main guy? And even if he was, someone is bound to take his place.’ I was feeling edgy. I looked at my nails and willed myself not to start biting at the skin around them. ‘But, I think I’m okay. I’m very discreet. I’ve actually talked to a couple of the cops in the area – they know I’m an independent.’
‘Hold on,’ Mike said, leaning forward. ‘What if Erjon wants your apartment, and Ivonne’s?
‘Oh shit. I thought you were trying to reassure me?’
‘Yes. I am. That’s why we are tracking Erjon. Why we’ve got our own CCTV. But, I’m not going to delude you, only to see you getting hurt.’
I curled my lip. The reassurance was having the opposite effect.
‘I mean it, Nina. Don’t deceive yourself – safe is safe.’
I wrinkled my nose. ‘Thanks for the advice. I always practice safe sex.’
Mike grunted in exasperation. ‘Sure.’
Damn, but this was all way beyond the client-escort relationship. He cares for me and . . . I like him. Sod it. I should never have let him get so close. It’s easier to have them leave – physically, they’re gone, out the door. No emotional involvement. And now?
I sat down opposite Mike. ‘If Erjon wants this apartment that might explain all the goings on with CCTV system. Good chance the cameras on this floor aren’t working. Or, Erjon threw the RCD switch?’
‘Either is possible,’ Mike said, steepling his fingers.
‘If there’s a police raid,’ I said, watching his fingers. ‘And if they come in here,’ I looked up catching his eyes, ‘that will prove that Erjon wants me and Ivonne out.’
Mike sucked his lower lip. ‘It will not end there.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If Driscoll is the nasty piece of work I think he is, he’ll bring in HMRC.’
‘Oh shit.’
‘Exactly. They have the powers to go through everything. Your home, your bank, your car, even your relatives if they think there is something to be found.’
My phone started to ring. I didn’t react. I was completely numb at the thought of HMRC investigating. Slowly, the ringing penetrated my awareness. I looked at the display and forced my thumb down on to the ignore button. I’d phone back. First I needed to get the shock out of my system. What story could I come up with if my friends and family knew that I was being investigated by HMRC? A student, at that.
Mike moved. Still stunned, my eyes tracked him rising from the sofa, my mind however, was functioning in slow motion. His hand reached into his jacket and re-emerged with a visiting card.
My hand, of its own volition reached out and took the card. My fingertips identified the embossed lettering – a real expensive card. I held the card up and stared at the name; Mike Marshall. The letters behind the name, finally, made my brain kick into action. LLB and FCA; Mike was an accountant with a law degree.
‘Phone me,’ Mike said. ‘Don’t stick your head in the sand. Most people leave it too late giving HMRC a head start.’ Mike winked at me. ‘Safe is safe. I’m only ten minutes away.’
7
I checked the time as I walked towards the Merchant Building – late as usual. Excuses, excuses – it had taken ages to find a parking spot. Still, it gave me just enough time before the first client arrived. The pest: always phoning, texting, inviting me to go out the opera, ballet; anyplace where he could show off with a pretty girl on his arm.
At the door I stopped, pulled my phone out of my bag to check for any messages – good none. I slung the bag over my shoulder and rapidly entered the numbers on the keypad. The door clicked and I gave it a shove. Halfway to the elevator, I glanced at the desk, Alfred wasn’t there and instead there was a woman, her head bowed. Strange. Never seen her before.
I kept going and glanced at the elevator consoles – damn, none of them on G. I palmed the elevator button. Did a hip-hop from one foot to the other; the new matt-black trainers felt good.
I shot
‘Hold on,’ Mike said, leaning forward. ‘What if Erjon wants your apartment, and Ivonne’s?
‘Oh shit. I thought you were trying to reassure me?’
‘Yes. I am. That’s why we are tracking Erjon. Why we’ve got our own CCTV. But, I’m not going to delude you, only to see you getting hurt.’
I curled my lip. The reassurance was having the opposite effect.
‘I mean it, Nina. Don’t deceive yourself – safe is safe.’
I wrinkled my nose. ‘Thanks for the advice. I always practice safe sex.’
Mike grunted in exasperation. ‘Sure.’
Damn, but this was all way beyond the client-escort relationship. He cares for me and . . . I like him. Sod it. I should never have let him get so close. It’s easier to have them leave – physically, they’re gone, out the door. No emotional involvement. And now?
I sat down opposite Mike. ‘If Erjon wants this apartment that might explain all the goings on with CCTV system. Good chance the cameras on this floor aren’t working. Or, Erjon threw the RCD switch?’
‘Either is possible,’ Mike said, steepling his fingers.
‘If there’s a police raid,’ I said, watching his fingers. ‘And if they come in here,’ I looked up catching his eyes, ‘that will prove that Erjon wants me and Ivonne out.’
Mike sucked his lower lip. ‘It will not end there.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘If Driscoll is the nasty piece of work I think he is, he’ll bring in HMRC.’
‘Oh shit.’
‘Exactly. They have the powers to go through everything. Your home, your bank, your car, even your relatives if they think there is something to be found.’
My phone started to ring. I didn’t react. I was completely numb at the thought of HMRC investigating. Slowly, the ringing penetrated my awareness. I looked at the display and forced my thumb down on to the ignore button. I’d phone back. First I needed to get the shock out of my system. What story could I come up with if my friends and family knew that I was being investigated by HMRC? A student, at that.
Mike moved. Still stunned, my eyes tracked him rising from the sofa, my mind however, was functioning in slow motion. His hand reached into his jacket and re-emerged with a visiting card.
My hand, of its own volition reached out and took the card. My fingertips identified the embossed lettering – a real expensive card. I held the card up and stared at the name; Mike Marshall. The letters behind the name, finally, made my brain kick into action. LLB and FCA; Mike was an accountant with a law degree.
‘Phone me,’ Mike said. ‘Don’t stick your head in the sand. Most people leave it too late giving HMRC a head start.’ Mike winked at me. ‘Safe is safe. I’m only ten minutes away.’
7
I checked the time as I walked towards the Merchant Building – late as usual. Excuses, excuses – it had taken ages to find a parking spot. Still, it gave me just enough time before the first client arrived. The pest: always phoning, texting, inviting me to go out the opera, ballet; anyplace where he could show off with a pretty girl on his arm.
At the door I stopped, pulled my phone out of my bag to check for any messages – good none. I slung the bag over my shoulder and rapidly entered the numbers on the keypad. The door clicked and I gave it a shove. Halfway to the elevator, I glanced at the desk, Alfred wasn’t there and instead there was a woman, her head bowed. Strange. Never seen her before.
I kept going and glanced at the elevator consoles – damn, none of them on G. I palmed the elevator button. Did a hip-hop from one foot to the other; the new matt-black trainers felt good.
I shot
Similar Books
