business was that it was run
The door of the sauna opened and Laura stepped out. She was dressed in a tight black miniskirt and matching sleeveless top, with knee-length black leather boots. No coat or jacket, so she was intending going back to work afterwards.
“Laura!” Siobhan called. Laura crossed the road and got into the passenger side, rubbing her arms.
“Not warm tonight,” she commented.
“Have you heard from Donny?” Siobhan asked without preamble.
Laura looked at her and shook her head.
“We took him in for questioning earlier today.” Siobhan made sure she had eye contact. “He did a runner.”
Laura’s eyes went vacant.
“He knows about your . . . arrangement,” Siobhan said quietly.
“What arrangement?”
“You and Edward Marber.”
“Oh . . .”
“Will he come after you?”
“I don’t know.”
“What about Alexander?”
Laura’s eyes widened. “He wouldn’t hurt Alexander!”
“But might he try to snatch him?”
“Not if he knows what’s good for him!”
“Maybe we could have some officers watch your home . . .”
Laura was shaking her head. “I don’t want that. Donny won’t hurt me or Alexander . . .”
“You could always ask Mr. Cafferty for help,” Siobhan stated nonchalantly.
“Cafferty? I already told you . . .”
“Donny worked for Cafferty, did you know that? Maybe you could ask Cafferty to keep Donny away from you.”
“I don’t know anyone called Cafferty!”
Siobhan stayed silent.
“I
“Well then, you’ve nothing to worry about, have you? Maybe I wasted my time coming out here this time of night to warn you . . .”
Laura looked at her. “I’m sorry,” she said. Then: “And thank you.” She reached over and laid her hand on Siobhan’s. “I appreciate it.”
Siobhan nodded slowly. “Did Suzy ever go to college?” she asked.
Laura seemed taken aback by the question. “Suzy? I think she thought about going . . . maybe six or seven years ago.”
“Is that how long she’s worked in saunas?”
“At a rough guess.”
They heard the door to the Paradiso opening. A man, his back to them, face in shadow as he disappeared inside.
“I better get going,” Laura said. “Could be one of mine.”
“You have a lot of regulars, don’t you?”
“A fair few.”
“Means you must be good.”
“Or they must be desperate.”
“Was Edward Marber desperate?”
Laura looked slighted. “I wouldn’t have said so.”
“What about the punter who was leaving as I came in? He’s a regular, too, isn’t he?”
“Maybe.” Becoming defensive now, opening the car door and stepping out. “Thanks again.”
She started to cross the road. The sauna’s door was opening, throwing light onto the street. The same man emerging, only now with his front to them rather than his back.
Donny Dow.
“Laura!” Siobhan called. “Get back in the car!” At the same time she was struggling to find the door handle, which seemed to have moved a few inches from where she normally found it. Pushed open the door and started to get out.
“Laura!” Siobhan calling out her name almost at the same time he did, their voices clashing in the air above their heads.
Donny Dow rushing at Laura. Laura screaming. And in the background, a sound Siobhan would hear for the rest of the night — the sound of the lock clicking shut on the inside of the door to the Sauna Paradiso.
Dow had Laura, grabbing her shoulders, shoving her backwards against the car. Then his arm went up and Siobhan knew, though she couldn’t see it, that there was a weapon there, a blade of some sort. She launched herself across the hood, one hand propelling her across it so that she flew feet first, catching him low down on one side. It wasn’t enough to deflect him. The knife sliced into Laura’s flesh, making a soft sound almost like a mild reproach.
The knife again finding its target. Siobhan let go of his arm and aimed her knee into his groin, connecting with all the force she could muster. Dow staggered backwards, his voice a rising complaint of pain. Siobhan watched Laura sag visibly. She was hanging on to the car’s door handle, knees buckling. There were rivulets of blood.
Siobhan aimed another kick at Dow, but he dodged it, turning full circle. The knife — it was one of those builder’s blades, the kind you bought in a DIY store — was still gripped in his right hand. Siobhan filled her lungs and let out a scream, making sure he took the full force of it.
“Help, somebody! Help us here! She’s dying! Donny Dow’s murdered her!”
At the sound of his name, he paused. Or maybe it was the word
“You bastard!” she shouted at him. Then she gave another scream, searing the inside of her throat. Lights were coming on in the tenement windows above the sauna. “Nine-nine-nine . . . ambulance and police!” Faces at the windows, curtains pushed aside. Dow was still walking backwards. She had to follow him. But what about Laura? Siobhan glanced back, and as she broke eye contact Dow took his chance, jogging and swaying his way back into darkness.
Siobhan crouched beside Laura, whose lips looked almost black in the streetlight, maybe because her face was so white. Going into shock. Siobhan sought the wounds. There’d be two . . . had to get pressure on them. The sauna’s door stayed resolutely closed.
“Bastard,” Siobhan hissed. She couldn’t see Dow anymore. There was warm blood oozing from between her fingers. “Hang on, Laura, ambulance is coming.” Her mobile was in her pocket, but she didn’t have any free hands.
Then one of the neighbors was standing beside her. He seemed to be asking if everything was all right.
“Put some pressure here,” she said, showing him where. Then she fumbled for her phone, as it slid away
