Only the Brave (14 page)

4.15 P.M.

Jacob sighed when he heard the door to the communal stairs bang open and Craig appeared.

‘A word in your ear.’ Craig drew level with him and pushed him into the hallway of his flat.

‘What’s up?’ Jacob sensed this wasn’t going to go his way.

Craig punched him in the stomach. ‘Did you know it was
Jordan
Johnson?’ He was in his face again.

Jacob tried to push him off. ‘No!’

‘Don’t fucking lie to me!’ Craig shouted.

‘I’m not –’

Sandra came from out of the living room. ‘What the hell is going on now?’ she cried. ‘Can’t I have a minute’s peace around here today?’

‘Go back inside and shut the door,’ Craig told her.

‘No! This is my bloody –’

He pushed her away with his free hand. ‘I said go back inside!’

The door slammed and she was gone.

Craig punched Jacob in the stomach again.

He groaned, coughed, held up a hand. ‘I’m your eyes and ears, you said. That’s what I’ve been doing. Watching and listening – I haven’t spoken to anyone because I didn’t know anything.’

‘So who was it that told that fat reporter?’

‘It wasn’t me! I was just doing as you asked.’

‘Find out who it was.’ He pushed him to one side and headed for the door.

‘But – ’

‘I’ll be back in half an hour and you’d better have some answers!’

Jacob stooped, holding his stomach as he caught his breath again. He wished he could have lashed out at Craig. He was strong enough to take him, fight back and defend himself, but he hadn’t wanted to rouse suspicion. But what the hell was Craig talking about, that no one would know Jordan’s name? He’d already had numerous text messages telling him who it was. News of that kind always travelled fast.

Craig must be losing it. The pressure was obviously getting to him.

Sandra ventured back into the hallway. ‘What the hell have you got into, Jacob?’ she cried.

‘What have
I
got into?’ Jacob’s face creased with anger. ‘It’s always me, isn’t it? Not your precious Tommy. He’s a troublemaker too but I never see you having a go at him.’

‘It
is
always you!’

‘Leave me alone.’

‘Jacob, wait!’

Jacob stepped back out onto the walkway. It was a good job Harrison House was known for everyone minding their own
business
. If anything was reported, the police would be on to it. All this coming and going, someone would see something.

He stood up tall, holding onto his stomach. How the hell had he thought this was going to be easy money?

5.00 P.M.

Leah sat on the armchair. She was dressed ready to go out, her jacket and gloves on against the cold and rain that was now settling in for the night, her hair bundled up inside a black woollen hat. Her right knee jiggled as she watched Sky News for further updates on Jordan Johnson before she plucked up the courage to go out.

It was dark enough to be pretty safe to risk it. Letting out the breath she’d been holding, she knew it was now or never. She had to chance it and hope that Craig wasn’t lying in wait for her. Her hands shook, sweating under the thick layer of wool as she picked up the bag of money, slipped it inside her jacket and zipped up. Sliding back the bolts at the top and bottom of the front door, she opened it slowly. She popped her head out enough to see that th
e w
alkway was empty. She stepped out and looked over the wall. Most people had gone in now, the wind and rain as unwelcome as the police intrusion.

Time to make her move. She pulled the collar to her jacket in closer to her face and, with head down but keeping a look out, she walked towards the communal stairs. There was no way she could chance climbing down a floor to stay out of sight.

Her shoes hardly made a noise but the sound of her heart beating in her ears intensified. It made her feel breathless. She pushed on the door to the stairwell, grimacing as it squeaked, glancing around before closing it quietly behind her, not letting it bang like she usually would have done. Then she jogged down the stairs to ground level.

In the entrance hall, there was no one around. She took a look through the window at the side of the door and moved away from it immediately. That sergeant and her sidekick were outside. Oh, God, what happened if they saw her and guessed that she had something under her jacket? She’d be in for it if she told them where the money was from. And she could hardly say that she
carried
her life savings around with her, could she? What fool in their right mind would do that?

Before she was seen, Leah ran back upstairs to her flat. There was no way she could risk moving the money yet. She’d have to try later that night.

5.30 P.M.

Allie had gone back to the station. She was at her desk when Sam waved her over to the big screen television.

‘I took a call from The Genting Club after the press conference went out. Jordan Johnson was at the casino last night. He arrived there alone at quarter past midnight and he left alone at just after two thirty. I spoke to the manager, who said that he’d played a couple of tables and drank coffee with a few of the
regulars
.
Johnson
then went to his car and left Hanley a few
minutes
later. The
manager
sent me footage, which I’ve gone through, and
everything
looks satisfactory.’ She held up a finger as Allie was about to speak. ‘I followed Jordan and Ryan into the car park after they left Flynn’s. Both went to their cars. Ryan drove off and Jordan stayed for a couple of
minutes
and then left too. So he must have gone straight to the casino.’

‘Well, at least we know that he didn’t go back home to The Gables,’ said Allie. ‘Thanks, Sam.’

‘I also watched CCTV from inside Flynn’s last night.’ Sam pointed the remote control at the television monitor. ‘There’s
Jordan
sitting at the bar at 23.03. Then in comes Kirstie.’

They both watched as she flung out a hand and caught him on his chin. Pandemonium broke out before she was pulled off him by three men.

‘She’s such a nasty piece,’ remarked Perry as he joined them. ‘She’s bloody fearless.’

They watched again as she left the VIP area. Sam fast-
forwarded
until Jordan and Ryan got up and left. The time on the recording was 00.05. ‘There you go. And . . . wait for it.’

Allie watched as another man left the party, too. She recognised him immediately.

‘Craig Elliott! Interesting, because he and Stella told us that he was home and in bed for midnight.’

‘Most people leave around one a.m.,’ Sam continued, pressing the remote to fast forward, ‘exactly as Steve Burgess said. The party wound up around two thirty.’

Allie pointed at the screen. ‘Please tell me there are cameras situated on the entrances too?’

‘Yes.’ Sam quickly swapped the DVDs over. ‘Here you go.’

Allie felt the adrenaline building up inside her, that feeling that they might be on to something. First, they witnessed Kirstie being escorted outside by two bouncers.

Sam pressed fast forward again, stopping forty minutes later. She pointed to the screen. ‘There’s Jordan leaving. Ryan, too.’ Fast forward again. Finally, out onto Marsh Street came Craig.

‘Ryan told us he left around midnight, which we now know is correct. Do we know if he came back?’

‘Not according to this but I’m only at two thirty. I’m just going through the rest of it now.’

‘Good work, Sam. After team brief, I’ll check out why the delightful Elliotts are lying.’

5.45 P.M.

Craig took a call from Jacob as he was on the walkway. He stopped in front of his front door.

‘You’d better have something for me,’ he barked.

‘You might want to look closer to home. Your bird’s been to see the posh cow who lives next door to you.’

Craig looked up. Jacob was leaning on the wall outside his flat.

‘When was this?’ he asked.

‘This afternoon. About oneish.’

‘And you’re just telling me?’

‘You wouldn’t listen to what I had to say when I last saw you,’ Jacob defended himself. ‘You just laid into me.’

Craig wasn’t interested in that. ‘What time did she leave?’

‘About half an hour later, and then she went to see Leah.’

‘Leah?’ Craig frowned.

‘Yeah. Your Stella’s been flitting around all day here and there.’

‘Has she now? Anything else you didn’t tell me?’

‘It all went quiet for a bit and then as soon as it was dark, Leah went out, too.’

‘Was she carrying anything?’

‘What?’

‘A bag.’ Craig rubbed at his temple. ‘Was she carrying a bag?’

‘A handbag, do you mean?’

‘I don’t know – any type of fucking bag!’

‘I didn’t see.’

Craig stared up at him. ‘What time did she come back?’

‘A few minutes ago.’

‘You sure now?’

A pause. ‘Yeah. Looked a bit shifty, if you ask me.’

Craig disconnected the call. Stupid bitches! Were they all playing him? And why had Stella been to see the posh totty? Had she picked up something and given it to Leah to move? He neede
d t
o talk to her, figure out what she was up to. Because if she was double-crossing him too, then she’d be getting much more than her usual slap.

He was certain now more than ever that Leah had something to do with the money. Once he caught up with her, she was in for it. No one put his life in danger by making a fool of him.

When a knock came at the door, Sophie answered it, thinking if it wasn’t the police, it could have been Stella. She was surprised to see Stella’s husband there instead.

‘I want a word with you,’ Craig said, pushing on the door.

Sophie tried to close it but his foot was in and he had the upper hand in no time.

‘Just having a look around, darling,’ he told her. ‘Don’t mind me. I won’t be long.’

He pushed her into the living room so hard that she fell to the floor with the force.

‘What do you want?’ Paralysed with fear, she found her voice at last.

‘Steve Burgess wants to know if you have something of his.’

‘I don’t know anyone named Steve Burgess.’

Craig went over to her desk and began to rifle through her drawers.

‘Hey, that’s private!’

‘Nothing’s private as far as money is concerned.’

‘Money?’ Sophie frowned. ‘What are you talking about?’

‘Cut the crap. I know about you and Jordan. All about your midnight rendezvous.’

Sophie froze. ‘He didn’t visit me last night.’

‘Like I believe that.’

‘It’s true. You can ask the police. He was supposed to be
coming
but he never turned up.’

Craig had moved to her bookcase now.

‘Stop it!’ she cried as he threw some of the books down to the floor. ‘There’s nothing here.’

‘There’s lots of places you can hide money.’ Craig glanced around again.

‘But he didn’t come here last night!’ Sophie burst into tears. ‘He’s never going to come here again.’

Stella was in the living room when she heard the front door slam.

‘What the fuck were you doing next door at that posh woman’s flat earlier today?’ Craig wanted to know.

‘You mean Sophie?’ Stella cursed under her breath. ‘I was just seeing if she was okay. She’s been a little under the weather recently with a cold, so I asked her if she wanted anything bringing in from the shops.’

‘Don’t take me for a fool. Was she the one who was screwing Jordan?’

Stella laughed nervously. ‘Whatever gave you that idea?’

‘Because I’ve just been to see her.’

Stella swallowed.

‘Why are you lying to me?’ Craig sneered.

‘I’m not! She’s never said anything to me.’ She tried to move past him but he blocked her way.

‘And Leah? Are you looking after that sneaky bitch, too?’

‘Leah’s my friend.’ Stella folded her arms. ‘You don’t have to like her but I –’

Craig backhanded her before she had time to react.

She fell to the floor, holding her face. ‘What the hell was that for?’ she cried.

‘I know you have the money.’

‘I know that you’re a bully!’

He stood over her. ‘Where is it?’

‘I don’t have it!’ she screamed. ‘Why won’t you believe me?’

‘You three – you’re all in this together, aren’t you?’ Craig grabbed her hair, pulling her to standing again. ‘Jordan must have given it to her, then she gave it to you and you gave it to Leah. Where has she stashed it?’

‘I don’t know!’

‘Wrong fucking answer!’ He brought his fist up.

‘Don’t hit me again!’ Stella raised her hands too, her pluckiness disappearing in an instant. ‘Leah said she was taking it to her mum’s!’

Craig pushed her away. Before he left the flat, he picked up her mobile phone and put it in his pocket.

In the silence afterwards, Stella gasped as she caught her breath. She put a hand to her lip. There was definitely blood, the bastard. And now he’d taken her phone, she wouldn’t be able to contact Leah discreetly. She didn’t want the police to see her
flitting
about too much or else she might slip up if they questione
d her.

Embarrassed because she had let him scare her rather than stand up for herself, she vowed to change her ways. Once all this mess was sorted, she wanted him out of the flat. And if he wouldn’t go, then she would.

She couldn’t let him get away with it again.