Page 94 of Tell No One
“You’re going to fall into Norbury’s clutches and let yourself be taken to Scotland where guys who’ve paid for the privilege will hunt you. Delaney will be there and he might save you or he might not, depending on whether you’ve managed to crack open his cold, black heart.”
Why did he hate Delaney so much? They were supposed to be colleagues. The guy had implied he was gay. Had Delaney turned him down? His ego wasthatbig? Tag didn’t think it could be that.
“I’m here to offer you a deal.”
Cue eye roll. “Why should I trust you? I never got the three thousand I was promised last time.”
“Your own fault. You ran and left no forwarding address. This time the offer is more generous. Twenty thousand pounds to go along with what we want you to do. Once Norbury has his hands on you, we don’t want you to try and escape until the hunt is underway.”
“Let people shoot at me? I’m not going to survive to spend it.”
“In those circumstances, it would be shared between Sallyanne and Owain. They could both do with the money.”
Tag stiffened on hearing the names of his sister and brother. “Why would I want them to get any money from me? Sallyanne’s lies led to me being locked up for eight years. Owain said nothing in my defence. He knew I’d never hurt Louise. He knew whodidhurt her.”
“Your brother’s been looking for you since your release, asking about you. He couldn’t be told where you were staying, but he’s been quite insistent.”
Fuck him. Fuck all of them.It was too late. If by some fluke it was to saysorry,then it was still too late. Anyway, Tag wasn’t sure he believed him. Barker or Owain.
“Forty thousand pounds to go to a cancer research charity for kids and I’ll do whatever you like. I want the offer in writing and witnessed by all of you and I want to see proof of the donation.”
Barker huffed. “Thirty thousand.”
Tag was reassured that he hadn’t just agreed to the first figure because that would have told him the money would never be paid. “Okay.”
Barker nodded to Smiler. “Put something together and print it in the hotel’s business centre.”
Barker took the tiniest mobile Tag had ever seen out of his pocket along with a condom and put it on the desk. “This goes in your arse. One number on it. I need texts as often as you can send them. Names, places, anything that might be useful. We want a team in place in the right area before Delaney is taken up there. I don’t need to tell you to be careful, do I? If they find this, they’ll kill you.”
“Sooner rather than later, eh?”
The fucker smirked. “Give the phone to Delaney if he’s had his taken from him. And don’t fuck it up. You can do this. Your…acting skills at the pony event, if it was all acting, were impressive. The photos were…interesting.”
Tag couldn’t help swallowing. Photos? And this lot had them?Fucking hell.
“You get on the train to Harborne, and walk to the house from the station. Ask to speak to Norbury. If he’s not there, say you’ll wait. They probably won’t let you in, but just stay by the gate. Eventually, you’ll get to see him. Tell him you want your money, your phone and clothes. Make up what you like about how you got away and why, but you can tell them you lost your job, had to leave your accommodation and after a few nights in a hostel, you’ve been sleeping rough and got beaten up.”
Oh fuck. They’re going to beat me up?His stomach clenched.
“You’re desperate. You need that money and your phone. Ask him if you can be in another pony event. Promise not to run this time. Once he has you hooked, you’ll be in the hunt.”
Tag wanted to wipe that smug look off Barker’s face. “Who came up with that crap? Some overpaid penpusher?”
The man’s already thin lips tightened into a narrow line.
“Norbury’s been looking for me and I suddenly turn up on his doorstep? Really? He’s not going to smell a rat? I would.”
“What do you suggest then?”
“Let someone who works for him find me on the street. I could be sleeping rough. You must know where these guys hang out. I mean, I bet Norbury doesn’t live at Harborne House and Feely found me in London. I could be begging somewhere near his home. Let him stumble across me.”
“That has merit,” said Bruiser. “We can watch. Harder to keep an eye on him once he’s walking to Harborne House.”
Tag half-zoned out as they were talking about where and when. If this set-up was going to work, it didn’t ought to look too easy. And him walking into the lion’s den was too easy.
“One more thing,” Tag said. “I’m not putting that phone up my arse.”
“Then I’ll do it for you.” Barker smiled.
