‘She never blamed you. Not once.’
‘Good to know. Does Emily come and stay here? I bet she loves it. I mean, it’s a cool place to visit. Not your average dad pad. Something to impress her friends with.’ She knew she was babbling. The sudden reference to their past had caught her unawares. She wasn’t ready to go there. Not yet.
Tudor sighed and took a large swig of his beer before replying. He indicated the sofa and the two of them sat side by side. ‘She does like it, even if it would kill her to admit it. Not that she’s going to get to stay here again for a bit.’
‘Oh? I seem to remember you two had the perfect divorce.’
‘To make up for the miserable marriage?’
‘I mean, you put Emily first. That’s how it was when I last saw you, anyway. Something change?’ This time it was she who drank deeply.
He shrugged. ‘Over the years we’d got it down to a pretty fine art: finances sorted from day one, stayed out of each other’s business, had as little contact as possible, liaised through Emily for school events and sports stuff…. actually, we were pretty good at not being married. But, she feels I’ve let Emily down badly this time. Put her at risk.’
‘And have you?’
She watched him take a breath. It was as if he was using a moment to consider just how much to take her into his confidence. Somewhere out on the river a motor boat could be heard heading east. She became aware of the wash of the passing vessel as it sloshed against the sides of the houseboat. The room rocked gently. She wondered what it would be like to sleep in a bed moved by the river all night. A bed with Tudor in it. She experienced a sudden and vivid flashback to lying with him, feeling the smooth firmness of his thighs against her, breathing in the smell of him. The thought made her blush. She studied her beer bottle as if it might hold the greatest secrets in the world. If Tudor noticed the subtle shift in her demeanour he gave no sign of it when at last he spoke.
‘We were attacked. Me and Emily.’
‘What? Where? When?’
‘In Manchester. After her Tae Kwan Do tournament.’ He told her everything then. About the trip up country to the competition she had worked so hard for. About how well she’d done and how proud he’d been. And about the figures who had loomed out of the shadows to turn that golden day into something dark and violent.
Deborah turned to look at him in a fresh light. ‘But, your head… where did they hit you?’
He shook off her concern a little too quickly. ‘A single blow. Just put me out for a few minutes.’
‘Long enough for them to… to do what?’
‘I think it was Emily they were after. I think they wanted to take her.’
‘No! But, did you know them? I mean, why would they pick on her? Surely there were easier targets in that big city than someone with a hefty minder…’
‘I don’t know why. Believe me, I have a lot of questions and fuck all by way of answers.’
She began to understand. ‘You don’t think it was random. You think they knew who they were taking on.’
He nodded. ‘And that is what’s scaring the hell out of me.’
Her heart constricted for him then. She knew him well enough to be certain that something happening to his daughter was the worst thing he could imagine. ‘You need to put your best brain on, Tudor. Mr Hot Head is no use to you here. Think about it. Why would anyone want to kidnap Emily?’
He turned to look at her. ‘Because of me.’
‘Forgive me for saying so, but even with this fabulous boat to your name, you’re not an obvious pick for a fat ransom.’
‘I think it’s connected to my work. To who I’m working for now. Look, can you do something for me?’
‘You know I will,’ she said levelly.
‘Can you find out if there’s a new gang, or a new family, or… I don’t know… a new Mr Big. Someone making waves on the scene here in London right now. Plenty of money, flash wheels, bling, white… possibly east European?’
‘That’s quite a broad category….’
He held her gaze, his face serious. ‘I need your help, Debs.’
She reached over and squeezed his hand. ‘OK. OK, I’ll see what I can do.’ She gave him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
Slowly, some of the tension left Tudor’s body. ‘Thanks. I’ll owe you,’ he said.
