Safe Hands by W.A. Kelly

Author:W.A. Kelly [Kelly, W.A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-11-06T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

THIRTY-ONE

Phone’s ringing. Hazel. No doubt calling to ask why I disappeared this morning or to deliver more bad news about Warren. I reject it. Haven’t got time for that at the minute.

I didn’t even get to the station. After a quick search online, I realised the train was going to be a non-starter. Not one for ages and even then, it takes about three hours with a change at Nottingham. Looks like I’m going to have to go down the car hire route. No choice. I’ve found an independent place on an industrial estate about 15 minutes’ walk away, or five minutes’ drive. For the sake of time and my ankle, I flagged down this taxi.

Phone goes again. Still Hazel. Reject it. I can call her back once I’m on the way to Leicester. In fact, I’ll drop her a text. Don’t want to piss her off too much.

‘Going anywhere nice?’ asks the woman driving the taxi, interrupting me, mid-text. She’s friendly, in her twenties, maybe Eastern European with short hair and a nose piercing.

‘No. Just a business trip.’ I start typing again.

‘Ah. What business do you do?’

‘Hmm?’ The phone rings. Hazel again and this time I’m glad of the excuse. I answer the call.

‘Mickey. Don’t hang up,’ she blurts. She sounds terrible, voice hoarse like she’s been crying and I know it’s bad.

‘What’s up?’

A brief pause, like she’s gathering herself. ‘I need your help. Now. Urgently. Please.’

‘Sorry, Hazel. Honestly can’t. I’ve got to drive to—’

‘Please. It’s Shane. Well, that’s not… I mean…’

She’s struggling to hold it together and when she mentions Shane, I get a really bad feeling. I check my watch. ‘Where are you?’ I touch the cabbie’s shoulder. ‘Hang on, love. Might be going somewhere different now.’

Hazel gives me an address and I repeat it to the driver.

Hazel sounds like she’s in bits. ‘Can’t say anything else on the phone, but please hurry, Mickey. It’s bad.’

Then she gives me some extra instructions for when I get there, weird stuff about how to get in. If that bastard has touched her, I’ll be paying him a visit, whether it jeopardises the job or not. I’ve met his type before, weak men who get off on the fear and pain of women. I remember the way he was with that young girl back at The Empire Club and it makes me feel sick.

After a fifteen-minute drive, we’re out into the countryside.

‘Almost there,’ says the taxi driver.

I eventually see a wall and some gates up ahead on the left and tell the driver to pull up a couple of hundred yards short of the place.

‘Here? You sure? I drop you at house if you want.’

‘No, here’s fine, thanks. Want to surprise my friend.’

I pay her, wait for the taxi to drive away then check my watch: almost half one. Two and a half hours until I’m supposed to meet Liam. If I left right now, in a car, I might just make it. I’ve blown it again. I’ll hopefully deal

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