He’d think about all the lives the man had ruined. All the families devastated by the drugs he’d peddled, the vast number of careers ended by taking back handed payments.
Sam would total it all up and hold him accountable for every single action.
Cutting through the tension in the room, Etheridge’s mobile buzzed. Singh darted over with concern as he looked at the screen.
‘It’s go time,’ Etheridge said.
‘What does that mean?’ Singh demanded. Etheridge looked up at her, trying to mask his worry with a smile.
‘It means we don’t have much time. Tell me, Amara…how quickly could you drive to Sussex?’
Within seconds, Singh was bounding down the stairs of the loft conversion, running as fast as her legs could carry her. Etheridge remotely opened the gate and she powered through the rain to her car, knowing that every moment could be Sam’s last.
Chapter Twenty-One
It didn’t take long for the news to spread through the Grid. Chapman’s fury exploded the moment he was told, his loyal employees calling him just before they were arrested. With a rage that sent shivers down the spines of the guards and inmates, Chapman had screamed until he was hoarse, telling his men to sort it.
It was a hopeless request and sure enough, through the murmurings of the guards, it was confirmed that Chapman’s drug empire had been found and subsequently shut down. Millions of pounds worth of drugs and cash seized by the police and an immeasurable impact on his clients. With it, went his stranglehold over those in charge and the biggest topic on anyone’s lips was how it would affect his control of Ashcroft.
Sam, still granted the freedom being part of Chapman’s gang allowed him, made his way to Chapman’s cell as soon as he heard the anguished roars of failure. As he entered, Chapman was sat at his desk, his head in his wrinkled hands, the weight of his loss hanging heavy. Sat on the bench behind, Glen peered up at Sam with distrust, his beady eyes scanning Sam for any sense of betrayal. Stoically stood with his back against the far wall was Ravi, his one good arm outstretched, his mighty hand rested on his boss’s shoulder.
‘What the fuck happened?’ Sam demanded, acting as annoyed as Chapman.
‘The fuckers took it all.’ Chapman spat into the desk. ‘They found the location. For thirty fucking years I kept that place off the map. It wouldn’t even flag up on a fucking radar!’
‘Fuck,’ Sam exclaimed, convinced of his acting.
‘Fuck indeed.’ Ravi stepped forward. ‘Seems a bit suspicious that you join us and suddenly the boss gets fucked over.’
‘Yeah.’ Glen stood, cowering behind Ravi’s imposing frame. Sam shook his head.
‘What’s the matter? You still pissed off after I wiped the floor with you in front of everyone?’
‘Fuck you!’ Ravi stepped forward.
‘Enough!’ Chapman yelled, slamming his fists on his table, shaking every item on it. He turned in his chair and glared at all three men. ‘There is a bigger fucking problem here than whose dick is bigger. Without that lab ticking over, I’ll lose everything. Once the fuckers who run this place realise I don’t have the power or money to keep them at bay, they will come for all of us like a pack of hungry wolves.’
‘They wouldn’t dare touch us,’ Ravi responded, his eyes still locked on Sam, who stood a few feet from the door. The room was no bigger than his own cell, and with all four of them occupying it, he knew the space would make it difficult.
‘Yeah,’ Glen chimed in again, and Sam rolled his eyes.
‘What can we do?’ Sam asked, turning his attention to Chapman who looked deep in thought.
‘It will take them a while to close off all avenues of my enterprise.’ He stroked his beard as he spoke. ‘We need to get a call out to a few of my guys. Get them to send a message that money never could.’
‘Meaning?’
‘I don’t know. Fuck up their family. Kill a wife.’ Chapman shrugged nonchalantly. ‘I don’t give a shit. If I’m going to be locked up in here for the rest of my life, I’m going to make damn sure I run this place.’
Sam’s hand twitched. Seeing Chapman crumble at the same time as his empire brought a certain satisfaction, but the idea that his plan could impact an innocent family caused his fists to clench.
He needed to end this now.
‘Boss, what we need to do is find out how they found it.’ Ravi suggested, finally taking his eyes off Sam. Chapman had picked up the box cutter from his desk, and balancing it under one finger, let the blade spin on the desk.
‘Oh, I’ll find out all right. But until then, I’m going to make sure every fucker in this place knows I’m still in charge.’
Sam peaked over his shoulder. The corridor was clear. The guards had rightly stayed away, knowing they would most likely feel the wrath of Chapman. It meant that the four men were alone, but Sam knew Sharp would be waiting like a coiled spring the moment anything happened. Casually, Sam turned and pulled the door closed, knowing it wouldn’t lock until the computerised mechanism was activated.
It’s what he was counting on.
‘What the fuck are you doing?’ Chapman demanded. All eyes were on Sam.
‘I thought it would make sense to not advertise what’s going on to the rest of the prison,’ Sam replied calmly. ‘Like you said, they’ll start circling.’
The three men looked at Sam with suspicion, until Chapman turned back to the desk, pushing the box cutter to the side and lifting his phone.
‘I’ll call around, see if I can find out how this happened. You boys beat the fucking truth out of every piece of shit in this place. If they have nothing to say, then at least it will be a reminder to them of who’s in charge.’
Ravi and Glen nodded, with the larger man pushing past Sam and heading towards the door. Sam slid his hand into his
