Chapter Thirty
Ishmael
Ishmael seethed. He was stuck answering questions while some asshat had Kris. The same asshat who had sent Bob and four innocent bystanders into surgery, three more to the morgue, and several others left to be treated for minor injuries. Such as the one he himself was waiting to be seen for while being interrogated by the same detective from the Met who’d come to question him about the warehouse.
“Tell me again, please, Mr Lux. I’m trying to understand here.” The detective constable gave him a smarmy fake smile. “First there’s a shootout outside your warehouse in the Docklands, and then you seem to be the target of Chicago gangland style shootout on the edge of Chinatown. Now, why is that?”
Ishmael inwardly rolled his eyes, his exterior giving none of his inner disdain away at having to put up with an officer who thought he was the next Inspector Morse.
“As I just said, I was under the impression that smugglers were found to be making use of that area and my warehouse was simply the latest location. A most unfortunate set of circumstances that has led me to beef up my security thee.”
“And why do you have a warehouse thee, Mr Lux? You run a hotel.” DC Lipcott was not giving up.
“I do. As well as a restaurant and nightclub on the same premises. We also have an in-house spa which we are looking to open to the general public. The warehouse is there because I prefer to buy in bulk directly from the manufacturers. Cutting out the middleman saves me money.”
“And my client will not be saying another word to you on the subject.” Ishmael gave a faint smile to the man who spoke as he entered the cubicle.
“Hello, Leo,” Ishmael said, greeting Ollie’s brother.
Lipcott’s lips twisted in disgust. “I should have known you’d lawyer up.” He turned his sneer towards Leo. “What is it with your family, anyway? All of you kissing the ass of this crook? Your father, your brother, and you. Is he fucking your mother on the side?”
“John!” admonished Lipcott’s partner. He pushed Lipcott aside. “I am so sorry, sir. If you wish to make a complaint, you are well within your rights, but please, understand this has been a frustrating day. It’s not every day we have gunmen rampaging through London going on a killing spree.”
“A spree during which they kidnapped my client’s boyfriend. Probably for ransom, given who he is!” snapped Leo.
“Yes, of course.” Lipcott’s partner replied, his hope at smoothing things over going up in smoke.
“Sir?” the female uniformed officer who had first approached Ishmael at the scene poked her head in and motioned for Lipcott to come over. She spoke to him a low voice, her tone urgent.
“Fuck!” Lipcott cursed before spinning around. He jabbed a finger in Ishmael’s direction. “I don’t know what game you’re playing, but this is the second time someone from the Home Office has called my superiors and told us to leave you alone. Come on, Roger, we’ve been ordered back.”
Ishmael gave him a cheery wave. “Cheerio, then,” he said snidely. “Pip pip.”
Lipcott gave him the middle finger from over his shoulder.
“Please don’t antagonise them,” Leo said once Lipcott was gone. “Ollie said to tell you that Jamal is hacking the CCTV cameras, trying to track the car they were in.”
“It had to be someone in my inner circle,” Ishmael replied.
Leo nodded. “That has been Ezra’s initial assessment as well. Jamal’s crew are also looking at mobile phone records, financials, and so on, to see if we can pinpoint who.”
“Mr Lux? Hi, I’m Dr Singh. Your X-rays came back clear of any breaks, but I am afraid it is definitely dislocated.”
He grunted in reply.
“So, ah, anyway, we’ll be able to put it back into place but-”
“But it’ll hurt like hell,” Ishmael finished for her. “Yes, I know. I’ve had a dislocated shoulder before. Let’s just get it over with. And no, I don’t want anything for it.”
Leo grinned at the discomfited doctor and gave her a wink. “He’s a grump, don’t mind him. Soonest you pop that back into place, the soonest we’ll get him out of your hair, I promise.”
The doctor coloured. “Ah, well, yes. I don’t blame him. He’s in a lot of pain, I’m sure. Ah, two of my colleagues will be here momentarily to assist.” She turned to peer outside the cubicle nervously. She turned, her face brightening. “Ah, here they are! And I’ll just leave you in their capable hands,” she said, making her escape as her two male colleagues looked at her in bemusement.
A short introduction later and a bit of physical manipulation later and he was on his way home.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen two more shocked faces than those two doctors,” Leo chuckled. “I don’t think they ever saw anyone have such a non-reaction to having that done. That was hardcore, let me tell you. I nearly screamed for you, watching them do that.”
“Just take me home, Leo.”
