She shook her head. “We weren’t serious. It was more convenience.”
Alex looked at the pile of papers. He’d managed to check the email she’d set up through a server which meant the log in couldn’t be traced – or was as secure as anything could be.
“Matilda was involved with a member of what was known as the Saint Street Gang. They’re not really known as that now. In the noughties the leaders went into more legitimate business – nightclubs, security, bookmakers and beyond. One of them even made a huge donation to the museum, the new one that was opened. At the same time, their rivals started to go legit. Tony Jones’ dad bought into a local football club and that set the whole rivalry off again. Plus there was a bit of a gap in the drugs market and other gangs tried to cash in on that, meaning a turf war started up. ” Alex had one of the emails from the PI between his finger and thumb, rubbing it as if it wasn’t real.
“But things have gotten worse in terms of violence?”
He shrugged. “Probably not. The figures just aren’t associated with the dirty shit that the minions do anymore. Those two gangs are responsible for most of the drugs distributed in Manchester and beyond in the north. And they hate each other. They’re also wealthy enough to pay off cops when they need to and where cops won’t take it, they go after their families.”
“Shit.” She felt the panic drown her again.
Alex shook his head. “A couple of the people associated with them are decent human beings. We have insiders who pass on information and Drew O’Malley especially is trying to clear things up. You don’t know that though.”
“There’s a lot I don’t know.” She paused, studied him with his furrowed brow, chocolate eyes and cheekbones that should’ve graced a magazine. “Why do you know it?”
He didn’t look at her, just stared at the table.
“Alex, are you involved with the gangs?”
He laughed. “No. Not like that. But I’m part of internal affairs, just not a known member.”
“Garrison?”
“The one and only. It’s a dual operation: looking into him and the arsons that have taken place round here too. We know there’s a turf war going on with some of the junior members and we know that the Manor is being used as a front. You picked the worst place to end up.”
Abby shook her head, her blonde hair half covering her face. She pushed it away. “No. I knew there was a link between Alfie Fletcher and here. I thought maybe this was where they’d taken Tilly – it seemed a good place to hide someone.”
“Do you still think she’s there?”
“I’ve no evidence to say that she’s died. Unless – I know some people just disappear.”
Alex didn’t nod or shake his head. He was still, holding the paper. “Your PI has probably been scamming you. I’ve asked my buddy in Manchester to check him out; make sure he’s still alive. I think he’s been doing the minimum he can to keep getting your payments. The stuff he’s sent you anyone can get if they have some knowledge of how to hack.”
“I don’t know if that makes me feel slightly better or worse that I’ve been fooled.” She was beyond any more tears. In fact, what she felt now was relief.
“It isn’t unusual to be fooled in this situation, Abby. You wanted help and by paying someone you feel you can trust them. You may get your money back. I’ll see what my friend can do if he pays him a visit. And it does mean they haven’t found you through him if this is the case.” Alex sat back and folded his arms. He was wearing a T-shirt but his biceps still looked like they were trying to break free from the material.
“So how did they find you?”
She looked at the table. Twisted a strand of hair around her fingers.
“Lena.” It was one word. A name. One that was going to open a whole can of shit.
Alex didn’t blink.The clicks of things starting to fall into place were almost audible.
“Lena,” he repeated. “Someone was trying to get her to go back into the cult.”
Abby nodded. “I asked her questions about who lived there. I didn’t show her pictures of my sister or anything like that but I started to nosy round. She’d left though and half of her family weren’t speaking to her, so she started chatting to her sister about it.”
He rested his head in his hands, remembering the last eighteen months. Lena had been kidnapped and left injured in one of the caves. Sorrell had gone after her, ending up being trapped herself. Months later, Keren had almost lost her home when her neighbour’s house was set on fire – a neighbour who happened to be Lena’s aunt. Shortly after that, Lois, Lena’s sister was taken away by three men, and rescued by himself and others on the search team.
“Did Lois start asking questions?”
Abby rubbed her eyes. “I think so. I think that’s why they were targeted. It was a warning maybe. I knew there were links to Kenny and what he was mixed up in, that they had people stay there who weren’t part of the church…”
Alex nodded, slowly, carefully. “Have you been up to the manor yourself?”
“A few times. I’d go for a walk that way.”
