Duality

by Heather Atkinson

  “Any other reason?”

  “Such as?”

  “You tell me.”

  “Are Ryan and Rachel there?”

  “No, Ryan’s out being a boy scout and Rachel’s taking the kids to school. We’re all alone.”

  “So are you going to tell me or keep me in suspense?”

  “Actually I haven’t decided yet so you’re going to have to wait a bit longer.”

  There was a heavy sigh on the other end. “What’s taking so long? You not sure you love him now?”

  “No, I know I do. I just need to be sure that I’m doing the right thing. For everyone. Why are you sighing again?”

  “Because the strain is killing me.”

  “Why is it a strain on you? Mikey?” she added when there was no response.

  “Because I want to know,” he eventually said.

  “Why?”

  “Because I do.”

  “There must be a reason?”

  “Alright, there is and you know what it is.”

  “What?”

  “You know.”

  “Do I?”

  “Jesus, do I have to spell it out?”

  “It would seem so.”

  “Okay. Well I…I care about you.”

  “I know. Because we’re cousins.”

  “Well yes, there is that but…”

  “But what?” she grinned. She loved winding him up.

  “I…”

  Jules held her breath, thinking he was actually going to say it.

  “It’s important because of the business we’re in.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, course it is. I’ll give you my answer when I get back, okay?”

  “Fine. Take care down there and stop fighting.”

  “Don’t you start lecturing me too. I’ve had all that from Ryan.”

  “So he’s finally playing the big brother?”

  “Big style and enjoying it.”

  “And are you enjoying being the little sister?”

  She couldn’t repress her smile. “Yeah, I am.”

  “Good. How much longer are you going to be down there?”

  “Dunno. How much longer are you going to be in Glasgow?”

  “Depends on how long Her Majesty keeps us here.”

  “In that case, there’s no point me returning to Manchester until you’re there. See you sexy.”

  With that she hung up, smiling. Let him stew on that for a while.

  Mikey ended the phone call to Jules and lay back on the bed in his room in the hotel suite, mulling over their conversation, which had left him with more questions and no answers. Christ he was in torment, he had to know what was going through her head but she was giving him no clue. Jules did enjoy her mind games.

  “What?” he barked when someone knocked on his door.

  “What’s crawled up your scrotum and died?” Jez barked back. “Stop being a moody bastard and get your arse out here. We’re going out.”

  “Thank fuck for that,” sighed Mikey, sitting up and pulling on his shoes. He was sick of being stuck inside. He tugged on his jacket then pulled open the door. “Where are we going?”

  “You won’t like it,” said Jez, grinning.

  Mikey swore again.

  The four of them took the lift down to the underground car park to find Toni and Caesar waiting for them.

  “Morning boys,” she smiled. “Sleep well?”

  “Yeah,” said Jez.

  She eyed Mikey with a frown. “You don’t look like a man who got a good night’s sleep. What’s on your mind?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Don’t give me that. You’re a man who has a problem. What is it?”

  “I don’t sleep well in strange beds.”

  “If you think that’s strange then mine would terrify you,” she said with a wink. “Let’s go and annoy Mr MacBride.”

  Mikey cheered a little. That sounded like fun.

  Jules was dozing on the couch, for once feeling tired while Rachel went through the post in an armchair by the window and Ryan caught up with some paperwork in the study. The children were out at school and nursery and for once peace reigned.

  Rachel opened one of the letters and frowned. “Oh shit.” She was distracted by a buzz at the gate, indicating someone wanted to be let in. “Who the bloody hell is that?” she said, casting aside the letter, annoyed by the interruption. Moments of tranquillity were few and far between. She wandered over to the front door to peer at the monitor linked to the camera on the exterior of the house.

  Ryan popped his head out of the study. “Who is it?”

  “It’s just Ashley,” she said, hitting the button beside the monitor that would open the gate.

  Normally Detective Inspector Boyle looked so affable but today he appeared to be absolutely furious as he stormed up to the house.

  “This doesn’t look good,” Rachel told Ryan before pulling open the front door. “Ashley, nice to see you.”

  “Mrs Law. Can I come in?” he said sternly.

  “Mrs Law?” she frowned.

  “I come on very serious business and I’d like to keep it entirely professional. Can I come in?”

  “Of course,” she said, holding the door open wider.

  Ashley stomped inside, acknowledging Ryan with a nod of the head. “Mr Law.”

  “Detective Inspector Boyle,” he said equally coldly.

  Rachel felt nervous, wondering if this was about Emily. Surely she wouldn’t be so stupid as to go to the police?

  “Where’s your sister?” Ashley asked, addressing Ryan. “This involves her too.”

  “This way,” said Ryan, leading him into the lounge where Jules was still out for the count on the couch, snoring.

  Gently Ryan shook her shoulder. “Jules.”

  She didn’t stir.

  He shook her slightly harder. “Jules.”

  “Eh?” she said, eyes flying open. “Who shut the window on the elephant?”

  “What are you talking about?” said Ryan.

  Jules sat up and slowly looked around the room. “Thank God it was a dream.”

  “I don’t even want to know about that,” said Ryan. “There’s someone here who wishes to talk to us all.”

  Jules frowned up at Ashley. “Who are you?”

  “Detective Inspector Boyle and I need to talk to you about what happened at The Lighthouse.”

  “We’ve already gone through that with your officers,” said Rachel.

  “A very serious allegation has been made,” continued Ashley, stern-faced. “Two of the four men allege that you Mrs Law and your sister-in-law here tortured them for information.”

  “Tortured?” she exclaimed. “Really Ashley, do you think that sounds like something we’d do?”

  “Frankly, yes. I’ve done my research, I know that torture once upon a time was a part of your daily lives.”

  “I beg your pardon?” said Rachel, eyes turning black.

  Ashley didn’t let this deter him, although this habit of hers never failed to unnerve him. “And you,” he continued, addressing Jules. “The bounty hunter with links to the Maguires.”

  “Of course I’ve got links to them, my last name’s Maguire,” she said as though he were simple. “Must have taken a lot of detective work to figure that one out.”

  He chose to ignore the barb. “It’s also rumoured you work for them.”

  “I don’t work for anyone now. I’m pregnant so I get six months doing nothing. Until the baby arrives, then it’ll probably be chaos.”

  “The point I’m trying to make is that usually I would consider these men’s claims to be ridiculous and ignore them but in this case I’m making an exception because I don’t think their claims are as far-fetched as the rest of my men think they are.”

  “I don’t believe this,” said Ryan. “Rachel and Jules were attacked, they defended themselves and you’re accusing them of being in the wrong. Are you actually serious? What do you think they should have done, st
ood there and let them attack them?”

  “Of course not and I’m very relieved they did defend themselves. If that was all they’d done then I wouldn’t be here now but they didn’t, they took it further.” Ashley forced himself to confront Rachel’s black eyes. “Didn’t you?”

  “No,” she hissed. “Those cowardly bastards got exactly what was coming to them.”

  “Yeah they did,” chimed in Jules through a yawn. “They couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag, which is why they only attacked women or men on their own.” The yawn turned into a grin. “It was great showing them what women are really capable of. Look, I hold my hands up, I did threaten to make one of them eat a snail.”

  “A snail?” he frowned.

  “Yeah, in garlic sauce.” Her look was dreamy. “Bloody beautiful. Is it dinner time yet? I’m getting hungry.”

  Ashley looked to Ryan and Rachel. “I know about your vigilantism.”

  This threw all three of them and they remained silent.

  “You seem to think I’m some thick country bumpkin copper but I know everything that goes on around here. People who are causing trouble suddenly end up with a spell in hospital and then become model citizens. That has never happened before, not until you moved into the area.”

  “It’s nothing to do with us,” said Ryan.

  “Don’t treat me like an idiot,” said Ashley. “There’s no one else around here with the sheer force to do this or with the influence to get away with it.”

  “We’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” countered Ryan.

  “I’ll tell you what I’m talking about. You tortured those men to find out details about their gang.”

  “And I say they’re lying,” said Rachel.

  “No they’re not. I’ve been in this game long enough to tell when someone’s lying. They’re willing to talk to a specialist gang unit about their activities just as long as we keep them away from you.”

  “So what are you saying Ashley?” said Rachel. “Do we need our lawyer?”

  “No. I’ve persuaded them to keep their ridiculous story to themselves. I told them it wouldn’t do them any favours in prison, which is where they’re going to end up, we’ve been after these men for a while. I just want you to be aware that I know what you’re up to and that you need to stop.”

  “If you supposedly know what we’ve allegedly been up to,” said Ryan. “Why only mention it now?”

  “Because I wasn’t a hundred percent sure, not until now. This is the only friendly warning you’ll get. Stop it now.”

  “Or what?” said Jules.

  “You will be arrested.”

  “You going to put your cuffs on me?” she purred, holding out her hands.

  “Yes,” he said.

  “Ooh, my kind of man. You got a big truncheon too?”

  Ashley sighed. “Have you finished with your innuendoes, which I’ve heard many times before by the way.”

  “I bet you have,” smiled Jules.

  “If you’re trying to distract me you’re not going to succeed,” he told her before turning his attention back to Ryan and Rachel. “I can’t prove anything against you for the torture of the men in the restaurant and neither am I going to try, they deserved it. But I am warning you - stop the vigilantism. If you don’t it won’t go well for you.”

  “You seem to think there’s something you can arrest us for,” said Ryan.

  “I know you’re clever Ryan but one day you’ll slip up.”

  “And you’ll be waiting?” he said with an amused smile.

  “Don’t underestimate me.”

  “I’m not. I think the whole thing’s ridiculous. You’ve been watching too many films Ashley.”

  “Ryan’s right,” said Rachel. “We’ve not done anything wrong and if someone is beating up scumbags then you should be pleased. It’ll take some pressure off you.”

  “So that’s the stance you’re taking, is it? You’re pleading ignorance?”

  “We can’t admit to something we didn’t do,” said Ryan.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” said Ashley. “Most people would kill to lead the life you live and you’ve got three kids. This isn’t a game.”

  Ryan’s gaze darkened. “No one thinks it is.”

  “On your heads be it. I just want it known that when all this inevitably comes tumbling out I won’t hesitate to nick you. I don’t like vigilantes, they only make things worse.”

  “Maybe people wouldn’t feel the need to become vigilantes if you lot did your jobs properly.”

  “Ryan, that’s enough,” said Rachel. “I’m sorry Ashley but you’ve got this wrong. Those men were lying and we’re not vigilantes.”

  Ashley’s expression was grim. “I hope you mean that Mrs Law. I’ll see myself out.”

  As he turned for the door he released a cry and crashed to the floor.

  “Bloody cat,” he muttered, sitting up on the floor, rubbing his shin.

  Teddy sat with his nose in the air, looking extremely put out.

  “Oh dear Teddy, are you okay?” said Rachel, bending down to pet him.

  “Sod the cat, I could have broken my neck,” said Ashley.

  “You could have damaged our cat with your big boots,” said Ryan.

  “Are you alright Ashley?” Rachel asked him while Jules remained where she was on the couch, laughing.

  “Fine,” he muttered, dragging himself to his feet. “I’m sure it did it on purpose,” he said, nodding at the cat.

  “Teddy is a he, not an it,” said Ryan. “And he spoilt your dramatic exit.”

  Ashley just gave him a withering look before limping to the door.

  Ryan smiled down at the cat, who looked up at him expectantly. “Good Teddy,” he said, stroking the top of his head. “So you don’t like police either? My kind of cat.”

  “Well that’s a good friend we’ve just lost,” said Rachel.

  “What do you want to be friends with a copper for?” said Jules. “Good fucking riddance if you ask me. But he did have a point about the vigilantism. It might not end well for you.”

  “Rachel and I have discussed it,” said Ryan. “And we’re going to carry on.”

  “I knew it, adrenaline junkies. Well you’ve had plenty of warning, it’s up to you. I just hope you’ve got a good lawyer.”

  “Don’t worry about us, we can look after ourselves.”

  “We’ve something else to be concerned about,” said Rachel, holding up the letter she’d been reading before Ashley had interrupted. “We received this in the post this morning.”

  “What is it?” said Ryan.

  “An invitation to a charity event tomorrow night at the golf club, arranged by Valentine and Kirsty Halliday.”

  “It’s not much notice,” said Ryan. “Leading me to believe they have something unpleasant planned.”

  Rachel nodded. “You’re right, especially as the invitation includes Jules.”

  “Charming,” said Jules.

  “I meant they don’t know you,” said Rachel.

  “I would feel much better about being there if we’ve removed the compromising footage from Valentine’s possession,” said Ryan. “Especially in light of Ashley’s visit.”

  “You need a burglar and I’m your woman,” said Jules. “Don’t say not in my condition,” she added when Ryan frowned. “A bit of robbery never hurt anyone.”

  “I’m quite sure that’s not true,” he said.

  “There’s not much choice,” she urged when Ryan and Rachel looked at each other. “This needs doing ASAP.”

  “Okay,” said Rachel. “But we’ll plan it so there’s no physical risk to you.”

  “Great, sounds good,” said Jules. She yawned and stretched. “Well, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going back to my nap while you formulate diabolical schemes.” She curled back up on the couch, settling into the cushions. “Mmm, so comfy.” A second later she was snoring again.

  “I hope Jackson knows she snores like
that,” said Rachel. “Could be a deal breaker. What do you think that was about the elephant?”

  “I shudder to think.”

  “Ashley’s going to be watching us.”

  “That doesn’t worry me in the least.” He cupped her face in his hands. “After what we’ve faced do you think he’ll be a problem?”

  “Possibly. He can’t be bought.”

  “But others higher up the chain of command can. I’ll ensure we have some insulation against anything he might attempt. I’ll put some feelers out.”

  “Good thinking,” she said, leaning into him for a hug. Despite Ashley’s warning there was no way they were giving this up. She looked down when Teddy put himself between her and Ryan. “Looks like someone’s jealous.”

  Ryan bent down to pick him up, the cat purring contentedly in his arms. “You know, I think I was wrong about Teddy. He’s a good cat.”

  “You mean he can stay?”

  Ryan smiled and nodded. “Just as long as he keeps tripping up coppers.”

  Teddy nuzzled his face with his nose, indicating that he was more than happy to.

  CHAPTER 20

  Brodie’s office was slap bang in the centre of the city and Mikey and Jez felt a little uncomfortable about being so exposed but they had little choice. Brodie had been smart about his choice of location and there was nowhere to hide.

  Mark was driving and followed Caesar’s car to the front of the building. There was no back entrance so they were forced to park on the main road.

  Rather than make a mad dash inside the building and draw attention to themselves Mikey and Jez took their time, heads down, sunglasses on. Toni took no such precaution. She had Caesar open the car door for her and she strode across the pavement in all her finery, diamonds glittering in the sunlight, revelling in the admiring glances she was receiving.

  They followed her upstairs to the second floor, Toni throwing open the door.

  Two men who were hunched over desks looked up, neither of whom was Brodie. Both men were younger, in their early twenties, one ginger and so pale he was almost transparent, the other an exotic-looking black man. They soon discovered both were absolutely huge when they got to their feet in greeting.

  “Brodie’s no’ here,” said the ginger one hostilely.

  “In that case, we’ll wait,” said Toni.