Page 13 of Savage Justice

“I think Jed was right,” I offer by way of mitigation. “Frankie’s better suited to a desk job.” The boy is an IT wizard, a hacker extraordinaire. A firearm is wasted on him but put him behind a laptop and he soars. “Maybe he could concentrate on making us money on the dark web.”

Ethan furrows his brow. “I want something more… structured for him. He’s a loose cannon, lots of skill, and enthusiasm as you say, but no real idea how powerful that can be. He’s a bull in a china shop, a danger to himself and us.”

“He’s young,” I remind him needlessly. “He’ll grow out of it.”

“I’m thinking of sending him back to school,” Ethan replies. “He could get some qualifications, mix with others like himself.”

I do a double take. Frankie dropped out of formal education at fourteen. He has no educational qualifications to his name, and I can’t see him sitting through double maths if his life depended on it. Frankie may be brilliant in his own way, but he’s a stranger to quadratic equations.

Ethan goes on. He’s clearly been inspired by tonight’s fairly successful bit of business. We’ve just concluded a deal to supply high-end stolen cars to a firm in Eastern Europe. Japanese models, mainly. It’s a lucrative trade, and one which we’ve so far failed to crack. This latest alliance should boost the Savage finances considerably, not that we were exactly short. But business is business, and every little helps.

Ethan expands on his notion. “Megan and Casey could tutor him, get him through his GCSEs, at least enough to meet the entry requirements. I know a couple of people. I could get him a place at Strathclyde University. He’ll always be a misfit, but at least he could be a well-educated misfit. He’d be more use to me, then.”

“You want him to get a degree?” I’m still not sure I’m quite catching his drift. A university education isn’t normally on the essential requirements list for a job as a mobster.

“At least one. I think he might enjoy it. It’d keep him out of mischief for a couple of years, and when he’s finished, he’ll at least know what’s what. The puppet who looks up and sees the strings.”

I let out a low whistle. “Fuck, boss. It’s a lot. Are you sure?”

“No, but I am sure he’s no use to me or himself as things stand. He can do better. A bit of formal training will do him good, hone his talents, give him direction.”

He could be right, though young Frankie isn’t the most obvious academic. Still, what do I know? My education was completed on the streets and in the Parachute Regiment.

I nod and signal to make the turn into the main gates at Caernbro Ghyll. “I can see that. I hope Frankie can, too. Will you talk to him?” I ask.

“As soon as I— What the fuck?”

I see it at the same time as he does, the small figure dressed in white, flitting in front of the car. I slam on the brakes and bring the vehicle to a shuddering halt.

“Did I hit her?”

“Don’t think so…” Ethan is already climbing out of the car.

I follow, and we both charge around to scan the road in front.

“There.” I spot her, a small slim girl, a child, hunched by the gatepost, shielding her eyes from the dazzling light cast by our headlights.

“It’s a kid,” Ethan mutters. “What the fuck is a kid doing out here on her own?”

“She’s not on her own,” I reply. “Look there.”

Ethan’s gaze follows to where I’m pointing, the tiny, wriggling bundle just visible at the foot of our outer wall.

“Holy fuck.” Ethan closes the distance between himself and the girl and crouches in front of her. “Did you get lost, honey?”

I pick up the baby. He’s awake and simply stares up at me from within the cocoon of his snug blanket. I stroll over to join the other two.

The girl shakes her head in answer to Ethan’s question. I peer at her; she seems familiar.

“I’m looking for him,” she says, pointing to me.

Ethan squints up at me. “Do you know her?”

I start to deny it, then it hits me. “Lucy!”

She stands up straight, to her full height of four feet nothing. “I need you to come to my house and help my mummy.”

“Your mummy?” I’m at a loss. “What’s wrong with your mummy?”

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