Toxic

by Lingard, Alice

  “Mum?”

  “Well? Why aren't you?”

  “Raw got called away.”

  “Work?”

  Lacey shrugged. “Not exactly.”

  “That brother of his?”

  “Yeah.” Lacey had made the mistake of telling her mum about Todd.

  “Is he still with that crazy flatmate of yours?”

  “Suzy's not crazy.”

  Her mum gave her a look.

  “Well okay. She's a bit crazy, but she's harmless.”

  “I thought she already had a boyfriend.”

  “She's got a few.”

  “Is she a bit of a floozy?”

  “No one says floozy any more, mum.”

  “I do. And from what you've told me, it sounds like this Suzy is one. Are they still together?”

  “Your guess is as good as mine. No one has heard from them for weeks. They've just disappeared. Probably drunk somewhere.”

  “What about you and whatshisname? Raw?” Her mum shook her head. “I still can't get used to calling him that.”

  “It takes a while.”

  “Are you two still okay?”

  “We're great—honestly. I've never been happier. I just wish this Todd thing was sorted.”

  “As long as you're happy, that's all that matters. Now go and make us both a cup of tea. And bring me my Hobnobs. Tom won't let me have them. Reckons they're bad for me. Stupid old bugger.”

  “Where is he?”

  “I sent him into town shopping.”

  “If there was something you needed, you should have given me a call.”

  “I didn't need anything. I just wanted him out from under my feet. I love his bones, but he's a bit of a nag. Besides, I wanted to finish my book.”

  “There you go.” Lacey put the cup of tea on the bedside cabinet, and passed a plate with two Hobnobs on it to her mum.

  “Two? Is that all I get? I thought you'd bring me the packet.”

  “And have Tom on my case? No chance.”

  Lacey couldn't help a smile when her mum dunked the biscuit in her tea. That was one habit which definitely ran in the family.

  “Are you still enjoying the job?” her mum asked.

  “Yeah. I really am. And I'm good at it.”

  “Modest too.”

  “The work isn't that difficult. Most of it's just common-sense. There's only one slight downside.”

  “What's that?”

  “Everyone knows I only got the job because I'm with Raw.”

  “What does it matter so long as you can do it?”

  “Most of the time it doesn't, but there's this one woman: Karen Montgomery—head of HR. She takes every opportunity to take a shot at me. She's got a thing about Raw. She actually told me they'd had a fling.”

  “Had they?”

  “No. Raw went ballistic when I told him what she'd said. He wanted to fire her, but I managed to talk him out of it.”

  “That was clever of you.”

  “I couldn't let him do that. She might be a bitch, but she doesn't deserve to lose her job.”

  “You're too nice, Lacey.”

  “I guess.”

  “It's not a bad fault to have.”

  One hour later, they were still chatting.

  “Hello! I'm back!”

  “Bloody hell,” Lacey's mum said. “I thought he'd be gone all morning. I'll never get my book read now.”

  Tom walked into the bedroom. “Hi, Lacey. I thought that was your car. Aren't you meant to be in Can?”

  “It's Cannes.” Lacey's mum affected a French accent.

  “That's what I said. Can.”

  “We had to cancel,” Lacey said.

  “Tea anyone?” Tom asked.

  “We've only just had one. Why don't you make yourself a cuppa while we talk?”

  “Okay. I know when I'm not wanted.” Tom smiled.

  On her way out, Lacey popped her head around the lounge door. “I'm off, Tom.”

  “Just a second.” Tom beckoned her inside. “Push the door to.”

  “What's the matter?” Lacey said.

  “I was going to call you on Monday when you got back from France.”

  “What's wrong?”

  “Nothing to worry about. Your mum went for a check up last week.”

  “She never told me.”

  “I know. I said she should, but—well, you know your mum. They say she needs a bypass.”

  “Oh god.” Lacey slumped down onto the sofa.

  “It's okay.” Tom took her hand. “They reckon she'll be right as rain once it's done.”

  “When?”

  “I don't know exactly. There's a waiting list.”

  “How long?”

  “Several months.”

  “What happens in the meantime?”

  “She has to take it easy.”

  “Why didn't she say something to me?”

  “She doesn't want to worry you. She said she'd tell you the day before the operation so you didn't have chance to worry beforehand. Don't let on I've told you or she'll kill me.”

  “Thanks, Tom.”

  Lacey drove back to the Commodore in a haze. After her mum had pulled through the heart attack, Lacey had assumed all would be well provided she took it easy and changed her diet. A bypass was a serious operation wasn't it? What if she couldn't wait several months?

  Chapter 12

  Lacey didn't even acknowledge the security guard's greeting when she arrived back at the Commodore. Her mind was elsewhere. She needed to read up on heart bypass operations. Lots of people had them these days, didn't they? Maybe they weren't something to worry about.

  “How was your mum?” Raw was waiting for Lacey in the penthouse. She'd been so preoccupied that she hadn't even noticed his car was in the basement garage.

  “Okay, I think.”

  “What's wrong?”

  “She has to have a heart bypass operation. I wouldn't have known anything about it if Tom hadn't told me.”

  Raw pulled Lacey to him so her head was resting on his chest. “She'll be okay. Your mum's a tough old bird.”

  She wiped away a tear. “I know. I just wish she'd told me.”

  “When is the operation?”

  “She's on the waiting list. Tom reckons it could be several months.”

  “Why don't I make a few calls?” Raw said. “I'll find out who the best surgeons are, and if we can speed things along.”

  “Thanks. That would be great. I'm just glad she's got Tom there with her.”

  “He's a good man.”

  “He must be to put up with Mum.” Lacey burst into tears. “I couldn't bear it if anything happens to her.”

  “It's going to be okay. I promise.”

  Lacey had the mother of all headaches, so Raw insisted she lie down in the bedroom for a while. She hadn't intended to, but she nodded off. By the time she woke, it was almost midday.

  “Feeling better?” he asked when she walked out of the bedroom.

  “My headache's gone.”

  “Good. I've made a few phone calls, and should have some news later today or tomorrow latest.”

  “Thanks. I'm sorry for burdening you with this. You've got enough on your plate with Todd. Any news there?”

  Raw shook his head. “I've still no idea where he and Suzy are. But then, if we can't find them, hopefully that means no one else can either.”

  “Do you still think they're in danger?”

  “Todd has really fucked up this time. You remember how quickly we got him out of Spain?”

  “Yeah. You said you'd 'engineered' it. Bribed the officials.”

  “Let's just say money changed hands. The amount of drugs they found on Todd was more than he should have had for personal use, but was still small fry. That's why we were able to persuade certain people that it wasn't in their interest to pursue the case. It turns out Todd actually had a shit load more drugs which he managed to dump before the authorities got to him. If he'd been caught with the f
ull amount, we wouldn't have been able to buy him out of prison. With that quantity of drugs, there's no way they would have turned a blind eye.”

  “How did you find out about the other drugs?”

  “Todd was supposed to bring them into the UK for some particularly nasty people. The kind of people you don't mess with. And particularly the kind of people you don't let down. They're out one or possibly even two million pounds for the drugs which Todd dumped.”

  “Can't he explain to them why he had to dump them?”

  “They don't care about excuses. They paid him to deliver the drugs to the UK, and he didn't.”

  “I don't understand why he'd get involved with something like that.”

  “Because he's a first class fuck-up.”

  “There has to be a better reason than that.”

  “He owes a lot of people a lot of money. I think he saw this as an easy way to raise the cash to pay off some of his debts.”

  “How come he owes money? I thought you said he gets a generous allowance.”

  “He does. Almost half a million a year.”

  “Christ! How can he be in debt?”

  “Gambling. He's lost a small fortune. Money he doesn't have.”

  “What's going to happen?”

  “If they find him, they'll probably kill him to send out a message to anyone else who might think about screwing them around.”

  “What about Suzy?”

  “If she's with him, I don't know. Maybe they'll let her go.”

  “Or?”

  “Or maybe she'll be collateral damage.”

  “Oh shit.” Lacey put her head in her hands.

  “Don't worry. I'm going to sort things out. Everything will be okay.”

  “How?”

  “First, we have to find Todd and Suzy before anyone else does.”

  The lift doors opened. Carol and the guy who had accompanied her to the dinner dance stepped into the penthouse.

  “Raw.” Carol glanced quickly at Lacey, and then back at her brother. “We need to do this in private.”

  “Lacey stays. I've told her everything.”

  Carol nodded. “Okay. Sorry, Lacey.”

  “No problem. I'll help anyway I can.”

  “Thanks. Well, I suppose this is probably a good time to introduce you both to Jason.”

  “Jason.” Raw stepped forward and offered his hand.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Jason said, as they shook hands. His face was deadpan.

  They made an unlikely pair. Carol was all sophistication while Jason, although smartly dressed, looked like the kind of guy you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley. He was handsome not pretty. His stubble was anything but designer. His short-cropped hair gave him an ex-military look. Or maybe ex-con.

  “Carol. Can I have a quick word in private?” Raw said.

  He didn't wait for an answer. Instead he began to walk towards the master bedroom. Carol hesitated for only a moment before following him.

  Lacey smiled at Jason. He may or may not have smiled back—she couldn't be sure.

  “Have you known Carol long?” Lacey broke the silence.

  “No.”

  “Did you enjoy the dinner dance?”

  “Yes.”

  Boy, this was going to be hard work. Lacey racked her brain for something to ask which would require more than a yes or no answer.

  “None of your damn business!” Carol's voice carried from the bedroom—the door was still ajar.

  “... know we can trust him?” Raw was shouting now.

  Lacey glanced back at Jason. Either he hadn't heard the raised voices or he was a robot. She was beginning to suspect the latter.

  Ten minutes later, Carol emerged from the bedroom followed by Raw. Lacey could see the anger in his face.

  “Okay. Let's get to work.” Raw walked over to the boardroom table. Carol, Lacey and Jason joined him.

  Chapter 13

  “Carol tells me you have a plan, Jason” Raw said.

  Jason glanced at Carol who gestured that he should continue.

  “We have two distinct issues.” Jason began. “The gambling debts and the drugs. I'll begin with the gambling debt because that's the easier of the two. There are three parties involved. Todd owes a total of five hundred thousand pounds to Casino Red, and two hundred thousand to Masters Casino. Neither of these is a problem assuming you can find the funds to pay them off.”

  “That won't be a problem,” Raw said.

  The third debt is more problematic. Todd owes just under a million pounds to Andrew Gordon.”

  “Who?” Raw said.

  “Let him finish,” Carol snapped.

  “The Gordon brothers are bad news. Seriously bad news. When they lend money they expect to get it back. They aren't your average loan shark. The Gordons only deal in amounts over five hundred grand, and they only deal with gamblers. They generally provide stop-gap cash for the rich who are having cash-flow problems. Every day that passes, the amount owed increases—and not by a few pence. Their interest rates make pay-day loan companies look reasonable. Todd is way behind with his payments, and that is seriously bad news. The Gordons value their reputation more than the cash they're owed. They can't be seen to allow Todd to have stiffed them for the money.”

  “So what does that actually mean?” Raw's impatience was obvious.

  “It means they want their money, and they want to make an example of Todd.”

  “Can they be paid off?”

  “Possibly, but it would take a lot more than he actually owes. And I mean a lot more.”

  “How much?”

  “I'm only guessing, but probably double what he actually owes.”

  “What about the other issue—the drugs?”

  “That's where the real problem is. He was meant to bring in the drugs for Tony Waverley. Waverley is a psycho of the worst kind. He wants Todd dead.”

  “If we could get the same quantity of drugs to this Waverley guy, would that sort things out?” Raw asked.

  “Too late for that. Waverley can get drugs any time he wants. He has couriers bringing them in all of the time. As far as he's concerned, Todd has stolen from him. You don't steal from Tony Waverley.” Jason hesitated. “And live to tell the tale.”

  Raw sat forward in his chair. “There must be some way to pay Waverley off. How much would it take?”

  “Forget it,” Jason said. “He'd take your money, and then kill Todd anyway.”

  The room was silent for what felt like forever.

  “There may be something we can do,” Jason said.

  “What?” Raw said.

  “We have to give Todd a new identity. Move him as far away from here as possible.”

  “Like some kind of witness protection?” Lacey asked.

  “Not exactly. With witness protection there is on-going protection in the new location. The best we could hope to do is to set him up with a new identity, and re-locate him somewhere he'll never be found. Once there though, he'll be on his own. Even that won't be cheap or easy, and it would mean you can never see him again.”

  “There must be another way,” Raw said.

  “Not if you want to keep him alive.”

  Raw stood up and began to pace the room. After a few moments, he returned to the table, where he stood facing Jason.

  “How come you know all of this anyway?”

  “Raw!” Carol grabbed her brother's arm.

  “I want to know, dammit!” Raw pulled his arm away.

  “It's okay,” Jason said—his icy countenance still very much intact. “Let's just say I've worked for some of the people your brother is having problems with.”

  “Worked? Past tense.”

  “In another life time.”

  “How do we know you're not still working for them, and that this isn't all part of a scheme to get as much cash out of us as possible?”

  “Raw!” Carol was on her feet. “That's enough!”

  “We don't know anything about this
guy, Carol. For all we know he could have taken Todd.”

  Jason still sat impassively at the table. “I understand your anger and your doubts. It's probably best I leave, and allow you to decide what you want to do.”

  “No, Jason. Don't leave.” Carol said.

  “It's best you and your brother discuss this alone.”

  “I don't trust him,” Raw said, once Jason had left.

  “We have no choice,” Carol said.

  “How the hell did you meet him?”

  “What does that matter? I trust him. Isn't that enough?”

  “How do we even know Todd is still alive?”

  Carol and Lacey both stared at Raw.

  “Sorry. I didn't mean that. Of course he's alive. I'm just upset. I need time to think about this.”

  “We don't have time. If the Gordons or Waverley find Todd—” Carol's voice faltered.

  Chapter 14

  “What are we going to do this evening?” Suzy was lying on the sofa—her bare feet dangling over the end. Todd was sitting on the floor at her side.

  “Let's go to bed.” He winked.

  “Have you got something in your eye?”

  “That was my sexy wink.”

  Suzy laughed.

  “What's so funny?”

  “Sexy wink?”

  “Yes, what's so funny about that?”

  “I hate to break it to you, but that isn't sexy. Funny, yes. But, sexy.” She laughed again.

  “I'll have you know I've had great success with it.”

  “Okay. If you say so.”

  Todd huffed indignantly.

  “”Do you practice?” she asked—still on the verge of laughter.

  “Practice what?”

  “Your sexy wink.”

  “No.”

  “You do, don't you? Do you stand in front of the mirror and wink at yourself?”

  “Shut up. If you don't want to go to bed, what do you want to do?”

  “I think I'll spend all night laughing at the thought of you winking at yourself in the mirror.”

  “How about noughts and crosses,” Todd said.