“I bet you smothered her in her sleep to get it.”
Norman took one last drag from his cigarette. “It crossed my mind.”
“Don’t blame you, I’d kill to live in your place.”
Norman threw his cigarette on the floor and stubbed it out with his shiny black shoe. “Could be better, needs a half-naked chick walking around it.”
“Hey, be careful what you wish for. My ex wife came back last night. It’s been hell since.”
“Why?”
“Turns out the guy who was fucking her found out what she was really like. He turfed her out last night.” Bentham shook his head. “She turned up at my door, pissed as a tramps fart. Crying her eyes out, she was. So I did the charitable thing at let her stay the night.”
Norman laughed out loud. “You sly bastard.”
“What?”
“You just let her in so you could bang her one last time.”
“Obviously.”
“Dirty git.”
Bentham gave a nonchalant shrug. “Anyway, she comes in and is all over me like a drunken slapper.” He pumped his fist. “I was harder than a school boy peeking up his teacher’s skirt.”
“I don’t blame you, I’d do her.”
“Hey.”
“You know me, though, I’d do anything with a hole and a heartbeat.”
Bentham shook his head. “We went right up stairs. I’m naked in flash, but I need a piss. So I run the bog, didn’t have time to wash my hands coz I was desperate to get back … But she’s fucking asleep.”
“Aw, man, devastating.” Norman chuckled as he popped stick of gum into his mouth. “What did you do?”
“I had only one way to release the tension. I had to lock myself in bathroom until I had wanked away all my frustration.” Bentham sighed as he shook his head. “I was in there for hours.”
“There’s our man.” Norman pointed as a beat up white transit van as it slowed to a stop. A frail looking man stared from behind the wheel, his face stricken with panic. He opened the door and caught his arm in the seatbelt as he climbed out of the van causing him slam into the door. “What do you think it is? No TV license?”
“I wouldn’t want to know what was on his hard drive.”Bentham shouted, “Kris Turner?”
“Yes.”
Bentham shook the man’s moist hand. “I’m detective Bentham and this here is detective Norman. We’re from Metropolitan Police—Clubs and Vice.”
“You must be the caretaker of the property?”
“That’s me. I’m sorry for being late, traffic is even worse than normal.”
“You familiar with Sergi Guzun from flat 6?”
“Serge? Not too well, he’s just a name and a face to me really. Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“Please just answer the questions, or you might be in a little bit of trouble yourself.”
“S…sorry.”
“When was the last time you seen him?”
Kris stared at the floor as he rubbed the stubble on his chin. “A couple of weeks ago maybe. He sleeps during the day. If I need access for maintenance he always asks me to come after three.”
Norman stepped up and asked, “What does he tell you that he works as?”
“I think he told me he’s into export and import. Maybe works in a shipping office or something, I don’t know.” Kris smiled. “Whatever it is, he seems to well out of it. He has a spanking new 4x4, A Range Rover I think.”
“What did he say to you the last time you saw him?”
“Actually I saw him briefly on Thursday. I was working replacing a switch on the stairwell, he didn’t say anything but seemed in a rush.” Kris scratched his scalp through his thin grey hair. “He carried a large black sports bag on his back, so I guess he was either going the gym or stopping out somewhere.”
Bentham jotted in his pad. “Does he have any regular visitors?”
“He’s a quiet guy, seems a bit of loner.”
Bentham showed Kris a picture of Tanya. “Have you seen this woman?”
“No. I’d remember a face like hers.”
“Right, you better let us in to his apartment then.”
“Certainly.”
The detectives watched as Kris walked ahead. Clearly still not over his nerves, Kris fumbled with his bunch of keys. Norm whispered to Bentham, “I think you’re right about his hard drive.” Finally with his fob in his hand, he swiped the sensor and opened the double door.
Norman asked Kris, “How much do the apartments cost in this place?”
“Twelve hundred a month. Out of my range.”
“And mine.”
Kris opened the doors to the elevator and the detectives followed him inside. As it rumbled its way to the top floor, Norman glanced at Kris, “You here every day?”
“Not every day. I maintain several properties, I was last here the day I swapped the light switch on the stairs.”
The bell rung and the doors slowly opened. Kris stepped out. “Oh Dear.”
“What?” Bentham followed Kris out into the corridor and spotted the forced door. Standing at the doorway, he cautiously peered inside the apartment. His eyes fixed on the broken TV before spotting the smashed mirror. “It’s been ransacked.” He nodded at a nervous looking Norman before snapping a shard of wood from the door frame. “Police, nobody move.”
The glass crunched under Norman’s shoes as inspected the fire extinguisher. “From the circular impacts on the door, it looks they used this extinguisher as a ram to force entry.”
Kris nodded from the door. “Could be, that came from out here.”
Bentham walked back into the living room. “Whoever was in here has long gone. Let’s get forensics here ASAP.” He stared at Kris. “I need you to give me the recordings from any CCTV you have.”
“I’ll get on the phone to the manager straight away.”
Chapter Thirteen
Serge woke with a smile. A breeze of excitement quickly cleared his sleep filled head.
Showered and wearing a change of clothes, Serge left his room and knocked on Tanya’s door. He waited for a moment, before knocking louder. But still the door was left unanswered. “Tanya, it’s Serge, Is everything OK?” Serge rested his ear against to door, but all he heard was silence. “Fuck, where is she?”
Serge stormed to the reception and placed his hands down on the desk in front of the receptionist. “I’m looking for Miss Patrick. Has she left with anyone? ”
“I’m not sure.”
Serge leaned closer so he could read the young receptionist name tag. “Clive, she is a young, long-legged blond, the kind of girl you notice. Have you seen her leave the hotel?”
“I just came on duty. I started at eight.”
“Room forty-three B, tell me if she checked out?”
The young man traced his finger down the log book. “Still occupied.”
“Did anyone with an accent like mine talk to you since eight or any time in the past twenty-four hours?”
“No.” Clive began to panic.” Look, what is this?”
“Calm down, Clive. Have you a master key or a swipe card? I need to get into her room.”
“I’m not allowed to give to you the master key, but I can escort you to the room if you like?”
“Fine, do that then.”
At Tanya’s door, Clive opened the door. Serge barged past into the room. “Tanya?” The stiff breeze from open window drew his attention. “Fuck.” At the window he peered down into the well kept back garden. His eyes studied the rusting fire escape. “She’s been grabbed.” In a panic, he rushed around the room searching for any clues.
Clive watched from the opened door. “Want me to call the police?”
“They can’t help.”
“Are you someone like some kind of Jason Bourne or James Bond?”
Serge threw the bedspread onto the floor. “Just shut up and keep out my way.”
“What the…?” Tanya stood behind Clive in the doorway. “Serge, what are you doing?”
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“Where the fuck have you been?”
“A morning jog. Needed to clear my head after last night.”
Serge pushed Clive out of the way and flung his arms around Tanya, crushing her tiny frame in his arms. “I thought… Well you don’t want to know what I thought.” Serge stared at the Clive. “Haven’t you got a job to do?”
“Sorry, I’ll be off ….”
Tanya pulled herself free of Serge’s grip. “I thought you’d be sleeping late this morning. So went for a run.”
Serge slammed the door shut. “You have to tell me your schedule, so I know exactly where you are. I need to know everything.”
“Sounds a bit possessive.”
Serge shouted like a drill sergeant would to a fresh recruit. “If I don’t, then things like this happen. That’s what life is like when you’re on the run.” He watched as she began welling tears. “It really is life and death now. The sooner you understand that the better.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Hey, come here.” Serge kissed her cheek. “I’m sorry. Let’s dry those eyes so we can go for the breakfast. We have a big day ahead.”
“Really, like what?”
“We need a car so we get out of here.”
Tanya chuckled. “Where are we going?”
“We need somewhere quiet and secluded.”
“Like a castle or something?”
“I was thinking more like a farm.”
“A farm? What would we do there?”
Serge ran his hand through his hair. “Help out the farmer, I grew up doing it and I’ve got you to help me out now.”
“Whoa, easy there Famer Giles, who said I was going to help out?”
“It was part of the deal, remember? I keep you safe ….”
“Yeah and I keep you company, I know. But you didn’t mention mucking out pig pens and milking cows.”
“Look, I’m not being funny, Tanya. But I’m not here to be a sugar daddy. If you want to be with me, then I need you to be useful.”
“Hey, I can cook and clean…. Well, clean and cook a little. But I’m really good at cleaning.”
Serge opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. “We’re partners. Partners have each other’s back. Do you have mine?”
“Yes.”
“Good, because I have yours.”
Tanya sighed. “I know.”
“Let’s go have breakfast.”
At the breakfast table, Serge’s nerves had just about settled as he dipped fried bread into the deep yellow of his egg. “Last night when we got back I was looking for second hand cars and there is one in particular that I’m interested in. But it’s quite a distance.”
“How far.”
“I made it forty miles north, right up in the Highlands.”
“Don’t you think we should look for one closer?”
“That’s what I first thought, but after a little while I thought that’s roughly where I want us to end up anyway. We need to be as far out as possible.”
“Really? In the middle of nowhere.”
“The less people about, the better.”
“Won’t it get lonely though, just the two of us? Don’t you think we might end up killing each other?”
“Better we die by each other’s hands than be at Vlad’s mercy.”
“What about a quiet village”
“Maybe eventually, but for now we need total isolation. So if Vlad turns up he will stick out like a dog’s nob.” Serge laughed. “I can just imagine him crossing the wet moorland dressed in his Armani suit.” He chuckled into his espresso. “What I mean is, out in the countryside we’ll see him coming, in the town or even a village, he could sneak up on us unannounced.”
“I sort of see your logic.”
“Anyway about the car, It’s like it’s supposed to be. I called him this morning and he said we can get the train to Perth and he’ll show us the Land Rover.”
“A Land Rover? I thought someone was supposed to counting his pennies?”
“It’s older than most castles, but it’s still a steal.”
After breakfast, they stepped out the hotel and into a waiting taxi which took them to city centre. Serge felt a drop of rain on his cheek as they walked to the station. “I think we have to get some decent waterproofs if we’re planning on living in Scotland. Get you some decent outdoor footwear.”
Tanya stopped and glanced down at her high heels. “Do they make wellies with stiletto heels?”
“Doubt it.” Serge sniggered. “But let’s go to that outdoor clothing shop and find out?”
Walking down the aisles of the outdoor clothing shop, Tanya wasn’t impressed. “Why are they all such awful colours? I’ve seen more style on an episode of Jeremy Kyle.” She picked up a pink thermal jacket. “Even this is dreadful and I love pink.”
“Might have to wear it sooner than you think. Have you seen the rain?”
“I can’t wear this in the city?” Tanya peered out of the shop window. Rain hit the paving with such force in sprung six inches off the floor. “Ok, I’ll buy the pink one.”
“The trousers and the rubber boots.”
“Wellies, Serge. Their called Wellies.”
“Wellies, then.”
“I saw some Dalmatian ones over there. They’ll have to do.”
They walked to the station, the rustle of the waterproof fabric caused Tanya to glance down at unflattering trousers. “I look like a farmer’s wife.”
Serge smiled as he rubbed her back. “That was the whole idea.” He glanced at his watch. “Let’s get a move on, the train leaves in ten minutes.”
Despite the air-conditioned carriage, the insulation from her thermal jacket caused Tanya to take it off and instead use it as a pillow. Tanya peered out at the sheets of rain than plummeted to earth from the grey clouds. The green rolling hills were far removed from the city lights of London. Her new home was as alien to her as the feeling of wearing the unflattering clothes. She turned to face Serge who seemed fixated by the pages of his Farmer’s weekly magazine. She smiled and closed her eyes. The rocking of the train sent her to sleep.
A torrential rain of the morning has relaxed to a fine afternoon drizzle. Serge stepped out from the station and gazed into the car park. He spotted a stout man with busy grey beard leaning against an old Land Rover. “Ah, you must be Bruce.” As Serge shook his hand, he felt the strong farmer’s grip. “Good to see you.”
“Good trip up, Lad? Must be tired?”
“It’s hard to feel tired with all these splendid views.”
“Aye, she is a beautiful country, all right.” The farmer squinted. “If you don’t mind me asking, what part of the world does that accent come from?”
“Poland, I come from Poland.”
“Poland, Aye. At least you’re not a bloody Englishman.” Bruce noticed Tanya struggling with her case. “This must be your Wife”
“Friend, we’re just friends This is the beautiful Tanya.” Serge spoke from the side of his mouth. “She’s English by the way.”
“I said Englishman …. There’s nothing wrong with their women.” Bruce shook her hand. “Aye you’re a bonny lass, all right.”
Tanya blushed from under her oversized hood. “Thanks.”
“Talking about bonny lasses.”Serge’s eyes were already in love the rugged old Land Rover Defender. “This must be her?”
“Aye, she is a grand old lady, but ticks over smoother than father time’s wrist watch.”
Serge inspected the battered Defender as if he were an auctioneer valuing a lot. The underbelly was caked in ancient mud and wheel arches had more dints than an old boxer’s face, He creaked the driver’s door open and ignored the smell of wet dog from inside the tired cab. “She’s perfect.”
Tanya glared at Serge and whispered, “What? Are out of your freaking mind?”
“What? It’s a proper Farmer’s vehicle this.”
“It’s in a worst state that my Grandma… and she died last ye
ar.”
Serge sat inside and placed his hand on the steering wheel. He creaked the suspension and he rocked on the seat. “All I need is a dog.”
Bruce’s eyes widened with the prospect of another deal. “Got an eight-week old Collie if you want it?”
“How much?”
“I haven’t much use for a young dog anymore and the fact you told me you were paying cash, I chuck him for fifty quid if you the buy old Landie.”
“If you don’t mind me asking, what do mean no use? You selling the farm?.”
“After the next season, I have no choice.” Bruce held the small of his back. “Just too old to carry on. Can’t do it by myself no more.”
“You need a hand? Me and Tanya are looking for some work. I’ve worked on farms in the past and Tanya can keep a house spotless.”
“As much as I’d love the help, I haven’t the money to pay two wages.”
“Ah, shame.”
Bruce pointed towards the sky. “Wait just a moment. I need to call my wife first. But I have more than enough rooms since my three daughters married and left for city life. Would you be interested in accommodation and three meals a day to supplement your pay?”
“I would snap your hand off.”
Bruce glanced a phone box on the street. “Give me a minute and I’ll talk to the boss.”
Tanya scowled at Serge as Bruce crossed the street. “Thanks for consulting me first?”
“I just think it’s perfect. It’s fate.”
“How do you mean, fate?”
“We need somewhere to stay, right? The guy’s going to put us up for free. Everybody wins.”
“Nothing is ever easy, just you wait and see. Anyway, what happens if it’s a shithole, like his car?”
“So what if it is? It’s better than being tied up in Vlad’s basement.”
Tanya crossed her arms. “It would have been nice to see a few other places first.”
“Look, think of it like this. We stay there for a few months, we haven’t spent a penny and probably saved a nice little packet too, If we decided it’s not for us, we can say our goodbyes or even run away in the night. We wouldn’t have lost a penny and he would have had some help around his farm.”
“You make it sound so easy.”
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