Sins of the Master

by Catherine Taylor

  “And you believe him? He’s using you. He has no intention of letting James go, or me for that matter.” Mairead pulled on her runners. “You have no idea of what he did to me, do you, why I’m actually here in this hospital? He tortured me. Your precious Bevan Miller kept me locked up and interrogated me for nearly two weeks, knowing I was pregnant. Do you think for a second he gives a shit about James or me?”

  “I don’t understand…”

  “Of course you don’t.” Mairead raked her fingers through her hair. “None of you do, and nobody is going to try to help James. Through your stupid ignorance you’re all going to let him rot in a prison cell and never see his child or me again.”

  Joanne reached out tentatively, her face petrified. “Mairead, please, don’t get upset, because if you do, I have to get the doctor…”

  Mairead stared at her viciously for a second, but with a few deep breaths, calmed down. “I’m alright. I’m not getting upset. I just want to get out of here. Could you check the bathroom for me, please, and see if I’ve left anything behind?”

  “Of course.”

  The second Joanne had gone, Mairead was snatching up her handbag, grabbing two credit cards from her purse and returning the bag to its place as Joanne returned.

  “There’s nothing in there, dear.”

  “Okay, thanks.”

  There were papers to sign before they left the ward, and it seemed to be a long journey through corridors and down elevators before Mairead finally saw the exit doors in the main lobby.

  It had been three weeks since the sun had touched her skin. Mairead breathed in the warm fresh air and delighted in the wide open space. Joanne pointed to Ron’s car in the waiting bay.

  “There they are.”

  Mairead looked at it and smiled sadly. “I’m so sorry, Joanne, but I can’t just do nothing.”

  Before she could reply, Mairead was sprinting away from her.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  The tears had long been exhausted and Adele sat on the bed, her back against the wall, remembering all the lovely things people had said about her parents throughout a very sombre service. The sight of her brother and his family had shattered her.

  Dylan had given her a tablet to watch the memorial, and she was tempted to smash it. She resisted, loathe to give him any excuse to enact upon his debauched threats. For the last week he had used the memorial as an incentive to make her behave and keep herself and her room clean. In some way, it was good to be in a clean environment. She should have never allowed herself to get to such a state, but then again, she had never known such despair.

  It made no sense that he was denying responsibility for her parents’ murder. Adele fully understood that she was helpless against him. Any time, he could simply kill her, and it was terrifying to speculate on why he hadn’t. No matter how hard she tried to accept the inevitable, it was impossible to come to terms with the fearful expectation of being violated by him.

  And yet he continued to treat her decently. When she had actually eaten a few of the meals he brought her, she was surprised at how good they tasted. Her room was much more comfortable than a prison cell, and apart from the threat of a spanking, he hadn’t hurt her. None of it made sense.

  Later that day, when Dylan came by her room again, Adele was determined to speak with him. As he took the tablet from her, she held on to it and looked up at him.

  “Thank you.”

  He said nothing, snatched it away and went to walk out, until she called to him. “Please, can’t you tell me something, anything? You said you didn’t kill them. Then tell me who did.”

  Dylan glared at her. “You replied to an email from someone called George. You gave him everything you had on me, without knowing who this person was.”

  “I was desperate.”

  “No, you were trying to cover your arse and pin your crimes on me. Instead you awoke an old enemy of mine, possibly several of them, and they’ve all come looking for me.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Russian criminals.”

  Adele swallowed nervously. “Bratva.”

  He smirked. “So you were aware of the hornet’s nest you were poking.”

  “It was just something Brendan brought up in his research. I didn’t think…”

  “No, you didn’t.”

  “Then why would they kill my parents?”

  “Because now the whole fucking country is looking for me. I can’t get out, and they know this, and all they have to do is track me down, unless I find them first.”

  Adele’s lip trembled. “Brendan?”

  “That wasn’t me either, and now James and Mairead are fucked as well. James could be dead, and I have no idea what’s happened to Mairead. I do know that an old friend of mine was tortured to death, and a week ago, while you were decorating the walls, I was burying a woman I cared deeply for, who traded her life for mine.” His face grew more furious with every word. “So when you’re sit there bawling for your parents, maybe you should be shedding some tears for the other lives you have fucking destroyed.”

  “I didn’t know,” Adele sobbed. “I had no idea…”

  She screamed as Dylan launched forward and seized a fistful of her hair and pushed his face close to hers.

  “You’re a lying cunt,” he snarled. “You knew exactly what you were doing and wouldn’t have cared less what happened to anyone, as long as you were getting what you wanted.”

  Adele quaked in terror, staring silently into his face. Dylan released her and backed away. She collapsed onto the bed, her head bowed and her body shaking as she whimpered, “Then why?”

  “Why what?”

  After several attempts to reply, she breathed deeply and dared to look at him. “Why did you save me? Why didn’t you just let them kill me?”

  Dylan glared at her. “I’m fucked if I know.”

  Her face crumpled. “You’re going to hurt me, aren’t you?”

  He shook his head in disgust. “Still thinking of your own miserable skin. I don’t have to hurt you. Sooner or later, you’re going to realise that your parents are dead because of you. Brendan North is in hospital because of you…”

  “And because of you,” she shouted back tearfully. “If these people are your enemies, then you made them that way. You were part of them. All that violence and hatred existed long before I became involved in it. How can you stand there and judge me?”

  “I don’t,” he told her quietly. “I know exactly what I am and what I’ve done, but you’re trying to hold on to an innocence that you don’t have any more. The moment you set out to murder Mairead, you became exactly like me, a cold blooded killer. You may have hired someone to do your dirty work, but you’ve still got innocent blood on your hands.”

  “It’s not fair.” Her pitch was high and childish. “I don’t know why I did what I did. It just happened… and then it was all out of control… I’m not a bad person…”

  He smirked. “You just go on telling yourself that.”

  When Dylan had left the room, Adele pulled a pillow towards her, hugging it against herself as she curled up. She felt a mind-numbing heaviness descend upon her that only made her roll up tighter. Big tears were welling up and spilling over, rolling down her face, but she couldn’t move to even wipe them away. The tension inside her was making her chest ache, but she had to keep still, because if she moved, she was going to start screaming and she was terrified that she wouldn’t be able to stop.

  * * * * *

  Vanessa was trying to escape the crowd and get five minutes alone in the office. If one more person asked her about James and Mairead she was going to lose it. Someone was calling her name and she tried to ignore it, until a hand grabbed her arm.

  “What the fuck do you want?” She turned savagely to see a much shorter woman staring up at her fearfully and snatching back her hand.

  “I look for Vanessa,” the woman told her timidly.

  The accent surprised Vanessa and she realised this was s
omeone new to the club. She was older than the standard patron, closer to her own age, and not dressed for the venue. A simple dark blue shirt was stretched tightly across large breasts and hung loosely over black pants. There was something youthful about her, with her round face and a blunt cut fringe of dark, long hair, hovering above big brown eyes and thick lashes. Her cheeks were full, as were her parted lips.

  “I’m so sorry,” Vanessa quickly apologised. “I thought you were someone else. How can I help you?”

  “I wish that you put poster on wall. This will please me.” She reached into a large handbag and drew out a piece of paper.

  Vanessa took it and looked down at the image of a beautiful, dark skinned young girl with long and wavy black hair and a full mouth like the woman. The words above the image read: Have you seen this girl? At the bottom there was a description of events that explained the posters.

  Greta Petrenko came to New Zealand from Ukraine two years ago and has not been heard of since. Greta is twenty-one, speaks English, and is of Maori descent. Anyone who may have seen her at any time should ring the number below.

  “Is this a relative?” Vanessa asked.

  “My daughter. I search for her a very long time. I go all over New Zealand and some people help me and some don’t. It is only a picture that I ask you to put up.”

  Her explanation was delivered without emotion and Vanessa suspected the same words had been spoken many times. She smiled. “Give me a few of them. I’ll put one up at the front door, where people will see it.”

  The woman beamed. “Thank you.”

  Vanessa looked at the name and number at the bottom. “And this is you, Lena Moroz?”

  “Yes. I was Lena Petrenko until I marry. Greta is my only child.”

  “Well, I hope you find her, Lena. I take it you’ve been to the police?”

  “I go and they help me for a while and then they forget and not want to help anymore, and so I look for her myself.”

  “Is your husband with you?”

  “No. Danil died three years ago. There is only me now… and my daughter.”

  “And you have work here?”

  Lena nodded. “I have job at bakery. I now stay in Wellington for a time and then I go to the other island and look for her there. This is the last place I search in North Island.”

  “I’ll show this picture to my girls. They know a lot of people in Wellington.”

  “You are very kind,” Lena smiled. “I thank you.”

  Vanessa watched her turn away and disappear into the crowd. She felt sorry for her, knowing that two years was a long time for anyone to be missing, let alone a young, female foreigner.

  It had only been three weeks since she had last seen James and Mairead, but her worry was just as great. She knew little more than they were being incarcerated due to some bullshit amendment to national security laws. As James’ business partner, she’d been given the courtesy of a feeble explanation, before men in suits had questioned her and searched the club. They had then gone on to explain that she was obliged by law to keep all information confidential.

  That wasn’t easy when she had to deal with the people who worked with James and Mairead, and patrons that frequented the club. Everyone had questions she had no answers to. The police were a constant presence, and Vanessa had spotted a few plain clothed detectives among the patrons.

  Only the day before, the police had returned to ask her if she had received any contact from Mairead. Later that day, Sean Kavanagh had rung and told her of Mairead’s flight from the hospital. He was distraught and blaming himself. It was just another crisis that Vanessa would have to deal with.

  Getting beyond the double doors, she sighed with relief as the music was shut out from her hearing. As she got to the junction of the passageways, she could hear the muffled voices of girls in the dressing rooms at the end. She turned the other way, towards the office, but stopped in her tracks.

  Amiri was outside the door pacing about. He stiffened as he saw her, but before she could speak, he was shaking his head and putting his finger to his mouth. Vanessa sighed silently, knowing his flair for dramatics.

  Tossing back his long dreads, Amiri puffed his chest up trying to display some element of control. “Boss, we really need to do something about that alley.” His dark eyes were growing wider. “I just went out there for a fag and it’s a mess out there. You need to let me show you.”

  The moment she nodded, he was grabbing her hand and hurrying her out. Once they were through the side door, he was holding up his hand to her, while looking both ways down the alley.

  He stepped towards her. “Have you got your phone on you?”

  “No,” she frowned. “It’s in the office.”

  “Good. Now, don’t freak out.” He looked both ways again and spoke a little louder. “It’s alright, hon, we’re alone.”

  A moment later, Mairead stepped from the side vestibule and slowly approached them. She was dressed in track pants and Amiri’s jacket, but it was her gaunt face that drew a gasp from Vanessa. Her weight loss was obvious and she had deep shadows under her eyes. Her hair was a mess.

  Stepping forward, Vanessa wrapped her arms around her and held her tightly. Mairead responded with a weak embrace.

  “Hey, Vanessa.”

  Pulling back from her, Vanessa was at a loss to know where to begin. “They’re looking for you. Mairead, you can’t do this…”

  “Listen to me,” Mairead insisted. “James and I have done nothing and you know that. This is going to sound totally insane, but James was shot by Russian mafia. They’re here in New Zealand looking for Dylan, and if I’ve ever needed someone to believe me, it’s right now, Vanessa, because I don’t know what else to do.”

  Vanessa’s face showed little reaction. “Tell me James is alright.”

  Mairead nodded. “He’s recovering well, but he’s been transferred to a medical unit in the prison, and they’re going to lock him away forever unless you help me.”

  “How? Mairead, I’ve had police through the club looking for you. Your father is absolutely beside himself and… and you’re pregnant.”

  “Yeah, I am,” Mairead nodded glumly. “And I want my baby to have a father. I can’t do it without James.”

  “Oh, my god.” Amiri stared at her. “Oh, my god. We have to help her. She’s having a baby. Oh, my god, Mairead, you’re having a baby.”

  “Amiri, would you just shut up and let me think.” Vanessa straightened up, shaking her head and wiping at tears. She glared at Mairead. “This is insane. What the hell are you both involved in?”

  “I don’t know,” Mairead replied quietly. “But if you don’t help me, I’m going to lose James and then I don’t care what happens to me.”

  “And what do you hope to achieve, Mairead? In fact, where is Dylan bloody Tyler in all of this?”

  “Probably recovering from Tammy being shot dead, the same time James was shot.”

  Amiri gasped. “What?”

  Mairead gripped his hand. “I’m sorry, Amiri. I’m so sorry.”

  “Tammy’s dead?” Amiri stared at her and walked off down the alley. She ran after him and embraced him as he stood crying and swiping at tears. “He loved her. She was there before any of us.”

  Vanessa walked up to join them. “Amiri, I didn’t know…”

  “What?” he shrugged tearfully. “That I belonged to him, too? Not for very long, but long enough to know that he’s a good man, not the fucking wanted criminal they’re making him out to be.”

  “What are they saying?” Mairead asked.

  “That he’s wanted for questioning,” Vanessa replied. “Over the death of some old man that lived at his gallery.”

  “So they’re not connecting him to Adele and her parents yet?”

  “Not that I’ve heard. At present, the police are saying that they’re holding a suspect from some terrorist group and keeping the media in the dark. There’s been more coverage about these changes to laws surrounding terror
ism.”

  “Suspect?” Mairead scowled. “They’re holding James. They don’t have a fucking clue who they’re looking for.”

  “Mairead, what do you need? I don’t know how much I can help, but I can’t do nothing.”

  “Just don’t tell anyone that you’ve seen me, neither of you.”

  Amiri shook his head. “I have to tell Kylie and you know that.”

  “Of course, but just be aware that phones, cars, buildings can be wired. Be outside when you tell her, and let her know that I love her.”

  “She’s going to be gutted that she missed you.”

  “I know,” Mairead nodded. “I’ll see her as soon as possible. In the meantime, Amiri, could I ask you to get my gym bag. I have clothes and shoes in it. Just don’t let the girls know what you’re up to.”

  “I’m on to it,” he beamed.

  When he was back inside, Mairead looked to Vanessa. “I need money.”

  “Done,” Vanessa stated. “There’s a few thousand in the safe. Now where are you staying?”

  “I’ve got a place, but I had another idea, but you might not like it.”

  “Just tell me.”

  “Sophie’s place. I don’t think they would connect me there, but I don’t know how Sophie would feel about having a wanted criminal in her home.”

  “She would be fine. Sophie has been the only reason I’ve coped with this. She would do anything to help, but of course, I’ll ask her.”

  “Is she with you tonight?”

  “I’m picking her up when the club closes. She’s staying with me at the cottage until Monday, and then she’s off to a conference for the day.”

  Mairead nodded. “I just need somewhere I can meet up with you and tell you everything that has happened. Don’t you usually do dinner at Sophie’s on Wednesday nights?”

  “Yes, but that’s four days away. I can bring that forward…”

  “No, because I want everything to be seen as normal. Wednesday is fine. If I have some money, I can survive until then. I could be there at say, four o’clock. What number apartment is she?”