“You were a danger to yourself,” said Rhodes sententiously. “I did it for your own good, to keep you safe.”
“To keep me trapped. Because I’d seen you for what you were. Because I’d told you I wanted to go back to college and take my A-levels and go to university—without you.”
“You’re so much pleasanter to listen to without that awful affected cockney accent,” Cordwainer commented, causing Flipp to aim a furious kick at his shins. “Oh dear.” He turned to loom over her, dark-faced. “That might have been a mistake.”
“Leave it,” Rhodes warned. “She’s mine.”
“Is she? I’m not sure we’ve discussed the matter.”
“There’s nothing to discuss. You’ve got your henchman. I’ve got my wife. Case closed.”
“Now let’s not argue about this, Rhodes. You asked for my help in finding her. I gave it freely. But now I think I’d like to claim my reward.”
“The reward is I don’t drop you in it,” Rhodes said between gritted teeth. “You know what a world of shit I could bring down on your head, Cordwainer. Stop fucking about and let me take Philippa home.”
“What do you think your district commissioner at the Met would have to say about your captive bride?”
“He wouldn’t give a toss. He’s got real problems to deal with.”
“I’m not so sure. Come on, Peter. You wouldn’t begrudge me a little fantasy-fulfilment, would you? I’ve been desperate to put this little piece in bondage since she walked into my arcade. And you’ve handcuffed her so nicely, it’s as if you did it for me. Just a quick whipping and maybe a blow job? No? Don’t you think she deserves it, after all she put you through? It’s not as if I haven’t had her already.”
“You have not,” Flipp cried, outraged.
Cordwainer lunged for her. The boat rolled, Flipp screamed, then there was a gunshot.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Cordwainer.”
Rhodes was standing over him, watching him clutch at the wound in his arm, an expression of surprised dismay widening the victim’s eyes.
“You…bastard…” Cordwainer exclaimed weakly. “Get a fucking ambulance, then. I’m bleeding to death here.”
Rhodes put his face up close to the paling Cordwainer’s. “Get your own fucking ambulance,” he snarled. Then he turned to Flipp and dragged her up by the elbo
w. “Come on, sweet cheeks. Home time. Let’s leave these two cunts to it, eh?”
He shot three holes in the bottom of the boat and laughed as freezing seawater spurted through in fountain jets.
“Rocky.” Flipp sobbed as Rhodes dragged her past Rocky to the boat’s steps. The windy harbour air whistled about her ears as she surfaced onto the deck of the boat.
“Fuck.” Rhodes tried to drag her backwards, but it was too late for that. Along the harbour wall, a row of police marksmen ran to take up their positions while blue lights flashed like distress flares in the car park.
He produced his warrant card and shook it in front of the armed officers. “I’m a copper. Put the weapons down and let me explain.”
“Help me,” screamed Flipp. “Help us. There are people below. They’ll die if you don’t help them.”
“Shut up, Philippa,” Rhodes said, delivering the words with icy calm. “Or I’ll shut you up. Got it? Leave this to me.” He pinched her hard on the hip before walking unhurriedly across the gangplank on to the harbour wall. “Now, you muppets, who’s in charge of this fucking farrago?” he asked the nearest marksman. “I’ll see he gets his arse kicked from here to the IPCC.”
“Who’s on the boat?” asked a senior police officer, hurrying forward. “Are they hurt?”
“No one, just a couple of slags,” said Rhodes.
“Help them, help them,” Flipp implored, whimpering, transfixed by the sight of the boat, sinking slowly down.
While police boarded the boat under the supervision of the senior officer, Rhodes pulled Flipp back into the shadows and pressed his pistol into her cuffed hands, making sure he got plenty of good fingerprints onto the butt.
“What happened here?” The officer in charge wanted to know.
“The suspect here got a bit out of control,” Rhodes said, half winking at his colleague. “It’s okay. I’ve got it covered. She’s wanted up in London for half a dozen similar incidents. That’s why I’m here.”