Page 57 of North (The Moral Compass 2)

“Yeah, it does. Do you want to know what I think?”

“I’m not sure, but you’re going to tell me anyway.”

“I don’t think you love her. Brutal, I know, but I think you like the thought of having a woman around when you need her and knowing she will be there. Like an old T-shirt. You know it’s in the wardrobe, and you will wear it when you need to feel like you’re home.”

“Jesus, North, have you been taking therapy classes?” South laughs. I could have fallen over. I have only heard him laugh a handful of times in my entire life. He laughs like me, a booming laugh.

“Fucking hell, Bro, where did that noise come from? You shit me up. I didn’t know you could even fucking smile, never mind laugh.” We are both laughing hard, and it feels so good. The noise coming from the pool must have startled the girls as East and Kara both pop their heads around the corner.

“Everything all right in there, boys?” Kara shouts.

“Yeah, we are all good. Come and join us,” South replies as the girls both walk over.

“It’s nice to see you enjoying yourself. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you laugh,” East says to South.

“That’s it. I’m going to get dressed, and then I’m ordering us all dinner. Is Mum still staying with Mark?” South asks as he grabs his towel from the back of a chair.

“Hey, don’t rush off. You just asked us to join you. What were you both talking about anyway?” Kara asks South, but she is looking directly at me. I could wipe that smug smile off her beautiful face. I’ve just got him to open up.

“Women and how fucking complex and utterly irritating you are.” I smile sarcastically through pursed lips. “In other words, Kara, mind your own business.” I grab her waist and pull her onto my lap.

“Oh, fine then, be like that, grumpy arse. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Sherie texted me earlier. She was not happy that I hadn’t told her about not going back to France, but she is coming to stay for a while at the end of next week. We should all go out to the Cock and Bush together for a night out. That is, if we have found out who is causing us problems.”

Kara rambles on whilst my phone vibrates on the side table. Zed’s name is on the screen, so I dive for the phone and click the answer button.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“You can call East off the search. They weren’t after you two. They just wanted rid of you.”

“Who did?” I ask, puzzled.

“That bit, I don’t have the answer to yet, but it’s coming. When Kara visits her father tell her to ask him what he knows of the beach cove. There is something shit going on here, and that fucker, Pedro, is involved, I am one hundred percent sure. I’m sure it was him on the video, but he has not been seen since before you arrived. Anyway, I called to tell you that you are in the clear as long as you are not here. Also, tell West I’ve pulled another ten Star Gazers over on the jet. He will understand.

“Woah, hang on a fucking minute. First, how did you know Kara was going to see her dad?”

“I just did. End of.”

“Okay, why have you flown more Star Gazers over?” I can feel Kara’s stare burning in the side of my head, and South’s eyes never leave my face. I feel like I’m being interrogated, and it’s not even me with the information.

“Can’t say just yet.”

“Come on, Zed, I need to know what is going on.”

“I don’t know what’s going on. That’s why Kara needs to ask her father what he knows of the beach cove when she goes. I need confirmation, and then I can put a plan together. Anyway, gotta go.”

And the phone goes dead.

All three faces are staring at me.

“What? I don’t know what the hell is going on, but all he said was the stuff in Mexico wasn’t anything against me and Kara. We were in the way, and they wanted us to leave. He also wants you to ask your dad if he knows anything about beach cove.”

We all leave the pool and go and dress for dinner. I ordered Italian to be delivered, but when the gate buzzes, I know better than to assume it’s the delivery driver. My senses were right.

The two detectives who delivered the news about Sutton’s mother enter the house, and I show them into the kitchen area. I don’t want them snooping around anywhere else.

“What can we do for you two?” Kara asks.

“We have a development that I think you might be able to help us with, Kara.” The female detective smiles. The hairs on my neck stand as I feel this conversation is going to go downhill fast.

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