Simon Kernick - Deadline

'I don't see how I can help.'

'Because you're looking for him. What is it that you people want to speak to him about?'

'We think he's involved in a fraud case,' she lied. If Daroyce and his friends were involved in the kidnapping then they'd know she wasn't telling the truth, but she was beginning to think that they couldn't be. Otherwise, why on earth would they have brought her here?

'That sounds like Phelan. The guy's a snake. Is he likely to get bail?'

'I don't know.'

'Listen, Miss Boyd, perhaps you and me can help each other. I need to get my money back from Pat Phelan, because if I let something like this go, then it's going to look very bad on me and my business. Do you understand what I'm saying?'

'I think so, yes.'

'Now, if you hear where he is, all you need to do is give me a call, let me and my people get there first, and I'll pay you ten grand in cash.' He reached inside his peach suit and produced a huge wad of used notes, putting it down on the table in front of her. 'Not bad for five minutes' work, is it?'

She looked at the money, wondered who'd suffered for him to get it, then back at Daroyce. 'I'll see what I can do.'

'No,' he said quietly, 'that's not good enough. I want you to say you'll do it.'

His tone was cold now.

Tina made another quick calculation. She had no intention of helping Daroyce, and she certainly couldn't take his money. However, it seemed prudent to say yes, just so she could get out of there.

'OK, I'll do it. If we locate him, of course. Have you got a number I can get you on?'

His half-smile returned. 'Sure.' He took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. It was blank except for a handwritten mobile number.

She put it in her pocket.

'I still don't understand why you need me, though. It looks like you've got eyes and ears all over the place. You certainly found out about me easily enough.'

'I've looked everywhere for Phelan, but he seems to have done a better job at disappearing than he ever did at gambling. He was supposed to give me a fifteen grand down payment last Sunday. He didn't turn up; neither did it. He asked for a few more days. I told him he had twenty-four hours. But he didn't come through again. So, I've been hunting for him. I know where he lives, but his car hasn't been there, and from what I hear, neither has he. But,' he added, regarding her almost playfully, 'I've got a little clue that you might be able to use.'

'What's that?' Tina sat forward, interested.

'The thing is, Miss Boyd, can I trust you?' Tina met his gaze, held it firmly. 'Yes, you can trust me. If we find him, I'll let you know. What you do after that is your concern.'

Daroyce nodded, seeming to accept this. 'Phelan's got a girlfriend. Good-looking chick. A little bit old for my tastes, but she carries it well.'

'Are you sure it's not his wife?'

He shook his head. 'No, I know what his wife looks like. It's not her. She's been here, too. The girlfriend. She came with him to deliver a five grand down payment on the debt a couple of weeks ago. I don't know who she is, or where she lives, but they were definitely close, and I had the feeling that, you know, the five grand was her money.'

'Can you describe her?'

'I can do better than that. I can show you a picture.'

He leaned down behind the table and picked up an envelope which he handed her. There was a single photograph inside, a still from the security camera outside Daroyce's door. It showed the faces of a man and a woman, both of whom looked nervous. The man's face was in the foreground, and Tina recognized him as Pat Phelan. The picture quality wasn't fantastic and the woman's face appeared slightly grainy, but even so there was no mistaking who it was, since Tina had seen her picture on the website of Feminine Touch Health and Beauty Spas only hours before.

It was Isobel Wheeler. Andrea Devern's business partner.

'Do you know her?'

'No, but I should be able to find out.'

Tina was a good liar. She knew how to wear a poker face.

'Good.'

Leon Daroyce smiled properly now, and Tina had to fight to maintain her poker face as she saw his teeth for the first time. There was enough gold in there to stock a small jewellery shop, but it wasn't that which grabbed her attention. It was the fact that every single one of them was filed to a razor-sharp point. Daroyce's mouth was a lethal weapon, those jaws easily capable of murder.

Seeing her reaction, he chuckled – a strange, high-pitched little sound that made her skin crawl. 'You like them, baby? The girls always get a little frightened at first, but when they see what I can do with them, they always come back for more.' He waggled his tongue at her, running it along the points of his fangs.

Tina needed to get out of there. The room suddenly felt hot and claustrophobic. She picked up the envelope, slipped the photo back inside, and stood up.

'Let me get on with things, then.'

'Haven't you forgotten something?' He motioned towards the wad of money.

'I can't take it now. I haven't done anything yet.'

'But you're going to, though. Aren't you?'

'If we find him, yes.'

'You look thirsty,' he said, changing the subject. 'Do you want a drink?'

Tina took a sharp breath. 'Thanks, but I need to get going.'

'Sit down there for a couple of seconds. I want to show you something. Go on,' he said, waving towards the seat, 'it won't take long.'

Reluctantly, she did as requested.

'What is it?'

'Power,' he whispered.

'Sorry?'

He mouthed the word again, then turned towards the door. 'Woman, bring me water!' he called out, and a few seconds later a skinny mixed-race girl, no more than eighteen, with unkempt hair, hurried into the room. She was dressed in a dirty white T-shirt and a black thong, and Tina noticed that there were bruises on her bare legs. Avoiding their eyes, the girl put a small bottle of Evian on the table in front of Daroyce and quickly turned to go, but his hand whipped out like a flailing cord and grabbed her wrist in a tight, visibly painful grip. The girl looked scared, but didn't say anything.

'You know what power is, Miss Boyd?' asked Daroyce, tightening his grip on the girl's wrist, making her wince. 'Power is when you're respected; when you're feared; when people will do anything you tell them. Let me show you what I mean.' He looked up at the girl with gleaming eyes. 'You're mine, aren't you, woman?'

'Yes,' she whispered.

'You're hurting her, Mr Daroyce. Why don't you let go of her arm?'

He ignored her, pulling the girl towards him.

'Now, get on your knees.'

The girl knelt down.

'You don't have to do this,' said Tina firmly, horrified by what might be about to take place. 'I believe you.'

Daroyce backhanded the girl across the face. Hard. The slap rebounded around the room. Tina flinched as the girl's head snapped sideways under the blow before quickly righting itself. She didn't cry out or make a sound. Instead, she remained kneeling, staring straight ahead, her jaw quivering as it tightened against the pain. The fear had gone from her eyes now, replaced by the submissiveness of the defeated.

Tina stood up and addressed the girl. 'I'm a police officer,' she said, pulling out her warrant card and showing it to her. 'You can leave with me now. You don't have to stay here.' She didn't add that the girl could also press charges if she wanted to; they could talk about that later, when they were in a safer location.

The girl said nothing, continued to stare straight ahead.

'Come on,' said Tina, putting out a hand. 'You can come with me now.'

Daroyce chuckled. 'Tell her to fuck off, woman.'

This time the girl looked at Tina. There was a red mark covering the entire left side of her face, several small cuts on the cheek where Daroyce's rings had made contact.