Page 136 of Betrayal (Corrupt Empire 1)

That’s when we’d gone to see Tina. Fuck.

“I was out with a friend.”

“She was seen getting into your car. Care to tell me who it was if not Miss Daniels?”

I’d need to pull in a favour to deal with this shit.

“Skye Andrews. Married to my best friend, Ben. You’re welcome to ask her. I’m sure she’ll clear up this little misunderstanding.”

Fucking lucky Skye looked a little like Avery with dark hair. Or I’d be absolutely fucked.

Reynolds looked put out for a moment. I’m sure she hadn’t been expecting me to have an immediate answer. I smiled at her.

“I see. Well, I’m sure you understand why we are required to follow up on matters such as these.”

“Yes.”

Reynolds stood up.

“If you’d be happy to provide me with Mrs Andrews details, I would like to verify this information before I put this to bed.”

Happy to? No. I would just to get them off my case. I needed to get in touch with Ben and Tina, but not by normal means. Didn’t need them tracing that crap. I pulled out my phone, picked up some paper and pen from the coffee table and wrote down Skye’s details for them.

“Well, thank you for your time, Mr Lockhart. We can see ourselves out.”

I got up.

“No need. I’ll show you out.”

No fucking way I was letting them do any snooping. The sooner they left, the fucking better. I led them to the front door and nodded when they left. Slamming it shut, I strode to my office, unlocked it and rummaged through my drawer. I sent a message to Ben and one to Tina via another burner phone.

It rang two minutes later.

“Mate, how you been?” Ben said.

“Good. How are you, Skye and the bump?”

“All good here. Baby is due in a few months. You should come see us. I still need to touch up that fucking girly phrase on your arm.”

The tattoo Avery had first asked about. My latest. I’d see him to deal with it soon.

“Listen, I need a favour. If the cops ring Skye, I need her to say she was with me when I went to see Tina on the 4th of December.”

“What shit have you got yourself into this time?”

“They think I have something to do with that missing girl.”

“Your employer’s daughter? I saw that shit on the news. Why the fuck would you know about it?”

I wanted Ben to meet Avery. He wouldn’t fucking say anything to the cops. Ben and I trusted each other with our lives. Brothers in fucking arms.

“Because it was her with me when I went to see Tina, but they don’t need to know that. Some prick tipped them off.”

“Aiden, what the fuck?”

“I know, but she needed help. The chick was messed up as fuck after the shit with her parents.”

“Why the fuck would she have gone to you? Not exactly gentlemen or therapist of the year.”

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