Inescapable

I hate you, she thought, as she watched him leave, wishing that he was staying, instead.

Chapter Six

Dawn broke, the icy morning mist lingering around the red brick housing estate. Emery Lavonne pulled the collar on his jacket closer around his neck and watched the safe house through narrowed eyes, his cheeks grinding with annoyance, his huffed breath hanging in the atmosphere. It was a plain suburban detached house on a postage stamp of land, surrounded by identical houses. The only difference was this one was empty. It shouldn’t be.

Lavonne had headed straight for the Midlands after he’d seen Seth Jones removing the witness. The fact that they hadn’t turned up here was bad news. Why? Throughout the night he’d hidden in the bushes, having sought out a good viewing point, but now he emerged and glared at the place unchecked. Jones had obviously not followed the plan he had been given.

An attempt on the witness’s life would have unsettled him. Would that have been enough to make him deviate from the plans that had been set in motion at headquarters, or had there been a last-minute change? Jones was seen as a stalwart of the department, he never usually broke any rules, but he’d also never lost a witness. He wouldn’t want a black mark on his record now. Lavonne had been in the office earlier that day, when Seth Jones left for his one-on-one time with the witness. Either it was a last-minute change in safe house, or Jones had reacted to the attempt. Whichever it was, it was bad news. He didn’t need complications. This had to be quick and clean. Plan A, take the witness down before he left London. Plan B, track Seth Jones and his witness, preferably getting to the safe house before they got there. He was going to have to figure out plan C, and fast.

Lavonne cursed Seth Jones. He had always got his back up and doubly so now he was the officer on the case. What he couldn’t figure was why Jones had taken another person, a woman, with him. Was she Adrian Walsh’s girlfriend? The paperwork hadn’t indicated the witness had a wife or a partner, but Lavonne had seen Seth with a woman by the car. Walsh had been inside the vehicle. He couldn’t see her face, but he’d watched from a side street as Jones took them both into safe custody, and he was annoyed that he’d missed a chance. It didn’t matter. He’d simply take down his target at the new safe house, or wherever the fuck Seth had taken them.

He checked the time. It was close to seven, and he had to leave now in order to get back to London and the office. Casting one last glance over the safe house, he left. He’d parked his car five streets away, and he was jogging in that direction when his mobile phone bleeped. Flicking it open, he saw that it was Jason Keane, his contact for the hit. Grimacing, he considered not answering it. He wanted to get on the road, but this might be important. He didn’t want the job to go to someone else because he’d ignored the call.

He answered. “Yes.”

“Progress?”

“I’ll be on the system today. I’ll have the safe house address before the day is out.”

Silence. “You told me you had it already.”

“I want to be sure,” Lavonne lied. He’d reached his parked car and climbed inside, more comfortable now he couldn’t be overheard. “Leave it with me, you won’t be disappointed.”

“There is no room for disappointment.” Keane paused. “Remember that.”

Lavonne gritted his teeth for a moment before allowing himself to respond. “The sooner you hang up, the sooner I can do this.”

“Sure, but I want to meet you.”

Lavonne’s hand tightened on the phone. He sensed Keane was enjoying this. Could he afford the risk of being seen with him? “Why? Is that necessary? It’s all time-wasting.”

“Mr Carlisle asked me to meet with you in person. He’s happy with the arrangement and with the fee you named. I’ll pay you fifty percent now, fifty percent when the job is done.”

“Fair enough.” The money was only a small part of it for Lavonne, but he wasn’t about to admit that. He had his own reasons, and he had inside information. He’d offered to take out the key witness and Keane had taken the bait. He didn’t mention that he’d already made an attempt. There was a chance it would be on the news, but there would be a cover up, given the witness status. He’d taken a chance, tried to hit the target before they left the city. Slight error of judgement there, but there would be another time, and this time he wouldn’t fail.

“Mr Carlisle likes to be kept informed, which means I have to touch base with you every few hours. Believe me, I’d rather do the job myself and not have to deal with you. You’re a cop and I don’t trust cops.”

Lavonne resisted the urge to be sarcastic. Jason Keane was a drug dealer and a jumped up lackey, but he didn’t want to antagonise him. “The target is already off the public radar. The important thing is I’ll take care of it, and quickly.”

“Good, because Mr Carlisle doesn’t like his cell. It’s not up to his usual standards.”

“Trust me, I’m on it.”

“You’d better be, because I’m on you, and you won’t shake me free until we are done with this.”

Mouth twitching with annoyance, Lavonne shut his phone and rammed his keys in the ignition.

* * * *

Seth’s sarcastic “I have faith in you” remark did encourage Lily to venture out of her room, but not until the following morning. She’d spent most of the night alternately fuming, getting aroused, being embarrassed, and brooding on her situation, until eventually she passed out with exhaustion. Around eight she awoke. All was quiet in the building. By the time she had showered and dressed she’d been able to chuckle to herself, having finally seen the funny side of his teasing remark the night before.

Of course she could do it.

She’d been brave enough to meet up with her virtual lover, she’d flirted madly with a stranger who’d subsequently seduced her, and she’d even stuck her tongue out at him when he’d delivered her sandwich the night before. Going out there and facing the pair of them was simply the next step in a catalogue of mistakes and humiliations. Keeping her sense of humour was clearly paramount.

The fact that her curiosity was getting the better of her also proved to be good motivation. What were the two of them doing out there, she constantly wondered as she stared at the door. Late into the night she’d heard the TV, and later on some chatter and laughter. Had they been discussing her? Before she let herself ponder that one too much and lost her nerve as a result, she grabbed the door handle and left her room.

Further down the corridor was a door with a sign that read ‘Residents’ Lounge’. That’s where Seth had emerged from the night before, when she’d tried to grab her phone. The door was open, and she headed over and ducked her head in. It was thankfully empty of attractive men this morning, so she made her way across the gloomy room and peeped through the curtains to have a good look around and get her bearings.