Page 26 of Cry For Mercy

“I’m good, thanks. I have this rule about food in my stomach before a few litres of coffee.”

She laughed. “I used to be the same, but these two stubborn bastards are feeders, I swear.”

Samuel, because I’d memorised which chair each bastard was in, shot her a look that was almost like a pout.

“Aw baby, we just want to keep your strength up, so you can be fucked. Frequently.”

I groaned, waving the file at them.

“Can I just do this, and get back out, before you all start humping on top of the Danish pastries?”

The brother exchanged a look, grinning briefly.

“Go for it. Make it good, because we’re still pissed at you, for the lateness of your message last night. Oh wait… the one we had to chase you for.” Seb said.

I sighed. “I got a late call from the dad, Jeff, and I was at the bar with him. It was a tenuous situation, so I didn’t want to walk away, just at that moment.”

Seb pointed at the file. “So come on then, mate. We’re waiting.”

I desperately fought the urge to flip him off. I guessed it was something that could lose a guy a finger or two.

“Okay, so Jeff sent me everything he could about Harvey. Some places to check, and his phone details, so I can pretend to track his fucking phone. Oh… and he mentioned something else.” Time to lie my ass off. I glanced at Cass, who swallowed and looked away. And those bastards saw it. They didn’t miss a trick. And they didn’t look at all friendly in that moment.

“Uh… the police advised him that another person went missing around the same time. A young woman. Name of Cassidy Donovan.”

The brothers both looked at Cass, who sighed. “It had to come out eventually.” Her voice was low.

I put the papers down. “Any chance of an opportunity to understand what’s going on with that? I mean, he feels that the two disappearances are connected.”

Samuel cleared his throat. “Uh… Cass, how honest do you want us to be here?”

She shrugged, looking worried. “If he doesn’t know, he can’t do his job.”

I nodded. “Look, I’m in deep enough, that I know I’m not getting back out, so you might as well.”

Seb cleared his throat. “Well… See, Harvey owed us a lot of money. And he was a sick, stalking bastard.”

Samuel snorted. “Yeah, and he had this whole shrine in his flat. Hundreds of photos. Of Cass.”

I frowned, looking from one of them to the other. “What the hell?”

They were both nodding, while Cass took a deep breath, and then reached for Samuel’s hand. He took hers immediately, brushing his thumb soothingly over her palm.

“See, we knew we needed leverage. And his business was worth shit. But…”

“Jesus. You took Cass.” I suddenly realised that this was far more fucked up than I’d realised.

Samuel shrugged. “Yeah, we took her. And then we realised that she was the real prize. So we kept her.”

I stared at her, while she looked up from her lap, to Samuel’s face, blinking wide eyes at him.

“I’m a prize?” She whispered, and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers.

“Don’t you fucking forget it, or you know what I’ll do.” He said in a dark whisper. I’ve fallen down the fucking rabbit hole.

“So let me get this straight. You guys kidnapped her, and now somehow you’re all fucking each other?”

They all stared at me for a moment. Eventually Seb just smirked. “Well, duh… she couldn’t resist the double trouble. Who would?”

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