“I told you, our mum.” Ro hunched forward, trying to make herself a smaller target, her own hands ready. Billy came in quick, with complicated salvo. Ro swatted one aside and took the other on her shoulder. She resisted the urge to go after him. That was what he wanted. When he realised she hadn’t taken the bait, he pressed in on her.
She retreated, wondering if she could make it to the door. Over Billy’s shoulder, she saw Mary watching – smiling. The Godfreys were watching as well, eyes narrowed. She hoped they stayed out of it. “Are you sure?” Billy said, throwing another punch.
Ro avoided it, but only just. “I’m no bloody grass!”
Billy hit her twice in the time it took her to speak. She stumbled but didn’t fall. Mad now, she responded in kind, and her fist caught him on the side of the cheek. He staggered, blinking, and she bent and loosed a kick. His hands snapped shut around her ankle, and suddenly she was flying. She hit the desk, the edge digging into her back, and went down. Billy was on her before she could get up.
He was faster than he looked, and stronger. Ro tried to shove him back, but he was having none of it. Blows rained down, and the world started getting blurry. She took it all, and when he gave her an opening, she went for it with every bit of strength left to her. She caught him in the kidney twice. He rolled off her, and she kicked him in the hip. He fell onto his back, laughing, and Ro straddled him in an instant, fists raised.
She froze as something sharp pricked her throat. “That’s enough of that,” Mary said. She held her knife to Ro’s neck. “What do you think, Billy?”
Billy scrambled to his feet, grinning. “She’s a bloody terrible liar, but she throws a good punch.” He rubbed his hip. “For what’s worth, I don’t think she’s anybody’s snout.”
Mary chuckled. “Can’t trust her, though. Too much at stake.” She gestured for Ro to rise and looked at her. “So what do we do with you then, luv?”
Danny climbed out of the unmarked car, one hand on his sidearm. He was out of uniform, but wearing his flak vest under his jacket. Faulkner, coming around the front of the car, was dressed the same. The warehouse was a square lump against the dark sky. Floodlights popped on as they got in range of the motion sensors.
Cameras mounted along the walls whirred and pivoted, following them. Danny eyed them warily. “They’re watching us, Sarge.”
“I’d be disappointed if they weren’t,” Faulkner said. “Probably recording us, too.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
“No. Does it bother you, Danny?”
“A bit, Sarge.”
Faulkner paused. “If I were you, Danny, I’d be more worried about things you can control. Now stiffen that lip, and raise the flag. We’re heading into enemy territory and I’d prefer you didn’t embarrass me.”
Danny fell silent. When he’d gotten back to base the day before, Faulkner had been out hunting for someone named Holden – a tech who’d gone rogue, according to Hattersley. At first, there hadn’t seemed to be any connection at all to the dead white van man, Wilson. Then Faulkner had called Danny into his office, and now here they were, outside a Kelley-owned warehouse, acting on an anonymous tip. Or so Faulkner claimed.
All Danny knew for sure was that he didn’t like any part of this. He felt like he had a target on his back, though he couldn’t say why. Something was going on, but he wasn’t in a position to ask. As Faulkner often reminded him, his was but to do and die.
The digital lock clicked as they approached the door. Faulkner drew his sidearm and glanced at Danny. Danny nodded and took up a position on the other side of the door. Faulkner tried the door, and it swung open. He gestured, and Danny followed him in, pistol at the ready. As they entered, the warehouse lit up, one overhead fixture at a time.
The warehouse was empty. Stripped down to the concrete floors. Faulkner chuckled. “Taking no chances is she, eh? Come on.”
They proceeded slowly, their footsteps loud in the emptiness. When they’d reached the halfway point, there was a crackle from above as a PA system kicked into life. “Right on time, Faulkner. But then, punctuality is a virtue in the military, so I’ve been told.”
A woman’s voice. Harsh and pure East End. Faulkner stopped and signalled for Danny to do the same. “Is that you, Bloody Mary?” Faulkner called out.
“I prefer Ms Kelley,” she replied. “We are all professionals here, after all.”
“Debatable,” Faulkner said. “Why don’t you come out and we’ll discuss it over a cuppa, what say?”
“We’re not quite there yet, Sergeant.”
“Disappointing, but understandable. I’m told you have information for us?”
“Oh, better than that. A little birdie told me you’re looking for a certain gentleman by the name of… Holden? Is that right?”
Faulkner smiled. “You heard right.”
“What if I were to tell you that I know where he is – that I could even get him for you? What might that be worth?”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing excessive. A bit of consideration is all.”
Faulkner paused. “I’m listening.”
“Word is, Albion’s remit will be expanding. I want a guarantee you lot won’t interfere with Kelley businesses for, oh, let’s say… a year from now. How does that sound?”
“A year is a long time.”
“But not forever.”
Faulkner holstered his sidearm. “Agreed.”
“I am recording all of this, by the way. Just in case you get any ideas.”
“Trust me when I say that your piddly little crypto-scams aren’t exactly high on our list of priorities, Ms Kelley. But feel
