RISK

by Sam Skyborne

  Kevin stepped into the room, holding a glass of red wine. The smile he had on his face dropped the instant he saw Toni.

  “What are you doing here?” Kevin said. He looked rapidly from Toni to Gavin and back again.

  “Ms Mendez here has dropped by uninvited because she thinks you are a spy for the CUL.”

  Ah shit! Toni thought. She was one for direct approaches but this was too soon. She needed more information before a face to face with Kevin.

  “Go on Kev. Tell her. Are you a spy for the CUL? For your father?” Gavin demanded.

  Kevin shifted nervously where he stood.

  In for a penny, in for a pound, Toni thought.

  “Kevin, we know you were at The Vox moments before the drug-raid the other night. I believe the tip-off for the drug-raid came from you.”

  Kevin did not respond.

  “Before that even, you and your partner, Dwight, are always somehow around when shit goes down. I saw you myself at the picketing. You were even the first responding officers at my flat on the night it got trashed.”

  Toni waited.

  “I know you are up to something and believe me, if you know anything about me, you know I will get to the bottom of it.”

  She could see him contemplate his options.

  This was not how she had intended to do this, but, it might actually work, she thought.

  “You want to tell me that it is all a coincidence that the son of the Preacher, the illustrious leader of the biggest anti-gay activist group in the country, always seems to be present when shit happens to the gay community?”

  Toni wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw Kevin blench at that comment, which pushed her to continue.

  “For your information, we also have photographic evidence of your meeting with Lucille Ransom-Evans earlier this week. What business did you have with the poor wife of a violently murdered woman, who also happens to be one of your father’s biggest opponents? Are you intimidating or blackmailing her? You moonlighting as your father’s muscle now?”

  She observed his reactions very closely. She expected him to launch into a wild counter attack suggesting that her bad habits had died hard and that she was on yet another ghost hunt, or even threaten her, throw her out, or at least with a smarmy grin assert she had no proof of anything.

  Instead, he slowly put his glass of wine on the thick dark oak and glass coffee table and headed over to the ornate davenport desk in the corner of the room. From around his neck he produced a small key on a chain and unlocked one of the drawers. He reached in and withdrew a large manila envelope.

  Toni instantly recognised it as the envelope from his meeting with Lucille.

  He dropped it on the coffee table in front of her.

  “Go on,” he said.

  Cautiously she reached out and picked it up, opened it and peeked inside. There was a collection of large A4 photographs and a small pack of negatives.

  She pulled them out.

  At first the images did not make sense. It was photos of Kevin and Gavin, on a beach. It looked like holiday photographs.

  “What have holiday snaps got to do with this Kevin?” Toni was getting impatient.

  “Keep looking,” Kevin said, glancing at Gavin who had been waiting quietly at the door.

  Toni did not miss the slight nod Gavin gave him in return.

  She flipped through a couple more photos.

  Then she saw it—a photograph, clearly taken by a long zoom lens, of Gavin and Kevin inside a beach house, through the glass patio doors. Kevin was bent over a table and Gavin was behind him, clearly fucking him.

  “I don’t understand,” Toni said. She flipped through the rest of the photographs which were all of Gavin and Kevin in various positions having sex.

  “What you saw was not me blackmailing Lucille,” Kevin said with a deep sigh. “She has been blackmailing me.”

  “What?”

  This completely sideswiped Toni. She thought back to their meeting. Seeing them together like that, she’d immediately assumed he had summoned her and was demanding something from her—whatever was in the envelope. Could it have been the other way around?

  “For what?” Toni asked. “What could she possibly want from you?”

  Kevin picked up his glass and took a large gulp of wine.

  “Lucille somehow found out about my,” he hesitated and glanced at Gavin, “our involvement. Knowing who my dad is, that information could obviously be quite damning, in the eyes of the world—”

  “That is not the case any more!” Gavin interrupted. “I’ve told you that.”

  “Well then, at least in the eyes of my father.” Kevin conceded. “It would ruin him, emotionally as well as in the eyes of the world. His career. His reputation.”

  “That would not be entirely a bad thing,” Gavin said.

  Kevin nodded. He looked suddenly quite forlorn. “That might be so, but he is still my father and I couldn’t do that to him. Not yet.”

  “So, Lucille used your relationship with Gavin to get you to do what, exactly?”

  “A few things, actually.” Kevin took a seat on the edge of the couch, resting his elbows on his knees.

  Toni waited.

  “For starters, I had to make sure The Vox got closed down. She wasn’t a fan of that place for some reason, and of course if it looked like the CUL was behind it, it added to her campaign.”

  “And, she got you to plant the drugs and arrange for the raid?”

  Kevin nodded.

  “And Dwight, was in on it?” Toni asked.

  He shook his head. “No, he would kill me if he knew. He might be a bit of a thug,” Kevin said. Gavin snorted from the doorway. “But, he is a very strait-laced kinda guy. He tries to do what he feels is right. He doesn’t believe people should be allowed to be anything other than straight. That’s how he was brought up.”

  “What else?” Toni said. “How long have you been working for her?”

  “She approached me shortly after that poor girl’s death. At first it was just for a bit of information about how the case was going. Then it got more complicated, with your flat and building to the drug fit-up, after which I threatened to expose her.”

  “My flat?” Toni asked. “What about my flat?”

  “She got me to turn your flat upside down and make it look like someone ransacked it.”

  “For what? Why would she do that? What was she hoping you’d find? She is employing me, after all.”

  Kevin shook his head. “Not looking for anything. Just trying to intimidate you, I guess. She thought that if you knew what it was like to be intimidated, maybe you would be more motivated to find Erika’s killer.”

  Toni began to pace. She ran her hand over her brow. Crap! What a mess!

  After a long while. “So? What happens now?” Kevin finally asked.

  Toni looked down at Kevin. He looked small, insecure and nothing like the conniving bad cop she had thought him and Dwight to be.

  “I honestly don’t know, Kevin. I will have to report this to the police, especially the drugs plant.”

  Kevin nodded.

  “As for my flat, it has cost me a lot of money to repair the damages.”

  “We can pay you for the damages,” Gavin piped up from the door. Kevin nodded. “Absolutely we can.”

  “I will leave the Force,” Kevin said, “I will resign. I will even take other disciplinary consequences, but please, if there is any way to keep my sexuality private I would appreciate it.”

  Toni nodded. “I will talk to DS Duncan and find out how best to handle this whole mess.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Saturday

  Toni headed up the wide, paved, driveway to the large ranch-style brick house that was Lucille Ransom-Evans’ country home.

  She rang the doorbell. The kind elderly servant whom she recognised from her last visit, let her into the lounge.

  About ten minutes later Lucille appeared, very apologetic, claiming she’d been held
up in a conference call.

  She immediately made her way to a small drawer in the teak sideboard, pulled out a chequebook and started scribbling.

  “Here is your cheque.”

  “Actually Lucille, I’m here for a different reason,” Toni said.

  Lucille ignored her and continued to sign the cheque. She ripped it out of her chequebook, turned and placed it in Toni’s hand.

  “I always pay my debts, Ms Mendez.”

  Toni took the cheque.

  “So why are you here, Ms Mendez?”

  “Firstly, let me tell you that I’m wearing a wire and in about five minutes the police will be here.”

  Lucille headed over to the drinks cabinet where she poured herself a double Scotch. “Oh? Why would they come here?”

  On the surface Lucille seemed her usual calm and composed self. But Toni thought she could detect a slight waver in her voice, or was she just imagining it?

  “I came as a professional courtesy and I wanted to tell you myself.”

  “Tell me what, Ms Mendez?” Lucille walked over and took a seat in her favourite chair. Her movements seemed particularly controlled and measured.

  “Tell you that you’re about to be arrested.”

  “Arrested! Me? Really?” Lucille said cocking her head to one side slightly. “For what?”

  “We know you are behind setting up the drug raid on The Vox.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous!” Lucille scoffed. “I would’ve done nothing of the sort. Besides, no-one needs to set that place up. Enough unlawful activities go on there to fill a prison.”

  “I also know you were ultimately responsible for the break-in and vandalism of my flat.”

  “My dear Toni, I’m not sure what you’re on. Why would I do such a thing? I employed you.”

  “And blackmail—”

  “Blackmail!”

  Toni dropped the envelope she had been carrying on the coffee table in front of Lucille. “I have photographic and other evidence as well as the sworn statement of Officer Kevin McCarthy.”

  Lucille stared at the envelope for a few long moments. Then she slowly picked it up and looked inside—the photos of her meeting with Kevin.

  “Have you been spying on me, Ms Mendez?”

  “Actually, I was looking into Kevin McCarthy and the Preacher and those avenues led to you. It doesn’t make sense to me, Lucille. Why would you stoop that low?”

  “There are some things, Ms Mendez, one will just never understand.” Lucille drained her Scotch. “If the police want to take me. Now would be the time.”

  Toni didn’t really hold out any hope that she would get an explanation from Lucille.

  “Aiden, it’s time,” she said into her collar.

  Within three minutes a dozen cops invaded the house. Why so many Toni did not understand. She knew Lucille wouldn’t run or put up a fuss. It was all a chess game to her.

  Aiden arrested Lucille Ransom-Evans and Officer Dwight Forelly had the privilege of cuffing her and escorting her out of the building.

  Just as she passed Toni on the way out, Lucille stopped. She looked Toni up and down. “Ms Mendez, you are better than you think,” she said. She looked Toni straight in the eye. “Thank you for getting justice for my Erika.” Without waiting for a response she carried on walking.

  At that moment Aiden came to stand next to Toni. He shook his head.

  “Do you think she’ll get what she deserves?” Toni asked.

  Aiden shook his head again. “Honestly?”

  Toni nodded.

  “I don’t know,” he said. “People like her very seldom get what they deserve.”

  Toni sat at Lizbeth’s kitchen counter, sipping her wine. She watched as Maxine busied herself preparing dinner. She marvelled at Maxine’s confidence and dexterity in the kitchen as if she had been living there and preparing the same meal day in and day out for years.

  Lizbeth was technically helping Maxine although she really just stood leaning against the counter chatting. She looked happy, Toni thought. The two of them moved very graciously and intuitively together, like they had a sixth sense of where the other would be.

  Toni noticed that, without giving it a thought, every time they passed or neared each other Maxine would either touch or kiss a part of Lizbeth’s body. As if on cue Maxine came up behind Lizbeth at the kitchen counter and kissed her shoulder, making Lizbeth smile.

  There was nothing leery about their interactions. In fact, Toni found it quite sweet. She liked seeing Lizbeth happy.

  Lizbeth caught Toni watching them. She blushed and shied away from Maxine.

  “Sorry,” Lizbeth said. “We don’t mean to make you feel uncomfortable.”

  “No! Not at all,” Toni said hastily. “Actually, I was just marvelling at how happy you two look. Love suits you.”

  “Oh, love is a big word.” Lizbeth said, glancing at Maxine.

  “Yes, be honest.” Maxine playfully flicked Lizbeth’s behind with a tea-towel. “It's all about the awesome sex, really.”

  “Okay, okay!” Toni covered her ears. “Guys, TMI You’ll scar me for life.”

  Toni felt the time was right. “Seriously, you two look good together.” And they did. “You look very happy, and I am sorry I was such an arse at first.”

  “Thanks Toni. That means a lot.” Lizbeth said and Toni could see it was heartfelt. “I’m glad you know now and you’re okay with it. I really didn't want that ever to come between us.”

  “It wouldn’t have, not really.” Toni said. “You might not believe it after everything that happened, but I was just shocked that I was so obtuse and didn’t see it for myself. Sorry.”

  “Here! Here! I’ll drink to that.” Maxine lifted her glass.

  If Toni was honest, even though Maxine was an arrogant, bolshie dick, she was growing on Toni.

  “I’m sorry I was an arse to you too,” Toni admitted to Maxine.

  They clinked their glasses in a toast.

  “So, now that your case is solved, will you be going back home? Or are you thinking of staying on for a while on our irresistible, wet and rainy island?” Toni asked.

  “Sadly, I need to head back in the next couple of days to get on with some other urgent cases that have been piling up while I’ve been here.”

  Lizbeth raised her glass. “Here’s to new chapters for all of us.”

  Oh crap! Toni thought. Lizbeth is actually going to go with her. A chill of sadness and panic ran down Toni’s spine. She swallowed and tried to smile. “To new beginnings and good friends.”

  “Even from a distance,” Maxine added.

  And what a long distance that will be, Toni thought.

  It was so sad that she had only just truly got to know her friend, and now she would have to leave. Lizbeth had been such a large part of her life for the past few years. How would she survive without her? The thought was too painful to contemplate in present company and one Toni would bury for another, more private, solitary occasion when she could deal with her emotions on her own.

  “Yes, you'll have to come back and visit.” Toni said to Lizbeth, trying to seem upbeat.

  Lizbeth almost choked on her wine. “I'm not going anywhere!”

  “Oh? I thought,” Toni said. “You two… You know.” She didn’t dare hope, but she held her breath.

  Lizbeth laughed. “No, God no! It was fun, but now I need to catch up on my sleep.”

  Maxine and Lizbeth laughed.

  Maxine flicked Lizbeth’s arse with the tea-towel again. “I didn’t hear any complaints at the time!” she said.

  “Yes, you exhausted me beyond the ability to object.” Lizbeth teased back.

  The dinner was delicious and the conversation flowed as smoothly as the wine. From the moment Toni knew Lizbeth was not leaving, and Lizbeth and Maxine were nothing serious, she had felt jubilant inside. It was like a veil lifted. The combined effect of her new good mood and the intoxicating effect of the wine made her feel quite amorous.

  Sh
e caught herself watching Maxine across the table. She was gorgeous, and if Toni was honest, the other night in the restroom had been plaguing her. She remembered the kiss. She remembered Maxine pushing her, daring her. She couldn’t lie, she wanted Maxine.

  Wait!

  What?

  Did that mean she was gay? No. Yes. No. She had been straight all her life—only looked at guys. She had to find out.

  “Will you two excuse me,” Lizbeth interrupted Toni’s thoughts. “I am going to make space for a bit more wine in my system before we retire to the couch.”

  “Sure, I’ll clean up,” Maxine said.

  “I’ll help!” Toni said, also getting up.

  Toni watched Lizbeth leave and followed Maxine into the kitchen, bringing some plates with her to put in the sink. It was now or never!

  Within a couple of strides, she was on Maxine. She pushed her back up against the fridge and pinned her in a passionate needy kiss. Maxine did not push her off but let it happen. It felt beautiful.

  Finally, Toni pulled away.

  “What was that for?” Maxine asked with a bemused grin on her face.

  “I have to see you. If you are going back... If you and Lizbeth are not together… I have to see you! I have to know…” Toni leaned forward and kissed Maxine again hungrily.

  Maxine, gently but firmly, took Toni by the shoulders and pushed her away. She smiled. “No,” she said gently.

  “What do you mean, no? I want you and I need you... after the other night at the club... and now that I know you and Lizbeth are not—”

  “No, Toni,” Maxine said firmly. “I’m not the one you want.”

  “What do you mean?” Toni felt desperation rise across her temples. “Okay, I'll say it…. Yes, I think I might be gay.… I think I'm attracted to you.… After the other night—”

  “No, Toni.” Maxine shook her head. “After the other night, nothing.… That was a pressure valve exploding, yes—with a little intentional prodding by me—to help you get unstuck.”

  “But—” How could she have got this so wrong? Toni thought.