Page 133 of Worth Every Penny

Gemma’s fingers are hovering over her lips. “Daniel? Who’s Daniel? Curtis, what’s going on?”

Matt takes the driving licence from Elliot, scans it and holds it out to his wife. “This is the guy you’ve fucked up our marriage for. Hope it was worth it.”

Gemma begins to cry, and Matt side-eyes her dismissively.

“Start talking,” he barks at Curtis, who strains to look up at Gemma from where he’s pinned to the floor.

“Babe, I fucked up.”

“Not to my wife,” Matt snarls.

Curtis glares at him. “I don’t have to tell you anything. I’ll go to the police.”

Elliot slams Curtis’ head down on the tile floor. The skin splits and a trickle of blood runs down his forehead and drips onto the floor beneath him. “You better do what you’re asked,” Elliot instructs. “Or this won’t end well.”

“Oh, please, don’t hurt him,” Gemma begs, dragging her palms down her cheeks.

Matt holds up a hand, urging Elliot to back off. He shakes his head like he’d rather smash Curtis’ brains out than obey Matt, but he eases his hold on Curtis, or Daniel, or whatever the fuck this con-artist’s name is.

“Tell us about the art collection. Mrs. Lansen’s art,” I demand.

“Debbie Lansen. What a bitch.” Curtis scowls, then looks at Gemma and his expression softens. “Honestly, babe, it’s only you I want to bone.”

Bone?

If Seb was here, he’d laugh. I grimace and Gemma bleats, her legs trembling like she’s going into shock.

I glance at Matt, who looks like he’s about to lose his shit, but I hold out a hand to warn him off. I want to hear this.

“When I saw you at that party, you were so sad, so beautiful,” Curtis continues. “I knew I could love you… Nothing like what I had to do with Debbie. I never would’ve fucked her if I didn’t have to.”

“Debbie? Debbie Lansen?” Gemma squeaks, spots of red appearing on her cheekbones. “You’ve been sleeping with Debbie Lansen?” She wails and gives a full body shudder. “But she’s so old.”

Matt catches my gaze, his expression halfway between fury and disbelief. I can practically hear his words in my head,What a pair of fucking idiots.

“It’s you I wanted. I only did Debbie for the cash,” Curtis explains.

He was being paid?My head explodes with the admission.

“Let’s not tell Mrs. Lansen that tidbit,” Matt says. “At least he was fucking my wife for free.”

How he can find humour in this situation, I have no idea. I suspect it’s a front, more for everyone else’s benefit than his own.

Gemma whimpers and hides her face in her hands.

Elliot hauls Curtis to his feet and shakes him. In Elliot’s grip, Curtis looks weak and small.

“Who paid you to liaise with Debbie Lansen?” I ask.

Curtis shakes his head, his lank black hair flapping around his head. He presses his lips tightly together as though he intends to share nothing else, but there’s more going on here than I had anticipated, and I’m determined to understand the connection.

“Do you know a man who goes by the name of Martin Brooks?” I say.

A flame of recognition burns in Curtis’ eyes. I don’t need to hear him confirm his guilt, but I have no doubt it won’t be long before he breaks.

“Don’t know him,” Curtis says, his voice quivering now.

“You’re going to tell the truth, or I’ll crack your skull in my hands,” Matt threatens.

---