Boss Girl: A gripping crime thriller of danger, determination and one unstoppable woman

by Emma Tallon

  ‘Answer me, goddamnit! Why are you doing this to me?’ Anna growled.

  ‘It isn’t me!’ Izobel squealed. ‘I’m just doing a job.’ Tears of pain began to fall down the younger woman’s face but still they grappled, each getting nowhere, fighting on the floor. Anna tried squirming out of the headlock but couldn’t escape. They rolled over and knocked the drawers as Anna tried to push away with her legs and Izobel responded by locking hers around Anna.

  ‘What job?’ Anna spat. ‘What sort of sick, fucked-up job is this? Why would you even go along with this? What’s wrong with you?’

  ‘I just did, it’s a job,’ Izobel said through gritted teeth. Incensed, Anna yanked harder, beginning to rip chunks out of the woman’s scalp.

  ‘Oww!’ Izobel screeched. ‘OK, OK, I have no choice!’ Izobel began to cry in earnest now. ‘He has my mother. He’ll kill her. I have to do as I’m told; I don’t have a choice.’ She sobbed deep, wracking sobs.

  Anna paused and loosened her grip, surprised at the answer. Izobel was being blackmailed. That’s why she was doing this to her. She was as much a prisoner in this whole thing as Anna was.

  ‘Oh. I–I’m sorry,’ she stammered, letting go. ‘Who—’ Before she could get her next question out, Izobel roughly shoved her away, taking the opportunity to slip out of her grasp. She jumped up onto her feet and shot back out of the room as fast as lightning, locking the door again behind her.

  Anna sat up and rested against the foot of the bed in shock. Izobel was nothing but a puppet, whose strings were being pulled by someone else. She glanced up at the camera. Whoever was really behind this was most likely somewhere in the building too with God only knows how many other people. Even if she had been able to get round Izobel, what would she have been facing? Anna rubbed her forehead, stressed.

  She needed to get more information somehow, before she could form a proper plan of escape. She stood up and faced the camera.

  ‘Izobel, if you can see this, I’m sorry. I didn’t know.’ She shook her head and sighed. ‘I won’t do that again. If you come back, I won’t touch you or try to run out. I hope you’ll come back.’ She gave the camera one last look and then turned away.

  What on earth is going on here? And who the hell is ‘he’?

  25

  Tanya stared at the wall in a daze, the glass of neat vodka in her hand almost forgotten. It was nearly three in the morning and no matter how she tried, she just couldn’t sleep. Tom had sat up with her at first, trying to comfort her or distract her, but she had sent him to bed. He was aching to sleep after a long day on site and there was no point both of them suffering.

  She didn’t know what to do, how to help. This was the second night that her best friend had been missing and she had never felt so useless. Her hands moved irritably on their own, her fingers rolling one of her rings around and around.

  The door buzzer sounded, shattering the silence and she jumped, spilling the vodka down her front. She tutted as it soaked through her clothes but she ignored that, standing up and walking to the door. She already knew who it would be before she opened it.

  Freddie leaned against the doorframe looking haggard and dishevelled. His eyes were bloodshot, indicating to Tanya that he had been getting about as much sleep as she had. She moved aside to let him in without a word.

  Freddie made his way into the kitchen to where he knew the drinks would be and poured himself a large whisky. ‘Thing is,’ he said, his voice hoarse, ‘I haven’t touched a drop since she disappeared. Been keeping my head clear, my wits about me for when I would need them. But what are the chances that something’s going to come up now, at this time of the morning, when everyone is asleep, eh?’

  Tanya shook her head. ‘None,’ she whispered.

  ‘Even the bastard that took her is probably getting some shut-eye,’ he continued. ‘But here I am, and I can’t sleep. And I can’t do anything. And I can’t look at our home and her stuff anymore.’ His voice began to shake and he stopped, clenching his jaw. The emotion on his face was raw.

  Tanya sniffed and wiped away the tears that were silently falling down her face. She nodded and poured herself another drink. She knew exactly how he felt.

  ‘The spare room’s made up. Stay as long as you like,’ Tanya said.

  ‘Thanks,’ Freddie replied. He walked through to the lounge where Tanya had been sitting before his arrival and sat down in an armchair.

  Tanya grabbed the bottle of whisky he had poured his drink from and followed him through, placing it on the coffee table in front of him. He might as well get blind drunk tonight, she thought. Like he said, nothing is going to happen.

  Tanya knew why he had come here. He could have gone to his mum’s, or to Paul’s house but he didn’t want to have to put up a pretence. Mollie would have flustered around him and would have been unable to keep her thoughts to herself and Freddie would have ended up having to comfort her. Paul wouldn’t have known what to do and the atmosphere would have become awkward and stilted. Freddie and Tanya were two of a kind in many ways. They dealt with things in a similar manner, and on this particular occasion they knew exactly how the other felt. Each of them loved Anna like she was a part of their own bodies, for different reasons.

  Tanya curled back up at the end of the sofa, hugging the cushion to her. She drank deeply from her glass of vodka and the pair settled into a frustrated silence. It was going to be a long night, but at least they had each other for company. And of course, Tanya thought wryly, misery does love company.

  The morning light crept through the slit in the curtains and Anna blinked the sleep out of her eyes. She rubbed her face and sat up, glancing towards the door. Again, breakfast had been left out before she awoke. Izobel had entered the room again the night before, warily, bringing her dinner. Anna had stayed across the room and tried to apologise again in person, but Izobel had quickly retreated without answer or eye contact. She was scared of a repeat performance, Anna guessed.

  As always, a picture of Freddie came to the forefront of Anna’s mind. She closed her eyes sadly. She missed him so much. She knew he would be going out of his mind right now with her gone. He would be turning over every stone in London trying to find her. Except, she wasn’t in London. Would he know that? How could he possibly know? His last lead would be Izobel and she was here too. Anna’s handbag and phone were not in the room, so she guessed her captor had probably disposed of those elsewhere. Anna knew she had to think of some way to get a message or at least a clue out to Freddie. But the question was, how?

  So far she’d not been able to find out anything more about her situation. There were no clues around the room as to who had taken her and all that she could logically assume was that whoever had her clearly didn’t want to harm her. They wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to make her stay comfortable, breaking into her home to steal her personal home comforts. They were feeding her well too. So, on some level, her kidnapper cared about her. This worried her, perhaps more than if she had been carelessly shoved in some cold, bare cell.

  If they had taken her to blackmail Freddie or Tanya for money, they wouldn’t care so much about the details. They would be focused on the money and that would come to a swift conclusion. That would have been the best option that she could think of.

  But she was pretty sure that this wasn’t the case. Whoever had her was focusing intently on her. They even had that camera watching her every move outside the bathroom. This felt personal, but she couldn’t think of anyone who would be this fixated on her. Other than Frank Gambino of course. But something told her this wasn’t his style.

  The memory of his threats, his vice-like grip upon her face, flashed through her mind. Surely if he had taken her, he’d want her to know it was him. His style was blunt and intimidating. He wouldn’t take such personal care of her, filling the room with her home comforts. She couldn’t see him hiding away behind a camera like a coward either.

  But then again, she could be wrong. She didn’t know F
rank; perhaps this was a game. Perhaps there were more levels to the man than she had been giving him credit for. After all, the things he’d already put Freddie through hadn’t exactly been in keeping with what she would expect from someone like him; digging up bodies and trying to get him arrested.

  Anna rubbed her head, perplexed. Whoever it was, she kept asking herself the same question. What could they possibly want?

  A whirring noise broke through her thoughts and Anna’s eyes darted around the room until they settled on the source. It was coming from the camera. It was slowly turning from its normal angle to face her head-on. Anna felt the colour drain from her face as it came to a stop. An icy sensation trickled down her spine.

  Its previous angle canvassed the whole room. It didn’t need to move to get a good view of where she sat. There was only one reason it had been moved. It was to let her know that he was watching. Her kidnapper was flexing his muscles. Whoever was behind that screen wanted her to know that he was there.

  26

  James opened the front door and blinked at Mollie in surprise.

  She smiled at him expectantly. ‘Hello, love,’ she said cheerily. There was an awkward pause. ‘It was today, wasn’t it? For making the lemon drizzle?’ Mollie asked, her voice less certain.

  ‘Yes, of course. Sorry, Mollie.’ James moved aside to let her in, shaking his head with an apologetic smile. ‘It is today. I’m just completely distracted with everything that’s going on.’ A thoughtful and perceptive man, James was very aware of how lonely Mollie felt these days. Whenever he could he tried to ask for her advice on things and invite her over, so that she still felt needed and included. He had completely forgotten that she was coming over today to teach him her family recipe for lemon drizzle cake.

  ‘What do you mean? What’s going on?’ Mollie asked, shrugging off her coat and hanging it on a hook. She glanced sharply over to Paul who was tucking in his shirt as he crossed the room towards her.

  ‘Oh, I’m sorry, I thought everyone knew—’ James bit his lip and looked to Paul for direction.

  ‘Well, apparently I’m not included in “everyone” these days, James.’ Mollie folded her arms. ‘Apparently once you move out you no longer have to bother telling your mother anything, according to my sons,’ she huffed.

  Paul sighed. ‘Hi, Mum,’ he said with a crooked smile. ‘Look, I was going to pop over later and talk to you. I’ve just been busy with Freddie.’

  ‘Well, that’s lovely, ain’t it!’ Mollie exclaimed. ‘Too busy to even keep your old mum in the loop. Too busy to swing by. Well, at least your James bothers with me, Paul. At least someone appreciates my company and expertise these days, eh!’

  ‘Anna’s missing,’ he replied bluntly. He could have sugar-coated it, but it was easier to just stun Mollie off her soapbox rather than wait out the rant.

  ‘What?’ Mollie asked, taken aback.

  ‘Two days ago she disappeared and we don’t know why. Freddie’s pretty sure she’s been taken. We tried everywhere she might be and the hospitals already.’

  ‘Have you called the police?’ Mollie asked.

  ‘You know we can’t do that,’ Paul replied, shaking his head. ‘Freddie’s got Fraser working it as an off-record case. He has access to all the systems that would be used if it was official but none of the red tape, so it’s actually more efficient than calling it in anyway,’ he reassured her.

  Mollie didn’t look convinced, but she held her tongue. Her sons’ businesses were not something they discussed. She was well aware of who they were and what they did and she worried about them greatly. But she knew it wasn’t her place to tell them she disagreed with it, so they had an unspoken agreement that it was never discussed.

  Mollie stepped around James and put the bag of ingredients she was carrying down on the kitchen counter. She began to unpack it.

  ‘How is Freddie holding up?’ she asked. She wanted to run to her eldest son straight away, hold him in her arms and rock him better, but he was far too old for all of that. And if he had wanted his mother’s comfort he would have come round before now. She swallowed down the disappointment that he hadn’t. Now wasn’t the time to focus on her own feelings.

  ‘Not great,’ Paul answered honestly. He kept to himself that Freddie was now staying at Tanya’s. Mollie would find out soon enough and when she did she’d be spitting feathers. He didn’t have time to calm her down today; Freddie was expecting him at the club.

  ‘I’ve got to go, Mum,’ he said, his tone apologetic. ‘I promise I’ll let you know when anything happens.’ He kissed her on the top of the head and gave her a big bear hug before leaving. He winked at James on the way out, who returned a smile.

  Mollie sighed as she watched her big, strapping middle son walk out. She knew they were all busy these days, but she still couldn’t shake the feeling that her nest was emptier than she’d like it to be. Even Thea wasn’t around as much anymore.

  She turned back to James and beckoned him over. ‘Come on, then, let’s show you how a decent lemon drizzle is done,’ she said, the worry not leaving her face.

  James joined her. ‘Sorry, Mollie, I should have checked you knew already.’

  ‘No, it’s OK,’ she brushed it off. ‘I just hope Freddie finds her soon. I can’t imagine what he’s going through.’ She sniffed and blinked away the tears that were forming in her eyes. ‘I can’t believe someone would do this. I… well. Let’s get on.’ She cleared her throat.

  James nodded and went to find a baking tin. Anna’s disappearance was hanging like a black cloud over all of them.

  Freddie put the phone down and turned his attention back to Bill, Paul and Seamus. They were in the main office at Club CoCo. Freddie was reluctant to go anywhere else, as this was the first place people would try to get hold of him with any news.

  ‘What’s Sammy said about Frank?’ Freddie directed his question to Paul.

  ‘That there’s been no contact still,’ he replied.

  ‘I don’t like this. Something’s off. And when something’s off at the same time as Anna goes missing…’ Freddie trailed off meaningfully.

  ‘You really think there’s something in it?’ Paul asked.

  Freddie was silent for a moment as he considered his answer. ‘I think it’s wise to gain more information before accusing the Mafia of something like this, but I want it looked into as a priority. We can’t afford to waste time.’

  ‘OK, I’ll get things moving.’

  ‘So still nothing else?’ Freddie asked, turning his attention to Bill.

  Bill’s expression was grave. ‘I heard some rumblings about a South East crew wanting to gain more ground. They’ve been heard giving it large in a couple of pubs, talking about working more central and shouldering you to the side. That came from one of Ray Renshaw’s guys.’

  Freddie sat up straight, suddenly alert. ‘You think it could be them? That they’ve taken Anna to blackmail me?’

  Bill considered it. ‘I’m not sure. They’re small time, just kids. I don’t think these lot would have the brainpower or the balls to pull it off. They’re all as thick as two short planks from what I’ve heard.’ He pulled a face.

  ‘But maybe that’s exactly why they have done it,’ Freddie answered. ‘This whole thing goes against rules that no one with a brain in this world would break.’

  Bill nodded. He had to admit, Freddie had a point. ‘They call themselves the Bexley boys, over in Bexleyheath. Other than that, there’s not been a dicky bird. Everyone’s shocked. Even those who don’t like you are disgusted.’

  Paul grunted in agreement. Everyone they had talked to had reacted in pretty much the same way.

  ‘Right.’ The light seemed to reignite in Freddie’s eyes. ‘Bill, can you meet Declan for me and sort out the issue he has with the last shipment. Seamus, I need you to collect the Soho protection fees. You’ve been around enough times with Paul to know what to do. It’s all on you today, don’t fuck it up. Paul, call Dean, tell him to tool
up and meet us at Ruby Ten in twenty minutes.’ Freddie stood up.

  However thin the threat, this seemed like one of the only viable parties to have taken Anna. He hoped it was them, that he could get her back today and put an end to the nightmare they were all stuck in.

  His expression darkened. ‘Let’s go pay those fuckers a little visit.’

  27

  Kai Carter leaned down over the pool table in the back room of the small rundown pub he was drinking in and took his shot. The dull beats of his currently favoured rap album sailed out of the small speaker set on the table behind him where his friends sat, and his head bopped along to the rhythm.

  There was only a small section of the bar that opened into this room. Most people sat in the main part of the pub on the other side. That was partly why Kai liked it so much. It was private and they were pretty much free to do as they pleased. The landlord left them to it, wise enough to have worked out that so long as he caused them no trouble, they wouldn’t cause him any in return.

  ‘Oi, Gaz, roll me a spliff, yeah?’ Kai called casually over his shoulder. Two girls sat at the opposite end of the pool table giggled and whispered behind their hands. Kai’s grin broadened and he winked a dark brown eye at them, kissing his teeth.

  ‘You ladies wanna play pool with me, yeah? Or is it my other set of balls you’re interested in playing with?’ He grabbed his crotch and started strutting over. His friends guffawed at his apparent wit and one of the girls blushed. He decided she would be the one for tonight’s entertainment.

  She looked about sixteen, which was the sort of age Kai liked them to be, with pert tits and a tiny skirt that barely covered her small behind. The heavy make-up she had applied didn’t help to hide how young she was, but it showed him she was game. She fluffed her hair back and played with the large gold hoops in her ears.

  Kai reached the table and was about to make his move when the door burst open and three men entered. He rounded on them with another kiss of the teeth, annoyed at the interruption.