Shattered (Dividing Line #5) (29 page)

They all stared back at her blankly, work the last things on their minds but Rachel didn’t want them to worry about their financial situations while they recovered. It would be one less weight off their shoulders. They were going to have to learn to live with the memory of Gaynor’s screams and it wouldn’t be easy.

Taking Ryan’s hand, Rachel followed Taylor deeper into the building. He led them into an interview room and shut the door.

“Please sit,” he said pleasantly.

They sat beside each other on one side of a chipped Formica table while Taylor took the other.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

Rachel recognised that he was sincere and nodded. “Do you have any witnesses?”

“A party of four had just pulled up in the car park outside the restaurant when the attack began. They said the perpetrators wore leather jackets with Lucifer’s Shadow patches on the back. They weren’t smart enough to take them off first.”

They both nodded. “As we thought,” said Ryan quietly.

“They have to be stopped before they attack more of your businesses and more innocent people die.”

“Do you know where they are?” said Ryan.

“You mean you don’t?”

“We thought we did but that was only a small group of them. Jasper White has gone to ground.”

Taylor shook his head. “I thought you’d have this situation much more under control Ryan.”

“You seem to be labouring under the impression that I have superhuman powers. Now I know your lot have been interested in Jasper lately. Do they have any idea where he is?”

“They did then they lost him.”

“So you don’t have a clue either.”

“We’re working on it.”

“Great. While you work on it they’re going to kill more innocent people. They must be stopped.”

“I’m well aware of that but they’re only puppets aren’t they? Kill Alex and they’ll stop dancing to his tune.”

“We’re trying, believe me. What has Superintendent Kennard been up to?”

“He’s shown great interest in the warehouse massacre and soon he’s going to hear what happened to the spa and he’ll be sticking his nose in that too. Because this fire is identical to the one that burned down your home in Devon and the fact there’s been a death he’s going to use it as an excuse to really rummage around in your affairs and he’ll try to screw you up any way he can. He’s desperate and he’s senior to me, I have no control over him.”

“We need to find Jasper White, he’ll lead us to Alex. Then and only then will all this stop,” said Rachel. “You have access to resources we don’t. Use them.”

“I’m doing my best.”

“Aren’t we all,” sighed Ryan. “We’ve got something in the pipeline and if it comes off we’ll be able to get rid of Alex and Lucifer’s Shadow once and for all.”

“The clock is ticking. It’s only a matter of time before they hit another of your businesses.”

Ryan felt pretty helpless at that moment. They owned dozens of hotels, restaurants, shops, apartment blocks and houses, far too many to place guards on each one, they didn’t have the manpower. “We can at least try and limit the damage. We’ll tell what businesses we can to close until further notice.”

“You’ll lose a fortune,” said Taylor.

“I’d rather do that than risk someone else being burned alive and it should only be for a short time. I’m not going to allow Alex to live for much longer.”

When the door opened Taylor turned in his seat. “Excuse me, I’m in the middle of an interview…oh sorry Sir, I didn’t realise it was you.” The expression on Taylor’s face when he turned back to them told Ryan and Rachel what they already suspected. “Mr and Mrs Law, this is Detective Chief Superintendent Kennard.”

CHAPTER 29

“I’ll take over the interview now if you don’t mind DCI Taylor,” said Kennard.

“Well actually Sir…”

“I said I’ll take it over.”

Taylor looked back at Ryan, who nodded. Reluctantly he got to his feet. “I’ll just be outside if you need me Sir.”

“I won’t,” retorted Kennard as he took the seat Taylor had just vacated.

Kennard was a tall upright man with a military bearing, light brown hair swept back from a prominent forehead and deep green eyes. It was these very same eyes that gave away his agitation. They were bloodshot and ringed with dark circles, indicating he hadn’t been sleeping and they constantly bobbed between Rachel and Ryan.

He didn’t speak until Taylor had left the room. “Mr and Mrs Law, thank you for coming in. I have a lot of questions for you regarding the fire at the spa that led to the death of Gaynor Macey, who was in your employ.”

Ryan leaned back in his seat and clasped his hands behind his head. “Go on then,” he said. The challenge was clear.

“Your home in Devon was burnt down in a very similar manner only recently, not long before Mrs Law was kidnapped.” His eyes settled on the scar on Rachel’s neck and widened with panic before he regained his composure.

Rachel knew exactly what he was thinking; that the man who had left that horrible mark on her was the same one who was threatening him. She didn’t like Superintendents, they made her nervous. She had been directly involved in the death of one when he threatened her family and his successor had turned out to be an obsessive lunatic who had tried to kill her. Hopefully this one could be reasoned with.

“Have you any idea who would want to do that?”

Both Rachel and Kennard were surprised when Ryan went straight for the jugular.

“Come now Superintendent, we’re not going to play a long boring game where we skirt round the real issue, are we? You know as well as I do that Alex Maguire is responsible for both fires, although he got the Lucifer’s Shadow MC to actually commit the crime.”

“You’re actually accusing Alex Maguire?” said Kennard. He’d expected to be fed some bullshit story.

“Yes. I also know that you’re not going to do anything about it and that’s fine by me.”

“If you’re accusing me of corruption…”

“I’m accusing you of throttling women while you’re having sex with them,” snarled Ryan, “Women you knew full well were being held illegally.”

All the colour drained from Kennard’s face, even his lips.

“You almost killed a girl once,” continued Ryan. “Fortunately you managed to revive her but you were one step away from becoming a murderer.”

“I…I deny it.”

“Deny it all you want, it’s useless. I’ve got the footage.”

Kennard released a long breath and his eyes rolled back in his head, as though he was going to pass out but he managed to cling onto consciousness.

“How did you get it?” he said, gripping onto the table.

“That’s not important.”

“Did you get it off Alex or does he still have his?”

“He still has his. I managed to get hold of a copy.”

“How?”

“I told you it’s not important.”

“Oh God,” said Kennard, burying his face in his hands. “My life is over. Why did I do it? Why?”

With that he started to cry and Rachel and Ryan glanced at each other with raised eyebrows.

“Pull yourself together Superintendent,” Rachel said. “We might be able to help each other.”

“We might?” he said, lifting his head, face streaked with tears and eyes filled with hope. To Rachel’s disgust a slimy trail led from his nose to his upper lip.

“You will let us go and tell your men we had absolutely no involvement in the arson attacks. We are innocent victims who can’t tell you anything about who might be doing this. We will then erase the man at the centre of all our problems, including yours.”

“You mean you’ll get rid of Alex?”

Ryan wasn’t going to say it out loud, so he just nodded.

Kennard looked much more cheerful. “Well in that case I’ll see you out personally. You’ll give me the footage when it’s done?”

Ryan nodded. “We’re being a lot more gracious to you than we should be after you set up the raids on our businesses and had drugs planted.”

“I must object…”

“Don’t fucking bother. We all know the truth,” hissed Ryan.

Kennard decided not to press the issue. “And you don’t want me to do anything in return?”

“Do you know where Alex is?”

“No, I’m afraid not. He’s always very careful not to divulge any details about himself.”

“How does he contact you?” said Rachel.

“My mobile phone. I’ve already tried tracing the number, but it’s untraceable.”

“When was the last time you spoke?”

“Just after the spa was attacked. He said something big had happened and I was to detain you two but not arrest you. I was just to hold you for a short while.”

“Why?” said Rachel.

“I know,” said Ryan grimly. “To give him a chance to get his assassins in position around the station. He wants us to walk out of here and into a trap.”

“Outside a police station?” said Kennard, as though that was the worst aspect of the plan.

“In case you hadn’t noticed, Alex is ruthless and very unhinged,” said Ryan. “He is willing to do anything to achieve his aim and right now his main goal is killing Rachel and myself. Superintendent, you have to arrest us.”

“What?” said Kennard and Rachel in unison.

“What alternative is there? If we set foot outside we’re dead.”

“On what charge?” said Kennard.

“Anything, make something up.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if I gave you a police escort?”

“Your men can’t be trusted, they might be in Alex’s pay. Tell Alex we’ve been locked up on whatever charge you deem fit to make up and that we’re going to be transferred to the Magistrate’s court in the morning. He’ll put off the hit until then and we can get away in the meantime.”

“So I don’t really have to arrest you, just tell Alex that you’ve been nicked?”

“No, you need to charge us and put us in a cell. As I said, Alex has eyes and ears in this station, it has to be convincing. You will then release us early without charge and tell Alex one of your officers had us released on the say-so of a senior officer because there was no substantiation to the charges.”

“Just don’t make it anything to do with the fire, please. I don’t want anyone thinking we’re responsible for Gaynor’s death,” said Rachel. “And please keep it from the media.”

“I’ll do my best but they have eyes and ears in here too. I know, I’ll charge you with obstruction, I’ll even put you in a cell together. We’re short on space anyway.”

“Fine,” said Ryan. “Oh, and just in case you get any ideas about keeping us here on a more permanent basis, I should tell you a certain crown court judge as well as a very powerful businessman know all about your deviant sexual practices, they also know where the footage is hidden. I think it only fair to warn you.”

Kennard looked like he could slide off his chair at any moment. “A judge?”

“Yes so I seriously suggest you don’t try double-crossing us.”

Kennard swallowed hard. “Is there anyone you want to call?”

“Yes,” said Rachel.

After being processed, Rachel called Mikey from the custody suite. All she could tell him was that they’d been arrested and not to worry. He went frantic and she felt terrible because she couldn’t let him in on the plan as the custody sergeant was hovering.

They were led into a cell and the minute the door banged shut they were in each other’s arms.

“I don’t believe this. There’s no end in sight,” said Rachel. “Are you sure we’ve done the right thing? What if Kennard decides we’re too dangerous to let out with what we know about him?”

“I only let him charge us with obstruction because it’s an easy charge for our lawyer to pull apart. Plus the threat of us speaking out about what we know is too great. He won’t take the chance. He’ll release us and hope we all kill each other.”

Rachel looked around the small dingy cell with distaste. “I never thought I’d end up in one of these again.”

“At least we know this time it won’t be for long.”

“I’ve just got the horrible feeling Kennard might try to pull one over on us. I wish someone on the outside knew the truth. I mean, how can we be a threat if we’re locked up in here?”

“He’ll let us go. Trust me.”

“At least we’re together.”

“We are and we’ll be out of here before morning.”

“And we have a bed.”

Ryan regarded the concrete block with the thin mattress and blanket with a cocked eyebrow. “Is that what it is?” He stood still, pondering for a moment. “But just in case Kennard doesn’t come through I would like to have a little back-up plan.”

He banged on the door and it took several attempts before they got someone’s attention.

The panel in the door slid back to reveal a pair of scornful eyes. “What’s all the bloody racket about?”

“I’d like to see DCI Taylor please,” said Ryan.

“Do you have an appointment?” replied the voice sarcastically.

“Just fetch him. I think he will be most interested in what I have to say.”

“Oh really? I’ll see what I can do,” he said before sliding the panel shut again

“Now we wait,” said Ryan, perching on the bed.

Rachel sat beside him. After a moment’s silence he said, “how’s your delectable backside feeling?”

The spanking he’d given her had excited her unbearably. “Much better and ready for more,” she whispered, kissing him.

“Later,” he said when they heard the door being unlocked. It swung open to reveal Taylor and the custody sergeant.

“You can leave us,” Taylor told the officer, who shrugged and meandered away, hands in his pockets and whistling out of tune.

Taylor stepped inside and closed the door. “I just heard Kennard nicked you. I can’t believe he had the front when he knows what information you have.”

“Relax, it’s just a ploy,” said Ryan. “We confronted Kennard with what we know about his extra-curricular habits and he crumbled. I think the recent pressure has been too much for him. Kennard had orders from Alex to detain us here, not for long, just enough for him to get his assassins in place.”

“Assassins?”

“If we set foot outside this building Rachel and I are dead. So I told him to arrest us on some silly charge. He’ll tell Alex we’re being transported to the Magistrate’s Court in the morning and Alex will make his attempt then. By that time we’ll be long gone.”

“I don’t like this, it’s full of flaws.”

“I’m well aware of that but it’s the only scenario I could come up with that didn’t result in us getting our heads blown off.”

“There are too many variables, so many things that can go wrong.”

“Exactly, which is why I wanted to speak to you. If we’re not released by dawn contact May Edwards. Explain to her what’s happened and that she is to call Kennard and tell him she has the footage in her possession. You will then contact Jeremy Hammond and tell him to threaten Kennard with exposure if he doesn’t release us.”

“I will and I’ll look forward to it. Kennard’s a greasy arse-licking bastard.”

“We need to get out of here as soon as we can, I’m expecting a call from someone who can tell us where Alex is.”

Taylor’s eyes shone with zeal. “Alright, I’ll do it. You’ll be out of here by dawn, I promise you that.”

Rachel and Ryan were woken just before the sun came up. They’d expected to see Kennard but instead it was Taylor clutching two polystyrene cups of tea.

“Time to go,” he told them.

Rachel sat up, massaging her neck. They hadn’t got much sleep scrunched up on the hard bed together and every muscle ached. “Don’t you ever go home?”

“Not until this is over. Kennard came through, there was no need to resort to the methods we discussed, unfortunately. I was looking forward to watching him run about like his arse was on fire.”

“All we want is to get our children back and go home DCI Taylor,” said Ryan.

He nodded. “Kennard arranged for your bike to be brought round the back so you can leave from there. It seems quiet out there but I can’t be sure there aren’t any assassins lurking about.”

“It’s a chance we have to take.”

They had a quick sip of the weak tea before hastily washing their faces in the sink, Rachel running her fingers through her hair.

“I wish I had a toothbrush,” she grimaced.

“No time,” said Ryan. “Let’s go.”

The station was quiet, a different custody officer on duty from the sarcastic one who had detained them. After the paperwork for their release had been completed, they were given back their personal possessions and Taylor walked them to the rear exit.

“Here’s your gear,” he said, handing them their bike jackets and helmets.