by JL Simpson
Solomon stepped up beside her, chest still heaving with each breath. He reached for the weapon, and between gasps whispered, “Give me the gun, Princess, before someone gets hurt.”
*
Daisy kept her focus on the man still writhing at her feet. No way was she giving up that easily. “I saved your life, again,” she told Solomon.
“And I’m grateful, but we don’t want anyone to get shot this time.”
She glanced at him. “One time a bullet happens to go astray, and you hold it against me forever.”
Solomon shook his head. “I’m not complaining. I just think it best we put the gun away, before we accidentally shoot someone. None of us want the cops to come calling. Bogdan can’t answer questions, if he’s dead.”
Daisy frowned. She glanced at Solomon, and then at the man. He’d stopped moaning, and his face was starting to lose its deathly pallor. “Bogdan?”
The man glanced up at her. “Who wants to know?”
Solomon reached around Daisy, and she let him take the gun. She watched, as he ejected the magazine, and then tucked the weapon into the back of his pants. He leaned over, and kissed Daisy on the cheek. “Thanks for helping me out.”
Daisy smiled. “It’s what I live for.”
“Why don’t you go and see if you can find Nobby?”
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to have a chat with my new friend, Bogdan. I’ve a feeling he can shed some light on the whole situation.”
“I want to be there when you question him.”
Bogdan rolled onto his stomach, both hands between his legs. “Keep that crazy bitch away from me.”
Daisy took a step toward the fallen man. “If he refuses to talk, I can kick him again.”
Bogdan waved her back. “I’ll talk. I’ll talk.”
Solomon grabbed Bogdan by the back of his shirt collar, and hauled him to his feet. “Go and check on Nobby, Daisy, and then we can all sit down, and have a friendly chat.”
“Nothing friendly about kicking a man in the nuts.”
Daisy glared at Bogdan. “Nothing friendly about grabbing someone I love by the throat.”
Solomon chuckled. “A confession of undying devotion at last.”
Daisy turned her attention to Solomon. “Don’t you dare.”
“What?”
“I have one moment of weakness, and you’ll be crowing about it for weeks.”
“I’ll not tell a soul. It can be our little secret.”
Bogdan tugged, in an effort to get free. “The crazy woman loves you, and yet you smile. You are a very stupid man.”
“You’ll be a very sore and sorry man, if you ever breathe a word of what I just said to a living soul.” Daisy stomped her heel into the top of his foot.
Bogdan howled. “I heard nothing.”
A voice floated through from the living room. “I heard everything.”
Chapter Forty-Five
Daisy found Nobby duct taped to a dining-room chair. Her arms were behind her back, and her ankles fixed to the legs. Despite her predicament, she had a stupid grin on her face.
“You say one word, and I’ll use some of the tape to cover your mouth.”
Nobby’s grin got wider. “How’s Paul?”
“Do you want to stay there all day?”
“Have a heart, Daisy. I know you’ve got one.”
Daisy glanced over her shoulder at the sound of a scuffle. Solomon dragged Bogdan through the door, while the man struggled to get free.
“You want me to kick him again?”
Solomon chuckled. “Don’t you be taking out your bad mood on Bogdan.”
“Can I kick Nobby, then?”
“I’m not sure a swift toe to the groin will have the same effect, but don’t let that stop you.”
Nobby struggled in the chair. “You wouldn’t.”
“She would. Now apologize for acting the maggot, and ask politely, and she might just help you get free.”
Daisy folder her arms and stood waiting.
Nobby let out a loud sigh. “Sorry. Now can you please get this tape off me?”
With a grunt of frustration, Daisy stomped through to the kitchen.
“Daisy?” Nobby’s voice got louder. “Daisy, please.”
“I’m getting a knife.”
“To do what?” Nobby sounded terrified.
Daisy pulled a sharp knife from the block, and wandered back through to the living room. “To cut the tape. Why? Did you think I was going to stab you?”
“With the night I’ve had, anything’s possible.”
Solomon shoved Bogdan toward the sofa. “Sit.”
Daisy cut the tape, and helped Nobby free herself. “What happened? Did Bogdan tape you up?”
Nobby shook her head. “No, Bogdan was here to save me.”
Solomon frowned. “If we’re all on the same side, why was he trying to kill me?”
Bogdan snorted. “I don’t be on anybody’s side.”
Solomon started toward the door. “In that case, you won’t be needing our assistance.”
“No. Stop. Shit.” Nobby wrung and shook her hands, no doubt to get the blood flowing again. “Fine. Bogdan, you’re on our side. We can all be on the same team.”
Daisy snorted. “Solomon’s the only team I need.”
Solomon smiled. “That’s because I don’t keep secrets from her.”
“Really?” Daisy looked at Solomon, and raised an eyebrow. That was one-hundred-and-fifty percent bullshit. The man had more secrets than MI5. Starting with what he was doing in Morocco, and how he earned enough money to buy an Aston Martin DB9. However, now probably wasn’t the time for a row.
Solomon folded his arms. “So, which one of you wants to talk first?”
Bogdan scowled. “I’ve nothing to say to English scum.”
“I’m Irish scum, and you’ll both be talking, or I’ll be calling the police to see if they have better luck getting answers at the station.”
Nobby struggled to her feet. “I’ll tell you everything. Just give me a minute to use the bathroom.”
Daisy watched as Nobby hobbled across the room. “Do you think I should go with her?”
“You want to hold her hand?”
She glared at Solomon. “I want to make sure she doesn’t escape.”
“You’ve a point, Princess, but she was barely walking. If she makes a run for it, I’ve no doubt we can catch her.”
“You can catch her. I’m not running in this skirt and heels.”
Daisy sat on the sofa next to Bogdan, and gave him a poke with her finger. “When we get to interrogate this one, can I stick toothpicks under his nails, and burn him with a cigarette?”
Bogdan growled at her.
Solomon raised an eyebrow. “You’ve taken up smoking, Princess?”
“No. But I could, if it would help.”
A loud thud sounded overhead. Daisy stared up at the ceiling. “Do you think Nobby’s all right?”
Solomon shrugged. “Do you really care?”
“I care that she lives long enough to give us answers.”
Bogdan chuckled. “Nobby doesn’t know nothing.”
Daisy glared at him. “In that case, she must know something.”
The Pole frowned. “What?”
“If she doesn’t know nothing, then she knows something. You need to learn to speak English properly.”
“And you need a punch to the head.” Bogdan made a move toward her, and Daisy leaned back.
Solomon grabbed the man’s arm, and pulled him away from Daisy. “You’ll not be punching Daisy.”
“Woman needs a slap.”
“Probably.” Solomon smiled. “But as her partner, I have that privilege.”
“You sleep with the crazy woman? You must have testicles of a bull.”
“I don’t sleep with Daisy. She’s my business partner, and my testicles are not a topic I discuss in polite company.”
“She’s not polite.”
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Daisy laughed. “He’s got a point. Besides, I’ve seen your testicles, and you’re not hung like a bull. More like a very small dog.”
They waited in silence until the loud ticking of the wall clock started to drive Daisy nuts. She pushed to her feet. “Don’t you think Nobby should be back by now?”
Solomon shrugged. “Depends what she’s doing.”
“I’m going to check on her.”
She crossed the room, and made her way through the hall and up the stairs. Lisa’s house had a similar layout to the place Daisy grew up in, although Daisy’s childhood home didn’t have peeling wallpaper, dirty paintwork, and carpet that stuck to the bottom of your shoes. How on earth did Solomon hook up with Lisa? He was anally retentive when it came to things being clean and tidy, and Lisa had clearly never made friends with a vacuum cleaner or any other cleaning apparatus.
Four doors opened off the landing, but only one of them was open. The bathroom was tiny, and Daisy didn’t need to step inside to see it was empty. She opened the main bedroom door. Lace curtains billowed in the breeze. Daisy crossed the room, and shoved her head out the open window. The small porch that covered the front door had a flat roof. You wouldn’t have to be a circus performer to climb out the window, and make your escape.
“Shit. Solomon!”
*
Solomon started toward the door, and then hesitated and looked back at Bogdan. “Don’t move.”
“Where would I go?”
“Nowhere.”
Bogdan shrugged. “So you’ve nothing to worry about.”
Daisy shouted his name again, and Solomon took off, climbing the stairs two at a time. He burst into the front bedroom. “Where’s the fire?”
“No fire, and no Nobby.”
“What?”
She leaned out the open window. “I think she climbed out the window, and used the roof of the front porch as a way to escape.”
Solomon joined Daisy. “That makes no sense. We’re helping her, so why would she do a runner?”
The sound of a door slamming filled the air, and Bogdan sprinted down the front drive. “Shite.” Solomon leapt out the window and onto the porch roof, before jumping onto what passed as a front lawn. Bogdan had already cleared the garden, and was sprinting down the street. Solomon took off after him, turning the corner just in time to see the Pole climb into the driver’s seat of a white van. Solomon reached the vehicle as it sped away from the curb, and watched it disappear out of sight. The license plate read HIT ME.
Bollocks.
Chapter Forty-Six
Solomon and Nobby glared at each other from opposite sides of Lisa’s kitchen table. Daisy stirred more sugar into her coffee. The clatter of the spoon against the side of the mug did nothing to improve Solomon’s darkening mood.
She licked the spoon and then pointed it at him. “How did you know Nobby was still here, hiding in the back bedroom?”
“Where else would she be? She needs our help.” Solomon’s focus cut to Nobby. “Not that I’m inclined to give it to her now.”
Nobby smiled, resting her chin on the heel of her hand as she gazed up at Solomon. The flirtatious look, combined with the bald head and garish tattoo, was enough to put a man off sex for life. “Oh come on, don’t be a sore loser. It’s not the first time I’ve had the best of you.
Solomon gritted his teeth, and fought back the urge to grab Nobby and show her the best of him, starting with his fist. The only thing holding him back was that she was a woman.
Daisy grimaced. “I wouldn’t advise flirting when he’s in a bad mood.”
Solomon leaned closer to Nobby. “I wouldn’t advise flirting ever.”
Daisy glanced from Solomon to Nobby. “He does have a no flirting policy.”
“The Solomon I knew and loved was an accomplished flirt.”
Solomon slammed his fist down on the table. “The Solomon you knew was a man you trusted with your life.”
“Is that why you’re mad? Because you think I don’t trust you?”
“Either you stop messing about, and tell me what’s going on, or we walk. I’ll not be putting Daisy in danger for the likes of you, especially when you’re only interested in playing games.”
Nobby leaned forward, into Solomon’s face. “This isn’t a game. Someone wants me dead.”
“Who?”
Nobby shrugged. “No one connected with Bogdan.”
“Not the answer to the question I asked.”
“I already told you, Chester and Bogdan got involved in a money making scheme with some of Bogdan’s countrymen, and things didn’t go according to plan. Because I was an acquaintance of both men, the Poles think I know something, which is why they’re after me.”
Solomon stood and folded his arms. “You are involved.”
Daisy frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“Where there’s money to be made, Nobby’s always involved. She’d sell her own mother, if someone offered the right price.”
Nobby leaned back. “I never sold you out.”
Solomon snorted. “All evidence to the contrary.”
“Think what you like, but I know the truth.”
“You wouldn’t know the truth, if it bit you on the arse.”
Nobby pushed to her feet. “Are you going to help me or not?”
Daisy cut in. “If Chester and Bogdan were involved in something dodgy, and Chester is dead, why isn’t Bogdan on the hit list?”
“I may have told them I know where to find what they’re looking for, and that the double cross was all Chester’s idea.”
“Why would you protect Bogdan, and in the process throw Chester under the bus?” Daisy shrugged. “I don’t get it.”
Solomon placed his hands on the table, and stared at Nobby. “I neither want to know nor do I care why you do anything. Tell me what it was Chester took, and where it is now.”
“And then what? Are you going to be my hero, and save me and Bogdan from the bad men?”
Solomon could feel a pulse jumping in his temple. He was seconds away from exploding with anger. “I’m going to rip your tongue out and throttle you with it, if you don’t tell me. I know it’s got something to do with Candy Mars and her dogs. Was it your idea for her to contact Daisy? Did you plan to get me involved in your little scheme all along, you shite?”
Nobby shrugged. “Happy coincidence, although I might have told Chester how good you are at your job. Maybe it was his idea to get Daisy to work for them. She is rather delicious, and you’re a tasty added bonus.”
Solomon growled, grabbed Nobby by the front of her shirt, and pulled his fist back. A couple of punches to the face might loosen her tongue.
A loud whistle in his left ear made him flinch. He glanced at Daisy. She stood with her hands on her hips. “Time out. Do I need to put you both in the naughty corner?”
Despite his mood and his best effort to stay mad, he couldn’t help but notice Daisy was magnificent when she was angry.
“Solomon, let Nobby go.”
Solomon released his grip, and Nobby grinned. Daisy reached out, and slapped Nobby across the face. Solomon chuckled. She spun around and stuck a finger in Solomon’s face. “Don’t you say a word.” She glared at them both. “Sit.”
Nobby sunk onto her chair, and Solomon sat before Daisy decided to slap him as well.
“Now, we are going to have a civilized conversation. I don’t care who screwed whom, who double crossed whom, and whether you need couple’s therapy. I just want to know what the fuck is going on that got Chester and Candy killed, and has the scariest cross dresser in town hiding out in a hovel like this.”
“I’m not a cross dresser.”
Daisy glared at Nobby. “What part of ‘I don’t care’ didn’t you get?”
Solomon’s lip turned up in a lopsided smile. “You’d best be telling her what she wants to know, or you’ll be sorry. I almost ended up with a permanent extra arsehole, thanks to Daisy’s inability to control her emotions.�
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Nobby laughed. “Could be useful.”
Daisy crossed her arms, and spoke slowly. “I’m not going to ask you again. Last chance. What did Chester and Bogdan do?”
“They were smuggling diamonds.”
“And?”
“And they delivered the first couple of shipments, but the last one might have gone astray.”
Solomon leaned on the table. “How’s that?”
Nobby shrugged. “I don’t know all the details. Bogdan met people in Poland with some jewels they wanted to shift to a contact in the UK. Chester was always up for some easy money, so he agreed to help.”
Daisy frowned. “How did they get them into the country? They didn’t feed them to the dogs, did they?”
Nobby laughed. “No. Well not after the first time. The dog got sick, and none of them wanted to search the excrement to find the package. Besides, it cost a fortune in vet’s bills to find out if they were stuck in his stomach. After that, they sewed the jewels inside the padding of the dogs’ jackets.”
“So give them the diamonds back, and it all goes away.”
“She can’t, Princess. Can you, Nobby?”
“Not exactly.”
Solomon leaned back, and folded his arms. “She means not at all. What happened to them?”
“If I knew that, I’d know where they were.”
Solomon shoved his chair back, got to his feet, and started pacing the length of the room. “Where were they last seen?”
“Sean stole the dog and the jacket.”
“Lisa’s Sean?”
“Yep.”
“Why?”
“Chester owed him money for a gambling debt. Sean broke into Candy’s, and stole the dog to hold for ransom. He thought Chester was besotted with the animal, and would pay anything to get him back.”
Daisy frowned. “Was he besotted?”
“No. He couldn’t care less.”
“Why didn’t he pay Sean, and get the diamonds back?”
“Until Chester got paid for delivering the jewels, he had no way to raise the funds to cover the debt.”
