The door to his office flung open. “Marcus, I’ve got some information.” Marcus’s PI, Arthur, burst into the room. His forehead was creased and his top lip was scarred, yet the skin on his bald head was smooth and blemish free. “Carl Reed was caught on CCTV in the hotel the night the Simpson girl was strangled, and then he went AWOL from the footage. Something doesn’t add up.” He flicked a piece of gum into his mouth.
Marcus stood and rounded the desk. “He can’t just disappear. We have cameras everywhere.”
Arthur shrugged. “I know. Don’t worry, I’m on it.” He turned to leave. “You and the girl need to watch out, Marcus. I heard about the stunt you pulled in the club with the key card. The security team told me it was Carl in the room waiting for her - he might be out for payback.”
“I ordered her to stay in Fermanagh, but that dickhead Rory made contact with her and she ran to him.” Marcus shook his head.
Arthur cocked a brow. “You took her to Fermanagh?”
His shoulders pulled back and he crossed his arms. “Yeah. And...?”
“I’m not even allowed out there!” Arthur jeered. “You upping the game?” His smirk was light hearted, but his brows were raised in shock.
“It felt right at the time – like she’s different from the rest. Who knows. No doubt I’ll regret it.” Marcus lifted his shoulders slightly.
“Be careful.” Arthur nodded. “So far, all the evidence points to Rory. I’m just not convinced a guy like him could actually kill someone.” Arthur left Marcus in his office, alone with his simmering anger.
He knew where she and Rory had lived together, hell, he’d been there himself the night he barged in on her watching porn. Grabbing his car keys, he bolted out of the hotel and into the underground car park.
The engine revved and he slammed the accelerator, urging the traffic to move faster. Hitting the motorway helped him to gather speed on a mission to warn her about Rory. He had to find her and make sure she was safe.
Sweet and sexy Lana Craig had waltzed into his life and injected him with an insatiable hunger created out of something, more than just sexual need. He didn’t want to admit it, but something had changed inside him.
He sped to Rory’s house by the shore. A heavy worry tightened the ventricles of his heart when he stormed into the open house and found it empty. The small living space showed no sign of her, only toppled tables and a busted television.
There was a creepy silence amidst the devastation which raised a scurry of dread across his scalp. He charged up the stairs, noted the open door to the bedroom and barged straight in.
The clothes he had bought her had been dumped in a pile on the stripped bed. Kneeling down, his pulse jumped when he picked up the snipped duct tape and caught the twinkle of a sharp blade nestled in the carpet.
Panic ripped through his muscles, stealing the ability to think logically. His imagination raced towards the cruellest of outcomes, falling foul to a seething fury.
A lethal combination for anyone who would get in his path. The only thing he could do was speed dial his brother, Jamie, his rock in all times unstable.
“Jamie, I need your help. This is so fucked up.”
“What do you need, Marcus?”
“That girl I told you about, Lana—she’s missing. I think her ex has kidnapped her. He’s already murdered a girl from the club.” His face paled as the words rambled out and the truth of the situation became real.
“Where are you now?”
“Her house in Jordanstown. She’s not here. The place has been ransacked and there’s duct tape and a fuckin knife on the floor.”
“When did you see her last?” asked Jamie.
Marcus palmed his face. “I brought her back to Fermanagh. She was with me last night.”
“Seriously? You took her home – to the Coach House?”
“Now isn’t the fucking time, Jamie,” he snapped. “I’m going to kill the son of a bitch if he hurts her.”
“Okay, okay. Calm down. How did she get from your place in Fermanagh to Belfast?” Jamie quizzed.
“My Lexus.”
“Right, then. Track it. I’ll be right there in 20 minutes. Send me her address. Don’t do anything until I get there, Marcus.” Jamie paused. “I mean it. Chill the fuck out and wait for me.”
“Fine,” Marcus grunted
