Drake sat back and went to fold his arms, the chains pulling tight against the steel loops. Anger erupted like a rash across his face, but he quelled it swiftly and soon relaxed again.
Bliss was surprised by the man’s strength of will. ‘What about Dark Desires?’ he prompted.
‘I don’t know nothing about them. Never heard of them.’
‘Are you sure, Lewis? See, that contradicts what we’ve been told. Our understanding is that Dark Desires is one of yours, only even more seedy and repulsive. And perhaps the most secretive.’
‘I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. What is it, even?’
Bliss had been leading up to this since spotting Drake’s initial reaction to the name. If he was wrong, he would be handing Drake the advantage; if he was right, he might be adding fuel to an already raging fire.
‘It’s another agency, Lewis. Only with this one you get to pick girls for the most vile and dangerous acts you can possibly think of. Real degrading, abhorrent stuff.’
Drake shook his head. ‘Nah, I don’t have nothing to do with shit like that.’
‘Of course not. You’re such a humanitarian,’ Chandler muttered.
Drake spun his head. ‘Stay the fuck out of this, darling, or jump at shadows the rest of your natural.’
‘And here I was thinking this was going so well,’ Bliss said, keeping his cool. ‘No need for threats, Lewis. You may not care for my colleague’s remark, but she’s not wrong to sneer, is she? You’re a despicable man who wouldn’t turn his nose up at anything, however unsavoury or sordid, if it meant buying another beach house in sunny Florida.’
Drake laughed, his head bucking backwards. ‘You know how many fucks I give what you think of me?’
‘I’m guessing that would be none.’
‘Well, aren’t you a clever copper? Brightest of the bunch, are we? I’m guessing DS Chandler there is for eye candy. I can see why, mind. I’d do her – at a push. I mean, she is getting on a bit.’
Chandler acted amused. ‘You’d have to be the last man on earth, and I’d have to be dying. And I’d still put up a good fight rather than endure one touch from you.’
‘I’m sure part of that can be arranged, darling.’ Drake chuckled, not rattled at all by any part of their conversation. The sick bastard was enjoying himself. Worst of all, Bliss believed him when he said he knew nothing about Dark Desires. Even so, he had one last move.
‘Let’s say we take your word, Lewis, and Dark Desires is not yours. Why do you think we are hearing otherwise?’
‘How should I know? Maybe it’s Fuck With A Copper Week. Oh no, wait a minute. That’s every week, yeah?’
Bliss remained impassive. ‘Nice one. You got us there, Lewis. But you know what I’m wondering?’ It was time to follow up on that initial reaction he’d seen in the man’s eyes.
‘No. And I don’t give a fuck, either.’
‘I’m wondering if somebody inside your organisation is running Dark Desires without your knowledge. From what I hear, the punters visiting that site pay a lot of money to get their jollies. It’s an extremely lucrative part of the enterprise, Lewis. A shitload of money coming in, and apparently you’re not seeing a single penny of it. That can’t be right, can it?’
This time Bliss knew he’d struck a blow. Again it showed in the man’s troubled features, but his entire body also went rigid. Drake stuck his chin out and both nostrils flared.
‘What’s up, Lewis? You not liking the idea of someone pulling a stroke like that behind your back? Have to say it surprises me. Looks like you’re not the big-time Charlie you thought you were.’
‘Is this for real?’ Drake managed to say through a mouth that was virtually clamped shut. ‘Or are you pair of wankers winding me up?’
‘Why else would we be here? We came here thinking you might be able to give us some specific information about a Dark Desires client. Turns out you weren’t even aware of its existence. Didn’t take much time to cut you out of the loop, did it?’
Drake said nothing for a good twenty seconds. Eventually he jabbed his head in the direction of the door. ‘On your way now, Pinky and Perky. If I can think of a way you pair of useless shits can scratch my back, I’ll consider scratching yours. Might take me a day or two, though. So off you trot. I’m missing chess club.’
Finished with the interview, Bliss kept his eyes fastened on Drake until the man flinched and narrowed his own gaze. ‘Just so’s we’re clear,’ Bliss said in a low voice. ‘That shot you took at my colleague about her jumping at shadows the rest of her life had better be bravado on your part.’
Drake smirked. ‘Yeah? And why’s that?’
‘Because she happens to be more of a lunatic than I am. If it were me, I’d have the authorities punish you for that threat by taking away some of those privileges we spoke about earlier – whereas my sergeant here has her own unique style and substance. She has a way of creating her own shadows. The world outside is a vast place, Lewis, but that’s not the case in here. In here, you can be got to. In here, every shadow is a potential threat.’
The man made no reply. He faced Bliss for a long time, before shifting his focus. ‘Let’s call it quits, eh?’ he said. ‘No need for either of us to hold a grudge, is there, darling?’
‘I don’t hold grudges, Lewis,’ Chandler said, getting to her feet as Bliss also rose. ‘I get even. Usually long before I have anything to get even about.’
‘You’re a hard-arse, eh?’
Chandler’s eyebrows arched then fell. ‘Pray you never have to find out.’
***
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