Finders Keepers by Edie Baylis (epub ebook reader txt) 📕

‘That room is where everyone we want is,’ he said, nodding towards the windows backing onto the grounds.

‘We’ve been here a while and haven’t seen anyone leave, so what’s the plan?’ Keith moaned. He’d had enough of car stake-outs.

Saul was well aware of how long they’d been here and he could have instead done with sorting out whatever shit that tarty slut had said to cause aggro with Jonah. Oh, he knew what she was doing, but she was playing with fire, which was a very stupid and reckless thing to do. One which she would deeply regret.

And as for this bullshit about babies... He would quite enjoy telling Jonah there was no need to marry the slapper and wouldn’t be breaking his oh, so pious morals because there was no fucking baby. But time waited for no man and he couldn’t hang around to speak to Jonah or plan how to wreck Lena’s two-faced wretched life just yet. Neither did he have time to return Gwen’s call because this was more important.

Saul sparked up yet another cigarette, hoping the choking smoke within his newly purchased BMW was enough to put Keith off his constant eating. The man’s slobbering was making him feel fucking sick, but nowhere near as fucking sick as knowing the people he wanted to get his hands on were only a few hundred yards away. So close, yet still so far.

‘Can we gate-crash a wake?’ Keith asked.

‘Well, we could, but that wouldn’t be the greatest idea,’ Saul said sarcastically. ‘What we do is we sit here. We watch and we wait. Someone will come out sooner or later.’

‘And if they don’t...?’

Saul scowled. Was Keith trying to wind him up? ‘Then we wait some fucking more.’ He turned to face his right hand man. ‘I told you we were lifting the girl and if it takes us all day, all night, plus tomorrow and the day after that until she comes out and gives us an opportunity, then that’s how it is, ok? At the end of the day, you’re either in this or you’re not and I want to know which it is because you’re getting on my tits.’

Keith nodded hastily. He should have known better than to question anything. Sometimes he forgot he was working with Saul rather than Nero and it would do him good to pay more attention to remembering that.

‘Although...’ Saul added, leaning forward in the car seat. ‘I think we may have just got lucky. Pass us the fucking binoculars, would you?’

Twenty One

HEATH SCOWLED AT HIS bank balance. He really could have done without dipping into his savings, especially for something so bloody expensive. And something that he didn’t really even want either. But there was no other choice. He needed this whether he wanted it or not.

He'd been fortunate to land the option in the first place. The last time he’d enquired there was a minimum six month wait for this sought after membership, but whoever had opened a special offer to purchase membership with additional benefits had done him a massive favour.

Of course, it had also come with an additional price tag, but it was the only way.

Flicking over to his email app, Heath pulled up the confirmation:

Platinum VIP Access

Dear Mr Pointer,

Congratulations on securing the opportunity to become part of the Feathers Elite. As well as the exceptional benefits the standard VIP membership offers (listed in the terms and conditions), you are also granted the following in addition:

-  2 free bottles of house champagne per month

-  Guaranteed booking of the sumptuous VIP Function Lounge

-  Choice of canapes on entry during each visit

-  Early bird access to cabaret premiere sittings

To take advantage of these additional benefits, please read the Platinum section of our website, or enquire at the VIP reception.

Please collect your Platinum VIP Membership Card from the club reception. Your card will be ready for you within 48 hours of receipt of this email, along with an entry pass for one guest as part of your access.

Please note: Formal dress/black tie to be worn at all times in the VIP Suite.

Your membership details are as follows:

Name: Mr Heath Pointer

Membership: Platinum VIP

Valid from: 03/07/05

Expires end: 02/07/06

Membership No: 57862

We look forward to welcoming you to the VIP Suite at the Feathers Club.

Enjoy your membership with us.

Warmest regards

Lena Taylor

Events Organiser and VIP Manager

Heath grinned. That was it then. He was now a fully-fledged member of the Feathers club in Soho.

Opening his phone’s browser, he typed in the address for the Feathers website and navigated to the ‘What’s On’ section. He’d better hope his father still had that tux that he could borrow because he was going to need it.

IT HAD TAKEN TEAGAN a good twenty minutes to calm down from her fury at Robert’s arrogance. And now he wanted her to leave?

How could she abandon Dulcie? She couldn’t and furthermore, wouldn’t. It wasn’t up to Robert. The only person who could tell her to leave was Dulcie herself and as far as she knew, Dulcie wanted her there.

Teagan gathered up her hair that the summer breeze pushed across her face and twisted it into a loose ponytail. For her, the prospect of leaving wasn’t about the money or being out of a job. She’d expected to be out of a job when Helen said Dulcie was being moved to a residential apartment, so it wasn’t about that. The truth was she loved Dulcie dearly and admitted she now saw her like a substitute grandmother rather than a client.

Maybe Robert had a point? Perhaps she had blurred the lines and overstepped being an employee to thinking more like she was part of the family?

Teagan forced the forming lump in her throat away. Whether how she felt about Dulcie was morally right or not, her whole attitude towards the Adams’ was unprofessional. Perhaps she should leave?

Her mouth set determinedly. No.