Kaz folded her arms. In pyjama bottoms and a thin T-shirt she felt next to naked, but she fixed him with a hard stare. ‘What d’you want? ’Cause Joey’ll be here any minute. When he sees your boot print in that door, he’s not gonna be happy.’
It was a lie. She’d already phoned Joey a couple of times and he wasn’t picking up, shacked up with some girl she’d presumed.
Sean gave her a contemptuous smile. ‘You reckon?’ He took a deep breath and hollered: ‘Glynis! Come out here now! Don’t make me fucking come and drag you.’
Kaz’s eyes darted around the room, trying to locate her phone. It was on the kitchen worktop, close to the kettle. She had to find a way of getting hold of it without being seen. But although Sean had turned his head towards the hall, Tolya’s gaze remained firmly fixed on her.
Glynis appeared in the doorway. She was clutching her broken arm in its sling and shaking. Her eyes were downcast, she couldn’t meet Sean’s gaze. He didn’t seem angry, more resigned. He stared at her. Then Kaz noticed him swallow hard. The muscles in his jaw flexed as he forced down any emotion.
‘Right, first up, we need to get a few things clear. I didn’t kill Dave.’
Glynis was crying, but she didn’t utter a sound. The tears merely coursed down her bruised cheeks.
Sean took a step towards his wife. ‘I made you a promise Glyn. Remember? You come home, we get back to normal and I’ll let it go. That’s what I said and that’s what I done.’
Glynis raised her head, met his eye finally. ‘You got someone else though, din’t you? Got someone else to do it.’
Sean slapped the palm of his hand on the kitchen worktop. ‘No I bloody didn’t! You and the old bill, you all seem to think I’m a fucking fool.’
Glynis glared back at him, her eyes brimming with tears, her body shaking; Kaz couldn’t tell if it was fear or rage.
Her voice erupted in a hoarse scream. ‘Who done it then Sean? Who done it? Everyone liked Dave. He din’t have a fucking enemy in the world!’
For an instant Kaz thought Sean was going to hit her. But he rammed his hands in his jeans pockets and turned away. Kaz moved across the room, put an arm round Glynis and shepherded her to the sofa. They both sat down.
Sean paced the room. His face was flushed, he wiped beads of sweat from his forehead with the palm of his hand.
Kaz eyed her phone on the worktop by the kettle. She stood up, feigned a sigh. ‘Well, I think maybe we could all do with a cup of tea.’
Sean turned on her, two strides across the room and he was looming over her. ‘I din’t come here to drink fucking tea. I come for some answers. And you’re gonna give ’em me little cousin.’
He was right in her face, so close she could smell his sour breath, but Kaz returned his gaze fiercely. ‘Answers to what? I don’t know who killed Dave.’
‘You must think I was born yesterday.’ Sean thrust his jaw forward. ‘First you try grassing me up to the old bill, when that din’t work, you come up with a better plan, din’t you?’
Kaz wanted to step away, put as much distance between them as possible, but she knew standing her ground was vital. She folded her arms. ‘Now you’re being ridiculous.’
‘Am I?’ He shot a glance over at Glynis on the sofa. ‘Been looking after you well has she Glyn? ’Course she has. Bit of a change of heart though innit? Her and Ellie, you think how they treated you over the years. All this nicey-nicey, it’s just a cover-up.’
Kaz could see Glynis out of the corner of her eye, frail and teary-eyed. But she continued to eyeball Sean. ‘He’s talking rubbish Glynis. I spent six years inside, before that I was out of my box on all sorts. You and me, we hardly knew each other. As for me mum, she’s a right old cow and I’m the first to admit it.’
Glynis sniffed, wiped her nose on the sleeve of her cardigan. She wasn’t looking at any of them, she was retreating into herself, battening down the hatches.
Sean glanced at his wife impatiently. ‘Well, you can think what you like.’ His gaze switched back to Kaz. ‘I ain’t leaving here ’til I got the truth.’
Kaz fixed him with a steely glare. ‘I don’t know who killed Dave. That’s the truth. So now you can fuck off out of here.’
The swingeing blow socked into Kaz’s left cheek and sent her head ricocheting sideways. Sean grabbed her by the shoulders and flung her against the wall. It knocked the wind out of her, her mouth gaped as she gasped for breath.
He stood back with a satisfied smirk. ‘Right, now I got your full attention let’s take a look at the facts, shall we? Someone here is trying to fit me up. Now who could that be, eh? Joey, he plays games. Bit of a psycho really our Joey. But my little cousin here, she’s the brains of the outfit, got the brains and balls for both. So she decides to elbow me out and take over the firm. Getting warm, am I?’
Kaz’s head was spinning, her knees felt like jelly, her recently sprained ankle was making its presence felt. She concentrated on getting enough air in and out of her lungs, but she fixed her gaze on Sean. Looking away would signal that she was beaten.
He gave her a quizzical smile. ‘Who did you get to do it then, eh?’ He cocked his head in Tolya’s direction. ‘One of this lot? Some Ruskie ex-army? There’s plenty of them about. Shoot anyone for a blow-job. That how you fixed it little cousin? Waggled your cute little tail? You’re good at that.’
Kaz used all the muscles in her core to lift her body up to its full height, then concentrated on bringing as much disdain into her voice as she could manage. ‘Y’know Sean, you spent far too long in the nick. ’Cause you really have lost the plot.’
Sean gave a dry laugh. ‘Yeah? Could say the same about you darling.’
Tolya hadn’t moved since he walked into the room. He stood stock-still, his muscular forearms neatly folded. He had followed the exchange with his eyes, though it was hard to tell how much he actually understood.
Sean turned to him and pointed at Glynis. ‘Take her and put her in the car.’
Tolya nodded but didn’t move. Sean looked at him, jabbed a finger in Glynis’s direction. ‘Her and you’ – he pointed towards the door – ‘in the car. Wait for me. Got it?’
Tolya went over to the sofa, helped Glynis up. She didn’t object or resist, but he was gentle. He led her towards the door, then glanced at Sean. ‘I come back.’
Sean shook his head. ‘No. No need. Me and my cousin are gonna have a little chat.’
Glynis’s expression was blank. She didn’t look at Sean or Kaz as Tolya led her out. The broken door creaked on its hinges as Tolya pulled it to behind them.
Sean laughed. ‘Fucking Russians, you never know if they can understand you or not. You found that?’
Kaz edged away from him, placing the kitchen breakfast bar between them. ‘I’ve only ever met two: him and his brother.’
‘Y’know it’s a real pity you decided to go down this road Kaz.’ Sean sighed wearily. ‘’Cause I’d’ve seen you all right. I believe in family, sticking together. Your dad took care of Glynis and I’d’ve taken care of you and your mum.’
‘I can take care of myself.’
‘You think you can, that’s what’s got you in this mess.’ His eyes were skimming over her body, taking in all the curves and contours. ‘Pretty girl like you, you should be making the most of your assets. It’s a hard world, particularly in our game. You got to be a bloke to survive it, women simply ain’t tough enough.’
He started to move round the breakfast bar towards her. She edged away.
‘I didn’t have Dave killed. And I’m not trying to take over the sodding business. Anyway, since Dad’s stroke what it amounts to is what Joey’s made of it.’
Sean huffed in disgust. ‘That little psycho? You think the sun shines out of his arse, don’t you? But you should watch out for him little cousin. He comes on like he’s your best mate, but he don’t give a fuck for no one.’
‘You don’t know him.’
‘Oh don’t I? When he was a kid, pissing himse
lf every five minutes, your dad used to say “that boy has got a screw loose”. And he was right.’
‘And whose fault is that? None of us is exactly normal.’
‘He’s pulling your strings little cousin. You realize it was him told me that you’d tried to grass me up to the bill?’
‘I don’t believe you.’
‘Believe what you like. He’s a twisted little fucker, you’re just too blind to see.’
She glared at him across the breakfast bar. His eyes were devouring her, it was clear what he had in mind. The thrill of the chase, the prospect of conquest, it was giving him a hard on.
He adopted a soft, wheedling tone. ‘Come on Kaz, I don’t wanna fight with you. You and me, we had some laughs din’t we, back in the day?’
‘No. You laughed, I didn’t. Mostly I cried.’
Suddenly his face broke into an ugly grin. ‘Naaah, you want it really. You always did. You bitches are all the same. Think you can stitch me up? I am gonna teach you a lesson you won’t forget in a hurry.’
He lunged forward, made a grab for her arm, but Kaz was too quick for him. She threw herself sideways, tripped and skidded on her knees across the wooden floor.
He laughed, he was loving it. ‘Wanna play games, do you?’
She did a quick roll on to one side and jumped to her feet. Her back was to the window, she thought about the balcony but it was a long drop. He took off his jacket, laid it neatly over the arm of the sofa. Then he unbuckled his belt. His eyes were glassy with lust. She decided to let him move in on her, then go for the balls.
As he stepped forward she made a grab for his groin, but the material of his jeans was too thick around the crotch, she couldn’t get a firm grip. She only succeeded in exciting him more.
He gasped. ‘Oh yeah, you’re gonna get plenty of that.’
She pulled back her right fist, punched him hard in the stomach. Her knuckles cracked against a solid wall of muscle, a daily workout in the prison gym had given him abs most blokes would kill for.
He laughed, grasped her T-shirt by the neckline and ripped it right off. They both froze for a moment. He stared at her breasts, she was skinny, but still had an ace pair of tits on her. She covered them reflexively with her forearms, then realized that effectively immobilized her.
Sean was almost drooling, so she dropped her arms, let him lean in, his lips going down towards her left nipple. His tongue lolled, she felt it warm and wet on her skin, like being licked by a dog. Then she brought her right knee up sharp and hard under his jaw. He bit his own tongue and howled.
‘Fucking bitch!’
He grabbed her by the shoulders, she struggled, kicked, he grappled her to the floor and pinned her down with his superior weight. He was red in the face, sweat dripping off him, but loving every minute. Kaz jerked and twisted with all her might, trying to throw him off, bite him. Her battered body was screaming with pain, but a fury was rising in her, the anger that had always been there at the brutality and injustice of it all. She screwed up her face and started to scream. ‘Get off me you bastard! Get off!’
He put his left forearm across her windpipe, choking off her screams and her breath, then he used his right hand to reach down and pull off her pyjamas. She gasped for air, her legs were flailing, but she managed to free her right arm. As he unzipped his fly she jabbed him in the eye with the nail of her index finger.
He bellowed. ‘Aawww, fucking hell!’
The moment his grip on her throat loosened, she shoved him hard and he fell back with one hand over his eye.
‘What d’you do that for, you bitch!’
She wriggled from under him, sucking in air in short, hoarse gasps. She scrambled to her feet and made for the kitchen drawer. She pulled it open, grabbed the plastic bag.
Sean was on his feet behind her, his tone full of indignation. ‘That hurt. You could’ve fucking blinded me!’
‘This’ll hurt even more.’ She pulled the SIG 220 from the bag and pointed it straight at him.
He stared at her in disbelief, stark naked holding a gun. Then he laughed. ‘Come on it was only a bit of rough and tumble. You used to like all that.’ He eyed the gun speculatively. ‘Anyway, you got the safety catch on.’
He stepped forward, held his hand out for the gun, like a father dealing with a naughty child. Remembering Joey’s instructions Kaz quickly dropped the hammer with her thumb. Sean made a grab for the barrel, he got hold of the silencer, twisting it down, trying to wrest it from her grasp. As her wrist was wrenched sideways, she pulled the trigger.
The dull snap of the bullet being discharged took them both by surprise. Sean lurched backwards as it tore through the flesh of his thigh. He landed on his backside, clutching the side of his leg. His face was puce with shock and fury.
‘Now look what you done, you stupid bitch!’
It was a flesh wound and there was blood, but the bullet had gone right through, missing arteries and bone. Kaz looked down in astonishment at the weapon in her hand. Sean grimaced in pain.
‘Well don’t just stand there, get a towel or something.’
Kaz blinked at him. She was in shock herself. Picking up a tea towel from the counter, she tossed it to him. A blood-soaked patch was forming on the side of his jeans, he wrapped the tea towel round it. Then he pulled his mobile from his pocket and glared at her.
‘You have got to be the stupidest fucking bint on the planet.’ He scrolled through the numbers with one hand, keeping the other pressed hard to the tea towel on his leg. ‘You are going straight back to jail and for a nice long stretch.’
Kaz considered this. The gun going off had paralysed her momentarily. Now goosebumps were prickling up on her naked skin, her throat felt sore and bruised where he’d crushed her windpipe. She raised the gun and pointed it at his head. The range was less than two metres. Her hand felt surprisingly steady.
‘No, I don’t think so Sean. Not for a scumbag like you.’
She took a deep calming breath and squeezed the trigger.
57
Detective Chief Superintendent Turnbull chose a phone shop in Victoria Street. It was part of a large national chain and far enough away from the office to make it unlikely he’d bump into anyone. He was skimming through the pay-as-you go display when the assistant came over and asked if he needed any help. Turnbull gave the girl an appraising look, she was mixed oriental background, a south London accent. He smiled broadly, just the ally he needed.
‘My daughter, she’s fifteen. You think she can hold on to a phone? Lost two – one nicked, dropped another down the toilet.’
The shop assistant giggled. ‘Yeah, stuff like that happens quite a lot.’
Turnbull warmed to his theme. ‘I’ve told her, no more smart phones. Cheap and basic, until you can learn to look after it. Any suggestions?’
He stepped out of the shop ten minutes later with a small pink handset, untraceable SIM loaded and ten pounds credit. He paid cash. He scrolled the contacts list on his own BlackBerry until he came to Duncan Linton’s number, keyed it into the new phone and hit call.
Linton ran his business from an elegant address in South Audley Street. A roomful of quants, a small management team – he liked to keep a tight rein on everything himself. He was watching the BBC News channel on one of his five computer screens when the call came through on his mobile. He didn’t know the number, but he recognized the voice even before Turnbull identified himself. Linton leant back in his chair.
‘I’m watching the BBC news. The Commissioner’s just announced the posthumous award of the Queen’s Gallantry Medal to an Alex Marlow. Is that him?’
Turnbull was standing in a shop doorway. ‘That’s him. So now the clock’s ticking.’
‘You’re ready to make your move?’
‘More than ready. Don’t worry Duncan, it’ll work.’
Turnbull sounded confident. There had been a few private doubts but he’d reminded himself he was going nowhere in the Met, because there was nowhere to go.
Senior officers were being axed. This was the smart move, this was about stepping up into a different league. Still he took a deep breath to calm himself. ‘Make sure you sit firmly on Foxley’s tail. We don’t want him reneging on the deal. Remind him he’s promised us the contract.’
He heard Linton laugh. ‘He’ll be fine Alan. I’ve got my eye on him.’ His tone was worryingly casual.
Turnbull wondered if this were true. Linton had numerous deals on the go, if this went pear-shaped he wouldn’t be the one to lose. Turnbull had to remind himself he was talking to a potential partner, an equal. Though who wouldn’t be star-struck by Linton’s wealth? The Learjet, the mansion in the Caribbean, it wasn’t Turnbull’s world.
He coughed to conceal the tension in his voice. ‘This is a secure line, so I’ll keep you posted. Let me know any developments your end.’
Linton chuckled again. ‘I will. Good luck.’
Turnbull ended the call, slipped the phone in his inside jacket pocket. He glanced up and down the street. Buses, taxis, a taint of exhaust fumes and the bustle of the city in all its forms. Nothing had changed but to Turnbull it all seemed brighter, more vivid. He was going for gold and a surge of adrenalin was rushing through his veins. Years ago, when he was a young DC in the Flying Squad and they went out on a big bust, this is what it felt like. He smiled to himself, he’d made the right decision. Maybe there was something to be said for the God-awful school motto they’d had drummed into them: Audentes fortuna iuvat. Fortune favours the bold.
58
Kaz squatted on her haunches in the corner of the kitchen, naked and shivering. She felt like a small feral creature that had survived the predator’s onslaught, but only just. The first bullet had merely grazed Sean above his right temple. He’d yelped, then as he’d tried to scramble to his feet Kaz had adjusted her aim. Her second shot went straight through the eye and he’d collapsed in a heap, stone dead.
Now a large puddle of blood was edging towards her bare foot. She stood up to avoid it, letting the gun clatter to the floor, turned and retched over the sink. A thin skein of saliva, laced with scrambled egg, dripped from her mouth. She wiped it away with the back of her hand and had to grasp the kitchen counter firmly to stop her legs from buckling under her.
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