Betrayed (Powell Book 4) (14 page)

Powell awoke to an empty bed and had a moment’s worry when he realised Afina wasn’t in the bathroom. Then he remembered he had asked her to buy him some clothes and a bandage. He glanced at his watch. It was nine thirty so he wasn’t surprised Afina was already up and about. Normally at this time, Afina would be overseeing the serving of breakfast back at his bar.

Powell couldn’t get dressed so he turned on the television to check the news. He had only been watching ten minutes when Afina returned.

“You’re awake,” she commented, as she entered the room. “How are you feeling?”

“Hungry and I would die for a coffee.”

“I’ll bandage your leg, then we can go down to breakfast.” She emptied a shopping bag onto the bed. “I hope you like these.”

Afina had bought blue Chinos and a check blue shirt. There were also some Calvin Klein underpants and socks.

Afina put a second bag on the bed containing the bandages plus toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant.

“This is brilliant,” Powell said. “You’ve thought of everything,”

Afina picked up the bandage and pulled back the quilt revealing his naked body. “Apart from the bullet wound, you look in good shape,” she smiled.

Afina had seen him naked before but he still felt slightly awkward. He picked up the new Kalvin Klein pants and pulled them up his legs.

Afina did a good job of bandaging his wound. When she had finished, he brushed his teeth, dressed in his new clothes and was ready for a large breakfast.

Powell filled his plate to the brim with cooked items from the buffet breakfast while Afina settled for some fruit and toast. No wonder she maintained her slim figure.

“That girl Hattie was very pretty,” Afina said.

“I guess so.”

“Did you and her…?”

Powell stopped eating. “Are you serious? I was trying to help Hattie but she almost got me killed. She was Scott’s girl.”

“She told me relationships at the house were free and easy.”

“They were for some people. She seemed to like you, at least until you stuck a gun in her face.”

“Was there another woman for you, in the house?”

“Afina, if you are asking whether I slept with anyone at the house, then the answer is no.”

“Then why did you not kiss me again?”

“I was tired and injured. I needed to rest.”

“I was surprised when you kissed me. It’s been a long time since you last kissed me. It left me feeling…” She searched for the right word. “Confused. It left me confused.”

“I’m sorry if I upset you,” Powell apologised.

“I was not upset. Just surprised and confused. It made me very happy that you wanted to kiss me but I didn’t understand why you didn’t kiss me again. I thought maybe it was because of someone you met at the house.”

“There was no one at the house. I kissed you because it seemed the right thing to do at the time.”

Afina smiled. “I hope I will not have to wait so long again for your next kiss.”

Powell suddenly leaned forward and kissed Afina on the cheek. “That wasn’t long to wait.”

She smiled, picked up her toast and started eating.

Powell devoured his food and they kept to small talk. As they came towards the end of breakfast, he knew he could no longer postpone the difficult conversation. He decided it was best to come straight to the point. “Afina, I want you to take the first available flight back home.”

“Isn’t it easier to take a train to Brighton rather than fly?”

“You know what I mean.”

“Brighton is my home.”

“I knew you would be difficult.”

“I am not being difficult.”

“Afina, you can’t go back to Brighton. It isn’t safe. Scott or his police friends will find you and either use you as leverage to get to me or will just kill you.

“I can stay with Mara,” Afina suggested.

“No you can’t. The police records show you were friends and it would be one of the first places they look for you.”

“Then I can stay with you.”

Powell had to choose his words carefully. “Afina, I need you out of harm’s way. If you stay with me, I will be for ever worrying about you. That could get us both killed. I need a clear head.”

Afina was thoughtful for a few seconds. “Okay, I will go stay with my mother.”

“I’m going to check you get on the plane,” Powell warned. “And I will call you at your mother’s. I still have her phone number.”

“There is one condition.”

“What?”

“You call Jenkins and get him to come up here and help.”

“I was thinking of doing that anyway,” Powell agreed with a big smile. Jenkins had helped him previously deal with terrorists and gangsters. Powell trusted him implicitly and hoped he wouldn’t be tied up on some other work. “When we go back up to our room, I’ll phone Jenkins and then I’ll also book you a flight.”

“Please be careful,” Afina cautioned. “They will kill you if you give them a second chance.”

Powell and Brian met Jenkins at Paddington station. Afina was in mid-air, having caught a 2.50pm flight from Luton airport to Bucharest. As Jenkins walked through the barrier, Powell was encouraged by the sight of his friend. His leg was going to be a huge hindrance if he was to engage in any fight and the presence of Jenkins at his side would more than compensate.

They headed for a café just a short walk from the station. Powell briefed Jenkins while Brian went up to the counter and ordered the coffees.

“Another fine mess you’re in,” Jenkins summarised in his strong welsh accent. “I think I may have to move to Brighton just to keep you out of trouble.”

“Have you spoken to Hattie’s parents?” Brian asked as he re-joined the others.

“I gave her mother a call this morning. I didn’t give her all the details but enough so she understood her daughter is a dangerous menace.”

“I don’t suppose she wanted to hear that?” Jenkins said.

“Not really. I advised her to try and get her daughter away from the commune or she was likely to end up spending a long time in jail.”

“That’s not going to happen,” Brian commented. “Getting her away from the commune, I mean. Hopefully she and all the others can look forward to a long stay in jail.”

“I don’t want to be in the cell next to Scott,” Powell quipped.

“We won’t let that happen,” Jenkins promised.

“Did you bring the photos?” Powell asked.

Brian took a dozen headshots of police officers from his pocket and handed them to Powell. “From your descriptions, I reckon the two bent coppers are in this pile.”

Powell quickly turned over the first couple of pictures then smiled as he stared hard at the next photo. “This is the man I saw handing over the suitcase.” He looked at the remaining pictures but none were familiar. “I never had more than a glimpse of the driver and then it was mostly his back. He could be any of these men.”

Brian took back the photo and looked on the back. “Inspector Doug Williams. Now we have a name, I’ll soon find out who he works with.”

“Be discrete,” Powell cautioned. “We don’t want them going to ground.”

“After what’s happened, if they have any sense, they’re likely to do that anyway,” Brian replied.

“Maybe,” Powell agreed.

“So what’s the plan?” Jenkins asked. “I assume you didn’t invite me up here just to sit on my arse drinking coffee all day.”

“We need to go on the offensive,” Powell replied. “And you’ll be pleased to learn, you are leading our attack.”

“I always fancied myself as a striker. They get all the glory. What position are you playing?”

“I’m the midfield General.”

“I guess I’m on the subs bench,” Brian said.

“It’s an important role, Brian,” Powell replied. “You have to be ready to come on and save us if we get in a mess.”

“Talking of messes,” Brian said. “I had to smooth things out with the car hire company. The repair bill for the BMW is going to run into thousands.”

Jenkins’ credit card had already proved useful, hiring yet another car and paying for their hotel room. They had moved to a boutique hotel opposite Hyde Park, not planning to spend more than one night in the same hotel. It had been twenty four hours since Jenkins arrived. They had spent the previous night having a few drinks and remembering old times. It was the lull before the expected storm.

The hire car came with a Sat Nav and once they entered the post code of where they were going, it was an easy two hour drive to their destination. They arrived an hour early, having allowed extra time for possible traffic delays. They parked in the car park and knowing they were very early, felt safe stepping out the car and stretching their legs.

“Let’s take a walk,” Powell suggested. “We can check out the route and get a coffee.”

They followed the path downhill and quickly identified the café behind the walled garden.

“Does she meet him inside or out?” Jenkins asked, spotting the patio area with tables.

“Didn’t know to ask that,” Powell replied. “You best sit outside.”

They went inside the café and purchased two takeaway coffees, then returned outside and sat at one of the wooden tables.

“Not too many people about,” Jenkins commented.

“I guess this place is quite quiet in the week, when the kids are at school, which is a good thing. The fewer witnesses the better. I’ve been here a few times at the weekend, when it’s been very busy but not for many years.” Not since Bella was young. Everywhere he went locally seemed to remind him of his daughter.

“By the way, how is Mara?” Jenkins asked.

“She’s good. Afina sees her regularly and I get to see her on special occasions.”

“I must take her for a drink while I’m down here. She still in the same line of work?”

“She’s still an escort,” Powell confirmed. “Seems to be very happy and plans to build a property empire.” 

“What do you mean?”

“She’s just purchased a house and is letting it out to students. I believe she paid a very large deposit with cash.”

“I must be in the wrong line of work.”

“You don’t have feelings for her by any chance?” Powell queried.

“Not the way you mean. I just enjoy her company, as I do Afina.”

“Sorry I had to ship Afina off to Romania but she was in danger if she stayed.”

“Afina’s quite a girl. You and her…?” Jenkins left the question unfinished.

“No. We’re just good friends as they say.”

“You’re mad. Afina loves you and I know you love her. What the hell is stopping you two getting together?”

Powell had wrestled with the question many times, especially since their recent kiss. All the old doubts had resurfaced. He was too old for her and she would inevitably want children, something he couldn’t contemplate doing again.

They hadn’t spoken about the kiss before she left. They both acted as if it had never happened. Perhaps he was attaching too much importance to a single, brief kiss. They had been cold and tired. The kiss had been a momentary celebration of their escape from danger. Their emotions were running high and they were freezing half to death. It was easily explainable. But if the train hadn’t arrived when it did, he would have kissed her more passionately and who knows where that would have led.

One thing was certain, eventually Afina would meet the right man. Someone who could offer her the life she deserved. A life free of danger. What Powell wasn’t sure about, was how he would react when that day arrived. It would feel a bit like the first time Bella brought home a boyfriend.

“Let’s concentrate on the job in hand,” Powell suggested. He had sent Afina away for her safety but also so he had no distractions. “I’d better get back to the car park. I’ll call you when Carol arrives.”

Back at the car, Powell didn’t have to wait long for Carol to arrive and she was easy to recognise. She was driving the very familiar Land Rover. She seemed very relaxed as she stepped out of the car and headed for the path down the hill. She had a large shopping bag over her arm, which Powell assumed contained the package for delivery. She didn’t bother looking around for signs of danger. She’d made the same exchange many times before without incident.

Powell pressed the fast dial button on his mobile and Jenkins answered.

“She’s on the way,” Powell said. “Will be with you in a couple of minutes.”

He wished he could be in the café but he wasn’t very mobile and couldn’t chase after anyone, if it became necessary. There was also the distinct possibility Carol would recognise him before she made the exchange and flip out, warning off the man she was meeting. Powell could only sit in the car and impatiently wait for Carol to return.