“Hey, hey, Boyle Boy,” a voice called out.
Michael was heading towards him. Flynn clasped the man’s hand and patted his shoulder.
“What’s going on?” Michael’s eyes were on the crowd. “I thought you were keeping a low profile. I thought that was why you sent the Ball Babes to me.”
“I am. I was. The weasel is playing with me. He wants me to lose the plot on air and make his career for him.”
“Hell.” Michael toed the grass in front of him. “You didn’t arrange this?”
“Nope.” Flynn clenched his fists.
Michael went tense. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come. This situation isn’t good.
It won’t take much to set off the crowd. What can I do to help?”
Flynn patted him on the back. “Hang around. I’ll let you know. In the meantime, you could spread the word to the guys we trust. I don’t know half this mob. Talk to the ones we do know. Tell them it’s a setup. Matt’s in the van. The asshole brought drugs into my house.”
Michael shook his head. “I’ve got your back.” He headed off to a cluster of players from his old team.
Flynn watched the crowd. He didn’t like the atmosphere. It simmered with violence. Matt came out of the van a minute later.
“I’ve cuffed them. I had to call for a pickup. The van will take time to get here from Fort William.” He let out a growl. “This is why we need another officer here. I keep putting in requests. This town sees too much trouble for one man to deal with. I can’t keep pulling in civilians.”
“Even if they are ex-special forces?” Like most of Lake Benson’s security team.
“Aye.” Matt looked out over the crowd. “How many of them do you know?”
“About a quarter.”
“Damn.”
Flynn folded his arms. He noticed a camera pointed in his direction and angled his body so they couldn’t film his conversation with his cousin. “I spoke to Julia. The weasel wants me to blow my top. This event is staged to make me lose it on tape. The band were chosen specially. They’ve already been arrested this year. I’ve never heard of them. Apparently their thing is misogyny.”
Matt cocked his eyebrow. “With your reputation, no one would believe you’d book that band.”
“Aye, I love women. I have the tabloid reports to prove it.”
“I don’t like the look of the guys setting up the band.”
Flynn followed his gaze. Tattoos, leather, patches and skinheads.
“This whole thing is primed to blow.”
Julia came up to them. “Can I go into the van?” she asked Matt.
“Why?” He narrowed his eyes.
“Relax,” Flynn said. “I want her to get the duck to safety.”
Matt stared at him for a minute. “The duck?”
“Hey, don’t judge me. You wanted me to be a good guy. Good guys are nice to animals. The duck is nursing a broken wing. She doesn’t need the stress of this situation. Julia’s going to take her over to Abby’s for me.”
“Fine.” Matt sighed and waved Julia on. “Get the bloody duck.”
She scurried away.
“She’s in the wrong business,” Flynn said.