by El Edwards
“I’ve got to admit, you even had me fooled for a long time there. Sneaking up here and pretending you didn’t know there’d be an alarm. I had you pegged as just another pretty face.”
“And therein lies your problem Charlie Diamond. Not all bad guys come in scruffy clothes and a bad hair cut.”
“They always smell bad though,” I said, and I laughed.
Shaun leapt across the room. “What did you say?” He roared.
I laughed again, I couldn’t help it. “The bad guys, they always smell bad. Present company not excepted.”
For the second time in less than ten minutes, I found myself lying on the floor, my head ringing, seeing stars. I don’t know what had prompted me to torment him. I think I just wanted to get a reaction out of him, to prove that, no matter how strong he might think he was, I could still make him miserable. What I really wanted to know though was what all this mess had to do with Beverly and her dear little dog. And those bloody pigs!
I turned to Shona. “Tell me about the pigs.” I leaned in and whispered, like we were just two girls trading boy stories. “I know about the basement so you might as well tell me. I’ll find out sooner or later.”
She looked at Shaun. “That was him. He thought he could use them like drugs dogs.” Her tone let me know exactly what she thought of that idea and I laughed again.
“You’re not the brightest are you?” I said to Shaun. “If I had a pen and paper I’d draw you a picture but I’d have thought even you’d know the difference between a dog and a pig.”
“Mum and Dad had pigs,” Shona said. “He thought he could use them to check the packages wouldn’t get pulled at the post office.”
I nodded, remembering the truffle business Shaun had told me about. “You thought the pigs could smell the weed? I guess it would be handy if you lost it. Did you lose it?” My tone was mocking. “That was very careless of you Shaun.”
“I didn’t lose anything bitch! But if you don’t watch yourself, you’ll be the one to lose something.”
He walked slowly out of the room and came back carrying a very large knife. He made a show of sharpening the knife but I refused to give him the satisfaction of looking bothered. I knew how to deal with bullies like him. Inside I was a mess, cursing my stupidity for having come here, for not having listened to Rob, and wondering how long the girls would wait before phoning someone when I didn’t come home. I glanced out of the window. It was starting to get dark.
“Afraid of the dark are you Charlie? That’s a shame. You should have thought of that before you came sticking your nose in.”
Yet again, I ignored Shaun and spoke to Shona. “What are we doing here anyway? What’s he waiting for?”
She shook her head but then spoke under her breath. “Pick up.”
I turned to Shaun. “But you don’t need me. How about I pop off home and leave you both to it? It’ll be so much less hassle if I’m not around.”
“That I can believe!” Shaun said. “But it’s too late for that. You know how these things work Charlie. You get caught poking your nose into something as serious as this, it’s not going to end well.”
“But you’re not going to kill me?” I spoke the words calmly, probably because I didn’t actually believe he would. I still wasn’t buying the tough guy act. There was something about death threats from a man in a shirt and tie that made me want to giggle instead of quake with fear.
“You’re right,” said Shaun. “I won’t. But the guys who are coming later will.”
I nodded in Shona’s direction. “And her?”
“I’m afraid so. Although there’s more to our dear little Shona than meets the eye so I wouldn’t put it past her to talk her way out of it somehow.”
“Oh?”
Shaun smiled. “Not for me to say. I made a promise and I intend to keep it. Isn’t that right, Shona? Or should I say, Declan? Ooops, sorry, did I say too much?” He put his hand over his mouth in mock horror and then laughed.
“What’s he talking about?” I looked at Shona. “Do you know where Declan is?”
Shona didn’t say anything. Instead, she started rubbing at her eyes before pulling off one then another set of false eyelashes. Next to go was the hairdo I’d been admiring earlier. I watched in horror as the wig fell to the floor leaving her with a short cut, not too dissimilar to Shaun’s.
I stared open mouthed. “Declan? But why?”
SIXTY-TWO
I couldn’t keep my eyes off Declan. Seeing him now, sitting in Shona’s clothes, it seemed so obvious, I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it sooner. I told myself that if I’d noticed sooner I could have done something about it but that was just my ego talking. Despite this newest revelation, I was still no closer to understanding what all this was about. As far as I knew, sausage dogs didn’t have any useful skills, they couldn’t spin weed into gold. None of it made any sense at all.
Shaun saw me starring at Declan and laughed. “Peace and quiet at last. About time too!”
“Come on then, you might as well get it over with,” I said. “What’s with the disguise.”
Declan looked horrified. “It’s not a disguise, it’s a way of life.”
“Why keep changing between the two then? Pick one and stick with it. That I could respect.”
“You don’t understand. I tried that. I had no intention of coming back, especially not like this.” He gestured to his short hair. “But when I found out what this idiot was up to, I had to try something.”
Shaun stopped pacing when he heard this. “How did you find out? It’s not like Mum and Dad would have told you.”
Declan turned to me. “My parents don’t exactly approve of some of the choices I’ve made. They don’t understand what it’s like. I felt so trapped.”
I nodded. “Your mum said something to me about that girl not being welcome.”
“See? That’s why I had to come back dressed as the man they love, the son they raised, regardless of what I wanted or who I really am. They wouldn’t have seen me otherwise.”
“Stop changing the subject. No one cares about your sob story. How’d you find out?” Shaun said.
Declan shrugged. “I have my ways.” Declan winked at me and for a split second I saw something there, something new that I hadn’t seen in him before, but then I blinked and it was gone.
“Yeah okay, whatever. I don’t care. It’s almost time for us to get moving.” He pointed at Declan. “You, go and get some of those ropes from downstairs. And if you’re not back in thirty seconds I’ll slit her throat, so no funny business.”
I was about to complain that Declan probably didn’t give a rat’s arse about my throat but he was already up and out the door. I just had to hope he came back because Shaun looked like he meant it. The silence stretched between us as we waited.
“Tell me about the dog,” I said.
“Forget about it. Your faux-psychology won’t work on me Charlie. It doesn’t matter how much you get me to talk, I’m still going to take great delight in watching them roll you off the edge of a mountain somewhere. Should have done a better job myself the last time!”
“So it was you!”
“Of course it was me, daft bitch!”
I knew now wasn’t the time for ‘I told you so’ but all the same, I wished Rob could have been there, not to mention those two stuck up police officers in the hospital. My thoughts were interrupted by Declan coming back with some ropes.
I felt my insides contract. “What are those for?”
“Do you think you could do me a favour and stop your talking for just five minutes?” Shaun rubbed his temples then looked at Declan. “Tie her up and put her out the front.”
I tried to struggle but it was pointless. Declan was stronger than me and thanks to my recent injuries, he didn’t have to press very hard to have me writhing in agony. I’d like to be able to say that I took it like the strong, capable woman I am, with poise and dignity, but the truth is I wriggled and screamed and made
as much noise as I possibly could. The hotel was deserted and the chances of someone down on the main road hearing my shouts were slim, but I wasn’t giving up without a fight.
Eventually though, I was trussed up like a chicken. Declan picked me up without any apparent effort and carried me out the front door.
“Sorry,” he whispered, before unceremoniously dumping me on the ground.
It took me a few seconds to realise that the hotel wasn’t deserted any more. Lined up in front of the building were three armoured trucks, each with an extra wide driver and passenger inside. If it hadn’t been for the seriousness of the situation I’d have laughed. It was like someone had phoned ‘Rent A Thug’. One of the men got out of the van and came over to me.
“Who do we have here then?” He stroked the side of my face.
Without thinking, I flung my legs up off the ground and smashed them as hard as I could into his groin. He collapsed on the floor next to me, shouting and cursing so loud, I was afraid Shaun would hear. I looked over at the building but he and Declan hadn’t come out so I wriggled my body into an upright position and started shuffling towards the road.
“Oh no you don’t!” I heard another voice come from one of the trucks. “I can see we’re going to have to teach you some manners.” Before I could react, he was at my side. He pushed me back onto the floor then shouted over to one of the other men. “Hey Spit, how do you fancy helping me?”
I couldn’t see who Spit was but if he was anything like the first one, I knew I’d be much more content if he politely declined and decided to wait in his truck for Shaun’s instructions. From somewhere behind me came the sound of a belt buckle being undone. Fuck this! I wasn’t going to just lie here and take whatever they had in mind. I kicked and screamed and fought them with every ounce of strength I had left in my body but it was no use. I felt myself being lifted roughly from behind. One of them carried me in the direction of a truck and threw me into the back, his laughter ringing in my ears. I didn’t want to think about what they were going to do with me.
SIXTY-THREE
I lay in the darkness, waiting for one of the figures to climb in after me but instead, I heard shouting followed by the sound of something being thrown up against the doors, slamming them shut, and I was left inside, all alone in the dark. Outside I could hear more raised voices. At one point I thought I heard Declan but I couldn’t be certain. Still restrained, I tried to wriggle to a window so I could peer out but they were too high. Whatever was happening, someone didn’t sound very happy. I knew I should be relieved that I was away from danger, for the moment at least, but I was trapped in the back of a truck belonging to someone who would take great delight in hurting me. I had to get out of there. I made my way to the door and tried to open it. When I peeked out, all I could see was scores of hairy great men carrying what looked like hay bales, from the hotel to one of the trucks. They seemed to have forgotten about me although the arguing continued. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I knew that eventually the other trucks would be full and they’d open the back of this one to find me sitting, waiting for them. I didn’t like to think what they’d do when they found me here. I was like a sitting duck.
Not if I have anything to do with it! Darkness had descended so no-one noticed when the back of one truck opened slightly. Still tied up, I belly flopped out of the truck and landed with a thump. I held my breath, waiting to see if anyone would have heard me but I was in luck. They were too busy loading their cargo to pay attention to me. I wriggled away from the truck but I knew I had to find a way to free my legs if I was to have any hope of escaping. I felt around on the floor for a rock or something else sharp but only succeeded in scraping my fingers and making them bleed. Why can’t it be like it is in the films? They make escaping look so easy!
My only remaining option was to wriggle away along the side of the truck and hope I could get far enough down the road before they either noticed me or decided to drive away. Once the area was lit up with headlights I was as good as dead. I knew I had to act fast but it wasn’t easy moving across the gravel and I became very aware of how noisy I was being. I was just considering changing my technique when I felt something connect with my knee.
“What the …” Someone flashed a torch in my eyes and I was momentarily blinded. “You again? You little bitch!”
I felt a kick land in my ribs and someone else stamped on my ankle. I wanted to be brave but I heard a cry escape my lips. The pain ripped through me like I was being torn in two. I gave into the darkness, letting it wash over me like a warm blanket, but the next thing I knew, bright lights were surrounding me. I heard the sound of voices, more shouting and screaming, but this time it wasn’t me. I felt myself being lifted up off the ground, more gently this time, but still the pain tore through me and I cried out. They put me back on the ground and the agony eased.
“Call an ambulance,” I heard a voice above me say. It sounded like Declan but I knew that couldn’t be right. Declan was in the hotel.
“Declan?” I whispered.
“Shhh, it’s okay. Don’t try and speak.” There was no mistaking his voice that time, it was definitely Declan and he was helping me. I just didn’t know why. My head ached as I tried to decide what all this meant. He’d asked for an ambulance. Drug-dealers didn’t phone ambulances did they? Unless ‘ambulance’ was code for something else? My brain went foggy and once again I felt myself tipping over the edge into the darkness. I knew I had to try and stay awake but I just couldn’t help it.
The sound of sirens startled me. I didn’t know how long I’d been out but it was still dark. Soon the sirens were so close I wanted to put my hands over my ears but I couldn’t move. My arms and legs were still tied together. I opened my mouth to try and get someone’s attention but no sound came out. Declan, if it was Declan, appeared to have left me lying all alone in the darkness. Suddenly I was very afraid. What if no-one knew I was here and they all just drove off and left me? How long would it take before someone missed me and sent out a search party? And how would they even know where to look? I could be stuck here on my own for days.
Bugger that! I opened my mouth and tried again. This time my voice came out in a squeak. “Help?” The sirens had stopped but my voice was still drowned out, even in the relative silence that had now descended.
I tried again. “Help?”
This time I heard a voice calling out in reply. “Charlie?”
Rob? “Rob!”
“Charlie, where are you?”
Tears of joy rolled down my face. I’d never been so glad to hear my stupid friend’s voice. “Here,” I called out.
After what felt like an eternity, I felt Rob next to me in the darkness. “Hang on, let me get a torch.”
Before I could reply he’d gone again but he was soon back and this time he had reinforcements. He held up a torch as a paramedic checked over my injuries, he held my hand as I cried out in pain, and when they gently lifted me up onto a stretcher and I felt the darkness descend once more, his was the very last face I saw.
SIXTY-FOUR
As I opened my eyes I heard a voice.
“I dunno, some people will do anything to get out of paying for the coffee!”
I smiled. “Hello Rob.”
Rob smiled back at me and then looked round the room. “You know, this is the same room they put you in last time. I heard they were thinking of changing the name, calling it the Diamond room instead.”
“Really?”
“That would be so cool!”
Rob turned to smile at Louise and Grace as they walked in and caught the end of our conversation.
“Hi Mum, how are you feeling?” Louise kissed me gently then took a step back to look at me properly.
“I’ve been better but the doctors say the swelling should go down. I just need plenty of rest.”
“And this time your mother’s going to do as she’s told and not go running around the countryside chasing after drug dealers when she’s mea
nt to be tucked up in bed!”
“You’ve got to admit though Rob, she’s pretty badass.” Grace grinned at me.
“The biggest badass this side of the Severn Bridge,” he agreed.
“Oh I like the sound of that. I should put it on my cards!”
Rob and the girls groaned.
“No more cases for you until you’re properly fit and well,” Rob said. “That reminds me. I got you a present.” He reached round and pulled out a box, neatly wrapped in pretty paper.
“For me? You didn’t have to do that. But aww, it’s got a little ribbon and everything. Thanks Rob.”
I sat for a moment, looking at the box, not sure if I should open it in front of the girls or wait until Rob and I were alone.
“Go on then Mum, open it.”
I looked at Rob. “Is that okay?”
“Of course.”
I pulled off the ribbon then ripped the paper. Inside was a small white box. I lifted the lid gently and inside was a mobile phone, complete with a bow to match the one on the paper.
“It’s all set up and ready to go,” Rob said. “And it’s even got a feature that allows your friends to see where you are. I took the liberty of activating it for you, just in case you were tempted to go wandering off again.”
“Ha, thanks Rob. No more wandering off for me though, not for a while at least.” I held up two fingers. “Scouts honour.”
“Right, well if there’s nothing else you need, I’d better get back to work. The boss just dumped a mountain of paperwork on me.”
I winced, aware that it was probably my fault. “Sorry.”
He waved a hand in my direction. “Ah don’t worry about it. It was totally worth it.” And he walked out of the room, whistling as he went.
The girls sat with me for an hour but soon my mother appeared to take them home too. I gave them both a kiss and promised I’d be home the very next day.