A few minutes later Peter put the steaming mug of coffee on Karl’s desk. Karl sipped at the sweet liquid and grimaced.
“Bloody hell, how much sugar did you put in here? It tastes foul.”
“Sorry, Karl, I’ll make you another.”
“Oh don’t bother,” Karl said sulkily, pushing the mug away.
“Anything else you want, boss?”
“No, I don’t think so. Oh, you could get some posh biscuits for my visitors.”
“Posh biscuits?”
“Yeah, that’s right,” Karl said irritably, “and whilst you’re about it, get some decent mugs.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Peter shrugged as he headed towards the office door, a broad smile on his chubby face.
Karl looked anxiously at his watch. Half past ten. Just ninety minutes to wait. He began to drum his fingers impatiently on the desk once more. There was something else he had to do today, but what was it? “Ah yes, Bunny,” he said triumphantly. He dialled her number and it was answered almost immediately.
“This is Karl,” he said sharply. “I think you and I need to talk, young lady.”
“What’s the matter?” Bunny asked nervously.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t get to hear about you moonlighting, you silly bitch?”
“Karl, I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ve never…”
“Don’t you dare lie to me, Bunny. I have photos of you and the yank at the Grand Hotel. Ring any bells?”
“Karl, I can explain,” Bunny spluttered. “Clive is a family friend, he…”
“You’re lying. He’s a punter and you cheated my agency out of the fee. I figure you must have made a fair bit on that booking.”
“Karl, I’ve told you, Clive is a friend. We never…”
“Bunny, if you lie to me one more time I’ll make sure you’ll never be able to pull another punter again, do you understand?”
“Please Karl, I…”
“Three grand, that’s what you owe me,” Karl said menacingly. “Make sure you bring me three thousand pounds to my office first thing on Monday morning. Oh, and by the way Bunny, that’s not a request.”
“Karl, I swear he didn’t pay me anything like that,” Bunny protested. “I’ve told you, Clive is just…”
“Bunny, just bring the cash. Don’t make me come looking for you or I promise you’ll regret it.” Before she could respond, Karl had replaced the receiver.
He glared at the lukewarm coffee on his desk with distaste. “Oh fuck it,” he hissed, as he purposely strode over to the drinks table and poured himself a whisky, adding just a splash of soda. “Life’s too short.”
SEVENTY
Bunny was trembling as she placed her phone back into her bag. She always knew it was risky seeing clients privately, but she had always been careful. Clive understood the danger she faced if she got caught moonlighting, that’s why he was overly generous when paying for her services. Her booking with him had netted her five thousand pounds. There was no way she was going to give Karl three thousand of that money.
Bunny went into the bedroom and took down a suitcase from the top of the wardrobe. She had almost twenty-four hours to get away, she reasoned. You could go a long way in twenty-four hours. It was then she noticed the car parked across from her apartment. A familiar red Ford Mondeo. The car that Cupid’s Angels sometimes provided to transport girls to their bookings. Inside was Jimmy, one of Karl’s drivers.
Frantically she began to fill her case with clothes, tears streaming down her face. Just a few more weeks and she would have had enough money to leave escorting behind and start a new life. Bunny had longed for that day but now it looked like her plans were ruined. She felt angry. Angry with herself for getting caught, but angrier with Karl. How dare he dictate who she could and couldn’t meet?
Nervously Bunny peeped through the window blinds. The Mondeo was still there, parked just across from the only entrance to the flats. Nervously she began to pace the room. Perhaps, she wondered, if she gave Clive a ring he would be able to convince Karl they were just friends, but she knew this was hopeless. Clive was back in the States. He had a family. There was no way he would want to become embroiled in this. No, she decided resolutely, the only way to deal with this was to face Karl head on. She would try and reason with him, pointing out how much she had made for the agency in the past through other clients. The more she dwelt on this course of action, the more she convinced herself it was the only thing to do. However, she wasn’t going to wait until tomorrow. No, this had to be dealt with now.
Bunny picked up her phone and dialled for a taxi. She was annoyed that it would be almost an hour before one was available. Walking into the kitchen, she made herself a coffee and sat at the table to wait.
SEVENTY-ONE
Just before twelve, Peter knocked on Karl’s office door and announced that Dr and Mrs Sutton were in Reception.
“Show them up,” Karl ordered, straightening his tie in the wall mirror.
A few seconds later Lisa came into the room followed by a young man.
“Glad you could make it, Lisa,” Karl smiled, kissing her lightly on the cheek. “And this must be Alex? It’s very nice to meet you at last.”
Alex Sutton was in his late twenties, tall and slim with thick black hair and dark brown eyes. He was dressed immaculately in grey slacks and a pale lemon shirt. A dark grey jacket was worn elegantly over his shoulders. A handsome face, Karl thought, but an arrogant one.
“Hello, Karl,” Alex said cordially, holding out his hand. “Lisa tells me you’re my father.”
“So it would seem. It came as much a surprise to me as it must have done to you.”
Alex shrugged and sat on the leather couch. Lisa sat next to her son.
“Your mother tells me you’re a doctor. That’s very impressive.”
“Being a doctor was Lisa’s idea, not mine,” he replied coldly.
“Alex, that’s not true. You love being a doctor, you know you do.”
“Love it? You must be joking. Having to listen to stupid people moaning about their aches and pains all day, what is there to love about that?”
“You don’t mean that. There’s a lot more to being a doctor than that, you know there is.”
Alex laughed harshly and placed his arm around his mother’s shoulders. “Of course I don’t mean it, Lisa. I love being a doctor. You know that.”
Karl had been watching Alex closely. There was something about his manner that he didn’t like, son or no son.
There was a rap on the door and Peter came into the room carrying a tray with three china mugs and a plate of chocolate biscuits. He placed the tray on the corner of the desk.
“Thanks, Peter,” Karl said, trying hard to stifle a laugh at seeing this hard man acting as waitress. “Please see to it that I’m not disturbed.” Peter nodded and closed the office door. Karl turned to his guests. “Lisa, would you like a coffee? What about you, Alex?”
Lisa smiled and took the mug from Karl. Alex declined the drink.
“Your mother tells me you’re looking at joining a medical practice in Canada. That sounds exciting.”
“I am if I can get the money together. It’s going to cost fifty thousand pounds to join the partnership. Lisa thought you might be able to help out.”
“Fifty thousand pounds is a lot of money,” Karl said sternly.
Alex glared at Karl. “I would have thought it was peanuts to you.”
“I wouldn’t say peanuts exactly,” Karl frowned.
“That money can change my life. Surely you can see that?”
“I’m sure it can, but it’s still a lot of money.”
“Don’t you think you have a responsibility towards me?” Alex’s manner suddenly became aggressive. “After all you’re my father but you haven’t paid a single penny towards my upkeep. I would have thought it’s the least you could do to put things right.”
“Oh, do you now?”
“Let’s fac
e it, Karl, you must be worth at least a couple of million. I know all about the clubs that you run and your other businesses and…”
“Alex, that’s enough,” Lisa snapped. “It’s unfair to blame Karl. He didn’t know anything about you until a few days ago. That was entirely down to me.”
“Yes it was, you stupid bitch,” Alex spat, turning angrily to face his mother. “You deprived me of a father and Karl of a son all these years. That was unforgiveable.”
“There were reasons why your mother did what she did,” Karl responded defensively. “Reasons you don’t understand.”
“Don’t make excuses for her,” Alex hissed. “What Lisa did was wrong. You and I should have met years ago.”
Karl rose slowly from his chair. “Lisa, would you mind leaving Alex and I alone for a few minutes? I need to speak to him privately.” He guided her by the arm through the door leading into the lounge bar. “Peter, can you take care of Mrs Sutton? See to it she has everything she needs.”
“Sure, boss,” Peter grinned, glad of any distraction from polishing the glasses behind the bar. Karl walked back into his office, firmly closing the door behind him.
“Good. Now we’ve got Lisa out of the way, perhaps we can get down to business,” Alex smirked, removing the jacket from his shoulders. “I need…” Alex didn’t see the punch but he felt it, as he fell to the floor clutching at his jaw. “What the hell was that for?” he yelled.
Karl grabbed Alex roughly by his shoulders and pulled him to his feet.
“If I ever hear you disrespect your mother like that again, I swear I’ll kill you,” he hissed, his face close up to Alex. “And in future, you show respect to your mother. You will refer to her as mother, not Lisa. Understand?”
“Alright, whatever you say,” Alex said, struggling to regain his composure.
“Good. Now we understand each other, perhaps you can start speaking the truth.”
“Truth? I don’t know what you mean, Karl. I…”
“This money you’re wanting. You say it’s to buy into a partnership in Canada?”
“Yes, that’s right. I…”
“Alex, you don’t seriously think I would pay out fifty grand without checking, do you? I know exactly what you want the money for.”
Alex stared down at the floor but remained silent.
“I’ve heard you have serious gambling debts. Is that right?”
“No, I wouldn’t say serious exactly. It’s true I enjoy a little flutter at the casinos now and again but so what?”
“It’s not just a little flutter though, is it, Alex? I know you owe forty thousand pounds to Jonny Dalton at the Lucky Ace. I know that you’ve been stealing drugs from the hospital’s pharmacy to help pay off your debt, and I know that you’ll shortly be under investigation about the thefts.”
“How did you…? Look Karl, I can explain. I…”
“I also know you’re up to your eyes in debt through your gambling. I don’t think Sarah’s going to want to stay married to you when she realises how much debt you have brought to her door, do you?”
“Sarah? What’s she got to do with anything? For fuck’s sake, Karl, are you going to help me with the money, or not?”
“I’m not a fucking bank.”
“I know exactly what you are,” Alex spat. “This club is just a fancy knocking shop, isn’t it? You can pretend to be as respectable as you want but in the end, we both know what goes on here.”
“It’s adult entertainment. It’s all perfectly legal. I don’t need to explain to you about how I make my money.”
Alex walked towards the door leading into the lounge. “If you’re not going to help me, I don’t see the point of my being here. I’ll get Lisa, or should I say mother, and we’ll be off.”
“Not so fast. I think you should know that I’ve picked up your IOU’s from Jonny.”
“You’ve done what? You mean I don’t owe that bastard any more money?”
“That’s right, you don’t. You owe me the money instead.”
“Karl, I don’t know what to say. I was out of my mind with worry.”
“Don’t think the debt’s written off, Alex, because it isn’t. You still owe the money, and one way or another, I will get it back, believe me.”
“I’m sure we can sort something out, Karl. This calls for a celebration, don’t you think?” He walked over to the drinks table. “Do you mind?”
“Help yourself.” Karl said, opening the door to the lounge. “Mine’s a whisky and soda.”
Lisa came back into the office, an anxious look on her face. “Is everything alright?” she asked nervously.
“Of course it is, mother. Karl and I have sorted a few things out. Would you like a drink to celebrate?”
Lisa shook her head. Alex sat on the couch next to his mother. Karl sat on the chair opposite.
“Does this mean you’ll be able to take up the partnership in Canada?”
“No, mother, that won’t be happening now. I’ve decided to stay in England after all.”
“Oh darling, I’m so glad. I didn’t like to say anything, but I would have missed you if you had gone all that way.”
“Well, don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to stay around and get to know my father. Isn’t that right, Karl?”
Suddenly there was the sound of raised voices from the lounge and the office door burst open. Peter was holding Bunny by the shoulders.
“You can’t go in there,” he growled at her. “Karl has guests.”
“I need to speak with Karl now,” Bunny screeched as she freed herself from Peter’s grasp and ran into the room. “Karl, I…” Bunny stopped mid-sentence and stared open mouthed at the two visitors in the room.
“Christina,” Lisa cried, rising from her seat. “Christina, is it really you?”
SEVENTY-TWO
“Christina!” Lisa cried hysterically as the girl turned and ran back down the stairs. “Christina, please come back!”
Karl quickly picked up the internal phone. “Peter, Bunny’s coming down the stairs. Get Jimmy to take her back to the flat and stay with her. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Okay, boss,” Peter answered as he grabbed the fleeing girl by the arm.
“Bunny? Why are you calling my daughter Bunny?” Lisa yelled as she frantically attempted to push past Karl, tears streaming down her face. “Her name is Christina.”
“Don’t worry about her, she’s quite safe,” Karl said as he held Lisa’s wrists tightly. “Now suppose you tell me about Christina. I take it she’s my daughter?”
Lisa pulled away from Karl, glaring defiantly at him, but she remained silent.
It was Alex who broke the silence. “Christina is my twin. This is the first time we’ve seen her in over two years.”
“Why’s that?”
“She ran away. She wanted to be with some man.”
“He was a married man,” Lisa sighed. “I begged her not to go but she wouldn’t listen.”
“Who was this man? Does he have a name?”
“Rosso,” Alex volunteered. “His name is Guido Rosso.”
“Where is he now?”
“He lives in London somewhere. He owns a couple of restaurants down there. I contacted him at the restaurant a few months ago but he said he hadn’t seen Christina in nearly a year.”
“I thought she must be dead.” Lisa began to cry softly. “No one knew where she was.”
“Here, drink this,” Karl said, handing her a whisky and soda. “You look like you could use it.”
Lisa took the glass without protest and sipped at the contents. “Karl, what was Christina doing here? She doesn’t work here in the club, does she?”
“Would it be such a bad thing if she did?”
“Karl, she’s your daughter. Of course it would matter.”
“When were you going to tell me I had a daughter, Lisa?”
Lisa stared at her husband and he could see the defiance in her eyes. “I wasn’t,” she sai
d at last. “I didn’t want you anywhere near her.”
“Do you really hate me that much?”
“What mother means, Karl, is that…”
“I’m sure your mother can speak for herself,” Karl interrupted. “Well, Lisa, do you?”
“I don’t hate you, not anymore,” Lisa said softly. “I just don’t think you’d make a good father, that’s all.”
“You didn’t exactly give me a chance to find out, did you?”
“Well, that’s in the past. What’s important now is finding Christina.”
“You leave her to me. I’ll go to her flat and speak with her.”
“I want to come with you, I need to see her.”
“No Lisa. You and Alex book into a hotel and I’ll be round later tonight.”
“But Karl, I…”
“Do as I say. Alex, take your mother to the Marriott, it’s the nearest hotel.”
Alex nodded. “Come on, mother,” he coaxed. “Let’s do what Karl says. Christina will be okay, won’t she, Karl?”
“Of course she will, now hurry up. I’ll come over to the hotel as soon as I can.”
All three went down the private staircase and out into the rear car park.
“I’ll see you in a couple of hours,” Karl waved, getting into his Mercedes. It roared into life and joined the busy stream of traffic.
SEVENTY-THREE
Bluebell Tower Apartments was a smart, ten-storey building on the outskirts of the city. The tinted windows and stainless steel balconies made it one of the more desirable places to live. Karl parked his car and hurried towards the entrance. Taking out his phone he rang Jimmy. “What number?” he asked.
“201,” Jimmy answered. “Hurry up, Karl, for Christ’s sake. The silly bitch is going crazy up here.”
Karl entered the foyer and got in the glass and chrome lift to the right. Within seconds he was on the second floor facing room 201. Before he could ring the bell, Jimmy opened the door. His face had deep scratches down both cheeks and blood was trickling down his face onto his shirt collar.
Bad Blood Rising Page 22
