The Devil To Pay (Hennessey.) (128 page)

Adela paled at his self assured tone. She stammered, ‘you…you’re bluffing, you can’t possibly find her.’

‘Oh I can, and I will. You gave me a place to start with the private plane and her destination but the most important thing was the watch.’

‘The watch?’ Her voice was barely audible.

‘Yes, she’ll have to sell it and that will give me a lead. I told you I’ve tracked people, people who were experts at keeping a low profile, at blending in. I’ll find her.’

She kept his gaze for a few more moments then had to turn away from the determination and confidence in his eyes, cursing herself for telling him about the watch.

Lando said, ‘why would you want to do anything for a man you obviously despise?’

Hennessey looked at him thoughtfully obviously contemplating how much to tell them then said, ‘this is not about Glissando. Well, maybe indirectly. I
told Miss Faraday once that I always keep my promises, it’s a matter of principle, of honour.’

Adela made a sound in her throat that was more eloquent than any amount words. ‘Honour, principle, you don’t know the meaning of the words.’

‘Maybe not as they appear in
your
dictionary or in
your
world, but in
my
world it means something.’

Into the silence Lando asked, ‘was Maxwell the spy in
Eden?’

Hennessey turned to him looking surprised at the unexpected question then smiled, ‘meaning that would be the reason I beat him up?’

Lando shrugged and Hennessey looked at Adela who was watching him closely. ‘No, Maxwell was not Glissando’s spy. That’s not why I did what I did to him.

She didn’t ask why then he had hurt Dean, not that she didn’t want to know the reason, she did, she just didn’t want to give Hennessey the satisfaction of asking.

He said, ‘but you’d be amazed at who the spy was, Miss Faraday.’

She narrowed her eyes as she said quietly, ‘Mr. Hennessey, there is very little that would amaze me anymore.’

‘Oh, I think this would.’

When Adela remained silent Lando said, ‘well come on, Hennessey, reveal to us how smart you’ve been in tracking down the elusive spy.’

Hennessey glanced over his shoulder then looked back at Adela before saying, ‘it was your hat seller.’

Adela’s head shot up, ‘oh, you’re such a liar. Annie Bloom would never…no…she wouldn't, she…she liked me.’ This last part was said as more of a question that a statement of fact.

‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have told you like that, I forgot that you liked and trusted her.’

She stared at him her eyes wide, then looked away but not before he had seen hurt replace the disbelief in them.

Lando said to Hennessey, ‘she was the one who took the photographs of you and her and sent them to that guy’s phone.’

Adela looked at him in shock, ‘photographs?’

‘I found photos in one of the dead guy’s phones of you and him,’ he nodded towards Hennessey,’ in Eden and other places.

Adela stared at him stunned and Lando said to Hennessey, ‘but the others, those of her alone, you took those and sent them to Glissando via that guy.’

Hennessey looked annoyed now but answered, ‘yeah, I did. He insisted I send him proof periodically that I was doing my job. After all he was paying me a lot of money.’

Lando’s tone was filled with repugnance, ‘oh yeah, let’s not forget the important thing, the money, the love of which is the root of
all
evil.’

Hennessey scowled but before he could counter Adela, as though she hadn’t heard their c
onversation said. ‘I thought Annie liked me.’ She bowed her head, ‘everyone here has used my affection for them against me, is there no one,
no
one trustworthy in this world.’

She sounded so hurt, so despondent that Lando’s heart went out to her. How must she feel right now, knowing that almost everyone she trusted and liked had betrayed her? But why was he asking a question he already knew the answer too? He knew how that felt. His wife had betrayed him with a man he liked and trusted. He had to admit now that the treachery of his friend had hurt more than the treachery of his wife. What did that say about Adrianne, more to the point what did it say about
him
.

Hennessey said, ‘I’m sure she
did
like you, she just liked the money more.’

Adela looked up at him and he knew what she was thinking, well
you
should know. Out loud she said, ‘she said you were dangerous, that was one thing she didn’t lie about.’

‘M
aybe she was trying to warn you in her own way.’

Adela didn’t reply but stood up and went to the kitchen where she poured herself some water and stood sipping it, her back to both men.

Hennessey glanced at Lando who was looking at Adela then he turned and met Hennessey’s eyes. ‘So why are you here now, Hennessey? Why did you kill Rosie?’

‘I told you, he was about to kill you. And besides you know that old saying? “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

Lando laughed derisively, ‘you could kill a thousand of my enemies and you wouldn’t be my friend, Hennessey.’

Hennessey chuckled but his tone was deadly as he said, 'well, you don't want me as an enemy, Mr. Lando.'

Lando's eyes narrowed but he did not rise to the threat instead he said, ‘you knew she would come here didn’t you?’

Hennessey arched his eyebrows in surprise before giving a defeated nod of his head, ‘yes, at least I hoped she would make her way to you.'

Adela turned round swiftly almost dropping the glass she held. She looked from Hennessey to Lando and back again. Lando said, ‘you’ve been here all the time watching us haven’t you?’

‘N
ot all the time, but I was here waiting when she arrived. When she got away from me I went back to the shack and packed up then headed this way. I knew there was no way I could find her in the swamp. I had little hope that she would make it but I also knew how tenacious and tough she was. After all, she had stood out against me, lied to my face when I had the stun gun at her breast, so the swamp might seem like a small obstacle to overcome after that.’

Lando glanced at Adela as he digested this. She had told him about the stun gun but not that he had held it against her breast. He wanted to walk across the room and do to Hennessey what he had done to Guildy.  He restrained himself only because he needed him, but when this was over he would have a reckoning with him, he would look forward to it.

Hennessey gave a wry smile as though he knew what Lando was thinking and said, ‘I brought here her to Alabama because I intended to bring her to you after…after I had gotten the information I required from her.

I chose you because she knew you, because you had proved yourself worthy by getting the drop on me. And because I knew you wouldn’t get the police involved, knowing your distrust and dislike of the law and your desperate need to stay below the radar. I knew she would be safe here with you. The shack I kept her is in fact only ten miles from here,
but obviously she didn't know that and must have wandered around for hours. I admit as time went on I got more and more concerned until I saw her approach your barn. I was relieved I must say, as well as most impressed that she’d actually made it. I should have had more faith.

I watched you take her into the house then hung around for a while to make sure you didn’t call the cops and bring danger to her and to yourself. But once I knew she was safe with you I left to find out what the cops and Glissando’s goons were up to. I came back just in time for the fun and games.’

Adela stood staring at Hennessey with shock and repulsion. He looked at her then quickly back at Lando obviously not liking the looks she was giving him. He said, ‘once I knew she would be okay I left and went into town and kept my eyes and ears open. I saw the two feds and the other guy heading out and followed them. They met up with several more guys, they talked about others too. I had to make a quick decision so I found my old friend Sammy and told him to watch the other guys while I followed the feds.

On my way I met up with the guys in the boat and dispatched them. Then I heard your two detective friends from
Mississippi coming with the town sheriff; I just about had enough time to sink the boat before they came into view. I hid and listened to their conversation.’

He turned to look at Adela now, ‘your friend the good detective Leyton is most concerned for your welfare, his partner however is convinced that you’re a cold blooded
femme
fatale
in league with a hired killer. But then he doesn’t have a thing for you as Leyton does.’

Adela said nothing but her expression showed him exactly what she thought of that remark and of him. To her surprise he didn’t smirk or smile but said, ‘sorry, that was inappropriate. But at least you know Leyton is on your side.’ When she remained silent he cleared his throat and went on, ‘they’re convinced that you’re here somewhere, they think Lando was lying and that he knows something, but the FBI had taken over and were in town. Leyton said he didn’t like the look of them and your sheriff agreed, Lando. He said they were the sort to shoot first and ask questions later and that Miss. Faraday could get caught in the cross fire.’

He gave a wry smile, ‘your sheriff ain’t such a fool after all, Lando.’ Lando like Adela did not reply so Hennessey continued, ‘they hung around that area so I was pretty much trapped there for a while that’s why I couldn’t get here until almost the last moment.

But still, it was the right moment for you hey, Lando? Although they probably would have taken you too as leverage to get Miss. Faraday to talk. And knowing her soft heart and her great desire to shield others from suffering she’d probably have caved, particularly since you helped her in her hour of need. I just had to hope that my faith in you was not misplaced, and it wasn’t.’

Both Lando and Adela searched his face for the mockery or amusement in his expression as he said this but there was none, only relief that it hadn’t turned out badly. She thought about what he’d said, indeed she could think of little else. He had been here almost all the time, he could have taken her when she had arrived weak and helpless and half dead, but he hadn’t, instead he had let Lando take care of her. And he had brought her back to Alabama, to Alban, to Lando, knowing she would be safe with him.

Lando said, ‘I don’t get it, Hennessey, if you can track down the girl without any more information from her,’ he nodded at Adela, ‘why come here at all? Why not just go and get the girl and take her to Glissando. Why risk coming back here?’

Hennessey studied him in silence for a moment than said, ‘that’s a good question, Mr. Lando.’

‘And I’m sure it’ll be an even better answer,’ came the sarcastic reply.

Hennessey turned back at him and smiled, ‘I wanted to make sure she was safe, that you both were. I got you into this and I aimed to see you get out of it in one piece.’

‘Why should you care? You’re a killer, what’s one or two more innocent lives here and there compared to the dozens you’ve already taken?’

Hennessey’s smile vanished and his face clouded and his tone was hard as he said, ‘I told you once, I don’t kill innocent people.’ When Lando looked sceptical he added in a low menacing tone, ‘are
you
innocent, Mr. Lando?’

Lando shot him a “watch it” look but Hennessey turned to Adela and said softly, ‘I hurt you and betrayed you in the worst possible way, and I don’t just mean the abduction and all that followed, but everything else before that. I owe you, Miss. Faraday,’ he looked back at Lando, ‘
that’s
why I’m here now, to repay that debt.’

Lando curled his lip with disbelief and disgust and Hennessey said, ‘
you
believe in paying your debts don’t you, Lando?’

Lando’s jaw tightened but he didn’t rise to the bait instead he said calmly ‘well time will tell whether you’re lying or not, Hennessey.’

‘Yes it will, Mr. Lando, yes it will.’

Hennessey turned to Adela and his tone gentle said, ‘you once told me that you always felt safe with me, I can understand if you’ve since reviewed that belief, but I’m asking you one last time to feel safe with me.’

Adela stared at him as though he had asked her to strip naked and dance on the table. She didn’t reply but simply turned from him and filled the glass she’d been holding tightly in her fist with more water. When she’d sipped some she put down the glass and gripped the sides of the sink tightly as though keeping it in place.

God, how could this have all gone so wrong? Who would have believed that her dream holiday could turn into such a nightmare, that just one simple thing like going to the theatre could result in this chaos, this madness. If she hadn’t gone to the theatre that night if she had taken that nice couple up on their offer of a lift home. If she hadn’t gone to investigate the scream from the alleyway. If she had never come here to this country she wouldn’t be here now and Lando would not be in this danger.

But despite her terror, despite all she had been through and all that was to come she could not regret helping Olivia escape that cruel, sadistic man. No, she regretted nothing except her involvement with Hennessey, her stupidity and naivety. But mostly involving Lando in her troubles, this she regretted very deeply.