Takedown

by Heather Atkinson

  “No idea but that’s something we need to find out. Have you told the others?”

  “Yeah. They’re waiting at Pulse. I thought you might want a meeting. Or would you prefer to go home and rest?”

  “We’ll rest when this is over. Let’s go to Pulse.”

  “By the way, my friend said the number on Patrick Prentiss’s phone was a burner phone that hasn’t been used in days.”

  “Not a surprise but we have to check all leads,” sighed Faith.

  “Phone,” murmured Vance.

  “What?” said Faith.

  “I took Adam’s phone,” he said, patting down his pockets. He produced it from his jacket and sighed. “Bugger. It was in my right pocket, the side the car was rammed and it’s smashed to fuck.”

  “I’ll give it to my friend to look at,” said Caleb, taking it from his brother. “He still might be able to pull something off it.”

  Vance dropped off in the back of Caleb’s car, as did Faith. She was woken by her phone ringing. It was only when she saw Matthew’s name pop up on the screen that she realised she needed to bring him up to speed.

  “All right?” she yawned into the handset.

  “Oh I’m sorry,” came his snippy tone. “Did I wake you?”

  “Yes but I had a good reason for being asleep. You see…”

  “Never mind all that. I’ve just had some disturbing photos sent to my office at the station.”

  “Photos of me and you meeting up?”

  “You’ve had the same?”

  “Yes. They were taken by Adam, my ex-boyfriend who I asked you to warn off from stalking me. He threatened to tell everyone I’m a police informant.”

  “Oh bloody hell,” he exclaimed.

  “Have you spoken to him yet?”

  “No. It was on my to-do list today. I got delayed with the Enfield case.”

  Relief washed over Faith. If he had gone to speak to Adam he would have probably told him about her and Vance.

  “Where is Adam now?” continued Matthew. “Knowing you, you didn’t just let him wander off into the sunset.”

  “No. We stuck him in the boot of the car.”

  “What?” he exclaimed, making her wince.

  “But don’t worry,” she added. “Me and Vance were attacked by the firefighters who robbed us and they freed him.”

  “Attacked? Are you all right?”

  “Oh fine. They only chased us in transit vans around an industrial estate until they finally ran us off the road. They got Adam and tried to take me and Vance but they weren’t good enough. We’ve just left A&E and we’re both fine, just tired and bruised.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re okay but this is getting out of hand.”

  “Just a bit,” she said, rubbing her eyes with her free hand.

  “Where are you now?”

  “Outside Pulse. We’re having a family meeting. Listen, these firefighters are linked to Dillon’s death, I’m sure of it. They’re ruthless and violent and it looked like Adam was working with them. It wasn’t an abduction. It was a rescue.”

  “I just don’t understand why they’re doing this. I’ve looked into Ben and his crew and they’re all completely legit with no criminal records. It doesn’t make sense why they’d suddenly do this. Are you sure this isn’t personal? Have you done anything to piss them off?”

  “Not that I know of.”

  “That isn’t reassuring. Is Adam going to try and bribe me with these photos?”

  “I don’t know. He’ll probably be even more pissed off now his plan failed but if your superiors do find out, tell them I’m a confidential informant.”

  “I can’t do that. Jules would kill me.”

  “That information has to be kept secret, so I’d be protected.”

  “I appreciate you trying to cover for me but that won’t go down well for you. If they do find out I’ll come up with something but it won’t be that. I’ll see if I can find any connection between Adam and the firefighters. Has he ever been a firefighter or tried to join up?”

  “Not that I know of. I can’t think how they’re connected.”

  “I’ll email you what I have on Ben and his crew. Have a good hard think. Your paths could have crossed before.”

  “Thanks Matthew, I appreciate it.”

  “It’s the least I can do. Thanks for talking to Alice. She’s giving me another chance.”

  “That’s great news.”

  “I’m really happy. I don’t want to lose her.”

  “Good. She’s a cracking woman.”

  “She is that. I’d better go. I’ll send you that information.”

  “Thanks Matthew and take care.”

  “You too. Bye.”

  Vance was still asleep, so she gently shook him awake. The blue in his eyes was pale and faded but he smiled when he saw her.

  “How are you feeling?” he gently asked her.

  “Tired and sore. You?”

  “The same. I’m looking forward to the noodles and pinot.”

  “Me too,” she smiled.

  Vance gently squeezed her hand. As Caleb was waiting outside the car, keeping an eye out it was safe to do so.

  “We’d better get in there,” she said.

  “I suppose,” he yawned.

  They both hauled themselves out of the car and headed inside the club. Jason, Abi, Michael and Kevin were waiting in the office. Faith regarded the latter warily after their argument, smiling when he embraced her.

  “Are you okay?” he asked her, the concern clear in his voice.

  “Fine, just a bit sore. Kev, I’m sorry about earlier…”

  “Don’t be. I was a mouthy arsehole, as usual. I just want this mess tidied up as soon as possible.”

  “Me too,” she smiled. “Friends again?”

  “Always,” he smiled back before hugging her again.

  The rest of the siblings looked on with relief.

  Kevin released her and turned to Vance. “You look like shit.”

  “Not surprising when I feel like it,” he said flatly.

  After assurances had been given that they were both okay, the meeting finally began. This time Vance, who had been refreshed by the nap in the car, related everything that had happened, omitting the part about Adam’s compromising photos of himself and Faith together in the woods. As he talked, Faith read through the information Matthew had sent her, which didn’t tell them anything new.

  “I always said he was a dodgy bastard, didn’t I?” snarled Kevin when Vance had finished.

  “You did,” said Faith. “You all tried to warn me at some point about him.”

  “I don’t know this Adam,” said Michael. “Who is he?”

  “Faith’s ex,” replied Abi. “I’ll fill you in later babe.”

  “So, he’s in league with the firefighters,” said Jason.

  “We need to find out how they met,” said Faith. “The link between them could be crucial. And we need to plant the tracking device on Amanda’s car while she’s teaching her class at the community centre tonight.”

  “I’m not sure I’m up to that,” replied Vance. “I’m aching all over and I’ve got a horrible headache.”

  “I can do it,” said Kevin. He looked to Faith for approval.

  She nodded. “I know you can Kev.”

  “Cheers,” he smiled, puffing up with pride at her faith in him.

  “Jason will go with you but he’ll wait in the car. After the attack on me and Vance today it’s even more important that we don’t go anywhere alone. They were lying in wait for us and we had no idea.”

  “But why try to kidnap you?” said Abi. “They’d already taken the product. What could they have to gain?”

  “They must know we’re onto them,” said Vance. “And they’re trying to strike before we do.”

  “That’s what I thought,” said Faith. “Until I let Ben know that I knew his name when he tried to drag me out of the car. It definitely shocked him but I gave away our only advanta
ge.”

  Kevin patted her shoulder. “You didn’t let them take you. That’s what matters.”

  “Thanks Kev,” she beamed at him, delighted they were back on track. “But now they’ll be even more frantic to silence us.”

  “You…you think they might try to kill us?” rasped Michael.

  “I certainly wouldn’t put it past them.”

  “Jesus,” he breathed, turning pale.

  “Caleb, you live alone,” she told him. “That makes you vulnerable.”

  “Please don’t tell me to move back into Mum’s.” Before she could continue, he said, “I could move in with you Vance.”

  “Err…,” began Vance.

  “But that will leave you alone Faith,” said Abi.

  “I’m in a secure building,” she countered. “I’ll be fine.”

  “They could still get in. If a nob like Adam can follow you without you knowing then Ben Cooper and his friends certainly could.”

  “The three of us could move into your place Faith,” said Caleb. “You’ve got three bedrooms. Vance’s flat only has two.”

  “Well…”

  “Great idea,” said Jason. “Then none of us will be alone.”

  Faith glanced at Vance, who shrugged resignedly. “Yes, I suppose that is the best solution.”

  “It’ll be fun,” said Caleb. “Like when we were kids.”

  Faith saw the lovely evening she’d envisioned curled up on the couch in Vance’s arms slipping away. “Then it’s settled,” she sighed, trying not to sound disappointed.

  “So what do we do?” said Michael, sounding a little panicked. “We have to do something before they attack us again.”

  “It’s all right babe,” said Abi. “Don’t worry, we’ll get it sorted.”

  “Kev’s going to plant the tracking device on Amanda’s car this evening,” said a weary Faith. “Let’s see where she takes us. They won’t do anything else today. They’ll be nursing their wounds,” she added with a satisfied smile.

  Vance, Caleb and Faith entered the latter’s flat, Caleb grinning as he hauled in his bags. Vance carried the takeaway they’d collected from the Chinese on the way.

  “Which room’s mine?” Caleb asked Faith.

  “This one,” she said, gesturing to the room at the opposite end of the flat to her own. She was hoping she and Vance would still manage to get some alone time with him around.

  “Great. I’ll dump my stuff then we can eat. I’m starving.”

  While he vanished into the guest room, Vance and Faith headed into the kitchen with the food. After dumping the food on the table, he pulled Faith to him and kissed her hard.

  “This is going to be a difficult few days,” he whispered, wrapping his arms around her waist.

  “I know,” she replied. “Although I’m sure we’ll get a few snatched moments.”

  They kissed again more gently. Even if they had been alone neither of them would have felt up to sex after the day they’d had.

  When they heard Caleb’s footsteps in the hall, they relinquished each other. Vance took the plates out of the cupboard while Faith switched on the kettle.

  “I’ll be very cosy in there,” announced a smiling Caleb.

  “You seem excited about staying here,” said Faith.

  “It’ll be fun the three of us living together. Sometimes I get a bit lonely. It was a culture shock going from living in a house packed with people to just me.”

  Faith’s heart went out to him and she patted his arm.

  “At least I don’t have to put up with Kev’s feet anymore,” he added.

  They’d just finished eating in the living room in front of a film when Kevin rang to confirm that he’d planted the tracking device on Amanda’s car.

  “She’s one hard bitch too,” he told Faith on the phone. “I watched her through the window teaching her class and she threw this big bloke across the room.”

  “Good work Kev,” she said. “You did well.”

  “Cheers,” he said, the pride audible in his voice. “What do you want me to do now?”

  “Go home and keep an eye on Amanda’s movements and try to get some rest.”

  “Will do. Love ya sis,” he added.

  “Love you too Kev,” she smiled before hanging up. “Well, it’s done,” she told Caleb and Vance. “He’s planted the tracking device. He watched Amanda teaching her class and she’s very skilled, which is not good news.”

  “Don’t worry,” said Caleb, sliding his arm around her. “We’ve got the toughest woman in Blackpool right here to take her on.”

  She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder. Vance watched them enviously. He wished he could do that for her but they always went out of their way not to display any physical affection towards each other. He was getting tired of the deepest love he’d ever felt in his life being treated like it was something sordid and dirty.

  Vance burst into the kitchen the following morning, feeling much better after a good night’s sleep. Faith was already up, putting a tray of croissants in the oven. He strode across the room in two strides, took her face in his hands and kissed her.

  “I missed you last night,” he breathed, pressing his forehead to hers.

  “I missed you too.”

  “I tried to sneak into your room but Caleb got up, so I had to pretend I was going to the bathroom.”

  “I was out like a light anyway. I was knackered after yesterday.”

  “How do you feel now?”

  “Fine. I slept solidly.”

  “Good because Caleb’s in the shower and we don’t have much time.”

  She grinned and kissed him. Vance bent her over the kitchen table, lifted her dressing gown, pulled aside her panties and groaned with pleasure as he slid inside her, Faith moaning and pushing back against him, sending him in even deeper. They moved together hard and fast, biting their lips to stifle the cries wanting to burst from their throats. Faith gasped and arched her spine as Vance flooded inside her, burying his face in her neck.

  She exhaled as her eyes slowly rolled opened, that delicious sense of satisfaction washing through her body as it always did when she made love with Vance.

  “Best start to the day,” he whispered in her ear, kissing her neck.

  “Mmm, yes,” she breathed.

  They straightened up, Vance tugging up his jeans and straightening his shirt while Faith retied her robe.

  There was the sound of footsteps approaching and Faith checked on the croissants while Vance poured himself a cup of coffee. Caleb wandered in with a cheery good morning, noticing nothing out of the ordinary.

  “How did you sleep?” Faith asked him, removing the tray from the oven.

  “Great, thanks. It’s a comfy bed. God they smell good, I’m starving.”

  “You’re always starving,” she said, placing the croissants on a plate and putting the plate on the kitchen table.

  Caleb took a seat and picked up a croissant. “So, what’s the plan for today?”

  “Head over to Mum’s and look at the tracking data Jason will have recorded of Amanda’s movements.”

  “What if she just went home after the class and stayed there?”

  “Then at least we’ll have her home address.”

  They looked at each other when there was a knock at the door.

  “I’m not expecting anyone,” said Faith.

  “Stay here,” the two men told her, getting to their feet.

  “Sod that,” she scowled, heading out the kitchen door before either of them could.

  “Faith, wait,” said Vance as he and Caleb hurried after her.

  She peered through the spyhole. “It’s Jason and Kev,” she said, unlocking the door.

  The two younger brothers entered full of self-congratulatory ardour. Faith took in their rumpled clothes and unshaven faces. The Chambers men grew stubble very quickly.

  “What happened to you two?” she asked them.

  “We’ve been up all night,” Kevin announ
ced proudly.

  “Picked up a couple of women, did you?” said Caleb.

  “No actually. We’ve been working, following Amanda about.”

  “All night?”

  “Most of it,” said Jason. “She got up to some pretty interesting stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “Something smells good,” said Kevin. “We’ve not had breakfast yet.”

  “Come on through,” said Faith. “There’s plenty for everyone.”

  Faith put more croissants in the oven and brewed a fresh pot of coffee while her brothers gathered around the kitchen table.

  “Amanda went home after her class last night,” began Kevin, talking through mouthfuls of croissant. “We stayed at home watching her from the laptop then. Just before midnight she got back in her car and headed out again to the fire station.”

  “To start her shift?” said Vance, taking a sip of coffee.

  “That’s what we thought, until she left the station in her car with Ben Cooper and another two firefighters.”

  “Where did you track them to?” said Faith.

  “A church,” he smiled, enjoying the surprise on the faces of his older siblings. “And not for midnight mass because it’s a derelict church.”

  “Why would a bunch of firefighters go there?” said Caleb.

  “Don’t know but do you want to find out?” said Jason. “I checked out the church online. It was shut down after it was badly damaged in – get this – a fire.”

  Faith beamed. “I’m so proud of you two. You’ve done really well. You were right Kev, you are more than just muscle.”

  “Not that I’ve got much of that,” he grinned, raising his skinny arms.

  “I think it’s time you both had more responsibility in the business.”

  “Our own nightclub?” said Jason eagerly.

  “Sorry, that’s down to Jules but we’ll find you something.”

  “Great,” grinned Kevin.

  “Now I’m going to hop in the shower and then we can get going. Let’s check out this church.”

  CHAPTER 15

  Faith and her brothers headed over to the church in the north of the town in the same people carrier with the blacked-out windows that they’d once made their escape in from Marlow and his men. Vance was in the driver’s seat in case they needed to utilise his skills again. Faith sat up front with him while the other three occupied the middle seats. She worried that Vance wouldn’t feel up to driving after the crash the day before but he seemed to be back to his usual self and his right arm wasn’t giving him any problems.