The contentment abruptly ended with a beep on the intercom. Maddox sighed and spied his watch; the moment hadn't been as abrupt as he thought. He had drifted under the music and fallen asleep.
Tom and Amber appeared at the door with bowed heads. They mumbled their apologies to the floor and he clicked his fingers to get their focus. There was no point moping when there was work to be done. He gestured them inside, leading them to the sofa.
Amber sunk down, depressing the leather, but Tom stayed standing, back straight and shoulders back. Maddox sighed and leaned against the piano.
“Why did you think it was him?” he asked.
Amber's mouth poised to apologize, but Maddox cut her off with a dismissive wave. He had asked a question and expected it to be answered.
“CCTV of him on Norfolk Street. He was carrying a silver case.”
Maddox nodded. He could understand why they had come to their conclusions. Ian had used a silver case to move the diamond, but he waited for the reason that was unfounded.
So far, their actions had been logical, but they were sure Jake wasn’t the man they were after.
Tom shot an uneasy glance towards Amber, flicking his head for her to continue.
“He works in a stationary shop, it was an artist’s case.”
Maddox hummed, idly tapping his forefinger on his chin in thought. “He paints?”
Both Tom and Amber frowned, mouths un-sticking, but no words followed.
Maddox rolled his eyes. “When you went into the flat, were there paintings, canvases, brushes?”
Both faces blanched at his questioning before Tom finally spoke up, “I opened a case, full of paintbrushes-”
“Did they look used?”
Tom shook his head. “No, but-”
“More than one case? Did they look brand new?”
“Yes-”
“Several artist cases, but he doesn’t paint...sounds like a thief to me.”
Amber shuffled. “He steals from his own work?”
Maddox huffed a laugh. “He steals from his boss, just how Ian stole from me...”
Silence lingered, Tom cleared his throat, thumb rubbing against the hair on his top lip. “You're still suspicious of him?”
He was more intrigued than suspicious, but nodded anyway not to overcomplicate things.
“Find out everything you can about him and report back to me.”
Tom shot off the sofa immediately, but Amber stood slowly with a shake of her head. “You think he might actually have it?”
Maddox shrugged. “He might...”
“I smacked him about…he seemed scared.”
“Seemed,” Maddox sniggered, “seemed scared, but I don’t think he was.”
“You held a gun to his head, and he didn’t say anything...”
She was thinking out loud, but Maddox graced her with an answer anyway.
“I think he enjoyed the danger of it...”
Both Amber and Tom scrunched their faces, repulsed by the idea. Maddox snorted and presented them with his back. They scarpered out of the house, off to find out all they could about the compelling Jake.
He gave them a week to gather their information. In that time, there was no gloating from Richie, and no one else claimed they had stolen the diamond from the Mad Dog. Jake stayed prime suspect. Lewis and Carl followed him in case he got the compulsion to run, but he hadn’t, he’d carried on going to work as normal. Maddox wasn’t sure whether he didn’t want to arouse suspicion or was at a loss of what to do. Then there was the third option. Jake didn’t have it at all.
When Tom and Amber’s findings were presented, they stood in front of Maddox like they were pitching an idea.
He tapped his finger lightly against his glass as he heard what they had to say, interjecting his own words when he needed more information.
“Jake Hatton.” Maddox repeated.
It felt nice to know the man’s name and he only just curbed the smile into indifference. Tom didn’t notice and continued to rattle off Jake’s life as if he was merely facts on a page and not a person.
“Yeah, twenty-two, works at Stationary Corner, been there a few years. No formal qualifications, lives the rough side of Norfolk street. No convictions.”
Maddox hummed at the last one, he had expected Jake to have some police record if he really did enjoy stealing.
“What about school?”
“Lots of different ones, many exclusions...”
Maddox cocked his head, flicking his chin for more information.
“Excluded from six schools, stealing came up a lot in his reports...”
“What did he steal?”
Tom shook his head. “Not from the school itself, other students, teachers, parents...and nothing of real importance, games, homework, books, keys, wallets, the strange thing was, he always returned them…”
Definitely strange, and alluring, and Maddox chucked his drink back to distract himself from the prickling interest taking over.
“Family?”
“None, foster homes but he never settled. I couldn’t find any information on his biological parents. No siblings, not many friends as far as we can tell either.”
A gut twisting sensation had Maddox leaning forward. Jake was alone, didn’t have a family, and he knew how empty it felt not to belong to something. He squeezed his temples with a silent growl. No time to feel pity for a man he didn’t know.
“Thank you Tom.”
He sagged at the praise and bowed his head.
“Shouldn’t we be considering other lines of enquiry?”
It was the first time Amber had spoken since both her and Tom arrived, her brow scrunched in confusion and her eyes narrowed.
“Richie doesn’t have it, we would’ve heard about it by now if he did. But you're right, Jake might not have anything to do with this. We watch him, see what he does, but we see what other information we can find about that night too.”
Amber’s brow relaxed, and her eyes softened. “I’ll see what I can find.”
She left with a flick of her red hair, strutting the room. Maddox didn’t miss how Tom’s gaze followed as if magnetised. The wiggle of her hips was obviously for Tom’s benefit and not his. His sexuality had been broadcast when he climbed the ranks. It was one of the reasons he savaged his rivals, him being gay wasn’t a weakness. They thought he was a push-over, he proved he wasn’t. If anyone made a homophobic comment, he’d cut their tongue out.
He clicked his fingers and Tom’s attention snapped back.
“Yes, Boss?”
“Get me Lewis...”
His desire to see Jake had been kept at bay long enough, it was time to see the alluring creatures again.
Lewis stopped the car out of sight of Stationary Corner. Maddox checked his watch, Tom had told him the hours Jake worked, and he had arrived in time to see him leave.
He didn’t have to wait long till the mop of familiar brown hair plodded from the door. The redness to his face had faded, leaving pale skin that longed to be caressed.
The same coil of excitement gripped Maddox at the sight of the other man. The trousers Jake wore were tight and sculpted around his legs, but the jacket slung around his body hid his arse from view and Maddox wanted to tear the veiling item apart. Jakes hands were shoved in his pockets and his spine was bent forward as if he anticipated a long trek.
Jake was a few inches shorter than Maddox, and another hit of arousal spread through his body at the thought of Jake looking up at him, cheeks blushing, mouth pliant and ready to be guided-
“Should I follow, sir?”
“No-don’t follow...”
He just wanted to observe for now, stalk the beautiful creature from a distance.
Jake’s head rolled on his shoulders and he darted what Maddox suspected was a pleading look to the sky. Rain was spitting, the patter on the windscreen was so slight it couldn’t yet be heard.
Jake paused in his trudging; his back straightened as if puppet sting
s had tugged him upright. The change in posture had Maddox licking his lips. The thought of Jake stretched out had a grumble vibrating his throat. Naked and stretched out, that was how he wanted him.
The man Maddox admired spun around, his eyes attached to the car. The distance was too great to see their colour. It was something Maddox was still frustrated by when he fantasized about him. He could’ve asked Tom, but he doubted he'd taken in the detail of his face. Besides, Maddox wanted to reveal the colour for himself.
Jake took a step towards the car and Maddox patted his hand down on Lewis’s shoulder.
“Time we go.”
It was tempting to let Jake creep up, Maddox wanted to see him close, study him when he wasn’t covered in ferocious slaps from Amber, but he wasn’t ready for the chase to have its conclusion. Lewis started the engine, and Jake faded from view.
“Doesn’t look like a diamond thief...”
Maddox grimaced at Lewis’s observation. “And what does one look like?”
He shrugged. “I dunno...but....”
His voice trailed off and Maddox grumbled ‘go on’ to get his mouth moving again.
“It’s just, if I stole a diamond...I would get the money and book myself a holiday, buy a car...I wouldn’t go about things as normal.”
Maddox snorted in amusement. “I know what to look out for when I think you're stealing from me.”
Lewis’s huge eyes found Maddox’s in the mirror. “I’d never steal from you boss.”
The problem with emitting dominance like Maddox did, no one knew when he was merely joking or subtly threatening.
Maddox sighed with a shake of his head. “Für Elise...”
Lewis scrambled to put the music on, shooting a small smile once he did.
“Thank you, Lewis.” Maddox said, sinking back.
He closed his eyes and let the symphony shake his bones. His body was won over by the music, but his brain was churning images of Jake, needy and sweating. He had to cure the rising lust, seek out someone to entertain his appetite, but the thought of it being anyone but Jake left him hollow.
Tom stopped by the house, special delivery of Jake’s underwear in his arms. Maddox took the items with no explanation and Tom knew not to ask.
“No sign of the case, Boss.”
For a few seconds Maddox stared blankly, wondering what Tom was talking about. The case, the diamond. He inwardly scolded himself for getting swept up in his own fantasies.
If Jake was smart, he wouldn’t keep the diamond in his home, would have it stored away somewhere else. So far, he hadn’t contacted Richie, or any of the pawnbrokers, not even the museum it had been stolen from. It was more than likely he hadn’t even broken into the case yet or had no idea of the diamond's worth.
“Tomorrow, we’ll amp the pressure.”
Tom nodded and saw himself out.
Maddox carried the underwear to his bedroom and laid each item on the bed.
All boxer shorts. Maddox raised his brow curiously at some of the bolder pairs, leopard and tiger print and one pair had the words ‘tame the snake’. Another pair caught his eyes, popular superhero motif printed repeatedly on the shorts. Maddox snorted. The hero stood for justice and, yet Jake stole and lied. He wondered whether Jake wore them when he was chasing his thrill. The tops of them had frayed, and the print was fading from repeated washing. The label was so badly worn, Maddox couldn’t even read the size.
A pulse of sadness gripped his heart. All the underwear on display were old, cheap by the fraying material and weakened elastic.
Jake didn’t have much money, that was clear from the derelict building he lived in and his array of tatty clothes. Maddox wondered how long he’d only just been making it by.
If Jake was his, Maddox would choose his underwear. Lacy numbers that showed off his slim hips and rounded arse. He hadn’t seen it yet, but assumed from his lean legs it would be firm under his hands.
A grumble of approval rattled Maddox’s teeth. He wanted a close-up of that pert bum, he wanted to see the crease of the trousers slipping into the line between his cheeks from lack of underwear.
Maddox was a man that always got what he wanted...
He told everyone they were searching for the diamond in the stationary store. It was a half-truth. It was the most likely place Jake would’ve hidden it.
Lewis was busy, he stuttered on the phone when he said he couldn’t make it, but Maddox soothed his worries. They worked for him, but they were allowed a life outside of him too. It was Lewis's girlfriend’s birthday, and Maddox had given him an advance on his wages to buy her the perfect gift. The money was taken with suspicion, and Maddox smiled to reassure him. His smiles tended to resemble sinister grimaces though, and Lewis had trembled when slotting the notes in his wallet.
Tom was back to driving him. When he went to climb from the car, Maddox stopped him, reaching forward from the back and tightening his hand on Tom’s shoulder. This order was meant only for Tom.
“Go easy...and I want you to take a picture of Jake bending over.”
It was one of the strangest orders he had given, and it spun Tom off his professionalism.
“You what?”
Maddox chuckled. “I want a picture of his arse...”
Tom darted a look back at Maddox, eyes widening, but the edges crinkled with amusement. “This is a different take on intimidation...”
“Sure is.”
Tom flexed his face back into seriousness. “If that’s what you want, Boss.”
“I do.”
Tom bobbed his head and climbed from the car.
He and the others Maddox had roped in to help entered the shop. It was only ten minutes later Jake appeared, rushing and sweating as he burst through the shop doors.
The moment was too brief, and Maddox huffed, he had wanted to watch Jake for longer. The visual had been so fleeting he couldn’t burn his appearance to memory.
His finger tapped on his knee as he waited; knee tapping wasn’t enough. He pulled out his trusty zippo and began the click, twirl and snap routine. Tom and the others came back out after the seventieth manipulation of the lighter.
Tom was stalked by an irritated Jake. The top of his nose dented with his frown, perfectly in line with the dimple in his chin. It made Maddox long to touch both, to soothe that anger and use the dimple like a hinge to pop open his lips.
“Got what you asked for, Boss.”
Tom shuffled into his seat, eyes still fixed on Jake who lingered in front of the car.
A confident smirk tickled Jake’s lips, and Maddox noticed what was in his grip before Tom did.
Jake was anything but innocent, he may’ve worn the terrified expression like it belonged, but it was a facade. Not a wolf in sheep’s clothing, but a wolf inside an innocent lamb. Maybe not a wolf, but a pup.
The shades were twirled, and Tom’s composure dropped, and a grunt escaped his throat when he realised they were his. Even in the car they heard the crack and scrape of the sunglasses on the pavement.
“Little shit!”
Tom scrambled for the handle, but Maddox stopped his mad dash with a firm grip.
“I’ll get you more,” he said firmly, “but it’s time we get going, don’t you think...”
There was no verbal reply, but Tom clicked his belt into position and started the engine.
Jake’s expression of smugness had dissolved into one of wonder and curiosity. That expression, Maddox burned to Jake’s personal catalogue in his mind.
Chapter 4
Maddox was crunching toast when the call came. Tom’s name flashed, and the device vibrated on the table.
He sighed, grabbing it with his crumb free hand and placing in to his ear. “Yes…”
“Boss, he’s handed the diamond over.”
He stopped chewing too soon. The last bite scrapped its way down his throat, and he coughed to ease its passing.
“What do you mean?”
“Kid came straight up to the car, handed
it over. Said he didn’t want any more fuss.”
Maddox’s mouth flapped open, he stared down at his half-eaten toast. Jake had given up his prize with no fight, handed it back, unable to cope under the pressure of Maddox’s interest.
“Where is Jake now?”
“I got him, Boss, he’s unconscious. Thought you’d wanna scare him a bit for messing us about.”
He didn’t wish to terrorise Jake, but to look at him one last time before he became nothing but a stale memory. That, Maddox wanted more than anything.
“Take him to the freezer, clothes off, hung up. Leave him with Amber.”
“Y-you sure, Boss?”
“Yes.”
He tugged the phone from his ear and silenced it. The empty feeling that expanded in his chest wasn’t from hunger, but the loss of entertainment. The diamond was back under his possession. Ian had failed in his attempt to steal it, and even better than that, Richie hadn’t claimed and flaunted it. It was back under his watchful eye, but the regaining of his possession also felt like he’d lost something too, something he couldn’t yet put words or meaning to.
He had one more time to appreciate Jake, and he intended to offer an experience the thrill-seeking man couldn’t refuse.
Tom drove him to the freezer. The rounded man darted furrow-browed looks in the mirror but Maddox ignored them. Instructed him to put on Ride of the Valkyries and settled into the seat.
They arrived and before Tom could undo his belt, Maddox spoke with a tone that left no room for negotiation.
“Stay here.”
Tom sank back into his seat. “Yes, Boss.”
“Wait for me here.”
“Yes, Boss.”
Amber nodded when she passed. Maddox made sure her footsteps had faded completely before striding into the room. Jake swung on his restraints, both sight and sound compromised. The lights in the abandoned freezer buzzed constantly, letting Maddox drift into the room undetected. Maddox grimaced at the blindfold; it was his last chance to see Jake and he wasn’t going to learn the colour of his eyes.
Mad Dog Maddox Page 3