by Edie Baylis
The last thing he remembered was hitting his head on the metal wheel arch as he’d been thrown into the back of the cavernous hulk. Sometime between then and arriving wherever he was now he’d been bound and gagged with duct tape.
He was roughly thrown to the floor in what looked like a small warehouse and his frightened eyes stared up at Seth Wright standing over him.
“Hello again Alan,” Seth smiled, his white teeth glinting in the light cast by the single florescent strip light hanging from the ceiling. “I’m afraid your lies have caught up with you.”
Alan frantically shook his head from side to side, unable to utter a word. How had it come to this? How could he be held responsible for something he had no knowledge of?
Seth moved forwards and painfully ripped the duct tape from Alan’s mouth.
Feeling sick as the first couple of layers of skin was removed from his lips, Alan stared up into Seth’s manic eyes.
“Anything to say?” Seth snarled.
“It wasn’t me. None of what you asked me about the other day was anything to do with me. I can assure you th...”
“Assure me can you?” Seth sneered, his face contorting into a savage snarl. “You fucking LIAR!” He brought his boot down hard on Alan’s ribcage and smiled hearing bones snap. Ignoring Alan’s howls, he dropped to his haunches. “I presume Jason Miller put you up to this did he?”
Alan didn’t reply. He knew whatever he said wouldn’t make a difference. The guy was deranged like everybody said.
Seth calmly lit a cigarette. “I take it by your silence I’m right!”
“No!” Alan said, finding the resolve to defend himself once more, the pain in his ribs making it increasingly difficult to him to speak.
“Playing games?” Seth laughed. “Good luck! Oh and by the way, that mug shot of you I took... Remember that?”
Seth watched Alan Barber nod, thoroughly enjoying the fear visible in the man’s eyes. “You were ID’d as the one to send runners into the clubs.”
Alan frowned. ID’d? Who could have ID’d him? He hadn’t even known about any questions. He shook his head vehemently.
“That also means you’re the one responsible for sending letters too yes?” Seth growled, pulling his wallet out. Opening it he shoved the photo of Jane and Toby in Alan’s face. “You see this? This is my wife and my kid. This is the kid you’ve been threatening and you think that’s ok do you?”
Shoving his wallet back in his pocket, Seth grabbed Alan around the throat and applied pressure. “I also want you to tell me what you know about my daughter!”
Alan began choking as his windpipe was crushed. He couldn’t move his arms because they were bound tightly behind his back. What daughter? Did Seth Wright have a daughter? He was going to die. Going to die for something he had had no part of. “It wasn’t me...” he gasped.
Seth laughed. He pulled the man’s head up by his hair, then slammed it hard against the concrete floor. It was tempting to kill him, but he was determined to drag it out a bit longer. After what this cunt had done. After he’d threatened a child? His child? There was no way he’d be walking away from this.
“You would say that wouldn’t you? It’s not you – just happens to look like you, yeah? Convenient that...”
Alan’s head pounded with pain, the sickening crack he’d heard when his skull connected with the concrete had not sounded good and was still very much resounding in his brain in more ways than one.
Seth got up and pulled out his sawn-off from the inside of his coat, watching as Alan stared at it with terrified eyes. He paced up and down in front of the shaking man. “You know, I wouldn’t have thought you were the type to resort to threatening kids. You don’t look the sort.... Thought you were more into older women?”
He laughed watching Alan’s confusion. “I remember quite clearly now seeing you at Miller’s party being chatted up by that woman old enough to be your bloody mother.”
Alan frowned. Who? Oh fuck. That was Aiden. Seth Wright thought he was AIDEN. He felt desolation sweep over him. All of this was about Aiden... His brother had lied and now he was paying the price.
Seth sighed. He could tell the bloke was hiding something. He’d been in this game far too long not to see the signs.
Grabbing Alan by the lapels, Seth yanked him to his feet, holding him upright when his legs buckled. He dragged him to the other side of the lock up, knowing the man’s eyes were glued to the sawn-off he was still holding. Not that it appeared to be tempting him into giving over any further information. Let’s see if this would help...
“I need you to tell me who’s behind this,” Seth growled. “Is it Miller?” He waited for a response, but got none. “I will get this info out of you Barber. Either that or you’ll die.”
Alan stared at the sawn-off Seth Wright was still clutching. What could he say? He couldn’t serve Aiden up to this man. Aiden was his BROTHER.
Seth shrugged, placed the sawn-off on a table and flipped off the top of a large metal barrel. “Suit yourself...” Turning Alan around so he was facing him, he lifted him up onto a step and roughly pulled his arms away from his back.
Alan whimpered, both from pain and fear as a horrible acrid chemical smell assaulted his nostrils.
“I. Need. A. NAME...” Seth roared, pushing Alan Barber’s hands into the liquid the barrel contained.
Alan howled, vomit rising as acid burnt into his skin, first on his fingertips and then the rest of his hands. He tried to struggle, but he was being held fast, his body crushed up against the barrel. There was nowhere to go. Nowhere to move...
Seth’s nose wrinkled up from the caustic smell of the acid combined with burning, disintegrating flesh. “Still nothing?”
Alan gasped in a big lungful of air as he desperately fought to override the crushing pain overtaking his body like wildfire, his mind seeing flashes of light. He hoped he’d pass out very soon.
Seth watched the man’s face, accepting he wouldn’t give up anything now. He had to take his hat off to him. To not fold under this took some doing. He couldn’t let him go now even if he wanted to though. Which he didn’t.
Everyone had a fucking choice and he’d made his choice when he’d agreed to send those letters.
And he’d been in his house. Further rage and indignation bubbled in Seth’s veins. This twat was the one knobbing that stupid bitch Anna. Not any more he wouldn’t be.
Seth backhanded Alan Barber around the face. “Stay with me Barber, stay with me. It’s not quite over yet...”
Alan felt vomit rising and began to heave. Why did you do this to me Aiden? Why?
Asking himself these questions now was pointless. There could be no answer.
It was a blessed relief when Seth whipped out a hunting knife. Alan felt no pain as the blade sliced cleanly through his throat. When he crumpled to the floor, his last thoughts were only of his brother.
FORTY TWO
SETH WOKE WITH A START and glanced at Jane fast asleep next to him. She’d been out for the count by the time he’d got in last night, which was a good job because he’d been covered in blood and wired to fuck.
He’d also been poised ready to lay into her about both where she’d been that evening and furthermore, what the hell she’d been thinking by putting out an appeal to the bloody nation. However once he’d finally got through to Barry, informing him there was an urgent clean up and disposal job that required his attention and then had a long hot shower, he’d calmed down.
Whatever Jane had done didn’t dampen his contentment when he’d pulled the duvet back to see her lying resplendently naked. He’d got into the super-king bed and lay behind her, ignoring the erection he’d acquired the minute he’d laid eyes on her.
He’d happily drifted off to sleep secure in the knowledge that one piece of the problem had been removed tonight. However it was now morning and he still needed to say his piece. He needed to make Jane understand that under no circumstances was she to engineer a repeat performanc
e of going to the press in someone else’s defence.
“Jane,” he whispered in her ear, his hand running up her thigh. “Wake up.”
Jane moaned softly and turned onto her back. She opened her eyes to find Seth propped up on his elbow over her.
“Morning gorgeous,” he smiled, kissing her gently on the lips as she pushed herself up on the pillows.
“You shouldn’t have done that yesterday - it was stupid.” Seth said, his voice stern.
“What now?” Jane sighed.
“That stunt with the press. It was dangerous. Drawing attention to yourself,” Seth continued. “I don’t want you becoming more of a target.”
The memory of her conversation with Maggie immediately shot back into her mind. “It had to be done Seth. I know the people who prostituted Lacey are the ones who have something to do with her disappearance. They’ll be working her again or they’d have killed her for escaping. We need to find them.”
Seth’s eyes narrowed. “You just don’t get it do you?”
“Seth, I think they’re the ones threatening us. Threatening Toby and who have something to do with Grace.”
“So why the fuck are you giving them extra ammo?” Seth snapped, his voice rising.
“Extra ammo? I’m not!” Jane cried. “I want it all to stop Seth. I want my daughter!”
“For fuck’s sake, Jane!” Seth shouted. “Can’t you see this is Miller’s work? The letters will stop now so that’s one thing.”
Jane’s face grew hard. “Oh yes, you had a lead didn’t you? One you didn’t bother informing me about. One you were going to follow up on apparently. Maggie let it slip.”
“Relax babe. I’m not trying to hide anything. I just needed to get on with it,” Seth said dismissively, refusing to get riled. “It’s sorted.”
Jane raised an eyebrow. “What have you done...?”
Seth grinned. “What I needed to do. I won’t have my child threatened or my wife worried anymore.” He drew circles on Jane’s thigh with his fingers, gradually moving higher. “Just let me to get on with my stuff Jane.”
“But Maggie saw the man with Lacey at the hospital. She can ID him!”
“Will you stop going on about that fucking girl!” Seth barked. He was sick of hearing about her. Toby and Jane were his priority, not Lacey. “All I’m bothered about is that this was the guy sending the letters. If he’s connected to Lacey, then that’s two birds with one stone.”
“But what if it’s not the right person?” Jane asked, squirming as Seth’s fingers slipped between her legs.
“It is the right person, trust me. He was obviously working for someone and they’ll be next in line.”
“But...”
“But nothing Jane,” Seth said. “It’s like you want it to be more complicated than it is. You need to stop this. You’ll soon see. Take a look at Anna’s face when she finds out her boyfriend is no more.”
Jane’s face paled. “Anna? Are you sure she was involved with this person? What about Miller?”
Seth nodded. “I’m sure, ok. It all adds up. Jane, you need to get rid of her and Miller’s next believe me! Now, back to us...”
Swiftly flipping himself over Jane, parting her thighs under his hips, Seth kept his body raised above hers, the tip of his cock resting tantalisingly against her entrance.
Jane raised her hips, desperate for him to enter her. She reached and gripped the velvet skin of his length. “You’d best take my mind off all the shit going on hadn’t you!” she winked.
Grabbing Jane’s wrists, Seth pulled her arms over her head, holding her firmly to the bed and pushed himself into her, up to the hilt. “That I can promise to deliver right now,” he growled, thrusting hard.
JENNIE HAD GOT HALF a mile from the address she’d found for Jane Wright. It hadn’t been difficult to find but now she’d got cold feet.
What could she possibly say? She didn’t know what had happened to Lacey, but she did know that whatever it was wasn’t good.
Everyone had seen Jane Wright on the television yesterday and the hostel had been a hive of activity from the minute the appeal had aired. Press reporters, clamouring for information about Lacey’s relationship with Jane and how it had come about - down to the other girls in the hostel speculating over their take on it. Some even pretended they’d had a close relationship with Lacey and that she’d told them all the details. They’d sell their story for the right price...
No one knew anything. None of them. The only person who knew anything was her.
Lacey had divulged snippets to her, almost accidentally one night as to what had really happened with where she’d come from and what Jane Wright had done for her. Jennie had not believed it to be true – that was until Jane Wright had appeared on the television offering a reward.
But she didn’t know anything other than that. No names had been given. The only reference Lacey had ever made about the horrible place she’d been forced to work was something to do with ‘digging’ and Jennie had no idea what she’d been talking about. Whatever it was, wasn’t particularly important or useful. Especially now.
If she turned up at Jane Wright’s house off the cuff and if, on the remote chance she was given any time with the woman herself, then what could she offer to the equation? Not a fat lot.
There was no point. It was a stupid idea. Turning around, Jennie began the long walk back to Pegasus Place.
JASON MILLER WAS NOT impressed by the 5am call telling him he was needed immediately at the Limelight. He’d been even less happy when he’d arrived to discover the body of Alan Barber had been dumped on his steps.
The night watchman had been on patrol and thankfully spotted it minutes after it had been dumped, quickly moving it. Unfortunately he hadn’t witnessed who had delivered it. The CCTV footage only showed a white van slowing down, the side door opening and the body, wrapped in sacking, being launched from the van onto the steps. But it was obvious who was behind this. Seth Wright.
At least he had conscientious staff who’d know better than to involve the police. At this precise moment in time Alan Barber’s body was being kept in the cellar until he decided the best thing to do with it.
Jason cracked his knuckles and stared at his address book. He needed to contact the man’s family, but didn’t know a bean about him, apart from some of the staff said he had a brother living locally.
Jason vaguely remembered Alan Barber bringing his brother to Linda’s birthday bash – it stuck in his mind because he’d done a double take, thinking he’d just seen two copies of the same man wearing different suits. The two of them were very much alike.
As the boss of the club it was only right he should be the one to break the news to Alan Barber’s family, so he’d get one of the staff to find an address or number for this brother as soon as they came in.
In the meantime, he’d work out exactly how he would deal with Seth Wright.
FORTY THREE
“I DON’T BELIEVE YOU’VE done this!” Seth raged, staring at Jane in disbelief, his face like thunder and his green eyes flashing with fury.
Jane stared at Seth in shock. He’d been fine a moment ago, but now he was screaming blue murder. “What the hell are you talking about?” she yelled. She knew Anna and Toby were in the sitting room and could hear every single word Seth was shouting and she didn’t appreciate it.
“You’ve put everyone through hell for what? For fuck all!” he screamed. “Are you really that desperate for attention? I was right about you a while back wasn’t I? You’re losing your fucking mind, you stupid bitch!”
Jane’s face flashed with anger. “Keep your voice down?” she hissed through gritted teeth. “Do you want to tell me exactly what I’m supposed to have done before you continue trapping off?” She wasn’t having this. It was him who was losing the plot, not her.
Striding over, Seth thrust a green folder into Jane’s hands. “Yours I presume?”
Jane took the folder and stared at it. “What’s this
?”
Seth paced over to the kitchen table and slammed his fist on the surface making her jump. “Don’t give me that! Don’t you dare pretend you know nothing!”
He slumped in a chair and ran both his hands through his hair so frantically it looked like it might rip from his scalp. “How could you do this Jane?”
Jane glanced at Seth and then at the folder, completely clueless as to what he was talking about. His problem, whatever it was, was fast getting on her tits. Angrily she lifted the flap of the cardboard folder and pulled out several pieces of paper.
“Don’t you dare insult me by saying you don’t know about this you crazy bitch,” Seth muttered, unable to look at her. How could she? She knew he’d been losing his mind over this. How could she have done such a thing?
Remembering he’d still got some unopened mail that Anna had put on Jane’s desk last night, he’d thought he’d grab it in case there was anything important there. He didn’t like getting behind with bills, but how he wished he hadn’t found the folder. It would have so much less hurtful.
Walking into Jane’s study, he’d grabbed the small pile of letters still on her desk and glanced absentmindedly at the green folder underneath. Thinking it may contain mail too he’d looked just to check and part of a sentence had caught his eye.
Recognising the wording, Seth’s heart had lurched. He’d pulled the paperwork from the folder and his hands shook with pure fury seeing it contained none other but copies of the threatening letters he’d received.
Not only were there copies of what he’d got, but also other versions of the same thing, which were first drafts – amended until they’d become the ones which had been sent. And as if that wasn’t bad enough, it also contained notes for the fake Carl Mulligan.
It had taken a few minutes of utter confusion before the penny had dropped – probably because he hadn’t wanted to accept what had been staring him in the face.