The grin on McKay’s face was broad and big. “All nicely locked up. Kenny Gallagher had some rather fancy CCTV all the way round the house. Produced some beautiful images. Same three lads who were involved in that store robbery the other week in Waterfoot. One of them’s got a bit of form already for blowing things up, but it was as a minor. All are linked to Tony Jones’, although, as we know, he’ll be away in Barbados or somewhere and will be squeaky clean.”
Abby sat up, not knowing if the weight that had been lifted off her shoulders should be there or not. “Does that mean they’re still looking for my sister?”
McKay shook his head. “It means the threat’s been dealt with for now. I’ve no doubt that one of the three musketeers will end up getting off with doing very little time because someone will pull in a favour and Kenny will lose the mark on his head.” There was another big smile.
“Garrison?” Alex’s voice was barely audible.
“Currently being interviewed by internal affairs. Warren Mather looked like he’d won the lottery when I left him at the station in Leeds.” McKay stretched out his legs and looked a little too comfy. “Indy tracked the leak about where Kenny and his partner were to Garrison. Connected it to his phone. Plus, there’s all the other shit he’s been up to. There’s enough now to bring him in and question him.”
“He’s been hiding what’s been going on in Severton since he’s been there?” Alex sat up, wincing slightly.
Abby knew the stitches in his arm and also his thigh – he’d tried to hide the latter by saying the blood on his trousers was from his arm – were bothering him.
“The fire at the school, the report from the little girl who said she saw a man with a gun – all of that he dumbed down into mindless acts or a child’s imagination.” Alex leaned back against the sofa and wrapped his fingers into Abby’s.
McKay nodded. “Jones’ boys have been trying to infiltrate the cult to learn where Kenny and Matilda were hiding out. That was why they went after Lena, took Lois – I suspect the arson attack on Keren’s neighbour was to intimidate so someone would tell them. Garrison’s been double dealing; protecting Alfie Fletcher’s crew and giving Jones’ lot just enough for him to stay on both payrolls. If he gets away with this from internal affairs, he’s going to need to find somewhere to lie very, very low.” He sat up and sighed. “Abby, we’ve been in touch with Kenny. He’s with your sister in hospital. She went into labour just after they left the house in Waterfoot. He said he’d be in touch and not to worry. He also mentioned that at his funeral he’d like forget-me-nots, because he’s pretty sure your sister is going to kill him for getting her pregnant and making her give birth. Those were his words and I have to say, he looked pale and more afraid for his life than I’ve ever seen him before.”
“You know Kenny Gallagher?”
McKay laughed. “He went to school with my daughter. You know, the white hat hacker.”
Alex didn’t say anything, just shook his head. Abby laughed.
Maybe, just maybe, they would be okay.
They madeit upstairs to bed after McKay had gone, letting the dogs out - who’d had a great time at Jake’s farm until he dropped them off – first. For the first time since she’d been staying with Alex, he allowed the dogs upstairs, settling them on the landing outside his bedroom.
“Think you’ll sleep?” he asked her. “I’m so tired but I don’t know if my brain’s stopped yet.”
She curled up into him. “Yes, at some point. And we don’t have to get up early in the morning. Jake said he’d come for the dogs.”
His arms were around her, his head nuzzling into her neck. “I have to go to station and give statement, but I’ll probably be told to take leave for a week or so. I’m not arguing with that. Everything with Garrison over the last year or so has just… shit, I’m just exhausted.”
“You are allowed to be. I feel the same.”
“You okay? You’ve probably had the worst day of all.” He moved so they were facing each other, heads on the pillow.
“I think that’s Heath’s award.”
“True. I can’t get used to that being his first name. He’s going to be a nightmare not being able to work.” His hand had travelled from her back to her bottom, squeezing it.
She didn’t think he realised what he was doing but she liked the touch anyway.
“Maybe he’ll stay in Severton.”
Alex laughed. “Maybe. He could find a place to stay with Sam.”
“He seems nice.”
“He is. Likes the ladies. Stay away from him.”
She felt his cock growing harder against her and wrapped her leg over him. “I think you pretty much marked me as your territory when you told him that I wasn’t your fiancéeyet.”
He laughed. “Did that freak you out?”
“No. It just seems a little quick not to be freaked out by it.” On the way home – to Alex’s – her mind had been sprinting between her sister, what had happened and what Alex had said, and she kept coming back to that they’d known each for two years. She’d crushed on him, and so far, he’d shown that he deserved every ounce of that crush.
His hand moved to her waist and stopped so his palm was just under her breast. If he moved his thumb he’d be able to tease her nipple. Despite being tired, worn out and mentally fatigued, she wanted him, like this.
