“He likes threatening innocent people,” said Vance. “So we’re going to do the same.”
“No you’re not Vance,” said Rose. “You’re better than he is.”
“No I’m not,” he glowered. “I’m a lot fucking worse, as he’s about to find out.”
Matthew sat opposite Alice at a table in her favourite Italian restaurant on the promenade. He’d dumped all the work on his underlings so he could have this night with her. She sat opposite him looking incredibly pretty in a short light blue dress that rode delightfully up her slender thighs and he was looking forward to taking her home to bed. Finally it felt like they were reconnecting. This evening had only come about thanks to Faith, who had convinced Alice to give him another chance. With a smile, he watched her eat her chocolate mousse, licking the spoon suggestively.
“Shall I get the bill?” he said, sliding his hand up her thigh under the table.
“Oh yes,” she winked.
“Could I have the bill please?” he asked a passing waiter.
“Certainly Sir,” he replied.
Matthew reached across the table to take Alice’s hand. “I’ve really enjoyed tonight.”
“It’s not over yet,” she smiled.
He beamed at her, loving the happiness that lit up her eyes.
Alice’s smile fell when his phone started to ring.
“You’re off duty,” she told him.
“Relax,” he smiled. “My mum said she’d phone this evening to let me know how her hospital appointment went about her hip.”
“Oh, yes I forgot,” she said, the smile returning.
The number on the screen wasn’t his mum. In fact he didn’t recognise it but at least it wasn’t work. “Hello? Caleb, I’m in the middle of something…”
Alice was a little alarmed when all the blood drained from Matthew’s face.
“When was this?” He sighed and pressed a hand to his forehead. “Jesus Christ. Where are you now? Yes, I’ll be there,” he added before hanging up. He looked apologetically at Alice. “I’m afraid…”
“One night Matthew. You promised you’d give me one night.”
“It’s not work, I promise but it is an emergency.”
“What’s happened?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“This is ridiculous. After the promise you made you expect me not to be upset when you run out on me again and you won’t even tell me why.”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s because I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because…it’s dangerous.”
“Why?”
“I really can’t tell you. I’m sorry Alice.”
She picked up her handbag and got to her feet. “So am I.”
“Why don’t I drop you off at home and I’ll join you later? It might not take long.”
“Yes Matthew,” she muttered. “You can drop me off at home.”
“Great,” he smiled. “I’ll settle up and then we can go.”
As he bustled up to the counter to pay, he missed the sadness in her eyes.
CHAPTER 18
After dropping Alice off at home, Matthew drove to the address Caleb had given him. He pulled up outside a small lock-up and rapped on the shutter, which was rolled open by the man himself, who was obviously on guard duty.
“Thanks for coming,” said a sombre Caleb.
“No problem,” he replied, stepping inside, Caleb pulling the shutter closed. Vance and Abi were also there. “Have you had any word yet?”
“No,” said Vance grimly. “I don’t know why they’re taking so long.”
“To wind you up, agitate you. I know it’s hard but you need to stay calm. Where are Jason and Kevin?”
“Running an errand.”
“What sort of errand?”
“You’ll see.”
Matthew had always got the impression that Vance didn’t like him, although he wasn’t sure why. “If I’m going to help I need to know everything.”
“I don’t know if it’ll come off yet. If it does then I’ll tell you.”
Matthew frowned at an object sitting on the floor. “Is that a coffin?”
“Yes. It’s the one the product was in when we recovered it. It’s going to help us.”
“How?”
“Before I tell you anything, I need to know how much you’re willing to help.”
“I’ll do whatever I can to help you get Faith back safely.”
“You do know we aren’t going to do this the legal way?”
“Course I do. The Maguires set me to work with you for a reason and that reason is that I have no problem breaking the rules when I need to but in order to help I have to know the plan. Have you told Jules about this?”
“No. She’ll only want us to handle it ourselves anyway.”
“Perhaps.”
“We can deal with a bunch of fucking firefighters.” When his phone burst into life, he answered it on the first ring. “Yes Kev?” His lips curled into a smile. “Excellent. No, leave it to Tariq and his men and get your arses back here. They’ll expect all of us to go.”
“What’s Tariq going to do?” said Matthew as Vance hung up.
“That’s a part of the plan you don’t need to know about.”
“For God’s sake, I’m not the enemy here.”
“Then let me rephrase – you don’t want to know. Now, you’ve done some digging into Ben and his men, gone into their backgrounds. Can you think of anywhere they might take Faith?”
“Well, none of them own properties outside of their own homes and they certainly wouldn’t risk taking her back to the fire station.”
“Do either of them have second jobs?” said Caleb.
“No. They’re all full-time firefighters.”
“Well that was very useful,” said Vance sarcastically when he went silent.
“I know you’re anxious Vance but don’t take it out on me. I’m doing my best here.”
Vance just glowered at him and once again Matthew wondered what he’d done to earn such hostility. Perhaps he was just opposed to all police officers after what Marlow and his
