Face in the Frame

by Heather Atkinson

  Her lips curled into a malicious smile. “Delighted.”

  “You can bugger off now.”

  Jez looked to Toni in consternation. “Are you sure you want mouth almighty here to help? That enormous gob will only make things worse.”

  “I haven’t even got warmed up yet,” said Brodie.

  “I can imagine,” replied Jez with an amused smile. He definitely seemed to be the cooler of the two. Mikey looked like he wanted to rip Brodie’s throat out.

  “Mr Brodie is an asset to our cause,” said Toni. “Not only does he have influence over the polis as well as certain criminal elements in this city, he also knows all their secrets.”

  “And I’ll go to my grave before I tell you what they are,” said Brodie.

  Toni’s gaze was cold. “That can always be arranged.” Her eyes flicked meaningfully to Cass.

  “You are such a bitch,” said Cass, knowing full well what that look implied.

  “Oh no dear Cassandra, I’m so much more than that,” said Toni.

  When she reached inside her jacket pocket Brodie put himself in front of Cass.

  Toni threw back her head and laughed. “Sweet but there’s no need to worry.”

  Brodie and Cass glanced at each other when she produced a glasses case.

  “Jeezo, whose eyes are in there?” said Brodie.

  She smiled wickedly and pulled it open, making them both grimace. “Guess who?”

  Brodie shook his head. “You didn’t. Tell me you didn’t.”

  Cass peered into the glasses case. “I’d know that dopey look anywhere.”

  “You took Kevin’s eyes,” said Brodie. “Malc’s half-brother.”

  “I did, for his threats against the lovely Cassandra.”

  “And to get at Malc,” said Cass.

  “I admit that was my primary motivation.”

  “You’ve just started a war,” said Brodie, shaking his head.

  Toni smiled and clapped Mikey and Jez on their backs. “And with their help as well as yours, I’m going to fucking win.”

  They all froze when there was another knock on the door.

  CHAPTER 26

  “Who’s that?” whispered Toni who was not ready for the rest of the city to find out about Mikey and Jez yet.

  Cass glanced at the closed door. “It’s hard to tell at the moment.”

  “Cass, you in there?” called a voice.

  “It’s Pete,” hissed Brodie.

  “Detective Inspector McLaren,” added Toni for Mikey and Jez’s benefit.

  “Flippin’ marvellous,” tutted Mikey.

  “Is there a back exit?” said Jez.

  “Not unless you want to use the window,” smiled Brodie, well aware they were four floors up.

  “You’re just a laugh a minute, aren’t you?” retorted Jez.

  “You’ll have to hide until we can get rid of him,” said Cass.

  “Quick, in here,” said Toni, darting through a door.

  “Hey, that’s my bedroom,” said Cass.

  “I know my dear,” said Toni, reclining back on the bed with a smirk of pleasure.

  Mikey and Jez looked at each other and shook their heads before following her in and closing the door.

  “We’re trapped in a bloody nightmare,” said Brodie before he opened the front door.

  Pete looked back at him, face pale with dark circles around his eyes, shirt rumpled.

  “You look like crap,” commented Brodie.

  “And hello George Clooney,” he retorted, stepping inside.

  “Err, Cass was just going to rest, weren’t you?” said Brodie, leaving the front door open in the hope he’d take the hint.

  When Pete flung himself onto the couch he closed the door. Subtlety went right over his friend’s head.

  “Yes I was,” she said, making a show of rubbing her eyes and yawning.

  “Don’t you want to hear my news?” said Pete, settling into the cushions and knotting his hands behind his head.

  “Elton John wants his hair back?” said Brodie.

  “It’s my fucking hair,” he bellowed. His eyes alighted on something lying on the floor and widened.

  “Oh bloody hell,” muttered Cass, picking up the naked drawing of herself, which had unrolled just enough to reveal her face and bare breasts. She rolled it back up and stuffed it into the bin.

  Brodie forced himself not to laugh when Pete went red and nervously cleared his throat.

  “Have you got news about Lucas?” said Cass, sitting beside Pete, an anxious look on her face.

  “We’re doing him for the assault on you, even though he’s still denying it,” he replied, desperately trying not to look at her chest after his glimpse of that impressive drawing. “He insists you fell and cut yourself, although he hasn’t an excuse for the scalpel. But your evidence along with what we found at the scene as well as Brodie and Christian’s statements are enough to get him for that.”

  “And for cutting off people’s faces?”

  Pete sat up straight in his seat, looking glum. “Unfortunately we can’t find any evidence.”

  Brodie’s eyes hardened. “What?”

  “We’ve searched his flat here and he gave his permission for his studio in London to be searched by the Met but that’s it. We turned up nothing.”

  “That’s it?” exclaimed Brodie. “What about tearing apart all the premises he owns? He’s not going to start cutting up bodies in his studio, he’s going to have somewhere special for that, somewhere only he knows about. You need to do an in-depth search into his entire life…”

  “Don’t tell me what I need to do Brodie, I already know but my fucking hands are tied. His lawyer’s a complete bastard and he’s managed to block everything we’ve tried to do.” He turned to Cass, eyes wide. “I’m sorry Cass, I really tried but I’ve been told to back off and if I don’t my cock will be hanging from the chief constable’s door.”

  “I’d bet he’d like that, the kinky bastard,” glowered Brodie.

  “It’s not your fault,” Cass said to Pete. “You tried your best.”

  “So a serial killer is going to be let fucking free?” said Brodie.

  “No. He will be done for his assault on Cass, we’ve got a really strong case but it will go to court. You up to that hen?” Pete asked her.

  “Damn right I am,” she said.

  “Good,” nodded Pete. “You’re our biggest weapon against the creep.”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t back out. He made me a victim after I said I’d never be one again. I owe him some serious payback.”

  Pete shook his head when Brodie gazed at her soppily.

  “Is he still locked up?” said Cass.

  Pete shifted uncomfortably. “He was released an hour ago hen, I’m sorry. Quarter of a million pound bail and that irritating wee squit Oliver Fender paid it.”

  “So he’s out,” she said, wrapping her arms around herself.

  “And he’s gone straight back to London, we made sure of it. Don’t worry, he won’t come round here.”

  “You sure about that?” said Brodie.

  “Oliver took him straight back. The press were hoachin’ outside the station, it’s all over the news.”

  “Great, they’ll come knocking soon,” sighed Cass.

  “I’m surprised they’re not here already,” said Pete.

  “This flat isn’t under my name.”

  “We’ll get you into one of our safe houses tomorrow,” said Brodie. “Thorne has been here so it’s not secure.”

  She nodded, looking glum.

  Pete jumped up. “Right, I’ll be off then.”

  Brodie and Cass tried not to sigh with relief, all too conscious of Toni and her Mancunian friends hiding out in the bedroom.

  “You coming Brodie?” said Pete, hesitating on his way to the door.

  “No.”

  “I could do with taking another statement from you about the body in your flat.”

  “I thought DI Dickhead was
on that one?”

  “He is but…I’m helping out.”

  Brodie thought how crap Pete would be at undercover work, he was absolutely shite at any sort of subterfuge. He knew exactly what his friend was thinking, he was anxious to get him away from Cass before he did something stupid like confess his feelings to her. Maybe Pete wasn’t being so daft, he’d been on the verge of confessing again before Toni had knocked on the door. But there was no way he was leaving Cass alone with three gangsters.

  “I can’t imagine the pair of you working together,” said Brodie, all innocence, determined to torture him a bit first.

  “Well, I said I’d help out because it’s you.”

  “I’m touched,” he said, fluttering his eyelashes, elated when Cass actually smiled. Back in the hospital she’d looked like she’d never smile again.

  “Well, aren’t you coming then?” said Pete, starting to lose his temper.

  “I’ve asked Brodie to stay on for a bit,” interjected Cass. “I don’t want to be on my own right now.”

  “Wouldn’t one of your girlfriends be more comfort than him? Or Hannibal Lecter?”

  “Brodie’s fine,” she said. “But thanks for letting me know about Lucas.”

  “Yeah, thanks for letting us know that you lot are bog useless,” added Brodie. “If you could swing it so I could be alone with Thorne for ten minutes I’ll soon have him talking.”

  “I’d love to, believe me. If I had my way I’d throw in his slug of a lawyer too but, unlike some, I’m restrained by the law.” His eyebrows knitted together when Brodie and Cass’s gazes moved to her bedroom door. Neither of them were thinking anything carnal but Pete thought they were. “Come on then,” he practically barked at Brodie.

  “No,” repeated Brodie, planting his feet, turning himself into an immovable object.

  “At least can I have a word with you in private?” hissed Pete through a clenched jaw.

  Brodie nodded towards the kitchen and not the front door like Pete had hoped.

  Together they entered the immaculate black and white tiled kitchen. Pete closed the door behind them and said, “don’t you dare do something stupid.”

  “Like what?”

  “Tell her how you really feel.”

  “Do you think I’m a fucking halfwit? I wouldn’t do that after what she’s just been through. I’m here as a friend, that’s it.”

  “Then why won’t you leave?”

  “You heard her, she wants me to stay.”

  “Yeah and that worries me too.”

  “Why?”

  “Because she was almost killed by the man she loves, she’s hurt and vulnerable and she might just turn to the nearest man for extra comfort, if you know what I mean.”

  “Extra comfort? You make me sound like a toilet roll.”

  “You know what I mean. She’s been hurt enough and I am not going to let you make her feel any worse.”

  “I’m not that bad in bed.”

  “Will you stop joking for one second? This is Cass we’re talking about.”

  Brodie’s grin fell. “I’m not an eejit, I won’t do anything like that. She just needs a friend and that’s why I’m here. If you’re worried about her ruining my honour then I promise I’ll keep my chastity belt on.” His phone started to ring again and he pulled it out of his pocket and sighed.

  “Who’s that?” said Pete.

  “Shelley, Lucas Thorne’s ex. We met when I went to interview his parents in Kent.”

  Pete sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Please don’t tell me you shagged Lucas Thorne’s ex?”

  “Well, maybe.”

  “What do you mean, maybe?”

  “Alright, I did.”

  “If it had been any other woman I would have been happy for you, it’s about time you got your hole. I just hope this doesn’t interfere in the investigation. Certain parties will be very pissed off if they learn you’ve been sticking your nose into Thorne’s past, especially his vicious ferret of a lawyer.”

  “Well I’m not going to tell them and I don’t think Shelley will either, she hates Thorne, he roughed her up a bit. In bed.”

  “Are you going to get that?” he said, indicating the phone Brodie still held in his hand when it continued to ring. “It’s getting on my tits.”

  “Err, no.”

  “Why not? Hassling you, is she?”

  “She is a bit clingy, to put it mildly.”

  “You mean she’s a bunny boiler?”

  “It’s starting to look that way. I’m going to have to get myself a new phone number, which is a total pain in the arse.”

  “So not exactly a credible witness. Bunny boilers are known to be vindictive.”

  “Aye I know. Anyway, you don’t need her, you’ve got enough to put Lucas behind bars.”

  “I hope.”

  Brodie frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Despite what I said to Cass, it’s really a case of your word against his. I just said that about the scene to put her at ease.”

  “Don’t treat her like that Pete, she’s not a limp spine.”

  “I know that but I just thought she could use a bit of cheering up. Let her worry about all that later, when she’s had some time to recover.”

  “Aye, alright, maybe you’re talking sense, for once.”

  “You know I am. So, you’re determined to stay here?”

  “For as long as she needs me. You getting jealous or something? I know you like having me all to yourself.”

  “In your dreams. Right, if I’m not wanted I’ll be off.”

  “Pete?” said Brodie as he opened the kitchen door.

  “What?”

  “Thanks.”

  Pete did a double take, astonished. “Did I really just hear Brodie MacBride say thank you?”

  “Yeah, for everything you’ve done for Cass.”

  “You’re not the only one who cares about her,” he said before leaving.

  Pete left and Cass let out a breath of relief before flinging open her bedroom door. “The coast is clear…Toni, what are you doing?”

  Mikey and Jez practically leapt back into the living room, blushing.

  “It was nothing to do with us,” said Mikey. “We had to turn our backs to give her some privacy.”

  Toni strode out of the bedroom, running a hand through her hair, flushed. “I do apologise Cassandra but I was overwhelmed by your scent all over that soft, sensuous bedding.”

  “It’s just a duvet,” she exclaimed.

  “She didn’t?” said Brodie, lip curling with disgust.

  “No,” retorted Toni. “Believe it or not I do have some morals. I was just getting comfortable.”

  Cass folded her arms across her chest. “I’m going to burn that bedding.”

  “Why not keep it sweetheart, it’ll be like we’re sleeping together.”

  “That’s enough Toni,” said Brodie. “Cass has been through a lot and you’re not helping. Now you’ve got what you want…”

  “And a little extra,” she smiled.

  “Pete’s gone so you can do one, you and Morecambe and Wise here.”

  Mikey thrust his face into his. “See when this is over me and you are going to have some serious words.”

  Brodie knew all about Mikey Maguire, knew he was a renowned boxer as well as a murderer but that meant nothing to him. “Bring it on big man.”

  “Take it easy Mikey,” Jez told him, putting a hand on his arm. “He wants to wind you up because he’s pissed off that he’s been pulled into this.”

  “Damn right I’m pissed off and it’s not wise to piss me off because when I’m pissed off I get…pissed off.”

  “Eloquence isn’t your strong suit,” commented Jez.

  “No but bringing down murderers and drug dealers is.”

  “Boys please,” said Toni, placing a warning hand on Mikey’s chest when he tried to lunge for him. “I would love nothing more than to see you two go at it, it would be incredibly exciting
but we have a lot to do.”

  Mikey huffed out a breath and took a step back, jaw so tense it looked like his teeth could crack.

  “Bye bye boys,” called Brodie in a camp voice as they left.

  “That wasn’t wise,” said Cass when they’d finally gone. “You’ve just made an enemy out of one of the most dangerous men in the country.”

  “He’ll get over it, the prick. Right, now that shower’s finally gone do you want a brew? I want to give them time to get a good distance from here before leaving.”

  “Go on then, stick the kettle on,” she said, staring at the scrunched up drawing of herself in the bin. “I can’t believe how many people have seen that.”

  “It’s given Toni more fantasies to dream about.”

  She pulled a face. “She creeps me out. Tomorrow I’m buying new bedding.”

  “I don’t blame you hen.”

  “Lucas is going to get away with it, isn’t he?” she said sadly. “He might serve a bit of time for what he did to me but then he’ll be out. He said he’d never let me go.”

  “And if he doesn’t we’ll persuade him to.”

  “He’s not the type to give up easily.”

  “Whatever it takes hen. Whatever it takes.”

  “Thanks Brodie. I’m so lucky to have you in my life.”

  “I’ll always be here when you need me.”

  They smiled at each other, Brodie disheartened when she picked up Lucas’s shirt and ran her fingers over it. When her eyes filled with tears and she buried her face in the shirt he quietly retreated into the kitchen and closed the door, giving her some privacy with her grief.

  When his phone rang again he was convinced it was going to be Shelley but to his surprise an entirely new number flashed up on the screen.

  “Hello?” he said tentatively, afraid it was a trick of Shelley’s.

  “Hello, Mr MacBride?”

  “Yes,” he said in a friendly voice. He had time for anyone who got his name right.

  “I’m Doctor Sandler, I’m treating Lauren Creegan.”

  “Bollocks,” he whispered.

  “Sorry?”

  “Nothing. What you wantin’ hen?”

  “Lauren is desperate to speak to you. Your colleague explained you’re very busy at the moment and it’s difficult for you to leave Glasgow but I wondered if you would be so kind as to speak to her over the phone? She just wants someone to chat to, that’s all.”