Takedown Read online

  “It’s a waste of time and we have more important things to think about,” she said.

  “Nothing is more important than your safety,” Vance told her severely.

  “But who would want to stalk me?”

  “People who are jealous of our family’s business and want to take it. You’re in charge, so you’d be the prime target.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no one in Blackpool with the strength to hurt us.”

  “New gangs are always up and coming. From now on we up security. You don’t go anywhere alone Faith. One of us is with you at all times.”

  “I don’t need a babysitter,” she sighed.

  “Well tough because you’re getting one until we’re sure you’re not in danger.”

  “I know it’s a pain in the arse,” said Caleb. “But Vance is speaking sense. After everything we’ve been through, we can’t take any chances.” He thought back to when she’d been fighting for her life in hospital after being attacked by Marlow. He couldn’t go through all that again.

  “All right,” she said more gently, able to hear the pain in Caleb’s voice. “I won’t go anywhere alone, promise and we’ll check it out, just to be sure.”

  “I’m glad you’re being sensible about this,” said a relieved Vance.

  “You’re giving me no choice,” she said, the corner of her mouth lifting into a smile. “But you lot need to be careful too. If this really is a stalker I might not be the only one being targeted.”

  She dropped Caleb off at his flat, not setting off until he was safely inside. When they turned the corner, Vance rested his hand on her knee.

  “What I didn’t want to say in front of Caleb because it would only worry him,” began Vance. “Is that this could be linked to something we’ve done in the past, either to Marlow or Lenny and Harry Paisley.”

  “But only you, me and the Wallace brothers know about Harry. Everyone else thinks he fled the country when a warrant was issued for his arrest. Can the Wallace brothers be trusted to keep their mouths shut?”

  “Course they can, they’re not stupid. They’d all get sent down for murder if they breathed a word about it and they disposed of the body so effectively no one has ever found him. I’m confident this isn’t about Harry.”

  “So how do we confirm if someone really is watching me?”

  “I’ll get some surveillance equipment. There’s a guy I know who supplies cameras with night vision, real tactical stuff. We’ll also have to be careful to make sure we’re completely alone before showing our affection for each other,” he smiled, sliding his hand further up her thigh.

  “Careful,” she breathed when his hand pressed between her legs. “I don’t want to crash.”

  He retracted his hand. “There isn’t anything you’ve been keeping from me, is there? Weird messages or phone calls, things like that? I know you Faith, you don’t like to worry people, so you shoulder the burden alone when you don’t need to.”

  “I promise Vance, there isn’t anything I’m keeping from you. It’s just that strange sense of someone watching me, that’s all. The last time I had it, it was Harry Paisley.”

  “But he didn’t vandalise your car. You never did find out who was responsible for that.”

  “It was probably Marlow,” she said dismissively. “And he’s dead, thank Christ.”

  “You didn’t think it was him at the time. This could have been going on for longer than we realise.”

  Faith hated the thought. “If it has then why haven’t they made their move yet?”

  “I don’t know but we’ll find out.”

  “I bet it’s my imagination. What Marlow did to me changed me, made me more cautious. Probably no one’s watching me and it’s just past trauma.”

  “Do you need to see a counsellor?”

  “God no.”

  “There’s no shame if you do. You went through a horrible ordeal.”

  “I’m fine. Marlow is not going to control me from the grave. The git’s dead and rotting, where he belongs. End of.”

  Vance smiled. One thing he loved about Faith was her strength. “If you’re sure?”

  “I bloody well am.”

  “Good.”

  “I just hope a load of crap’s not going to kick off again. Everything’s going so well and the Maguires are really pleased with how we’re running things. They might not be so pleased if we have any more trouble.”

  “With the amount of trouble that family’s had I think they’ll understand that these things happen. I’m glad we have the back-up of such powerful people.”

  “That’s what puzzles me. Everyone in the criminal underworld knows we work for them. Who would risk pissing them off by messing with us?”

  “You think this stalker could be personal, not business?”

  “Let’s just confirm that I do have a stalker first before we get carried away. Like I said, it could be my imagination.”

  Vance really didn’t think it was but he thought she was trying to convince herself of that more than him.

  CHAPTER 3

  The next morning, Faith and Vance decided to go out and see what they could discover about Dillon Enfield. They thought a little curious questioning wouldn’t raise any red flags. Everyone would be talking about his murder anyway.

  They decided to start with the repair garage their family took their cars to. The owner knew everything that went on in the town’s underbelly. If Dillon was mixed up in anything then this person would know about it.

  After Vance had performed a little sabotage on his Lexus, he drove it to the garage with Faith in the passenger seat to speak to Kingsley, a tall, strapping black man with a stunning smile and a deep infectious laugh. He was well-liked and trusted by everyone. He also did a roaring trade in turning over stolen motors.

  “Faith,” he said with that smile of his that could charm the birds from the trees. “Looking stunning, as always.”

  “Thanks Kingsley,” she smiled back. “You’re looking good too.”

  “Cheers. I’ve been working out a lot more lately. I’ve dropped a stone and I feel great.”

  “That’s fantastic.”

  “All right Vance,” he said, shaking his hand. “So, what can I do for you both?”

  “My car’s making a weird rattling noise,” said Vance, nodding at his large white Lexus. “I think it’s coming from the back and it’s driving me crazy. Can you fit me in?”

  “Any time for you lot, you know that. Oy, Terry,” he barked.

  A skinny man with a faceful of acne scars raised his head from the bonnet of a Honda Civic. “What?”

  “Take over on the Ford Focus, will you? I’ve got an urgent job on.”

  “But I’m working on this,” he said, gesturing to the Civic.

  “The owner’s not picking it up until tomorrow. Focus now, Civic later.”

  Terry sighed as he closed the bonnet of the Civic and strolled over to the Focus.

  “In your own bloody time,” snapped Kingsley.

  “It will be,” muttered Terry.

  “That is one cheeky git,” sighed Kingsley. “If he wasn’t so good at his job I’d have booted his skinny arse out the door months ago but good mechanics are hard to find.”

  “True,” said Vance. “Which is why I always come to you.”

  “I am the best in the north of England,” he smiled proudly. “Are you off somewhere or do you want to hang about while I see what the problem is?”

  “We’ll hang about, if that’s okay?”

  “Course it is. Oy, Sharon?”

  A pretty blonde poked her head out of the portacabin that constituted the office. “Yes Kingsley?”

  “Two teas for Faith and Vance and use the good teabags, not the ones that burst when you pour hot water over them.”

  “Of course Kingsley,” she smiled before ducking back inside.

  “She’s a treasure is Sharon,” he grinned. “She has a multitude of talents, if you know what I mean,” he added with
a wink.

  “How’s your fiancée Kingsley?” frowned Faith.

  “Don’t worry sweetheart, I’m not cheating. Me and Lindsey split up weeks ago. The cheeky cow was shagging some tosspot of a footballer from the local team. Not to worry though, Sharon’s been giving me all the comfort I need. Hey, have you heard about Dillon Enfield?”

  Vance tried not to smile. Kingsley had got round to the topic even faster than he’d anticipated. “Yeah, we did hear he was attacked in Kingscote Park.”

  “He was more than attacked. The poor bugger was stabbed to death. Can’t say I’m surprised though because he was one dodgy little sod.”

  “Why, what was he up to?” said Faith.

  “He was tarting about all over the town. If it had tits he’d shag it, excuse my French.”

  “Don’t worry,” she replied. “I’m not easily shocked.”

  “I can well imagine,” he grinned. “He was in trouble with a few angry husbands and not just husbands but boyfriends and fiancés too. I don’t know how he did it, he was an ugly twat. Anyway, that wasn’t all he was up to. He got involved in a few house robberies with Mickey Gunning’s crew. If you ask me, Mickey killed Dillon. Fucking mental is that one. Anyway, I’d better get on if I’m going to have your motor sorted.”

  “Cheers Kingsley,” said Faith as she and Vance wandered towards the portacabin to wait.

  “What do you think?” Faith quietly asked Vance.

  “I think,” he replied. “That he’s right and Mickey killed Dillon. I met him in prison and he’s a full-blown psycho. He cut off another prisoner’s fingers because his snoring kept him awake at night. They didn’t even share the same cell. The poor sod who suffered a three-fingered amputation was in a cell four doors down.”

  “That’s some loud snoring.”

  “It was. Mickey was a bit of a hero after that to be honest, we were all kept awake by Reg’s snoring.”

  “So hopefully the police will nick Mickey for Dillon’s murder, case closed and they won’t come near us.”

  “Hopefully.”

  She frowned at the look in his eyes. “Don’t Vance.”

  “Don’t what?”

  “Don’t go and talk to Mickey. I know that’s what you’re thinking.”

  “Perhaps you’re right. It’s probably best to let sleeping dogs lie, especially if the police are going to be paying him a visit.”

  “So, it’s looking like Dillon was killed either by a mad burglar or a jealous husband,” she said with relief. “Now we can stop prying.”

  She took out her phone when it started to ring.

  “Who is it?” said Vance when she frowned at the screen.

  “Matthew.”

  “What the hell does he want?”

  She put her finger to her lips, indicating for him to be quiet as she answered the call.

  “Hello Matthew,” she said.

  Vance’s eyes flickered at her use of Young’s first name. He didn’t like it. It was too intimate.

  Faith listened to Matthew talk before saying, “I’ll be there.”

  “You’re meeting him?” said Vance when she’d hung up.

  “Yes, in a couple of hours. There’s something urgent he needs to discuss.”

  “What?”

  “He didn’t want to say on the phone.”

  “It’s probably nothing. He just wants to get into your knickers.”

  “No he doesn’t. He’s got a girlfriend.”

  “Do you think that will stop him?”

  “You know,” she smiled. “I do enjoy it when you get jealous.”

  “I wouldn’t have a problem if he stopped flirting with you but every time you meet he comes on to you.”

  “It’s just harmless banter, that’s all. He’s very happy with Alice. They’ve already moved in together. Anyway, here isn’t the place to discuss all that,” she said, glancing around but Kingsley and his mechanic had their heads buried in their work and Sharon was in the portacabin.

  “I’ll come with you to meet him.”

  “He said to come alone.”

  “Why would he want you to meet him alone?”

  “Because he wants to keep our meetings low-key. We can’t have a low-key meeting if I bring the whole family with me.”

  “Not the whole family, just me. You agreed you wouldn’t go anywhere alone until we know for sure if you’re being followed.”

  “He might not talk if I have anyone with me. How about you drive me there but wait outside? We’re meeting in a public place, so I’ll be fine.”

  Knowing it was the only concession she was going to make, he agreed. But he still didn’t like her being alone with Young, public place or not.

  They stepped into the portacabin, Sharon’s presence meaning he couldn’t pursue the conversation, to Faith’s relief.

  “Was it really necessary to meet here?” said Faith.

  The agreed meeting place was Madame Tussauds Waxwork Museum on the promenade.

  “I’ve always wanted to come here, ever since I moved from Manchester,” replied Matthew, smiling at the waxwork duo of Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. “I loved them when I was a kid.”

  “Me too,” she smiled, thinking his enthusiasm sweet.

  He scowled at the waxwork of a blond male comedian. “I can’t stand that git. At least his waxwork can’t open its big gob.”

  “Is that what you brought me here to tell me?”

  “No, it’s not. Aww look at that, The Two Ronnies.”

  “Let me guess - you were a fan of them when you were a kid too?”

  “I was. Don’t tell me you weren’t?”

  “I loved them. They had an innocence, like Morecambe and Wise. That innocence seems to have gone these days,” she said a little sadly.

  “Did you come here a lot when you were a kid?”

  “Once on a school trip. We didn’t really do the touristy stuff.”

  “You missed out,” he said as they meandered through the exhibits.

  “Is that what we’re doing here then, visiting the touristy stuff?”

  “No. We’re here to discuss Dillon Enfield. Do you know him?”

  “I know of him. I also heard he was found murdered in Kingscote Park.”

  “You heard right. Anyway, I’m SIO on the case and I wondered if you knew anything that could point me in the right direction.” Matthew had been promoted to detective inspector on the back of his exposing Marlow and his corrupt colleagues.

  Faith wanted to sigh with relief but she kept it in. Not only was the police officer who was in the Maguire’s pocket working the case but he had no idea Dillon had done some work for them. “I did hear he was shagging about and he wasn’t fussy if the women were in relationships.” She decided not to tell him about Mickey Gunning yet, not until she’d spoken to him herself. Mickey had a reputation for extreme violence and she didn’t want to send Matthew to his door, even if he was an experienced police officer.

  “Interesting,” he said thoughtfully. “Any idea who the lucky women were?”

  “No, sorry. You’re best asking his friends about that.”

  “I suppose. Anything else you can tell me?”

  “No, I didn’t really know him. He was a regular at Pulse but I didn’t have much to do with him. Hey,” she said when he took her arm and steered her into a mock-up of The Rovers Return pub out of Coronation Street. “Careful,” she added when he almost pulled her into the waxwork of Bet Lynch, the pub’s brassy blonde landlady.

  “I don’t like being lied to Faith,” he said. “Especially after what we’ve been through together.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I know Dillon was working for you,” he said, voice dropping to a whisper. “And I don’t mean in the club. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Why do you think?” she whispered back. “He was just found murdered and how did you know he worked for us?”

  “He told his best friend about it.”

  “Then you should ask his b
est friend about the women Dillon was seeing.”

  “Did you or your family have anything to do with Dillon’s death?”

  “No we didn’t. I swear Matthew,” she added when he frowned. “You know we have to get permission for anything like that. Ask Jules if you don’t believe me, she’ll tell you and no, I’m not stupid enough to do something like that without her permission. I had no reason to hurt him.”

  “Apart from the fact that he was stealing from you. I know he nicked some of the drugs.”

  “Yes, he did but it was only a paltry amount. We didn’t kill him. I gave him a pasting but that’s all.”

  “You did?” he said.

  She nodded.

  “Not your brothers?”

  “No, it was me.”

  “Why would you do it when you have at your disposal four men who are very capable of doing it themselves?”

  “Oh I see - because I’m a woman I can’t give anyone a good kicking. I have to get my brothers to do it.”

  “That’s not what I’m saying.”

  “Yes it is. Don’t be a sexist pig. I can beat up people with the best of them. Why are you smiling?”

  “I don’t know, I shouldn’t but you make me smile.”

  “Don’t go down that road again Matthew,” she sighed.

  “The only road I’m going down is finding who killed Dillon. I will ask you once more and I want the truth – is this down to you and your family?”

  “No Matthew, I promise. We had nothing to do with it.”

  “So, some of the cuts and bruises on his body were put there by you?”

  She nodded.

  Matthew studied her carefully, attempting to discern if she was lying but Faith Chambers had a very good poker face. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to take you at your word.”

  “Yes, you will.”

  “I just hope I don’t find out someone else was responsible for giving him that beating. That would piss me off.”

  “You won’t.”

  “Jules tasked me with looking out for you and ensuring everything runs smoothly but I can’t do that if you keep me out of the loop.”

  She sighed and nodded. “I know and I’m sorry Matthew but giving information to the police goes against everything I was taught from being a little girl and it’s hard to break the habit. After the whole Marlow thing it’s even harder.”