She knew what he was implying. Rape.
‘No, thank God.’ Nancy opened her eyes, mortified that she was even having this conversation but also relieved that she could shake her head in answer. She had been scared for her life tonight. Remembering the pain as her assailant ripped her hair from her head, before slamming her head down against the cold hard concrete. She must have been knocked out then, because when she’d come back around her attacker had been nowhere to be seen.
Nancy knew that she had to give Jack Taylor more. The man wasn’t stupid, and he would find out eventually.
‘He told me to leave things alone. That I needed to stop digging for information on my father…’ she said, remembering the assailant’s last words before she’d blacked out. Stop digging. Or we’ll bury you too. The threat in his words clear. Nancy knew that it was to be her only warning.
The next time she might not be so lucky.
‘“Digging”? I don’t understand. Why would someone threaten you? We made enquiries, but we didn’t find anything. I told you that.’ Jack stared at Nancy, his eyes questioning her, as he wondered what it was he was missing.
Nancy pursed her lips, feeling guilty now.
‘Look, Jack, don’t take this personally. I know you did your best, but I had a couple of my father’s other contacts look into some information for me…’ she said, knowing full well that Jack would be offended that she’d gone behind his back. ‘I just wanted to be thorough. I wanted to make sure that I’d checked out every eventuality. That there wasn’t something we’d missed. Something that could lead us to my father’s murderer.’
As the Met’s lead detective inspector in Jimmy Byrne’s murder investigation, Jack hadn’t been able to find anything. Not a shred of evidence, not a single clue as to who could have been behind her dad’s killing, and Nancy knew how it angered him just as much as her.
‘But I looked into it,’ Jack said, clearly annoyed that Nancy hadn’t thought him competent enough to look into Jimmy Byrne’s death himself. ‘I already checked out every lead we had, Nancy. I had my men search every fucking square inch of that dockyard. Ten times over. The tech guys ripped that laptop apart, yet they still came back with fuck all. The only glimmer of hope that we had in finding out any information was from Marlon Jackson, but your brother, unfortunately, put paid to that.’
Nancy closed her eyes again. Remembering how just a few days earlier her brother had fired a bullet through Marlon Jackson’s brain in revenge for her father’s murder. Marlon had been about to talk, Nancy was sure of it. Only her brother had prematurely silenced him in his eagerness to get his revenge.
Only, now Nancy wasn’t so sure that’s what that was at all.
‘If anyone can find out who the fucker was who killed your father, it’s me. You know that. Why did you feel the need to double check? Don’t you trust me?’
Seeing the insult and disappointment on Jack’s face, Nancy knew that she’d hurt his feelings – that was the last thing she had wanted to do. That was partly why she hadn’t told him that she had other contacts looking into it all in the first place.
‘I didn’t want to offend you, Jack, but can’t you see? I had to at least try and find out who killed him… I guess I just wanted to make sure that we had covered everything. That there wasn’t some piece of evidence that we missed. I called in a few favours from a couple of my dad’s other contacts. I didn’t think it would cause any harm,’ she said, searching Jack’s face for some understanding.
He was quiet for a moment. Then he nodded as he let what Nancy was telling him sink in. Ever the reasonable one. ‘And did these other contacts of yours find anything?’
Nancy shook her head. She’d been waiting for this question. Debating whether she should just come clean and tell Jack and Alex everything that she knew. That her hunch had paid off and her other informant had uncovered information that even Jack hadn’t been able to find out.
Only, she couldn’t bring herself to do it. Something was stopping her. Her intuition? A gut feeling? Her contact had found out who her father’s killer was, and now that Nancy knew, she wasn’t sure what to do with the information. She felt awful for lying, especially when she knew that Jack would only want to help her if he found out the truth.
But she was still having trouble processing it all. She was still trying to make sense of all this madness that had gone on around her.
‘No. They couldn’t find anything either. It’s just like you said, whoever it was that killed my dad, they were smart. They didn’t leave anything for us to go on. There’s no leads, no clues, nothing. They covered their tracks well.’
Jack nodded in agreement.
‘Well who the fuck knows what Jimmy got himself involved with? Or who he got involved with. That man had that many skeletons, his closet could have rivalled a fucking graveyard,’ Alex spat, interrupting Nancy and Jack’s conversation. He’d had enough of the bullshit tonight.
‘Fucking hell, I don’t know why you care so much,’ he slurred, ignoring the shocked look on Nancy’s face at the venomous words he spat. ‘Come on, it could be fucking anyone that killed him. Who fucking really knows anything about Jimmy Byrne anyway? Not you!’ Alex pointed at Nancy. ‘His own daughter.’ Then turning his attention to Jack Taylor he added: ‘Or you! His confidant. The man that dug him out of the shit more times than I can care to remember. And what about me, huh? His best fucking mate?’ Alex laughed at this. The irony of the words Jimmy had always used to describe him. ‘That’s what he called me. The man that he was secretly sleeping with for the past twenty years. A friend. What a fucking joke. That man has no idea of the destruction and heartache he’s left behind him.’
He knocked back his drink, enjoying the anticipation of the numbness that he knew would instantly come. He left his statement lingering in the air. The tension in the room palpable.
‘That’s all I was in the end, another of your father’s guilty secrets. He loved me though, did you know that?’
‘Twenty years? Is this true? Did you know about this?’ Nancy said, looking at Jack nervously as Alex’s words rang in her ears as she realised that the rumours that had been doing the rounds were clearly true.
Jack shook his head, but his movement held no reassurance to her. Then glaring at Alex, he gritted his teeth. ‘That’s e-fucking-nough, Alex. Now’s not the time—’
‘That’s just it though, Jack. There never was a good time, was there? Jimmy Byrne and his fucking sordid secrets. The man ruined everything and, in typical Jimmy fucking style, he’s not even here to pick up the pieces,’ Alex spat, before staggering over to sit down on the opposite side of the room.
‘You knew didn’t you?’ Nancy searched Jack’s eyes for an honest answer.
‘Ignore him, Nancy. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s drunk and talking shit.’
But Nancy wasn’t buying it. Something had gone on between Alex and her father, her contacts had already informed her as much, and judging by Jack’s reaction, he knew about them both too.
Her contacts had already informed her that her father had been having an affair with Alex, but twenty years? Her entire life? Nancy couldn’t even process that.
‘I wasted twenty fucking years of my life, and for what? It was all just lies. Jimmy only ever cared about himself. How many other men was he fucking, huh?’
‘That’s it, we’re leaving,’ Jack said, standing up and wrapping the blanket that was on the chair behind them around Nancy’s shoulders.
Nancy felt as if the room was spinning. She felt physically sick. The hot acidic bile that had lingered in the pit of her stomach was now in the back of her throat. Threatening to pour out of her.
It was one thing hearing the rumours, or facts as they were, but another to hear it straight from Alex Costa’s mouth.
Her father and Alex? Uncle Alex?
The ugly truth.
She could see the raw pain in Alex Costa’s eyes. The same pain that flashed before her. The g
enuine grief that tormented him so. He was heartbroken, bereft and that’s why he’d got himself into such a state tonight, on the night of her father’s funeral.
‘Come on, Nancy,’ Jack said, placing an arm around her and leading her out of the room.
Nancy didn’t argue.
In fact, she couldn’t get out of Alex Costa’s apartment quickly enough.
Chapter Five
Pulling the blanket tightly around her shoulders, Nancy Byrne allowed Jack Taylor to lead her through her quiet darkened house.
‘It’s colder in here than it is outside,’ Jack quipped, shivering as they both made their way through to the kitchen.
He was right, the house, now empty of people, was freezing cold. The icy chill that lingered in the air made Nancy’s skin prickle and her teeth chatter. At this early hour of the morning the house felt so empty, as if it had been abandoned. But she knew that her grandparents and her mother were all asleep upstairs in their beds. Daniel too.
‘Well at least they’ve all buggered off to bed. I was half expecting to walk in here and catch your grandad still on a bender. Pissed as a fart he was earlier.’
Nancy rolled her eyes at that. He’d been bad enough when she’d stormed out of here earlier; no doubt he’d drunk himself into a coma by now and, judging by the state of the place, it had been some send-off.
The place looked like a bomb had hit it.
Staring around the kitchen, Nancy couldn’t help but think that the place didn’t look much better than Alex’s apartment. With the huge pile of dirty cups and plates that were stacked high in the sink, overflowing onto the countertops. Dumped there, to be cleaned up tomorrow, Nancy assumed, her eyes scanning the kitchen sides, cluttered with half-eaten platters of food. The few remaining sandwiches on each tray were crispy and congealed-looking. Dumped down between the mass of empty wine bottles that adorned the rest of the free space. Bottles of her father’s favourite Merlot and Dom Perignon.
Champagne at a funeral? Nancy squeezed her eyes shut tightly, guessing, rightly, that only her grandfather would have been so crass and thoughtless to crack open bottles of bubbly the night of his own son’s funeral. Celebrating her father’s death under the guise of grieving. The man hadn’t fooled anyone, especially not her.
‘I’ve never seen this place look such a mess,’ Nancy said, contemplating tidying some of it up, and then deciding against it. She didn’t have the energy. Not tonight. She’d deal with it all tomorrow.
‘Do you want me to clean the place up a bit?’ Jack asked following the younger woman’s gaze around the bomb site of a kitchen.
‘No, it’s fine.’ Nancy shook her head. Not wanting Jack to go to any more trouble than she’d already put him to tonight. Nor did she want him to make any sort of noise that might wake her family up. The last thing she needed was any of them seeing the state of her, and making a fuss about her being attacked – and they would make a fuss. Especially her nan Joanie. She’d be mortified if she saw the state of Nancy’s battered-looking face. ‘I’ll call the housekeeper tomorrow and ask her to come back. Nan told her not to come in this week. She said that she wanted to do it all herself, you know, to keep herself busy. Only she’s not able for it.’ Nancy shrugged, recalling how determined her nan Joanie had been. That was the hardest part about all of this: Nancy had never seen her nan so broken. The woman had completely fallen apart, right before her very eyes.
It was heartbreaking to see. Her nan had always been so strong, so feisty. They’d always joked that that’s where Nancy had got those traits.
Nancy was the only one trying to keep it together right now, it seemed.
‘Okay, well if you won’t let me help clear up a bit, at least let me make you a nice hot cup of tea before I go. Sit down,’ Jack Taylor insisted, not giving Nancy any time to refuse, before strolling over to where the kettle was.
Nancy did as she was told.
Thank God for Jack, she thought. Sitting down at the kitchen table, she pulled the blanket up around her as she watched Jack busy himself pouring her a drink. It was a nice feeling, she decided. Letting someone look after her. Especially after the night she’d just endured.
Jack Taylor was a good man. His presence in the house reminded her of her father. How he always looked out for her and her family, and even now that her dad was gone, Jack was still here, still doing his bit. It was admirable really. Nancy knew that he must be hurting too. Of course he was. Watching as he stirred the tea and popped some biscuits on a plate, Nancy couldn’t help but smile then.
Catching her eye as he put Nancy’s cup and plate down on the table next to her, he looked perplexed.
‘What?’ he asked.
‘Biscuits too. A proper little housewife. You’re good at this, you know, looking after people.’ Nancy pointed to the neatly arranged selection of biscuits. None of which she’d eat. She didn’t have the appetite for them. Then realising that she probably sounded condescending, as Jack blushed and looked awkward, she added: ‘I’m only playing. Thank you. Seriously, Jack, I’m glad I called you tonight. I don’t know who else I could have called. Alex was nigh on useless…’
Jack couldn’t argue with that.
Taking a seat next to Nancy, they both sipped their scalding hot tea in silence, the events of the night playing out separately in each of their minds.
Nancy spoke again first.
‘Did you know about my father and Alex all along?’
Jack stalled on answering, thinking about lying to the girl, not wanting to add any more angst to how she must already be feeling. Only, he knew that he had to tell her the truth. He owed her that much. Besides, he figured out, rightly, that not a lot got past the likes of Nancy. The girl was too shrewd. She’d know straight away that he was lying; in fact, the way her eyes were burning into him, the way she was reading every part of him, Jack knew this was a test.
Nancy was willing him to be straight with her. What else could he do? Alex Costa had put the truth out there, there was no more denying it now. Cautiously, he nodded.
‘The thing is with your father, he was a very private man,’ he said honestly. ‘But, yes, he and Alex had been close for a very long time.’
‘Since before my mother?’ Nancy asked, thinking back to when she’d been a small child. All those times that Alex had been there, lurking around in the background. An honorary Byrne family member.
Jack nodded again.
‘Shit,’ Nancy said simply. She wondered if Colleen knew the truth about her father. That would make sense. Why her mother had been so difficult and detached from them for all those years; why she’d spent the past two decades drinking herself in and out of oblivion.
What else didn’t she know?
‘If it’s any consolation, I think your father always felt ashamed of who he really was. That’s why he hid it from everyone. From the world. But he did love Alex, and Alex loved him too. Very much. That’s why the man has gone to shit since your dad’s death. Fuck, we all have in one way or another. Each of us hanging on as best we can. But Alex has taken it really hard. I think he’s having some kind of breakdown.’
Nancy nodded sadly.
‘I had no idea.’ Her voice small. Hurt that her father hadn’t trusted her enough to confide in her.
‘Only, Alex is letting his personal feelings affect the business now too. If we’re not careful, the whole lot could go down the pan. Trust me, people will be watching us closely from here on in. There’ll be a lot of big faces around London just biding their time until they swoop in and take what your father and Alex worked so hard to build up. Especially if they see how weak Alex is right now.’
Nancy sighed. She’d been thinking the very same thing earlier tonight when she’d been down at the canal. About how many of her dad’s contacts could be trusted. That’s how this game worked. Her father had always said as much. It’s dog eat dog, and the devil takes the hindmost. People would be trying to worm their way in on the Byrne territory now that her father was
dead, and Alex was clearly incapable of running a bath, let alone a business. Only, Nancy wasn’t going to just lie down and let people take what was hers.
‘That’s why I’ve decided that, for now, I’m going to take over,’ she said, the force of her words shocking even her. ‘That’s what my dad would have wanted. That’s why he took me on board in the first place. So that I could be part of all of this. So that one day I could run things,’ Nancy reasoned. Though in fairness no one thought that day would come as soon as this. ‘I worked alongside my father for long enough to know what was going on. I know exactly what he was involved in, and if Alex Costa can’t step up to the plate, then I’m going to have to.’ She was determined now. Watching for Jack’s reaction. For that look of doubt to flash in his eyes. But Jack didn’t flinch. He didn’t even register a second of doubt. Instead, he nodded.
‘Well, no offence, but a fucking amoeba would do a better job of it than Alex Costa is capable of right now!’ Jack said with a grin, trying to lighten the mood. Though he’d made a mental note tonight to keep an eye on Alex Costa from here on in. Everything about the man’s demeanour worried Jack.
The man wasn’t stable. Far from it. He was unhinged and, judging by the state of him tonight, he was out of control too. That didn’t bode well in this game. It gave people the illusion that they were weak, that they weren’t coping. The empire that Alex and Jimmy had worked all those years to build together would all turn to shit. Then Jack would lose out on his cut too.
‘I’ll help you in any way I can,’ he said. He meant it, too. He’d had a nice set up with Jimmy and Alex; just because Nancy was going to be running things from here on out, didn’t mean that needed to change anything. Jack would still do his bit, and still get his cut of the profits. Nancy would need him now.
‘Are you really okay?’ he asked, wondering if Nancy’s sudden bravado was all part of an act. ‘I mean, really okay? You know you don’t have to put on a brave face around me, don’t you? I don’t want to scare you, Nancy, but there’s some pretty nasty things going on around London at the moment,’ he said cautiously.
The Broken_A gripping thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat Page 4
