lie to me.”

  David could feel his heart racing, and struggled to keep his composure.

  “You were seen, man. Twice you were seen by fellow officers driving around with some tart in your car.” George’s face contorted with anger.

  “George, I can explain. I…”

  “Enough! Geoffrey Lawrence has been approached twice by junior officers reporting seeing you. How dare you?”

  “I haven’t,” David protested. “On my life, I wouldn’t cheat on Lydia. She’s the love of my life. She and Matthew mean everything to me.”

  “David, I don’t believe you. I think you’re a liar and a cheat, and I won’t have it. Do you hear? I simply won’t have it.” He banged his fist down heavily on the desk. “You’ll be informed officially on Monday morning that you’ve been successful in passing your inspector’s exams. Your promotion will depend upon my recommendation. I can make it happen, David, and believe me when I say, I can just as easily destroy you.”

  “George, please, you have this all wrong,” David wailed. “It’s true that I meet informants from time to time, and occasionally some of them are women, but that’s all part of the job. You know that. Sometimes I speak to them inside my car. Maybe that’s what was witnessed. Believe me, I’d never cheat on Lydia, I give you my word.”

  There was a sharp rap on the door and Sonja stepped into the room.

  “Our guests have arrived, dear,” she said quietly.

  “Thank you, darling, we’ll be down in a minute.”

  When Sonja had left the room, George turned to face David.

  “If I receive any more reports about you and prostitutes, I swear to God, I’ll finish you. I hope you understand that. Nobody cheats on my daughter.” He walked over to the study door and opened it. “Now that we understand each other, shall we join my guests?”

  Silently, David followed George downstairs, feeling somewhat shaken by their encounter.

  “Dinner is served,” Sonja announced, smiling. “If you would all follow me into the dining room.”

  David was seated facing Geoffrey Lawrence. Lawrence was in his early forties, tall and thin with an unruly crop of bright ginger hair and eyes the colour of boiled gooseberries.

  “Good evening, David,” Geoffrey greeted. “I understand congratulations are in order.”

  David smiled weakly.

  THIRTY-THREE

  It was eight o’clock and the Emerald Club was about to open its doors for the very first time. Karl wore a dark grey suit, white shirt and green tie embossed with the words ‘Emerald Club’. Each of the male staff had been supplied with the same tie. All twelve dancers wore identical outfits, a silver and green sequined bikini and silver stilettos. Behind the bar were four experienced bartenders. Simon, as well as Victor’s two brothers were standing by the doors.

  “Everything looks ready,” Karl said anxiously as he lit one of the Cuban cigars given to him by Danny. “I just hope nothing goes wrong tonight.”

  “Calm down, boss,” Joe soothed. “It will go like clockwork, you’ll see. By the way, what time do you want me to pick up Erica?”

  “S
hit, I’d forgotten about her. Can you go now? I told her to be ready for eight.”

  “Okay, I’ll be back in half an hour.”

  Karl decided to do one last check upstairs. He had taken on eight girls to work the VIP lounge. All had been recruited by Joe.

  “Good evening, ladies,” he said jovially as he entered the lounge bar. “May I say how lovely you’re all looking this evening.” The women ceased their chatter and smiled at their new employer. “We’ll be opening up downstairs in a few minutes. You all know what to do, right?”

  Sharon, the self-appointed spokesperson, moved forward.

  “Mr Maddox, we are all professionals, darling. We have done this before. Trust me, there’s nothing for you to worry about. We all know how to keep the punters happy, isn’t that right, girls?”

  “Bring it on,” cried a shapely brunette.

  “They won’t know what’s hit them,” said another.

  “Don’t forget, when you go downstairs I want you to persuade as many punters as you can to buy a membership for up here. There’s a bonus for each new member you sign up.”

  “By the time we’ve finished, you’ll have more members than you can cope with,” Sharon laughed.

  Satisfied, Karl turned and walked onto the landing where Victor was stationed behind a small table.

  “Everything alright, Victor?” he asked.

  Victor, looking smart in his new grey suit, smiled warmly at Karl. “Yes, Mr Karl, everything’s good.”

  Karl walked downstairs and into the foyer. Angie and another girl, Kerry, were behind the glass screens.

  “You two alright?” he asked.

  “Yes, Karl,” Kerry answered giving him her sweetest smile. “We’re fine.”

  “If you get grief from anyone, and I mean anyone, remember the guys are just outside to sort it, okay?”

  Both girls nodded.

  Karl walked back into the club, content that everything was as it should be.

  “Okay, people,” he grinned, “it’s time to open up.”

  On unlocking the doors, Simon was greeted by a crowd of punters, all eager to see what the Emerald Club had to offer.

  Just after eight-thirty, Joe entered the club with Erica. Karl was standing near the bar being complemented by a local businessman on how he was bringing a little much needed spice into the town. It was usually Erica’s beauty that caught Karl’s attention. She was indeed a strikingly attractive woman. Tonight she was wearing a long black velvet gown which he had chosen. This was offset by an emerald pendent he had bought to mark the opening of the club. But it was something else that caught his attention that night. Was it his imagination he wondered, or was Joe being a little too familiar, placing his arm around Erica’s slender shoulders? When she smiled at Joe, it was a sexy, welcoming smile, the type of smile that should have been reserved for him alone.

  He walked over to his wife. “I was expecting you ages ago.”

  “Sorry, darling, the traffic was horrendous.”

  “I’ve reserved a table over there,” Karl said, indicating the far side of the room. “Joe, get me a whisky, will you? I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Joe escorted Erica to the reserved table in front of the panelled wall.

  “Champagne?” he asked lightly.

  “Yes, please, I love champagne.”

  “And I love you, Erica,” Joe whispered. “I wish you would leave him and come away with me. I could make you so happy.”

  “Darling, you know that’s impossible. Karl would kill you. He’d kill me too. No, that isn’t true. He wouldn’t kill me, he’d destroy me.”

  “I don’t understand. You keep saying that but how can he destroy you?”

  “Trust me, he can, and he will. There are things about me that…”

  A waitress came to the table.

  “What can I get you to drink?” she smiled. “All drinks are half price tonight. I… Oh, Joe, I didn’t realise it was you.”

  Joe grinned at the girl, a pretty brunette with sparkling green eyes. “I don’t think you’ve met Karl’s wife, Erica. Erica, this is…?”

  “Milly,” the girl beamed. “Isn’t this exciting, Joe? The lights, the music, the dancing. I wanted to be a dancer but…”

  Joe smiled at the girl, remembering her audition a few days earlier. He had never seen anyone crash with such force as Milly had done as she slid screaming down the pole.

  Joe ordered the round of drinks when he suddenly became aware of a faint yet familiar aroma, the aroma of Cuban cigars. He looked around but there was no sign of Karl. Out of the corner of his eye, Joe saw a faint plume of smoke through the fleur-de-lis. He discreetly signalled to Erica to be quiet as he silently mouthed ’Karl’ and pointed to the panelling.

  “I can’t thank Karl enough for giving Angie a job in the club,” he said casually. “It’s really helped me out.”

  “Karl thinks very highly of you,” Erica smiled. “He was only too happy to help.”

  She moved her leg seductively closer to Joe and entwined her foot with his leg beneath the table. A few minutes later Karl joined them, looking much more relaxed than he had earlier.

  “Erica, you look beautiful tonight,” he smiled, kissing her on the lips. “That dress is perfect. It’s elegant and classy, just like you, darling.”

  Erica blushed and felt a little uncomfortable at the unexpected attention.

  “Thank you for the pendant,” she smiled. “It will always remind me of tonight.”

  Karl turned to Joe. “That sister of yours, she’s a very bright girl. She picked things up straight away. I think she’ll be a real asset to the club.”

  “Karl and I didn’t know you had a sister,” Erica smiled. “Do you have any more surprises, Joe?”

  “No, there’s just Angie. She’s had a rough time recently so it will be great to get her settled. Thanks for that, Karl.”

  “No problem, mate. Now the good news is the membership for upstairs is doing great. We’ve already got over fifty. This place is going to be a proper goldmine, I just know it is.”

  “Well, it’s certainly filling up downstairs,” Joe grinned. “It looks like it’s going to be a busy night.”

  “To the Emerald Club,” Karl toasted.

  All three raised their glasses.

  THIRTY-FOUR

  It was almost midnight when David Glendenning finally got to the Emerald Club. He walked into the foyer and was greeted by a pretty black girl.

  “Good evening, sir,” she smiled politely.

  “Good evening, Angie,” David responded, noting her name badge. “Is Karl about?”

  “He’s upstairs in the private lounge, but I’m afraid you can’t go up there unless you’re a member.”

  David grinned at the girl and produced his lounge pass. Angie smiled sweetly in response. Just then, the door to the club opened and Lindsay came into the foyer carrying a glass of coke.

  “Angie, I’ve brought you a…” she stopped abruptly at the sight of David. “Oh, it’s you,” she said taken aback. “I never expected to see you in here.”

  David scowled at the girl for a second.

  “Work,” he snapped as he turned and walked quickly through the door leading to the VIP staircase.

  “He’s cute,” Angie grinned when David was out of sight.

  “Don’t get ideas, Angie. He’s a policeman.”

  “You’re joking. He doesn’t look like a cop.”

  “Well, believe me, he is. When I was attacked, he was the one who…”

  “Stop gossiping, you two,” Simon snapped. “Haven’t you got work to do? Lindsay, take a coke upstairs to the lounge doorman and Angie, you make sure the cash tallies with the tills.”

  Sulkily, Lindsay got a coke from the bar and made her way up to the VIP lounge. The lighting was dim on the stairwell and she was almost at his side before she realised the doorman was Victor. In panic she screamed, dropped the drink on the carpet and began descending the stairs as quickly as she could.


  “Get away from me,” she shrieked. “Leave me alone.”

  In her haste she tripped and fell down the bottom three steps. Hearing the commotion, Joe came out of the lounge to see Victor standing at the top of the stairs and Lindsay, a crumpled heap at the bottom, screaming profanities at him.

  “What the hell’s going on?” Joe demanded. “Are you alright, Lindsay?”

  “Keep that pig away from me,” she sobbed. “You promised I wouldn’t have to see him again, Joe. You promised.”

  “Alright, calm down,” Joe soothed. “Did Victor touch you?”

  Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head. Joe looked up the stairs to see Victor looking forlorn.

  “I never touched her, Joe, I swear I didn’t. She just came upstairs and started screaming at me. Look what she did.” He pointed to the drink spilt on the carpet. “She’s a crazy woman.”

  Joe helped Lindsay to her feet. “Get a cloth from behind the bar,” he instructed. When she had gone, he turned to Victor.

  “We can’t have this sort of thing happening again. It’s not good for business. I’ll speak to Karl later.”

  Victor hovered sulkily at the top of the stairs. A couple of minutes later Lindsay came into the foyer holding a cloth. Joe took it from her.

  “Get back to work Lindsay. I’ll speak to you tomorrow.”

  “But Joe, Victor…”

  Joe raised his hand.

  “Enough. I said I’ll deal with this tomorrow, now do as I say and get back to work.”

  Muttering under her breath, Lindsay gave one last defiant look at Victor before returning to the club. Joe handed the cloth to Victor.

  “Clean up the mess before someone sees it,” he ordered.

  Victor peevishly did as he was asked.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  The Emerald Club had been open two weeks and business was good, in fact business had been very good, exceeding all expectations. Joe and Karl were in the office having their usual morning meeting.