For Your Own Protection(71)

‘Sean?’ Matt demanded, taking him by both shoulders. ‘What is it?’

‘That was Nick Samson. They’ve taken them. They’ve got Beth and Charlie.’





PART FOUR





CHAPTER FIFTY


‘He said he wants the drugs and the money back. Six hundred grams of coke and fifty thousand pounds. By twelve noon.’

Matt felt sick with helplessness. ‘Or he’ll do what?’

Sean’s expression was ominous. He hesitated. ‘He said we’d never see Beth and Charlie again.’

Oh my God.

Matt paced around. ‘They must have followed you last night, to the hotel, saw you drop off Beth and Charlie.’

‘I tried to be so careful.’

Not careful enough.

Matt had a thought. ‘What about the money James left? What if we offer them that?’

‘It’s a lot of money, but it’s not enough.’

‘But we could offer it as a first instalment.’

‘He wants the lot, Matt.’

Matt shook his head, frustrated and scared. He pulled out his mobile phone.

Sean’s face flashed with panic. ‘Who are you phoning?’

‘The police.’ Matt keyed in ‘999’.

‘No,’ Sean said, snatching the phone from Matt’s hand. He cut the call. ‘You can’t do that.’ He set off towards the living room, with Matt in pursuit.

‘Sean, give me back the phone, now.’

They faced up to one another.

‘Calling the police would be the worst thing we could do.’

‘Give me back the phone, Sean.’ Matt tried to grab it, but Sean held on tightly.

‘Just listen to me, Matt. Please. I understand you wanting to do this. But it would be the quickest way to lose Beth and Charlie.’

Matt tried again, unsuccessfully, to win back his phone.

‘You’re just afraid of being implicated in all this,’ Matt hit out. ‘You’re afraid of losing everything.’

‘Maybe you’re right,’ Sean bristled. ‘But nothing compares to the fear I feel of losing Beth and Charlie.’

They stood inches apart, not speaking, breathing hard, emotionally drained.

Sean continued, more calmly. ‘Samson will know if we get the police involved. He has connections.’

‘But there must be a way.’

‘Ask yourself – how could the police help us right now? How could they get Charlie and Beth back?’

Matt circled the room, searching his mind for an alternative solution. He turned back to Sean, who was now perched on the arm of the sofa. ‘They want all the money and drugs, so we have to give it to them.’

‘But we haven’t got the money or the drugs,’ Sean replied.

‘Then we need to find James.’

‘We’ve all tried and tried to reach him.’

‘I know.’ Matt thought some more. And then it came to him. ‘There might be another way. We get together the money ourselves. I don’t know how much we need, but we could surely pull together enough to satisfy them. We already have the cash from the bag.’

‘Yes, that’s possible. But there’s a problem,’ Sean said. ‘The money is one thing. But what about the drugs?’

Matt smiled as inspiration came to him.

‘Give me my phone.’





CHAPTER FIFTY-ONE


Harvey answered on the second ring. ‘Matt, my man,’ he said, his tone upbeat and friendly. ‘Nice to hear from you, bruv! How are things with you?’

‘To be honest, they’ve been better,’ Matt replied. ‘Look,’ he continued, as his eyes met Sean’s, ‘I’ve got something to ask you, and it might – well, it will – seem a bit strange.’

‘Sounds interesting. Fire away, man.’

‘I need some cocaine.’

‘Woah.’ Harvey burst out laughing. ‘Wow. Now I didn’t expect that. I thought you didn’t do drugs, man. I thought you was clean. You was my drug-free hero.’

‘I don’t do drugs. I just need some.’

‘You wanna supply?’ Harvey’s tone was suddenly serious. ‘I mean, nah, bruv – don’t you get into that business.’

‘It’s not for supply.’ Again Matt looked across to Sean, whose head was cocked slightly, straining to hear.

‘Then what’s it for?’

‘It’s for a deal.’

‘What kinda deal?’

Sean nodded at Matt to tell all.

There was no easy way to say it. ‘It’s to get my partner and son back alive.’

‘You kiddin’ me, right?’

‘I wish I was. Nick Samson has taken Beth and Charlie, and we won’t see them again unless we deliver money and drugs to him.’

‘Nick Samson, the casino guy? Shit, man. How’d you get yourself into that kind of trouble?’

‘It’s a long story. We just need to know if you can get us the drugs.’

There was a pregnant pause. ‘I can get you drugs, yes.’

Matt’s relief was palpable. ‘How quickly can you get it?’