“Adam’s pulling your leg,” Faith told Ben. “He likes to manipulate people into doing what he wants. I should know, I went out with him long enough.”
Ben sighed, scooped up the photos and shoved them back under his paperwork.
“Looks like your attempt to divide and conquer our family has failed,” said Vance. “And while you’re here, let’s sort things out so you never bother us again.”
Ben’s eyes slipped to the knife Vance produced from inside his jacket. “Just so you know,” he calmly said. “My friends are on stand-by at your restaurant, Pulse and your mother’s house. If I don’t come out safely in the next…” He paused to glance at his watch. “Eleven minutes then all three buildings are going to need our expert services.”
“I don’t believe you,” said Vance, pressing the point of the knife to Ben’s stomach. He was keeping his back turned so anyone passing by wouldn’t see.
“I’m just going to take my phone out of my pocket.”
“If you pull out anything else then your intestines are going to be all over the floor,” hissed Vance, lips drawing back over his teeth.
Ben slowly pulled his phone out of his pocket, dialled and put it on speakerphone. “Amanda, state your position.”
“I’m across the road from Rose Chamber’s house,” replied her voice, which was bursting with smugness. “I can see her through the window. She’s dusting.”
“You bastards,” spat Caleb, hands curling into fists.
Ben ended the call and dialled another number. “Eddie, state your position,” he said when the call was answered.
“Outside Audra’s Kitchen. The sister and her boyfriend are inside.”
“Jesus,” sighed Vance.
He dialled for the third time. “Rick, state your position.”
“Around the back of Pulse. Tell Faith one of her barmen is smoking in the staff room.”
“Oh dear,” said Ben, ending the call and slipping the phone back into his pocket. “That’s against fire regulations.”
“I’m always telling him to stop but he doesn’t listen,” she replied. “It’s time to give him his cards.” The only part of her that moved was her mouth. The rest of her appeared to have turned to stone because she was so furious.
“If I get out of here in one piece then no harm will come to those buildings or your family and staff. Should I not make it out unmolested then all three will become raging infernos but never mind, at least we’d be the heroes of the hour charging to the rescue but not before those you love have been burnt to a crisp.” He grimaced when Vance pushed the blade harder against his stomach, although he was careful not to break the skin.
“Vance,” said Faith, voice heavy with warning. “Put it away.”
He glared at Ben, who stared back at him steadily. Vance sighed and shoved the knife back into his jacket.
“Very sensible,” said Ben.
“Why are you doing this?” said Faith. “You save lives, protect people. Why are you threatening to burn people alive? You’re a local hero for God’s sake.”
“Because I’m sick of it.”
“Sick of rescuing people and saving lives?”
“I’m forty eight. At best I’ve got another seven years active service. Or I could retire in two years because I’ve given twenty five years service and do what? Live on a pension for the rest of my days, eking out the money.”
“So that’s what this is,” said Faith, shaking her head. “You want a nest egg.”
“No. I want a fucking massive nest egg. I want to do all the things I’ve wanted to do for years and never had the money or time.”
“Then why not rob a bank or blag a wages van?” said Vance.
“Because the beauty of nicking from you lot is that you can’t report it to the police, although I’m guessing your police friend might know about it,” said Ben, producing from the clipboard a photo of Faith talking to Matthew and dumping it on the table. “But if he does know then he hasn’t done anything about it. You can’t report it, so an investigation can’t be carried out.”
“And do you know how to dispose of what you stole?”
“We have contacts who do.”
“Contacts who are getting a cut?”
“I’m not saying another word.”
“That’s a yes then,” muttered Caleb.
“You know what we can do and what we’re capable of,” continued Ben. “You’ve got twenty four hours to give back what you took, or else your homes and businesses will be burnt to the ground with everyone inside.”
Vance thrust his face into his. “Or we could just cut all your fucking throats.”
Ben glanced at his watch. “If I’m not out of here in six minutes then things will go very bad for your family and businesses.”
“Then you’d better leave,” Faith told him. “Quickly.”
Vance got to his feet so Ben could rise, the two men staring each other out before Ben walked to the exit, clipboard tucked under his arm.
“Caleb, call Mum,” said Faith. “Vance call Abi. I’ll phone Kev. We need to make sure they’re okay.”
The frantic phone calls were made and the three of them relaxed when they discovered their loved ones and staff were all safe.
“Cheeky fucking bastard,” said Caleb. “Can you believe those sick photos?”
“They’re Adam’s doing,” said Faith, glancing at Vance. “He swore he’d destroy my reputation.”
“He always was obsessed with you. Those photos prove how truly sick he is. Urgh, they made me want to throw up.”
“Can we please never talk about them again? And for God’s sake, don’t mention them to the others.”
“I won’t. I wish I could pull the memory out of my head and burn it, it’s so disgusting.”
“All
