by Edie Baylis
Dulcie gripped Teagan’s arm harder. ‘Please don’t say anything. I will tell him, just not yet.’
Teagan smiled kindly. ‘I understand. I won’t say anything, I promise. Is this something important?’
Dulcie smiled weakly. ‘Only to me. It contains my heart.’ She looked down at the box. ‘All that’s in there are a handful of letters from Michael. Worthless to anyone, but priceless to me,’ she lied.
Teagan smiled. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll keep them safe for you.’
‘You won’t make me go to the hospital, will you?’ Dulcie said, grasping at Teagan’s sleeve. ‘I don’t want to go. I can’t take it, I...’
‘You won’t be going anywhere.’ Teagan soothed, pulling Dulcie into a hug. ‘Robert agrees and we won’t let anyone make you do something you don’t want to do, I promise.’
Dulcie smiled weakly. ‘And your young man, Darren. You won’t tell him about all of this... about the poisoning? I’m so embarrassed... Things I said...’
‘Please don’t worry. You’re the most important thing here. No one will be saying or doing anything you don’t want them to,’ Teagan said, squeezing Dulcie’s hand. Pulling away, she held Dulcie at arms’ length, looking down with concern. ‘You do know that you won’t be able to stay here at least for a few days, don’t you?’
‘But where will I go? I don’t want to go. I don’t want you to go.’ Tears cascaded down Dulcie’s cheeks again. ‘I’ve already lost my daughter and you... you’re...’
‘I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying with you and will do for however long you’ll have me. In the meantime we’re both going to stay at Robert’s – his suggestion. I’m not leaving you, ok? And neither is Robert. Everything will be fine, but we really do need to go downstairs now and I’m afraid you’ll have to tell the police everything. Everything you told us about what happened.’
Dulcie nodded sadly. ‘I know...’
She waited until Teagan turned her back to walk out of the bedroom. She had no problem telling the police everything she needed them to know. It was, however, a different story where the Powells were concerned now she knew without a doubt that they were back on her tail.
But all in all, things were going very nicely. Robert and Teagan were playing exactly the way she’d orchestrated it. All was good.
Smiling widely to herself, Dulcie followed Teagan out of the pink bedroom.
Epilogue
KEITH TRIED VERY HARD TO PAY ATTENTION. He knew it was vital to keep his ears to the ground – now more than ever, but he was absolutely bush-whacked after virtually every hour that should have been spent getting shut-eye, had instead been taken up snorting coke and shagging the feisty little tart offering him a taster of her services in the hope of landing a job at The Feathers.
Oh, she’d been up to the job, alright – there was no question about that. It was just a pity, for her at least, that it wasn’t up to him to say if she’d got a job or not. But she hadn’t known that and he certainly hadn’t been in any rush to correct her assumptions.
If he remembered, he’d put in a good word for her, although the way things were going, it could well be him that did get the say-so about which girls worked here and which didn’t. And he didn’t have the time or the inclination for that. He wanted to get on with his own fucking job.
Bloody Gwen. Things had gone pear-shaped where the show side of the club was concerned since she’d gone AWOL and it had put Jonah in an even worse mood than he was already in.
Four days since the engagement party and the Dulcie Adams debacle and if he said they weren’t all on tenterhooks waiting to see if what happened at the old bat’s gaff led back to them, he’d be lying. As yet nothing had come of it, but Keith knew the Old Bill were on it because Jonah was following Maidenhead’s local news like a stalker, but so far, so good. It wasn’t like Jonah could be pulled in for the killing of that snotty Shepherd bird anyway. Well, he could, but it would never stick – it wasn’t like he’d done it, but his very presence could lead back and then uncover the ins and outs of the diamond heist. And it was that which was eating away and bothering all of them.
Keith glanced at Jonah, the stress of the last few days clearly visible on his face. The man should have sorted it properly in the first place, like he would have. Buggering about had got him precisely nowhere – apart from in the shit. And despite him putting out some careful feelers, there was nothing on the grapevine about who had lifted and cashed in on this behind their back.
But then it was unlikely that would ever come out because anyone worth their salt knew who’d they be taking on. Some fucker had it though and everyone was determined to find out exactly who that was. When the heat died down...
Always when the heat died down, Keith thought angrily. Walk straight into the fire and get it done.
‘Can Lena not deal with this?’ Nero said, jolting Keith from his ponderings.
Jonah placed Gwen’s black dance rota folder down sharply on the desk. ‘No she fucking can’t!’ he spat. ‘We might be up to our necks with this being as Gwen’s off sick, but I’m not involving Lena.’
Nero shrugged, whilst Keith grimaced. ‘When’s Gwen back?’
‘I don’t know. I’ll go and see her. Find out what’s going on.’ Jonah wanted to know where Gwen was too. In all the years he’d known her, he could barely remember her ever having a day off sick, let alone four. And even then she still phoned in.
No one had heard anything and he was extremely concerned. It couldn’t have happened at a worse time either. As well as being worried about Gwen, he wanted her take on what had happened.
His head was mashed trying to work out who had swiped the stash from under their noses and set him up to be framed at the same time. Oh, he knew what they’d done, he just couldn’t work out who the fuck it was. But when he did....
Jonah glanced up irritably when Keith’s mobile rang out loudly. Unless an emergency was underfoot, it was always the code to have the mobiles set to silent during the daily meetings. No disturbances.
Embarrassed, Keith fished his mobile from his pocket and glanced at the screen. Shit. ‘Sorry, got to take this,’ he mumbled, hefting himself up from the chair and out of Jonah’s office.
He glanced over his shoulder as he hurried through the lobby. ‘Yeah, I’m still here. Give me a second.'
Nodding at Jim on the door, Keith rushed down the entrance steps to the street outside, then darted down an alley at the side of The Feathers. ‘Sorry, I had to get out of the club.’
Catching his breath, he leant against the wall. ‘I’m glad you’ve called. I know I’m due to come in next week, but you need to know th...’
Keith was cut off by Saul’s insistent voice and he listened avidly to what was being said. He hadn’t needed to fill him in with what had occurred at Dulcie Adams’ place – Saul had already seen the news. But that wasn’t what surprised him, and Keith could scarcely believe what he was hearing.
ENDING THE CALL, Saul placed the phone he’d acquired back under his mattress in his cell and smiled.
Although Keith confirming what he’d read was correct was nothing to smile about – he’d fully expected his brother not to pull off anything in a proper way to exact complete vengeance, but conversely, neither had he expected it to go so horribly wrong.
So, some other fucker had beaten them to it and fucked off with what was theirs. Again. But whoever it was, they hadn’t got the old bat – that newspaper report citing she was unharmed and recovering at an ‘undisclosed’ location made that crystal clear. As clear as the detailed description and photofit of his brother the old bitch had pieced together for the Old Bill.
How had Jonah, the stupid fucker, missed a doddery, demented old woman hiding under a fucking bed? Was his brother purposefully winding him up?
Saul gnashed his teeth. If any of this had kicked off in a few weeks from now then he’d be laughing, but it hadn’t. Whether he liked it or not, he had to swallow that his brother had let this slip th
rough his fingers.
But that would be changing soon. Very soon.
Getting unexpected early parole was a surprise, but a good one. A very well-timed one, too.
In two days from now he would, after 17 years, be out of this shithole to take up the place which had always had his name on it. He’d had to concede his rightful place because he’d had to serve time for the family, but now he was getting out. And when he got out, he would be head of the family firm, just like his father would have wanted and, as the eldest son, what he was due.
And then he’d go and get the jewels back from whichever fucker had been stupid enough to lift them and Keith would be helping.
They’d be doing it their way – the way that always worked and Jonah would just have to accept it.
Thank You!
Thank you for reading An Old Score. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!
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More From this Author
HUNTED SERIES:
#1: THE STATUS DEBT
Lillian Morgan would do anything to regain the status she lost by marrying beneath her and to cover the sordid details of her husband’s death. This includes blackmail and the hand of marriage of her own daughter.
Tori thought her life couldn’t get much worse, but someone is not being honest and secrets have the power to rip everyone to shreds.
Especially when life is built on lies.
#2: THE FAMILY LEGACY
Unsure of whether Matt or Hunter has fathered the child growing inside her, Tori’s unwanted wedding to Matt grows closer, but is there light at the end of the tunnel?
Unfortunately, Tori hasn’t counted on another man present in her life. One who is more instrumental in her misery than she realises.
Sometimes the truth is too late in coming and makes bad things happen and sometimes a hidden legacy can cause the most horrific thing of all…
#3: THE TARGET OF LIES
Neil Sparks has a score to settle. In fact, he has several…
His first port of call when returning from France after a five year exile is to catch up with his estranged wife. Secondly, Neil wants to even a score with the people instrumental in his departure and thirdly, he wants an explanation from the man who promised his marriage would be free from hassle. The trouble is, he’s not the only one with an agenda…
There are too many people about to become caught in the crossfire and everyone could become a target.
Visit www.ediebaylis.co.uk for all latest information.
More From this Author
THE DOWNFALL SERIES
#1 UNTIL THE END OF TIME
Dive into Seth and Jane’s train wreck of a life, where drugs, alcohol and obsessional love means this downright dangerous pair will do anything to ensure nothing gets in their way.
They do bad things. Very bad things and their promise to love each until the end of time turns into a war against each other.
A war neither of them can win.
#2 ESCAPING THE PAST
Things have changed and Jane has got on with her life.
Well, not entirely...
Embroiled in a bitter feud between two rival firms, it is clear that not everyone is who they proclaim to be.
The net is closing in and some things just can’t be changed.
#3 VENGEFUL PAYBACK
There is something missing. Something very important and no one is above suspicion.
Past vendettas are gaining pace and it is vital that whoever is behind this never-ending stream of cleverly engineered payback is discovered before it is too late and everything held dear is ripped apart.
**These are Downfall Series book but can be read as standalones. They contain written depictions of graphic violence, sex and strong language. These books also contains some themes that may be uncomfortable for certain readers.**
Visit www.ediebaylis.co.uk for all latest information.
About The Author
Edie Baylis is from central England and lives with her partner, their children and an over-sized, nutcase dog.
Over the years Edie has worked all over the UK as well as in several other countries and has met a lot of interesting people. She has now settled back in central England, where she is pursuing her writing. Edie is an independent writer – writing gritty storylines which test the boundaries with a combination of thrillers, suspense and romance. Her storylines and writing style is atypical and her books have been described as not for the faint-hearted page-turners.
Edie has written the three-book Downfall series and is currently continuing writing the rest of the Hunted series.
When she isn’t writing, Edie enjoys reading and is a self-confessed book hoarder. She also enjoys crochet and music as well as loving anything quirky or unusual.
Visit www.ediebaylis.co.uk for the latest news, information about new releases, giveaways and to subscribe to her mailing list.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Sue John – a wonderful lady, that courtesy of my books, I am privileged to know. Thank you Sue for your unwavering support, help and feedback, as well as your faith in me.
Special thanks also goes to the people (you know who you are) - who were brave enough to allow their names to be adopted by some of the characters in this story (I must point out that these characters are in no way anything to do with, or connected to, their namesakes in real life!)
