Page 26 of Forbidden Temptations

“The date they began expanding was just a month after the Russian President’s second inauguration. It’s not exactly a secret he uses the crime bosses as off the book enforcers, and the countries Prometheus has expanded to have seen heavy Russian influence since.”

“They’re war zones, Dick,” she laughed without mirth, shaking her head. “Builders and developers often receive government contracts to repair and rebuild sites damaged in conflict.”

“Yes, but usually after the war is won,” Richard cut in. “I’ve heard of prudent planning, but if I’m wrong, whoever picked these deals must have one hell of a crystal ball. You should take him to the Cheltenham races next year. With this guy’s luck, you’ll make a fortune betting on the gee-gees.”

She ignored the joke, instead turning back to look over the documents on her screen. “Well, the money laundering is self-explanatory. Dirty money finances the projects on the books, then returns as profits, but what about this trafficking and smuggling nonsense?”

What? Was she actually buying this story? He couldn’t believe it; he’d half expected her to tear up his contract right there, even for suggesting it.

“They ship out their own equipment instead of hiring or purchasing on-site. A JCB is a pretty big bit of kit. Lots of places to hide something you don’t want found, if you know how.”

“But you can’t prove it. Legally.”

“No.” His throat was so tight, he had to force the word out. “After tax is accounted for, their profits are all funnelled into an account in a private Depository Bank in Zurich. I can’t track it from there without going through a long and costly legal battle.”

“So…” she rounded on him, her voice as cold and sharp as steel. “Let me get this straight, because I’m a little confused. You’re given a high value contract, told to make them your top priority, but instead of doing your job and having the report on my desk like you’re supposed to, you dig into their business records and concoct some cock and bull theory about the Russian Mafia. And just to put the icing on the cake, you have no proof? Nothing to back it up. Is that about the sum of it?”

“More or less.”

She sighed and shook her head.

That was it. She’d just fired her broadside and hit dead centre. He was sunk. He might as well go back and clear out his desk. Save the trip in tomorrow and have a lie in-

“Why did you keep digging? Why not just hand it in when you were supposed to after hitting a dead end?”

Richard had to work hard to keep his confusion from showing.

Why had he kept digging? Force of habit? Professional curiosity? His last job had done checks all the time, and he’d never let it go on for so long. There had just been something. Something not right. Something he couldn’t put his finger on. Just something. Just…

“Just a hunch.”

“A hunch?” She leaned back in her chair. “Well Dick, I don’t know what to say, except…” Her full red lips spread into a wide smile, with just the hint of a white lion’s fang. “Congratulations.”

Whatthe?

Alice’s eyes widen at the sound, so high with pain and fear, like an animal caught in a trap. Forgetting her train of thought, her eyes darted up to the ceiling. It sounded like it had come from the Blaire’s flat, but that could have been a trick of the building. The tower block’s walls were paper thin and often as not, she could hear several things going on at once from any number of directions that sounded like they were coming from somewhere else. Just the other night she’d been treated to overhearing one couple’s marathon sex session that had clearly sounded like it was coming from that very flat upstairs, but couldn’t. After all, Richard had been up there, helping Rebecca with her computer.

A pity, if he hadn’t been upstairs, it would have made quite the mood starter…

Another scream went out, louder this time and much more distinctive.

Rebecca.Alice’s heart leapt into her throat.

“You worthless bitch!” a gruff voice half slurred, half barked, followed by the crash of something heavy smashing into glass, shattering it. “Stay still!”

Alice didn’t wait for him to get his eye in.

Wheeling on her heel, she made straight for her front door, hurriedly tying the sash of her robe as she went. Another scream, louder, echoing as footsteps ran down the building’s stairwell. Then suddenly they were on the landing, running, growing louder by the second as Alice ran to the door.

No sooner had she wrenched it open than Rebecca barrelled into her.

Just managing to catch herself, Alice pulled the girl to her, her arms going around her in a protective hug. “Hey, hey Rebecca, honey, what’s happened? What’s going on?”

“He’s coming, please… I didn’t touch… don’t let him…” Sobbing, she clung to the older woman, her big doe eyes pleading, so wide they were almost round. The poor thing was terrified out of her mind.

The sight tore at Alice’s heart and she pulled her closer, doing her best to sooth her with quiet words. “Shh… honey, it’s okay, I won’t, nothing’s going to happen to you, I promise.”

She almost couldn’t believe this was the same girl she knew. Rebecca was always so upbeat and bubbly. Of course, she’d known there were some problems in the home. Even a blind man could have seen was nervous around her father and that he could be hard on her, too hard sometimes, but this…

---