I heard more swearing and then sirens as a police vehicle skidded from around the corner. I was ignored as the two officers passed me and headed into the building, identifying themselves loudly. A police van screeched to a halt, blocking some of the road. I headed to the car, realising that my hands were shaking, watching for anyone coming out of the building.
It was another five minutes before anyone appeared, although it felt like an hour. Nick came out first, talking fast in to his phone, then the first two officers with a man in a black hoodie whose gait looked familiar. Another police car pulled up, two more officers got out and ran inside, re-emerging with someone in a suit. Someone in a suit that I recognised. Someone in a suit that I’d worked with once.
“Niall?” I said, getting out of the car.
He stood up, one hand cuffed to the officer next to him and looked my way. “Shit,” he said. “I’m sorry, Claire. I’m so fucking sorry.”
I watched wide-eyed and frozen until an arm came around me and some of the tension left my body. “That was Niall Underwood. He used to work for us. He’s assisting the lead lawyer employed by Dean Lacey.”
I looked at Killian. He had a deep gash under his right eye and a red mark to his cheek. “You’re injured,” I said.
He shook his head. “Not really. I’ve had a lot worse. I’ve had worse from Max actually, when we had a go at fighting one night. The guy in the hoodie was the same person from the cottage, believe it or not. I think Lacey’s going to be pissed. Someone has really fucked up.”
A third police car pulled up, one of the officers coming over to speak to us and Nick, who was now standing nearby. “We’ll need you to come down to the station so we can get your statements.”
I nodded. “I know the man in the suit,” I said. “He’s a lawyer for the opposition in a case I’m on.”
The officer nodded. “I take it this isn’t a straight forward breaking and entering? I believe the other man is known to you as well?”
Nick explained briefly and showed the officer the footage from inside my apartment. I watched, seeing Killian creep in and take both men by surprised, disarming the man in black and making Niall cower. It wasn’t pretty to watch, but it made me realise just how skilled he was and how safe I would always be.
We headed down to the station, finding Katie there with Denico. Her face was stony and determined and she clutched a bag to her chest.
“I’m so sorry, Claire,” she said. “I’m so fucking sorry.” Her eyes went to Killian’s face and the cut there. “Who did that?”
“The same guy from the cottage,” Killian said. “He had a knife for about ten seconds. Then I had him.”
Katie didn’t smile. “Enough’s enough,” she said. “I’m here to make a statement and present evidence.” She took a huge inhalation and looked at Nick who nodded. “Dean used me to blackmail a rival business man who was putting in an offer to buy out another business.” She looked from me to Nick and he gave her an encouraging nod. “He took photos of us in a compromising position – one I didn’t want to be in - and threatened to show them to the man’s wife if he didn’t withdraw his bid. I have copies of the photos and the emails that were sent. That’s why the cottage and your apartment were ransacked. He was trying to get these.” She hugged the bag closer to her. “There’s enough here to bring charges.”
I nodded, feeling slightly numb and sat down, Killian’s heat next to me. We were in a waiting area, the five of us including Denico and a woman who looked like a police officer, possibly a sergeant or higher.
“I take it I’m best taking your statement first?” she said to Katie. “I’m Detective Chief Constable Maureen Ninian. Looks like you’ve been having an interesting few days.”
That was an understatement.
We spent the next few hours at the station, Nick talking through the evidence caught on camera and going through the connections between the guy in the black hoodie and Niall Underwood. No one had any idea as to why Niall had been there: it was an act of immense stupidity that meant there was no way Dean Lacey could argue out of being involved, even if if he could prove it wasn’t under his direct instruction.
“Where are the twins?” I asked after we’d been at the station for just over two hours. It had only just occurred to me that they weren’t there.
Katie smiled, the most genuine smile I’d seen since we’d left the Callaghan Green office. “With your mum. We were still at the office when Killian messaged Nick to check the camera feed on your apartment.”
Killian and Nick were in with the Inspector and one of her colleagues, leaving just Katie and I on our own. I remembered just over a fortnight ago when she’s been in my office, concerned she was pregnant and having no idea how she was going to get over the mess Dean Lacey had left her in.
“You and Nick…” I said, questioning.
She shook her head. “Too complicated. We talked about it and decided we couldn’t. Not right now.”
“Maybe that’s sensible.”
“Maybe.” She looked up with a faint smile that told me she wasn’t sure. “He’s a good man and he’s as hot as sin, but I have so much going on and this will put me further into the spotlight. He has the girls to consider.”
I shrugged. “Maybe it’s simpler than that. What’s Vanessa suggested about the media?”
“Press release tomorrow. It will just say that I’m petitioning for an expedited divorce due to abuse that I suffered at the hands of my soon to be ex-husband.” She rolled her eyes and wrung her hands together. “Jackson has an injunction prepared to stop the media publishing anything about what he made me do.”
I nodded. “My brother’s shit hot with things like that.”
“Social media isn’t as easy to control though.”
