I'll pay you ten grand in cash.' He reached inside his peach suit and produced a huge wad of used notes, putting it down on the table in front of her. 'Not bad for five minutes' work, is it?'
She looked at the money, wondered who'd suffered for him to get it, then back at Daroyce. 'I'll see what I can do.'
'No,' he said quietly, 'that's not good enough. I want you to say you'll do it.'
His tone was cold now.
Tina made another quick calculation. She had no intention of helping Daroyce, and she certainly couldn't take his money. However, it seemed prudent to say yes, just so she could get out of there.
'OK, I'll do it. If we locate him, of course. Have you got a number I can get you on?'
His half-smile returned. 'Sure.' He took a card from his pocket and handed it to her. It was blank except for a handwritten mobile number.
She put it in her pocket.
'I still don't understand why you need me, though. It looks like you've got eyes and ears all over the place. You certainly found out about me easily enough.'
'I've looked everywhere for Phelan, but he seems to have done a better job at disappearing than he ever did at gambling. He was supposed to give me a fifteen grand down payment last Sunday. He didn't turn up; neither did it. He asked for a few more days. I told him he had twenty-four hours. But he didn't come through again. So, I've been hunting for him. I know where he lives, but his car hasn't been there, and from what I hear, neither has he. But,' he added, regarding her almost playfully, 'I've got a little clue that you might be able to use.'
'What's that?' Tina sat forward, interested.
'The thing is, Miss Boyd, can I trust you?' Tina met his gaze, held it firmly. 'Yes, you can trust me. If we find him, I'll let you know. What you do after that is your concern.'
Daroyce nodded, seeming to accept this. 'Phelan's got a girlfriend. Good-looking chick. A little bit old for my tastes, but she carries it well.'
'Are you sure it's not his wife?'
He shook his head. 'No, I know what his wife looks like. It's not her. She's been here, too. The girlfriend. She came with him to deliver a five grand down payment on the debt a couple of weeks ago. I don't know who she is, or where she lives, but they were definitely close, and I had the feeling that, you know, the five grand was her money.'
'Can you describe her?'
'I can do better than that. I can show you a picture.'
He leaned down behind the table and picked up an envelope which he handed her. There was a single photograph inside, a still from the security camera outside Daroyce's door. It showed the faces of a man and a woman, both of whom looked nervous. The man's face was in the foreground, and Tina recognized him as Pat Phelan. The picture quality wasn't fantastic and the woman's face appeared slightly grainy, but even so there was no mistaking who it was, since Tina had seen her picture on the website of Feminine Touch Health and Beauty Spas only hours before.
It was Isobel Wheeler. Andrea Devern's business partner.
Twenty-one
'Do you know her?'
'No, but I should be able to find out.'
Tina was a good liar. She knew how to wear a poker face.
'Good.'
Leon Daroyce smiled properly now, and Tina had to fight to maintain her poker face as she saw his teeth for the first time. There was enough gold in there to stock a small jewellery shop, but it wasn't that which grabbed her attention. It was the fact that every single one of them was filed to a razor-sharp point. Daroyce's mouth was a lethal weapon, those jaws easily capable of murder.
Seeing her reaction, he chuckled – a strange, high-pitched little sound that made her skin crawl. 'You like them, baby? The girls always get a little frightened at first, but when they see what I can do with them, they always come back for more.' He waggled his tongue at her, running it along the points of his fangs.
Tina needed to get out of there. The room suddenly felt hot and claustrophobic. She picked up the envelope, slipped the photo back inside, and stood up.
'Let me get on with things, then.'
'Haven't you forgotten something?' He motioned towards the wad of money.
'I can't take it now. I haven't done anything yet.'
'But you're going to, though. Aren't you?'
'If we find him, yes.'
'You look thirsty,' he said, changing the subject. 'Do you want a drink?'
Tina took a sharp breath. 'Thanks, but I need to get going.'
'Sit down there for a couple of seconds. I want to show you something. Go on,' he said, waving towards the seat, 'it won't take long.'
