“We won’t bother you ever again. Promise,” he wailed.
“How can we believe that? If we let you go the next thing we know our houses are burning down with us inside. The only way to keep ourselves truly safe is to get rid of the lot of you. You should have stuck to fighting fires, it’s safer than messing with us because we are the fucking fire.”
“Awesome,” grinned Kevin.
“I didn’t want to do it in the first place,” said Rick. “Amanda and Ben made me.”
“You lying little bastard,” spat Amanda, struggling against her bonds. “You wanted the cash as much as we did.”
“Not this much, it’s not worth dying for. I just want to go home to my family,” he cried before bursting into floods of tears.
“Wow, that’s embarrassing.” Tariq grinned at his friends, who were likewise smiling.
Faith released Rick, grabbed a handful of Eddie’s hair and yanked back his head. “And what about you? Were you coerced into attacking us too?”
“Y…yes, I was,” he stammered. “Amanda said she’d do to me what she did to Dillon if I didn’t cooperate.”
“You know what,” she said, looking at Amanda, who glared back at her. “I believe that.”
“Thank you,” he gasped, forcing away his tears. Unlike Rick, he intended to cling onto what little dignity he had left.
She released him and took a step back. “Vance, cut their bonds,” she said, gesturing from Rick to Eddie with the gun.
A question filled his eyes but he nodded and produced a knife.
“You can’t let them go,” exclaimed Tariq.
“Why not?”
“Like you said, they could come after you again or steal more drugs from us.”
“Look at them, they wouldn’t dare and if they did they know there would be no second chances.”
“Thank you, thank you,” breathed Rick over and over again as Vance cut his bonds.
“I didn’t say you could leave,” she said when they got to their feet and started to limp towards the door.
Tariq grinned wickedly and planted himself before them.
“B…but you said we could go,” said Rick.
“We have a problem. You see, our friend Tariq’s right. We can’t trust you not to attack us again.”
“We wouldn’t,” gasped Eddie. “I swear we wouldn’t ever again.”
“Shut it,” she yelled.
Eddie went silent and bit his lip to prevent the words he wanted to say from tumbling out.
“You will always be a danger but killing you outright would lead to too many questions being asked and that’s the last thing we want. So, if any of you ever come near us or our premises again we will kill you and bury you and your families won’t have a clue what happened to you.” She turned to Ben, running the barrel of the gun along the side of his face. “How would your wife and kids cope without you? And what about your mistress?” She smiled at the surprise on his face. “Mickey already told us all about her.” It turned out she was the blonde they’d seen him drag out of the casino. She was some cheap tart who worked in a strip club and who had a passing resemblance to his wife. Ben’s marriage had been on the rocks for quite a while. “Or what about your brother, Amanda?” she continued, turning to her. “The great big leech seems to rely on you for everything. Just think of the torment they’d go through every single day of their lives not knowing what happened. That’s a fate I wouldn’t inflict on my worst enemy.” The corner of her mouth curled into a smile when they glared at her. “Actually, I would but only if I really had to.” She jammed the gun under Amanda’s chin, who started to breathe in and out rapidly but she managed to keep her glare. “Vance, cut these two free as well.”
“What?” cried Tariq. “This is fucking ridiculous.”
Faith released Amanda and straightened up. “Have you got a better idea?”
“Yes. Bury them.”
“No.”
“Faith, maybe…,” began Vance quietly in her ear.
She ignored him, her furious gaze on Tariq. “Are you questioning my decision?”
“Yes I bloody am. This decision is making you look weak and we don’t work for weak people, especially not a weak woman. If you haven’t got the balls to do what’s necessary then hand over control to someone who does.”
“And who should that be Tariq? You?”
“At least I’d have the guts to bury these bastards.”
“And what would you do when the police started asking questions and the entire community started to miss them? If it was down to you, we’d all be in prison by the end of the year.”
“Don’t you question Faith,” Kevin yelled at him. “She knows what she’s doing.”
“Does she?” he retorted, brown eyes glittering with outrage. “I was happy to take orders from a woman when she was making me a ton of cash but what’s the point if her arse collapses when she has to get her hands dirty? I…”
He jumped when the gunshot boomed through the room. They all watched in astonishment as Mickey toppled to the floor, the back of his head hanging open.
Faith’s eyes were like razors as she looked back at Tariq, the freshly fired gun in her hand. Although she didn’t point it at him, she held it out at her side in warning.
“You still want to debate the point, Tariq?” she said icily.
His mouth opened and closed while his friend standing beside him vomited on the floor.
“I can see his brains,” murmured a stunned Tariq.
“Such as they are,” she replied
Everyone stared at Faith in stunned silence. Even Ben and Amanda looked unwell.
“Anyone else got a complaint?” she demanded.
Tariq and his friends frantically shook their heads.
When her hard gaze fell on Rick, a wet patch spread across his crotch.
“Good.” She looked to the four firefighters. “If you don’t want to end up like Mickey then don’t come near us again. Only your standing in the community has saved your lives today. Remember that. Now get out of here.”
She nodded at Vance and Caleb, who nodded back, cut Ben and Amanda’s bonds and followed the four of them out to make sure they’d really left the premises.
Faith tucked the gun into the back of her jeans and turned to face Jason and Kevin, who were still staring at Mickey’s body in astonishment.
“I’m sorry you had to see me do that,” she told them.
Kevin dragged his eyes off Mickey and threw up a front of nonchalance. “Doesn’t bother me. Daft bastard had it coming.”
“I know it bothers you Kev and that’s okay. It would be more worrying if it didn’t but you had to be introduced to murder one day. It’s unavoidable in the business we’re in.”
“We knew it was inevitable,” said Jason, face pale. “But it’s still a shock.”
She patted his shoulder, swallowing down her hurt when he flinched at her touch.
“Sorry,” he said.
“It’s okay. It’s going to take some time for you to get over it but you will. Just be grateful this didn’t turn into a bloodbath. A lot of people wouldn’t have hesitated to kill the lot of them. This was all about protecting our family and it was quick. He didn’t feel a thing.”
They both nodded, looking a bit sick.
“Get yourselves home. We can finish up here.”
“Yeah, okay,” said Kevin.
She watched them slink by, avoiding her gaze and she hoped this didn’t change her relationship with them. She glanced at Tariq and his men, who were a lot less lairy. In fact, they looked positively green.
“You can go and sort out the damage at the laser tag arena,” she told them. “And you never speak of this again. If you do then it won’t end very well for you.”
“Of course not Faith,” swallowed Tariq. “Whatever you say,” he added before walking out as quickly as he could without breaking into a run, his friends following.
“They’ve gone,” said Caleb as he returned with
Vance.
“And so has everyone else,” she sighed.
Neither of them appeared particularly disturbed by what she’d done. Caleb had watched her murder Lenny while Vance had killed in prison.
“I freaked out Jason and Kevin,” she said sadly. “They’ll never look at me the same way again.”
“They’ll bounce back, don’t worry,” said Caleb. “And they have to get used to murder if they want to be in this business. This won’t be the last time we have to do it.”
She nodded. “Sadly you’re right. Let’s clear up and get out of here. I want a warm bath and a big glass of wine.”
“At least it’s over,” said Vance, crouching beside Mickey and wrapping the plastic around him. “Well, almost.”
Faith nodded and took out her phone. They hadn’t told the others about this part of the plan. Only the three of them knew.
“Jules, it’s me,” she said. “You can tell Raven she’s up.”
CHAPTER 25
Five days later, Ben and his crew jumped off the fire engine outside a blazing factory. A cordon had already been set up by the police and they were appraised of the situation by a sergeant, who told them the factory was disused but it was known that homeless people often took shelter inside.
The four of them entered by a back door and cautiously made their way through the building, checking each room, having to use the fire axes to knock down a couple of doors, which had been locked shut.
When they reached the boiler room, they were alerted by a loud beeping.
“What the fuck is that noise?” yelled Amanda.
Ben peered at a flashing light through the swirling smoke and his eyes widened.
“Faith you bitch,” he muttered just before the explosion.
“Must we keep meeting in cemeteries?” said Faith as she took a seat beside Matthew on the bench.
“I chose a different one,” he replied. “I didn’t think you’d want to be around Marlow.”
“You thought right.”
“Plus cemeteries keep any carnal thoughts at bay on my part but if you wish to meet in a hot tub one day I won’t complain.”
“Now that is an interesting thought,” she smiled.
“Like you said, that’s a complication we don’t need.”
Faith thought it ironic that now she’d realised her true feelings for him he was the one playing it cool.
“Ben and his crew were killed this morning in an explosion when they went in to tackle a blaze in a disused factory,” he said.
“Really? Just the four of them?”
“Yes, thankfully. No one else was hurt.”
She nodded and slowly exhaled with relief.
“I have to hand it to you Faith, it was smart. It was put down to a gas leak.”
“Very tragic.”
“And very clever.”
“I can’t claim all the credit. Our mutual friend was the real brains behind it. It was the only way to get rid of them without arousing suspicion. They would have come for us again. None of us relished the idea of our homes being burnt down while we slept. It’s a shame about Rick and Eddie, I think they would have behaved but Ben and Amanda condemned them.”
“You’re right, that was what they would have done. They gave you no choice. It’s just a shame I have nothing proving Amanda killed Dillon. That case is still hanging around my neck. Even if I do find proof it might lead back to your family and Jules would not be impressed with that.”
“Couldn’t you pin it on Mickey Gunning, who has mysteriously disappeared?” she said, knowing in her eyes. “No one would be surprised after what Dillon did to him.”
“True but I don’t like pinning things on innocent people.”
“Mickey was far from innocent.”
“You know what I mean. It’s a slippery slope once you get started.”
“You were happy for everyone to think Marlow killed Lenny Paisley.”
“Because that protected you,” he said tenderly. “And the problem is that Mickey had an alibi for Dillon’s murder.”
“Damn, I forgot about that,” she sighed.
“I suppose the case will just have to go cold.”
“Or you could use the recording you took of Amanda discussing the murder with the other firefighters and just cut out the bits that mention our family. You could say it was sent to you anonymously.”
“I can’t because in her confession she said she killed Dillon because he was going to grass to you. There’s nothing for it, Dillon’s murder will have to remain unsolved. Sometimes that’s just the way it goes. He was a lone wolf, so he doesn’t have any family demanding answers.”
“I’m sorry Matthew,” she said, patting his hand. “I know it would have done your career a lot of good to solve his murder.”
“It would but fortunately I’ve just arrested a vicious mugger who put five people in hospital. He’s definitely going down for it because the evidence is so strong, so I’m the station’s shining golden boy. The local MP had been really pressing us to solve that one as the mugger targeted tourists and he was worried about damaging the town’s reputation.”
“That’s great. Well done.”
She still rested her hand on his and he gently cradled her hand in his own.
“It turns out Amanda was a workplace bully,” he continued, “Two trainee firefighters quit because she was so vicious to them. Both were Asian. It seems she was a racist cow too.”
“That’s not surprising.”
“Are you okay after your run in with her?” he said, noting the faded bruises on Faith’s face.
“The knowledge that I beat her is helping me heal,” she said, the corner of her mouth lifting into a macabre smile.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”
“Thanks for all your help Matthew. It’s good to know you’re there and I don’t mean in case I need help.”
He ran his fingers across the top of her hand. “You never know, things might change and one day there could be a future for us.”
Faith thought it so sad that his words echoed Vance’s. Two gorgeous, unique men wanting an impossible future with her. She couldn’t work out if she was very lucky or just cursed.
“You never know.” She squeezed his hand before getting to her feet. “Now I’m going shopping with Abi for my bridesmaid’s dress.”
“A tight, clingy little number?” he smiled.
“Doubtful. Knowing Abi, it’ll be some ugly thing with bows and ribbons. She’ll want to make sure she’s the centre of attention on her big day. Still, it’s something nice to look forward to.”
“I bet a Chambers celebration is a spectacle to behold.”
“It certainly is, especially if Kevin gets drunk and starts punching people.”
“Let me know the date and I’ll have the riot squad on standby.”
Faith chuckled. “See you soon Matthew.”
“You bet you will,” he said, unable to keep his eyes off her backside as she walked away. Faith Chambers really was one of a kind.
She left the cemetery, walked around the block and got into Vance’s new car, a huge black SUV. Kingston had informed him that his Lexus was beyond repair and needed to be scrapped.
“Sorted?” he asked her.
“Sorted,” she replied, her hand still tingling from where Matthew had touched her. “Dillon’s murder will just have to remain unsolved. You ready for the next thing we need to do?”
“Yes but I’m not looking forward to it. He won’t like it.”
“I know but we’ve no choice.”
He started the engine and drove to Caleb’s flat, who hadn’t been told the reason for this outing. He was waiting for them at the kerb and hopped in when the car rolled to a halt.
“You going to tell me where we’re going then?” he asked from the back seat.
“The Red Lion,” replied Faith. “There’s someone we need to have a word with.”
“Who and why?”
“All will
become clear.”
He was puzzled by this cryptic statement but didn’t ask any more questions.
The three of them walked inside the pub. No one was behind the bar, Lil having popped into the storeroom for more crisps.
Faith looked at the customers ranged around the room, numbering eight in total.
“Get out,” she told them.
They all obeyed, getting to their feet and slipping out the door, leaving their drinks behind. Once they’d all gone, Vance locked the door.
“What’s going on?” said Caleb.
Before they could reply, Lil emerged from the back room carrying a box of crisps.
“Where have all my customers gone?” she frowned.
“They remembered they had things they needed to do,” said Faith.
“Let me take that off you,” smiled Caleb, taking the box from Lil.
“Thanks gorgeous,” she beamed. She looked from Faith to Vance. “Why so serious? What’s happened?”
“Why did you do it Lil?” said Faith, the pain clear in her voice.
Her smile faltered. “Do what?”
“We know you put that tracking device in Caleb’s coat. It had to be you. No one else could have got close enough.”
“What?” said Caleb. “No, it wasn’t Lil. She wouldn’t do that.”
“I’m sorry,” said Faith, hating the pain this was causing him. “But she was the only one with access.” She looked back at Lil. “You and Mickey were lovers. You used Ben and the others to get the drugs off us so you could sell them on. Why? You’re one of my oldest friends, the only one outside the family who stood by me when everyone else thought I’d killed Phil Jackson.” Anger and hurt waged war inside Faith. The angry part of her wanted to batter Lil for her betrayal and the hurt part wanted to burst into tears.
Lil sighed wearily and dragged her hands through her thick red hair, suddenly looking older than her years. “I’m sorry love but I needed the money, plain and simple. It was nothing personal.”
“If you needed cash that badly you could have come to me. I would have helped you.”
“I needed big money, not a few grand. I’m in debt up to my eyeballs and they’re going to take the pub off me. I couldn’t lose my home and business. Mickey never meant anything to me, he was just a means of accessing some real money.”
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