Traitor in the House

by Caz Finlay

  ‘He came into my office. Made some smart-arse comments about me and I obviously told him to piss off. That’s when he grabbed me. He had his hand around my throat. He pushed me against the wall and started calling me a bitch. The usual stuff pathetic little men like him do to try and intimidate women. But I kneed him in the groin and he backed off when I threatened to scream for the bouncers. Then he left. My throat’s a bit sore, but I’m fine.’

  ‘Speaking of the bouncers, where the fuck where they? What the hell were they doing? Parnell shouldn’t have been anywhere near your office or you.’

  ‘They were dealing with stuff. Apparently, there were a few separate incidents tonight that required their attention. We both know that it’s unusual for there to be any trouble at Sophia’s, so it all seems a bit coincidental, doesn’t it? No doubt Parnell was behind it.’

  ‘Probably, but it’s still a massive fuck-up that shouldn’t have happened. I thought Nick was better than that,’ he said with a shake of his head.

  ‘Nick is good at his job. He was dealing with trouble in the bar, just like we pay him to. How was he to know what was going on in the back?’

  ‘It’s his job to know what’s going on everywhere, especially in the back,’ he reminded her. ‘But what happened to your blouse?’

  ‘Oh, that?’ she said as she looked down and inspected the torn fabric. ‘After I kneed Parnell, he pulled his hand away and his watch got caught on my buttons, that’s all.’

  ‘Where was his hand to have it catch on your clothes like that?’

  Grace swallowed. ‘It was inside my coat. He grabbed my boob. That was all.’

  ‘That’s all?’ he snapped. ‘I’m going to fucking kill him.’

  She placed a hand on his arm. ‘Michael, let me finish. As he was leaving he told me that he’d come to give me a friendly warning to stay out of things that didn’t concern me. Then he said I’d end up dead like those girls if I didn’t.’

  Michael jumped up at this point. ‘So he threatened to kill you too?’

  She shook her head in annoyance. ‘Don’t you see that must mean Leigh and I are onto something?’

  He blinked at her. ‘What?’

  ‘I told you I thought there was something fishy about Parnell coming back when he did, and I think it has something so do with the murdered women.’

  Michael shook his head. ‘Grace, I don’t give a shit about that right now. I’m going to rip his fucking head off his shoulders and take a shit in his neck.’

  ‘And ordinarily, I’d be more than happy to let you deal with Parnell, but let me just get to the bottom of this first. Please?’

  ‘But why? Why do you need to help Leigh with this?’

  ‘This isn’t about Leigh now though, is it? For some reason, Joey Parnell has it in for our family. And I suspect he is involved with some very dodgy stuff with some very bad people. I want to know who they are and what their connection is to Parnell. I want to find out who killed those women, Michael, before they do it again.’

  ‘So I’m supposed to let Parnell walk around thinking he can threaten my family. That he can attack my wife and I won’t do anything about it?’ he shouted.

  ‘Is that what this is about really? Your ego?’ she snapped. ‘I am not your property.’

  Michael looked at her and she saw the hurt in his eyes. ‘Grace,’ he said softly. ‘You know that’s not what this is about. We can’t afford to let something like this slide in our line of business.’

  Grace swallowed. ‘I know. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that. I’m just on edge, that’s all. But look, I told you I’ve dealt with him for now. Please just give me a couple of weeks to find out what his part in all this is—’

  ‘And then what? You’ll hand him over to the police?’ he said sarcastically.

  ‘Of course not. Leigh might think I’m working with her on this, but once I started to suspect there was a connection to Parnell, all bets were off. Once I find out what I need, you can do whatever you like with him. I promise.’

  Michael ran his hand down her cheek and onto the red marks on her neck. ‘I have never doubted that you know what you’re doing, Grace, but I think you’re wrong on this one. Parnell is more dangerous than we realised, and the sooner we take him out, the better.’

  ‘But you’ll give me a little more time?’ she asked.

  He looked at her, as though considering her request. ‘Two weeks. Tops. And then that fucker is mine.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she whispered.

  ‘How do you always get me to agree to anything you want?’ he said with a frown.

  ‘My irresistible charm?’ she replied with a flash of her eyebrows.

  He smiled at her. ‘I love you.’

  She wrapped her arms around his neck. ‘I love you too, Carter.’

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Michael knocked on the door of the top-floor apartment on Linnet Lane and waited for the owner to answer. A few moments later, the door opened and he saw the face of Sophia’s Kitchen’s head bouncer, Nick Walker.

  Nick opened his mouth to speak but was unable to get a word out before Michael put a hand on his chest and pushed him through the door so that Nick stumbled backwards into the room.

  ‘Boss!’ Nick shouted. ‘What the fuck?’

  Michael stepped towards him and punched him in the jaw, causing Nick to fall on his arse. Michael stood over him. ‘What the fuck do I pay you for?’ he snarled.

  Nick blinked at him as he rubbed his jaw.

  ‘I asked you a fucking question. What do I fucking pay you to do?’ he shouted.

  ‘To manage the doors,’ Nick stammered.

  ‘And to provide security?’

  Nick nodded.

  ‘So, can you tell me why the fuck my wife was assaulted in her own office last night? In the restaurant that you manage security for?’

  Nick’s face paled as he started to scrabble to his feet. Michael stalked towards him. ‘How the fuck did Joey Parnell manage to slip past you and the rest of those cretins and walk straight into Grace’s office without anyone challenging him?’

  ‘Fuck!’ Nick said as he shook his head. ‘I had no idea, Michael—’

  ‘I know you had no fucking idea, you tool. That’s the whole fucking point, isn’t it?’ he snarled.

  Nick jumped up and took a step backwards. ‘I don’t know Parnell. I wouldn’t know him from Adam…’

  Michael raised his fist again and Nick held his hands up in defence. ‘I’m not excusing what happened. No one should be able to get to Grace like that,’ he said as he rubbed at his jaw again. ‘I’m sorry, Boss. It will never happen again though, I swear.’

  Michael stepped towards him and Nick flinched, but Michael walked straight past him and sat on the sofa.

  ‘So, what the fuck happened then, Nick? How did Joey make you and your boys look like complete amateurs last night? I thought you were the real thing, or I would never have given you responsibility for Sophia’s.’

  ‘I am, Boss,’ Nick protested as he took a seat on the armchair opposite. ‘I know I fucked up last night, and I’m really sorry, especially if Grace was hurt, but I’ve never let you down before. And I promise it will never happen again. I’ll have a man outside her office permanently from now on. Or I’ll do it myself if you’d rather?’

  Michael shook his head. ‘Have you met Grace? There’s no way she’d fucking have that and you know it. I’m getting a panic button installed today and it will go straight to the door and the bar. But last night? Tell me what happened and convince me why I shouldn’t kick your arse and put you on The Dog?’

  Nick shuddered. The Dog was their codename for Dodgson’s – aptly named as it was the dodgiest club in Liverpool. It sold the cheapest ale and was a magnet for drunks, coke-heads and trouble. There were more kick-offs there every Saturday night than in all of their other places put together. It was the place they often put new recruits to prove themselves, or anyone who had fucked up and needed a reminder of how good they
really had it. There were some lads who absolutely loved a good scrap and would rather work on The Dog than anywhere else, but Nick had only worked at their more exclusive places, and Sophia’s Kitchen was the jewel in the crown. It was the hottest place to be in Merseyside. Their exclusive, award-winning restaurant catered for people with plenty of money to spend on a meal, and the large bar area accommodated those who just fancied a few beers, cocktails from their famous cocktail bar, or a bottle of champagne. Their clientele was largely affluent, respectable, and there was very rarely any trouble. Good-looking bouncers like Nick were liable to go home with a different woman on their arm every night if they so chose, and Michael was aware that Nick indulged more often than not.

  ‘We had loads of trouble last night, Boss,’ Nick replied. ‘More than I’ve ever known in the place. It was unusual, especially for a Thursday. We thought maybe there was a massive stag do or something. We must have been dealing with that when this Parnell fella came in. No doubt he was behind some if it then. I thought Grace looked a bit shaken up. She asked me to walk her to her car, but I had no idea.’ Nick finished speaking and shook his head in disbelief. ‘Is she okay?’ he added.

  ‘He had her pinned to the wall by her throat,’ Michael snapped.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ Nick said again.

  ‘Well, she’s as hard as nails. So, yes, she’s okay, considering,’ Michael added. ‘But I’m not. When I think about what could have happened to her…’

  Nick looked down at his feet. ‘I suppose I deserve to work in The Dog after that.’

  Michael stood up. ‘Fortunately for you, my wife seems to rate you regardless of what happened last night. And I’d never hear the fucking end of it if I gave you the boot, so your job is safe – for now. But if anything ever happens to her on your watch again…’

  ‘It won’t, Boss. I guarantee it.’

  ‘Get some ice on that jaw. You’re working tonight,’ Michael said. Then he walked out of Nick’s apartment.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Leigh stood on the doorstep of John Brennan’s house, shuffling her feet in the cold. She had only rung the doorbell ten seconds ago but it had felt like a lifetime. She shouldn’t have come here. He wasn’t expecting her, but when she had driven past his house and seen the light on at midnight, she hadn’t been able to stop herself from paying him a visit. She was suddenly feeling very foolish. What if he had a visitor? A female visitor? He wasn’t known for being a ladies’ man, but he was a good-looking guy, with plenty of money – why wouldn’t he have a woman with him? Leigh cursed under her breath. What the hell was she thinking?

  She turned around and was about to make a hasty retreat to her car when the front door opened, bathing the doorstep in a faint glow from the hallway light. John stood there in a pair of boxer shorts and nothing else and she was sure she must have disturbed him and a lady friend. She dragged her eyes away from his muscular torso and concentrated on his face.

  He folded his arms across his chest. ‘Well, good evening, Detective. What can I do for you?’ he said with a grin as he leaned against the door frame.

  ‘Nothing. I’m sorry. It’s late. I should have called first. I’ll go,’ she started to babble and he laughed, that deep laugh of his that made her heart race. She wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole. Then the doorway was opened wider and John stepped aside.

  ‘Well, by all means you can go, but wouldn’t you rather come in?’ he asked.

  She looked up at him again and he smiled. Not the smile he had when he was teasing her, but a genuine one that made her legs tremble slightly. God, what the hell was she doing?’

  ‘I was just on my way to bed,’ he said softly as he held out a hand to her. ‘Care to join me? Or I could make you a cheese toastie?’

  She smiled at him. She’d told him that cheese toasties were her favourite comfort food and how she often loved to make one when she’d been working late. She had only just recalled mentioning it, and was touched that he had remembered too.

  She took his hand and stepped inside the doorway. The door had barely closed behind her when he pushed her up against it and kissed her. She ran her hands over his back and groaned when he moved his head to kiss her neck.

  ‘What about my cheese toastie?’ she whispered when she came up for air.

  ‘I’ll make you one in the morning,’ he replied with a grin before taking her hand and leading her up the stairs.

  John Brennan woke to his mobile phone vibrating on his bedside table. He picked it up and read the message on the screen.

  Leigh rolled over and placed a hand on his chest.

  ‘Grace is outside,’ he said. ‘I forgot she was calling to pick up some papers this

  morning.’

  ‘Oh God.’ Leigh put a hand over her eyes. ‘Can you get rid of her?’

  ‘Yeah,’ he said as he jumped up and pulled on a pair of shorts. ‘She’d usually call in for a coffee but I’ll put her off.’

  John ran down the stairs and opened the door to find Grace already standing there. ‘Here you go, Boss,’ he said as he handed an envelope to her.

  ‘You’re not inviting me in this morning?’ she asked.

  He grinned at her. ‘I’d rather not.’

  Grace smiled. ‘Oh, I see. Company?’

  He grinned at her. ‘Something like that.’

  ‘Okay. I get it. I’ll be on my way then.’ She turned and started to walk down the path.

  ‘I’ll give you a call later, Boss,’ he shouted.

  Grace turned on her heel and smiled at him. ‘Okay, and tell Leigh if she wants to sneak around with you, she should get herself a less conspicuous car.’

  John burst out laughing as he noticed Leigh’s bright red BMW parked across the road from his house. ‘Will do, Boss.’

  Leigh pulled back the covers as John climbed back into bed beside her.

  ‘I hate to break this to you, but your cover’s blown,’ he said.

  ‘What? How?’

  ‘Your car is parked right over the road, Leigh.’ John laughed. ‘And it’s not exactly discreet, is it?’

  ‘I suppose not,’ Leigh conceded. Her car was her one indulgence. ‘God, do you think she’ll tell anyone?’

  ‘No,’ he assured her. ‘Except for Michael.’

  Leigh pulled the cover over her head. ‘Oh God,’ she groaned.

  John pulled the duvet back to reveal her face. ‘Hey, you think this looks bad for you. My bosses are Grace and Michael Carter and now they know that I’m seeing a copper. My reputation is going to be in tatters,’ he said with a grin. ‘I’ll barely be able to show my face in public ever again.’

  She punched him lightly on the chest. ‘Don’t be so dramatic,’ she said.

  ‘Says the woman who’s hiding beneath the duvet.’ He flashed his eyebrows at her.

  ‘Okay. Point taken,’ she said. ‘At least we know Grace can keep a secret. Now, didn’t you promise me a cheese toastie?’

  ‘Yes, but I seem to remember you promising me something too last night?’ He grinned at her.

  ‘But I already did that,’ she said, grinning back.

  He rolled his eyes. ‘I can’t get anything past you, can I, Detective?’

  ‘If I do it again, will you stop calling me Detective?’ She raised an eyebrow at him.

  He looked at her for a few seconds, as though considering her request. ‘Okay,’ he agreed before disappearing beneath the covers.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Grace looked up at Luke Sullivan as he walked into her office carrying two mugs of cappuccino.

  She stood up and walked around the desk. ‘Thanks,’ she said as she took one from him. She watched him as he leaned against her desk and began to blow on the hot liquid before taking a sip. He looked over the rim of his mug and smiled at her, his brown eyes twinkling.

  ‘You’re looking very pleased with yourself,’ Grace said, smiling back.

  ‘I am. I think I’ve just helped to land us a multi-million p
ound contract. I think we can call that a good morning’s work, don’t you?’

  Grace laughed. ‘You’re very sure of yourself, Luke. Some would say cocky.’

  ‘And what about you, Grace? Do you think I’m cocky?’

  She considered him. He was tall, good-looking and funny. He could charm the knickers off a nun. He had every right to be cocky, but actually he wasn’t. He was also smart, funny and considerate. ‘No,’ she shook her head. ‘Not cocky. Self-assured.’

  He nodded appreciatively. ‘I’ll take that. Thank you.’

  Grace took a sip of her coffee. ‘You’re welcome. You were very good today, by the way. The way you handled Chris Morris… I was impressed.’ Chris Morris was the CEO of Morrison Property Management, which managed one of the biggest property portfolios in the North West. Luke had discovered that Chris wasn’t entirely happy with the security company they employed and was thinking of ditching them for a new firm. As a result, Grace had set up an initial meeting earlier that morning to speak to Chris about what they could offer. She had planned on letting Luke do most of the talking, and stepping in if he got out of his depth. To her pleasant surprise, she hadn’t needed to. Luke had proved to be a skilled negotiator and an astute businessman. He was prepared for any question Chris threw at him, business or personal, and he answered them all without breaking a sweat. It had taken Grace a long time to find someone she felt confident enough to hand the reins of Cartel Securities to, and she was beginning to think she might just have found that person in Luke Sullivan.

  Patrick Carter walked into the back of Sophia’s Kitchen towards the office, hoping to find his daughter-in-law Grace. He wanted to speak to her about some ideas to surprise his wife Sue for her sixtieth birthday.

  Patrick heard the sound of muffled laughter as he approached. The door was slightly ajar and he assumed one of his sons, Michael or Sean, was also in there. He smiled. It would be good to see whichever of them it was. He adored his sons. He adored all of his family, and now that he was retired, he liked to spend as much time with them all as possible.