Ruthless Girl: An absolutely gripping, gritty crime thriller

by Emma Tallon

  The small clutch bag Anna had with her began to vibrate and she pulled her phone out, apologising to Amy for the interruption. The call was coming from The Sinners’ Lounge. Grinding her teeth briefly, Anna took the call and moved away from the table, holding her hand over her other ear so that she could hear.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Anna, it’s Josephine,’ came the hesitant reply down the line. ‘Listen, I’m sorry to call you, but we have a big problem here and apparently only you can deal with it.’

  ‘What sort of problem?’ Anna asked.

  ‘A blue one.’

  Anna closed her eyes and cursed silently. Blue was the code word to indicate that the issue was with law enforcement. She had thought all their bases had been covered on that front. All the local plods were either on payroll, or they were kept in check by people further up the chain who were.

  ‘I’ll be five minutes, don’t say anything.’

  Ending the call, Anna quickly walked over to Tanya. ‘Listen, we’ve got a code blue at the lounge, I’ve got to go. Just wait here, I’ll be back soon.’ She didn’t bother asking whether Tanya wanted to join her. If this was about to turn pear-shaped it would be better for only one of them to deal with the fall-out.

  With a grim expression, she turned and strode out of the club.

  Seventeen

  Anna marched into the bar area of The Sinners’ Lounge and looked around. There were only two clients in there with girls as it was still very early in the evening. Leaning against the bar, looking on at one of these couples with amused curiosity, was the man Josephine must have been talking about. Anna immediately knew it was him. Despite the fact he was wearing plain clothes and had made an obvious attempt to hide what he was, anyone in their game would have been able to tell a mile off. Practical, nondescript clothes made from good-quality materials and designed for long-lasting wear were matched with painfully sensible shoes, and deep frown lines that had been earned through a lifetime of taking on trouble adorned his face, despite the fact he looked to only be in his mid-thirties.

  Josephine hovered nervously behind the bar a few feet from this man. As his back was turned to her, she started furiously pointing at him and pulling wide eyes at Anna. Anna nodded and lifted one hand to tell her to stop.

  She plastered on a smile and walked over to their unwelcome guest. ‘Josephine,’ she turned to address her as the man turned towards her, ‘could you get a drink for myself and for Mr…?’ She raised an eyebrow at him in question.

  ‘Matthews. DI Matthews,’ he responded, pointedly.

  ‘For myself and Mr Matthews here,’ she continued. ‘We’ll take it by the window. What would you like to drink, Mr Matthews?’

  ‘I’ll just have a water.’

  ‘Water and a bottle of champagne, two glasses.’

  Anna led the way over to the vacant table by the window and offered DI Matthews a seat, before taking her own. As she settled, she crossed her legs and shot him her warmest smile. ‘So what is it that I can do for you, Mr Matthews?’

  DI Matthews settled back in his chair and looked Anna up and down, his gaze resting a little longer than appropriate on her bare legs. She noted this with narrowed eyes, but was swift to replace this with a placid smile as his gaze eventually returned to her face.

  ‘We’ll get to that,’ he said, a strange smile creeping up his face. ‘Let’s start with talking about what you do here, shall we?’

  ‘In what respect, exactly?’ Anna answered.

  ‘Well, you run a whorehouse for starters,’ he replied bluntly.

  ‘Oh, I’m afraid you’re rather mistaken,’ Anna said with a small laugh. ‘This is an odd place, I grant you that, but it is no whorehouse. This is actually a late-night massage parlour and, as you can see, a relaxing bar where clients are welcome to have a few drinks and socialise with the therapists.’

  ‘Socialise?’ DI Matthews looked pointedly at one of the clients at another table, who had pulled his companion’s boobs out of her top and was now loudly sucking on one of them.

  Anna cursed silently. She couldn’t exactly ask them to stop though. To alert one of their clients to the threat of the police would be professional suicide. She forced a smile. ‘Well, I guess you can’t control the driving force of true love when it strikes, even if it’s not at the most ideal time.’

  ‘That’s what you’re going with?’ he replied with a raised eyebrow.

  Anna exhaled slowly and there was a short silence as Josephine arrived with the drinks. She poured out two glasses of champagne and placed them on the table. As she moved away, Anna picked hers up and took a long sip. Placing the glass back on the table, she twisted the stem with the tips of her fingers before speaking again.

  ‘You’re not from around this area. You don’t usually work this patch at all, in fact, and you’re too high up to be on the beat. Which leads me to wonder why you’ve developed such an interest in my business.’ Anna twisted her mouth to the side as her sharp brain moved through all the possible scenarios that could have led him here. ‘How much is a DI’s salary these days, anyway?’

  DI Matthews smiled, the action not quite reaching his eyes. ‘That’s what you think you can do with everyone, isn’t it? Buy them off. Put them on payroll. Use them.’ His face twisted into an ugly sneer as he uttered the last few words. ‘You’re right, I’m not from around here. I’m from Surrey. You don’t remember me, do you?’

  Anna frowned and studied his face. Stress lines and short dark stubble surrounded a naturally downturned mouth and his cheeks were slightly too gaunt for the rest of his skull. Blue brooding eyes stared back at her from under dark brows that matched his hair, though this had a few smatterings of grey here and there. There was nothing about him that rang any bells at all.

  When she didn’t immediately answer, DI Matthews continued. ‘I came up one night for a mate’s stag do. Not really my kind of thing, your club round the corner, but it’s clearly popular. I saw you that night, asked one of the bar staff about you. You’d caught my eye, you see.’ He shifted in his seat and picked up his drink, taking a sip himself and then turning up one side of his mouth in a strange cocky half smile. ‘You’re a very attractive woman. I did my research and found out you were the owner of that place and looking after some other clubs for some ex who went to prison.’

  Some ex, Anna repeated in her head. This Surrey-based plod clearly knew nothing about the Tylers if he was talking about Freddie as flippantly as that.

  ‘I thought to myself, nice one, this bird’s got some gumption. You know?’ he continued. ‘So I came back the next night and I asked you if you wanted a drink with me. Don’t you remember?’

  Anna resisted the urge to roll her eyes. If they had a pound for every time a drunken customer asked either her or Tanya out, they’d have been able to buy half of Soho by now. Club Anya with its burlesque dancers and scantily clad performers made the men horny. They were all Romeos by the end of the night, trying to get their leg over anywhere they could.

  ‘I’m afraid I don’t recall that,’ she answered simply.

  ‘Nice,’ he snapped, narrowing his eyes. ‘So you’ll date a scumbag criminal, but when a decent man comes along for once, you can’t even be bothered to remember his face?’

  Anna’s jaw tightened at the sharp change in attitude. What was this guy’s problem? Surely his pride couldn’t have been that wounded?

  ‘I think we’ll leave this conversation here now, Mr Matthews,’ Anna replied coldly. She made to stand up but paused as he continued.

  ‘Oh, I don’t think we will actually. I couldn’t really understand your logic there, you see. So I had a little dig around and found out you also had this place. I found out that all the guys on the force around here turn a bit of a blind eye to it, too. And they have to give it a blind eye, don’t they? Because it is really just a full-on whorehouse. Now, you might be able to smooth over the surface with your “massage parlour” crap, but if someone actually had this place investigated
…’ He smiled. ‘Someone like me…’ He paused again for effect. ‘Well.’ He shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t imagine your cover story would hold up for very long. One only has to scratch a touch beneath the surface.’

  Anna narrowed her eyes. ‘What do you want, Matthews?’

  ‘Well.’ He pretended to consider it. ‘I feel like we started off on the wrong foot. I’d like a chance to change that for the better.’ He sat up and leaned forward, placing his hand on Anna’s knee.

  Her jaw tightened, but other than that her poker face stayed intact. Resisting the urge to slap his hand away, Anna stayed totally still, waiting to hear what he was about to suggest so that she had the whole picture to work with.

  ‘Perhaps I could be persuaded not to bring this illicit business to my superiors’ attention, if you and I were on more, shall we say, friendly terms.’ His brooding gaze bored into hers. ‘I think we can both find much happier ground, in this case, wouldn’t you say?’

  Anna reached forward and calmly lifted his hand off her leg, swivelling to one side so that she was out of easy reach. ‘If it’s sex you want, Mr Matthews, then it’s sex you’ll get.’ He blinked at this response and hope filled his face. ‘You pointed out yourself that this is whorehouse. You may take your pick out of any of my girls and visit twice a month free of charge.’

  ‘No.’ His response was swift and strong and Anna watched as the redness of suppressed anger crept up his neck. ‘I don’t want a filthy whore, thanks. I want you.’

  Anna’s blood turned cold and it took all of her willpower not to turn her nose up in disgust. What kind of man went about trapping a woman this way? A psychotic control freak. The force is full of them, her mind answered.

  DI Matthews let his gaze roam freely down her dress towards her legs again. ‘You’re a fine specimen. You’re successful and sexy as fuck.’ He grinned. ‘I’d give you a good time, you know. And it’s a small price to pay, really, to save your business and protect your freedom, wouldn’t you say?’ He let the threat hang in the air between them for a moment. ‘You’ve got until Monday to decide whether you prefer the thought of time on the inside, or whether you want to come and have some fun with me. I’m sure you’ll make the right decision. And when you do…’ He stood up and leaned down over her, pausing to sniff her hair. ‘I can assure you we’ll both be satisfied.’

  Anna suddenly stood up, pushing the chair she had been sitting on back with force, then turned to stop him. ‘DI Matthews.’ He paused and she walked over to him. ‘I don’t need any further time to think on it. I will always do what needs to be done in my business’s best interests,’ she said, heavily. ‘Come here Monday night at nine thirty. I’ll be here waiting for you.’

  DI Matthews let a broad smile creep over his face. It had been a bold move but he’d known it would work. Headstrong women like this always had a weakness that could turn them into meek little mice. And with Anna it was simple. She’d do anything to protect her hard-earned business and her freedom.

  ‘Good decision,’ he said, lifting his hand to her face. He ran his fingers over her cherry red lips, already getting excited at the thought of what he was going to make her do with them soon. ‘Enjoy the rest of your weekend.’

  Anna watched as he walked away, a bounce in his stride now that he had got what he’d come for. She blinked in anger and disgust before turning on her heel and striding back to the table to down her glass of champagne. As she slammed the glass back on the table it smashed, and she watched as the dregs of champagne slipped away through the broken shards. It was true, what she’d said. She would always do what was in her business’s best interests. But when DI Matthews finally realised what that meant, he was going to be in for a very big shock indeed.

  Eighteen

  The early morning sun crept in through the bedroom window, its occupants having been too preoccupied to think to close the curtains as they fell into bed the night before. The warm rays slowly made their way down the walls, across the bed and shone off the fiery gold mass of curls that lay sprawled across the pillow.

  Tanya stirred as her body began to wake up and then frowned as she realised sleepily that it was far too early to be moving just yet. Opening one eye she peeked out and groaned as she realised she hadn’t closed the curtains. A slight shift enabled her to see the clock. It wasn’t even six o clock.

  ‘Motherfucker,’ she murmured to herself.

  Moving slowly, still mostly asleep, Tanya stood up and shuffled to the window to pull the curtains across and throw the bedroom back into relative darkness again. As she turned around, she jumped, startled, and put a hand to her chest.

  ‘Jesus Christ,’ she exclaimed as she caught sight of Sammy propped up on his elbow in her bed, watching her with a lazy grin. ‘Oh my God,’ she said with a giggle. ‘I forgot you were here for a minute.’

  ‘Oh. Well, that doesn’t say much for my skills then, does it?’ he replied with a laugh.

  Tanya grinned and walked back to the bed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She slipped back under the covers and turned to face him, aware for the first time that she was as naked as he was. The memory of the night before played out in her mind. They’d drunk and danced the night away and she had lured Sammy in to exactly the position she’d wanted him. It wasn’t hard, she was an expert when it came to luring men. It was the after part that she wasn’t so experienced in. And now that their initial night of passion had come to an end, she wondered how things were going to go next.

  Her smile broadened as she remembered their antics in the bedroom. She had always thought Sammy’s quiet, brooding ways were hiding a wild animal underneath, and he hadn’t disappointed.

  ‘Your skills speak for themselves,’ she replied, reaching over and running the tips of her fingers down his bare torso. It had always been obvious that Sammy favoured the gym, but seeing him now, naked in her bed in the light of day, she marvelled at how chiselled his broad chest and abs were.

  ‘So, Tanya Smith,’ Sammy murmured, grabbing her and pulling her body up against his, ‘you got what you were after. What now?’

  Tanya felt her body respond and leaned into the kisses that Sammy was now raining on her mouth and neck. ‘I don’t know,’ she answered honestly. ‘What do we do now?’

  Sammy had been a friend for many years, they were involved in all the same things, running in the same circles. This could be a blessing or a curse.

  ‘Well right now,’ Sammy said, ‘I’d quite like to do that all again.’ He pushed himself against her harder, making himself very clear. ‘And then after that, I’d like to get some breakfast with you and see where we go from there. What do you think?’

  ‘Well,’ Tanya became slightly breathless as Sammy’s hands wandered downwards. ‘I think… Oh, sod thinking. Come here.’

  A couple of hours later, Tanya pulled her dressing gown in tighter as she stood at the coffee machine, making them each a much-needed latte. Sammy sat behind her at the breakfast bar in his boxers, watching her with an amused smile.

  He’d known this fiery vixen for years; watched her fight her own battles like a warrior, seen her use her loud humour to cover up any chinks in her almost impenetrable armour. He’d seen her grow from nothing into the successful independent businesswoman she was today. She was someone he liked and admired. And now that romance was on the table, he found he wasn’t averse to the idea of taking things further, the way he usually was. Most women he met were too soft or too boring for his tastes. He needed someone strong and interesting. But finding that combination in someone he actually liked was a whole other ball game. Let alone finding someone who he didn’t have to lie to or hide certain things from.

  ‘Here you go,’ Tanya said, bringing two steaming mugs of coffee over and placing one in front of Sammy. She leaned over the breakfast bar in front of him with her own and smiled. ‘Some liquid energy. I’m sure you need some after this morning.’ Her green eyes glinted cheekily.

  ‘Thanks.’ Sammy took a sip and studied her for a m
oment. ‘So, do you fancy going for breakfast? And then maybe, if you’re free later, a drink tonight? As more of a date drink, than a group outing, this time.’ He laid it out openly.

  ‘I do.’ Tanya looked down at her coffee, wrapping her fingers around the warm mug. ‘I do fancy that. I um, I think that we should keep this to ourselves for now though.’ She looked up at him. ‘I don’t mean that in a bad way or anything, I’m just thinking it would be good for us to hang out and figure out what we’re doing before anyone else gets involved. You know?’ Tanya bit her lip. There was so much at stake here, whichever way things went now. It was best that they knew where they each stood before making waves throughout their whole circle.

  Sammy nodded. ‘I agree.’ He understood completely. It was the sensible approach. ‘And in that case,’ he paused to take another sip of his coffee, ‘you’d better start thinking about how you’re going to sneak me out of this building without Freddie, Anna or Ethan seeing me.’

  ‘Dear Lord,’ Tanya said, her eyes widening. ‘I hadn’t even thought of that.’

  Nineteen

  Walking down the road in the midday sun towards Ruby Ten, one of his less demanding clubs these days, Freddie wrote out a quick text asking Sammy to meet him there. He looked up and noted that Seamus’s car was already there ahead of him. As he reached the car the doors opened and Seamus stepped out, as well as Jim. Freddie raised his eyebrows in surprise. As far as his closest men went, there were no specific working hours. Every and any day was a working day. But Jim was just a lackey at present – someone on the payroll to do all the running around that no one else had time for. He hadn’t expected to find him hanging around on the weekend without being asked to come in.