Jules didn’t reply, instead she stared at the wall ahead, as though he wasn’t there.
“Jules,” he said, hoping to get her attention by using her first name. But she continued to ignore him. He sighed and shook his head. “I didn’t have you down as a defeatist. A reputation like yours I’d expected you to be spitting rage, not sitting here like a limp rag.”
Still she didn’t respond and he was starting to wonder whether she was actually compos mentis.
“If you don’t talk to me I’ll only have to come back later.”
She shrugged.
“Here’s what I think,” he went on, regardless. “The day of the attack a large blond man was seen outside your house by one of your neighbours. His description is a dead ringer for Jared Slattery from Essex. He came up here, attacked you and stole your daughter. Why I’m not too sure yet. However they have a record for warring with your family. Everyone knows they blew up the Maguire compound.”
Jules smiled inwardly. The stupid bastard didn’t realise she was actually the one responsible for that, to prevent the compound from falling into Slattery’s hands. The spark of joy inside her died. That was back when she was fit and capable, when she was useful.
“So they come up here for revenge because they failed to take down your family?” continued Dwyer. “But no, that doesn’t make sense. Why leave it so long? And why go after you? Why not Mikey or Jez? No, this smacks of something more personal. Let me guess, he’s Cara’s real father?”
Jules kept her gaze focused on the wall while Cara’s cries echoed in her head as she was stolen away from her mummy by the Slatterys.
Dwyer was quick to spot her wince. “I’m right, aren’t I?” he said more gently. “I’ve no idea how that one came about. How did you end up sleeping with the enemy?” He was irritated when she just continued to stare straight ahead and he got the overwhelming urge to grab her and shake her just to get a reaction. He was quite disappointed actually, he’d heard so much about the infamous Venom, as she used to be known and he’d come here ready for a fight. She didn’t look like a rock hard master assassin whose talent for murder had been utilised by the biggest criminals in the country. She was also known for being extraordinarily intelligent, in the genius bracket. Now she just looked like a window licker. She was a spent force and that gave him enormous satisfaction. Without her the Laws and Maguires were weakened, she was a major player and he was going to take advantage of that fact.
“So,” he continued. “Slattery tries to kill you, kidnaps your daughter and takes her back to Essex. The Homestead was burnt to the ground, which I’m guessing was down to your family when they went to get Cara back. They found Tanya’s charred corpse in there.” He took some photos out of his pocket and tossed them onto the bed in front of her. Usually he’d get a big reaction but Jules seemed unmoved by the images of the horribly disfigured body. He’d expected as much, master assassins didn’t tend to be squeamish but he thought it worth a try. “There was no sign of Jared’s body, which means he survived. Your family let you down Jules. If it had been the other way round and he’d put one of them in a coma you’d have gone out of your way to get revenge. But they couldn’t do the same for you. Shame that.”
It occurred to Jules that this fool - who thought he was being so clever sneaking in to speak to her while her family weren’t here - might actually know where Slattery was. No matter what happened to her, she would finish him once and for all. Cara wasn’t safe with him still out there, no matter how weakened he was.
She forced herself to look at the loathsome, greasy turd of a man and saw his eyes glisten with cunning. Jules took a long, deep breath, preparing herself to speak without hopefully disgracing herself too much.
Sensing this, Dwyer leaned forwards in his seat, hands clasped together.
“Jared,” she began before breaking off with a sigh when the rest of the sentence wouldn’t come.
Dwyer didn’t realise she was physically struggling to speak. Instead he thought she was enduring an inner struggle about whether to share information with a police officer or not so he remained silent, praying she continued.
“Jared…alive?” she eventually managed to say.
Dwyer wondered if she was taking the piss out of him with her strained, child-like speech, but he was going to take that chance. “Yes,” he said, “Did your family not tell you?”
She forced her eyes to remain wide and full of innocence. “No…didn’t.”
“That doesn’t surprise me. Full of secrets that lot. That must really hurt knowing they lied to you?”
She nodded again, wanting to punch him in the face when his eyes filled with fake sympathy.
“You can’t rely on them to help you,” said Dwyer. “They had their chance and they blew it. Tell me what you know and we can help each other. You want him brought to justice don’t you? Your daughter’s not safe until you do.”
She nodded.
“Of course,” he said with a gentle smile. “And in order for that to happen you need to tell me what you know.”
She sighed and nodded. “Okay.” She took another deep breath, preparing herself to speak while Dwyer leaned forwards in his seat, hands clasped.
“I know…,” she began.
Dwyer was frustrated when she paused again, wanting to throttle the words out of her as she took in another few deep breaths but he reined in his anger, realising talking was a huge effort for her and giving information to a police officer went against everything she believed in.
“I know,” she said. “That…that…”
“Yes?”
“That you are bumhole,” she ended with her trademark malicious smile. It wasn’t quite what she’d intended to say but it would certainly do.
Dwyer shook his head. “I’m disappointed Jules.”
Her answering look told him she didn’t give a shit. “You no talk to me again without…” She sighed and broke off when the word couldn’t come. “Person who go to the building where bad people go.”
“Parliament?” he said with a raised eyebrow.
“Other one. Person in wig. Police…”
“Court?”
“Yes.”
“You don’t want me to speak to you without your court present?” he frowned.
“No,” she huffed. “Person in court.”
“You mean a lawyer?”
“Yes,” she nodded, exhausted, leaning back into the pillows.
“You’re a far cry from the woman you used to be,” he said, inwardly smiling at the sadness that filled her eyes. “Your family did this to you. They’ve left you a wreck with dodgy speech and useless legs while they’re carrying on as normal with their lives and their jobs. And their children.”
Jules stared down at her hands as he spoke, attempting to contain her rage and pain, which desperately wanted to unleash itself.
“And what’s happened to that famous IQ?” he said. “Gone and it might never come back. You’ve been consigned to a lifetime of reading kid’s books and not being able to talk properly. Plus I wonder what all the lowlife you’ve pissed off over the years will do when they learn you’re still alive? They’ll come after you and you won’t be able to stop them, not with your useless body. You’ve lost everything but still you defend them.”
“Family,” was all she said.
“Sometimes not even families deserve loyalty.”
She fixed him with her grey-eyed gaze. “Did your brother…deserve it?”
Her mocking tone infuriated him and it frightened him how strong the temptation was to punch a cripple, even if she was a murdering bitch. He quickly shoved his rage back down inside himself but not before she caught the anger in his eyes and she smirked.
“Your precious family’s pond scum,” he spat. “And you’re a fucking mug for protecting them after what their actions have done to you. It’s your daughter I feel sorry for with you and that mad bastard Slattery for parents. What was Jackson then, a sucker you got to give little Cara
a name that isn’t synonymous with murder and drugs? You used him but that’s typical of your family, you just go around using people up until there’s nothing left of them.”
He just managed to duck as the vase that was sat on Jules’s bedside cabinet sailed over his head and hit the floor with a smash. However a shard rebounded off the tiles and hit his left hand, cutting the skin. He stared at the wound, blood trickling from it, his fury building.
“I could do you for assaulting a police officer.”
Jules chuckled. “You take me to arrest place…in bed?”
“Arrest place? Jesus, how the mighty have fallen.” His lips curled into an ironic smile at the hate in her eyes. “You want to really hurt me, don’t you? Shame you’re not capable.” He leaned into her and she stared back at him coldly. “But I could hurt you and you wouldn’t be able to do anything to stop me.”
“What’s going on here?” said Catherine, striding into the room.
Dwyer straightened up and turned to face the nurse with a smile.
“You,” she said. “Mr Schmidt said you’re not to talk to Mrs Driscoll yet, it’s too soon.”
“I’m investigating a serious crime Ma’am. I don’t have time.”
“What rot. Mrs Driscoll was attacked two months ago and in that time you’ve achieved nothing in the hunt for her attacker.”
“I thought Mrs Driscoll would be able to identify her attacker but it seems she can’t,” he said, glancing at Jules with cold rage in his eyes, who smirked back at him.
“You had no right to come in here when her own doctor said she’s not up to being interrogated. Neither should you have tackled her alone, without her family or legal representation present.”
“Mrs Driscoll doesn’t require legal representation, she’s not the suspect here, although I understand that is an entirely new experience for her.”
“Whatever,” said Catherine. “It’s time for you to leave.”
“You have no authority over me.”
“I can call your superiors and lodge a formal complaint about your behaviour.” She pushed the door open wider. “Leave. Now.”
He looked down at Jules. “I will be back.” It irritated him even more when Jules snorted with laughter.
Dwyer gave Catherine a hard look as he walked out the door. “You’re just as bad, defending scum like her.”
“My patient is a warm, intelligent, loving woman whose daughter is the centre of her world. That’s all I see.”
“She’s also a drug dealer, murderer and assassin.”
“None of us are perfect.”
“Perfect?” he spluttered. “Aren’t you taking the Mother Teresa act a bit far?”
“Go away you ridiculous man before I call your colleagues to come and take you away.”
With one last glare he stalked out.
“Awful man,” said Catherine, letting the door swing shut behind him. “Are you alright? He seems the type of person who can be very unkind.”
“Fine,” she said. “Thank you for…for…saying nice things.” She pointed to herself. “Me.”
“You’re welcome. Do you want me to call your family and let them know what’s happened? Men like that don’t give up.”
Jules’s first instinct was to say no, she could handle Dwyer. Then she realised that she might not be able to in her condition. “Please.”
“Who should I call?”
She thought it over, tempted to say Mikey’s name. Instead she said, “Jez.”
“I’ll do it now and I’ll make sure he’s definitely gone at the same time.”
Jules nodded, too exhausted to reply. It was amazing how much that confrontation had tired her out. Dwyer’s visit had disturbed her more than she’d care to admit. He was worryingly informed about her life and had managed to discern one of her biggest secrets. She feared what it meant for herself, and for Cara.
“Anything?” sighed Mikey, removing his tie and dumping it on his desk. He and Jez had been ensconced together in their office in the bungalow for three hours and every part of the shipment was exactly where it should be.
“Nah but we didn’t expect it to be Shane or Declan anyway.”
“Yeah.” Mikey was glad he could cross his cousin off the suspect list. Shane too, he was really fond of the lad who both he and Jez were training to one day take over.
“Let’s knock it on the head for today,” said Jez. “I’m off home. What’s happened now?” he added when Mikey appeared reluctant.
“Me and Amber had another fight. Her bitch of a mum was there, winding things up between us, making me out to be the bad guy because I said Amber was out of order wasting more money on shoes that she won’t wear.”
“Are you sure she doesn’t have some sort of shoe fetish?”
“No, she’s just greedy and wasteful. I told her she should volunteer at the homeless shelter I set up. You would have thought I’d suggested she stick her face in some dog shit, the way she went on. Course her mum thought I was a horrible bastard for saying she should do some charity work. I’ve had a gutful of the pair of them, I can tell you. Every day divorce is looking more and more appealing.”
“That wouldn’t be because Jules has woken up by any chance?”
“Well…maybe a little bit but she’s still with Jackson.”
“I’m not sure how long that will last. I don’t think he can cope with her condition. He looks totally freaked every time she talks and how’s he going to be when she tries to get back the use of her legs? I don’t think he’s got the stamina for it.” His eyes narrowed. “Would your feelings for her suddenly change if she turns out to be permanently disabled?”
He shook his head. “Nothing could do that.”
Jez patted his shoulder, knowing he spoke the truth. He retrieved his mobile phone from his desk when it burst into life, the vibration causing it to jump about on the table. “Yeah, Jez Law.” His jaw tensed. “Be right there.”
“What’s up?” said Mikey.
“That cheeky bastard Dwyer snuck in to see Jules when she was alone. Fortunately Catherine caught him and chucked him out.” He snatched his jacket off the back of his chair. “I’m going over to the station to get that wanker straightened out.”
“I’ll come with you,” said Mikey, glad of the excuse not to go home.
Normally Mikey and Jez wouldn’t have been seen dead in a police station but these were special circumstances and they wished to make their presence felt. Plus it wouldn’t do any harm to put the wind up those they had in their pocket and remind them who they were dealing with.
They marched inside as though they owned the place, drawing glowers from the officers they passed by. Mikey and Jez ignored them and demanded of the desk sergeant that they see the DCI immediately.
Fortunately DCI Taylor, who had helped them out many times, was on-call and he appeared in reception. As they were telling him about Dwyer the man himself walked in and appeared more amused than anything by Mikey and Jez’s presence.
“Oy you,” said Jez, thrusting his face into his. “Where do you get off hassling women who’ve just come out of comas?”
“I was only doing my job Mr Law,” he smoothly replied.
“Bollocks. You knew exactly what you were doing. You were hoping to bully her while she’s still weak and confused but it didn’t work, did it? She told you where to shove it. Her doctor had specifically told you she’s not up to being interviewed yet but you didn’t give a shit, you just rode roughshod over another human being, as usual.”
“Like she’s a human being,” he sneered.
“That’s it you,” said Taylor, turning purple. “You’ve already broken the rules once. Don’t make it worse for yourself.”
“You’re sticking up for them, Sir?” he begrudgingly added.
“A member of the public has made a perfectly legitimate complaint. What if the case is ever taken to trial? Any half-decent barrister would pull you apart on the stand for questioning Mrs Driscoll before she was physic
ally ready. For God’s sake man, she’s just woken from a coma.”
“She’s hiding something,” he glowered.
“Or maybe she can’t remember. You will leave her alone until her doctor says she’s ready.”
“I bet her doctor’s being paid off by them,” he said, nodding at Mikey and Jez. “I’ll be continually told she’s not medically fit to speak to me until I’m forced to drop it.”
“Did you just accuse us of bribery?” said Mikey.
Dwyer snorted. “Are you being serious? Compared to what you’ve done that’s nothing.”
“DI Dwyer…,” began Taylor.
But he’d got into full flow and was unstoppable. “I’m going to bring the lot of you down.”
“You and what army?” sneered Mikey.
“I don’t need an army. I’m a fucking one-man army and by the time I’m done with your family you’ll be nothing more than a memory...”
Mikey and Jez just let him talk. He was digging his own grave.
“The lot of you are scum and I’m going to tear you apart for what you did to my brother. You and your vegetable of a sister.”
“DI Dwyer you are off the Driscoll case,” roared Taylor.
Dwyer went abruptly silent when he realised he’d gone too far and that Taylor was perfectly in his rights to throw him off the case. After all, he had just called the victim a vegetable. He glared at Mikey and Jez, who were both smirking, furious with himself for allowing them to wind him up to such a degree. To add insult to injury, he’d been bawled out in the middle of the station and in front of two people he loathed.
“Thank you DCI Taylor,” said Mikey. “I’m glad someone in this place has some sense of decency.”
“Decency?” spluttered Dwyer. “A fucking murderer and drug dealer talking about decency?”
“How dare you,” said Jez. “We’re innocent businessmen and we’re sick of this crazy vendetta you’re pursuing against us. You’re as insane as your brother.”
Dwyer thrust his face into his. “And I’m going to finish the job he started.”
“DI Dwyer, upstairs, now before you end up being suspended,” thundered Taylor.
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