Takedown by Heather Atkinson (latest books to read txt) 📕

“The only other way is to carry them out between us and everyone might wonder why we’re doing that when we have a bunch of removal men coming.”

“We can’t,” she said with a mischievous smile. “Can we?”

“I think we have to.”

“Yes, you’re right.” It would be nerve-wracking but also exciting. God, she hoped she wasn’t becoming a danger junkie. “Their car’s on the car park.”

“I’ll take it to our friend who owns the scrapyard first thing in the morning.”

“But the removal men aren’t coming until tomorrow. We’re stuck with two dead bodies in the flat overnight.”

“Let’s just go into the bedroom, lock the door and not come out until morning.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Faith, letting him take her hand and lead her into the bedroom.

CHAPTER 26

 

The removal men had no clue they were shifting two dead bodies. The one containing Flo posed no problem but it took all four of them to carry the one containing Gordon. Faith told them it was full of books. The twenty pound note she slipped each of them soon silenced their complaints.

The two storage boxes were driven with the rest of Faith’s things to her new apartment on the ground floor of a block just further down the road. It wasn’t as swanky or modern but it had the cosiness she missed from the flat she’d rented when she’d first moved back to Blackpool and she still had a sea view and a balcony. Best of all was an enclosed garden at the rear that only she had access to and that Blossom could safely sit out in if she so desired.

When the removal men had gone, Faith and Vance stood staring at the two boxes in grim silence.

“Now what?” said Faith.

“Cooee,” called a voice.

The removal men had left the front door standing open and their entire family was pouring inside, Abi carrying a bunch of flowers and Rose a pot plant.

“What are you all doing here?” said Faith, stamping down the rising panic.

“We knew today was your moving day,” replied Rose. “And as you weren’t replying to any of our calls we got a bit worried, so we thought we’d come over and see how you were doing.”

Faith and Vance glanced at each other before glancing at the chests.

“Sorry,” said Faith. “My phone’s been playing up. It’s lovely of you all to come but all the hard work’s done.”

“Nonsense. We can help you unpack.”

“That’s really not necessary and some of it’s going to the tip. The removal men got carried away and loaded up the things I was getting rid of, like these two boxes. Actually, you can help us with that boys,” she said, looking to the rest of her brothers. “They’re very heavy, so you can give us a hand.”

Faith was sweating under her clothes. She didn’t want her brothers to touch those boxes but there was no choice. It was the only way to get them out of her flat. She and Vance couldn’t lift the box containing Gordon between them.

“I’ll go and fold the seats down in my car,” said Vance before hurrying out the door.

“So, what can we be doing?” said Rose. “Shall I start cleaning? It looks like the last owners didn’t give it a good going over before they left.”

“That would be great, thanks,” she said, relieved she wasn’t talking about unpacking boxes anymore.

“Lovely. Abi, you can help,” said Rose, making her daughter sigh.

Vance returned and the four brothers took the box containing Gordon between them.

“Bloody hell, what’s in this?” groaned Kevin, legs shaking with the effort.

“Books,” said Faith. “A lot of books.”

“Really?” said Rose. “I’ve been after some new reading material. Can I have a rummage before you get rid of them?”

“Sorry, they’ve all been claimed by a charity shop. They haven’t had many donations lately and they’re struggling,” she said, hoping that would be enough to shut her up.

“That’s very kind of you dear. We must do what we can to help those in need.”

The brothers dumped the box in the back of Vance’s car, which sank down a few inches with the weight.

Caleb and Vance between them easily managed the second box.

“You go back inside,” Vance quietly told Faith while the others returned to the flat. “I’ll handle this.”

“What will you do with them?”

“I know someone who can get rid of them.”

“Who? Can we trust them not to talk?”

“I met them in prison.”

“Not a good recommendation.”

“Hugo’s a good bloke and a smuggler. For ten grand he’ll sail anything you want into the middle of the sea and dump it there, no questions asked and the water’s so deep no one will ever find it.”

“I don’t want to trust anyone else to do this.”

“I’ll go with him. It’s our best option. It’s either that or bury them and with that there’s always a risk they’ll be discovered. I’ll drill a few holes into the sides of the chest to let in seawater so they’ll sink like stones.”

“Okay, if you think this is the best thing we can do.”

“It’s the only thing we can do. If we keep them hanging around any longer they’re going to start to smell.”

Faith sighed. “This move was supposed to be a fresh start after all the crap we’ve been through. This isn’t what I had in mind.”

“We’ll soon be rid of them and then we don’t need to think about them ever again. What is it?” he added when she smiled.

“There’s the armoury under their house, which we now have the keys too,” she said, patting her jacket pocket. “It would make a nice present for Jules, to apologise for all the recent upheaval.”

“That is a good idea. We won’t tell the others though, although they may wonder what happened