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

Hearing nothing but traffic noise from the other end of the line, Joe began to panic. ‘Hello?’

‘I’m thinking,’ Keith muttered.

‘Whatever you’re thinking, this isn’t a set up,’ Joe blathered, immediately wishing he hadn’t. Didn’t that make it sound that it was?

‘I don’t think even you would be that stupid.’

‘Exactly.’ Joe blathered. Although Robert hadn’t outlined exactly what it was he intended to do, Joe was sure it wouldn’t be straightforward and the persistent knocking inside the back of his brain made that glaring fact difficult to ignore. Whatever else he might be, he did owe it to Teagan to get her away from these people – not withstanding that Robert Adams hadn’t given him any choice in the matter...

‘I’ll meet you tonight. 10pm,’ Keith grunted. He’d have to take the chance. He just had to.

‘Where?’ Shit, shit, SHIT.

‘The warehouses out the back of Dock Road. But just you – no one else. There will be no girl until I’ve seen the goods.’

Joe swallowed. That wasn’t part of the plan. ‘But how do I know you’ve got her?’

Keith laughed. ‘You don’t, but trust me, you’ll get her back once Jonah confirms the stuff is his.’

‘But that’s n...’

‘Take it or leave it.’ Keith played his hand. ‘10pm at the warehouse.’

Hearing the call click off, Joe stared at the mobile, his hands shaking. Fuck. Now what?

‘HOW AM I NOT SUPPOSED to worry when you disappear all day and don’t say a word?’ Dulcie moaned. ‘Anything could have happened!’ Her bird-like fingers drummed on the table. ‘It really isn’t good enough. Teagan having no manners is one thing, but you?’

She stared at Robert as he tapped away at his computer. ‘What with everything that’s already happened, first with Helen and now Teagan, I’m on edge. Do you not think I’ve been through enough?’ Not content that Robert hadn’t acknowledged her words, she raised her voice. ‘I’m a right state. A bag of nerves!’

Robert stopped typing and looked at his mother. It was taking all of his power not to blurt out that he knew – knew everything. That she was a liar, a fake, a phony and a murderer. But he wouldn’t. He also had to act that Teagan’s whereabouts did not bother him, when in reality it was driving him to distraction. Even more since Joe had called, recounting the conversation he’d had with that psycho. That had made everything 1000 times worse.

Adrenaline fizzed in his veins. He’d only got until 10pm to think of a feasible plan, but he was good at methods and plans – like programming.

Robert’s blue eyes met with the equally blue ones of his mother. How had he never noticed how cold her eyes were? How had he missed the lack of empathy behind those cornflower-coloured eyes of hers?

Because she was his mother, that’s why. He’d never had any reason to think she was anything else, but now she’d been exposed as being a lot of things and they read a lot differently.

‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you.’ Robert smiled. ‘I was at Footlights the entire day yesterday and you’ll be glad to know it’s now all spick and span and ready when you are.’

Dulcie’s face lit up before her eyes narrowed suspiciously. ‘You haven’t thrown any of my things away, have you? Cleaned all my stuff out like you always wanted?’

Robert laughed – the sound unnatural. He wanted to walk away. Walk away as far as possible. This woman was poison. ‘No, I’ve thrown nothing away. I think you’ve already lost too much to warrant me adding to it.’ God, the words coming out of his mouth were sickening. He’d prefer to launch everything which had any connection to her, that place and her life out of the window, especially her gun which was now safely concealed in his wardrobe. ‘I got rid of anything broken, but nothing else. Why? Was there something in particular...?’

Dulcie studied Robert suspiciously. ‘Like what? I just don’t want to lose anything else.’ Why was he acting odd? Had she not been convincing enough? She changed her expression to a sad one. ‘I think we have to presume that Teagan isn’t coming back.’

Robert bit back his anger. ‘I thought you said she’d return for those diamonds?’

Dulcie shrugged, her shoulders slumping. ‘Oh, I don’t know... I don’t know anything anymore. Teagan must realise we’re on to her and has decided not to risk it.’

Robert snarled inwardly. He knew exactly where Teagan was now and why - held to ransom at that fucking club - that bloody godforsaken Feathers club for the diamonds. Joe had confirmed the psychos had got her, so where else would she be? He knew what he had to do. They said they wanted to see the jewels? Well, that’s exactly what he’d be doing.

He would see this Jonah Powell character and he could have his fucking diamonds back. It wasn’t like he wanted them. In fact, he wanted nothing from the father he’d never met. Money and possessions meant little, but he wanted the person back who was awakening him. He wanted the person back who made him believe he could be normal.

Getting into the Feathers to see the big honcho wouldn’t be easy, but if half of his henchmen were being led in the opposite direction by Joe, then that would at least help.

He stared at Dulcie, now rubbing lavender oil on the pulse points of her wrists. As for her, she wasn’t keeping those diamonds. If anyone deserved them, it wasn’t her.

Thirty Six

GWEN KNEW LENA WOULDN’T be in until later because Jonah had said so when she’d seen him briefly. He hadn’t said why in so many words, but telling her to remind all staff that under no circumstances were any members of the public to be admitted into the staff areas, spoke volumes.

Since when