Brady couldn’t answer her. Only Kate knew the answer to that question. All he could do was offer her a place to lie low until he had sorted out whatever mess Matthews had got himself involved in. The problem was he still cared too much about Kate to walk the other way.
‘Go to my place. You should be safe there.’
‘I … I don’t know, Jack,’ she answered. ‘I don’t think it’s a good idea me staying at your place.’
‘Just do as I say, please? Kate, you really haven’t got much time.’
‘On the condition you tell me what’s going on?’
‘I promise,’ answered Brady. ‘But not now. Later.’
‘OK, but you’d better.’
‘Don’t answer the door to anyone. Understand?’
‘I’m not an idiot!’
‘And Kate?’
‘Yeah?’
‘I’m sorry about before … with Evie. I don’t know what came over me,’ Brady said.
Brady waited for an answer. He then realised that Kate had hung up.
‘There’s nothing to tell,’ Brady replied, knowing what Conrad was thinking.
‘Didn’t say there was, sir,’ Conrad answered evenly. ‘However, your girlfriend might get a surprise when Matthews’ wife and kid turn up.’
‘Bugger,’ muttered Brady.
He’d completely forgotten about Sleeping Beauty.
Brady had no other option. He had to pay Madley a visit. He checked his watch. It was just after 2.40 pm. It would make him late for his meeting with Wolfe, the Home Office pathologist, but he had no other choice.
Madley’s office was on the first floor above The Blue Lagoon nightclub and Brady was certain that was where he’d find him.
‘This won’t take long,’ Brady said to Conrad before he got out of the car.
Brady walked up to the nightclub and banged on the locked glass doors.
A cleaner stopped wiping down the tables and timidly came over and mouthed in broken English that the place was closed.
Brady pulled out his ID and placed it against the glass.
The young woman nervously looked behind her and called out to someone.
Brady couldn’t make out the words, but they sounded East European. He watched as two heavies appeared out of the shadows.
‘What?’ grunted one of the men as he unlocked the doors.
‘I’m here to see Madley,’ bluntly answered Brady.
‘He’s busy,’ replied the same brutish hulk as he scowled at Brady.
‘Detective Inspector Brady. You’ll find he’s expecting me.’
Before they had a chance to reply he pushed his way through the two men.
‘Hey? Where the fuck do you think you’re going?’ shouted the shorter, uglier thug.
‘To see Madley,’ replied Brady as he made his way towards the emergency doors at the back of the club.
‘You can’t do that!’ replied the shorter brute in surprise.
‘Watch me,’ muttered Brady as he pushed through the doors setting off the alarm.
Brady reached Madley’s office door only to be greeted by two more loutish bouncer-types.
‘DI Brady,’ he stated holding out his ID card.
Brady knew the procedure and allowed himself to be frisked. The fact that he was a copper meant he couldn’t be trusted. The police had been after Madley for years. Brady had to prove that he wasn’t dangerous in any way before he’d be allowed in to ‘talk’ to the big boss.
‘What took you so long, Jack?’ greeted Madley as Brady limped into the huge room.
Brady would have recognised Madley’s distinct Geordie twang anywhere, even with the rough edges gone. Madley was stood with his back to the impressive ceiling to floor window. He frowned as he watched Brady painfully make his way towards him.
‘You sure you didn’t start back too soon?’
‘You know me, Martin, I can take it,’ Brady answered as he limped across the polished oak floor towards the window.
It was hard not to notice what Madley’s nefarious business dealings had paid for; his large office was kitted out with the finest antiques. Brady didn’t know much, but he recognised money. Not bad for a lad from the Ridges, he mused.
‘Scotch?’ Madley asked.
Brady shook his head.
‘Not drinking? Things must be bad,’ stated Madley.
‘For Jimmy it seems,’ Brady answered.
Madley’s glinting brown eyes narrowed suspiciously.
He was the same age as Brady but three inches shorter with a smaller frame. However, his tanned, sharp features and menacing eyes warned the hardest nut not to mess with him. His dark brown hair was neatly cut and his clothes were expensive. He wore no jewellery, apart from an expensive watch, which cost more than Brady’s annual salary. They had shared a childhood together; if it could be called that. Madley had always looked out for him, up until the point Brady and his younger brother had been put into a children’s home. After that, Brady had considered himself lucky to even see anyone he recognised, including his brother, as he was shunted from one foster home to another throughout the North East. Both Brady and Madley had the same backgrounds, both had chosen a life of crime; Brady fighting it, Madley living it.
‘What the fuck’s going on, Martin? Why are you so interested in Jimmy?’
Madley turned and looked out of the window.
They stood in silence for a few moments watching the scavenging seagulls screeching over the remnants of a Thursday night in Whitley Bay. Curried chips and a half-eaten kebab were strewn across the pavement below, while pizza boxes and empty beer bottles littered the promenade.
‘Because he’s a copper. A bent copper at that,’ Madley finally answered.
Brady looked uncertain as he thought it over.
‘I would have thought a bent copper would be in your favour?’
Madley turned and looked Brady straight in the eye.
‘You’re right, up to the point he thought he could fuck me over,’ Madley stated menacingly.
‘Is it drugs?’ Brady asked, worried for Matthews.
Madley was well-known for being one of the North East’s major drug dealers, but still the police couldn’t finger him. Anyone CID got close to always ended up dead before they had a chance to talk.
‘Is that what Matthews has on you?’ Brady questioned, unsure of whether he actually wanted to hear the answer.
Madley smiled, baring his perfectly straight white teeth.
‘Do you really think I’m going to tell you, Jack? You’re a copper and always will be.’
Brady looked out of the window. The horizon was a mute grey, matching the depressing sea.
‘I need to find Jimmy, that’s all. But I can’t get hold of him. Seems he’s trying to avoid you.’
‘What makes you think Jimmy’s hiding from me?’
‘Gibbs and that new sidekick of his for starters. It’s hard not to notice those two when they’re sat outside Jimmy’s house.’
Madley smiled as he shook his head.
‘I’ll leave it to Jimmy to fill you in on what he’s done, Jack.’
Brady let it go.
‘I see he’s still with you then?’ Madley said as he gestured towards Conrad’s parked car.
‘Yeah,’ muttered Brady. ‘He’s a good bloke to have around.’
