Blood Ties, page 23
‘I… not really, no.’
‘Then what the hell did you tell them to do, because Glynn told me he’d killed Sam for betraying you?’
‘He did betray me.’
‘But that’s no reason to kill someone!’
‘Look, Adele, just stay out of this, will you? You’ve no idea what’s gone on.’
‘Then why don’t you fuckin’ enlighten me?’
‘You don’t need to know.’
‘I do need to know!’ she yelled, standing up and plunging towards him. ‘You let me go out with him. You knew what he was and yet you never tried to warn me. You let me go out with a fuckin’ killer!’
Then she noticed the look on his face as she said the last word. There was a jolt of recognition and he visibly flinched. It hit her, too. Was that why Peter hadn’t warned her about Glynn? Because she was a killer, too.
Peter seemed to take some seconds to recover before he spoke. ‘I did warn you about him,’ he said. ‘But you wouldn’t listen.’
‘Well, you didn’t fuckin’ warn me enough!’ she said, turning on her heel and stomping out of his office.
She dashed down the corridor and into her own office where she slung her personal belongings haphazardly into a plastic carrier bag. Thoughts raced around in her head. There was still so much she didn’t know. How had Sam betrayed Peter? And just what sort of business was her brother in where people tortured and maimed someone as punishment?
But she’d been too angry to find the answers. And the way Peter had flinched had inflamed her even more. She saw now that no matter how much Peter had supported her in the past, it didn’t change his perception of her. And his true feelings had all come out in his reaction to that one word. Killer!
*
All the way home on the bus Adele replayed things over in her head. The conversation with Peter, the way he had reacted and her previous confrontation with Glynn. There were still so many unanswered questions but for now she had found out enough. And what she had learnt told her that there was no way she could go on working for Peter.
Coupled with her aversion to being involved in anything illegal was anger at her brother. Why had he insisted she work for him? He knew the sort of activity some of his businesses were involved in and yet he hadn’t bothered to tell her. Did he really think so little of her that he thought she deserved to be amongst people as callous and ruthless as Glynn?
When the bus arrived at her destination she almost missed her stop as she was so preoccupied. As well as anger and disgust at what she had been involved in, she was worried about her future. Her job with Peter was the only work she’d been able to find when she was released from prison and she doubted whether she’d have any better luck this time.
She walked briskly from the bus stop to her flat, her frenzied footsteps echoing her inner turmoil. As she drew nearer to her front door she thought about the bottle of red that was waiting on the wine rack, knowing she wouldn’t be able to resist it tonight. In the meantime she’d watch something mundane on the TV to take her mind off things.
While she climbed the stone steps up to the front door Adele pulled the key out of her handbag. She struggled to keep hold of the plastic bag she was carrying and her other belongings while she set about opening the door.
She was just about to put her key in the lock when she heard movement behind her. She looked over her shoulder and her breath caught in her throat as she spotted the weasel features of David. He had another even meaner-looking man with him.
Before Adele could say anything, David clapped his hand over her mouth and brought his other hand around her body. He pulled her roughly towards him, his fingers lingering over her breasts. She heard a clinking sound as her key dropped to the ground, and she smelt the offensive stench of unwashed bodies.
Between them, David and the other man dragged her down the steps and into the small front garden so she was hidden from the road, behind the hedging. Adele could feel panic starting to take a hold of her as she worried about what they were about to do.
Then she spotted the knife in the man’s hand and his hostile eyes piercing through her. Still holding her tightly from behind, David hissed into her ear, ‘Keep your mouth shut and he won’t touch you but if you squeal you’ve fuckin’ had it!’
Adele was unable to speak. His hand was still covering her mouth. So she merely nodded in agreement.
‘Right,’ said David. ‘This is a message for your brother and I want you to make sure he gets every fuckin’ word. OK?’
Again she nodded.
‘Tell him we’ve just taken over two of his clubs: Angels and Bramleys. Our men are on the fuckin’ door now. Do you get that?’
He took his hand from Adele’s mouth so she could speak. ‘I don’t work for him anymore,’ she said, almost pleading.
‘I don’t give a fuck who you work for! Give your brother this message and tell him that we won’t be fuckin’ paid off any more. Do you understand?’
‘Yes,’ said Adele.
‘Right, well make sure you take that fuckin’ message to him. It’s about time he knew how the land lies.’
‘OK,’ said Adele, her fear evident from the tremble in her voice.
‘And tell him that we know where you fuckin’ live now, so he’d better back off if he knows what’s good for him.’
He let go of Adele, and pushed her towards the steps where she landed face first, with her belongings scattered around her.
Once she had heard them dash off into the distance Adele struggled back to her feet, her legs shaking. Then she picked up her things. Her knees were bloody and smeared with dust and her hands were sore and dotted with tiny stones. She wiped her trembling hands down her clothing and set about finding the key.
As soon as she was back inside her flat she slid the bolt on the door, dropped down onto her knees and wept. The encounter had shaken her badly. And now, even more than before, she feared for her future.
Chapter 46
Adele couldn’t settle. The adrenalin coursed through her body as she kept reliving what had just happened. She couldn’t understand how on earth David and that other man knew where she lived. They must have followed her from work. She got up to check the window locks for the third time since she had been home. Then she looked out over the street, making sure nobody was watching her.
It was no good. She couldn’t go on like this. She thought about ringing the police but, after what Glynn had revealed previously, she was worried that it might land Peter in a whole heap of trouble. For some minutes she deliberated. Did he really deserve her protection, considering what he was involved in and the fact that it had put her at risk?
Then Adele thought about how he’d helped her out when she was in trouble some years ago. She decided to speak to him first; she owed him that much, at least. But she wasn’t about to let him off lightly. She wanted to know what the hell was going on. But she couldn’t do it by phone; this matter was far too delicate to be handled that way. No, the best way to find out would be to see him face to face.
Apart from being shaken, Adele was angry. She’d just been viciously manhandled and threatened because of something her brother was involved in. And now, thanks to him, she no longer felt safe in her own home.
In the end she decided to take a cab to the club. As soon as the cab came to pick her up she left her flat, double-checking that the door was securely locked. Then she dashed downstairs and out of the building, locking the main door behind her. She heaved a sigh of relief once she was tucked inside the taxi.
When she arrived at the club, Adele marched up to Peter’s office, ready to confront him. To her dismay, Glynn was also there, standing to one side of Peter’s desk. For a moment she balked, but then her anger took over and she slammed the door shut behind her. There was no way she was going to let Glynn stand in the way of what she had to say.
‘I don’t know what sort of shit you two are involved in but I’ve just been fuckin’ threatened outside my flat!’ she yelled. ‘Just what the hell is going on?’
‘Calm the fuck down,’ said Peter while Glynn eyed her warily.
‘Don’t tell me to calm down when I’ve just been dragged off my fuckin’ front steps and threatened by that bastard David!’
Peter raised his eyebrows. ‘David? What did he say?’ he asked.
‘Something about them having two of your clubs. Oh, and they won’t be paid off any more.’
‘Bastards!’ cursed Glynn, and she noticed him exchange a brief look with Peter.
‘What the hell was he talking about?’ Adele continued. ‘I thought you only had this one club.’
‘OK, calm down and I’ll explain,’ said Peter.
Adele dragged out a chair, plonked herself on it and folded her arms across her chest. She glared across at Peter, who was sitting on the other side of the desk, then up at Glynn before her eyes settled back on her brother. ‘Right, I’m calm,’ she said, her face stern. ‘Start explaining.’
‘OK,’ said Peter. ‘I need to know more first. Which clubs was he talking about? Did he say?’
‘Angels and summat beginning with B.’
‘Angels and Bramleys?’ asked Peter.
‘Yeah, that’s right.’
Peter took a deep breath before continuing. ‘We look after them,’ he said tentatively. ‘You remember I told you before about the nightclub game being a bit ruthless?’
‘Yeah, I remember,’ said Adele, her tone still hostile.
‘Well, part of our business is to offer security services to pubs and clubs. Some of ’em were getting aggro from gangs so we offered to help them out.’
‘How very kind of you,’ said Adele, sarcastically. ‘So, what did David mean?’
‘Unfortunately people like David and his mates are part of the problem. Even though we’ve got our men on the door at these places, they still give them aggro.’
‘So why didn’t I know about this part of the business?’ demanded Adele. ‘And, presumably, these clubs pay you to help them out so why isn’t it in the books?’
‘I did tell you about the security side of the business. I just never got round to telling you the details,’ said Peter. ‘And the cash does get entered into the books. I keep a separate ledger for that side of the business.’
‘Why?’ asked Adele, still determined to find answers.
‘Well, you had enough shit to sort out so I decided to leave it till you’d caught up with the rest of the bookkeeping.’
‘Bet you did,’ said Adele. ‘I was wondering why you were banking so much money. Now it all makes fuckin’ sense.’
Peter just stared back at her.
‘Right, well, I’m out of here,’ she fumed. ‘There’s no fuckin’ way I’m ever coming back to work for you. And, I’ll be letting the police know about David and that other thug as well.’
‘No, don’t do that!’ warned Glynn. ‘Don’t go getting the fuckin’ coppers involved.’
‘Why not?’ asked Adele. ‘I think it’s about time the police knew exactly what you two get up to.’
‘Don’t do it, Adele,’ said Peter. ‘It’ll only provoke David and his mates even more.’
Adele wasn’t convinced. ‘Right, I’m going,’ she said. ‘But I will be phoning the police because I need to feel safe in my own fuckin’ home.’
‘No you’re not!’ said Glynn, stepping in front of her and blocking her way to the door. She noticed the air of menace about him as she stared into his eyes. ‘You’re not going anywhere,’ he said.
‘Hang on a minute, Glynn,’ said Peter, getting out of his chair.
‘Not till she’s heard what I have to say,’ said Glynn.
‘Get out of my way!’ she yelled, thumping his chest with her fists.
Glynn held her hands back while he continued to speak. ‘You’re in it as deep as us,’ he said, ‘so why don’t you just fuckin’ sit back down and listen to what I’ve got to say before you go off half-cocked and make a stupid decision you’ll regret.’
She continued to glare at him but then Peter spoke up. ‘It’s best you listen, Adele. You don’t wanna go landing us all in lumber if there’s a way out of it.’ Then he turned to Glynn. ‘Let go of her.’
When Glynn released his hold on her hands she stared from him to Peter, then back again. The determined look on Glynn’s face unnerved her and, despite her anger, she was starting to feel anxious. Did she really want to risk the consequences if she went to the police? After all, Glynn wasn’t just someone who worked for Peter; he was a ruthless killer.
‘OK, go on,’ she said, sitting back down.
Adele could swear there was a slight smirk on Glynn’s face as he began speaking. ‘Well, it’s like this,’ he said. ‘For starters, you witnessed a murder in the club and neglected to report it to the police. They could have you for that.’
‘You wouldn’t,’ she said, wishing she felt that confident.
‘Not deliberately, no. But if you start shooting your mouth off to the police then it’ll all come out. Secondly, don’t forget that I killed that man for you.’
‘No you didn’t!’ she yelled. ‘He’d already let go of me. He was running away.’
‘And did you think I was gonna risk him coming back and doing more fuckin’ damage?’ Glynn spat. As he spoke she noticed the tendons tighten in his throat and the way he clenched his jaw. ‘After all,’ he continued, raising his voice, ‘he did have a fuckin’ knife at your throat!’
‘Calm the fuck down, Glynn,’ said Peter.
Glynn took a few moments to compose himself, his chest heaving as he took several deep breaths. ‘So, like I was saying, I did it to protect you. Thirdly, Dave and his goons now know where you live so you’re gonna need protection.’
He glared at Adele and gave her a moment to digest this information.
‘And lastly,’ he added, ‘the police will be very interested in you if they think you’ve been doing the accounts for a firm of crooks, especially when you’ve only just served a stretch. So, like I say, you’re up to your fuckin’ neck in it.’
‘You bastard,’ she cursed. Adele knew he had her, and in her desperation she looked to Peter, hoping he would counter what Glynn had said. ‘Just what the hell are you involved with?’ she asked her brother.
But Peter didn’t answer her question. Instead he said, ‘Glynn’s right. I think it’s best if you stick with us, Adele, and leave the cops out of it. I want to protect you; believe me, I do. If you agree to stay, I’ll have someone watching over your place 24/7. Just say the word.’
‘You mean you’re fuckin’ agreeing with him?’ she asked, disgusted with her brother.
‘It’s the only way, Adele. I need you here. I’m fuckin’ clueless with the books, like I’ve told you before, and I don’t wanna get anyone else involved. I’m not having a stranger nosying in my fuckin’ business. Besides, what else are you gonna do? You’re best off here with us. I wanna fuckin’ protect you.’
‘No you don’t! You’re just looking out for your own interests. You’re as big a fuckin’ crook as he is,’ she shouted, her eyes switching to Glynn.
Then she stormed out of Peter’s office for the second time that day, too infuriated to think straight about what had happened.
But that would come once she had calmed down and thought long and hard about her situation. And sooner or later she was going to have to reach a decision.
Chapter 47
As soon as Adele had gone, Peter rounded on Glynn. ‘What the fuck did you have to tell her all that for?’ he demanded.
Glynn hit back. ‘There was no fuckin’ choice. She was going to the cops, for fuck’s sake! We couldn’t let her do that. If she got the coppers involved they’d soon find out about the protection money and maybe even find out it was us that killed Sam and that other guy. Then all our fuckin’ necks would be on the line.
‘Besides, she’s no fuckin’ innocent. She’s been doing the books for long enough. She must have known there was summat going on.’
‘She didn’t know fuck all!’ shouted Peter, ‘because I kept all that from her. As far as Adele was concerned, I’ve got a nightclub, a few fuckin’ sunbed salons and a bookies. That’s all.’
‘Well, it was the best way, as far as I’m concerned.’
‘No it wasn’t! She could still go to the fuckin’ coppers, and now she knows all about the protection money.’
‘Will she fuck go to the cops!’ Glynn grinned before adding, ‘She’s too scared of the consequences.’
‘Well, I just hope you’re right,’ said Peter.
‘Course I am. No worries,’ said Glynn. ‘Anyway, what’s this about you fuckin’ paying off Alan’s firm?’
Peter broke out in a sweat and loosened his shirt collar as he felt the heat rising through his body and up to his face. ‘It was the only way,’ he said.
‘Well, it didn’t fuckin’ work, did it?’ said Glynn. ‘So now they’ve had your money and they’re still doing us over. They must have thought you were a right fuckin’ mug!’
‘Shut the fuck up!’ yelled Peter. ‘I’m running this firm so you’ll keep your fuckin’ opinions to yourself if you wanna keep your job.’
Glynn glared at Peter, his face a mask of anger. Then he seemed to bite back his fury as he said, ‘That doesn’t mean you’re always right, y’know. And, for the record, I think you’ve made a fuckin’ big mistake. Alan’s firm will think they can walk all—’
‘Alright, alright!’ snapped Peter. ‘Don’t you think I know that?’ Peter knew the row was getting out of hand so he took a step back and then said, ‘I trusted him, OK? He used to be a mate. Alright, we could have hit them again like we did with Sam but it didn’t fuckin’ get us anywhere last time so I thought I’d try summat else.’
‘Look, Pete. You’ve got no fuckin’ choice now. We’ve got to hit ’em hard. We can’t afford to let ’em take the piss.’
‘Don’t you think I fuckin’ know that?’ said Peter. ‘Don’t worry, they’re not gonna threaten my sister and get away with it.’
