Face in the Frame

by Heather Atkinson

  “You really liked him, didn’t you?” he said, trying not to sound downcast.

  Cass looked down at her hands - which were covered in ink - and nodded. “Yeah. Stupid me.”

  “You’re not stupid. He’s the stupid one. You could have any man you wanted. Sod him.”

  She gave him a long searching look that he couldn’t quite define.

  “Yeah, right,” she mumbled.

  Brodie shifted uncomfortably. He was never much good at conversations like this. During the course of his work if anyone required a heart-to-heart he left it to Cass. He wasn’t exactly known for his sensitivity. “What you need is to take your mind off the elf.”

  “Elf?” she frowned.

  “Yeah, he looks like one. All he needs are the pointy ears.”

  Cass flashed a reluctant smile. “You might have a point.” The smile fell. “His hair’s so beautiful.”

  Brodie started to panic. He had no idea what he should say to that and it looked like she might start to cry at any moment. Cass never cried. “I know what’ll cheer you up. Why don’t we go out and inflict some gratuitous violence on someone?”

  “I’m not in the mood.”

  “It’s some wee scrote who could tell us more about the McVay situation,” he said, dangling it before her like a carrot.

  Her eyes brightened. “Alright. I’m curious to learn more about that.”

  He smiled. With a bit of luck he’d help her forget all about Lucas sodding Thorne.

  “Come on Kelpie, tell me what you know,” said Brodie, shaking the small, scrawny man by the back of his jacket.

  A turtle-like face peered up at him, a small neat black moustache clinging to the upper lip. “I know nothing.”

  “Normally I’d say that’s true but you are a shifty bastard who sticks his neb in wherever he can. Who is working with Big Malc?”

  “I don’t know,” he exclaimed.

  Brodie and Cass had cornered him sneaking out the back of his girlfriend’s house before her husband returned home. It boggled the mind how this ugly little creature always managed to maintain a steady stream of girlfriends but somehow he did.

  “Aye ya do,” snapped Brodie. “Tell us before we throw you to Tanya’s bloke.”

  Kelpie paled. “You wouldn’t.”

  “We both know I will. He’s only been out of Barlinnie a few months after serving twelve years for attempted murder. He wouldn’t hesitate to bury you.”

  Cass glanced around the corner, keeping watch. The back street they were on was quiet and not overlooked but they were close to a busy road.

  “Tell me Kelpie,” snarled Brodie, shaking the man.

  “Aargh, I’m going dizzy,” he complained, screwing shut his small black eyes.

  “That’ll be nothing compared to what Tanya’s man will do. You won’t have a head left to feel dizzy with.”

  “I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Now please Mr Brodie, let me go.”

  “That’s not my name,” he cried, shaking him harder. But Kelpie wasn’t about to cave in.

  Cass tutted and glanced at her watch. “I’ve had enough of this shite. Let me have a go Bossman.”

  “Alright, go on then,” he said, relinquishing the man.

  Kelpie smirked at Cass, quite certain she was incapable of inflicting worse torments on him than Brodie could.

  He was wrong.

  Cass’s boot connected with the side of his face, knocking him over. Before he could rise she kicked him face down to the ground, straddled him, twisted his arms up his back and forced his face towards a huge dog poo steaming in the middle of the alleyway.

  “No, no,” shrieked Kelpie, trying to push himself backwards.

  Cass only twisted his arms harder, the agony popping into his shoulders causing him to cease fighting, eyes filling with horror as that huge turd got closer to his face. Kelpie wasn’t named Kelpie because he was some sort of shape shifting water sprite. He was christened it years ago by his best friend because he spent most of his time in water. Kelpie had a horror of dirt, it obsessed him. He showered no less than eight times a day and his hands were red raw from continuous washing.

  “Alright, I’ll tell you,” he cried just before his cheek touched down on soft warm brown.

  Cass looked to Brodie, who nodded.

  “Let him up,” he said.

  A disappointed Cass released Kelpie, who shot to his feet, frantically brushing himself down, his clothes splattered with muck and mud.

  “You’ve got an empty condom packet stuck to your crotch,” laughed Brodie.

  Kelpie released a shriek and moved to brush it away, but didn’t dare touch it with his bare hands. Instead he pulled a pair of nitrile gloves from his jacket pocket, hastily slipped them on and flicked the packet off his jeans before tearing off the gloves and casting them aside. He stood there shaking, wrapping his thin arms around himself, face ashen.

  “You’d better tell Brodie what he wants to know unless you want me to rub your face in the shite,” said Cass coldly.

  “Malc’s got inside help,” he wailed.

  “That’s old news,” said Brodie. “I want to know who.”

  “Someone close to Toni.”

  “Well duh,” said a disappointed Brodie.

  “Want me to squish his face in it?” said Cass with a wicked grin.

  Brodie resisted the urge to give her a sloppy smile. Christ this woman was perfection. “Let’s ask him again if he knows exactly who’s helping Malc.”

  “I don’t,” said Kelpie firmly. “Malc’s not that thick, he’s keeping that really quiet.”

  “This isn’t just about challenging Toni’s power, is it?” said Brodie. “It’s a takeover.”

  Kelpie just nodded, still shaking, anxiously looking around him at the litter and filth in the alleyway. “I need…to go home…I need…to shower.”

  Cass actually started to feel sorry for him, he looked so jittery.

  Obviously Brodie did too because he said, “aye alright, off you go.”

  “Th…thank you,” said Kelpie before stumbling out of the alley.

  “I thought this was supposed to make me feel better,” Cass said miserably. “Now I just feel worse. That was like kicking a puppy. He might be a bit of a shitebag but Kelpie’s pretty harmless.”

  “Sorry,” said Brodie, pissed off with himself. All he’d wanted to do was cheer her up. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Go and have some fun, or you could go for a run, get it all out of your system.”

  “I’m not in the mood. I’d rather keep working, I’ll only sit around at home, moping.”

  “Whatever you want hen. Let’s get back to the office and reassess our options.”

  “Fine,” she sighed, following him back to the car.

  Cass remained silent the entire journey back to the city centre, staring out of the window. Several times Brodie opened his mouth to attempt to offer her comfort but he had no idea what to say, so he thought it best to keep his big gob shut.

  “What’s that smell?” frowned Brodie as they approached the door to their office.

  “Smells like perfume,” commented Cass.

  Roger burst out of nowhere, actually making Brodie jump. “Oh it’s so beautiful,” he exclaimed.

  “What is?” said Brodie.

  “Open the door and you’ll see,” he replied with an eager grin.

  Frowning, Cass pushed open the door and gasped. “Oh my God.”

  Brodie stormed inside, scowling. “Which prick filled my office with flowers?”

  “Gerbera,” said Roger.

  Brodie rounded on him. “What the hell did you just call me?”

  “He means the flowers are gerbera Bossman,” said Cass, her gaze riveted on the room. “As well as roses and lilies. There must be over two hundred flowers here.”

  “Three hundred and twenty to be precise my love,” said a voice. “I bought every one the shop had.”

  “Oooh,” exclaimed Roger, overloading with
excitement when Lucas Thorne emerged from the staircase behind them.

  “Err, I was talking to Cass,” added Lucas when it became apparent there was a real risk Roger was going to hurl himself at him.

  “I thought you didn’t want me anymore,” she snapped back at him.

  “You know Lucas Thorne?” said an astonished Roger.

  Everyone ignored him.

  “I was an idiot,” continued Lucas. “I allowed Oliver to tarnish what we had.”

  “Aye ya did, ya prick,” said Brodie. “You hurt Cass and I’m buggered if you’re going to do it again. Take your flowers and shove them up your…”

  “Please Brodie,” said Cass, her eyes on Lucas.

  “Are you forgetting what he did to you?”

  “It was nothing less than I deserve. Could you please let us talk in peace?”

  “But this is my office.”

  “Please Brodie.”

  He never could resist those big eyes. “Fine but don’t take any crap from him.” He turned to Lucas. “You hurt her once more and my toe will be meeting your arse.”

  “I won’t make the same mistake twice,” said Lucas. He shifted from side to side and glanced at Cass when Brodie continued to stare at him. “Err, was there anything else?”

  “I’d love your autograph,” said an overwhelmed Roger.

  “Come on you, leave them to it,” said Brodie, grabbing the back of Roger’s shirt and hauling him protesting to the door.

  When it closed behind them Lucas turned back to Cass. “Your boss is very…interesting.”

  “He’s a good man, if a little unusual.”

  “I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere before,” said Lucas, frowning at the closed door before turning his attention back to Cass with a smile. “I’m here to apologise.”

  Cass was delighted, but that didn’t mean she was going to give him an easy time of it. “So you expect me to fall into your arms because you send a few flowers?”

  “No, of course not but I...”

  “You said some very hurtful things.”

  “I know and I’m sorry but…”

  “You were very rude. I never thought you could be like that.”

  “I do get angry, like everyone else but I was upset because…”

  “And you let that idiot Oliver come between us.”

  He clasped both her hands and smiled down at her warmly. “If you’d please let me finish?”

  “Why should I bother?” she said, snatching her hands out of his grip.

  “All I ask is for five minutes. Can you give me that?”

  “Suppose,” she sniffed, tilting her nose in the air.

  “I was shocked when I learnt what you really do for a living. My reaction was a knee-jerk one. To be honest, your profession scares me a little.”

  “It scares you?” she said sardonically.

  “Yes and with good reason. Violence might be a daily part of your life but I’m not used to it.”

  “I wouldn’t say it’s daily. Maybe three, four times a week.”

  “I’m not used to even that.”

  “So why are you here then?”

  “Because I want you back.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I’m in love with you.”

  Cass just stared at him.

  “Did you hear me?” he said when she failed to speak or even blink.

  “I’m not sure. Could you say it again?”

  He smiled and took her face in his hands. “I love you Cass. I was going to tell you the last time we were together but Ollie ruined it.”

  “You went from loving me to telling me you didn’t want me?”

  “I didn’t mean it, the last part I mean. I was taken by surprise. I should never have spoken to you the way I did and I apologise most humbly. Do you love me?”

  Cass did, she had no doubt about that but she was reluctant to open herself up to more possible hurt. “Before I answer you need to understand this is what I do for a living. I’m good at it, I enjoy it and I will not give it up.”

  “I wouldn’t expect you to, although I admit what you do doesn’t fill me with joy. But if it makes you happy then I’m happy. This isn’t just a fling for me Cass and I was a fool to let Ollie come between us.”

  “It’s not the first time he’s stuck his nose into a relationship of yours?”

  “No but it is the first time the woman has meant anything to me.”

  “You really mean that, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do,” he said, touching her face. “I’ve never said this to anyone before. I love you Cass and I don’t want this to be the end for us.”

  Cass just wanted to tell him she loved him back and sink into him, she’d missed him so much, but she was a stubborn woman and refused to give in so easily. “And what about the next time Ollie comes tale-tattling to you?”

  “I’ll tell him to get lost, unless you have any other secrets?” he said playfully.

  “No, you know everything now.”

  “So, the only thing left is for you to tell me, do you love me?”

  She pulled away from him, sighed and turned her back.

  “I guess that means you don’t,” he said, hanging his head.

  The dejectedness in his tone caused her to spin back round. “No it doesn’t Lucas. I love you.”

  “You do?” he said, delighted.

  “I’m just afraid you’re going to hurt me again.”

  “No, not again,” he said sliding his arms around her waist. “I’m not a stupid man and I don’t make the same mistake twice. I won’t ever hurt you again. After seeing what you did to Ollie in the corridor I daren’t.”

  “Because I will kick your arse next time,” she said light-heartedly.

  “I don’t doubt it.”

  Her smile fell. “How will this work? I live here and you live in London.”

  “We’ll sort something out because I am not giving you up.”

  This undid Cass, who kissed him hard.

  “I can’t believe it, Lucas Thorne in my building,” said Roger, squirming with excitement. They were waiting outside the office door in the corridor - Brodie hoping Cass kicked Thorne out on his arse while Roger seemed to want to kiss it.

  “What’s the big deal?” muttered Brodie.

  “What’s the big deal?” shrieked Roger. “I knew you were a caveman but I never realised just how deep it ran. Lucas Thorne is only one of the most talented artists in the world.” The snigger Brodie released irritated him. “You really have no soul, do you?”

  “I’ve got a sole on my shoe, which is going to kick you up the bahookie if you don’t stop going on about how great the Elf is.”

  “Elf?” he frowned.

  “Bloody Thorne.”

  “Ah, I see what you mean. The hair and eyes. He is very handsome, isn’t he?”

  “Why don’t you bugger off back upstairs? One of your vegans is probably wasting away as we speak.”

  “My next appointment isn’t for another hour and I am not budging until Lucas Thorne comes out. I want his autograph.”

  “If you want to lick someone’s backside find someone who deserves it,” said Brodie. “Oh, I’ve had enough of this.”

  “You can’t interrupt them,” said Roger when Brodie moved to open the door. “Lucas wants privacy.”

  “I don’t give a monkey’s cock what that prick wants,” he said before throwing the door open.

  “Oh my,” said Roger, eyes widening as he took in the scene before him.

  Brodie slammed the door shut, anger and jealousy sweeping over him.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see that much of Lucas Thorne,” said Roger, jaw hanging open.

  “Stop using his full name all the time ya wee dick, it’s fucking creepy,” Brodie bellowed at him.

  Roger’s lips pursed. “I’ll wait for Lucas downstairs where the company is more congenial.”

  “Go on, do one you stupid…”

  “Yes, yes, I’m aware I’m a prick,�
�� Roger called over his shoulder before disappearing down the stairs. Quickly.

  Brodie took a few deep, calming breaths before pushing open the door. Lucas and Cass were hurriedly dressing. Brodie’s heart almost broke. Cass’s hair had been set free and was all over the place, her cheeks flushed and her eyes sparkling with happiness again. He looked to Lucas, equally flushed, blond hair equally free and wild and for a moment he thought he might actually throw him out the window.

  “I take it you’ve made up?” said Brodie, voice cold and controlled.

  “Yes we have. Sorry Bossman, I know that was unprofessional but we couldn’t help ourselves.”

  How fucking wonderful, he thought. “What if a client had walked in?”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” said Cass, hanging her head.

  “Now I know where I’ve seen you before,” said Lucas, staring at Brodie. “You were in the café a few days ago.”

  “Oh really?” said Cass, her eyes narrowing at Brodie. “Which café?”

  “I do believe it was called Violet’s Tearoom,” replied Lucas.

  “That’s not your regular place Brodie,” said Cass. “You don’t like it because they use doilies.”

  “I met up with Pete for lunch. He likes it,” said Brodie.

  The look she gave him indicated she didn’t believe him but she didn’t want to press the issue in front of Lucas.

  “Well, if you two have finished making up could we please get some work done?” said Brodie.

  “But it’s lunch time. We were going out for something to eat,” said Cass, taking Lucas’s hand.

  “We have things to do…”

  “Please Brodie. I won’t be long, promise.”

  Once again he melted when confronted by those eyes. “Oh fine, just make sure you’re back for two.”

  She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said before leading Lucas to the door, who glanced over his shoulder at Brodie with a frown.

  When they’d gone Brodie sank into a chair with a sigh. Finally he’d thought she was free of that creep but he had to sweet talk her round. Maybe his gut was wrong in this case? Lucas just didn’t tick all the boxes for being a psychopathic killer. The ones he’d met had been charming on the surface but he’d been able to see through to the coldness beneath. Lucas just didn’t have that quality. He thought about Sarah Creegan. She’d tried to trick him with her charm and failed. There’d been a superficiality about her that had been paper thin. He’d even seen it with his own father, who in public had been a pillar of the community, a respected police officer. In private he’d been a brutal sadist who’d enjoyed beating his kids and raping his wife in front of those kids, until his eldest son had cut his head off. Everyone outside the family home had thought he was a fucking saint. That was why his inner shit detector was so accurate, because he’d lived with evil like that for so long and now he could spot it a mile off and it was telling him Lucas Thorne was up there in the ranks with his own father and Sarah Creegan. But how could he prove it? An idea struck him and he smiled. He’d have a wee chat with Oliver.