“I figured that when I heard what he allowed to happen to the O’Reilly’s woman,” I point out. Young nods and takes a deep breath.
“When we were a little younger, Taylor considered himself the next Godfather. He ran this place until he couldn’t keep the staff. Everyone kept leaving or disappearing. At first, I thought they were sick of his bullshit, but then I met his henchman, who he saw as a son, Hudson. I’m sure you have heard of his role in poor Jasmine's kidnapping?”
I nod because I have, and I know that if that prick were alive today, I would kill him myself for what he put her through.
“You will know that Hudson was a psychopath who never felt anything for anyone.” Again, I nod as this is all old news to me. But I know something is coming that will be new.
“It turns out Taylor used Hudson's lack of emotions to become one of the biggest human drug trafficking and developing organisations in the UK.”
“And you just fucking let them?” I roar at him.
“God, no! I had no idea until after he died, and they found a few men and women Hudson had hidden away to make the produce,” Taylor declares with his hands up defensively.
“What’s that got to do with this room? Was he mixing them here?” I ask, frowning and looking around. Young shakes his head.
“No, but when Taylor owned this building, this was his personal storage area. No one knew what he kept here, as only his most trusted guys were given access. He admitted once when he was drunk, there were things hidden in a way no one would find them.”
I look back to the miscoloured floor.
“Like burying them under the concrete,” I whisper as it clicks into place. “You think before he died, he hid other files under there?”
Young looks around and lets out a deep breath. I guess it’s hard enough finding out your so-called friend is a kidnapping, drug smuggling bastard who is possibly using your building to hide the evidence, framing you at the same time.
Are there people who worked alongside Taylor who have taken over what he started? Are they still hiding things in here?
I look to the floor and take a deep breath.
“We need to know more before we start digging. The last thing we need is the police getting involved until we have solid evidence that it was Taylor burying secrets not you.”
I tell Young to lead us to his office, and if anyone asks, we are checking on the camera situation. The fewer people that know there is a problem, the better.
As we reach Young's floor, I look through to the reception desk and see Chelsea asleep, her head on the desk. I let out a sigh. Why couldn’t she have stayed home and slept like a normal person instead of being Superwoman? I can’t leave her there. I consider telling her to go home, but she is far too tired to drive safely.
“Do you have somewhere we can make her more comfortable?” I ask Young, who nods and points towards a small room to the side of his.
“There is a sofa in there; she won’t be disturbed.”
“Get the door for me,” I whisper before walking over to the sleeping Chelsea and gently shake her shoulder. When she hardly stirs, I carefully lift her into my arms.
“What are you doing?” she mumbles as she opens her eyes slightly.
“Moving you to a more comfortable sleeping place,” I whisper as I follow Young towards the room where I see a comfortable-looking sofa. For a moment, I consider climbing onto it too and getting some sleep, but there is too much that needs to be done.
“I’ll go home,” Chelsea starts to protest as I lie her down on the sofa. She tries to sit up, but I push her shoulders back down. She’s too tired to fight against me, which proves she’s too exhausted to drive.
“Sleep first, then we will get you home.”
As soon as her head lands on the arm of the sofa, her eyes close again.
“Just five minutes, then I will go,” she whispers before falling back asleep. Young hands me a long coat, and I place it over her as she sleeps soundly.
“Five minutes, my ass,” I mutter to myself whilst walking out of the room and closing the door, leaving Chelsea to catch up on some much-needed sleep.
12
Chelsea
I walk into my lounge and fall onto the sofa, not having the energy to take my shoes off. Luna lands beside me and lays her head on my lap. Running my hand over her soft blonde hair, I let out a deep sigh. I’m exhausted, beyond exhausted. What was I thinking going back to work this morning? It’s no surprise I fell asleep on my desk. I can’t believe I did that and for Logan to find me, of all people. I vaguely remember him carrying me into the staff room and placing me on the sofa. I was too tired to fight him when he pushed me back down, telling me to sleep. I don’t think it took me more than a few seconds to drift back off into a dreamless sleep.