“In that case, have one on us before you go,” said Jez. “Just don’t knock him out, we need him to talk.”
“Oh fucking great,” exclaimed Geordie, sliding off his stool and reeling over to where Lyle lay, who looked up at him warily. “Not so tough now, are you?” he yelled before stamping on his crotch, making him squeal.
While Geordie had his fun, Jules went around the other three men and pulled off their balaclavas. It came as no surprise to discover they were all Lyle’s cronies.
“Thanks for that boys,” grinned Geordie when he’d done, revealing blackened teeth and wafting them all with his foetid breath.
“No worries,” said Mikey. He went behind the back of the bar and produced an unopened bottle of scotch and a bottle of vodka. He found an empty carrier bag under the bar, slid the bottles inside and handed them to him. “A gift. Tell everyone what you saw here today.”
“I will and I’ll enjoy it,” he said before taking the bag. “No need for this though, hurting that wanker was reward enough. Just one thing, hurt him some more for me will you?”
“Oh we will, have no worries on that score,” said Mikey, glaring at Lyle, who recoiled.
Jules let Geordie out, just opening the door wide enough for him to slip through. As he exited two men tried to get in, innocent to the situation inside.
“Bugger, off, we’re closed,” she yelled at them before slamming the door shut in their startled faces and locking it.
“Jules, get your phone out,” said Mikey, picking up one of the discarded baseball bats while Jez brandished a knife. “We’re going to send Toni proof that we’re sorting this shit out.”
CHAPTER 8
An hour later Jules opened the back door of the pub to let in Mark, Grant, Hayden and the clean-up crew.
“What a mess,” sighed Grant. “It’s going to take us ages to get all the blood out.”
“We had to make sure the message was heard loud and clear,” replied Mikey.
“How can they hear without any ears?” quipped Mark.
Lyle lay in a pool of his own blood, minus both ears, which sat by his head. He was also missing both pinky fingers, which had been placed neatly beside his ears.
“Did he give up where his brother’s hiding?” said Grant.
“Yep, when I started cutting into his left ear,” said Jez. “You three are with us. Brogan can handle this, can’t you?”
Brogan had been carefully handpicked by Mikey and Jez from their men to oversee security at the compound and their clean-up crew. He was a strong, slightly overweight man in his forties with a receding hairline he tried to disguise by combing his hair forward Roman style. His whole demeanour spoke of a man desperately fighting age with his dyed dark brown hair and eyebrows and his clothes that were twenty years too young for him.
“Yeah, easy,” he replied.
Lyle had been subjected to the worst damage. As well as his missing fingers and ears he’d been badly beaten, so badly that he’d spat out some of his teeth on the floor in a mess of blood and saliva. The other three had been beaten too but not to the same extent because they were just cronies. Lyle was the real prize.
“What the hell did they think they were doing?” said Hayden, shaking his head.
“They didn’t know we were here but Toni McVay had called us in for a meeting,” replied Mikey.
“Toni?” said Grant. “Jesus, how did it go?”
“Not great until this shower came in and gave us the perfect opportunity to impress her. We’ve already sent her the footage and she’s very pleased. Let’s move before Nilsen realises something’s wrong. I want this lot dumped outside the club Nilsen owns tonight when it’s open and full of punters. We need a grand gesture to let the city know that if you fuck with us you’ll regret it.”
“I’ll look forward to it Boss,” said Brogan.
Mikey, Jez and Jules exited the back way with Grant, Hayden and Mark in tow.
“Right you lot, let’s get on with it,” Brogan ordered his crew. “We’ve got a lot to do so pull your fingers out, alright?”
“Can we have a pint while we work?” said one of his men, a young, lairy twenty year old called Duane with huge ears.
“Help yourself, if you want my foot up your arse you cheeky little sod. Get to work unless you want your ears cutting off too. Jesus, I’d be able to mount those bastards on my wall,” he yelled before taking out his phone.
The rest of his men tittered but got straight to it. They all liked and respected Brogan but they also knew that he took any threat he made very seriously, especially Duane, who wanted to keep his ears thank you very much.
Rachel was still filled with the happy holiday glow after their rather eventful trip up to Scotland. They were back home now and as she walked through Newton Abbot she nodded to every passer-by, some who smiled back, some who looked away and hurried on. That had never happened before but no one here had known about her violent history before.
It was a relief that the salon was busy as usual. At least their businesses weren’t being boycotted. Maybe everything would blow over after all?
Tracey Baxter, the lively, sassy woman with the mass of curls she’d hired to manage the salon bounded up to her. “Rachel, lovely to have you back,” she said, embracing her. “How was Scotland?”
“Great, just what we needed. How’s business?”
Tracey understood her worries and wanted to soothe them. “Absolutely fine, no change.”
“That’s a relief,” breathed Rachel.
Tracey really liked Rachel and found it hard to equate the violent gangster she’d read about in the papers with the real Rachel, the doting mother, adoring wife and good friend. It didn’t matter to her, Tracey was just grateful she was in her life, Rachel had been very good to her and her and Ryan’s efforts had finally located the body of her missing brother, killed by the serial killers who had foolishly kidnapped Ryan. She would be forever indebted to them. Yes, there were some folk who, now they knew the truth about them, thought they should be forced to leave the area but thankfully they were in the minority. The Laws were big employers, generous with their wealth and many people, particularly the younger generation, found their histories exciting.
“Kirsty Halliday’s waiting for you in your office,” said Tracey.
“Why?” said Rachel, puzzled. Kirsty Halliday was a local pillar of the community. After Rachel’s recent outing as a previous violent criminal she couldn’t imagine her setting foot in her establishment.
“Don’t know,” replied Tracey. “But she was quite upset and she insisted on speaking only to you.”
“Strange.”
“I settled her in your office with a cup of tea.”
“How long has she been here?”
“About twenty minutes.”
“I’d better not keep her waiting any longer then,” said Rachel, puzzled as she made her way across reception to her office at the back. When she entered Kirsty jumped up, eyes wide, wondering if she hadn’t made a mistake now she was finally face to face with Rachel Law.
“Can I help you Kirsty?”
Rachel sounded very pleasant but Kirsty was suddenly intimidated, she wasn’t used to talking to gangsters, she was used to coffee mornings with her rich friends, organising charity events and arranging flowers.
“Yes…I…oh God, this is so awkward,” stammered Kirsty.
“Please sit down and we can chat about it,” said Rachel, taking a seat on the couch that faced her desk.
“Okay,” she replied, finding Rachel’s calm manner soothing. She perched on the opposite end of the comfortable chocolate leather couch, careful to keep some space between them.
Rachel had never seen this woman so agitated before, she was usually the essence of cool and calm. She’d met Kirsty at a charity event at the local golf club and she’d passed smoothly between guests, talking and laughing pleasantly, everyone seeking out her company. Now Kirsty was a completely different woman whose hands shook as she ran
them through her short light red hair, making the charm bracelet on her right wrist rattle.
“It’s Gloria,” Kirsty finally began.
“Your daughter?”
Kirsty nodded, eyes full of tears.
“I’ve met her,” continued Rachel. “She’s been in here a few times for treatments. She’s a nice girl.”
“She was,” she said nastily before hastily adding, “I didn’t mean that. You see, she’s got a new boyfriend and he’s a troublemaker to put it mildly. He keeps her out all hours and makes her do things she never used to do. She drinks, smokes and I’m terrified she’s taking drugs, sometimes she seems so out of it. She backchats me all the time and won’t do a thing I say. Gloria’s a good girl really, she wants to be a paediatrician, at least she wanted to. She’s lost all interest in any sort of a decent future. Now all she wants is to be with Billy.”
“That’s his name, Billy?”
She nodded. “Billy Whitelock,” she said, face creasing with disgust. “A vicious little thug, drug dealer and thief. Unfortunately he’s a very good-looking boy and all Gloria can see is his pretty face. She’s my only child and I’m terrified he’s going to suck her into his loathsome world.”
“That’s a terrible story, I have a daughter myself so I can imagine how you feel,” replied Rachel, already guessing where this conversation was going. “But what has this got to do with me?”
Kirsty finally seemed stuck for words. “I was wondering if you would…err…speak to Billy for me?”
“Speak to him?”
“You understand his world,” she said tactfully. “If you talk to him he’ll listen.”
“In my experience people like that don’t listen to anyone, no matter who they are.”
“Then maybe you could, oh I don’t know, make him listen?”
Rachel was shocked. “You’re asking me to break the law and hurt someone because you don’t like the fact that they’re in a relationship with your daughter?”
Kirsty sighed, letting her shoulders slump. “Yes, I am.”
“And why should I do that when you’re not willing to do it yourself?”
“Because I’m desperate,” she exclaimed. “I’ve already spoken to him and you know what he did? He laughed in my face. Then I read in the papers about your and Ryan’s pasts and I thought these people might be the answer to my prayers. I’ll pay you.”
Rachel’s face turned to stone. “We don’t need your money. Please don’t insult me.”
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, I know you don’t need the money.” Her expression was still determined. “But I know about something you do need. The Tower.”
“And how do you know that?”
“My husband’s on the Council. He’s very influential, he could make sure it’s sold to you.”
Rachel was actually tempted because she wanted to see her vision come to life but she wasn’t about to let Kirsty know that. “I’m going to need more than your word. I want your husband’s too.”
“You can have it. He’s as keen as me to get Gloria away from Billy.”
“Then why isn’t he here?”
“We both thought it would be better if we spoke woman to woman.”
“I want assurance from your husband himself before I’ll even consider it. Me and Ryan will be at Empirica Thursday evening at seven. If you’re serious you can bring him there and we can discuss it in more detail. If you don’t show up we’ll know you’ve changed your mind and we’ll never speak of it again. Agreed?”
“Yes,” smiled Kirsty, elated it had gone so well, even though Rachel had actually committed to nothing. “We’ll be there, I promise.”
“In that case I’ll arrange a quiet table for four.”
“Great, see you Thursday evening,” smiled Kirsty, suddenly much chirpier, picking up her handbag and getting to her feet, rushing for the door, leaving Rachel with her thoughts.
A few minutes after she’d gone, Tracey stuck her curly head around the door. “What did she want?”
“Believe me, you don’t want to know.”
“I never liked her, stuck up cow. The daughter’s nice though.”
“What do you know about Gloria?”
“Nice girl, really bubbly and giggly. She’s seeing a local boy, Billy Whitelock. He has a dodgy past but since he’s been with her he’s got himself together, even gone back to college. Kirsty and her husband have given the poor boy a hard time because they’re snobs who don’t think he’s good enough for their darling daughter, even though he makes her happy. Why?”
Rachel swallowed down the rising anger and smiled pleasantly. “Nothing.”
“You’re back,” screeched a voice.
“Hello Daina,” Rachel smiled when a pair of arms were thrown around her neck.
“How was Scotland?”
“Really good. We needed it.”
Daina’s expression turned saucy. “And how was Thane?”
“He’s fine thank you. What?” she added when Daina continued to grin at her.
“I think he still has crush on you.”
“He does seem to have a little crush, I’ll admit that.”
“Who’s Thane?” said Tracey. “Come on, spill.”
“Spill what?” said Daina.
“It’s a saying,” explained Tracey. “It means tell me everything.”
Daina considered this statement. “Spill, I like this.”
“Well, go on then,” Tracey urged Rachel. “Who is this mysterious Thane? Whoever he is he can’t possibly be as hunky as Ryan.”
“Almost,” said Daina. “But not quite.”
“Almost? Where is this God? I must meet him and is he single?”
“Yes but you’re not,” smiled Rachel.
“Thane is gorgeous, he is a c…” Daina stopped and frowned. “What is another word for Scottish that starts with c?”
“Do you mean celtic?” offered Rachel.
“That is it. He is a celtic god,” ended Daina.
“It’s a good job you didn’t ask Ryan, he would have given you a very different c-word,” smiled Rachel.
Daina released a loud, lusty laugh that made everyone smile.
“And how are you feeling?” Rachel asked Daina. She was four months pregnant with Bruiser’s baby, much to their mutual delight.
“I feel wonderful, better than ever. Bruiser loves to kiss my belly and talk to it.”
“Bruiser, talk?” said Rachel.
“You’d be surprised how much he talks when he is feeling romantic,” she said dreamily. “We’ve booked the church for three months’ time, an autumn wedding, so you and Ryan must be there, you my matron of honour.”
“We wouldn’t miss it for anything,” assured Rachel. She glanced over at Sabine, who was quietly attending to someone’s nails. “Is she okay? She’s been quite quiet lately.”
“It’s since I found out I having baby,” said Daina. “She feel even more alone and worry I won’t have enough time for her when I married with baby.”
“Poor mite,” said Tracey. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“Because I only just realised. We should go out, all the girls. It will cheer her up.”
“You ought to be taking it easy in your condition,” said Tracey. “Make the most of it before the baby arrives because once it does you’ll have no time to put your feet up.”
“I can give one night to my friend.”
“Alright, let’s do it,” said Rachel, watching Sabine with concern, who looked up from her work to give her a smile and a wave. But Rachel could see the sadness in her eyes and she wanted to run over there and hug her. She was very protective of both Sabine and Daina. As far as she was concerned they were her responsibility and always would be, a responsibility she wouldn’t be without. “Find out where she wants to go then let me know when and where.” She glanced at her watch. “I need to get home, there’s something I have to discuss with Ryan.”
“And you need to get back to work Daina
,” said Tracey. “I think Mrs Barker’s about ready to have her face mask removed.”
Daina’s eyes widened. “Ooh,” she exclaimed, rushing over to a large woman reclined back in a chair.
“Take it easy,” Tracey called after her. “The last thing you want to do in your condition is fall over. “
Rachel left the salon and drove home, Kirsty Halliday forgotten in her concern for Sabine. The poor girl was so far from her home in Latvia, all her family were dead. She had no one except Daina, Tracey, herself and Ryan. They were her family now but Daina was so caught up in Bruiser and the pregnancy. Herself and Ryan had had a lot on their plate lately too, so they hadn’t been paying her the usual attention. Rachel couldn’t bear the thought of Sabine feeling lonely in this foreign country and resolved to lift her out of the doldrums. In fact she was so caught up in thoughts of Sabine that she didn’t think about Kirsty until she arrived home to find Ryan sitting at the kitchen table with the kids while they enjoyed their post-school snack.
“Mummy,” exclaimed Aaron, clambering off his chair and rushing up to give her a hug. He was such a mummy’s boy.
“Hello sweetie,” she said, kissing the top of his head before kissing the other children in turn.
“Mum, guess what?” said Leah cheerfully.
“What?” she said, planting a kiss on Ryan’s lips.
“Tiffany Miller wants to come for tea,” she said excitedly, eyes alight.
“Who’s Tiffany Miller?” replied Rachel.
“She’s a high schooler,” she said with awe. “Second year.”
Rachel and Ryan glanced at each other. “I didn’t know you were friends with a high schooler,” said Rachel.
“I wasn’t until yesterday. She’s best friends with Sarah’s sister.” Sarah was Leah’s best friend. “We got on really well and she wants to come to the house.”
The look in Ryan’s eyes told Rachel he was thinking the same thing she was. Tiffany Miller wanted to be able to say she’d visited the infamous Law house, but they could be wrong and Leah looked so happy she didn’t want to ruin it for her. “Of course Tiffany can come to tea. Bring Sarah and her sister too.”
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