Face in the Frame (14 page)

“You told one of her boyfriends that you’d twist his nob off.”

“Because he was cheating on her. Imagine having a goddess like her then screwing around with some tacky tart with a face like a spanked arse.”

“Look, you’ve got to control yourself. If you go around accusing Thorne of stuff like that then not only will he get a restraining order but you’ll make yourself look like the local loony and possibly alienate Cass at the same time. Plus the Chief Constable will nail my bollocks to the wall, he’s a big Lucas Thorne fan.”

“Yeah, well he’s a prick as well. I see what’s going on here, you’re too busy protecting your career to catch a murderer.”

“You don’t know that he is a murderer,” exploded Pete, rapidly losing his patience.

“I thought I might have got back up from you after everything we’ve been through.”

“Give over, you make us sound like a bloody couple.”

“You’re too high maintenance for me,” he retorted.

“Oh funny.”

“Did you run a background check on Thorne?”

“No because you’ve still not given me anything concrete.”

Brodie’s amber eyes hardened. “Well, if you’re not going to do anything about this then I will.”

Pete grabbed his arm and pulled him back when he tried to leave. “You’ll sodding well leave the man alone.”

“He’s a serial killer,” Brodie snarled in his face. “Would you be so blasé if it was rich bastards going missing? No but because it’s homeless people you can ignore it. Well they’re still people and they mean more to me than ten wanker bankers or twenty silver spoon, tight-arsed, chinless, cabbage-brained toffs.”

With that he stormed out the door. Pete stood in the doorway of his office, watching him go, wishing he’d handled that conversation better. “Brodie, come back. We can get through this together,” he called. Realising how gay that sounded and that his entire team was staring at him in gleeful amusement he glared at them all. “Get some bloody work done you lazy bastards,” he roared before slamming the door shut, a blush on his cheeks.

CHAPTER 12

Brodie stalked the streets, scowling at everyone who got too close, feeling betrayed by his so-called best friend. In his heart he knew Pete was right, he had nothing except supposition and his gut feeling, but he knew he was right. Well Pete might be content to sit on his fat arse while Cass danced with death but he wasn’t. The trouble was he had no idea what he could do about it, so he decided to burn off some frustration at the gym.

When Brodie started to tire after just twenty minutes on the treadmill he became even more annoyed. He’d always prided himself on keeping in good shape, he refused to allow himself to go to seed like most of his ex-colleagues, developing a beer gut and man boobs. But since he’d hit forty everything seemed so much harder. The sight of all the buff young twenty-somethings posing in their tight lycra made him feel like an old git. When one of the pricks went arse over tit on his treadmill because he was too busy drooling over himself in one of the many mirrors that lined the walls, Brodie’s laugh rang out loud and clear across the room.

Just as Brodie was getting back into his stride, watching the moron pick himself up off the floor, a voice behind him said, “Toni wants to see you.”

Brodie rolled his eyes, jumped off the treadmill with an agility that pleased him and turned to address the source of the voice. “Hail Caesar,” he called out, his voice echoing even louder than his laugh had.

“I’m getting sick of that huge gob of yours,” growled Caesar. “One day I’ll shut it. Permanently. Toni will get bored of your pish at some point.”

“Not today. Right now she needs me because the men she’s got working for her are a bunch of big jessies.”

“Go on, just one more insult,” said Caesar, thrusting his face into his.

“Or you’ll what? Invade Celtic Britain?”

“I really hate you. Look at you, a washed-up old polis, single, lonely. I have a different woman on my cock every night. What do you have? An unrequited crush on a woman fourteen years younger than you and a crap car. And here you are in the gym trying to compete with men half your age. You sad poser.”

“Poser? That’s rich coming from someone wearing sunglasses indoors and his hair coated in Just for Men. Better not keep Her Majesty waiting,” he added when Caesar opened his mouth to retort, puce with fury.

Brodie took his time in the shower, knowing Caesar was waiting outside the door for him and enjoying the fact that he would be getting funny looks for loitering outside a men’s changing room. When he finally emerged clutching his gym bag Caesar was apoplectic.

“You took your time on purpose,” he exploded.

“I’m just thorough in the shower.” He sniffed the air around Caesar and wrinkled his nose. “You should do the same.”

“Have a good fondle, did you?”

Brodie grinned. “Imagining it, were you?”

“Let’s just go,” said Caesar, stomping to the door, Brodie’s grin broadening as he followed him outside.

“Finally. I don’t like being kept waiting,” said Toni.

She was reclined on an actual chaise longue that sat against a wall of her office in the rear of the five star restaurant she owned. She wore a long white dress, the slit up the side revealing a lot of milky thigh, her cleavage bulging over the top of it. Her long black curly hair tumbled around her shoulders. She was being fed grapes by a leggy blond in a tight white dress that ended just below her bottom. Every time the adoring blond placed a grape in her mouth Toni made a point of sucking lasciviously on her fingers. Brodie was forced to admit Toni was a looker and she knew how to play on it. He got the feeling this had all been arranged for his benefit.

“What, no palm frond?” he commented.

Toni tilted her head his way and smiled but made no move to get up. “I’ve been toying with the idea of getting one. Thank you for acquiescing to my request for a visit.”

“Caesar left me little choice.”

“Yes, he can be very assertive when he wishes to be,” she smiled, running her hand up and down Caesar’s thigh. “Leave us, both of you. I wish to talk to Mr Brodie in private.”

“It’s just Brodie,” he sighed, getting ignored as usual.

“Don’t disappear,” she told Caesar and the blond. “As soon as Mr Brodie’s gone I want you both back in here. Together.” Her lascivious smile said it all.

“Urgh,” commented Brodie as the blond and Caesar filed out, the latter throwing him daggers.

Toni sat up, suddenly all business, the sensuous look dropping from her eyes to reveal the hard, psychotic woman beneath.

“Your talk with Malc didn’t do much good,” she began. “He got hold of my cousin Colin and snipped all the toes off his right foot.”

“That’s Malc’s thing, feet.”

“He never did have any taste,” she said, lip curling with disdain. “Eyes are pretty and even hands can make a very interesting display but what can you do with stinky old toes?”

“Malc’s adamant he’s not going to let you stop him from doing exactly what he wants.”

“You disappoint me,” she said, voice as hard as a block of ice.

“What did you expect me to do? You know Malc, stubborn as a sodding mule.”

“You’re bringing war to our streets.”

“I’m not, you lot are. Listen, if you’re so keen to avoid bloodshed - which I highly doubt - then let Malc play the big man for a little bit, so he can get it out of his system then crush his little drug dealing ring with your huge empire. He’ll come running back to you, cap in hand, begging for forgiveness.”

“If he does he’s going to end up with his head in his hands,” she hissed.

“I don’t know what you want me to say except that Uncle Tam won’t be impressed if you kill him.”

“He’ll be sad but not for very long. Anyway, it won’t come to that because you’re going to convince Malc to return to the fold.”

“Me?” he spluttered. “Do it yourself.”

Toni got to her feet and threw back her head, her mane of dark curls cascading down her back. “Don’t piss me off Brodie. I’m very fond of you but I won’t hesitate to pluck those pretty whisky-coloured eyes right out of your head if you fuck with me.”

“I thought that was Caesar’s job,” he retorted.

Toni’s black eyes honed into daggers, then the danger passed and she barked with husky laughter. “You’re fortunate you can make me laugh. I’ll give you another two days to change Malc’s mind. Now you may go.”

“Excuse me, I don’t work for you and I have better things to do with my time. Looks like you’re going to have to sort this one out yourself.”

“You dare defy me?”

“I hate to burst your bubble but you’re not queen of the world. You’re a violent drug dealer and violent drug dealers sort their own problems out. They don’t run to other people saying
ooh please help me with the nasty man.
”

“You wouldn’t have turned down my brother.”

“If you think this is because you’re a woman then you’re wrong and the difference is Frankie wouldn’t have involved me in the first place. He wouldn’t have wanted an outsider knowing someone was getting the better of him. By now he’d have Malc’s hands nailed to his wall.”

“I would love nothing more than to lop Malc’s stupid melon head off his shoulders but Uncle Tam can be sentimental. He wants to bring Malc to his senses before permanently removing him from them.”

“Then let Tam talk him round. He’s more likely to listen to him than me. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Toni’s smile was evil. “You’ve just given me an idea.”

“Oh…hell.”

Brodie returned to the office feeling even more miserable. Not only was Toni insisting on dragging him into something he really didn’t want to be involved in but he’d spent ten minutes tactfully declining her offer to turn the threesome she’d planned with Caesar and the blond into a foursome with himself right in the centre. He’d been left with no choice but to help with the Malc situation though, she’d threatened to take Cass’s beautiful eyes if he’d refused. Toni was clever, she knew Cass was his weakness and she wasn’t afraid to exploit that.

It didn’t help his mood when he returned to the office to find Cass cooing down the phone to her new lover. Hastily she whispered her goodbyes before hanging up. The happiness shining from her eyes both heartened and depressed him.

“What’s up Bossman?” she said.

He fell into the chair on the opposite side of her desk. “I’ve just been pulled into a meeting with Toni McVay.”

“Oh my God, are you alright?”

“Fine. She made her usual threats but I left unscathed.”

“Was it about Big Malc again?”

“It was. She seems to think I can talk him round.”

“Frankie wouldn’t have bothered. He would just have killed him and enjoyed it and bugger what Uncle Tam said. Do you buy all this sentimental crap?”

“I don’t know. Uncle Tam did raise Malc from being a wean. If it was left to Toni then Malc would have conveniently disappeared by now but she’s always been fond of Tam, he helped Frankie climb the ranks and put the family where it is today.”

“I’m thinking Toni needs Tam to help her hold the operation together, which is why she’s so keen on keeping him happy. But the longer this drags on the weaker she looks, which is why she’s turned to you in desperation.”

“Thanks,” he said flatly.

“I didn’t mean it like that. For a McVay to turn to an ex-copper means they’re desperate. Anyway, Frankie ended up getting murdered in Manchester. If that’s what Uncle Tam does for people then Toni would be better off without him. And how can the McVays still do business with the Maguires and Laws after they did that to her brother?”

“Because their deal rakes in a hell of a lot of cash. As Toni is a psychopath this means more to her than family ties. Besides, I’m pretty sure she was grateful when they topped Frankie, he had a weird thing for his sister.”

Cass screwed up her face. “Gross.”

“That was Frankie. You never met him, did you?”

“No. I’m not sure whether I’m disappointed or relieved about that.”

“He was a mad bastard but in a way he was likeable. You could have a laugh with him. Toni seriously lacks a sense of humour, although she says she finds me funny. I think she likes someone who stands up to her and doesn’t kiss her arse. Makes a change for her.”

“Malc must be really stupid to go up against Toni when she has the back-up of Manchester.”

“He always was a thick bastard so that doesn’t surprise me. But there’s something more going on here, I’m sure of it.”

“Careful Bossman. Don’t go anywhere without back-up. This will turn nasty.”

“Aye I won’t,” he replied with a fond smile. “Did you get anything off Norrie’s phone?”

“Apart from saucy text messages to his great love, no.”

“Bugger.”

“Lauren Creegan’s doctor rang again.”

“Oh great,” he sighed. “I can’t do anything now, not with all this McVay shit flying about. Just put her off until I’ve had more time to think.”

“Okay but don’t take too long, she’s getting really persistent.”

“I won’t. So…seeing Lucas tonight?”

“Yes,” she said slowly. “Why?”

He shrugged. “Just curious.”

“He’s not a loon Brodie, honestly.”

“If you say so.”

“I do. He treats me well, which is more than my last three boyfriends did.”

“Good. Tell him if he hurts you I’ll tear his spleen out.”

“I will,” she said with a sweet smile that made his heart both pound and sink.

Lucas and Cass stumbled through the door of the former’s penthouse apartment, frantically kissing. Lucas slammed the door shut behind them and pushed her up against it, his lips on her neck, both startling her and exciting her with his passion.

“Steady,” she breathed.

He tore his lips from her neck and pressed his forehead to hers. “Sorry, you just drive me crazy. Take this down,” he said, sliding the bobble from her ponytail, her hair falling down her back.

They both sighed when there was a knock on the other side of the door and Oliver’s voice called, “cooee, it’s me. Open up.”

Lucas tutted and shook his head. “Give me a minute and I’ll get rid of him.”

They both adjusted their clothing before Lucas opened the door and said, “listen Ollie, I’ve got company.”

Oliver stepped round him and inside, a smirk on his lips. “Good, I was hoping Cass would be here.”

Something about his satisfied smile made Cass’s stomach drop.

“Please Ollie,” said an impatient Lucas. “Don’t spoil this for me.”

“I’m not the one who’s going to spoil it. She’s already done that.”

“What are you talking about? Have you been drinking?” said Lucas.

“She’s been lying to you. Her name isn’t Carmichael, it’s Carlisle and she works for a private detection agency.”

Cass wanted to punch the smirk off his face.

“Don’t be ridiculous Ollie, where did you get that rubbish from?” said Lucas.