The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.)

by Marnie Perry

  ‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have told you like that, I forgot that you liked and trusted her.’

  She stared at him her eyes wide, then looked away but not before he had seen hurt replace the disbelief in them.

  Lando said to Hennessey, ‘she was the one who took the photographs of you and her and sent them to that guy’s phone.’

  Adela looked at him in shock, ‘photographs?’

  ‘I found photos in one of the dead guy’s phones of you and him,’ he nodded towards Hennessey,’ in Eden and other places.

  Adela stared at him stunned and Lando said to Hennessey, ‘but the others, those of her alone, you took those and sent them to Glissando via that guy.’

  Hennessey looked annoyed now but answered, ‘yeah, I did. He insisted I send him proof periodically that I was doing my job. After all he was paying me a lot of money.’

  Lando’s tone was filled with repugnance, ‘oh yeah, let’s not forget the important thing, the money, the love of which is the root of all evil.’

  Hennessey scowled but before he could counter Adela, as though she hadn’t heard their conversation said. ‘I thought Annie liked me.’ She bowed her head, ‘everyone here has used my affection for them against me, is there no one, no one trustworthy in this world.’

  She sounded so hurt, so despondent that Lando’s heart went out to her. How must she feel right now, knowing that almost everyone she trusted and liked had betrayed her? But why was he asking a question he already knew the answer too? He knew how that felt. His wife had betrayed him with a man he liked and trusted. He had to admit now that the treachery of his friend had hurt more than the treachery of his wife. What did that say about Adrianne, more to the point what did it say about him.

  Hennessey said, ‘I’m sure she did like you, she just liked the money more.’

  Adela looked up at him and he knew what she was thinking, well you should know. Out loud she said, ‘she said you were dangerous, that was one thing she didn’t lie about.’

  ‘Maybe she was trying to warn you in her own way.’

  Adela didn’t reply but stood up and went to the kitchen where she poured herself some water and stood sipping it, her back to both men.

  Hennessey glanced at Lando who was looking at Adela then he turned and met Hennessey’s eyes. ‘So why are you here now, Hennessey? Why did you kill Rosie?’

  ‘I told you, he was about to kill you. And besides you know that old saying? “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

  Lando laughed derisively, ‘you could kill a thousand of my enemies and you wouldn’t be my friend, Hennessey.’

  Hennessey chuckled but his tone was deadly as he said, 'well, you don't want me as an enemy, Mr. Lando.'

  Lando's eyes narrowed but he did not rise to the threat instead he said, ‘you knew she would come here didn’t you?’

  Hennessey arched his eyebrows in surprise before giving a defeated nod of his head, ‘yes, at least I hoped she would make her way to you.'

  Adela turned round swiftly almost dropping the glass she held. She looked from Hennessey to Lando and back again. Lando said, ‘you’ve been here all the time watching us haven’t you?’

  ‘Not all the time, but I was here waiting when she arrived. When she got away from me I went back to the shack and packed up then headed this way. I knew there was no way I could find her in the swamp. I had little hope that she would make it but I also knew how tenacious and tough she was. After all, she had stood out against me, lied to my face when I had the stun gun at her breast, so the swamp might seem like a small obstacle to overcome after that.’

  Lando glanced at Adela as he digested this. She had told him about the stun gun but not that he had held it against her breast. He wanted to walk across the room and do to Hennessey what he had done to Guildy. He restrained himself only because he needed him, but when this was over he would have a reckoning with him, he would look forward to it.

  Hennessey gave a wry smile as though he knew what Lando was thinking and said, ‘I brought here her to Alabama because I intended to bring her to you after…after I had gotten the information I required from her.

  I chose you because she knew you, because you had proved yourself worthy by getting the drop on me. And because I knew you wouldn’t get the police involved, knowing your distrust and dislike of the law and your desperate need to stay below the radar. I knew she would be safe here with you. The shack I kept her is in fact only ten miles from here, but obviously she didn't know that and must have wandered around for hours. I admit as time went on I got more and more concerned until I saw her approach your barn. I was relieved I must say, as well as most impressed that she’d actually made it. I should have had more faith.

  I watched you take her into the house then hung around for a while to make sure you didn’t call the cops and bring danger to her and to yourself. But once I knew she was safe with you I left to find out what the cops and Glissando’s goons were up to. I came back just in time for the fun and games.’

  Adela stood staring at Hennessey with shock and repulsion. He looked at her then quickly back at Lando obviously not liking the looks she was giving him. He said, ‘once I knew she would be okay I left and went into town and kept my eyes and ears open. I saw the two feds and the other guy heading out and followed them. They met up with several more guys, they talked about others too. I had to make a quick decision so I found my old friend Sammy and told him to watch the other guys while I followed the feds.

  On my way I met up with the guys in the boat and dispatched them. Then I heard your two detective friends from Mississippi coming with the town sheriff; I just about had enough time to sink the boat before they came into view. I hid and listened to their conversation.’

  He turned to look at Adela now, ‘your friend the good detective Leyton is most concerned for your welfare, his partner however is convinced that you’re a cold blooded femme fatale in league with a hired killer. But then he doesn’t have a thing for you as Leyton does.’

  Adela said nothing but her expression showed him exactly what she thought of that remark and of him. To her surprise he didn’t smirk or smile but said, ‘sorry, that was inappropriate. But at least you know Leyton is on your side.’ When she remained silent he cleared his throat and went on, ‘they’re convinced that you’re here somewhere, they think Lando was lying and that he knows something, but the FBI had taken over and were in town. Leyton said he didn’t like the look of them and your sheriff agreed, Lando. He said they were the sort to shoot first and ask questions later and that Miss. Faraday could get caught in the cross fire.’

  He gave a wry smile, ‘your sheriff ain’t such a fool after all, Lando.’ Lando like Adela did not reply so Hennessey continued, ‘they hung around that area so I was pretty much trapped there for a while that’s why I couldn’t get here until almost the last moment.

  But still, it was the right moment for you hey, Lando? Although they probably would have taken you too as leverage to get Miss. Faraday to talk. And knowing her soft heart and her great desire to shield others from suffering she’d probably have caved, particularly since you helped her in her hour of need. I just had to hope that my faith in you was not misplaced, and it wasn’t.’

  Both Lando and Adela searched his face for the mockery or amusement in his expression as he said this but there was none, only relief that it hadn’t turned out badly. She thought about what he’d said, indeed she could think of little else. He had been here almost all the time, he could have taken her when she had arrived weak and helpless and half dead, but he hadn’t, instead he had let Lando take care of her. And he had brought her back to Alabama, to Alban, to Lando, knowing she would be safe with him.

  Lando said, ‘I don’t get it, Hennessey, if you can track down the girl without any more information from her,’ he nodded at Adela, ‘why come here at all? Why not just go and get the girl and take her to Glissando. Why risk coming back here?’

  Hennessey studied him in silence for a moment tha
n said, ‘that’s a good question, Mr. Lando.’

  ‘And I’m sure it’ll be an even better answer,’ came the sarcastic reply.

  Hennessey turned back at him and smiled, ‘I wanted to make sure she was safe, that you both were. I got you into this and I aimed to see you get out of it in one piece.’

  ‘Why should you care? You’re a killer, what’s one or two more innocent lives here and there compared to the dozens you’ve already taken?’

  Hennessey’s smile vanished and his face clouded and his tone was hard as he said, ‘I told you once, I don’t kill innocent people.’ When Lando looked sceptical he added in a low menacing tone, ‘are you innocent, Mr. Lando?’

  Lando shot him a “watch it” look but Hennessey turned to Adela and said softly, ‘I hurt you and betrayed you in the worst possible way, and I don’t just mean the abduction and all that followed, but everything else before that. I owe you, Miss. Faraday,’ he looked back at Lando, ‘that’s why I’m here now, to repay that debt.’

  Lando curled his lip with disbelief and disgust and Hennessey said, ‘you believe in paying your debts don’t you, Lando?’

  Lando’s jaw tightened but he didn’t rise to the bait instead he said calmly ‘well time will tell whether you’re lying or not, Hennessey.’

  ‘Yes it will, Mr. Lando, yes it will.’

  Hennessey turned to Adela and his tone gentle said, ‘you once told me that you always felt safe with me, I can understand if you’ve since reviewed that belief, but I’m asking you one last time to feel safe with me.’

  Adela stared at him as though he had asked her to strip naked and dance on the table. She didn’t reply but simply turned from him and filled the glass she’d been holding tightly in her fist with more water. When she’d sipped some she put down the glass and gripped the sides of the sink tightly as though keeping it in place.

  God, how could this have all gone so wrong? Who would have believed that her dream holiday could turn into such a nightmare, that just one simple thing like going to the theatre could result in this chaos, this madness. If she hadn’t gone to the theatre that night if she had taken that nice couple up on their offer of a lift home. If she hadn’t gone to investigate the scream from the alleyway. If she had never come here to this country she wouldn’t be here now and Lando would not be in this danger.

  But despite her terror, despite all she had been through and all that was to come she could not regret helping Olivia escape that cruel, sadistic man. No, she regretted nothing except her involvement with Hennessey, her stupidity and naivety. But mostly involving Lando in her troubles, this she regretted very deeply.

  Hennessy said, ‘are you all right, Miss. Faraday.’

  She didn’t acknowledge him but continued to grip the sink even tighter until her knuckles turned white. He walked over to her and laid a hand on her shoulder, he felt a shudder pass through her and he immediately removed his hand. He said gently, ‘come and sit down before you fall down.’

  She turned to face him her face white and her eyes haunted.

  Hennessey’s own face was soft with understanding and sympathy. He said, ‘I know you’re scared, but it’s going to be all right, you’ll see. I know what you think of me, but however much you despise me, you know deep down that I’ll get us out of this. Glissando’s men or Glissando himself won’t get by me,’ he looked over her shoulder at Lando, ‘or your friend, Mr. Lando either.’

  Lando looked for the sarcasm but there was only concern in his tone and expression. He hated the way he had touched the woman and how he had spoken to her, so softly and gently as if he cared. That gentle reassuring tone must have been the one he used when he had planned to seduce her into giving him the information he wanted. And the way he looked at her with those big blue eyes was more than likely the same way he looked at her while he had lied to her and deceived her. Is that what he was doing now?

  Lando felt a resentment building in him, he should be the one asking if the woman was all right and reassuring her. Whose place had she come too? Who had taken care of her for almost two days? Who had stopped her from running into danger? Who had tended to her injuries and held her while she cried? Not Hennessey, on the contrary he had been the one to inflict those things on her in the first place, he shouldn’t be the one comforting her.

  He realised he was gripping the handle of the gun very hard in his fist and relaxed his fingers.

  He despised the guy and all he stood for but he had to admit he was glad of his experience right now. He wouldn’t turn away from a fight with Hennessey but he was glad that at this moment he was on their side. For now anyway.

  Funnily enough Adela was thinking the same thing. She had the greatest confidence in Jonas Lando, he had proved he could handle himself very well, but they had no idea how many were coming and they needed all the help they could get.

  She hated Hennessey for what he’d done to her and was going to do to Olivia if he tracked her down. But, and she hated to admit it, he was right, she did feel safer with him here. As for after, well, there might not be an after.

  She stared at Hennessey who was wondering if she even saw him there so in a world of her own did she seem. He said, ‘come on, sit down. Please.’ She hated doing as he asked but was to weary to argue, so as if still in a trance she walked by him and went to the living room area where she sat down on the sofa her back to both men. Hennessey had the idea that she believed if she couldn’t see him then he wasn’t there and none of this would be happening.

  Hennessey watched her for a moment with concern then he poured some coffee from the still warm coffee pot into two mugs and took them over to Lando. He held out one of the mugs to him. Lando looked at it then at him as if he would like to either dash it out of his hand, or take it and throw the contents in his face. Hennessey stood his arm outstretched waiting and eventually Lando took the mug from him. Hennessey noticed he gripped it tightly in his hand as if trying to prevent himself from hurling the hot liquid at him. But after giving Hennessey one of his own smirks he drank from the mug.

  Hennessey smiled and turned to look out of the window. There was a very strained silence until Lando his voice low said, ‘one thing I don’t get, Hennessey.’

  'Only one?’

  Lando rolled his eyes in exasperation, ‘why did you fix it so that the cops would think she was somehow involved in Maxwell’s beating? Why did you go as far as to leave her comb next to the unconscious cop? Why did you make it look as though she had gone with you of her own free will?’

  Hennessey looked into Lando’s eyes then away again, ‘you ask good questions, Lando, must be the cop in you. What do they say, once a cop always a cop?’

  ‘And you’re even better at answering questions Hennessey; at least giving answers you think others want to hear. Whether it’s the truth or not is debatable…and doubtful.’

  ‘If you think I’m going to lie why ask the questions?’

  Lando shrugged, ‘curiosity, interest. I like to see a professional liar in action.’

  Hennessey still looking out the window grinned. He remained silent for a moment then turned to the other man, ‘all right, there were two reasons. One, I checked out Leyton and Sullivan. I wanted to make sure they weren’t on Glissando’s pay role. I found nothing, neither man has any hidden asset’s, at least nothing I could find and believe me, if they had I would’ve found it.

  Neither man spends more than he earns as a cop, neither has a big car or house or takes expensive vacations, I found nothing untoward. In fact, Sullivan has maxed out his credit cards and finds it hard to make ends meet, what with two ex -wives and a divorce pending. Leyton isn’t married and never has been.’

  He paused here and looked intently at Lando trying to gauge his reaction. Lando showed none, he knew what Hennessey was doing so showed not by a single sign that his comment about Leyton had affected him.

  Hennessey looked impressed and his lips twitched as he continued, ‘anyway, I was satisfied that both men were legit,
that they were good, honest cops. So I thought if they believed that Miss. Faraday was involved with me they would come looking for her not involving the FBI as they would have to do if they suspected a kidnapping. Glissando has too many agents in his employ, he would have made sure that his “friends” were assigned the case. Plus, if you had involved the local cops, who I knew nothing about, or even worse the feds, Leyton and Sullivan would be here to protect her. So I called them anonymously and told them she had been seen back here. It was an added bonus that Leyton has a certain admiration for her.’

  Again he watched Lando’s face closely and again Lando gave nothing away of his feelings so he went on, ‘but that was before I though they suspected I was just a conman who'd beaten up a love rival. I never reckoned on them finding out about my, for want of a better word, profession. I never reckoned on that damn raincoat giving me away. See Lando, even a consummate professional can make mistakes.’

  Lando said, ‘you’re good, Hennessey, real good.’

  Hennessey grinned, ‘come on, Lando, you were a cop, if you knew nothing about me, if you didn’t know what I did for a living and I was sitting in your interrogation room right now wouldn’t you believe everything I say?’

  ‘I think I was a better cop than you give me credit for, Hennessey.’

  ‘Oh I’m sure I give you all the credit you deserve, Mr. Lando. Your record whilst you were a cop is beyond exemplary. You had one of the highest arrest records the Alabama P.D has ever known. You’ve received three commendations for bravery. You were tough yet fair, a little reckless maybe, but you would never risk anyone but yourself. You were sympathetic and understanding to the victim but ruthless in your interrogations of a perp. You were like a dog with a bone when you had a case to close, once you got your teeth into it you’d never let go until you had your guy. As I said, a good cop. It was unfortunate you had to give it up, and in such a way too.’

  Lando stared at him his fist clenched around the mug so tightly his knuckles were white.