She said nothing, staring back at him with what she hoped was a disdainful expression. It didn’t seem to bother him.
‘Let’s talk about the money you owe me,’ he said. ‘It’s not that I need it, more… Well, it’s about respect, isn’t it? Responsibility. I made the sale in good faith, and Mulligan screwed me over. It’s time to settle the debt.’
‘Yeah, well, like I say, I can’t pay you.’
He leant back again, rubbing his jaw. ‘And yet you told me you’d made decent money in Scotland. Were you lying about how successful you’ve been?’
‘Why should I bail out my cousin?’ She allowed some belligerence into her tone. ‘Would you pay a debt for Reuben Nash?’
Harris scowled, furious, as she had expected. ‘I’d step over Reuben Nash if I saw him dying on the street. Anyway, he’s nothing to me. Mulligan’s your family, and I’m getting my money. I don’t care which one of you pays, but someone’s going to.’
‘What’s the problem between you and Reuben?’
‘Apart from the fact his brother’s a psychotic bastard who’s attacked me more than once?’
She watched him. ‘His dead brother, you mean? The one who’s been murdered?’
‘Murdered? Come on. Way I heard it, Nathan hit his head. How’s that murder?’
‘Depends if he fell or was pushed, doesn’t it? And after the incident with the knife, you’re probably the first person the police will want to talk to.’
Now he laughed. ‘You think? You saw Nathan, he was off his face. He probably just tripped over his own feet. The police have been round here already, and I told them the truth. I left the club, got straight in a taxi. I was going to go to A and E to see if that fucker had broken my jaw, but in the end I didn’t bother. I went home, then to bed. Whatever happened to Nathan, it was nothing to do with me. My mum backed me up; she heard me come in.’
Caelan hid a smile. ‘You live with your mum?’
He glared at her. ‘No, she lives with me. Something wrong with that?’
‘Not at all.’ She nodded towards the door. ‘What about your friends out there? Johnny and…?’
She waited for him to fill in the gap, but he said, ‘They dropped me at home, and where they went after that is their business.’
‘Back to the club to give Nathan Nash a kicking? To kill him?’
His nostrils flared. ‘I’ve told you it was nothing to do with us, and even if I’d wanted to teach him a lesson, I wouldn’t have done it outside his brother’s club. I’m not that stupid.’
Caelan wondered about that, but didn’t comment. ‘Then who do you think did it?’
‘No idea. Why do you care?’
‘I want to know who tried to kill James, and it seems too big a coincidence for him and Nathan Nash to be attacked within hours of each other if there’s no link.’
Harris gave a dismissive shrug. ‘Forgive me if I don’t give a shit. We’re here to talk about my money.’
She risked a smile. ‘Well, unless I’ve won the lottery in the past five minutes and haven’t been told, I still don’t have it.’
He didn’t laugh. He pushed back his chair, got to his feet. Caelan didn’t turn her head as he moved around the desk to stand behind her. She forced herself to stay still, her body thrumming with energy, ready to attack or defend herself.
It was a mistake.
His hands were on her shoulders, gentle as a lover. He caressed them, his mouth close to her cheek, cigarettes and coffee on his breath. Caelan burned with anger, revulsion, but she knew she couldn’t react. This was a test, one she was determined to pass.
His fingers moved down her arms, encircling both biceps for a second before sliding back up to her shoulders.
Then, suddenly, they were around her throat.
She froze, her body urging her to fight, or run. Harris didn’t speak, but he was breathing faster. He was enjoying this – the power, the control. Her options flashed through her mind – drive her fist into his groin, shove the chair back into his body, then grab it and batter him with it. Her seated position would make any attempt to throw him off difficult, though, and she was furious with herself for allowing him near her. She waited, sensing that he had hesitated.
‘You’re going to work for me until you’ve paid off your debt,’ he whispered. The pressure on her throat increased, but only slightly.
‘Doing what?’ she managed to say.
More pressure. ‘Whatever I want. Whatever I tell you.’ He laughed softly, his lips brushing her ear. ‘Whenever I want.’
Caelan fought the rising panic, the disgust and fury. He wasn’t hurting her, not yet. This was posturing, a show of dominance. How far was he willing to go? She didn’t know, didn’t want to risk finding out. He had locked the door, put the key in his pocket, and to retrieve it she would have to get close to him. Even if she’d put him out of action, that would leave her vulnerable again. She knew she would struggle to exit the room unless he opened the door himself. On the other hand, that meant Johnny, the man outside, couldn’t get in to help his boss out unless he also had a key, which Caelan doubted. She imagined Harris would want to keep them to himself. Everything he did was a display of power. She knew she could hurt him, kill him if she had to, unless he got in a lucky punch. She was well trained, but a punch in the face would put her flat on her back as quickly as it would anyone else. The secret was to strike first and not allow the other person back up.
Harris’s right hand slid up her throat and he gripped her jaw and chin. Viciously he yanked her head around so that their cheeks were pressed together.
‘You’ve been getting on well with Reuben Nash, haven’t you?’ His voice was low, husky, and Caelan knew the situation was exciting him. The thought revolted her, and she cursed herself for coming here at all.
‘I’ve spoken to him,’ she croaked.
‘Am I hurting you?’ Harris whispered. Caelan said nothing, and he wrenched her jaw and chin again, hard. She made a small sound of distress, and he nuzzled her neck. ‘Well?’
‘A little.’
His left hand increased the pressure on her throat. ‘You know, in your position, I’d be telling the truth. You were in Nash’s office, just the two of you, nice and cosy. I want to know what he said to you.’
She didn’t reply, and he squeezed. She choked, coughing, and he laughed as he released his grip. Caelan swallowed. He hadn’t hurt her as much as he thought, but she knew she had to give him what he wanted. With him standing behind her, she was too vulnerable. It wasn’t as though Reuben had passed on state secrets.
‘He asked what my business was, said maybe we could work together, that he’d introduce me to people,’ she said. ‘I told him I needed to do a deal soon, because Mulligan owed you money. When he heard your name, he backed off. Didn’t seem to want to know any more.’
His left hand was back at her throat, the right still gripping her face, his thumb digging painfully into her jaw. ‘What else?’
‘Nothing, I swear. He asked for my number later on, but then we found Nathan’s body and…’ She allowed her voice to trail away.
‘You’re sure there’s nothing else?’ This time he grabbed a fistful of her hair, twisting it, pulling her head back so her chest rose. Caelan knew that if he touched her breasts she would have to react. She couldn’t allow this to go too far. ‘Did Reuben tell you how he makes his money?’ Harris said against her ear.
Caelan spoke quickly, as though she was panicking. Harris didn’t know how close he was to having his fingers snapped. ‘He said all I needed to know was that he’s a businessman. He asked whether I dealt, like James.’
‘What did you say?’
‘I told him it was a safe assumption.’
Abruptly Harris let her go. Caelan made a show of half falling out of her chair. She pretended she was struggling to sit upright, fighting the temptation to rub her jaw, to explore her aching throat with her fingertips. She decided she would not give him the satisfaction, and kept
her hands clenched in her lap.
He stepped away and stood over her, grinning. ‘Do we understand each other?’
She lifted her chin. ‘I think I’m beginning to get the picture.’
He laughed. ‘You’re a mouthy bitch, you know that? Usually I don’t like women who talk back to me. They only ever try it once.’
‘I’ll try to remember that.’ She looked at him. ‘But no promises.’
His eyes narrowed. ‘Careful.’
She didn’t reply.
‘I want you to find out what Nash is up to,’ he said. ‘He allows people to deal in his club, but he’s never let me near. I want to know why, who his major players are. I know faces, but not names. More importantly, I want to know how else he makes his money.’
‘What do you mean?’
Harris waved an impatient hand. ‘His place is a dump, yet Nash seems to be loaded. Where’s the money coming from?’
‘I don’t know. Don’t people pay him to trade in the club?’
‘Who told you that?’
‘James.’
‘Mulligan?’ He made a sound of disgust. ‘How would he know? He asked Reuben if he wanted to buy some of the crack he was peddling. Reuben laughed in his face.’
‘Why?’
‘Because Mulligan’s small-time. Not worth the bother, especially now.’ He checked his phone. ‘Talk to Reuben. Anything you find out, let me know. I want that bastard’s business.’
‘His business?’
‘The club. I made an offer when he bought it, but the seller was someone I’d pissed off years ago and he told me where to go.’
Caelan frowned at him. ‘Why would you want it? You’ve just said it can’t make much of a profit.’
‘I have plans for it. The rest is none of your business.’ He held up a hand, threw the key on the floor behind her. ‘Now get out.’
She stood up slowly. ‘All you want me to do is talk to Reuben?’
His smile was predatory. ‘For now. But remember, I know you’re staying at Mulligan’s house, and I can visit any time I like. If I was you, I’d do as I was told. And don’t think about running back up to Scotland or anywhere else. I’ll find you.’
Caelan picked up the key, unlocked the door. Ignoring the urge to hurl it at his face, she left it in the lock. As she opened the door, Harris said quietly, ‘And remember, you owe me fifteen grand. It’s going to take you years to pay that off, and I’ll own you until you do.’
22
Downstairs, Harris’s mother was still hunched over her desk.
‘Lovely son you’ve got there,’ Caelan muttered as she strode past. She was ignored.
Ewan stood when he saw her, his face anxious. His eyes went to her throat, and Caelan saw his expression darken. Johnny came clattering down the stairs and nodded to the other bodyguard, who stepped away. Caelan took Ewan’s hand and squeezed.
‘Come on,’ she said. ‘Time to go.’
Ewan flung a look of hatred at Harris’s heavies, then up at the ceiling.
‘What did that bastard—’
‘Leave it, please,’ Caelan said, beginning to drag him towards the door. The bodyguards were laughing, each giving a little wave as they stepped onto the street.
‘Are you okay? What the hell happened up there?’ Ewan demanded.
‘Let’s just get away from here,’ Caelan told him. She had been shaken by her encounter with Harris, but now she knew she needed to put some distance between them. She was raging too much to think clearly, and in her job that could be fatal.
Ewan didn’t argue, didn’t ask for explanations, and she was grateful. They walked quickly, hand in hand again, though after what Harris had done, Caelan had to force herself not to recoil from the contact.
It was only when they were on the Tube, speeding away from Harris’s patch, that she began to explain what had happened. Ewan listened silently, still holding her hand, staring at the floor of the carriage with his jaw clenched. When she’d finished, he turned to her.
‘He could have—’
‘I know what he could have done,’ she said quietly. ‘He didn’t. Anyway, I wouldn’t have let him get that far.’
Ewan nodded. ‘Sorry.’ He blew out his cheeks. ‘What now?’
‘We talk to Reuben, as instructed – we were going to anyway. And we’ll need to check in.’
He nodded again, knowing that she meant with Penrith. Caelan also wanted to speak to Adele Brady to ask if any progress had been made on the enquiry into Nathan Nash’s death, but Brady had said not to approach her directly. ‘You know, on second thoughts, Reuben said to meet him later, at the club,’ she said. ‘Why don’t we see the boss, then go and get a few hours’ sleep? Don’t know about you, but I’m dead on my feet.’
‘Good plan.’ Ewan hid a yawn behind his free hand. ‘You said something about hotel rooms?’
‘Well, we can’t go back to the house. There’s a place in Southwark they sometimes use. One of the chain places – nothing fancy, but clean and comfortable.’
They sat quietly for a while, Caelan beginning to realise that Ewan holding her hand was now giving her comfort, rather than feeling like an imposition. She wasn’t attracted to him, never could or would be, but he was a good friend and a safe, reassuring presence. She shifted slightly, and he glanced at her, misinterpreting the movement.
‘Sorry, I thought we were still…’ He sat up straighter, releasing her hand, but she shook her head and took it again. Looking up at him, she saw he had realised what she needed him to do, and they sat in companionable silence until the train arrived at Westminster.
* * *
‘Why didn’t you kick the shit out of him?’ Penrith asked.
Caelan shrugged. ‘Didn’t think you’d approve.’
‘Never stopped you before.’
‘We’re looking for people traffickers, and Harris seems a good place to start. He treats women with contempt, like property. He thinks it’s his right to touch them when he chooses, to insult them and beat them.’ She paused. ‘Why didn’t I kick the shit out of him?’
‘Because you’re a professional,’ Penrith said. ‘Harris isn’t worth it, not unless it’s necessary to subdue him.’ He gave Caelan a hard stare, which she took to mean that he understood how close she had been to having to put Harris out of action, and that he wasn’t impressed with the risks she’d taken.
‘Earlier you mentioned a mutual friend,’ she said. ‘Did you mean Adele Brady?’
‘I did. She was going to call to update you, but we didn’t think it wise in the end. You’re supposed to be undercover, after all.’
Caelan frowned. ‘Update me about what?’
‘Tim Achebe and Jen Somerville have quietly been asked to look into the attack on Mulligan.’
‘But—’
Penrith held up a hand. ‘They’re already working on Nathan Nash’s death. I know. The point is, they’ve been involved in trying to persuade Mulligan to work with us from the start. They know him, and some of his background. Maybe you should speak to them about both cases.’
Caelan closed her eyes for a second. ‘We’ll need some rest first.’
‘Fine.’ His expression said it wasn’t, but even Penrith recognised exhaustion when he saw it. ‘I’ll ask Tim and Jen to come to you. There are rooms reserved for you.’ He named the hotel and location.
‘Not the usual place, then?’ Caelan said.
‘No. We’ve used it a little too often. Safety first and all that.’ Penrith peered into the mug that sat close to his right hand. ‘Bugger. Empty. I won’t offer you coffee because you’ll only hang around for longer.’
‘You’re all heart.’
‘It’s interesting that Harris has asked you to spy on Reuben Nash for him,’ Penrith mused. ‘Hopefully it’ll help us out too.’
‘If I can get Reuben to trust me, maybe.’ Caelan leant her head against the back of the chair, a dull pain beginning to pulse in her temple. ‘Have you heard any more about Mulligan?�
�
‘No change. There’s a guard outside his room now, as I told you. No more phone calls trying to find out where he is, as far as I know.’
‘Harris already knew about the attack on him.’
Penrith considered it. ‘Jolene Townsend?’
‘Maybe.’ Caelan thought back to the previous evening. ‘When Mulligan mentioned that he needed to raise some cash, Jolene suggested he speak to Harris. She must know something about how he makes his money.’
‘She told us Mulligan was a nobody when we spoke to her earlier,’ Ewan pointed out. ‘If that was true, why would she think Harris might have a deal for him?’
‘Everyone keeps telling us that. She also said, “What’s he got to do with—” as though something was going on that Mulligan wasn’t a part of,’ Caelan said.
‘And what did she mean?’ Penrith demanded.
‘No idea,’ Caelan admitted. ‘I couldn’t press her without looking suspicious.’
‘What’s suspicious about it? Your cousin’s been attacked and left for dead. And you want to know what happened. Go back to her. She knows something.’ Penrith pulled a face, frustrated. ‘I’m beginning to think you were right and none of this is worth the effort. Let them all kill each other if that’s what they want to do.’
‘Except Lucy Mulligan is still missing,’ said Ewan.
There was silence, then Penrith sighed.
‘We should have been more forceful with Mulligan. He must know more than he’s told us, and now we can’t speak to him at all.’
‘He told me he was doing his best to point us in the right direction, but swore he didn’t know who was involved,’ Caelan said.
‘And that was when we should have beaten it out of him.’ Penrith screwed up his face to show he was joking. ‘As we can’t do that, especially now that someone else has had a go at him, let’s go over the possibilities. Mulligan made a point of taking you places where you’d meet Stefan Harris, Reuben and Nathan Nash and Jolene Townsend. What about Leyton Grey?’
Caelan shrugged. ‘We saw him at Stand and at Reuben’s. Mulligan made him out to be a simple barber, but it seems he knows some of Mulligan’s friends. I think he stays on the list.’
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