“I know. But you also know that what happened to Grace was an accident and nothing could’ve prevented it. There’s nothing to suggest that won’t happen to someone else because we don’t have crystal balls.”
“I know her. She puts herself out there.”
“She used to. She has calmed down and nothing will have happened to her today. She’s been to see an associate of mine to ask him some questions and pass on a couple of messages.”
Jonny inhaled, clenching the fist of his free hand. “You’ve fucking sent her there?”
There was laughter. “Better than her go there without having a clue. Look, I can tell you about as much as I told her but you have to keep it to yourself. Have you heard of Drew O’Malley?”
“He owns part of a football team, doesn’t he?”
“That’s the one. And most of Manchester.”
“Isn’t he associated with organised crime?”
There was another growl of laughter. “Yeah. Of which you don’t know half. She’s been to see him to tell him about the fires and give him a piece of information she won’t understand but he will. Look, Jonny, what’s happening here isn’t a firebug getting his rocks off, there’s a shit load more to it and it goes deeper than you think.”
“She said you weren’t just working for Severton. Is that true?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want her to keep getting involved in this.”
“She won’t. She’ll be shitting it. There’s no way she’ll try and become Nancy Drew. But you need to tell her why you’re phoning me baying for my blood.” Alex still sounded amused more than anything.
Jonny had often wondered exactly how much it would take to push Alex over the edge. He was also wondering who the woman was that was with Alex. As far as he knew, Alex was single.
“I don’t want to put out her fire. I’m not the sort of man to make a woman choose.”
“You don’t need to make her choose anything. Just tell her how you feel. She deserves that. By the way, if you think you’ve done a good job in keeping this a secret, you’re delusional. We’ve all worked it out.”
“Good to know. Why’s no one said anything?”
“Because we – and by that I mean myself and Sorrell – have had the sense to get everyone else to understand that you must be keeping it quiet for a reason. Everyone’s good with it, Jon. Rayah’s been going mad for you for about three years.”
The woman’s voice sounded again in the background.
“Who’s there with you, Al?” It was a good way to divert the conversation.
“We all have our secrets, Jonny. Even in Severton. Text me when she’s back. And talk to her.” The line went dead.
There wasa knock at his door about ten minutes after he’d put Sadie Grace and Harry to bed, Charlie still lost on his games console, talking to Libby more than actually playing a game. At some point he needed to be introduced to a phone, especially as Jonny suspected that he was only playing computer games as a way to chat to Libby; being outside was more his thing.
Rayah looked sheepish when he opened the door.
“I’m sorry. I ditched the plans we had for the afternoon.” She looked pale and tired.
He paused by the door, taking in the sight of her. “We need to talk.”
“Probably.”
She followed him into the house and into the kitchen where he got a beer for both of them.
“I spoke to Alex. He told me where you were and why. He was vague.”
Rayah nodded, taking off her coat and accepting the beer. “He was with me. I met Drew O’Malley. He was scary until he asked if I could recommend a tutor to help him teach his daughter at home. There’s more going on here than we know.”
Jonny nodded. “I kind of got that from Alex. But aside from that, I’m not sure I can deal with sitting here fucking worrying that you’re not going to come back one day.”
