The Broken_A gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat

by Casey Kelleher

  ‘Can’t you just try and get along, ladies?’

  ‘“Ladies”?’ Bridget laughed. ‘This scrawny mare wouldn’t know a lady if one smacked her square in the face, which, if she carries on the way she’s going, is exactly what’s going to happen.’

  Grabbing the girl’s skin tighter she leant in, and sneered: ‘Do me a favour, darling. Stop with all the doe-eyed, brainless bimbo bullshit. It might wash with people who think with their dicks instead of their brains,’ Bridget shot a look to Lee Archer, leaving the man with no doubt to whom that little dig was intended for, ‘but it won’t work on me. I know you’ve been taking money, and I’m not having it. Put it back. That’s your final warning.’

  Some of the other girls had started coming out of their rooms, hearing the loud commotion, the raised voices of the two women arguing, all eager to find out what was going on.

  ‘We don’t need an audience, ladies.’ Lee Archer rubbed his head, this was all he needed. A full scale bloody lynch mob as he tried to usher the girls back into their rooms without success. ‘There’s nothing to see; it’s just another fucking drama.’

  ‘Another drama? Is that what you call this little slapper stealing our hard-earned money?’ Bridget spat, her eyes flashing with fury as she glared at Ruth. Aware that everyone behind her was listening, Bridget was going to make sure that everyone knew what this little bitch had been up to. ‘You might have your eyes on this little tart, but your gaze is lingering in all the wrong places, mate.’ Then turning to Ruth, Bridget eyed the girl with disdain. ‘What are you doing huh? Taking clients into the back room and giving them the full service, but only declaring to us that all you’ve given them is a blowie or a hand job. Then pocketing the difference? That’s the oldest trick in the book, darling, and it ain’t how we do things around here.’

  ‘Well, if it’s the oldest trick in the book then I’ll take your word for it, cos you would know. You washed-up old slapper,’ Ruth said tartly, aware that all eyes were on her, determined to save face.

  Bridget was on the girl then. Making a grab for the younger woman’s knickers, determined to find the money that Ruth had stashed away so she could prove to everyone what a thieving little cow she was.

  Only, Ruth had no intention of letting Bridget call her out in front of the entire house. If she wanted to keep her job, she was going to have to fight for the privilege. Literally.

  Belting Bridget hard around the face, she smiled triumphantly. Until Bridget hit back with an almighty punch. Bridget was on top of her then. Raining furious blows down on any part of the girl’s body that she could get to. Ruth’s only way of defending herself was by clawing at the older girl’s face. Which only made Bridget more angry. Wrapping her fist around a chunk of Ruth’s hair, she dragged the girl awkwardly down onto the floor. Revelling as Ruth screamed out in pain as the huge clump of hair came away from her scalp.

  Lee had no choice but to intervene then.

  ‘For fuck’s sake!’ Out of his seat now. Trying to break up the two feuding women as they writhed around on the floor in front of him, punching and kicking each other as they both screamed obscenities at one another. He could hear all the other girls that worked here too, standing behind them, all chanting loudly and egging the two girls on. The place was in utter chaos. Even the punters had started coming out of the rooms to see what on earth was going on.

  Finally, Lee Archer lost his shit.

  ‘FOR FUCK’S SAKE!’ he shouted as he manoeuvred his huge frame between the two women, trying to break up their fight. ‘Can you all just calm the fuck down.’

  His sentence was cut short, as one of the feuding women caught him right on the nose with a sharp jut of her elbow. Catching him unawares, his nose exploded with pain as the blow knocked him to the floor.

  Landing with an almighty thud, the room was silenced.

  For a second he thought that it had taken getting lamped by one of the girls to stop all the bullshit, and as much as it bloody hurt, it was worth it. But he quickly realised that the sudden hush in the room around him had nothing to do with him at all.

  A voice boomed out: ‘Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on here?’

  A female’s voice? Stern, cutting. Whoever it was had managed to stop Bridget and Ruth’s ruck with just one sentence. The rest of the girls had fallen silent too.

  Shit!

  Still splayed out on the floor, Lee turned his head to the side to clarify that he’d already guessed exactly who it was. His suspicions confirmed as he clocked the sight of the black patent high heels. His gaze moving upwards, to the knee-length black dress peeping out from the long beige Mac. Wincing as his eyes finally rested on Nancy Byrne’s face as she loomed over him. The scowl told him only one thing: she did not look one bit impressed.

  ‘Nancy?’ Lee said weakly, catching sight of Jack Taylor then too. The older man standing in the doorway behind Nancy, his eyes flashing with amusement as he stood back and let Nancy Byrne deal with the chaos that had erupted around her.

  ‘Where’s Daniel?’ Nancy asked, her tone curt as she scanned the room for her brother. Daniel was supposed to be here tonight, keeping an eye on the place.

  ‘I dunno. He said he had some business to deal with and asked me to step in,’ Lee said, wiping the blood from his nose with his sleeve.

  Nancy bristled. Typical Daniel. He’d said he wanted to help out with their father’s business, but so far he’d done nothing but cause her more problems. He had one job to do tonight, and that was to look after this place, yet he couldn’t even do that right.

  Nancy was pissed off.

  Between Alex Costa and the warehouse, and Daniel and this place, it was becoming very clear who was going to have to run everything.

  Her.

  ‘I’ve got it sorted, Nancy. You just walked in at a bad time…’ Mortified that Nancy Byrne had turned up before he’d had a chance to calm the situation down, Lee was well aware that he looked like a prize moron right now; he was desperate to redeem himself. Daniel Byrne had offered him an in, and if Nancy got rid of him now, he’d never live it down. Being lamped one by a girl and donning a broken nose was bad enough. ‘There was a bit of an issue, but I’m sorting it.’

  ‘You are, are you?’ Raising her eyes in disbelief, Nancy shook her head. ‘Only, if this is your idea of sorted, Lee, then me and you have got a big problem.’

  Staring at the two dishevelled women before her then. Their faces red and blotchy, covered in scratches where the women had torn strips from one another, gouging each other’s flesh with their nails. The youngest girl looked as if she’d come off a lot worse.

  ‘You gunna fill me in?’ Nancy said eyeing Bridget, hoping that maybe the woman could shed some light on the situation. Bridget had worked for her father for years. A loud brash Irish girl with a heart of gold, her father had always said. Though looking at the state of her now, Nancy wasn’t convinced.

  ‘This little cow has been stealing from the till. I caught her red-handed, sticking cash down her drawers.’

  ‘Is that so?’ Nancy eyed Ruth, noting that the younger woman made no attempt to deny the allegations.

  Guilty as charged.

  This place had been one of her father’s biggest earners for years, Nancy knew that because she was the one that did his books for him. Tallying up the fortunes that came through this front door, Nancy knew exactly what the place was worth. Though right now, looking at it, it wasn’t worth shit to anyone.

  Taking in the sight of the two women, Lee standing there looking gormless behind them, the rest of the girls all watching, Nancy knew that she had to sort this mess out once and for all. These girls would run rings around her if they thought for a second that she was soft, and they could do whatever the hell they wanted.

  ‘So, you’re new, are you?’

  Ruth nodded. Mistaking Nancy looking her up and down as admiration, the girl smirked. ‘That’s right, and I’m one of the best earners in here. She’s making it up. Ch
ucking out stupid allegations because she’s jealous of the fact that, since I started working here, all her punters prefer me,’ Ruth said with confidence, unsure who this woman was, but willing to impress her all the same. Before glaring over at Bridget triumphantly. Believing that her place in the house was safe.

  Only, unfortunately for Ruth, Nancy caught the girl’s snide look, and wasn’t one bit impressed. The girl was clearly on a fucking wind-up and, unlucky for her, Nancy wasn’t in the mood for games tonight.

  ‘Well, I tell you what, Ruth, I’m going to give you the benefit of the doubt.’

  Ruth beamed at that. Staring at Bridget as if she’d just totally trumped the girl, her face soon fell at Nancy’s next sentence. ‘I’m going to let you keep that twenty quid so you can pay for your taxi home. You’re sacked.’ It was Nancy’s turn to smirk now.

  Not one to suffer fools gladly, Ruth Lewis had just blown any chance she had of continuing to work here. God knows what Alex Costa had been thinking employing a low-life like this girl. Nancy could see through her from a mile off.

  ‘Sacked? Er, I don’t bloody think so,’ Ruth Lewis retorted, having no intention of letting some rich stuck-up girl tell her what to do. ‘Alex Costa hired me. I only take my orders from him.’ Standing firm, Ruth was certain that Alex Costa would put this stuck-up cow in her place once he heard what had gone on tonight.

  ‘Well, that’s hilarious, darling,’ Nancy scoffed, her smile genuine now that Ruth Lewis was about to come unstuck. ‘See, Alex isn’t in charge around here any more. I am. Nancy Byrne, babe. Pleased to meet you, or not. As the case may be,’ Nancy said, thoroughly enjoying making her formal introduction. ‘Now why don’t you get your scrawny arse off my property before I have you forcefully removed?’

  Ruth paled. Realising her error way too late. Nancy Byrne, the notorious Jimmy Byrne’s daughter. Shit!

  All eyes were on Ruth. Waiting to see how she handled herself. Well she’d show the lot of them, bunch of jealous, stuck-up bitches.

  ‘Make me!’ Ruth challenged the girl, knowing full well that Nancy wouldn’t dare.

  She was wrong on that account too.

  ‘With pleasure, darling,’ Nancy said, grabbing Ruth by a fistful of her hair, frogmarching the scantily dressed woman out into the hallway, before dragging her down the stairs. There was an alleyway that ran along the back of the flat where the rest of the residents around here stored their rubbish. It was the perfect exit for the girl, Nancy thought as she opened the back door and launched Ruth out of it.

  ‘I never want to see your face around here again. Do you understand?’

  Ruth stood on the pavement, unable to speak. Nancy Byrne was a ruthless bitch and as much as she wanted to try and save face, the woman had a hardness about her that Ruth found unnerving.

  ‘Now sling your hook.’

  Her point well and truly made Nancy went back upstairs to find all the girls still standing around.

  ‘And what the fuck are you all doing standing around gawping. Haven’t you all got work to do? Go on, move your arses. The show’s over. Get back to work or you can all join your little mate out there. Sort your punters out, and then get this place cleaned up.’

  Then she turned her attention to Lee Archer.

  ‘I don’t know what my brother was playing at leaving you in charge but you’re out too.’

  ‘Nancy, please. You’ve read this all wrong, sweetheart,’ Lee piped up, desperate for one more chance to try and keep his new job.

  ‘Don’t fucking “sweetheart” me,’ Nancy said, irritated by the man’s patronising tone. Nancy nodded at Jack Taylor, who until now had been standing watching the wrath of Nancy Byrne with much amusement. The girl certainly didn’t stand for any shit.

  ‘Do me a favour will you, Jack, put the rubbish out for me, will you,’ Nancy said giving Lee one last look of contempt. ‘This place is starting to stink.’

  Nancy Byrne had spoken and her word was final.

  Chapter Ten

  ‘You want me to come back, Mr Harris?’ Walking into Alfie Harris’s office, Haluk Demir hadn’t been expecting to see the nightclub’s boss sitting behind his desk. Not at this time of the morning. It was almost ten o’clock. Normally Alfie Harris was nowhere to be seen at this time of the day. Especially if he’d been working here the previous evening.

  Haluk had been hoping to get in and get his work all done quickly so that he could get home. But having to work under his boss’s watchful eye would mean that probably wouldn’t happen now. Haluk would have to do his full shift.

  Not that he should complain, really, that was what he was being paid to do and, to be fair, he actually enjoyed working in the club. Especially as his section was the main staff quarters downstairs. Away from the chaos of the main club where the other group of cleaners all had to work together, scrubbing the sticky dance floors that were coated with all kinds of spilt liquids. Mostly alcohol, though there had been plenty of times they’d had to clean up vomit. And never mind the spillages of God knows what, that they had to clean off the club’s fancy velour VIP booths, or the state that the main customer toilets were left in.

  ‘If you’re busy, I can go and do something elsewhere?’

  ‘No, come in. It’s fine. I’m just sorting out a few bits of paperwork. I’m almost done. Don’t mind me.’ Alfie waved the man in. Distracted, still staring down at his computer screen, his eyes not even acknowledging Haluk’s presence. His head down, as he continued to type into his computer.

  The man looked stressed, Haluk decided. Seeing the expression on Mr Harris’s face, etched with agitation, the deep furrow in the man’s brow that his boss clearly didn’t want to be disturbed.

  Eyeing the piles of money stacked up on the desk that Alfie had been counting, he watched as the man picked one bundle up and re-counted it, before sighing, as if his sums weren’t tallying up, before recounting it all over again.

  Haluk knew not to pry. He was nothing more than a lowly cleaner. He was well aware of his place in the club’s pecking order.

  ‘I’ll try not to disturb you too much!’ he said dutifully.

  Haluk had always prided himself on his work. Immersing himself in it, he always set about doing the best job that he could possibly do. Cleaning everything immaculately. Every speck of dirt and dust dealt with. He enjoyed it too. Just because he was ‘just a cleaner’ didn’t mean that he couldn’t take pride in all that he put his hands to. Even more so today, seeing as Mr Harris was present in the room. Haluk wanted the man to think good of him, to see that he was working hard.

  Emptying the bins and the numerous ashtrays that were dotted around the room, he cleaned and polished the office until it shone.

  ‘Is it okay if I plug the hoover in, Mr Harris, sorry, I don’t want to disturb you…’

  ‘Of course. I’m done here now anyway. I’ll get out of your way.’ Still seemingly distracted as he switched off his computer, Alfie Harris walked over to where his safe was on the back wall. Tapping in the numbers, with his back blocking Haluk’s view, he put the money bags neatly inside, before closing the door behind him.

  ‘Have a good night, Haluk,’ the man said, shrugging on his jacket.

  Watching as his boss left the office, and closed the door behind him. Haluk was glad of the solitude once more. He waited, listening to his boss’s footsteps fading away in to the distance.

  Then nothing, only silence.

  Running his hand over the man’s desk, pulling out the chair, Haluk sat down for a minute. Casting an eye around the room, for just a few seconds, pretending that all of this was his. The expensive computer in front of him. The fancy ornate sofas. The drinks cabinet full of bottles of liquor. The safe full of money.

  His eye going to the gap in the safe’s door then.

  It wasn’t shut properly.

  Haluk eyed the office door. Firmly shut.

  Getting up, curious to see what was inside Alfie Harris’ safe, Haluk stepped closer. His heart beating rapidly
with each step. Anticipation, excitement and fear all rolled into one as he reached out and opened the door. Peering inside.

  Spotting the money bags that Alfie Harris had just placed inside, he roughly counted it up. There were thousands of pounds here. Just sitting here inside this little metal box. Inches away from his fingertips.

  He should just close the door, he thought to himself rationally. He could leave a note for Mr Harris telling the man that he’d done so. Showing the man that his intentions were good. That he was ever the trustworthy, honest employee.

  For what though?

  Mr Harris didn’t give a shit about a man like Haluk. A lowly cleaner, invisible to all. Three months Haluk had worked here, cleaning Mr Harris’s office, and today had been the most conversation the two men had ever engaged in. Alfie Harris didn’t even know his name. He only employed so many Turkish immigrants at the club because he knew he could get away with paying them all the bare minimum.

  This money could change his whole life.

  He should take it, he thought. Not all of it. Just one pile.

  Mr Harris probably wouldn’t even notice that the money was missing. To a man like Alfie Harris it was just pocket change; to Haluk, though, it would make him richer than his wildest dreams.

  Unable to resist, Haluk peered inside the bag closest to him. Thumbing the money that sat on the top of the pile, he stared in awe at the fortunes inside. His heart was thudding loudly in his chest now. Unable to believe that he was even contemplating stealing this money. It was a crazy idea, he thought.

  Do your day’s work, Haluk, and go home. You’re not a thief.

  Then another part of him thought, but what if he was?

  What if he was done with being a good, honest hard-working man that never saw any kind of payout for the hours that he so painfully put in. Cleaning this nightclub every morning, and then spending the rest of his days cleaning public toilets and office blocks.