Face in the Frame (16 page)

“What are we doing here?” he asked Tam when the car rolled to a halt.

“You talk to Toni,” was all he said before climbing out of the car.

Brodie remained where he was, peering into the darkness, but he could see nothing.

A bang on the window made him jump and he saw Tam glaring at him through the glass. “Come on.”

Brodie was glad he’d hidden the knife inside his jacket before leaving the flat earlier. He made a point of not being in the company of a McVay without back-up or a weapon.

Reluctantly Brodie got out of the car and followed a waddling Tam inside the warehouse. It was a relief to walk into light, a small portable lamp sitting on an upturned crate. Toni was there in all her finery, encased in the fur coat and lots of diamonds, Caesar by her side, who drew his gun when Brodie entered.

“Now Caesar, this is just a friendly chat,” she said.

Caesar glowered at Brodie before holstering the gun.

“I hope you mean that,” said Brodie.

“Of course.”

He glanced around the manky derelict building. “I didn’t think this was your style Toni.”

“I’m thinking of buying it. I want to expand.”

“Into what?”

She threw back her head. “You do remember what curiosity did to the cat, don’t you?”

“You mean it’s none of my business. So, what do you want from me now?”

Toni’s smile was wicked. “Don’t worry Mr Brodie, it’s nearly over.”

“Not permanently I hope?”

“Of course not. You’re far too entertaining, although I know Caesar disagrees. What I want is to hear your take on Malc tonight.”

“Well, Tam scared the living shit out of him and he ended up begging him not to hurt him and he promised to return to the fold.”

“Excellent. Do you think he’ll stick to his word?”

“If he’s any sense he will but, in my experience, Malc doesn’t. I wouldn’t be surprised if, when he’s got over his fright, he’s back to his old melon-heided defiance.”

“Interesting.” Toni looked to Tam, who also nodded. “Right, we’ve taken up enough of your time Mr Brodie. You can go.”

“We’re miles from my flat. Anyone going to give me a lift?”

“Sorry, we’re going in the other direction. We’ve tickets for the ballet tonight, don’t we Tam?”

“Aye,” he nodded.

“Tam, at the ballet?” said Brodie, trying not to smirk.

“Aye. How no?” frowned Tam, jaw sliding to the side.

“Nothing.” When they all walked away he called, “so you’re just going to leave me here?”

Toni stopped and turned. “You’re a big man Mr Brodie, in many ways I’m told. I’m sure you can get yourself home.”

“Oh thanks,” he exclaimed as they left, Caesar’s bark of laughter pissing him off even more.

CHAPTER 14

Brodie walked into the office the next morning feeling tired and a bit shivery. After the McVays had abandoned him twelve miles from his flat he’d been forced to walk until he’d reached civilisation and managed to flag down a passing taxi. He’d been unable to call one as Tam hadn’t allowed him to take his mobile phone with him.

All he wanted to do was flop into his office chair with a huge mug of hot coffee, but he realised his dream of peace was going to be shattered when the first thing he saw was Christian and Ross huddled together in a corner, whispering furtively.

“What’s up with you pair of fannies?” he said. “Don’t tell me you’ve broken something else?”

“No Boss,” replied Christian. “It’s Cass, she’s on the warpath.”

“Who’s pissed her off?” he said, suspicious eyes flicking between the two of them.

“Dunno but she keeps throwing things and yelling at people who ring up.”

“Where is she?”

“In your office.”

Brodie craned his neck to peer through the gaps in the blinds to see Cass having a fall out with his printer, repeatedly slamming it with her fist.

“Leave it to me Ladies,” he said before heading to his office door.

“Stupid bastarding thing,” he heard her bellow, followed by a thud and the cracking of plastic.

Brodie hesitated, glancing back over his shoulder at Christian and Ross, who gave him encouraging nods.

Taking a deep breath he opened the door to find Cass still beating up his printer, yelling oaths.

“Woah, what’s it done to you?” he exclaimed.

Her head snapped up, jaw set. “It pissed me off, the stupid, useless lump of shite.”

“Hey, that’s enough,” he said when she resumed thumping it, having to raise his voice to be heard over the sound of smashing plastic.

Fortunately she stopped hitting the printer, which Brodie thought was probably beyond saving.

“Sit down and tell me what’s got your back up hen,” he said.

Cass sighed, threw herself into his chair and folded her arms across her chest. “It’s nothing.”

“If it was nothing my printer would still be alive. You’re not leaving this room until you tell me.”

She sighed again and rolled her eyes. “Fine. It’s Lucas.”

“What’s the prick done? I’ll throttle him with his own hair.”

“That won’t be necessary. He dumped me.”

Brodie just gaped at her, attempting to fathom why any man would dump this goddess. If he had her he’d hold on tight with both hands. Literally. “What happened?”

“He found out what I really do for a living.”

“How?”

“Oliver, his agent, did some snooping.”

“Sneaky wee bastard. So he grassed you up?”

“And he took great pleasure in it. He’s always hated me.”

“Why?”

“Because he can’t stand anyone getting close to Lucas, I think he’s in love with him. Anyway, Lucas confronted me about it, we argued, he dumped me. End of.”

Any delight Brodie may have felt about this turn of events was eradicated by the misery her pained expression was causing him. “He’s a bawbag and he doesn’t deserve you.”

“I can’t really blame him. I did lie to him.”

“For a good reason. Does he know why you were at that exhibition in the first place?”

“God no. There’s no way I’m telling him that.” She smiled humourlessly. “I was stupid to think a relationship that had started with such a huge lie could go anywhere.” Her big doe eyes filled with sadness. “But I did hope it would.”

“You really liked him, didn’t you?” he said, trying not to sound downcast.

Cass looked down at her hands - which were covered in ink - and nodded. “Yeah. Stupid me.”

“You’re not stupid. He’s the stupid one. You could have any man you wanted. Sod him.”

She gave him a long searching look that he couldn’t quite define.

“Yeah, right,” she mumbled.

Brodie shifted uncomfortably. He was never much good at conversations like this. During the course of his work if anyone required a heart-to-heart he left it to Cass. He wasn’t exactly known for his sensitivity. “What you need is to take your mind off the elf.”

“Elf?” she frowned.

“Yeah, he looks like one. All he needs are the pointy ears.”

Cass flashed a reluctant smile. “You might have a point.” The smile fell. “His hair’s so beautiful.”

Brodie started to panic. He had no idea what he should say to that and it looked like she might start to cry at any moment. Cass never cried. “I know what’ll cheer you up. Why don’t we go out and inflict some gratuitous violence on someone?”

“I’m not in the mood.”

“It’s some wee scrote who could tell us more about the McVay situation,” he said, dangling it before her like a carrot.

Her eyes brightened. “Alright. I’m curious to learn more about that.”

He smiled. With a bit of luck he’d help her forget all about Lucas sodding Thorne.

“Come on Kelpie, tell me what you know,” said Brodie, shaking the small, scrawny man by the back of his jacket.

A turtle-like face peered up at him, a small neat black moustache clinging to the upper lip. “I know nothing.”

“Normally I’d say that’s true but you are a shifty bastard who sticks his neb in wherever he can. Who is working with Big Malc?”

“I don’t know,” he exclaimed.

Brodie and Cass had cornered him sneaking out the back of his girlfriend’s house before her husband returned home. It boggled the mind how this ugly little creature always managed to maintain a steady stream of girlfriends but somehow he did.

“Aye ya do,” snapped Brodie. “Tell us before we throw you to Tanya’s bloke.”

Kelpie paled. “You wouldn’t.”

“We both know I will. He’s only been out of Barlinnie a few months after serving twelve years for attempted murder. He wouldn’t hesitate to bury you.”

Cass glanced around the corner, keeping watch. The back street they were on was quiet and not overlooked but they were close to a busy road.

“Tell me Kelpie,” snarled Brodie, shaking the man.

“Aargh, I’m going dizzy,” he complained, screwing shut his small black eyes.

“That’ll be nothing compared to what Tanya’s man will do. You won’t have a head left to feel dizzy with.”

“I can’t tell you what I don’t know. Now please Mr Brodie, let me go.”

“That’s not my name,” he cried, shaking him harder. But Kelpie wasn’t about to cave in.

Cass tutted and glanced at her watch. “I’ve had enough of this shite. Let me have a go Bossman.”

“Alright, go on then,” he said, relinquishing the man.

Kelpie smirked at Cass, quite certain she was incapable of inflicting worse torments on him than Brodie could.

He was wrong.

Cass’s boot connected with the side of his face, knocking him over. Before he could rise she kicked him face down to the ground, straddled him, twisted his arms up his back and forced his face towards a huge dog poo steaming in the middle of the alleyway.

“No, no,” shrieked Kelpie, trying to push himself backwards.

Cass only twisted his arms harder, the agony popping into his shoulders causing him to cease fighting, eyes filling with horror as that huge turd got closer to his face. Kelpie wasn’t named Kelpie because he was some sort of shape shifting water sprite. He was christened it years ago by his best friend because he spent most of his time in water. Kelpie had a horror of dirt, it obsessed him. He showered no less than eight times a day and his hands were red raw from continuous washing.

“Alright, I’ll tell you,” he cried just before his cheek touched down on soft warm brown.

Cass looked to Brodie, who nodded.

“Let him up,” he said.

A disappointed Cass released Kelpie, who shot to his feet, frantically brushing himself down, his clothes splattered with muck and mud.

“You’ve got an empty condom packet stuck to your crotch,” laughed Brodie.

Kelpie released a shriek and moved to brush it away, but didn’t dare touch it with his bare hands. Instead he pulled a pair of nitrile gloves from his jacket pocket, hastily slipped them on and flicked the packet off his jeans before tearing off the gloves and casting them aside. He stood there shaking, wrapping his thin arms around himself, face ashen.

“You’d better tell Brodie what he wants to know unless you want me to rub your face in the shite,” said Cass coldly.

“Malc’s got inside help,” he wailed.

“That’s old news,” said Brodie. “I want to know who.”

“Someone close to Toni.”

“Well duh,” said a disappointed Brodie.

“Want me to squish his face in it?” said Cass with a wicked grin.

Brodie resisted the urge to give her a sloppy smile. Christ this woman was perfection. “Let’s ask him again if he knows exactly who’s helping Malc.”

“I don’t,” said Kelpie firmly. “Malc’s not that thick, he’s keeping that really quiet.”

“This isn’t just about challenging Toni’s power, is it?” said Brodie. “It’s a takeover.”

Kelpie just nodded, still shaking, anxiously looking around him at the litter and filth in the alleyway. “I need…to go home…I need…to shower.”

Cass actually started to feel sorry for him, he looked so jittery.

Obviously Brodie did too because he said, “aye alright, off you go.”

“Th…thank you,” said Kelpie before stumbling out of the alley.

“I thought this was supposed to make me feel better,” Cass said miserably. “Now I just feel worse. That was like kicking a puppy. He might be a bit of a shitebag but Kelpie’s pretty harmless.”

“Sorry,” said Brodie, pissed off with himself. All he’d wanted to do was cheer her up. “Why don’t you take the rest of the day off? Go and have some fun, or you could go for a run, get it all out of your system.”

“I’m not in the mood. I’d rather keep working, I’ll only sit around at home, moping.”

“Whatever you want hen. Let’s get back to the office and reassess our options.”

“Fine,” she sighed, following him back to the car.

Cass remained silent the entire journey back to the city centre, staring out of the window. Several times Brodie opened his mouth to attempt to offer her comfort but he had no idea what to say, so he thought it best to keep his big gob shut.

“What’s that smell?” frowned Brodie as they approached the door to their office.

“Smells like perfume,” commented Cass.

Roger burst out of nowhere, actually making Brodie jump. “Oh it’s so beautiful,” he exclaimed.              

“What is?” said Brodie.

“Open the door and you’ll see,” he replied with an eager grin.

Frowning, Cass pushed open the door and gasped. “Oh my God.”

Brodie stormed inside, scowling. “Which prick filled my office with flowers?”

“Gerbera,” said Roger.

Brodie rounded on him. “What the hell did you just call me?”

“He means the flowers are gerbera Bossman,” said Cass, her gaze riveted on the room. “As well as roses and lilies. There must be over two hundred flowers here.”

“Three hundred and twenty to be precise my love,” said a voice. “I bought every one the shop had.”

“Oooh,” exclaimed Roger, overloading with excitement when Lucas Thorne emerged from the staircase behind them.

“Err, I was talking to Cass,” added Lucas when it became apparent there was a real risk Roger was going to hurl himself at him.

“I thought you didn’t want me anymore,” she snapped back at him.

“You know Lucas Thorne?” said an astonished Roger.

Everyone ignored him.

“I was an idiot,” continued Lucas. “I allowed Oliver to tarnish what we had.”

“Aye ya did, ya prick,” said Brodie. “You hurt Cass and I’m buggered if you’re going to do it again. Take your flowers and shove them up your…”

“Please Brodie,” said Cass, her eyes on Lucas.

“Are you forgetting what he did to you?”

“It was nothing less than I deserve. Could you please let us talk in peace?”

“But this is my office.”

“Please Brodie.”

He never could resist those big eyes. “Fine but don’t take any crap from him.” He turned to Lucas. “You hurt her once more and my toe will be meeting your arse.”

“I won’t make the same mistake twice,” said Lucas. He shifted from side to side and glanced at Cass when Brodie continued to stare at him. “Err, was there anything else?”

“I’d love your autograph,” said an overwhelmed Roger.

“Come on you, leave them to it,” said Brodie, grabbing the back of Roger’s shirt and hauling him protesting to the door.

When it closed behind them Lucas turned back to Cass. “Your boss is very…interesting.”

“He’s a good man, if a little unusual.”

“I’m sure I’ve seen him somewhere before,” said Lucas, frowning at the closed door before turning his attention back to Cass with a smile. “I’m here to apologise.”