Betrayed (Powell Book 4) (4 page)

Scott arrived at the meeting wondering what was so urgent that it couldn’t wait until the next day. He didn’t enjoy having his evening plans interrupted at short notice. The headlights on the approaching car signalled its arrival long before it came to a halt. The country lane didn’t see much traffic, which was why it made a good spot to meet. It was the only other car Scott had seen in the ten minutes he’d been parked, waiting for them to arrive.

The car parked directly in front of Scott’s Land Rover, leaving the other side of the road free for any passing traffic. As was the routine, Scott stepped out of his car and walked to the Renault. He didn’t want his muscle knowing all the details of his business. A view he knew was shared by the occupants of the Renault.

Scott sat in the back seat. The front seats were both occupied.

“So what is so important you couldn’t tell me over the phone?” Scott asked without preamble.

The man in the front passenger seat turned around to face Scott. He was in his mid-thirties and had a round face. He shaved his head to hide the fact he was going bald but had a large, bushy moustache. “Someone’s been asking questions about your place,” he answered. “Someone with clout.”

“Who?”

“Don’t know specifically but it’s probably someone in the security services.”

“Are you sure?”

“That it was the security services? No, I’m not bloody sure but my boss hinted as much.”

“Why would the security services be interested in us?”

“I was hoping you could tell me.”

“I’ve no idea. What did you tell them, Doug?”

“I wrote a brief report, which in summary said you weren’t on our radar. But why the bloody hell are MI5 asking about you in the first place?”

“I don’t know but it could be Hattie’s father. He’s loaded and probably has friends in high places.”

“You don’t seem very worried,” Doug said.

“I don’t think there’s any reason to panic. They wouldn’t be asking you such questions if, even for a second, they suspected our relationship so you’re obviously in the clear.”

“I hadn’t thought of it like that. Unless it’s a trap and they were seeing how I would respond.”

“In which case there’s probably a bunch of spooks about to jump out from the trees,” Scott warned.

Doug immediately glanced to the trees on the side of the road.

“Don’t get too paranoid,” Scott continued. “MI5 are interested in catching terrorists so we definitely fall outside their normal remit. If someone was after you, it wouldn’t be MI5. Therefore, I think it’s more likely to be an unofficial enquiry. Someone doing a favour for a friend.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I’ll speak to Hattie and get her back in touch with her family. They haven’t heard from her for a long while, which might explain them wanting to check up on us. She can find out if they are responsible for raising your blood pressure.”

Scott had told Hattie she shouldn’t shun her family. They would be worried and it might lead to trouble. The last thing he wanted was her parents making his life difficult.

“Perhaps we should lay low for a while,” Doug suggested.

“I have made promises,” Scott replied. “If I stop supplying then someone else will take my customers. I can’t allow that to happen.”

“Okay but we need to tread carefully.”

“We should always tread carefully,” Scott emphasised. “Our business arrangement has been highly profitable for both of us. In fact, demand is so high, I would like to double the size of our next order.”

Doug raised his eyebrows in surprise. “That’s a big increase.”

“Is it a problem for you?”

“No, it’s not a problem,” Doug quickly replied. “I will just need a little more time to source the extra supply.”

“Is a week long enough?”

“A week is fine.”

“Good. Now I want to get back to the house. Much as I enjoy your company, I had a different sort of evening planned.”

“You lucky bugger,” Doug said, obviously jealous. “You get all the perks.” 

Scott returned to his car in thoughtful mood. He had appeared more relaxed by Doug’s revelations than was the reality. He didn’t like the idea of anyone prying into his business.

He hoped he was right in his assertion it was Hattie’s father checking them out. He was a known problem, which Scott could handle. Anyone else poking around might signal a risk to his plans. He would make a call in the morning and determine whether he had cause to be concerned.

Powell was up at six and dressed quietly in his running gear so as not to wake anyone else in the house. He’d slept well and not been disturbed by any attractive women trying to sneak into his bed in the middle of the night. He was sure Hattie had been wildly exaggerating the likelihood of such an event. He’d been taken in by the whole preposterous idea, actually believing it was a possibility. It brought a smile to his face.

There were no signs of life as he went downstairs and out through the front door. He breathed deeply and did a few stretching exercises before heading off at a fast pace. Even though he had only been living in Tintagel a short time, he found it claustrophobic and was pleased to be outdoors.

It was a good morning for running. A bright sunny day lay ahead with little prospect of any April showers. The cool early morning weather was perfect for running.

Powell thought about what he’d so far discovered as he ran. He was fast becoming aware that life at Tintagel followed few normal conventions. The relaxed attitude to sex was matched by a similarly liberal approach to drugs. While Hattie’s parents might not approve of such behaviour, Powell wasn’t sure there was anything sinister about Scott or the commune.

Powell realised he didn’t want to spend weeks living at the house so he was going to have to move things along. Scott’s office was the only room in the house which was locked and might hide secrets. He would have to take a look inside once everyone went to bed.

The day passed much like the previous one. He spent time with Dave, fixing various problems around the house. He was slowly getting to know more people and found everyone to be welcoming and friendly.

“Can you drive me to the supermarket?” Hattie asked, late in the afternoon. “I could do with some help with the heavy items.”

“Of course,” Powell answered, pleased to have the opportunity to spend time just with Hattie.

It took twenty minutes to reach the out of town supermarket. Powell had driven the shared Land Rover, which belonged to the commune in general rather than anyone in particular and with its huge boot was perfect for a  large shopping expedition. He was surprised by how few of the residents had their own car at the house.

With two large trolleys filled to the brim, he realised why Hattie had asked for his help. They pushed the trolleys towards the car and Powell unlocked the boot.

He noticed the two young men approach but continued putting the groceries in the back of the Land Rover. 

“Hello Hattie,” one of the men said, as they came close. 

Powell noticed there was no welcoming smile on Hattie’s face.

“What do you want, Steve?” she asked, obviously annoyed by their presence.

“Pete and I thought you could help us out. We really need something.”

Powell looked closer at the two young men. They both looked scruffy and their hair was unkempt. Their eyes were darting from side to side. Powell could identify the signs of drug use.

“You still owe me from the last time,” Hattie answered, in a sharp tone. “Have you got my money?”

“Don’t be like that,” Steve said. “We just want a small hit. You’ll get your money.”

“I’m not your fairy godmother and I don’t run a charity.”

Powell had stopped loading the bags and was now watching the two men closely.

“You heard the lady,” Powell said pleasantly. “Come back when you have some money.”

Steve completely ignored Powell’s comment. He took a couple of steps nearer to Hattie and withdrew a long knife with a serrated edge from his belt. 

“Give me something now and I won’t cut you, bitch,” Steve threatened.

“Do it,” Pete encouraged. “Cut the bitch. She deserves it.”

Powell acted quickly. He took two paces towards Steve and as he started to turn, Powell grabbed the wrist holding the knife and twisted it up behind his back, causing Steve to drop the knife. Powell thrust Steve up against the side of the Land Rover.

“You shouldn’t play with knifes,” Powell warned. “Someone might get hurt.”

Driven by desperation, Pete threw himself at Powell without warning. Powell turned Steve back to face his friend and pushed him in Pete’s direction, causing them both to fall to the ground. They were both skinny and offered no real threat so Powell did nothing further.

“Get in the car, Hattie,” he instructed.

Steve was first back on his feet. “I’ll fucking make you pay for that,” he threatened.

“Go home before you get hurt,” Powell suggested. “Otherwise, you’ll be leaving here in the back of an ambulance.”

Pete had joined Steve on his feet. “Perhaps we should go,” Pete said.

“Not before Hattie gives us what we want,” Steve answered. He was obviously the more desperate of the two.

Steve took a couple of steps forward while his friend hung back. Powell advanced and in a blur of movement, struck a punch to Steve’s midriff, leaving him bent double and in agony.

Powell gave Pete a questioning look, which was met with him taking a couple of steps backwards and nodding vigorously. He was definitely more intelligent than his friend.

Without further ado, Powell joined Hattie in the car and accelerated away. He waited for Hattie to speak.

“Thanks for your help,” Hattie said after a minute. “I don’t know what they might have done if you hadn’t been there.”

“Well I was there. Who were they?”

“Local crackheads. How did you manage to take that knife off him so easily?”

“As you said, they were just crackheads. I’ve done a bit of kickboxing in the past.”

“You’re full of surprises, Powell.”

“You better not go shopping alone in the near future.”

“I like your style, Powell. You haven’t bothered suggesting we report them to the police. That’s cool. You know I’ve sold them drugs and would get in trouble. Thanks.”

“What you do or don’t sell is none of my business.”

“I like you, Powell. If you feel like some company tonight, be sure to let me know.” She smiled very seductively and Powell’s heart missed a beat but he wouldn’t be taking her up on her offer.

Back at Tintagel, Hattie helped unload the shopping and then went to find Scott. He listened to Hattie retell the events at the supermarket.

“I’ll speak to Doug and have him sort them out,” he said, when she’d finished. “I’m sorry you had to experience that.” 

“It would have been very scary if Powell hadn’t been with me.”

“Powell seems very capable in many ways. I’m hearing good things about his work.”

“I like him. I hope he stays.”

“I’ll thank him personally later. Now I have a few things to do before dinner, if you don’t mind?”

Hattie took the hint and left Scott to his work. She felt like a drink and headed to the kitchen as it was almost time for lunch, which meant the wine would be available for the next hour. She poured a large glass of white wine and not wanting company, headed to the reading room.

“Didn’t think you used this room,” Powell said as Hattie entered.

“I wasn’t feeling hungry but I did need a drink,” Hattie explained, holding up her glass before sitting in an armchair.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. Especially now I have a drink.”

“You might be experiencing some of the after effects of shock.”

Hattie took a large drink of wine. “I’m feeling better already.”

“I’ll leave,” Powell suggested. “If you want some time alone.”

“Don’t go. I didn’t want to answer endless questions from everyone else but you’re okay.”

“Thanks. Let’s talk about something else. Tell me about Hattie. What was life like growing up?”

“I can’t complain. I had everything I wanted.”

“You didn’t say that with conviction,” Powell challenged.

“It’s strange but I never remember being cuddled or kissed as a child. When I have children, I intend to kiss them and let them know I love them, every day.”

“You mean your parents didn’t easily show affection?”

“No. They bought me things but I was an only child and I often felt very alone.”

“What are your parents like?” Powell asked.

“My mum is okay but she’s always worried what someone else will think of her. She lives her life constrained by social rules.”

“And your dad?”

“My stepdad never really wanted me around. I was an inconvenience.”

Powell was shocked to discover Charles wasn’t Hattie’s real father. “But I’ve heard you refer to him as your father in the past.”

“Mum encouraged me to call him Dad when I was growing up. It’s only as I was older, I started referring to him sometimes as my stepfather. It irritated him.”

What happened to your real dad?”

“He was killed in a speedboat accident when I was just two years old. I never knew him.”

“I’m sorry.”

“My mother thinks I’m searching for a father figure in Scott. She may be right but I just find him hot as hell!” Hattie laughed.

Powell was realising Hattie’s life had been more complicated than he first imagined. “Well us men are like fine wine. We get better with age.”

Scott was thinking about Powell and how his arrival had coincided with Doug reporting that someone, possibly MI5, was asking questions. Scott had heard the story about Powell’s girlfriend being killed by terrorists. Where there were terrorists, there would be MI5 not far behind.

Perhaps Powell was actually the target of MI5’s interest. Maybe they were keeping tabs on him and his presence at Tintagel had led to the questions. It might all be routine. It was food for thought. Scott didn’t want MI5 accidentally stumbling across his business, while they were keeping an eye on Powell.

He needed to remain calm and not jump to conclusions. It could all be a coincidence and it was probably still Hattie’s parents poking around but he would have Doug check out Powell. This wasn’t the right time to have someone meddling in his affairs.